Sorry about the lack of an Around the Net yesterday morning. As I said, occasionally I run into a couple of situations that are out of my control and they derail me a bit. Managing what has become a full-time hockey job, while at the same time keeping up with the rigors of a day job that is actually paying most of my bills doesn’t always dovetail the way I would like it too.
Before we get on to the links, there are a couple of announcements.
First of all, you might not have noticed, but the Washington Capitals have recently launched a new application that is similar to the one that was created for the Penguins by our friends at Yinzcam. It doesn’t seem to have near the features or information, but it has quickly risen two spots above that of the official Penguins app on the list of most popular free downloads. So, if you will, please download the application, go back and review the app and tell all of your friends about it! You might not always be able to affect the outcome of the games on the ice, but you can certainly help the Penguins come out ahead in this battle!
The Official Pittsburgh Penguins Mobile app now available for FREE download on Android phones as well as for the iPhone/iPod Touch! Look for “Pittsburgh Penguins Mobile” in the Android Market on your Droid or click here to be taken to the iTunes store for your iPhone or iPod Touch. Enjoy both outside-arena and exclusive in-arena features: Replays, twitter, scores, stats, standings, live video cameras, more. Help us to make the Penguins app one of the best apps out there—don’t forget to rate the app and add your comments in the Android Market or on iTunes!
Some of you have participated in the live chats that I have been doing for Versus.com…if so, thank you! I appreciate it! If not, your next chance to be a part of the action will be tonight starting at 7:00pm. I will actually be hosting chats for the next three nights in a row… if you are at home watching the game anyway, why not hop in and interact with hockey fans from around the world while you watch the action on the Versus Network? We will be chatting for the next three night from 7:oopm through 10:00pm. My high water mark was 350 people last Wednesday…help me shatter that mark!
The link to the actual chat is not yet posted on the Versus site, but it can be found on my Versus.com page later today. Metz’s Versus Page
The last update for the day is that I will be appearing on the Red Light District Hockey Talk show this afternoon at 1:20pm. We will be talking Pens/Sens and breaking down the rest of the Eastern Conference Playoff series. Hope you can pop in and give a listen. Check out the Red Light District Hockey blog here.
With all of that out of the way… here is your Around the Net – your morning skate around the league!
Kevin Gorman of the Tribune Review talks about the fact that the Senators are trying their best, but do not seem to be able to defend Sidney Crosby thus far in this series.
Sidney Crosby cutting through the Sens
Dan Bylsma was sort of surprised to see the criticism of Daniel Alfredsson and Jason Spezza in the local papers upon arriving in Ottawa. He would like to give some credit to his team, more so than putting the entire onus on the Ottawa duo.
Dave Molinari talks about the fact that the Senators have depended greatly on their power play in the series and it will continue to be a big component of any additional success.
Power play key to Ottawa success
Shelly Anderson breaks down the impact of Ottawa forward Peter Regin. He is one of those great playoff stories that pop up every year… a player that was barely in his teams plans, until injuries etc provided an opportunity!
Regin taking advantage of opportunity
Chris Bradford of the Beaver County Times fires back at Don Cherry for his criticism of the Penguins. Cherry accused the Penguins of diving in an attempt to draw penalties during his popular Coaches Corner segment this past weekend.
The great Scott Burnside checks in from the Caps game last night in this blog from the Worldwide Leader!
Elliott Pap of the Vancouver Sun breaks down last night’s Canucks/Kings game…
Here is the breakdown of the league’s decision to disallow Daniel Sedin’s third period goal. They just felt that he curled his toe a bit, which helped push the puck into the net. The goal would have made the score 4-3…
Sedin has big one disallowed by a toe
Matt Kalman takes a look at Mark Recchi and his contributions to the Bruins. Kalman claims that his warrior mentality is rubbing off on the youngsters in the B’s room and has them sitting in the drivers seat of their series with the Buffalo Sabres.
Recchi the Warrior rubbing off
Some Bruins/Sabres notes… most importantly, Thomas Vanek is not expected to miss much time with his lower body injury.
Here is a great article about Bernie Nicholls and his time skating alongside Wayne Gretzky during the 88-89 season. Nicholls netted a franchise record 70 goals that season to go along with 80 assists. He also talks of the great friendship that sparked between them…
Nicholls and Gretzky were tight on and off of the ice
It is beginning again… the Jagr to Edmonton talk! Here Jim Matheson discusses how well Jagr could compliment Oilers sniper Ales Hemsky in his Q and A!
Some Red Wings notes… discussing the future of Steve Yzerman, Jiri Hudler and more… seems that one could be coming back to the organization, while one is staying for the short term, while considering all of the options…
Hudler Back, Yzerman sniffing around?
The Wild’s Pierre-Marc Bouchard is preparing for a big summer… as decisions loom for he and the team.
