So we’re now closing in on the second weekend of NHL playoff hockey and so far a few surprises, a few blowouts, and of course a few embarrassments. Best series of the first round so far has got to be the Flames/Blackhawks, worst going to Montreal/Boston, and the most embarrassing I give honor to the Ducks and Sharks.
After tonight San Jose is now down 3 games to 1 and all but finished but I dare ask you the readers if you’re even the slightest bit surprised. In one word I think most of you would answer “No”.
For any half wit knowledgeable hockey fan out there you can see that San Jose’s so called superstar players are nothing more then the most overrated pieces of crap that have the privilege of being in the mix with the likes of Crosby, Iginla, Ovechkin.
Joe Thornton has been an absolute wrecking crew (apparently) through his tenure on the coast with the Sharks and once again had another top notch regular season leading the team in scoring with 86 points. Throughout the past couple years there has been so much talk about how special he is as a player but can someone please explain to me why hockey experts would think he is even close to a top 5 NHL forward?
As an Oiler fan we had to endure countless arguments from friends and fans complaining about how soft Dustin Penner was (and he was) but Joe Thornton isn’t any better. Tonight I threw my head back in disgust seeing him get absolutely man handled by a more energized Anaheim Ducks team. Forget the horrendous giveaway leading to the third Anaheim goal, forget the countless battles lost along the boards, what did me in was seeing him get punched in the face and turn away or better yet was when both teams were involved in a scrum in front of Anaheim goalie Jonas Hillar with Thornton being the lone guy out skating back to the bench. I cant speak for most hockey players, especially considering I played goal my whole life but seeing that crap pulled has got to rub some teammates the wrong way.
Thornton doesn’t care. He’s soft, can’t play in big games, and most certainly is not a guy that is willing to do what it takes to win the big one. As much as I hate the Flames there is no comparison between Joe Thornton and Jarome Iginla. Perhaps Big Joe should sit down and take a page out of Iggy’s playbook when it comes to playoff hockey. Iginla is the prototypical definition for what I would agree most of us feel is a true “Canadian” hockey player, he’s tough, fearless, willing to drop the flippers with anyone, and of course leads by example. Thornton on the other hand looks more interested in getting eliminated in the first round so he can put on his flip flops and head to the beach.
Games like game 4 have me more confident then ever to have him not apart of the 2010 Team Canada.
But let’s not let Big Joe take all the heat, after all hockey is a team sport.
Patty Marleau had a comeback year leading the team in goals with an impressive 38 tallies to finish the regular season second on team scoring with 71 points. Yet just like Thornton he seems to have disappeared in the playoffs once again. His “double flamingo” last season is just the tip of the iceberg, it’s bad enough lifting one leg to block a shot but two…in the words of Don Cherry, “coooooooooooooooome onnnnnnn”. Again a terrific regular season hockey player but when push comes to shove can’t get it going.
San Jose is an extremely talented regular season hockey team but when your best players play like this it’s infectious and catches on with the rest of it’s teammates. Soon enough rookies are playing the same way and come playoff time when you cruise in from the regular season with a lack of grit you’re going to get man handled. Perhaps some of the Sharks rookies should look across to the other bench and take notes from rock solid rook in Bobby Ryan. It’s funny how much time changes ones perspective. It wasn’t long ago when experts thought Burke was ludicrous for taking him second overall let alone Ryan almost wanting out of Anaheim. The guy is an absolute beast and a legitimate threat to steal the Calder from Steve Mason. If you haven’t had the privilege of watching the Perry, Getzlaf, and Ryan line you are missing out on watching the best tandem in the playoffs right now. Getzlaf has easily surpassed Joe Thornton and in my opinion is a lock to have a job in Vancouver for the 2010 Olympic team.
As for the Sharks, maybe they could learn a few things from watching other teams duke it out in the playoffs. The post season is supposed to be physical, it’s supposed to be hard nosed, and it most certainly is meant to leave bruises and scars on your body.
Until the Sharks (or better yet Thornton and Marleau) address this problem of being soft they will never be a team capable of winning a Stanley Cup, I can’t even imagine with the way Boston is playing how badly they would physically dominate this hockey club.
With that said…GROW A SET JOE.
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