More Playoff Schtuff..

So the buzz has already started about whether or not Gabby will give Simeon Varlamov the nod in goal for Saturday's Game Two after Theo's not-so-spectacular performance last night. Me thinks he may want to put Brian Pothier in place of Jeff Schultz as well as long as we're talking about mixing things up a little. Bruce Boudreau loves his film (as we learned during his Hockey & High Heels session) and you'd better believe he'll be reviewing every play today to see where the boys needed to patch up those holes - too bad he can't do anything about the officiating but such is life...

In other playoff goings-on, the first game of the Battle of Pennsylvania (or as I'm dubbing it: The Battle for the Lesser of Two Evils) went to the Pittsburgh Penguins who saw scoring from both Cindy Crosby and Hart winner Evgeni Malkin. It certainly did not help the hated rough and tumble Flyers that Scott Hartnell spent a total of 16 minutes in the sin bin (Hockey Mom feins shock and surprise!) - for which he was called out after the game by Coach John Stevens. It was a big win for the Pens, who rolled over the visitors with a final score of 4-1.

Out west, Vancouver's Daniel Sedin of the fabulous Sedin twins made his contribution to the team with a goal against St. Louis Blues' net minder Chris Mason. The Sedins are gunning for a new contract (and wherever they end up, it's both of them or nothing; as a mom of twins, HM thinks that's amazing that after all these years they don't want to be split up). Whoever gets the Dynamic Duo however, will end up taking a pretty big hit against their salary cap. But for now, the Canucks went on to win Game One by a score of 2-1.

As we wait eagerly for Game Two on Saturday, Caps fans mark your calendars for some good reality t.v. on April 21. ESPN sent me a press release yesterday on an upcoming feature spotlighting Alex Ovechkin on their E:60 program:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 15, 2009

NHL Star Alexander Ovechkin To Be Profiled on ESPN’s E:60

ESPN's award-winning primetime newsmagazine E:60 will profile National Hockey League star Alexander Ovechkin in the episode airing Tuesday, April 21, at 7 p.m. ET. The program, which launched in October 2007, combines investigative reporting, in-depth profiles of intriguing sports personalities and features on emerging star athletes. These stories are presented in a fresh and innovative format that incorporates producer/correspondent meetings.

Ovechkin is electrifying, eccentric and a highlight reel waiting to explode. The reigning MVP, Ovechkin has taken the NHL by storm since bursting onto the scene in 2005. With his hot shot and even hotter persona, the Washington Capitals left winger is already being mentioned as a potential all-time great player.

E:60’s Rachel Nichols has an all access pass inside the life of this megawatt hockey god who is equal parts everyman, equal parts rock star. In this revealing portrait, viewers see what makes Ovie run 100 miles per hour on and off the ice: his unabashed joy and enthusiasm, his love of fast cars, his simmering rivalry with the other name on the NHL’s marquee, Sidney Crosby, his hell bent for leather style of play that leaves defensemen swiveling their heads, and his burning desire to turn the nation’s capital into a hockey mad city.

The Great One himself, Wayne Gretzky, NBA star LeBron James, Caps owner Ted Leonsis and iconic hockey commentator Don Cherry are among the voices in the feature.

Can't wait to hear Sour Grapes Cherry weigh in...