The road to college basketball’s Final Four, Jesus and the Easter Bunny took home most of the headlines this weekend. There was hockey though. There was plenty of good hockey too.
Jarome Iginla played his first game as a Pittsburgh Penguin, which happened to be the Penguins’ 14th win in a row. The win proved to be pretty costly for the streaking Pens though as captain and All Star center Sidney Crosby took a deflected slapshot to the grill. Crosby required oral surgery to fix his chiclets and was also treated for a broken jaw. He is listed as out indefinitely.
I was excited that Sunday’s NBC game would feature my Detroit Red Wings against the Chicago Blackhawks in a holiday matinee. As the proud owner of several Red Wings on my fantasy roster, it’s always a double treat when you get a chance to cheer on your favorite team and your own fantasy team players. Happy Easter to Jimmy Howard and me as Chicago scored on three of its first four shots en route to a 7-1 rout. Nice way to celebrate Gordie Howe’s 85th birthday Detroit.
Besides Sid Crosby’s oral surgeon, here are the three stars from this Easter weekend.
3. Nazem Kadri, C, Toronto Maple Leafs
Oh what a difference a season can make. A year ago the Toronto brass weren’t sure if Nazem Kadri was NHL material. He always had the talent, but lacked the maturity and work ethic to stay with the NHL club for a full season. This year Kadri has been on a mission, leading the Leafs in scoring and helping to lead them into strong playoff contention. Kadri had a hat trick and added an assist in Toronto’s 4-0 shutout of rival Ottawa.
2. Taylor Hall, LW, Edmonton Oilers
It’s been an up and down season full of growing pains for the young Edmonton hockey club. The Oilers have looked exciting and fast in some games, young and stupid in others. Saturday night at home against division rival Vancouver Taylor Hall recorded the fastest hat trick in franchise history. Hall’s feat is particularly impressive considering some of the historical greats that have worn the Edmonton sweater before him. The Oilers would go on to win the game 4-0 and keep themselves in the playoff chase with a dozen games left to play.
1.Tomas Vokoun, G, Pittsburgh Penguins
Perhaps the most impressive thing about the Pittsburgh Penguins winning streak (other than it is an actual streak, not the cheesy Chicago streak) is the defensive play from the typically offensive-minded Penguins. More surprising still has been the play of their backup goalie Tomas Vokoun. Since the Pens 2-1 overtime win against the Flyers last Sunday, the stingy Pens and Vokoun have pitched a three game shutout. Saturday’s 2-0 blanking of the New York Islanders was win number 14 in a row and shutout number three in a row.