66
plus 5.
I said it four weeks ago today, after Game 2 of the
Ottawa Senators series, and, after watching his mind-blowing, bone-rattling
performance in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals last night, I'll say it
again:
The combination of strength and speed and skill and sheer, indomitable will, the explosive impact he's had all over the ice, the way he's elevated his already stratospheric game to dizzying new heights, the fact that he makes something -- usually, many things -- happen on every single shift, the realization that from the time he goes over the boards until the moment he steps back on the bench you simply can not (and should not) take your eyes off him, all add up to a simple and glorious conclusion: that there is only one word in the language, much less in the NHL vernacular, sufficient to describe his performance:
Marioesque.
Sidney Crosby and Marian Hossa were outstanding last night. Ryan Malone was a force at both ends of the ice and a workhorse on the penalty kill. Jordan Staal, Jarko Ruutu, and Tyler Kennedy continue to shine on that swooping, rocking, and rolling third line. Marc-Andre Fleury was fantastic yet again. Peter Sykora had maybe the prettiest move and goal of the night.
But Malkin. My God.
I'll have much more to say about him as this series rolls on. But for now, let's just stick with the simple fact that something else I wrote four weeks ago today has, in the intervening eight games, proven happily prophetic:
There is now a second word in the language, the vernacular of the NHL, and the playoff lore of this franchise to describe his performance:
Malkinesque.
It has a nice ring, doesn't it? And if it keeps on going, it's gonna have another.
The combination of strength and speed and skill and sheer, indomitable will, the explosive impact he's had all over the ice, the way he's elevated his already stratospheric game to dizzying new heights, the fact that he makes something -- usually, many things -- happen on every single shift, the realization that from the time he goes over the boards until the moment he steps back on the bench you simply can not (and should not) take your eyes off him, all add up to a simple and glorious conclusion: that there is only one word in the language, much less in the NHL vernacular, sufficient to describe his performance:
Marioesque.
Sidney Crosby and Marian Hossa were outstanding last night. Ryan Malone was a force at both ends of the ice and a workhorse on the penalty kill. Jordan Staal, Jarko Ruutu, and Tyler Kennedy continue to shine on that swooping, rocking, and rolling third line. Marc-Andre Fleury was fantastic yet again. Peter Sykora had maybe the prettiest move and goal of the night.
But Malkin. My God.
I'll have much more to say about him as this series rolls on. But for now, let's just stick with the simple fact that something else I wrote four weeks ago today has, in the intervening eight games, proven happily prophetic:
There is now a second word in the language, the vernacular of the NHL, and the playoff lore of this franchise to describe his performance:
Malkinesque.
It has a nice ring, doesn't it? And if it keeps on going, it's gonna have another.
Posted: Sat - May 10, 2008 at 10:09 AM
Quick Links
Calendar
| Sun | Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat |
Categories
Archives
Terror Alert
Brilliant Satire
Required Reading
Traffic Count
Official Muse
Syndication
Carbolic Wear
Y Chromosomes
Some Perspective
On Tour
XML/RSS Feed
Statistics
Total entries in this blog:
Total entries in this category:
Published On: May 10, 2008 10:10 AM
Total entries in this category:
Published On: May 10, 2008 10:10 AM