Blue Notes

OK folks, as promised, we're back...

The Vezina Trophy is awarded to the best goaltender during the regular season, and although Henrik Lundqvist has been nominated for the third straight campaign, if he had his druthers, Henrik ---an uncle now that baby daughter Vilma just joined his twin brother Joel and his fiancee---would rather share the Stanley Cup with his team.

That's because this year was not only a professional, but a personal, struggle for Lundqvist; his father, Peter Lundqvist, underwent emergency brain surgery in mid-December back home in Sweden.

So the Vezina nomination, said coach Tom Renney, is "a testimony to his commitment to the organization, to his teammates, naturally, to his own growth and development. It says a lot about him, first and foremost. Players are bombarded by a number of different things throughout the course of the year from every possible angle and when it comes that close to home as it did for him this year, to be able to sort that out and deal with it from thousands of miles away basically and still put his teammates in the forefront speaks to the character of the man."

Yesterday, Lundqvist---who isn't the favorite for the award based on the numbers--- was one of the last players off the ice and sat at his locker where a horde of media camped out.

"“This year I went through some stuff that was a little tough," he acknowledged. "My dad was sick for a while and hockey was not the most important thing in the world. But at the same time I love this sport. And when you start winning and you work hard and the people around you are supportive, you have a lot of fun.”

"I'm very proud to be in that category again. You get some confidence from it absolutely, at the same time it forces you to work even harder. It's an inspiration just to be in theis league and play here very night. I've been very lucky to be working with great guys here and a great goaltending coach. It's hard to play goal if you don't have a really good team in front of you."

"There's so many leaders on this team. I'm not the kind of leader who stands up and talks in the locker room. I try to lead in the way I play and prepare myself before the game and hopefully the other guys feel comfortable. That's my goal. I just want to show them that I'm doing whatever it takes to play my best. A lot of times when you feel that in the locker room and you see other players that they're ready, you get a kick from it. We're all trying to show each other right now that we're ready for our best hockey and just go for it."

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No matter what happens tonight, and I'll be watching of course, in my book it says that the Rangers can advance no matter who they face in the second round. Pittsburgh would be the toughest, but Lundqvist can be the difference-maker. In fact, Lundqvist's recent play and his stats make him the best goaltender left in the East.

A Montreal matchup also would be dangerous, but just look at the battle the Bruins have given them. They should be tired physically and mentally from the long series and rookie G Carey Price has shown some vulnerability under pressure.

The Flyers are deep upfront, but wouldn't have home-ice advantage, and I'm not sure goaltender Martin Biron can continue winning.

Philadelphia "is the type of team that is certainly playing with the requisite emotion and passion that you have to have in post-season play," Renney said. "They seem to be a very confident team. I don't think their deficiences have left them---I think they're still there---in those areas of the game where we think we can exploit them. We can win, provided we manage the puck accordingly and don't beat ourselves."

Washington will have to summon up all they have to beat Philly tonight and tomorrow. They have AO, a few quality forwards and ace D Mike Green, but will have to survive in seven and this be emotionally and physically worn by the battle with the Flyers.

Agree? Disagree? Please weigh in and swing by during the games...