It’s pretty pathetic I’ve taken so long to get a new blog written. Almost as pathetic as the Pittsburgh Penguins home crowd in game one of the Eastern Conference finals… Were they ever dead.
Buy unlike that crowd, I have a good excuse: I’ve been travelling for the last week and a half. Getting scores and updates has presented it’s share if challenges, too. Yesterday, before zip-lining over a death defying river with rocks and bears below (the real Burgundy would be proud), I had to ask the tour guide who won game one of the Chicago-Detroit series. Or to catch yesterdays Pittsburgh-Carolina game, I had to endure a random old man babble about testing Brian Leech in a Whistler bar. Last week, I hacked a Red Lobster WiFi network while waiting for my bill to see if I’m winning my hockey pool. I hate to think what I may have to do for the next day or two…
But since I caught last night’s game, I convinced myself the winning goalie of the Carolina Hurricanes-Pittsburgh Penguins series might just fond himself one the men’s Canadian Olympic hockey team as th third goalie, behind Martin Brodeur and Roberto luongo, of course.
Although there may be some strong candidates for the third Canadian goaltender; guys like Carey Price (ark flailing may not be tolerated though), Marty Turco and J.S Giguere, I really believe it’s down to Marc-Andre Fleury and Cam Ward.
Should the Penguins win the series, this will ‘marc’ the second straight year Fleury has backstopped his team to the Stanley Cup finals. Not too shabby.
Should the Cardiac Canes pull the upset, Cam Ward will add a second Stanley Cup appearence to a sfyellat resume that already includes a previous Cup and Conn-Smythe win.
Cam Ward may have the edge right now, but don’t count out Fleury yet. He can go save for save with any goalie in the NHL and held the Penguins in last years Cup final. So long as he doesn’t try to play pucks, Fleury could very well be Canada’s third goalie at Vancouver’s 2010 Olympic games.
You heard it here first: I predict Marc-Andre Fleury will be Canada’s third goalie at next year’s Olympics. And when Canada plays Russia for the gold medal (you know it’ll come down to these two), Varlamov can get his rematch with Fleury.
Stay classy, Marc-Andre Fleury.Add SC.net on Facebook or follow us on Twitter.
What about Steve Mason? I think at this point, based on their respective seasons, he’s got to be ahead of Carey Price and Marty Turco… and probably J.S. Giguere too.
I’d bet Canada’s 3rd goalie will be a battle between Ward and Mason and it will come down to who’s having a better season.
I thought about Mason, but his playoff performance was pretty weak. Maybe after he’s named rookie of the year.