Watched the chain of interviews related to Luongo on nhl.com. The words he says aren't like ultra insulting but the way he says it is pretty condescending. It's definitely not "I can't hear you with these Stanley Cup rings in my ears" type arrogant BS but it's something I sure wouldn't want my goalie saying, too. I'm sure I'm seeing it through the lens that the American media is giving me on some level, which I'm sure is very different from what the Canadian media is giving some of you given the players involved, but even fellow goalie/analyst Kevin Weekes seemed to think that was a lot of BS there. To me it comes off like Luongo was getting a little cocky after his shutout in Game 5 and started talking shit a little too early, but he may not have meant it that way. Julien was talking shit about Luongo's goals against in response which was just as silly, though. Regardless, it's kind of telling that in the followup interview Luongo kinda danced around it while not taking the chance to claim he WASN'T trying to slight Thomas when asked... I think that both sides would talk some shit is some of the fun of this series though, was a lot of emotion and hate both ways, that makes for fun hockey.
EDIT: I used the word arrogant here, but I don't think that's really the right description. I get the feeling Luongo getting a little aggressive in the media is more out of like a kind of defiance -- he's coming off a shutout up 3-2 in the SCF finals at that point with a gold medal under his belt and he's not getting respect and it's pissing him off a little. Different implication there, I think.
Fun notes: noticed Cam Neely (now team president) got to lift the cup when the Bruins won, too. He was kinda a funny forgotten face in all the "yay Ray Borque won a cup with another team all is right in the world now" shit since he, you know, didn't, so I guess it's kinda neat he got to as an executive.
Also, another thing I was rambling about to my parents last night that is a stat the half or so of us posting here from the US should appreciate Thomas for...
2 -- Americans who have won the Conn Smythe Trophy as MVP of the Playoffs. Boston goaltender Tim Thomas became the first American to win the trophy since the Rangers' Brian Leetch in 1994.
(Also worth noting: lot of talk last year about the Cup+Gold in one year for people like Toews, but how about the last 18 months for Bergeron? Amazing where he's come since the concussion crap started clearing up)
Interestingly this was the highest rated playoff game on NBC since the Ducks/Devils game 7 in 2003, which is impressive since Vancouver's local ratings don't contribute and both of those teams' did (and were in large markets if you count the Devils in with general metro NY area). Bostons' average rating was higher for the Bruins than the Celtics in their finals run, which makes me smile as a hockey guy.
Some other ridiculous stats on nhl.com
3 -- Decades in which Boston's Mark Recchi has won a Stanley Cup. Recchi was a member of Pittsburgh's championship team in 1991 and helped Carolina to the only Cup in franchise history in 2006 before earning his third Cup this year.
7 -- Points in the Final by Boston's Mark Recchi, who had 3 goals and 4 assists, including an assist on Boston's second goal. At age 43, Recchi tied with teammate Brad Marchand for the scoring lead during the Final
8 -- Goals scored by the Canucks in the Final, the fewest ever by a team in a seven-game Final. The previous record was 9, set by both Toronto and Detroit in the Leafs' seven-game victory in 1945.
11 -- Shorthanded goals scored in this year's playoffs. Six of them, including the one by Patrice Bergeron in the second period on Wednesday, were scored against the Canucks. Boston led all teams by scoring four shorthanded goals.
37 -- Saves by Boston goaltender Tim Thomas, giving him record 798 in this year's playoffs. His first save of the night snapped a tie with Kirk McLean, who made 761 saves for Vancouver in 1994, the last time the Canucks went to the Final.
and two from puck daddy
Zdeno Chara is the second European-born captain to win the Stanley Cup
Dennis Seidenberg joins Uwe Krupp as the only two Germans to have their names on the Cup
I'm super biased on this one since Lidstrom was the first, but after all the shit I heard for years about how teams couldn't win with a European captain or stars and that the Europeans didn't care, did Chara look like a guy who didn't care to anyone when you saw his reaction lifting the cup or playing goalie and blocking that shot with his knee last night?
Also, what a bunch of idiots:
A handful of cars were lit on fire. Police in riot gear attempted to march through the crowds, however, rioters threw objects at them, forcing them back. Several people were clearly shown on camera provoking the police, refusing to move. Officers shot tear gas into the crowds and pleaded on loudspeakers for people to clear the area, but the crowds remained.
Extra note: how scary are the Bruins moving forward? They'll lose Thomas soon and Recchi now, but Bergeron, Lucic, and Horton are young, Chara and Seidenberg probably have plenty in the tank, Marchand just broke the fuck out and there's still that Seguin guy waiting to get more ice time(and the #9 overall pick, great job Toronto!)... not to mention Rask to handle the goaltending when Thomas is gone. Great time not to be in that division!
