Successful sports organizations have one common denominator- STABILITY.

 

Prince Cougar fans can only hope that new Head Coach Dean Clark remains behind the bench over the long haul because the short term fixes haven't worked in the past.

 

The 45-year-old Clark is the Cougars 5^th coach in six years. History shows that struggling franchises make that many panic moves.
  

However, one certainly can't question the new man's credentials. Clark has 12 seasons of WHL experience (Calgary (1996-2001), Brandon (2001-2003) and Kamloops (2003-2007) and a winning record (382-253-61). If he can get along with his bosses, General Manager Dallas Thompson, and his father-in-law, and owner Rick Brodsky, then this would seem to be a good fit.
  

While Clark had winning teams in Calgary (including a league championship in 1999) and Brandon, that success didn't carry over in Kamloops, although the Blazers asked him to be the GM as well.
  

A 5-year contract is longer than most coaches receive, but that doesn't mean that the marriage between the two sides will last nearly that long. If it does, then finally the Cougars would be on the right path, which will be a welcome change.

 

*

 

I don’t know about you, but, with the exception of the Carolina-New Jersey series, there seemed to be something lacking in the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

 

I am not sure why I feel this way. Is it because Vancouver won so easily? Perhaps, Montreal’s quick exit is the reason? Does the lack of marathon overtimes in any game have something to do with this empty feeling?

At any rate, here's my analysis, in order of finish, on round one.

 

 

 

Although most BC prognosticators forecasted Vancouver to win I didn’t hear one person predict a sweep. The Canucks were much better on specialty teams (4 for 18 power-play & 23 for 24 penalty kill) and Roberto Luongo was superior to ex PG Cougar Chris Mason in goal as Vancouver outscored St Louis 11-5. Alex Burrows showed his effectiveness (3 goals and a plus 3); doesn’t that 4-year, $8 million contract extension he signed this season look like a bargain?

This was a pathetic performance for the once mighty Habs who ended their 100th season with a whimper. The Bruins dominated every aspect of this series and outscored the Canadiens 17-6.

Some Montreal fans should feel ashamed for booing the American national anthem and then unloading the catcalls on Cariboo native Carey Price. The 21-year-old Price tried to defend himself by raising his arms in the air (ala Patrick Roy), but clearly his confidence has been shaken.

 

 

Detroit unleashed too much fire-power (outscoring Columbus 18-7) and had too much experience.
The only surprise was that Chris Osgood outplayed the super rookie Steve Mason in goal.

 

 

 

I expected more from the Flyers, who inexcusably blew a 3-0 lead in game six (a 5-3 season ending setback). Pittsburgh outscored Philly 18-16, but the Penguins had the more timely goals and Marc Andre Fleury was much sharper in net than Martin Biron.

 

Same old story for the Flames; beaten in the first round for the 4th straight year. And to think that we were led to believe that Calgary made the biggest splash at the trade deadline acquiring the overrated Ollie Jokinen. Miikka Kiprusoff looked tired and the youthful Hawks were hungrier.

 

 

Anaheim 4-2 over San Jose

Somewhere in Toronto, Ron Wilson is chuckling. After all, he was fired as the Sharks coach a year ago due to a lack of playoff success. Of course, with the Maple Leafs, Wilson didn't get that opportunity to lose quickly in the post-season. Joe Thornton, Patrick Marleau and the rest of the Sharks tanked performance certainly gives the comedy writers much needed material.

 

 

 

Not a great seven game series with Washington holding a wide territorial advantage, although the Rangers competed in game seven, something they failed to do in the two previous games. Seldom does a 20-year-old rookie goalie help a team recover from a 3-1 deficit, but Simeon Varlamov has already made the Capital fans forget the name Jose Theodore.

 

 

 

The last series to finish was clearly the best of the bunch. Yes, two overtime games, two other near OT games, five one goal games, and an amazing late comeback in game seven. Not bad for two non-glamour franchises.

  

 

The Army announced this week they will no longer accept drug addicts and felons. But the good news is there’s always Congress, the N.F.L., and show business. NBC's Jay Leno

 

A recent investigation found that drug manufacturers have dumped 271 million pounds of pharmaceuticals into waterways that serve as drinking water. So, it turns out Michael Phelps was getting higher swimming in the pool water than he was when he was using the bong.  Comedy writer Jerry Perisho http://monologuewriter.blogspot.com/

 

 

 

The eight-seeded Ducks, who eliminated the Top-seeded Sharks, received a congratulatory call from the Octo Mom.  Contributor Bill Littlejohn of South Lake Tahoe, California

 

Contributor Janice Hough of Palo Alto, California (www.leftcoastsportsbabe.com)

 

 

Since the stadium cost US$1.5-billion, does that mean the players are worthless? Len Berman of NBC, following a report from Forbest magazine that the New York Yankees are worth an estimated $1.5-billion.

 

If the NY Jets are going to change the start time of a game to allow people to be at home in time for the Jewish day of atonement, shouldn't the Maple Leafs start playing now to make up for last year?


For his 100th birthday Arthur Giddon became the batboy for the Boston Red Sox. Mr. Giddon is looking forward to next year as he will play the point on the Red Wings power play. Contributor Derek Wilken of Calgary (http://smacksport.blogspot.com/)

Participant in an ESPN hockey playoff quiz, when asked to name a Washington Capital.