The Superstar Under The Radar
Unsurprisingly, after the first week, a Washington Capital is leading the league in scoring.
And it is NOT Alexander Ovechkin.
Ah, but it is Alexander Semin, right?
Nope.
It is none other than their linemate, Nicklas Backstrom, who is most likely the most underrated young star in the NHL. Backstrom, who is only 21 years old, is leading the league with 10 points… and thats only after he scored his first 2 goals of the season tonight against the Rangers. Yes, he had 8 assists in his first two games. The Swede, whos game is comparable to fellow countrymen Peter Forsberg, is extremely strong on the puck, a fantastic passer and is the perfect compliment to superstars such as Mike Green, Ovechkin, and Semin, on the super-loaded Caps. Backstrom, who had 88 points last year, is primed for a 100-point season.
Hockey Tidbits:
- Michael Del Zotto and Matt Gilroy became the first rookie pair of Rangers defensemen to score in a game since 1990 when they each scored against the Devils on Monday.
- John Tavares wasn’t the only highly touted teenager to gain at least a point in his debut. Matt Duchene, who by some was seen as the best player in this year’s draft, obtained a point as well in his debut for the Colorado Avalanche.
-Speaking of the Avs and teenagers, they are the first team to start two 18 year olds on opening night since the Winnipeg Jets did it in 1995.
-Speaking of the formerly Winnipeg Jets, the Phoenix Coyotes are seen these days as a lowly franchise. But that hasn’t stopped them from winning their first two games of the season 2 years in row. It also hasn’t stopped them from consistently being at or near the basement of their division.
-Ray Emery, in his debut with the Flyers, pitched a shutout in beating the Hurricanes 2-0. The last goalie to pitch a shutout in his debut for the Flyers was Roman Cechmanek, who beat the Sabres 3-0 on November 4th, 2000.
Cards-Dodgers Thoughts
After Chris Carpenter and the Cardinals offense in the late innings faltered in game one, the pressure falls sqaurely on Adam Wainwright to do the job in game two. ESPN’s Steve Phillips, who is calling the Yankees-Twins series with John Miller on ESPN Radio, thinks that Wainwright will be successful in game number two.
“I think Wainwright can beat the Dodgers, but he’s going to be a little more consistent than Chris Carpenter was in Game 1.” Phillips told SprungOnSports, and then said that the way Los Angeles used their bullpen in game one can be used with success throughout this series and the postseason.
“Starting pitching tends to be the key in these short series.” Phillips said. “But the way Joe Torre used his bullpen in Game 1 might allow the Dodgers to create a new vehicle for success in October baseball. I agree that the Dodgers have the best bullpen in the game and it offers Torre great versatility for just about any situation. It’s not necessarily the best way to do things of giving them a short leash and yanking them in the first sign of trouble, but it might work this time around. This is going to be an interesting series going forward.”
Division Series Day Two Preview
Rockies @ Phillies Game 2- 2:37 p.m. TBS- Pitching usually wins in the postseason, and that definitely held true in Wednesday’s game one. After an awful September, Cliff Lee came at the Colorado offense with all he had, throwing a complete game six-hitter. The only run he gave up in the game was a Troy Tulowitzki RBI double in the ninth as Lee and the Phillies got Rocktober off to a bad start by beating Colorado 5-1. It looked like Rockies starter Ubaldo Jimenez would be able to keep up with Lee, but ran into a little bit of trouble in the fifth and a whole lot of trouble to begin the sixth. The middle of the Phillies order; Ryan Howard, Jayson Werth and Raul Ibanez went 6-11 with four RBI’s and four runs scored. Lee didn’t walk a single batter as his 113 pitch masterpiece meant that the Phils bullpen would not be needed. Colorado will look to avoid a 2-0 hole with Aaron Cook (11-6, 4.16, 1.41) on the hill. Cook allows more than a hit per inning pitched, which could be a troubling sign at Citizens Bank Park. Against the Phillies this season, Cook is 0-1 with a 4.91 ERA in two starts, including allowing three runs in five innings on the road on August 6. In his only postseason start in the 2007 World Series, Cook allowed three runs in six innings and took the loss. Today’s game two starter for the Phillies has enjoyed just a little but of postseason success, but didn’t have as good a regular season as he would have liked. Cole Hamels (10-11, 4.32, 1.29) had a rough go of it this season, including allowing seven runs over 3 2/3 against Colorado in their April 10 opener. Despite pitching in a hitters ballpark, Hamels’ ERA is 3.75 at home, so the game two start should benefit him. The 2008 NLCS and World Series MVP has a sterling 4-1 record with a 2.16 ERA in six starts. Game two starts at 2:37 p.m.
Cardinals @ Dodgers Game 2- 6:07 p.m. TBS- In his postseason career and in his postseason career, St. Louis’ game one starter Chris Carpenter barely gave up two runs every nine innings. Thanks to Dodgers star CF Matt Kemp, he gave that up without recording an out in game one after a Rafael Furcal single and a two-run jack by Kemp. That set the tone for the Dodgers to score four runs off of Carpenter in five innings and provide for a 5-3 game on win at Chavez Ravine. LA starter Randy Wolf seriously labored through his start, giving up six hits and five walks over 3 2/3, but allowed just two runs. The dominant Dodger bullpen then came in to rescue Wolf, led by winning pitcher Jeff Weaver. St. Louis will throw the second of their two dominant starters, NL wins leader Adam Wainwright (19-8, 2.63, 1.21) to pitch game two. Wainwright has dominated NL pitching this year, including the Dodgers, who he’s given up just two runs to in 15 innings. Wainwright was a tremendous 12-1 on the road this season with a 3.39 ERA. Wainwright was the closer for the 2006 World Series champions, and allowed no runs in 9 2/3 while saving four games. This will be his first postseason start. It will also be the first playoff start for 21-year-old lefty phenom Clayton Kershaw (8-8, 2.79, 1.23) who allowed two runs in just under 12 innings against St. Louis this season. Kershaw’s home ERA this season is a sparkling 1.83 in 88 innings and we’ll see if he can carry over this success into the postseason at 6:07 p.m.
Red Sox @ Angels Game 1- 9:37 p.m. TBS- Boston’s 95 wins this season was the third most in baseball, but they had to settle for the AL Wild Card. Their reward is the AL West Champion Los Angeles Angels, who they have played and defeated in the last two postseasons. Jason Bay’s first full season with the team was very good as he finished third in the AL in homers with 36 and second in RBI’s with 119. Boston’s rotation has always been good, this year led by game one starter Jon Lester (15-8, 3.41, 1.23) who finished with 225 strikeouts and the fifth best ERA in the league. He did not face the Angels this season but has a very solid 3.86 road ERA in 115 innings this season. His postseason stats are remarkable for a 25 year old. He’s 2-2 in seven appearances and five starts, including two in the ALDS against the Angels last year when he allowed just one run in 14 innings. He knows what it takes to win in the postseason and that’s why he’s getting the ball instead of Josh Beckett. The LA Angels may not have any well-known sluggers, but all their hitters bat around .300, are fast and very patient. Bobby Abreu, Kendry Morales and Chone Figgins lead a balanced attack that also includes Vlad Guerrero, Torii Hunter and Juan Rivera who all have their fair shares of postseason experience. Another player who also has a wealth of playoff reps is game one starter John Lackey (11-8, 3.83, 1.27) who got a tough luck loss to Boston this season and has the same ERA at home that Lester does on the road this season (3.86). Lackey has a long postseason history dating back to their championship year of 2002, and is 2-3 with a 3.39 ERA in 11 appearances and nine starts including a 2.63 ERA in 14 innings against Boston in last year’s ALDS. It should be a great battle from Anaheim tonight as the Angels try to make the third time in a row against Boston the charm. Lackey will throw the first pitch at 9:37 p.m.
