CHARLOTTETOWN, P.E.I. — The Stanley Cup final gets underway Monday and the Boston Bruins should be fresh, healthy and, likely, betting favourites thanks to a 10-day break after sweeping the upstart Carolina Hurricanes in four straight.
Goaltender Tuukka Rask has been sensational in the Stanley Cup playoffs and he’s been responsible for winning crucial games in series victories over Toronto, Columbus and Carolina. He is the clear front-runner for the prestigious Conn Smythe Trophy, awarded to the playoffs MVP.
St. Louis goaltender Jordan Binnington has been outstanding as the Blues sidelined the Winnipeg Jets and Dallas Stars before upsetting the San Jose Sharks to advance to the Stanley Cup final.
All this talk about the Conn Smythe Trophy has me thinking about my buddy Serge Savard Sr., the defenceman who won the MVP award while helping the Montreal Canadiens win the Cup in 1969 by sweeping the Blues.
The Blues have been playing a tough, physical brand of hockey, and one wonders after another punishing series if they’ll have enough left in the tank to get past the Bruins. Right now, it looks like the winning goalie earns the Stanley Cup and the Conn Smythe Trophy and it’s Rask in the spotlight.
If a goalie wins the award this year it will be 17th time since the award was first presented in 1965 to Montreal Canadiens centre Jean Beliveau.
Goalies to win the Conn Smythe include Roger Crozier (Detroit in 1966), Glenn Hall (St. Louis in 1968), Ken Dryden (the Canadiens in 1971), Bernie Parent (Philadelphia in 1974 and ’75), Billy Smith (New York Islanders in 1983), Patrick Roy (the Canadiens in 1986 and 1993 plus Colorado in 2001), Ron Hextall (Philly in 1987), Bill Ranford (Edmonton in 1990), Mike Vernon (Detroit in 1997), Jean-Sebastien Giguere (Anaheim in 2003), Cam Ward (Carolina in 2006), Tim Thomas (Boston in 2011) and Jonathan Quick (L.A. Kings in 2012).
Baseball
The Charlottetown Islanders, under head coach Doug Hines, make their home debut in the New Brunswick Senior Baseball League this afternoon at 2 p.m. at Memorial Field against the Chatham Ironmen.
The Islanders opened the season last Saturday in Saint John, N.B., losing two close ball games, 2-0 and 3-1. Islanders right-handed pitcher Darcy Affleck was very impressive in the opener, giving up two runs on two hits in six innings, while Saint John hurler Andrew Case, who struck out six in five innings, earned the victory. Grant Grady, Logan Gallant and Josh MacDonald accounted for the Islanders hits.
In Game 2, Charlottetown ace Jordan Stevenson fanned seven in four innings in losing a pitching duel with Pete Gehle, who struck out 11 Islanders in five innings. Taylor Larkin, Jonathan Arsenault and Nick MacPhail each had a hit for the local club.
“I was very surprised with the talent our young players showed, especially the catching ability of Logan Gallant,” said Hines.
New Brunswick league rumours earlier this year suggested Saint John, with terrific pitching, would be tough to beat and that appears to be the case. The young Island club could be a surprise team and this afternoon is a chance for baseball fans to get out and support what appears to be an up-and-coming club.
One has to wonder about the management of the Toronto Blue Jays in resting their biggest drawing card, Vladimir Guerrero Jr., in front of Monday’s holiday crowd against the Boston Red Sox. The phenom Guerrero attracted the biggest crowd of the year yet Blue Jays manager Charlie Montoyo decided to sit him, which was an insult to their fans.
These baseball guys must be watching Maple Leafs head coach Mike Babcock, who often has reduced the playing time of standout star Auston Mathews. Meanwhile Raptors head coach Nick Nurse played his star Kawhi Leonard 52 of the 58 minutes in the double overtime victory. I wonder if the Blue Jays and Maple Leafs can learn anything from the very efficient Nurse?
Harness racing
In harness racing news, the World Driving Championship got underway Friday at Solvalla race track in Stockholm, Sweden, but no results were available at press time.
At Yonkers, N.Y., tonight Mark MacDonald has the rail with Captain Malicious in the $380,000 Art Rooney final for three-year-old pacers. At Mohawk, two divisions of the Ontario Sires Stakes gold for three-year-old colts highlight tonight’s card.
Cape Breton conditioner Wayne McGean sends out Bronx Seelster from the rail in one race against colts like Stag Party from the 11-hole and nine others. Better Up looks like the best in the second division, also with 11 starters.
Wally Hennessey has moved his summer base from Saratoga to Tioga Downs and has a good-looking program this evening.
The local harness racing game was deeply saddened with the loss of Jordan Hicken this past week in a boating tragedy while fishing lobsters. My condolences to all connected to this young man who we’ve seen numerous times in the Charlottetown racetrack winner’s circle.
I also wish a speedy recovery to veteran horseman Horace MacKay of Tyne Valley, who is a patient in the Queen Elizabeth Hospital.
The $2,900 top class tonight at Red Shores at the Charlottetown Driving Park is a talented six-horse field with last week’s winner, Euchred, on the outside against Rose Run Quest in his seasonal debut plus Mick Dundee, Revenant, Half Cut and Adkins Hanover.
Fred MacDonald's column appears every Saturday in The Guardian. He can be reached at [email protected].
