Polemic Hockey

The mainstream hockey commentariot routinely creates a false choice between skillful play and fighting, as if every player in the league is either a derivation of Wayne Gretzky or Bob Probert. This is an ESPN highlight package view of the game: one that only shows goals, extremly hard - usuallt injury causing- hits, and fights.

Lost in the deck is the majority of the actual game; all of the "little things" that set the stage for goals, knockdowns and fisticuffs. This is where the Ducks excelled and largely won the series. Indeed, the turning point of the series was a long shift that the Ducks 4th line, with Brad May on it, had in the opening game against the Sens' top line. They kept the Sens bottled in the defense zone defending their cycle and absorbing several hard hits. The absolute crucial play was an open ice hit that Brad May put on Jason Spezza as Spezza tried to skate the puck out of the zone.

Spezza, his line, and the Sens were not the same after that hit. Spezza committed numerous unforced errors, the team grew frustrated and the defense broke down.

Scoring, finesse and skill are important and exhilirating aspects of hockey. What makes hockey feral and thrilling is that "finesse" players have to be tough enough to take a figurative punch from a player like May and still work their magic. Spezza and the Sens had the skills but not the guts. The Ducks had the guts that made room for their skills. That is why they won handily.