Hawks, Wings Even Up Series
In the West, things are just getting started. The Blackhawks and Canucks have been trading games back and forth in their semifinal series. Andrew Ladd scored an overtime game-winner for Chicago in Game Four last night to tie the series at two games a piece for the ‘Hawks.
Back in California, Johan Franzen and Marian Hossa scored two goals each to lead the Wings over the Ducks. Detroit has now overcome a brief run by Anaheim to tie that series up 2-2 as well. There was even a fight in Thursday’s game. Francois Beauchemin gave Tomas Kopecky the business towards the end of the third period. We’ll have video of that tomorrow.
Boogaard’s “secret surgery” a success
It was common knowledge that Derek Boogaard was missing a good chunk of this past season due to injury problems. What exactly was wrong with him though, remained a mystery. Until now:
On the morning of April 21, Boogaard quietly slipped around to the back entrance of Tom Reid’s Hockey City Pub. Jacques Lemaire and his coaching staff, along with Doug Risebrough, were having a little get-together there, probably for the last time.
“I actually just got out of surgery,” Boogaard said. “I was pretty messed up. Doug came out. I just wanted to say thanks.
…
That he even remembers that conversation is an achievement. The surgical procedure that morning left him groggy. And it was a procedure we didn’t expect.
We knew that several of the Wild played through serious injuries. After the fact, we find out that Boogaard was among them. The labrum in his right shoulder was frayed so badly that he could not raise his arm over his head. Not good for an enforcer who makes his living throwing right-handed haymakers. The amazing thing is that he suffered the injury during the first week of November and played virtually the entire season with it. Doctors eventually went in and shaved off the frayed edges.
Boogaard also goes on to say that he’s now without pain and looking forward to next season. However, it’ll be interesting to see what the future holds for him now that Jacques Lemaire has stepped down as coach of the Wild. Derek openly admits that part of the reason he was able to keep a full-time NHL job was due in large part to Lemaire’s believe in him. Will Minnesota’s next head coach be as willing to use Boogaard as Lemaire was?
Videos added
Sandy McCarthy vs Brendan Witt Mar 9, 1998
Wade Belak vs Kris King Mar 4, 1998
Jim Johnson vs Dale Hunter Nov 18, 1992
Maxime Talbot vs Maxim Lapierre Feb 21, 2008
The clip from the Detroit-Anaheim game will be posted tomorrow.
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