WASHINGTON — It is as if the guardians of Truth, Justice and the North American way have found their cause célèbre with the case of Alexander Radulov and Andrei Kostitsyn, the Predators forwards who have all but been convicted of sedition for being out too late the night before a game.
These players have been attacked righteously, mercilessly and gleefully, turned into stereotypical cultural caricatures, because you know, no North American in the history of the Stanley Cup playoffs has ever imbibed too much or broken curfew.
We’re told by a trusted, uh, party that it was a couple of members of the media who ran off to Nashville management to tattle on Radulov and Kostitsyn. This is odd enough behavior in itself.
But it fits, even if somewhat obliquely, into the pattern in which “Russian” has somehow (and once again) become a pejorative in the NHL lexicon, because, you know, there’s no way on earth the Devils could win an overtime game with Ilya Kovalchuk and Alexei Ponikarovsky both on the ice at the same time.
It fits into a pattern in which it is deemed wise to play Alexander Ovechkin fewer than 14 minutes in a playoff game in which No. 8 himself actually scored the third-period winner because, by some accounts, he was “fresh.”
Did Radulov and Kostitsyn, respectively the Predators’ leading scorer and tied as leading goal-scorer in the playoffs, merit criticism and Game 3 benching for their indiscretion?
Yes they did. But the piling on was jingoistic and the Game 4 benching that followed in order that Nashville could keep a couple of more fourth-liners in the lineup against the Coyotes (and how did that work out anyway?) was representative of the reason Radulov fled Barry Trotz’s team in the first place.
* I’m confused. If the uncontrolled and quasi-sanctioned mayhem were the reason for impressive, precedent-setting television ratings during the first round of the playoffs as suggested by the macho men around the league, then what’s the explanation for the even more impressive ratings during a second round that has been played within bounds?
How could that be when, through Friday night, there had been more delay-of-game penalties for shooting the puck over the glass (seven) than fighting majors (six) in the conference semis?
* Yes, it’s true Jordan Staal, at the moment, stands to become an unrestricted free agent following 2012-13 and would be more likely to leave the Penguins than re-up with a chance at the open market.
But with the possibility free agent requirements could be changed in NHL teams’ favor in the new collective bargaining agreement, why would Pittsburgh GM Ray Shero even consider dealing Staal before he learns whether the Penguins would own his rights for at least another year?
* In honor of Midnight Man Marian Gaborik, here’s our franchise’s all-time No. 10s: 1. Billy Fairbairn, Rangers; 2. Gaborik, Rangers; 3. Lorne Henning, Islanders; 4. Pierre Larouche, Rangers; 5. Ron Duguay, Rangers. Honorable Mention: Esa Tikkanen, Rangers. …
Sending away the rights to Ryan McDonagh because someone in the Canadiens system didn’t think the defenseman would add enough to the offense has a place in the chapter about Montreal passing (twice) on Mike Bossy in the draft because a scout didn’t like the way he back-checked. …
Sean Avery, by the way, recently collected a chunk of change in a settlement with the league arising from a grievance he filed over the suspension he received for saying bad words in Calgary back in the day. …
The Wild, we’re told, plan to pony up for both Zach Parise and Ryan Suter if the pre-eminent impending unrestricted free agents get to July 1, which should make for an interesting competition if the Red Wings join the fight for both, as they are likely to do, whether or not Nick Lidstrom retires.
* No matter where you sit in the spectrum of sports in New York and New Jersey, there never before was anyone like Mariano Rivera and there never will be.
Same holds true for Martin Brodeur, who celebrates his 40th birthday today with a Game 4 assignment in nets against the Flyers, and who walked through our door to stay two years before The Great Rivera.
No goaltender in the NHL plays remotely the way Brodeur does, none ever will again, and no goaltender in the world comes close to having as much fun plying his trade.
Way back when, it was Brodeur against Ron Hextall in the playoffs. Now, Brodeur against Ilya Bryzgalov (or Sergei Bobrovsky). Always, Brodeur for the Devils.
And because we were reminded a few days ago that we never know how or when it’s going to end, this is the time to acknowledge the magnificent fortune we have had in these parts to have been able to watch The Great Brodeur for 18 seasons.