Passing The Trash Has Become As Common As Passing The Puck

What are the playoffs without a little trash talking? The Philadelphia Flyers and Tampa Bay Lightning got into the spirit of things in the Eastern Conference quarterfinals by calling each other cheap-shot artists.

Heck, Lightning fans even threatened to beat up a Philadelphia columnist for things he had written.

Well, the Western Conference has finally joined the fray.

The Colorado Avalanche and Chicago Blackhawks careened into Game 5 of their best-of-seven semifinal series Saturday night - they were tied at two victories apiece - to the tune of Avalanche goalie Patrick Roy and Blackhawks center Jeremy Roenick exchanging pointed barbs.

Seems that Roenick, never known as a shrinking violet, thought he should have been awarded a penalty shot after being tripped on a breakaway during the first overtime of Colorado’s 3-2 triple-overtime victory on Wednesday.

Roy, perhaps the only goaltender ever to trade himself, said it wouldn’t have mattered had Roenick gotten the free shot.

“I can’t really hear what Jeremy says,” Roy said. “I got my two Stanley Cup rings plugging my ears.”

Did you know?

The Blues scored on their first three shots in Wednesday’s 5-4 overtime victory over Detroit.