NHL Playoffs 2006: Round II

[Knightfall]

Tarnation! What the hell was that? No way Brindamor should have had that. Not that it's Markov's fault, that's just bad, bad defensive work.

Agreed, the Oilers gave the puck away, but I think J. Smith was in good position to defend. The puck simply stunned him and, like I said, the puck went right to Public Enemy #1.

I detest that guy, he's such a jerk.

But, thet's his game. If he played for the Oilers, I'd totally respect him.

 

[Nightfall]

Oh I respect Brindy. I just wish I knew WHY he couldn't do this kind of crap when he played for the Flyers.

In any case if you say so about the goal being lucky. I attribute it more to sloppy play than luck. But there you are.

 

[Agamon]

I have to admit, I didn't get a good look at the winning goal (I was at a party), but did Smyth actually shoot that in? It kinda looked like it just went in with him. Whatever works though, eh?

Gotta respect Brind'Amour. He's one of the hardest working players in the league. I wouldn't quite rank him up with Yzerman, but damn close. And the dude is ripped. How he's played hockey all these years with that muscle tone and not get injured all the time is beyond me.

Anybody catch Jim Rome the day after Game 1? Some dude from Edmonton called in, calling Rod ugly. Eric Cole hears this as he's driving, calls in, and says that nothing is as ugly as the cough-up that led to the game-winner in Game 1. Zing.

 

[devilbat]

Edmonton played well, and Markkanen was very good. The Oilers earned that victory.

I detest that guy, he's such a jerk

I skated with Rod Brind'amour when I was fifteen, and he was eighteen. He was friends with my hockey coaches kid, as they attended school together.

Brind'amour was huge, even back then, and he spent the better part of an hour charging and checking (hammering) my teammates. It was supposed to be a lesson in toughness, but he came off as a real prick, even at eighteen.

Times like that, I was glad I played goal.

 

[Lord Zardoz]

Just watching game 4 at the moment. Oilers are currently down by 1 in the 3rd period. Not insurmountable, but I dont have a good feeling about this.

The Oilers really need to tie this one up early. Ordinarily, I like the Oilers chances in overtime, but with Ward being as hot as he has been, its not something I want to see happen.

The best thing to happen right now would be a few unanswered goals in Edmontons favour. The Oilers need to go into game 5 with some momentum, and just squeaking by in the dying minutes of this game wont cut it.

END COMMUNICATION

 

[Agamon]

I watched Game 3 with no sound (a plus considering I couldn't hear the dinosaurs commentating) and there's something from tonight's game that I don't get. Maybe an Oiler fan can help me out with this one. Why are the fans at Rexall booing Weight? I don't get that. That would be like Habs fans booing Roy when he was an Av, or Flames fans booing Gilmour or MacInnis on the Leafs/Blues. Dude got traded because of the small market problems back then. He was arguably their best skater when he played there. Did he do something bad earlier in the series that I missed?

 

[Lord Zardoz]

Dammit

I had hoped for a more favorable outcome.

While it is still possible that Oilers can pull it out and come back from a 3-1 series deficit to take the cup, I just dont think that it can happen.

There are a few reasons I hold out hope though.

1) This game was kept close. If Carolina had won by 2 or more goals, I would be gutted.
2) The Oilers have alot of tradition on their side. Even after the final whistle the fans were chanting for the Oilers, despite the loss.
3) The Oilers play well as underdogs. And you cannot get much more underdog then they are now.
4) Sports fandom is a subrational process, and not subject to the objective realities of this situation.

Here is hoping that that Carolina gets blinded staring at the cup, or that several key Carolina players get stabbed. (I will take a cup for my team any way we can get it).

END COMMUNICATION

 

[Knightfall]

Oilers lost. Very disappointed.

They played good, but Carolina was better. Jussi was solid, but Ward was better. And the Oilers power play has run dry. If they don't get at least a couple power play goals in Game 5 then there won't be a Game 6.

Carolina is proving to be a great penalty killing team, and they block as many shots as the Oilers normally do.

I don't think the Oilers can come back from being down 3-1 in the series, but I'll still be cheering for them the rest of the way. Hopefully they can win Game 5 and get that chance to win Game 6 at home. Anything is possible, although it's an uphill battle the whole way now.

And even if they don't win Game 5, I'm proud of my team. Even making it to the finals is more than I could have ever dreamed when the playoffs started. The team will learn from this experience, either way.

I still believe, although it's a little harder to believe, tonight,

KF72
Go Oilers Go!

 

[Knightfall]

I watched Game 3 with no sound (a plus considering I couldn't hear the dinosaurs commentating) and there's something from tonight's game that I don't get. Maybe an Oiler fan can help me out with this one. Why are the fans at Rexall booing Weight? I don't get that. That would be like Habs fans booing Roy when he was an Av, or Flames fans booing Gilmour or MacInnis on the Leafs/Blues. Dude got traded because of the small market problems back then. He was arguably their best skater when he played there. Did he do something bad earlier in the series that I missed?

Weight was traded because the Oilers couldn't afford to pay what he felt he was worth. The Oilers would have lost him to Free Agency if they hadn't traded him, getting nothing in return. That was the reality.

"Weight wanted out of Edmonton, so he could play for a contender, which the Oilers weren't, at the time, and the Blues were." Now, that's the way many Oiler Fans see it. They felt betrayed that Weight wasn't willing to re-sign in Edmonton, for less money, forcing management to trade him, in order to get something back.

I, personally, wouldn't boo him. He left because the way the market was, there wasn't any choice, for him or for the team. Besides, that trade brought Marty Reasoner (who was a fan favorite) to Edmonton, which in turn brough Sergei Samsanov to Edmonton. (Please let him re-sign with Edmonton!!!)

Plus, we got Pronger from the Blues for almost nothing, so I consider it even. (Brewer was the only player in that trade that came off the Oilers' roster.) And now, Prong will be an Oiler for several years, at least.

Even if the Oil don't win the Cup this year, I'd say the future is looking awesome. All we need to do is re-sign Roloson, stick with one back up (not Conklin, please), and maybe get an all-star sniper.

Cheers!

KF72
Go Oilers Go!

 

[Welverin]

Yeah like for the past 10 years huh? Maybe 15. I know it's been longer than 5. Every year it's like "Gee let's see how much we can break NF's heart this season." I'm just like "Damn it! This year I'm cheering for the Sabres!" Too bad they didn't make it.

Pretty much since I started watching the NHL regularly (~10 yrs), though it probably goes back to the mid eighties.

Oh, as a Flyers fan how can you root for the Sabres, their like second tier villains (after the Devils and Rangers)?