[OT] Hockey Fever: The NHL Playoffs Thread Part II

[madriel]

Good point MR - they showed how many regular Leafs were out for the rest of the playoffs - 10 if your include Bourasso.

Egads that is just about half the team isn't it?!

The officating tonight was hit and miss - meaning we should be hitting refs when they miss those obvious calls!!!

Sad how poor the officating has gotten under the 2 ref system isn't it?

Twice as many refs = twice as many missed/questionable calls

 

[Welverin]

Originally posted by madriel Sad how poor the officating has gotten under the 2 ref system isn't it?

Twice as many refs = twice as many missed/questionable calls

The thing that bothers me the most is that the refs seem to be intentionally letting things go.

 

[Quickbeam]

Sorry about my absence...

Sereval comments and replies in no particular order:

-- Why should Wings fans brag? Our mission is not yet accomplished, and to gloat now would be innapropriate and in bad taste . I'm not surpirsed the Vancouver series was tough given their play the second half of the season, but I'm shocked at how poorly the Blues represented themselves in Round 2 versus Detroit. However, I'll take the extra few days of rest for my squad of aging legends !! Into the next round...GO WINGS!!!

-- I said the Leafs/Sens series would go seven games, and so it shall. I can't believe that Toronto is still hanging around given the incredible number of injuries their team has sustained. Regardless of what happens, I tip my cap to them.

-- Carolina just keeps amazing me. I'd still love to see Montreal prevail, but that Game 4 third period collapse really seems to have destroyed Theodore's confidence. Furthermore, his defense has been invisible...where are the Hab checkers and grinders? How are the Hurricane forwards finding so much room to operate? The Canadiens can still win this series, but Carolina is slowly making a believer out this hockey fan.

-- The Sharks are better than the Avs this year folks, accept the truth. Embrace the reality of what I'm telling you. If it weren't for Peter Forsberg, this series would already be over...period. And worse than the Habs defense, are the Colorado blueliners. They've been absolutely pitiful, and I hope that trend continues tonight. We have family in San Jose, and I'd like to see a Wings/Sharks Western Conference Finals.

-- Finally, I agree with all of you who've railed about the poor officiating in this year's playoffs. I cannot recall a year when the postseason officiating has been so crappy. It's a shame, because it's led to more injuries and less exciting hockey. And what's worse, a sport that had been recognized as having the best postseason playoffs, now is being viewed as barbaric and ugly once again. That's a crying shame .

 

[Chairman_Kaga]

A Wings/Canes Stanley Cup Final...is looking more probable than not right now...

Be afraid...be very afraid...

 

[Purple]

Anyone else up watching the Avs-Sharks? I keep telling myself that I should just go to bed, but it's overtime. I'm not really confident of the Avs chances because they don't seem to be all that good in OT, but I guess we'll see. Go Avs!

Also, way to go 'Canes. Kind of a shocking score, but I guess Game 4 really turned the series.

-Purple

 

[Welverin]

Re: Sorry about my absence...

-- Why should Wings fans brag?

Hey! I said celebrate (exactly what I would do if the Flyers got out to the conference finals).

I fear for the chances of the Sharks after losing game six at home like that. Hope they can come baack strong so I can see a SJ/Car final, new blood!

 

[Schmoe]

Anyone else up watching the Avs-Sharks? I keep telling myself that I should just go to bed, but it's overtime. I'm not really confident of the Avs chances because they don't seem to be all that good in OT, but I guess we'll see. Go Avs!

I saw it, and what a game! I don't get to watch as many of the games as I'd like, but this one was well worth it. Easily one of the most exciting I've seen so far this playoff season. And that play to end it in overtime - man, I'm in awe.

On a related note, did anyone hear John Buccigras (sp?) gushing about the game on NHL2Nite? He seemed quite the fanboy. It was kind of cute, though I don't think Melrose held the same sentiment.

 

[Quickbeam]

OMG...what the @#^&%$ happened to Montreal?!? They were less than one period away from taking a commanding 3-1 series advantage before their coach took a stupid penalty for running his mouth. The next thing you know, Carolina has scored 18 goals in the subsequent seven periods of hockey and crushed the Habs!! I guess they're for real. BTW, anyone else notice that one of the Hurricanes top defenseman is a player (Aaron Ward) that Scotty Bowman sent packing for no good reason? I love Bowman as a coach for about one thousand different reasons, but his ego occasionally leads him to toss aside some very good players. The Wings sorely need a stay-at-home bruising blueline player like Ward. C'est la vie I suppose.

Welverin:
Sorry for misquoting you. I understand why you'd want to celebrate a trip to the Conference Finals, but for Wings' fans the real test is yet to come. As for a Carolina/San Jose final...well let's just say that Gary Bettman and the entire NHL media machine are praying for anything but that scenario .

Purple & Schmoe:
I missed the game, but wasn't surprised to learn that St. Patrick stood tall when the Avs needed him most. It's hard to believe that Colorado hasn't already been knocked out of the playoffs given their erratic performance this year, but they continue to come up big when it counts most. I just hope that pattern fades so Detroit can advance to their fourth Stanley Cup Finals since '95.

 

[skulrik]

It's cruel, but it's sports.

That is there. It is finished for the Canadiens. I am a little bit disappointed, because I am convinced that we could have beaten the Carolina, but they play better than us, and it is correct. They have a knee on the ground, and they stand-up. I have respect for this team now. Paul Maurice is a gentlement coach. After the final defeat, I surprised myself not to hate the Hurricanes. How can one hate a team which works so extremely. I wish them good luck.

I want to thanks the Canadiens, for this fantastic year, full with emotions.

Thank you Captain Saku, to have fought so extremely against the disease. You are an example of courage for the whole world. I know that there is hope, when I see somebody like you.

Thank you Doug Gilmour, you are a true warrior. Return with us the next year.

Thank you Theo, you are the best. Continu your good work. We love you.

Thank you coach. Sometimes one lose because of the emotion, but more often one gains. Continue to be as you are.

Thank you to all the team, because from now, I know that you can win every evening. I am in a hurry already at the next year.

Good luck to the teams which will make the conferences finales. From now, my heart goes with Toronto and Ottawa.

 

[Purple]

It has been a great year for playoff hockey. While I was rooting for the Habs in the East, I'm really impressed at how well Carolina has played, knocking out the Devils and now Montreal. I could actually see them getting to the finals now, where that would have been a laughable thought before the playoff's started.

The game last night between the Avs and Sharks was actually so good that I almost thought (for a moment) that it wouldn't have made me too mad even if Colorado had lost, it was that good. Finally some defence, and both Roy and Nabokov were great. While I think that Colorado can pull it out tomorrow night, either way I'm going to enjoy the game.

And especially when the Avs win.

-Purple