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

[mikebr99]

Go Leafs Go

I can't wait for tonights game...

Doesn't look like Sundin is going to be ready for this one though. But we may have Zalk and Lumme back...

You gotta like the leafs for tonight. I don't think the Sens have that little extra grit needed to get by them. Mind you I could be wrong...

Even if the Sens win tonight, they shouldn't be celibrating too much, since they are essentually beating up on the farm team (St. John's Baby Leafs), not the real thing.

 

[Holy Bovine]

Mikebr99 - I just noticed you are from Picton - I'm from Belleville originally - we're practically nieghbours!!

(sorry I get all dorky when i see someone from my old stomping grounds)

Your right about the Sens beating the farm team though - jeez even one of the replacement players had to be replaced!

I am pulling for the Leafs because they have shown more tough-playing, gritty hockey than any other team out there.

GO LEAFS GO

 

[Quickbeam]

Just a reminder, everyone...

I predicted the Leafs would beat the Isles in seven games, winning the final contest by a 3-2 or 4-3 score. Had Mogilny not managed that empyt netter, I would have been right on the money. For this series versus the Sens, I again predicted a seven game struggle resulting in a fantastic CuJo performance on home ice, placing the Leafs in the Conference Finals.

This post may be premature, but even if it is, you've got to be impressed with Toronto's determination to keep plugging away despite all their injuries. I have nothing against Ottawa, and rather like their squad, but the Leafs have been warriors this playoff season...I just wish they hadn't taken several cheap shots at Peca and others along the way.

 

[Moulin Rogue]

Not bad on the prediction QB! So are the Leafs really that good or did Ottawa choke again? I don't think there's much hope against the Canes though.

Anyone else see Bettman in the 2nd intermession on HNIC? What a weasely little politician he is.

 

[Welverin]

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.

Of course the way Carolina had been out shooting them it may have only been a matter of time. Who knows though how Carolina would have reacted to losing that game, maybe they would have gone on to lose the series.

I think the Persson hit on Domi cost Ottawa the series against Toronto the same way Therrien?s cost Montreal. I?d bet that game would ended similarly to Car/Mon game six otherwise. Instead Toronto got all the momentum on their way home to game 7.

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.

Did they get anything worthwhile for him? Anyway be thankful Mike Milbury's not running the team.

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 .

No problem, wasn?t really serious about any of it. I was mostly just surprised there were no comments at all (and a little bump to boot).

And I?m sure Bettman would much prefer a NY (Rangers or Isles) vs. LA or Detroit final every season. Of course I?d like to see a better commissioner.

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.

I?m with on this, but just because I?m sick of seeing the Avs.

This post may be premature, but even if it is, you've got to be impressed with Toronto's determination to keep plugging away despite all their injuries. I have nothing against Ottawa, and rather like their squad, but the Leafs have been warriors this playoff season...I just wish they hadn't taken several cheap shots at Peca and others along the way.

I feel the same way, it?s almost funny to hear Tucker whine about people calling his hit on Peca was a cheap shot, but Yzerman?s and Alfredsson?s weren?t. Though I don?t feel sorry for Peca after reading about how he spent all his time on the ice whacking at Sundin?s wrist.

Originally posted by mikebr99 Doesn't look like Sundin is going to be ready for this one though. But we may have Zalk and Lumme back...

Zalk? You mean Valk don?t you? If so how?d you hit ?Z? by accident?

Originally posted by Moulin Rogue Not bad on the prediction QB! So are the Leafs really that good or did Ottawa choke again? I don't think there's much hope against the Canes though.

I wouldn?t call it choking, but the Leafs definitely aren?t that good with all the injuries. After blowing the lead in game 6 (and ultimately the game), I just don?t think they had anything left emotionally. I?d say they had their heart ripped out (like the Habs), and Roberts wouldn?t let the same thing happen to the Leafs.

Anyone else see Bettman in the 2nd intermession on HNIC? What a weasely little politician he is.

Not on HNIC, but weasel buy did show up on ESPN and I bet he sounded just the same.

 

[mikebr99]

Mikebr99 - I just noticed you are from Picton - I'm from Belleville originally - we're practically nieghbours!!

(sorry I get all dorky when i see someone from my old stomping grounds)

GO LEAFS GO

Hey HB...
I grew up in Belleville myself. Where did you end up???

*Snip*
Anyone else see Bettman in the 2nd intermession on HNIC? What a weasely little politician he is.
*Snip*

Tell me about it... I think if he had touched Ron any more they would have been dating...


GO LEAFS GO!!!

 

[Quickbeam]

The Leafs proved me right again! Before I continue patting myself on the back, I'll respond to other questions and comments first

Moulin Rogue:
No, the Leafs really aren't that good, but then again neither were the NFL's New England Patriots this past season. Toronto just keeps finding enough left in the tank to eke out 4 victories and advance. If you look at the games they've lost thus far, most have been pretty lopsided, while their triumphs have been much more closely contested overall. And Bettman did come off pretty weasley and smarmy during the interview. What bugged me, was that he essentially deflected the questions about the league's excitement at having different teams (like the Sharks, Sens, and Hurricanes) advancing farther into the playoffs than usual AND the strong Canadian presence in this year's postseason. I'm American and LOVE the fact that Canada still has a rooting interest this year, and would have preferred an all-Canadian Eastern Conference Finals to insure representation in the Cup Finals.

Welverin:
1) I agree that the Persson hit on Domi ultimately turned the tide in Toronto's favor and cost Ottawa a spot in the Eastern Conference Finals. Ditto Therrien's bench minor for the Canadiens.
2) Detroit got zippo for Ward...except for Bowman being happy that Aaron had moved on. Every team has stories like this, but it really irks Wings' fans to see so many quality players released or traded for garbage reasons: Oates; Ward; Graves; Primeau; etc.
3) Aren't we ALL sick of seeing the Avs ?!?

Back to my personal rantings...I hope the Sharks prevail this evening. Namely because I predicted they'd win the series (albeit in six games) and because I'm tired of Colorado. However, should the Avs win tonight, the hockey world will be treated to yet another classic Wings/Avalanche series. See ya back here tomorrow.

 

[Purple]

Yeah buddy! Great game, and the Avs won. Don't bet against St. Patrick.

Anyway, it was a great game, and I'm hoping that the finals will go 7. I think that the Avs will get killed in the first game, but it will end up very close. Has any team ever won 3 seven game series in the same year?

And Quickbeam? One can never be sick of seeing the Avs.

-Purple

 

[Welverin]

However, should the Avs win tonight, the hockey world will be treated to yet another classic Wings/Avalanche series. See ya back here tomorrow.

It's just not the same since Lemieux moved on. Unless of course someone else gets their face turned to mush.

 

[Nightfall]

Well I don't know Wel, we got two nut cases in both Roy and Hasek in net...I'm think this will be even better than the Shark series! Mike Keene is also back but I do wish they'd kept Shjon Podein. He's been a favorite of mine since he was with the Flyers. I'm glad he won a Cup last year, but I wish they'd kept him for one more season.

Eastern conference wise, this will be a snoozer, even with the BBC line (which you can again thank Clarke for, not that I will ever thank that ungrateful SOB for ruining the flyers) BUT at least with Cole on that line, they got some REAL skill and speed. THough I don't know about ole stonehands Brindamor. Still a consistant guy nonetheless.

My vote, Toronto and the Avs meet after the Avs go ANOTHER seven games (boy they love 7 don't they? Well when you have Seven up next to Pespi I guess you expect these things) while the Leafs get an pretty easy series in only six games. My vote, Avs in six, though Toronto will go down swinging all the way.