My dear hockey friends, please forgive my absence from this thread the past few days. I'll attempt to catch up starting with posts from 4/27, without needlessly reiterating the same old commentary.
skulrik:
You aren't dreaming -- the Sens won a playoff series! And Roenick was not the Flyers problem. Their goalies are weak, and their forwards were all banged up. And don't forget that the Flyers have a habit (much like Ottawa) or early round exits.
As for the Sharks beating Phoenix, you say who cares. I say, we should all care, because San Jose could make it to the Finals...although, I'm hoping it's my Wings from the West.
As for the Canadiens and Theodore, they looked great against Boston...just one more win, and it's gonna be the toughest one to obtain.
Holy Bovine:
I agree. The hit on Peca was clean (although going for the knees is chickensh*t), while the hit on Johanssen was cheap. Roberts deserved a game misconduct, but that's about all.
Also ROFL
at the Red Wings victory tirade!
Tom Cashel:
LOL. Spoken like a true fan of the blue shirts.
Agamon:
I picked the Habs to advance, but don't count Boston out yet. BTW, what's your plan for the Theodore figure tonight
?
Everyone posting on the Wings/Canucks series:
1) I told you that Cloutier was not a very good goalie.
2) King_Stannis makes a good point. All it takes is one timely goal, a fluke bounce or a hard hit to change the tone of a series. In Games 1 and 2 Vancouver got most of the breaks, while Detroit hit all the proverbial posts. Then in Game 3, it all just changed with one long goal.
3) I tip my hat to the Canucks for their excellent play the second half of the season. And for all you Vancouver fans, take heart. You've got one of the best young teams in the league, and I'm betting that you'll be making noise in the playoffs for several years to come.
4) Thanks for all of the witty banter exchanged during this series.
5)
GO WINGS!!!
Lady Dragon:
If the U.S. had only six teams in the league, I'm betting that you might be a bit more vocally supportive of ALL those squads instead of just one. Still the fine folks in British Columbia, Quebec, Alberta, etc., really don't care which team Windsorites root for...and I'll bet that for every Wings fan across the river there's a Leafs fan standing right next to 'em.
Chairman_Kaga:
The Devils are a good team or they wouldn't have won two of the last seven Stanley Cups, and narrowly missed winning a third. No argument that their trapping style is
BORING, but that doesn't diminish the talent on their team. Please be honest about the East -- it's weak, otherwise the Buffalos, Carolinas and Pittsburghs of the world wouldn't win a series or two every year. The 7th and 8th seeds in the West would beat any of the Eastern Conference teams in a seven game series.
Holy Bovine again:
Agreed as noted above. The Devils play an unbelievably boring brand of hockey and I'm happy to see them vanquished. But other than the Habs, none of the Eastern Conference teams play a consistently entertaining style. Goodness knows there aren't hockey analysts writing lengthy articles on the offensive juggernaut that is the Carolina Hurricanes!!
T-Bill:
Thanks for the kind words!! What's the best way for me to review the material available so that I can make a wise selection?
I'm sorry that the Canucks fell apart, but perhaps the experience will help the squad take another step next year. Also, don't forget about our potential plans to hit a game together next season. It would be a great time!!
Agamon:
I love your Rome analogy
. Also, what you say about Chelios is true. When he was with Chicago, there was no player in the league (except perhaps Wendell Clark) that Detroiters hated more. Now we love him. Does he play dirty? Does he take cheap shots? Sure. But anyone who attacks the way Chelly plays is being hypocritical if they've ever cheered for Tie Domi or Claude Lemieux or a hundred others. Be honest like MulhorandSage, and admit you hate him because he does whatever it takes to beat your team! If he played in Vancouver or Toronto or Montreal (again), he'd be one of the most poular players in Canada. Heck even Don Cherry like the guy, despite the fact that he's American
.
McLaren's suspension:
It should have been for about 6-7 games. Enough to affect the next series to some degree, if Boston advanced. The hit wasn't a deliberate attack on Zednik with intent to injure, but it was reckless and dangerous and needs to be punished. I think the league went easy on McLaren, though I'm not sure why.
Tom Cashel:
L.A. should have beaten the Avs last year, and in truth have played well enough this year to already be in the second round. Colorado is lucky to be in a Game 7 at this point, and I have no guess (or preference) as to who will win. I don't like the Avs at all, and playing the Kings would give us a chance to avenge last years's collapse. However, I'm not too keen on having Detroit play it's second consecutive west coast team...especially since I think the Sharks will advance into the third round. That's a lot of travel and wear and tear on old bodies.
