[OT] Hockey Fever: The NHL Playoffs Thread

[Desdichado]

skulrik: LOL, probably so. I've not gotten involved in the thread before, because it seemed pretty big to tackle, but after staying up until 1:30 AM to see that game, I figured I had to crow about it somewhere!

 

[Flexor the Mighty!]

It looks like Brent Johnson is the man in nets. If only he could play this well against Detroit in the second round...

3 straight shutouts!!!!!

G1: Blackhawks 2 at Blues 1
G2: Blackhawks 0 at Blues 2
G3: Blues 4 at Blackhawks 0
G4: Blues 1 at Blackhawks 0
G5: ?

Blues in 5 with a 3-2 win on Thursday.

 

[Teflon Billy]

T-Bill,

How goes life my friend?

Real good...hope the new addition to your family is all you hoped for

... I like your team, and (unfortunately) like your chances for advancing to the second round.

Man...I could just lift that entire sentence and paste it here to ecpress my feelings re: The Wings

1) Who cares how often the Wings have won in their last 11? It's what they do from here on out that matters, and you know it ! No more digressions from the matters at hand .

Yeah, you're right, I was just being a dink

2) We also chant, "Shoot the puck!" "Shoot the puck!" Occasionally our boys in red forget this basic concept in scoring .

Heh, not too often they don't

3) Luck sure as $#@*&! functions against the Wings...how many goals did the posts and crossbar save in games one and two?!? That said, the 'Nucks busted their collective rears to get back into last night's game, I agree.

Actually, I meant in terms of scoring on them (not avoiding being scored on by them). So to clarify: Luck doesn`t work when attempting to score on the Wings. Hard-working `garbage goals`are the best one can hope for.

4) Yzerman scored, not Shanny. For the record, Yzerman is the greatest player of his generation not named Gretzky or Lemieux...AND he's a better leader and all-around player than either of them. That's my not-so-humble opinion anyway.

Are you sure I would`ve sworn that it was Shanahan who knocked in that goal at the beginning of the third. If not, I`ve been wrong before

5) If (and that's a big if) the series goes seven, you may be right. I'll take the Wings in six, though.

I`ll repeat my prediction here: Canucks in 7 and go one further...

If your Red Wings take it in 6, you may choose any item from my ENnie awards review copies (you pay the shipping).

If the Canucks win in 7, you have to post a essay here about the futility of trying to purchase the Stanley Cup

Finally, next season you should come to Detroit for a game. We've got season tickets, and it would be cool to attend a game with a rival fan .

If I can find my way out east next year I will definitely take you up on it...of course, I will be wearing a jersey of the team that cost you guys the cup the previous year (well, maybe).

Nice to hear from you again man

 

[Hejdun]

Very ugly game for the Avs...if they don't win on Tuesday it will go 7.

You may yet get your wish. We won, but there were great performances on both sides. Potvin was supernatural, and fortunately for us, Roy was even better. Don't count out the Kings yet though, remember last year? Still, we may have the opportunity to end this right now. Coming off a win, coming back home, just what we need to clinch it.

 

[Quickbeam]

T-Bill:

Thanks for the rapid reply...here's my response right back at ya .

1) Griffin is doing very well, thanks for asking. He's almost doubled in weight already (he started out a bit small for a full term male baby), and looks to be developing into a strapping young Wings fan !! Our older boy starts tee ball this evening, and I'll be coaching his team for the second straight season. I'd swear that I'm more excited about this than he is.

2) We agree. Both teams look good on paper and have a reasonable chance of advancing into (at least) the second round.

3) I love the use of "dink" in your post .

4) Skipping our chants and moving on to luck, I'll agree that "garbage goals" are an all too frequent form of luck against the Wings. But even moreso, teams that crash the net (like Vancouver, L.A. and San Jose) give us fits. Most of our defenseman aren't worth spit when it comes to "taking the body" to use a hockey phrase. This allows for soft (pretty) goals where opposing forwards skate around our players like pylons and/or garbage goals off rebounds and second chances. I played hockey for several years (power forward and defense), and I learned early on that checking an opposing player generally prevented him from getting past me . Unfortunately, most of our defenseman prefer to poke check, harass and intercept passes.

5) Truly it was Stevie Y that scored 56 seconds into the third period.

6) I like your offer regarding Wings in 6 vs. Canucks in 7. What happens if the outcome is Wings in 7 or Canucks in 6 (heaven forbid)? Should the deal apply regardless of the number of games required to advance?
One side note: Teams can, and have, bought Cups in recent memory. The Rangers with Messier et al; the Wings with Shanahan, Larry Murphy and Mike Vernon; Dallas with Hull and Belfour; and the Avs with Bourque and Blake. Still, I'd write the essay you request should the Canucks prevail.

7) If you find your way east, I wouldn't accept anything less than you wearing the Killer Whale jersey of your home team. BTW, what's the deal with Vancouver's logo? Anything's better than those repugnant old brown, orange and yellow uniforms, but I just don't get the current logo.

Finally, you neglected to explain what happened with the fans last night. Please tell me why they began throwing debris, if you've got any rationale or read any local stories. Take care, my friend.

 

[MulhorandSage]

P.S.

I like Vancouver and the Canucks in general, but last night's display after Draper's empty net goal was classless and shameful. The Canucks had two undeserved power play opportunities to tie the game late -- what the heck were they booing and throwing debris for?!? I'd like a genuine response, since I'm not looking to start any trash-talk, forgive the pun.

There's no excuse for throwing that trash. Though I wouldn't call the power play opportunities "undeserved" either; I thought they balanced out a couple of bogus calls earlier in the game.

The Canucks played harder, but the Wings played smarter and with a lot more poise. Last night was a lesson in the importance of experience. Dammit. Though I wouldn't count us out yet.

Scott Bennie

 

[Nightfall]

Quick I hope the offense comes back...but it's another factor again of the mismanagement by Booby Clarke. (purposely mis-spelled)

 

[Teflon Billy]

...4) Skipping our chants and moving on to luck, I'll agree that "garbage goals" are an all too frequent form of luck against the Wings. But even moreso, teams that crash the net (like Vancouver, L.A. and San Jose) give us fits.

When you say "Crash the Net" Are you referring to "going to the net" (parking yourself in front of the crease and waiting for a deflection) or actual "net crashing" (ruinning the goalie). If the former, then I think we can agree that "The Raging Bull" Todd Bertuzzi is maybe the premier "going to the net" guy in Hockey today.

I have nothing but contempt for the latter. Anyone who runs a goalie deserves the pummeling that he usually gets.

Most of our defenseman aren't worth spit when it comes to "taking the body" to use a hockey phrase. This allows for soft (pretty) goals where opposing forwards skate around our players like pylons and/or garbage goals off rebounds and second chances.

Chelios and Lidstrom being obvious exceptions to that statement. The only weakenss Chelios has that I can see is that he is old enough that I'm not sure he can go four series in an intesely physical brand of hockey.

Lidstrom as near as I can figure has no weaknesses.

But you are right; after those two the Wings defence collapses. I have no idea why Uwe Krupp has given such a poor showing, as he is the finest player Germany has produced to date (faint praise i know, but still..)

I played hockey for several years (power forward and defense), and I learned early on that checking an opposing player generally prevented him from getting past me . Unfortunately, most of our defenseman prefer to poke check, harass and intercept passes.

i can tell you why that is if you like. I played defence for virtually my entire time in hockey and, much like you, played the man.

NHL coaches will praise an "ignores the puck, plays the man" Defencemna to high heaven, but whenever contract negotiations begin, Managers constantly drag out offensive production (or lack thereof) into the discussions instead of +/-.

Ask yourself why Murray Baron, about as defensively responsible player as exists in the game today makes so much less money than Lidstrom or Jovanovski.

They occasionally score

5) Truly it was Stevie Y that scored 56 seconds into the third period.

Well, I'll defer to your memory here. Yzermanamazes me. He is basically working on one leg, and still manages to be defensively responsible, score goals, and play all of his shifts. The phrase "leads by example" should have him as it's mascot.

Simply amazing.

6) I like your offer regarding Wings in 6 vs. Canucks in 7. What happens if the outcome is Wings in 7 or Canucks in 6 (heaven forbid)? Should the deal apply regardless of the number of games required to advance?

Yeah, let's do that. Whoever takes the series.

One side note: Teams can, and have, bought Cups in recent memory. The Rangers with Messier et al; the Wings with Shanahan, Larry Murphy and Mike Vernon; Dallas with Hull and Belfour; and the Avs with Bourque and Blake.

well, lets not rub the idea of buying the cup in the face of the poor Rangers fans who might be on the board. All that money spent and they don't even make the playoffs.

Pity also the Flyers. LeClair, Primeau, Recchi, Roenick and Gagne, the recipeints of untold million sof dollars, have managed to (amongst the five of them) produce one assist

Still, I'd write the essay you request should the Canucks prevail.

Well, I meant an essay about how wrong it was for the Wings to try and buy the cup If you find that unpalatable, I'll understand

7) If you find your way east, I wouldn't accept anything less than you wearing the Killer Whale jersey of your home team. BTW, what's the deal with Vancouver's logo? Anything's better than those repugnant old brown, orange and yellow uniforms, but I just don't get the current logo.

Well, the company that owns the Canucks is calle Orca Bay, and they are constantly chomping at the bit to change the name of the team to the Vancouver Orcas (yechh). Nobody here likes that idea, but they changed the jerseys anyways.

They even had the nerve to do a poll and find out what logo the fans liked best. Most of the fans wanted a return to the Canucks first logo...Johnny Canuck, a screaming Lumberjack!

I am with the majority here

Finally, you neglected to explain what happened with the fans last night. Please tell me why they began throwing debris, if you've got any rationale or read any local stories. Take care, my friend.

I don't think you need any explanation that you can't find in that thread you were participating in awhile back (the "people are jerks" one)

To clarify: People are jerks.

I don't know what local fans think they have to bitch about, for the first time in recent memory the Canucks are not being unfairly penalized. i don't know what Don Koharski and Kerry Fraser have against the Canucks organization, but their absence has been noticeable.

The Wings won last night becasue they worked hard (the whole game) and got lucky (at the start of the 3rd period).

Jerks have a hard time understanding things like that.

 

[Agamon]

What's with the Bruins? Before the playoffs, everyone was saying that while Theodore could steal a couple wins, and the Koivu thing is uplifting, the Habs wouldn't be able to get past the B's big, bad d, or stop their big scoring forwards. Koivu and Audette would be more of a liabilty, due to their lack of playing this season.

I still picked Montreal in six. Looks like it should be over in 5. Montreal's speed is making the Bruins' size look like a very bad thing. Theo's not even playing very good. But Audette is having a heck of a series. And Koivu looks like he did years ago when he was one of the league's leading scorers before getting the first of a long strig of injuries (Did you see that goal? Lordy.) And Gilmour. I now know why I liked him so much in Calgary and hated him so much in T.O. (I like the Flames and hate the Leafs). His fire and leadership just makes the team he's on so much better.

Hehe, doesn't look like the Bruins know what kinda game they want to play. I think I know now why the Devil's fired Ftorek when they were doing so good couple years a go. Even the game they won they almost lost after giving up a 4 goal lead. This series is done.

This playoffs reminds me of the last time the Habs won the cup...all the good teams fell flat on their faces in the early rounds. And Montreal's about due. It's been, what, almost 10 years?

Go Habs Go!

 

[GreyOne]

The Canucks and Wings game last night. A few observations I want to make.

(1) Someone said Cloutier was a bad goalie? Please sir, look at his stats. During that game last night, you couldn't fault him on one goal. If anyone gets on a bad goalie's back, its Canucks fans. The fans like him, ergo, he is a good goalie.

(2) Dominik Hasek's sportsmanship is brutal. B-R-U-T-A-L. You touch the guy and he goes down like a sack of potatoes, arms and legs akimbo. How many non-calls did he give the wings last night? I counted two and he tried for a third. The Wings scored on one. I hate sheet like that.

(3) Steve Yzerman has been pulling a fast one and is laughing all the way to the bank. The main reason the Wings have caught up in this series is the Canucks are WATCHING Stevie play hockey. That winning goal last night being the obvious case in point. I don't know if its the whole respect thing, but he needs to be brutalized by some hard and relentless checking.

(4) Many of the fans last night were idiots. Don't lump in every Canucks fan together though. Canucks fans have gone through hell and toil and great suffering in their support of the Canucks over the years. Not justifying the crappy behaviour last night, but there's a lot of PO'd people in B.C. nowadays.

(5) Chris Chelios definitely wasn't an altar boy growing up.

(6) The Canucks' present incarnation is a team to be proud of. I'm not so sure the Wings are.

(7) I'm a total homer.