[OT-NHL] The Annual NHL Playoffs Thread: 2003

[Harlock]

I was amazed by the Ducks. That first game was a fluke. They knew it. Kariya knew it in the post game interview. But man, I've watched the last few games and the Ducks are looking pretty good. Giguere is a frelling machine! They're making defensive mistakes but when you've got a French Canadian butterfly style goalie on a hot streak, you can afford to get caught on those odd man rushes. Just ask some former Habs or some current Avs. I am shocked though, the Ducks looked pretty good in spurts, if they can pull it togetehr they actually have a chance. Plus the momentum thing is waaaay ni their favor. Of course that can change with one loss...

Feel sorry for Belfour. I'd be tired after 72 saves myself. Really looking forward to Dallas vs. Edmonton tonight. Should be great and I'll be cheering for Hatcher to squash Laraque like a bug. Not to hijack the thread, but heck, it's off topic in this forum anyway: Will Dallas pay to keep Hatcher around next year? Isn't he a free agent this year? Can they afford to with the CBA and cap coming online next year? Just wondering what you guys (and gals?) wondered.

 

[Nightfall]

Quick, yeah but at least we got a good reason to hate those guys. (Though I think detroit fans might still loath Claude Lemeuix more than Roy. Just this one man's opinion.) In any case just have to see if the impossible happens and the Bolts come back so they play Devils. My hope, they knock off the Devils. Otherwise I forsee a bad thing coming for the Flyers. The Leafs, as good as they are, simply are NOT the New Jersey Devils.

 

[Paragon]

The Hatcher question. well i think we had a good view of the product in game 3. I honestly figure them to try to, depending on how much he asks, i can't see them going higher than 6-7 million for him, and i really think that there maybe teams out willing to pay that if the stars won't.
some confounding variables:
1. the CBA: could work for, could work against the amount he will seek
2. Marty Turco: if he begins to shine in the post season that will drive his value back up again. granted he is restricted but he could sit out and still get 3 mill
3. Sergi Zubov: one of the best puck handling defense men in the league, he makes 5 mill a year. the ceiling for defense men in dallas?
4. Mike Modano: the golden boy. unrestricted after next season. they have to sign moe.

and right after that
6. the CBA expires: who knows what the hell is going to happen here, strike? lockout? nothing?

in the short i think the stars resign hatcher and let matvichuk go, and call up John Erskin.
just my thoughts

Paragon

 

[Flexor the Mighty!]

1)The officiating was incredibly biased.

2) They played like total crap.

That's a hard 1-2 punch to get up from.

I hate hockey

Want some cheese with that whine? "Oh the officials...".
Sorry but I hear the same thing everyday from fellow Blues fans here so I can't stand it anymore. Most people in St. Louis think we would be 19 time defending champs if not for the refs.

Bottom line is that a one line team like Vancouver isn't going to be able to beat a team that can throw out three lines with solid scorers on them. Unless that team is playing bad or has weak goaltending. And we were missing Peter Cjaneck(sp?), Scott Mellanby, & Al MacInnis last night!

 

[Broken Fang]

I'm just glad the Ducks get to sit around till the next round and wait. Might help cool of Giguere as he was red hot against the Wings. (Wish I had placed a small wager on the Ducks sweeping the Wings - probably would have had a pretty good payoff!)

As long as the Avs put away the Wild saturday I don't care, no more game 7's! Get some rest and go into the second round nice and healthy.

 

[Berk]

I got a few things to say.

1. How can you expect to go anywhere in the playoffs with Kurtis Joseph in net? Yeah he is a good netminder but he falls apart in the playoffs. Always has and most likely always will, unless he can solve his own problems off.

2. Giggy was freakin awesome against detroit. Albiet with KuJo in net the Wings are a good team because you can't deny the talent and skill that they bring to the ice.

3. Ugh, Avs. Would love to see the Wilds come back and whoop em but most likely won't happen.

4. GO DEVILS!!!!!!! DEVILS!!!!! DEVILS!!!!

5. Everyone has gotta stop hatin on the Devils.

6. So want the Isles to come back but gonna be hard and almost impossible against Ottawa, they are gonna be a tough team to beat no matter who plays em.

 

[Welverin]

1. How can you expect to go anywhere in the playoffs with Kurtis Joseph in net? Yeah he is a good netminder but he falls apart in the playoffs. Always has and most likely always will, unless he can solve his own problems off.

Well when you only manage six goals in four games it doesn't matter how your goalie plays.

5. Everyone has gotta stop hatin on the Devils.

I'm a Flyers fan, I dare you to stop me.

6. So want the Isles to come back but gonna be hard and almost impossible against Ottawa, they are gonna be a tough team to beat no matter who plays em.

Even harder now that they've been eliminated.

 

[Paragon]

It's getting chippy in here....you can tell the playoffs are heating up

Dallas 5-2
24-2-3

damn i'm good

Paragon

 

[Berk]

I'm a Flyers fan, I dare you to stop me.

Gah, don't make me go Scott Steven's on ya like he did with Eric Lindros. =o) Sorry, know that's a bit of a troll but had to say it. =o) See the smiley, I'm joking!!!

 

[Teflon Billy]

Want some cheese with that whine? "Oh the officials...".

Hey man, I will call the Canucks crappy when they are crappy (Hell, I did so in the quote you pulled), but the officiating was very biased last night.

They fail to call some guy hauling Bertuzzi down behind the net when the exact same call was made against Brent Sopel moments before. I'm not saying Sopel didn't deserve it, I'm saying your guy did.

Jarko Rutuu get highsticked bad enough to get cut by The Blues : No call.

Moments later, Brad May is in the box: High Sticking. Replay shows there was no high-stick.

I don't scream ref bias lightly. I made no excuses for game one,...in fact, i think it was in this very thread that I congratulated the Blues and their fans.

Sorry but I hear the same thing everyday from fellow Blues fans here so I can't stand it anymore.

Well, yeah...but Blues fans are notorious Bitches

Most people in St. Louis think we would be 19 time defending champs if not for the refs.

Bottom line is that a one line team like Vancouver isn't going to be able to beat a team that can throw out three lines with solid scorers on them.

Isn't going to be able to? We did it all frickin' year. Look at the stats!

...Unless that team is playing bad or has weak goaltending...

Well, then it has been a banner year for bad play and crap goaltending..cause Vancouver never lost two games in a row, and managed string together team-record winning streaks.

It's this kind of play that had me excited about the playoffs, and it's why I'm dissapointed.

Not as dissapointed as Wings fans mind you