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

[MulhorandSage]

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.

It was especially diappointing when the ref was only a few feet from the non-calls in some situations and clearly looking in their direction.

Still, I won't say die until we're down by two goals with five minutes left to play.

Scott Bennie

 

[Steve Jung]

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!!!

Ouch. Good thing he's on the Rangers now. I'm still nervous about Cechmanek, though.

 

[Flexor the Mighty!]

I'm just basing my opinion on past experience. The Blues in 91 had a juggernaut line of Hull, Oates, and a couple different wingers. They racked up sick numbers, Hull had 86 goals that year and Oates had 112 points in 64 games or so. We had 105 points, and that's pre regulation tie. So we were big men we thought and went into the playoffs and beat a terrible Detroit team in 7. Then we played the North Stars and they shut down our top line and we were out in six. No depth that year. Every team that wins the cup has decent depth and I'm not sure the Canucks have that.

Jackman is all over Bertuzzi so far, he better get going if you guys wanna get back in this series.

 

[Harlock]

First of all, Paragon, can you get to Edmonton by Saturday? Thanks. Second of all, Laraque is a little frellnik. Okay, he's not little. That two handed slash was just wrong. Funny thing is, it seemed to piss off the Stars something fierce, so I hope he tries it again next game. oh, and I would not be surprised at all to see someone take a run at Laraque late in the game if the Stars are down and out (which I hope they aren't.) Too bad about Dvorak though. Ducks, Stars in round 2? Maybe so, I hope. And yes, my Bruins are out. So now I can hope for the Devils to cruise on to the next round. I really like a lot of those guys. Gomez, Elias, Brodeur... and a couple of guys I liked from my old Stars. Be neat if they can meet up on down the road and duke it out. Stars vs. Devils would be an awesome series for the Final I think. Ottawa might be a cool series too, but I didn't get a chance to watch them much this year. They any good? Sometimes the President's Trophy is a curse...

I am really curious to see how the Ducks react to a game one defeat in Round 2. Might burst their bubble at any rate. And if they go down 2 games in a row right up front I think they'll be swept. Not that I don't like the Ducks, but this momentum thing is a fickle friend. Obviously Dallas will like their chances with the 7th seed after knocking out the 8th (if they do.) For my Red Wing fan friends out there: I feel for you. I also agree with what Melrose has been saying; it's not broken, so don't worry about fixing it. Ducks got lucky on the first night, outplayed you once and had a hot goaltender through the whole ordeal. What would be a good final ratings-wise I wonder? Any thoughts? Avalanche Devils would probably be about the best bet there I suppose. The northeast is hockey central and New York fans will love to hate New Jersey and the Avalanche are a nice "new" team that will still attract Quebec fans and Lindross haters while attracting the American western audience. I think Worst case scenario for ratngs would be Minnesota vs. Tampa Bay. I wouldn't even check for scores on that one...

 

[Tom Cashel]

I'm attending my first playoff game on Sunday...Bolts v. Caps in D.C....with my lovely fiancee. It's gonna be amazing!

EDIT: Forgot to add that I'm really hoping the Canucks can claw their way back from the deficit and win.

FLYERS SUCK!

 

[Apok]

Cup game is going to be either Colorado/Jersey or Colorado/Ottawa. That's my prediction.

Anaheim is smokin' but I don't think they can take the Avs, and the only competition Colorado has in the West is gonna be St. Louis. I don't think it will be much of a problem, though. Of course, if the Ducks do come out on top, yay!

In the East, it's gonna be the Devils or the Sens, and I hope to God it's the Devils. Go Jersey (despite the fact that you dropped my boyz like a bad habit in the first round, friggin' Bruins ...)!

I rejoiced when Ruccin got that goal in OT. Die, Red Wings, and may Fedorov not renew his contract and sign with a good team! MUAHAHAHAHAHA!!

 

[Tom Cashel]

...and may Fedorov not renew his contract and sign with a good team!

Either a good team, or my Rangers.

 

[Apok]

FLYERS SUCK!

Heh. Maybe, but the Philly/Toronto matchup has produced some of the best games of the playoffs so far. I enjoy watching them play the most, very exciting stuff.

The Canucks, btw, are toast. If they manage to make a comeback against St. Louis, I'll eat my Bruins jersey.

 

[Apok]

Either a good team, or my Rangers.

Funny you should mention that, because that was one name that I heard as a possibility.

Fedorov would make a very nice addition to the Rangers offensive line, the only question is could they utilize him well enough to make a run for the playoffs next year.

 

[Flexor the Mighty!]

I'm hoping my Blues will close this out tonight I've got a feeling we are going to back to St. Louis to win on Sunday.