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

[MThibault]

Like to see Bonk get around Scott "I knock forwards on their butts" Stevens for six games

Well, Stevens can have Bonk. The Sens have three lines that can score from anywhere on the ice and four lines that can play physically and positionally on the back-check.

Jersey will be tough, and there are no guarantees. But if the Sens play with confidence, they can win. If they give Jersey too much respect (like they did to the Isles in Game 1, and Philly in games 2-4) then they'll be out in 5.

We're in uncharted territory here for the Sens, so I would be guessing with any prediction though.

Cheers

 

[Datt]

DUCKS! DUCKS! DUCKS! DUCKS! DUCKS! DUCKS! DUCKS! DUCKS!

WOO HOO!!!!!!

I can't believe we did it!! Conference finals here we come!!
One step closer to playing for Lord Stanley's Cup!!!

 

[shadoe]

All I have to say about Stars vs Ducks game 6 is, while the Ducks deserved the win, they should have been in the penalty box after the high stick on Morrow instead of allowed to scrore the game winning goal.

The Ducks out worked the Stars in five out of the six games, and that was what it took to win the series.

I am impressed by the way that the Wild beat the Canucks though.

Hopefully the reset of the playoffs are just as entertaining.

 

[Harlock]

Yes, go Stars!

Despite the stupid net rule that just cost them the tie.

Why wouldn't I just knock the net off every time if my goalie was being deluged?

Referee Conversation During SECOND Goal Review of the Past Minute

Ref 1- "Gee, sure looks like he kicked it."

Ref 2- "Yeah, but I value my ASS. Let's call it a goal."

POST GAME EDIT

I'm very disappointed with the Stars' effort in the waning minutes of games and in overtime. What exactly does it take to get them to get off their butts and play hard? Every game they lost in this series was off a last minute goal or overtime loss, and not once did I see them outplay the Mighty Ducks, who seemed to realize that time was running out, whereas the Stars didn't. I've always thought the Stars were more style than substance, and this series just reinforces my opinion. Grr.

Yeah Wil, I'm with you. I have seen in games past whn a player intentionally knocks his own goal off the net that the refs call a "delay of the game" penalty. I guess there is that, but everyone knows 2 minutes of one man down and a chance to even prevent the other team from shooting is worth that penalty. I mean, if I am a goalie and I see Modano coming in for a fast break all alone and I don't have my stick becuase some jerk knocked it out of my hands 10 seconds ago, I'm lifting that net completely off of the ice. After seeing both the Stars and Ducks lose goals from that rule, I certainly think it needs to be written to contain something along the lines of "no harm, no foul." Not that referees are allowed to make subjective decisions during the playoffs, it could certainly be worded better, but the Ducks goal and the Stars goal that were disallowed were certainly NOT affected by that net being slightly ajar. Both pucks crossed the goal line away from the raised area. Not to mention, I think both times it was a matter of teams in the defensive zone pushing offensive players into the net. As a defenseman myself, I hate to say this, it actually pains me, but maybe the refs need to start calling all the cheap shots we defenseman lay on guys near the crease? Crosschecking isn't allowed but uh, I know that in front of the net the first thing you do is put the shaft above the hip pads and drive it toward the kidneys with both hands.

Anyway, enough griping. Congrats to the Wild for pasting the Canucks (looking around for TB) and Um, that sucked. Those Canucks were robbed. They outplayed the Wild. It's obvious from that 7 - 2 score. Congrats to the Ducks as well, I'm pulling for you. I'd love to see them go all the way. I'm a big New Jersey fan. I like that "boring" style of grinding/pounding defensive hockey they play. I'd pull for the Ducks or Wild over them though, because I've seen the Devils hoisting the cup pretty recently. So anyway, Go Ducks! Or more correctly, go Western Conference!

 

[sparhawk]

Ducks vs Stars

Well the Ducks played hard and deserved the win even though I hate them for betting the better teams twice.
So far this has been one of the worst playoffs I have seen in the last 8 yrs as far as the ref's not calling some of the penelties. Now I am one for letting the teams play and not calling some of the lesser pens but when it truly affects the game balance then it needs to be called. By not calling some of the infractions some of the time and not all of the time or only if the other team is leading then that sends a bad message to the players.

Any way just my 2 cp

 

[EarthsShadow]

Wow, go Ducks. I think the team should get all the actors from the movies to sit in all the home games the rest of the playoffs. That would be pretty cool. Heck, give them some game time also.

 

[Datt]

No, no game time!

I don't care how good Joshua Jackson skated in any of them!

 

[Nightfall]

No offense to Ducks fans, but I've decided it's either the Canucks or the Wild I'm rooting for the rest of the way. Course if the Sens win a Cup then hey, I can at least feel decent that the Flyers got beat by a champ for once. (Not that it's ever good but you can sort of deal with it. Detroit winning the cup in 95 for example...)

 

[EarthsShadow]

Shame on you Nightfall. The Ducks needs all the support they can get. They are the best Cindarella story to hit sports in years. Ducks all the way.

 

[Nightfall]

Earth, sorry man. But I refuse to root for a hockey team that was created so that a mega-corporation had a reason to do a movie...or something like that.