Time for my annual hockey playoffs thread

snoopy · Post by **snoopy** » Tue Apr 19, 2011 3:43 pm

I just wanted to say "go Flyers"

I have to admit that they have me worried, though. In February I would have told you that I would have been surprised if they didn't make it to the finals. Now, I'm not quite so sure. We'll see how it pans out.

Top Gun · Post by **Top Gun** » Tue Apr 19, 2011 3:45 pm

Yeah, I'm waiting to see if they can get past the Sabres before I get really engaged myself. They finished the regular season on a total slump.

Sirius · Post by **Sirius** » Wed Apr 20, 2011 4:28 am

They should be able to get past the Sabres... but then... who knows. The series hasn't exactly been decisive, and the Sabres were improving pretty fast late in the season.

Habs look likely to play the role of upsetter again. It's kind of fun to watch, unless you're a fan of a top-seeded Eastern team. But again, they're only up 2-1 so it's not a given they'll even win their series.

CDN_Merlin · Post by **CDN_Merlin** » Wed Apr 20, 2011 9:16 am

Vancouver is said to be the best to win the cup. I'm a habs fan but I'd be happy to see any CDN team win the cup and bring it home.

snoopy · Post by **snoopy** » Wed Apr 20, 2011 12:32 pm

Those Sedin boys just don't slow down.

I think the Flyers can handle "Les Habitants". I'm more worried about Washington.

Avder · Post by **Avder** » Wed Apr 20, 2011 6:30 pm

As long as anyone but Vancouver or Detroit wins the cup, I will be satisfied with the result.

That said, I would really like for the Lightning to somehow pull a cup win out of their ass this year. I'm a big fan of their goalie, Dwayne Roloson, who used to play for the Wild, and took Edmonton to the finals where he was heartbreakingly knocked out in game one with a leg injury that made him miss the series.

I'd really like to see the Sharks finally come out of the West this year as well. They've been coming up short year after year...I think its finally time for them to get to that next level.

Sirius · Post by **Sirius** » Tue Apr 26, 2011 11:20 pm

Wow. Vancouver vs Chicago looks like it was a hell of a game tonight. Hope not too many heart attacks up there...!

dissent · Post by **dissent** » Wed Apr 27, 2011 12:06 pm

There is great sadness in chi-town.

CDN_Merlin · Post by **CDN_Merlin** » Wed Apr 27, 2011 4:00 pm

dissent wrote:There is great sadness in chi-town.

Does his happy dance.

xXaldinx · Post by **xXaldinx** » Wed Apr 27, 2011 6:35 pm

Penguins are slackin' so I have second thoughts about the playoffs. The defense looks like they don't give a hoot. we'll see how much they care tonight...

Sirius · Post by **Sirius** » Thu Apr 28, 2011 3:21 am

On the one hand, 1 goal against is pretty good.

On the other, no goals for doesn't win you games no matter what.

Too bad, really, but making it too far in the playoffs without Crosby always was going to be a tall order.

Avder · Post by **Avder** » Thu Apr 28, 2011 3:29 pm

I'm reallyl ooking forward to the second round. SJ/Det looks like its going to be a monster of a series, and so should Washington/TB.

Top Gun · Post by **Top Gun** » Tue May 03, 2011 12:41 am

I was at the Flyers game tonight...after the intros and the first few minutes, it was pretty much ugh. We put over 50 shots on Thomas, and he only let two of them by. Tons of sloppy play, and way too many missed opportunities, including what was essentially an empty net with a few seconds left in regulation. Frustrating as hell.

Sirius · Post by **Sirius** » Tue May 03, 2011 1:13 am

I only got to see OT of that game, but what I did notice was that while Tim Thomas was blocking a lot of shots (highest-ranked goalie in the league this season, so that doesn't come as a surprise), I didn't see a lot of really high-quality ones. It just seemed that the Flyers weren't getting any really high-quality shots in.

snoopy · Post by **snoopy** » Tue May 03, 2011 6:48 am

They will be four and out this round.

They need quality goal tending, otherwise they run out of gas before 16 wins. When you have to continually mount comebacks, it starts to wear on you.

Top Gun · Post by **Top Gun** » Tue May 03, 2011 1:22 pm

Yeah, there weren't all that many really high-quality chances, although there were a few that definitely could have gone in. With the way the Flyers played most of the first two periods, I was just happy that they were continuously getting shots on-goal, since that's all you can really ask for if you want to score eventually.

And I agree, Snoopy. We haven't had a true franchise goalie since the days of Hextall, and it's plain to see from looking around the league that the best franchises have someone who's dependable between the pipes. It's past time for the management to wake up and realize that.

Avder · Post by **Avder** » Tue May 03, 2011 6:19 pm

The Flyers and Bruins series is, in my mind, the least interesting series of the second round so far. Flyers shooting themselves in the foot. Nothing new here. They either step it up, or get swept.

Tampa Bay and Washington is pretty interesting, despite it also being a 2-0 series. Roloson just gets better and better as the playoffs go, and you have to think hes capable of leading the Lightning to the finals like he did the Oilers a few years ago.

Nashville and Vancouver is probably the most interesting of the west series. The Canucks pretty much made mince meat out of the Predators in game one, but only came away with a 1-0 win. Game two was completely different, with the only aspect of Nashvilles game that wasn't a complete turnaround being their powerplay. I'm really looking forward to game 3 of that one later tonight.

The Sharks and Red Wings has been surprising. I honestly thought it would be 1-1 after two, and I am thrilled that it is a 2-0 tilt in San Joses favor. The big questions in that series are when are the Red Wings stars going to step it up, and if/when they do, will they have enough time left to make it a competitive series? And will Niemi be able to play as consistently as he has in the first two games? Very interesting series going into tomorrows game three.

Sirius · Post by **Sirius** » Wed May 04, 2011 10:55 pm

Are we looking at three sweeps in the second round? This is madness!

Isaac · Post by **Isaac** » Thu May 05, 2011 7:12 am

Sirius wrote:This is madness!

Madness!?!?!?!

Avder · Post by **Avder** » Fri May 06, 2011 6:02 am

Isaac wrote:
Sirius wrote:This is madness!
Madness!?!?!?!

THIS. IS. NHL HOCKEY!!!

snoopy · Post by **snoopy** » Fri May 06, 2011 6:32 am

Who would have thought that the caps would get swept in the second round? They looked good in the first round.

Tampa bay has a thing going here.

CDN_Merlin · Post by **CDN_Merlin** » Fri May 06, 2011 8:17 am

We could get 3 sweeps thios round. I doubt Flyers are winning tonight and it doesn't look like the wings will win.

snoopy · Post by **snoopy** » Fri May 06, 2011 8:31 am

I give the Flyers a 0.5% chance.

All I hope for is a game where Bob starts, plays spectacularly, and gains a lot of confidence for next year and future playoffs.

CDN_Merlin · Post by **CDN_Merlin** » Fri May 06, 2011 8:48 am

I just want Vancouver to win the cup. All I ask.

Sirius · Post by **Sirius** » Fri May 06, 2011 9:15 pm

SJ/DET was not to be (I had a feeling...) but the brooms are busy in the East. Will be interesting to see what happens when the two meet - both have goalies that have been on fire lately. Tim Thomas usually is, but Roloson's been no slouch either.

Avder · Post by **Avder** » Sun May 08, 2011 3:12 pm

Sirius wrote:SJ/DET was not to be (I had a feeling...) but the brooms are busy in the East. Will be interesting to see what happens when the two meet - both have goalies that have been on fire lately. Tim Thomas usually is, but Roloson's been no slouch either.

I think Roloson wants it more. Hes just getting better and better as the playoffs go on. The fact that both Boston and Tampa Bay swept their opponents means that neither team will really have an advantage in the rust department once the ECF finally gets started.

I am really satisfied by last nights Van/Nsh game. Nashville has been keeping it close for the whole series and theyre starting to get the bounces they need. That combined with Luongos tendency to choke in clinching games gives them a real shot to send that series to game 7 and toss up the end result.

SJ/Det has the potential to get interesting if Detroit can force a game 6, but I dont think they have the best chance of doing that in front of the SJ home crowd. San Jose will be fired up for their game tonight and I expect them to hit the Wings with everything they've got.

Sirius · Post by **Sirius** » Fri May 13, 2011 11:25 am

And a game 7. SJ pulled it out (second time this same result has happened in the same playoffs!) but it was quite a series.

Hoping we get a good one up next as well. Canucks will have to play their best to stay in it with what the Sharks are capable of.

Avder · Post by **Avder** » Fri May 13, 2011 10:56 pm

My prediction is a Sharks vs Lightning Cup Finals.

Sirius · Post by **Sirius** » Wed May 18, 2011 11:31 pm

I've seen a fair bit of his hijinks all season, and would just like to note: Ben Eager is a massive liability.

Sirius · Post by **Sirius** » Tue May 24, 2011 11:38 pm

Did that really just happen?

CDN_Merlin · Post by **CDN_Merlin** » Wed May 25, 2011 3:53 am

Go Canucks Go!!!

Avder · Post by **Avder** » Wed May 25, 2011 8:50 am

CDN_Merlin wrote:Go Canucks Go!!!

Big fat thumbs down.

Avder · Post by **Avder** » Fri May 27, 2011 10:21 pm

I havnt been this unenthusiastic about a Stanley Cup Finals since the Ducks/Devils snoozefest in 2003 (protip: Wild/Senators would have been one hell of a blast that year).

If it wasn't for the fact that I hate the Canucks, I don't think I would have a reason to watch them. Boston better not blow this one.

CDN_Merlin · Post by **CDN_Merlin** » Sat May 28, 2011 5:05 am

Senators had there chance in 07(?) with San Jose. Vancouver has a good shot at winning. Last night they should of called a few penalties.

Avder · Post by **Avder** » Sat May 28, 2011 9:30 am

CDN_Merlin wrote:Senators had there chance in 07(?) with San Jose. Vancouver has a good shot at winning. Last night they should of called a few penalties.

Did you notice how the linesmen started blowing offsides calls after the Boston goal? The first two were especially bad as they were on lightning rushes.

CDN_Merlin · Post by **CDN_Merlin** » Sat May 28, 2011 11:53 am

Yes I did. I also noted a bunch of penalties not being called. I don't like when they do that because it changes the outcome of the game.

Avder · Post by **Avder** » Sat May 28, 2011 11:56 am

CDN_Merlin wrote:Yes I did. I also noted a bunch of penalties not being called. I don't like when they do that because it changes the outcome of the game.

The penalties were less of an issue for me because I noticed both sides getting away with things, so it more or less evened out. The offsides stuff after the boston goal more or less went pretty much only against tampa bay. It may not have changed the outcome of the game, but it did rob TB of a few pretty good rushes. The refs were obviously unwilling to call anything but the most blatent of stuff, and I think the closest to that was a potential interference call that would have went against tampa had it been called.

Sirius · Post by **Sirius** » Sat May 28, 2011 2:11 pm

The penalties not being called thing is a bit odd - they did that in the OT periods in the last SJS/VAN game as well. I figure they don't want the game to be decided on a penalty, but at the same time, I wonder if that sort of thing encourages players to push things further than they usually would...

CDN_Merlin · Post by **CDN_Merlin** » Sat May 28, 2011 3:20 pm

Not calling penalties to me is a bad thing. What if a regular penalty in the season wasn't called in the playoffs and it might have turned into a goal and maybe TB would of won? I don't agree with not calling anything except the most blatant ones. It's just goes against what hockey is and what the rules are.

Avder · Post by **Avder** » Wed Jun 15, 2011 1:51 pm

Game 7 tonight for all the marbles.

If you are a fan of sports at all, you should be watching Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Finals tonight.