The 2004 Stanley Cup Playoffs thread

[nl5xsk1 0]

Boston isn't all strong, especially the holes in their defence.

Boston's defense > Montreal's defense.

 

Both offensively and defensively.

[Red Baron 0]

Have you even watched any of the last three games in that series? If you have, you wouldn't be saying that. Raycroft is the reason why Boston is winning this series.

[Red Baron 0]

Saw the highlight on Sundin injury.

 

All I can say is that, he was going in pretty slow towards the boards, and he could have done something to prevent the injury.

[treble 0]

Unless he got hurt before he hit the boards.

 

And while the Bruins may be winning the series because of Raycroft, it's not as if the Canadiens are playing world class hockey themselves.

[CanadianChris 0]

Well, the Leafs seem to play better when they've got a ton of injuries, so don't get so cocky just yet. I think Sundin will be fine, anyway, he probably would have been back if it was a close game, but there wasn't any point once you knew the Leafs weren't going to win.

You want cocky, you should've heard the Leaf fans at the Corel Centre after Monday's game. They were singing "Na Na, Hey Hey Goodbye" at the end of the game, even after the Leafs (sans Belfour) got thoroughly outplayed.

[nl5xsk1 0]

Have you even watched any of the last three games in that series? If you have, you wouldn't be saying that. Raycroft is the reason why Boston is winning this series.

Yes, I've watched all 4 games so far. And the B's D have more shots on net, more assists, more points, and a better +/-. The first game was (almost) all Bruins, the 3rd (first in MTL) was (almost) all Canadiens, and the other two were pretty evenly played. Both teams had stretches where they controlled the action, and neither team had too extended of a stretch where they dominated play. I still think game 2 only went to OT because of the gift 2-man advantage that the Habs got that game. The only Habs d-men that I'd want on the Bruins are Souray and Quintal, and the only B's d-man that I'd like to get rid of is Gill. (although I will admit that O'Donnell is having another crap-tacular spring).

 

And count me among those that were surprised that Sundin allowed himself to slowly slide feet first into the boards. Even if he was already hurt, common sense is to NOT allow yourself to slide into the boards in such a vulnerable position. I'm sure that he'll be fine for game 5, but could have really messed up his leg and thus messed up the Leafs Cup-chances in the process.

[Urban Warfare 0]

2-0 Detroit after 5 minutes in Detroit. Hull and Zetterberg with the Goals.

[Lightning Flik 0]

Damn Boston... You had the Canadiens on the ropes, but you play shitty hockey and are losing 5-1 right now.

[Guest Wildbomb 4:20]

I was there tonight. Oh my word. Bruins played shitty hockey, but man, there were some absofuckinglutely HORRIBLE calls. There was no way the Canadiens should have wound up with the two man advantage. Thornton? DOUBLE MINOR? Oh hell no.

 

I think the rest of everyone here would agree that this series has drawn the worst officiating crews in this year's playoffs. Wow.

[Guest FrigidSoul]

Damn Boston... You had the Canadiens on the ropes, but you play shitty hockey and are losing 5-1 right now.

Canadians made like Eddy Guerrero and Cheated to win. Not only that but they flopped about to draw cheap penalty calls.

[Lightning Flik 0]

Damn Boston... You had the Canadiens on the ropes, but you play shitty hockey and are losing 5-1 right now.

Canadians made like Eddy Guerrero and Cheated to win. Not only that but they flopped about to draw cheap penalty calls.

Whatever... To allow cheap shit to upset you, and to blow your cool so that the refs believe the Canadiens all the time, then you have it coming.

 

However, I agree. The reffing absolutely sucks in this series.

[Urban Warfare 0]

Johan Hedberg will not be starting tonight, Alex Auld will be. I just do not understand this move at all. Hedberg has everything you could want in a backup goalie. Auld has 19 minutes of playoff expirence, dating back to last year's series with the Minnesota Wild.

[Lightning Flik 0]

The Canucks apparently are a little shaky with Hedberg's play and don't believe in them.

 

Hence, Flames will take the series.

[the max 0]

Johan Hedberg will not be starting tonight, Alex Auld will be. I just do not understand this move at all. Hedberg has everything you could want in a backup goalie. Auld has 19 minutes of playoff expirence, dating back to last year's series with the Minnesota Wild.

And that was in mop-up work after Cloutier got blown out.

[Lightning Flik 0]

Shitty playing by both teams here.

 

And the refs aren't being very nice either.

 

However, the blood is starting to boil over.

 

I really liked the battle brawl at the end of the first.

[Red Baron 0]

While its nice having Theo playing with a horseshoe up its ass, 5-1 is very nice.

 

Raycroft is not a proven contender, with even Montreal getting outshot big time tonight, he is not controlling his own rebounds, which prevents more opportunities for montreal

[Urban Warfare 0]

FINNALLY Vancouver scores...Rocket from Salo, hits Sedin. But either way, it is 1-1 in Vancouver.

[Lightning Flik 0]

I'm amazed Canucks haven't gotten their asses bit for all the giveaways they've given. Yeesh...

[Star Ocean 3 0]

Bang Bang!

[Guest FrigidSoul]

Damn Boston... You had the Canadiens on the ropes, but you play shitty hockey and are losing 5-1 right now.

Canadians made like Eddy Guerrero and Cheated to win. Not only that but they flopped about to draw cheap penalty calls.

Whatever... To allow cheap shit to upset you, and to blow your cool so that the refs believe the Canadiens all the time, then you have it coming.

 

However, I agree. The reffing absolutely sucks in this series.

That's the thing though, they didn't blow their cool until the 3rd period after everything had occured. Zednek acting like he had been shot in the head by simply flopping to the ice and grabbing his head when he hadn't been touched was disgusting.

[Urban Warfare 0]

Not a bad effort Vancouver. They played well in the 3rd period, but once again they got out worked by Calgary. Calgary looks like a dangerous team coming out of the Western Conference.

[Tawren 0]

St. Louis is gone, dammit. I was really pulling for them.

 

And may I add that I am shocked, SHOCKED, that Calgary leads the series.

[nl5xsk1 0]

The good, the bad, and the ugly from last night's Bruins-Habs game.

 

The Good: The Boston fans not booing the Canadian Anthem. I was at the game, and there were a few drunken idiots booing at the start, but they were quickly quieted and then drowned out by cheers. So help me, the Montreal drunks better show the same respect for our Anthem. If you're being out-classed by people from Boston, you're pretty low class.

 

The Bad: Raycroft playing one of his worst games all season. I have no doubt that he'll come back and play well in game 6, but that's got to be a blow to the ego and self-esteem. Hopefully he makes a few huge saves early on Saturday and thus gets back into the zone.

 

The Ugly: I was going to say the inconsistent officiating, but the Habs insistence on diving and flopping everytime that they're brushed is a fucking joke, and is wicked bush league. Even Kovalchuk would be ashamed to dive as bad as the Canadiens have been.

[lomasmoney 0]

I didnt think that Raycroft had a chance on a few of those goals, especially the Koivu and Rivet goals

[nl5xsk1 0]

The goal that bothered me most was the 3rd MTL goal ... the only reason the Hab had such a breakaway was because Thornton's stick got caught between the ref and the boards, which first caused him to lose control of the puck, then caused him to be a step behind Zednik (I think it was Zednik) and then ultimately forced him to pursue him without a stick to poke-check the puck with.

 

I feel like the officiating in this series has fluctuated between horrendous and intrusive. I can't even count how many times an official has gotten in the way of the puck after it's been cleared - for both teams, too, so it's not just me being a whiny Boston fan.

[Lightning Flik 0]

And may I add that I am shocked, SHOCKED, that Calgary leads the series.

I'm not. Kippy was the greatest out there and was lucky when he needed it. And I'd rather take a lucky goalie than a good one. Lucky (Kippy) always manages to win, while a good (Auld) one can win but not as well.

 

And I'm sorry to say it, but Hedberg is done for the rest of the series. Whether it is tomorrow in Calgary or Monday in Vancouver, Hedberg will not be playing in goal as Auld showed he was definitely the go to guy. A little shaky, but what do you expect from being put in a hell of a implication of a game. Kudos to Auld for showing up and putting on a hell of a performance.

 

I must also say both fucking teams need to calm their asses down. Cause man, sloppy penalties ahoy on both sides.

 

And if Vancouver wants to win next game, they need some goals on even strength. Out of all the goals they've scored in this series, only ONE was on even strength.

[Guest The Ohtani of Time]

The goal that bothered me most was the 3rd MTL goal ... the only reason the Hab had such a breakaway was because Thornton's stick got caught between the ref and the boards, which first caused him to lose control of the puck, then caused him to be a step behind Zednik (I think it was Zednik) and then ultimately forced him to pursue him without a stick to poke-check the puck with.

 

I feel like the officiating in this series has fluctuated between horrendous and intrusive. I can't even count how many times an official has gotten in the way of the puck after it's been cleared - for both teams, too, so it's not just me being a whiny Boston fan.

I agree 100% about the reffereeing in this series, it's been terrible for both teams, I didn't agree with the thornton double minor either, and I'm a habs fan. It's a tough call for the refs though, do they just let the teams play and hardly call any penalties and risk the chance of not calling something that they should, or do they fairly call penalties for every minor infraction and ruin the tempo of the game. I would opt for letting them play and only calling serious penalties.

[Guest Wildbomb 4:20]

I concur...there were a couple Raycroft had no shot at. It was just a bad, bad, BAD game.

 

Hopefully the Bruins wrap it up in Montrael.

 

Oh, and nl5xsk1--Where were you sitting for the game? I was at the Fleet as a spectator after the whole no-more-press thing.

[nl5xsk1 0]

I was sitting in the cheapest of nose bleeds for last night's game ... I ended up sitting with some friends in section 303, row 14. It's second from the wall, so they're about as bad as can be. I normally take the elevator to the 6th floor and sit in that fancy restaurant, or in some of the premium seats, though.

 

How about you, WB4:20? Where were you sitting?

[starvenger 0]

Hey, Leafs/Sens is on ESPN2!! I actually get to watch my team play!!