NHL Thread

[Lt. Al Giardello 0]

I stopped caring about the Devils a while ago. At least the Nets are good!

 

Calgary was one game away from winning the Cup. If Ottawa choked as you claim, then so did Calgary.

 

(Even though neither of them choked)

 

Like I said before, Calgary was picked by everyone to lose to Vancouver, Detroit, and San Jose, where as Ottawa was picked to go to the Cup Finals. Big difference.

 

And also, like I said before, we were robbed in Game 6, by a bullshit call. Gelinas did score that goal.

[CanadianGuitarist 0]

I stopped caring about the Devils a while ago. At least the Nets are good!

 

Calgary was one game away from winning the Cup. If Ottawa choked as you claim, then so did Calgary.

 

(Even though neither of them choked)

 

Like I said before, Calgary was picked by everyone to lose to Vancouver, Detroit, and San Jose, where as Ottawa was picked to go to the Cup Finals. Big difference.

 

And also, like I said before, we were robbed in Game 6, by a bullshit call. Gelinas did score that goal.

 

Did Daryl Sutter fuck Bettman's daughter or something? That was a goal on Thursday as well.

 

We still haven't factored in that Hasek will likely be back for the first round, and I'd rather play the Masters Sunday with Tiger than play Hasek in the playoffs. On the flip side, Heatley wasn't great in the Worlds last year or the World Cup two years ago, and dare I say those were less important than the playoffs are? Carolina's underrated-ness notwithstanding, Ottawa's the team to beat.

Calgary has sent Lynn Loyns to Omaha. This has little relevance to the discussion, but say Lynn Loyns without giggling. Can't be done. That's a Chinese porn star name.

[CanadianChris 0]

Whoo! Martin Havlat comes back on Saturday.

 

And I'm going to call mitigating circumstances on Heatley, at least for the World Cup. This will be his biggest test yet.

[CanadianGuitarist 0]

And I'm going to call mitigating circumstances on Heatley, at least for the World Cup.

 

I think that's fair, and in fact, I did a column my second year of college defending him, but, and I hope this doesn't sound to shitty, he's got a lot to prove this spring.

[CanadianChris 0]

And I'm going to call mitigating circumstances on Heatley, at least for the World Cup.

 

I think that's fair, and in fact, I did a column my second year of college defending him, but, and I hope this doesn't sound to shitty, he's got a lot to prove this spring.

Boy, you're not kidding. He doesn't have any more excuses. I'm hoping he won't need any. Judging by his recent play, it doesn't look like it, but we'll see.

[bob_barron 0]

If I had a $45 Canucks hat, I'd be returning it.

 

This is so depressing.

[CanadianChris 0]

What exactly happened in Vancouver? I haven't really been following them. All I know is that I picked them to go to the Cup final before the season started.

[bob_barron 0]

Jovo and Salo both got hurt, the Big Line stopped working well together and became unproductive and Auld got burned out.

 

They had a real bad post-Olympic hangover at the same time Anaheim and San Jose became unbeatable.

[bob_barron 0]

Vancouver- 19 shots. Anaheim-3 in the second.

 

Is anyone watching this game? Is Gigeure putting on a show or something?

[CanadianGuitarist 0]

From what I just saw on Sportscentre, Auld has been pretty burnt-out indeed as eluded to two posts ago, and he just looks tired tonight.

 

Has anyone else noticed that Colorado could still realistically miss the playoffs? I mean, is Vancouver gonna get back in it? Prolly not, but still...

 

Cheechoo's up to 50. Fuck that Jagr, Thornton deserves the Hart.

 

EDIT: 51. See above. Thornton with two assists.

[bob_barron 0]

I don't get why they traded for Noronen if they didn't intend on using him.

 

Crawford should so be fired, this is just ridiciolous. (Yea, I can't spell that word)

[CanadianGuitarist 0]

*Bites tongue on a Sun joke.

 

I don't blame you though, this is rough to watch, I'm sick to my stomach from the ticker on The Score. My cell phone would be in pieces if I were using my ScoreMobile.

[bob_barron 0]

I mean there's still hope if they can win their last 3 games, but with the way San Jose is playing....this is just so depressing.

[bob_barron 0]

Yep, the Canucks have to go 3-0 to make the playoffs.

 

(Unless they win one more and Edmonton falters I guess)

[Fartsauce 0]

Oilers got Detroit though so you aren't done yet. However, Edmonton is a really good matchup this year and have beat them twice. I hate to see the Canucks losing but it's the only way Edmonton will make the playoffs right now.

[ZGangsta 0]

Yep, the Canucks have to go 3-0 to make the playoffs.

 

(Unless they win one more and Edmonton falters I guess)

Sigh, Vancouver, my home town boys, (Well, not really, but the closest hockey team to me.) how the mighty have fallen.

So last season, they win the division and sell out every game, all while getting the best community support in their history. But they lose to the Flames in the first round, so let's fire Brian Burke, the GM who built this team from losers to a damn fine team practically with his bare hands. Well, look where that got them.

[TheOriginalOrangeGoblin 0]

so let's fire Brian Burke, the GM who built this team from losers to a damn fine team practically with his bare hands. Well, look where that got them.

And watch the team he signed with leapfrog you guys in the playoff standings.

[Red Baron 0]

Brian Burke is a genius on how to build a team, except relying on Dan Cloutier.

 

EHME, and I'll say it now, and I'll say it again, Gelinas goal was not a goal no matter which way you look at it. Hell there is conclusive evidence that the puck was two thirds across the goal line which that means no goal.

 

Also, Calgary was one of the hottest teams going into the playoffs except for Detroit. Knocking off Vancouver could be considered an upset, but other than Nucks fans that series was the greatest hockey series in the last ten years. (Or two years for you). Yes the Detroit was a huge upset, but I think most hockey people realized that they beat Detroit, knocking off San Jose wasn't all that shocking.

 

Ottawa did not collapse against the Devils in 03. They played very well as a team, and Brodeur stole some games for the Devils to go on to win the Cup. I mean a Ottawa vs Anaheim hockey final would have been exciting, it was also good to see NJ vs the Ducks.

 

Ottawa has had bad experience with the Leafs, and the only other series I can say the Sens had some bad luck was against the Sabres in 97? When Ron Tugnutt let in a five-hole goal that he should have had.

 

No a choke job is when the Nordiques fell through the Habs in the 93 Cup finals after dominating the first two games in the series. But I doubt you know that much hockey from that early, so I wont waste my time explaining on what happened.

 

You can also say Canada choked against the USSR in 72, because everyone was saying Canada in eight games easily.

[Red Baron 0]

If the playoffs started right now and Hasek did not return, only Brodeur will have experience in the playoffs for more than one year in the eastern conference.

[the max 0]

No, 2003 wasn't a choke. They were one period away from going to the Cup.

 

That's the definition of a choke, buddy. They couldn't close the show.

They came from being down 3-1 to make a game 7 and lost on a late fluke goal. That's not choking.

 

Friesen scored because Havlat didn't hustle back to make a defensive play, Friesen torched Havlat and had an uncontested shot. As good as Lalime was that postseason, he's still Patrick Lalime and thus is terrible.

[Red Baron 0]

LOL.

 

Well Havlat is not the greatest defencive forward out there.

[mike546 0]

I can't even complain about a loss tonight when we've got 3 rookies in the lineup, Ozo (whos basically worse in the D zone than any of the rookies), and Strudwick who's nothing better than a 7th Dman. These "supposed" injuries better be a ploy by Renny to get people rest or were fucked.

[treble 0]

Ottawa has had bad experience with the Leafs, and the only other series I can say the Sens had some bad luck was against the Sabres in 97? When Ron Tugnutt let in a five-hole goal that he should have had.

In '99 (I think) they were the #2 seed and got swept by Buffalo. I guess you can chalk that up to playoff inexperience, but they did beat the #1 seed Devils in the first round the year before.

 

And didn't Redden cough up the puck on Friesen's goal? I remember some people making a scapegoat out of him when it happened.

[the max 0]

I think he misplayed it and Friesen took control. Havlat's defensive responsibility was Friesen and he blew it.

[CanadianChris 0]

Chara's back tonight as well as Redden.

 

AWESOME.

 

Now if only they could translate some of these great chances they're getting into goals...

[Red Baron 0]

So Atlanta is dominating Tampa 6-1 so far.

[Guest NYankees]

Nice to see that the refs not make a fucking call when Jagr takes a fucking stick to the face.

[CanadianChris 0]

Thank FSM we don't have to see Tim Thomas in the playoffs. The guy just flat-out stands on his head every time he sees the Senators. They should be up about 6-2 or 7-2 at this point.

[mike546 0]

Nice to see that the refs not make a fucking call when Jagr takes a fucking stick to the face.

 

 

That pissed me off but honestly they were fucking awful tonight and just didn't show up for the first two periods. They made a shitty shitty Isles team look like a good regular NHL team. This reminded of the old days when the Rangers would be playing for the playoffs every night but STILL wouldn't show up. Now that last game in Philly is freaking GIGANTIC, when a win tonight basically clinches the division. A Islander win tomorrow, they beat us and bam were in the 5th seed.

[treble 0]

I think my earlier comment (either in this thread or the March one) about how the Leafs shitty play in Montreal would bug me all summer is going to ring true.

 

Eeking out a win over Florida, depsite outshooting them something like 50-20, Sundin with 4 goals and 2 assists. He can be so awesome sometimes.