NHL Thread

[Zetterberg is God 0]

I was hesitant to start this just in case we started a seperate playoff thread but I figured we could put the final few days/first round playoff discussion in here. Anyway, stay classy Flames fans.

[CanadianChris 0]

Playoffs traditionally get their own thread, but this is fine for the final week.

 

Rangers moved up to fifth last night, where I hope they stay. I'd much rather try my luck with Carolina than New Jersey. That, of course, is assuming Ottawa stays in sixth (definitely not a sure thing) and Washington doesn't grab the Southeast (which would be a disaster, considering they swept the Sens this season).

[CanadianGuitarist 0]

^

 

When the Habs made it 2-0, I was prepared to tell you "Well, the Jays won". Then the Yankees took the lead, and......

 

Beat the snot out of Toronto on Thursday.

[treble 0]

Hey, Andrew Raycroft is alive.

[CanadianGuitarist 0]

But he's still Raycroft - Buffalo ties it up with 5 to play.

[Smartly Pretty 0]

I love a playoff matchup against the Devils. Lundqvist plays his best against the Devils, seemingly.

[CanadianChris 0]

The free fall continues. Only two points up on ninth place now.

 

The way Toronto and Boston have been handling us lately, I'm not at all optimistic.

[Red Baron 0]

Is this the worst collapse in sports history if Ottawa doesn't make the playoffs?

[Guest (Loggins Name)]

It's pretty bad, but it's really hard for anything in the NHL to be the best or worst in sports history. When people think of epic season collapses, it's always gonna be the '64 Phillies or the '95 Angels, because of baseball's scarcity of playoff berths and the use of Games Behind in the standings. As for as hockey goes, it's gotta be waaaay up there if they can't snag 8th place.

[Red Baron 0]

With the talent they had, last year Stanley Cup finalist, and the season they started with in the first 20 games, they were odds on favourite to win the whole thing.

[MarvinisaLunatic 0]

It's pretty bad, but it's really hard for anything in the NHL to be the best or worst in sports history. When people think of epic season collapses, it's always gonna be the '64 Phillies or the '95 Angels, because of baseball's scarcity of playoff berths and the use of Games Behind in the standings. As for as hockey goes, it's gotta be waaaay up there if they can't snag 8th place.

 

I really dont follow the NHL that closely anymore (used to watch it til my grandmother died, she was a big hockey fan) but the Capitals comeback from being like, dead last in the East at the All Star break to possibly getting a 3rd seed by virtue of winning the Southeast Division is gotta be up there on the best inseason turnaround list, and even if they only manage the 8th seed its still quite an accomplishment. I might have to start watching hockey again, especially since I still say hockey is the best looking sport in HD from the couple of games Ive stumbled across and I get NHL Network HD, VS HD, NBC HD and Comcast Sportsnet Mid Atlantic HD..

[Red Baron 0]

The Capitals have nothing but postive things in their future. A few key signings and some decent draft picks and they would be a playoff team for the next season.

[treble 0]

The Sens are like the 4th worst team in the league since New Years. The fact that they had something like a 9 point lead in the conference at that time and have a chance of missing the playoffs now is incredible.

 

At least with most big baseball collapses, the team still finished in 2nd place. The Sens could end up being caught by EIGHT teams.

[CanadianChris 0]

At least with most big baseball collapses, the team still finished in 2nd place. The Sens could end up being caught by EIGHT teams.

Yeah, but that's only if you look at the entire conference. They'll only have been caught by two teams in their own division if they miss the playoffs.

 

I'm looking at the silver lining, which is that I'll end up saving a lot of money. I spent over $1000 on tickets and game-day expenses last year.

[CanadianChris 0]

Incidentally, is there any doubt in anyone's mind anymore that Ovechkin is the MVP?

[Zetterberg is God 0]

The writers here were adamant for a while that it should be Iginla but most of them now say it should be Ovechkin. Iginla's having a great season and will probably get a nomination but he's also had some ice cold stretches this year and his supporting cast is a lot better.

[Red Baron 0]

Ovechkin should be the MVP. Just think how awful the Caps would be if he wasn't playing everyday.

[CanadianGuitarist 0]

I still think Iginla or Malkin if the Caps don't get in. There's no question it's Alex O if the Caps make the playoffs, and no one but him deserves the Pearson, either.

[TheOriginalOrangeGoblin 0]

I still think Iginla or Malkin if the Caps don't get in. There's no question it's Alex O if the Caps make the playoffs, and no one but him deserves the Pearson, either.

Malkin would never win, he's got way too much of a supporting cast. I'd say Iginla and Kovalev are the next 2 after Ovechkin eventhough, playoffs or not, Ovechkin should win it.

[CanadianGuitarist 0]

Why not Iginla, outside of his cold streaks? Daymond Langkow and Kristian Huselius would not be 25-goal scorers anywhere else in the league.

 

 

 

And after reviewing the standings/stats earlier, I find it fascinating that the second-highest scoring team in the league, Buffalo, will not make the playoffs.

[TheOriginalOrangeGoblin 0]

Why not Iginla, outside of his cold streaks? Daymond Langkow and Kristian Huselius would not be 25-goal scorers anywhere else in the league.

 

 

 

And after reviewing the standings/stats earlier, I find it fascinating that the second-highest scoring team in the league, Buffalo, will not make the playoffs.

If not Ovechkin, Iginla is definetely my next choice. The Flames have great support on D and in goal and, at best, will barely make the playoffs and may finish with less points than Washington (playoffs or not) so I think Ovechkin is still a head up over Iginla.

 

And Buffalo had like 4 or 5 games in two weeks where they scored 6 or 7+ goals. That really inflated their total.

[MrRant 0]

While it was fun going to the Canucks game, they gave the game to the Avs IMO after being up 2-0.

[Red Baron 0]

Ovechkin should be the MVP. He registered 25% of Washington goals, and if that doesn't account for something, I don't know what is. The other two nominees are, and should be Iginla and Lindstrom.

[CanadianGuitarist 0]

Ovechkin should be the MVP. He registered 25% of Washington goals, and if that doesn't account for something, I don't know what is. The other two nominees are, and should be Iginla and Lindstrom.

 

Here's why Iginla stands out for me: When they went to the finals in 2004, who got most of the credit? Kiprusoff.

 

As a coach or GM, I would love to have Kipper, but he's probably not on the tier that he was placed upon that season. Has Calgary suffered because of that? No. Why? Iginla.

 

I'm not denying how valuable Ovechkin is, and have no problem with him getting the Pearson. But Mike Green's 17 goals and the best 1-2 goalie punch in the league have little to do with him. And as I've said before, all bets are off if the Caps get into the playoffs.

[the pinjockey 0]

Funniest (and saddest) thing I have seen in a game in a long time:

The Flyers/Pens game is getting all kinds of chippy. Early fight between Cote/Laraque, then the refs let Lupul go with Orpik. But after a scrum, Lasse fucking Kukkonen (a UFC fighter on skates if I have ever seen one ) drops the gloves with the Lord Almighty Crosby and those linesmen jump in like it was Bob Probert in his prime throwing down with the Savior.

[Zetterberg is God 0]

Watching this debacle of a Wings game, I see they've announced that every Blackhawks game will be televised next year.

[Guest (Loggins Name)]

Yeah! Some on WGN, too! Now people all the way out in Omaha can struggle to figure out why "Byfuglien" is pronounced the way it is! I'm really excited. Now the key is to get Pat Foley back.

 

The White Sox bumped tonight's debacle from 670 to 560, so I'm listening to it on the computer. I know it's free, but NHL.com audio sucks a dog dick. It's like listening to an AM radio over a telephone. Is this REALLY the best they can do?

[CanadianGuitarist 0]

Boston's OT loss ties them for sixth with the Sens, who have a quick shot at redemption tomorrow night againt the Leafs, then Friday against Boston.

 

My money's on Philly being the team to miss the playoffs - they didn't do themselves any favours tonight against Pittsburgh, and Washington can likely turn the heat on a bit this weekend. Ottawa's (regular) season finishes Friday night, meaning they'll set the bar for both Philly and Washington, who finish on Sunday.

 

Philly's got a tough schedule coming in (New Jersey Friday, and a last chance at Pittsburgh Sunday), while Washington takes on three-in-four-night Tampa Thursday, and Florida on Saturday - and Tampa certainly didn't 'play spoiler' against the Canes tonight.

 

For all the complaining about the poor scheduling (most of it just), I like that the final eight games for each team are all against divisional opponents.

 

 

 

My PVR is set for the Sens post-game tomorrow. I expect a Jim Mora-esque rant from Bryan Murray if the Sens don't get at least a point out of the Leafs.

[Red Baron 0]

There has to be something else going on in Ottawa if that team is struggling this badly. Does Alfie want out or something?

[CanadianChris 0]

Alfie's the least of our problems. The team has just been totally fractured. There's no cohesion on the ice.

 

I'm almost glad the game is on PPV so I won't be tempted to flip over and watch the carnage.

 

Philadelphia should be rooting hard for the Sabres tonight. If Buffalo beats Montreal in regulation, Pittsburgh would clinch first overall and might not go all out Sunday afternoon, should it come to that.