Re: NHL '09 - '10 Thread
 

The fans were pissed in the second period when they got down 2-0, the fans were booing the home team. The Red Wings did a great job keeping the pressure on from the beginning and kept the crowd out of it for the entire game. The Desert Dogs looked very flat the whole game and the only sign of life was after their goal. The Wings looked great, I just hope they can carry that momentum into San Jose and come home atleast 1-1. :tu

So nice to actually be able to watch an entire hockey game on TV and not streamed on the internet. Cincinnati cable carriers suck :td

Re: NHL '09 - '10 Thread
 

All this Canada and U.S. banter going on let's just end it and Let Canada Be the 51st state.:r:r

:D:D

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Doh!

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No thanks;)

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Buddy, I'm ONLY referring to myself and the banter going on in this thread. With respect to provocation, I was referring to YOUR comments (I hadn't said anything derogatory in this thread about the US). If you want to turn this into something else, go ahead, but I'm not playing. Chill out a bit....LOL.

Re: NHL '09 - '10 Thread
 

Well thought out analysis. I agree with the Analysis with respect to forwards and goaltending. I also believe your D is stronger than ours, but when Sopel is in your top 4 (I might be hazy on whether he's top for or 5), I couldn't say your D outclasses ours by a wide margin with a straight face.

It's going to be a close series (6 or 7 games). I will take the Canucks in 6.

5 Sticks is fine by me. May the better team win !! :banger

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Fly to Vancouver and we'll go to a game. :D:D

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Go Habs! :p

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I am a virtual life-long Penguins fan, recent era (Toews/Kane) Chicago fan, and tonight I think I am more of a Habs fan than ever!

So you can guess who I want to see in the Finals! 1992 all over again! :)

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As a Pens fan, i gotta root for the Canadiens tonight.

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I like Ovi more than Cindy so I am a caps fan tonight. Would love to see Ovi and the Caps take out Cindy and the Pens later, but the Pens are going to be tough. Looking like the next incarnation of the Wings.

Tom anytime you want to come out to san jose I got a ticket here for you to any of the games finals included if I we end up being that lucky. Just hop a flight brother.

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If it's a Sharks/Hawks Western Conference Final, I'd love to see the Hog on TV wearing a Hawks jersey in San Jose! :tu Very generous. :tu

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May need to place some rules. Although I think the big boy could handle himself if a fight broke out. :r

putting the weeman in summer hockey. Friggin 575.00 for just over 3 months of hockey. Ice time is so damn expensive out here.

Re: NHL '09 - '10 Thread
 

Considering there's more players from British Columbia on the Hawks than there are on the Canucks, I tend to doubt that'll happen. This isn't international play, nationality has nothing to do with it (if it did Kesler would have been run out of town after his "I hate Canada" comments while representing your country in the Olympics :rolleyes: ). Besides, what would be the point..... as we proved in Feb, hockey's our game regardless of where the team winning the Cup happens to be based ;)

I'm calling Chicago in 6.

Re: NHL '09 - '10 Thread
 

Top 4 on the Hawks are Keith, Seabrook, Hjalmarsson and Campbell. If Johnsson is healthy, Sopel is #6. That being said, Sopel has been an amazing penalty killer all season long, I personally love the guy.

Cool on the bet, win or lose, it will be fun. :)

Wish I could! I can't even go to Game 1 in Chicago because of a stupid leg injury.

That would rock!

Mike, I would fly out there for that, I almost drove to the Joe and scalped a ticket last year for Game 7 of the Finals. It would be great to meet and hang out, and watch some hockey. I even still have my Jimmy Waite Sharks jersey!


Now...somebody stop this man!!!

http://i196.photobucket.com/albums/a...3/ovechkin.jpg

Re: NHL '09 - '10 Thread
 

Go Habs

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I'm pretty sure there are canadian players on the kings. Infact I know there are and it didn't stop the arena from chanting "yankees suck" when they lost. So your international play comment doesn't really hold any weight.

as to the other stuff no one will ever argue hockey isn't your game. It's our fourth sport here in the states behind football, baseball, and basketball, in that order. For it being our 4th sport I think our boys did all right but that's not what my post was about. You will find it shocking but not a lot of kids play the game here. In a city of almost 1 million people here there were roughly 50 kids between the age of 4 to 6 who played ice hockey this year.

my post was about vancouvers recent history of anti american chants in both international and nhl play. Was it a poke and kind of a trolling post? Yup, but to be honest it's troubling to see it keep happening up there when it isn't happening down here.

I think your kessler comment was that he hates playing the canadians and hates the team. He was not saying he hates canadians. Even if so that is one loud mouth person speaking poorly.

Re: NHL '09 - '10 Thread
 

Halak doing it again, 1-0 Habs after 2.....Go Habs!! :tu

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Agreed....for the Bruins sake!

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I'm breaking my own rule about posting in this thread just to say it seems like a gentle breeze can stop him when it really counts. When you absolutely, positively have to choke except no imitations
http://i196.photobucket.com/albums/a...3/ovechkin.jpg


sid forver, ovi never

Re: NHL '09 - '10 Thread
 

At least not 2010...Congrats to the Habs. :)

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Re: NHL '09 - '10 Thread
 

I hadn't heard anything about that, it certainly didn't get any play here. That said, sadly it doesn't surprise me as Vancouver has, in my personal experience some of the worst fans in the NHL when it comes to crass and idiotic behaviour.

Meh, that was a comment in the same vein as your good natured trolling. Personally I could care less since: a) it was just lockeroom trash talk to inspire his team, b) I may live here but Vancouver's not my team.... my team just finished putting the sword to the Caps :banger.-

However Kesler's "anti-Canadian" comments it played VERY poorly in the media and fan base, probably because there was so much media grousing about Canadian's being too patriotic during the Olympics. In regards to Kesler it went over badly enough that there was quite a vocal lobby calling for him to be offloaded before the trade deadline. Of course, in true Vancouver bandwagon fan fashion, that's all disappeared now.

Re: NHL '09 - '10 Thread
 

wow talk about epic fail. I can do this as this was my sharks last year and why 50% of the team is new. Just didn't see them tanking in the first round. Congrats to the Habs they looked all but dead and pulled off a shocking upset. How bizarre in the west 1 2 3 5 advance. In the east 4 6 7 8 &dvance. That is really the cap on a very strange first round.

Geoff I hear yah. Nothing wrong with a little trolling on the interweb. :r

Tom good to hear. l launched most of my round 2 seats as with this team I won't care till round 3 or 4. That said I will have 2 games available for both the last rounds and you are welcome to 1.

Re: NHL '09 - '10 Thread
 

That is awesome, Mike...looks like I will be looking at some Expedia if the Sharks (and hopefully the Hawks) advance. :)

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From ESPN.com:

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:wo:wo

Good luck sweet Lou;)

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Missed this game tonight, was the second night of tryouts for my sons team for next year.

Had a great tryout, a couple of new prospects for the team for next year and then to top it off, the capitals lose!

Now that Halak has played out of his mind, its time to come back to earth so the Penguins can move on!

:)

Re: NHL '09 - '10 Thread
 

Halak will have to stand on his head for the Habs to get past the Pens. :2

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Not a single night without hockey, Sharks - Wings tomorrow night. It has been the only sanity-saving grace besides CA and cigars since I have been off work. Looking forward to what should be an awesome series! :ih

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One down. ;) :r

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Let's get it ON!!

http://i196.photobucket.com/albums/a...g3/sharks4.jpg

http://i196.photobucket.com/albums/a...g3/sharks3.jpg

http://i196.photobucket.com/albums/a...g3/sharks2.jpg

http://i196.photobucket.com/albums/a...og3/sharks.jpg

http://i196.photobucket.com/albums/a...g3/sharks5.jpg

Re: NHL '09 - '10 Thread
 

Go WINGS!

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WOW!! I never would have thought it that the Bruins would get a home series in this playoffs.
Congrats to the HABs
Now Bring on the Flyers!!!!!
Should be a good Series. I am sure the Flyers wanted the Bruins as well instead of getting the Caps...
ROUND 2 Ding ding ding!!!!!

Re: NHL '09 - '10 Thread
 

It is awesome, but I am becoming sleep-deprived! :sleep::r They said on the Versus telecast that last night's game was the 49th of the post season so far. I must have watched at least a good portion (if not the entire televised game) of 30-35 of them. :banger

Re: NHL '09 - '10 Thread
 

I read this interesting stat on NHL.com this morning.

"The Capitals led 3-1 in the series a week ago, but on Wednesday at 9:37 p.m. ET they officially became the first top-seeded team in NHL history to blow a 3-1 series lead to the eighth seed."

Ouch. Not the kind of record I think Ovie was hoping for on his resume'.

Re: NHL '09 - '10 Thread
 

Me and a friend of mine make picks for each round (friendly wager :)). I figured I'd share my 2nd round picks (remember, I am not very good at this! :r).

East:
Pens in 5. ---> Could go one of two ways for the Habs. 1) Ride the momentum, 2) Letdown after the emotional series. I'm guessing the latter.

Bruins in 7 ---> As hard as I will be rooting for the Flyers, I think the extended time off will cool Boucher off. I do think the Flyers' style could help shake Rask...Carcillo, Richards, and Hartnell could really drive him nuts based on how emotional he gets. Hopefully they don't take any dumb penalties doing so. This is one series I am seriously hoping I am wrong about. :) Luckily I won't have to root for the $ because my buddy picked the same as I did. :hm

Wings in 6 ---> Should be a great series. If the Wings play four games anywhere near the level they played game 7 against the 'Yotes they should pull this series off. Funny, I will be rooting for the Sharks, but I just see the Wings winning the series.

Hawks in 7 ---> Although I think Kane's propensity to turn the puck over will eventually bite the Hawks bad (saw it in the Olympics and saw more of it in the 1st round), I just think the Hawks defensemen depth will carry them through what I think will be a great series. I'm hoping it is nearly as entertaining as I think it could be.

Looking at these picks overall...the only team I will be "rooting for" that I actually picked is the Hawks, as I'm hoping it's Habs/Flyers/Sharks/Hawks advancing to the Conference Finals.

And here's to wishing good health to all of the teams. :chr

Re: NHL '09 - '10 Thread
 

I really think it depends on what Sharks team shows up/ if the first line decides to grow a pair and play with some heart as to whether Det will be able to have a game like they did in game 7 against the Yotes. In watching that game the Yotes were content to dump it in from center and try to chase the puck. The Wings ate them alive. If the Sharks think they can do that they will also get beat easy.

With the Sharks recent history of losing the first game in the their last four playoff series thats not a good omen.

I just dropped over 120.00 on a new pair of skates for a 4 year old. LOL what is it about this sport that does this.

Re: NHL '09 - '10 Thread
 

Something I was thinking about today.. Why is it that the top teams in the NHL don't produce in the playoffs? You have a team like Washington, who dominated the league and led in scoring. Why is it that they aren't built to win in the playoffs? Why is there a different type of hockey to be played in the playoffs? During the regular season you have a much more open game. Playoffs come and everyone is parked in front of the net on Offense and Defense just waiting for that one chance. Consequently because of the tight play in front of the net there is one team that dominates puck time but the other team just continually dumps the puck into the other zone again waiting for that one chance.

I'm not saying I don't like the postseason but something needs to be changed. If they want a higher scoring game, fast pace, and a more open game (like the regular season). Why do all the teams revert to a more puck controlled, defense oriented game?

Re: NHL '09 - '10 Thread
 

Simplistically, I think it has a lot to do with sacrifice. During the regular season, players may not layout to stop a slapshot as frequently. They may not go into the corner quite as hard. They may make a blind pass instead of taking a hit to make the safer, often correct play. A lot of those types of plays slow the game down creating bouncing pucks and a slower pace of play.

To me, I prefer the post-season game to the regular season. Not only for the intensity and the importance of each game, but I prefer the style of play....the players play tougher. Sorry to bring this up Mike, but if Marleau "bunny hops" in the regular season, it may be talked about for a week...maybe that long. When it happens in the post season it's talked about for a year. In the regular season, in the long run, hopping may have been the right play (keep your stars healthy (pun intended ;)) and live to fight another day. In the post season? Not by a long shot.

:2

Re: NHL '09 - '10 Thread
 

I have to agree with Joel. (That Hurts, Rotten Flyers;):D )
Players and teams are laying it all on the line in the playoffs Players take chances, Hit harder, try different things to score not to look good doing it but to get a win.
During the regular season players and teams don't lay it all out like that.
So you have these insanely talented (The Capitals) teams with these great finesse players that can do anything but end up getting shut down.
Look at the Bruins Last year they went to the finals of the semis in the east but lost to Carolina and they were the best in the East Last year. They beat the Bag out of teams in the regular season and could not handle it when they went up against a hard hitting team that took it to them for Seven Games.

PS Playoff Hockey is the best. It beats out Football, Basketball, and Baseball for intensity:2

Re: NHL '09 - '10 Thread
 

The other factor is that offense sells tickets while defense wins games. The regular season is about filling rinks and making the team owners money so ever team plays a different kind of game, which is why entirely offensive orientated teams like the Caps end up in 1st overall. In the playoffs teams tend to play much more a much more defensively cautious style which tends to shut down freewheeling offenses. If your team can't switch from offensive to defense they ll never do well...... and let's face it, both Ovechkin and the Caps are all offense all the time. There's no off switch or defensive fallback there.

Re: NHL '09 - '10 Thread
 

The NHL leaves me scratching my head as to why they made changes to the league to make it more offense orientated but the playoffs turn into a grind it out game.. Teams like the Caps, that are built with a lot of talent, fail in the playoffs because it's a completely different game.

Could the league make a rule change that limits the number of people in front of the net? That would make a huge difference in the playoffs :2

Re: NHL '09 - '10 Thread
 

I grew up in Montreal and even though I've seen some amazing games in my lifetime, that win last night really was something special...another amazing chapter in a storied franchise.

Great goaltending paired with some incredible defense...wow...just wow...

Re: NHL '09 - '10 Thread
 

No Marleau for the Sharks tonight...not good! He's the one guy on that line that busts his butt to get to the puck.

Re: NHL '09 - '10 Thread
 

Along this same thought, teams play differently at home than on the road during the regular season...at least the Flyers do. I think it has to do somewhat with "putting on a show" for the home fans, but when they're on the road, they play a safer/tighter game. Not sacrificing themselves like they do in the playoffs, but safer.

Re: NHL '09 - '10 Thread
 

I agree with your thoughts, Joel, and I too prefer playoff type hockey. Not as exciting in the "freewheeling" aspect, but so much more so in most other respects.

Just ask Martin Erat....hs lazy blind pass to the middle likely cost the Predators the series against the Blackhawks. ;)

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Absolutely Tom. Like Marleau's play, if that happened in the regular season, it's forgotten in a week's time.



Pavelsky is on fire!

Re: NHL '09 - '10 Thread
 

Holy $*@*! The Sharks came ready to play.