Re: NHL '09 - '10 Thread
 

Was away this weekend, but certainly didn't miss the Flyers game Saturday. Hopefully they can wrap up the Eastern Conference at home tomorrow night.

I listened to most of the Hawks/Sharks game on the way home on XM. The Hawks radio guys are as big of homers as the Flyers TV guys! :r

Congrats to the Hawks for making the finals. Hopefully that's all of the congratulations headed their way this season. :)

And, FWIW, I have the same opinion of Byfuglien as Al. The first time he celebrated that way, I thought it was spontaneous and was fine with it. When he does it again and again, it tells me it's choreographed and he is showboating. Some may like it, but I do not...after the first time. Hopefully the Flyers will advance and Pronger gets the chance to matchup against him in the Finals.

Re: NHL '09 - '10 Thread
 

Radio Homers are OK with me, even local affiliate, or regional FSN broadcasters being Homers is OK.

Its the national guys, like Pierre MacGuire and that fat guy...Milbury who piss me off. I know they sometimes have to play the part for their schtick, but I can't stand either of them.

Joe Benninatti too. I used to love Doc Emrich, but even he gets on my nerves now :)

Re: NHL '09 - '10 Thread
 

Lets not forget that celebrating in hockey is nothing new....http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mUx7Y...eature=related
Its part of the game.


For good measure:D
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=niaR5...eature=related

Re: NHL '09 - '10 Thread
 

Congrats, Tom... and the rest of you Hawks fans. They look very strong! :ss

Re: NHL '09 - '10 Thread
 

Hopefully they can keep it up:tu

Re: NHL '09 - '10 Thread
 

Yes, spontaneous celebration is, and should be, part of the game. Over the top and scripted celebrations that become a shtick shouldn't be, IMO.

I watched the video you linked and only 4 or 5 seemed scripted or over the top. If, for example, Uwe Krupp did a backflip after scoring the Stanley Cup winning goal in 3OT, I'd have no problem with it. If he did it several times, or when it wasn't nearly as big, I would. Same reasons Chad "Ochocinco's" antics bother people. :2

But don't listen to me, all sorts of stupid stuff bugs me :r...I used to not like it when players wore non traditional numbers (99, 88, 87, 77, 68, 66, etc.). It has become so common place now it doesn't matter anymore, but when the trend first started I thought it was selfish in some weird way (probably just to me! :D)

Re: NHL '09 - '10 Thread
 

First, congrats to San Jose for a great season, one step closer, pretty much like the Hawks were last year. Marleau was awesome, and McLelland is a class act all the way.

Duncan Keith loses 4 (or 7, depending on who you listen to) teeth after getting hit in the mouth with the puck...and misses maybe two shifts. Gotta love hockey players.

Dustin Byfuglien scores his third game winning goal of the series....a great story, I am happy for the kid.

Re: NHL '09 - '10 Thread
 

P.S....my ears are still ringing....the loudest I have ever heard the United Center. It will be even louder later this week.

Re: NHL '09 - '10 Thread
 

lets get tickets! lol

Re: NHL '09 - '10 Thread
 

D@Mn Sharks...


LETS GO HAWKS!!!!!!!

Re: NHL '09 - '10 Thread
 

GO FLYERS!
http://i200.photobucket.com/albums/a...01/timonen.jpg
http://i200.photobucket.com/albums/a...rs01/choke.jpg

Re: NHL '09 - '10 Thread
 

Would love to see Marleau in Detroit :)

Now assuming the Flyers win, how do you guys think they match-up to the Hawks?

Re: NHL '09 - '10 Thread
 

hawks have been playing well, and im not one of those fans who say "We're gonna crush them they suck!" I know its hard to believe since im from philly, haha. I think it will be an evenly matched series, but with Lapierre back and if Leighton keeps playing the way he has been(and doesnt pull a Ron Hextall, and forget how to goal tend when it matters most) I think we can pull it through and bring the cup to philly. And if that does happen all i can say is I WILL BE DOWN ON BROAD STREET, BUT IM TAKING THE TRAIN. Dont want my car flipped over. :)

Re: NHL '09 - '10 Thread
 

Looks like it's going to be Philly-Hawks!

Re: NHL '09 - '10 Thread
 

That my hurt more then seeing Cheli in the uniform. Again he has already said he wants to stay in San Jose and will take a discount because his wife is from here and they have kids now. Also he made a comment about being glad he was not the captain at one point during the season. Dont worry though you will see him 2x next year. The Wings do need some help though on that we can both agree. Much like the Sharks need a heart and a goalie. I cant see Nabokov comming back. Blake is gone also. Going to be interesting offseason for both teams. I dont see Patty going to the WIngs given the teams current state and the fact that he would be expected to lift the team to a higher level. He would also see if he cant it will be a middle of the pack team again. He doesnt like preasure like that.

Re: NHL '09 - '10 Thread
 

:wo :wo

Bring on the Hawks!

Unreal. I could go back and quote myself earlier in this thread, but I am so surprised by this team. The Flyers really came together at the perfect time of the year. I hope it's a great series.

Richards played, what I think was, the best game I've ever seen him play...and I've seen him play A LOT of games. Even before he scored the shorthanded goal in the first period, he was flying around the ice and I knew he was going to have a good game. Giroux and Carter also shined tonight.

Wow, I am so surprised and so friggen stoked!

Re: NHL '09 - '10 Thread
 

Why I told you exactly what would happen. It did. Funny all Habs fans went area 51 from game one on.

Good luck with the Hawks. You are going to need it. That said I cant make a prediction till after game one. There are multiple factors at play and I dont think until game one anyone can trully give a lock.

Re: NHL '09 - '10 Thread
 

So 3 straight years a team from the Winter Classic advances to the SCF. Every year the winner of that game has lost the Stanley Cup. This is the first time the loser is in the game.

So to root for the Wings rival or root for another Pennsylvania team to win the cup :td

Re: NHL '09 - '10 Thread
 

Hawks in 5.

Re: NHL '09 - '10 Thread
 

It is a dilema. I'd rather see and original 6 team win, but then again I'd rather see Hossa lose....again.

Re: NHL '09 - '10 Thread
 

Sort of like the big talkin' Canucks fans did, only chiming in after a win. :r

Richards shorthanded goal was something to see. Asham was playing possessed with the puck following him everywhere. Carter and Laperriere back and looking good. Flyers are a good team, and anyone annointing the Hawks as champs already need to wait and see how the first couple games play out. Niemi will have to stay hot, and the Hawks D will need to contain Briere and Giroux. Should be awesome hockey....Lets Go Hawks!

And why the f*** are we waiting until Saturday??? :td :mad:

Re: NHL '09 - '10 Thread
 

i think they are pretty evenly matched. especially with carter and gagne back. both teams have three great forward lines, both teams have great defenses. I think philly's D is more big and defensive where chicago's is more puck-rushing. I think philly has the edge in goal now that leighton is hot.

i don't believe vegas is putting chicago -260 without the juice. its an even matchup for me all the way around. And trying not to be biased as a flyers fan but i actually think the flyers have the edge. should be a great series though. my call philly in 6. go flyers.

Re: NHL '09 - '10 Thread
 

I won't go so far as to predict the Flyers winning, as they are rightfully the underdog IMHO. But if I lived in Vegas, I would definitely place a series wager for the Flyers at better than 2-1 odds as their chances of winning are better than that, again IMHO.

And, I'm with Tom... Why the *$#* are they waiting until Saturday to start the series? I think the NHL would have been better served keeping hockey in the mind of the public by playing one game before the US's Holiday weekend. I think their ratings would have been better overall if they played Thursday/Saturday/Monday. They may have a lower rating for a Thursday game 1 than a Saturday game 1, but I think they would make up for it with a Saturday game 2 as it may do better than a Saturday game 1. .....let alone, the fans want hockey!

But, WTH do I know?

Re: NHL '09 - '10 Thread
 

Did you see Niemi play in the Western Finals? ;)

Re: NHL '09 - '10 Thread
 

The bronze lions that stand guard outside the Art Institute of Chicago were given custom-made Chicago Blackhawks helmets this morning, in advance of the team's first game of the championship series on Saturday night.

http://i196.photobucket.com/albums/a...hog3/lion1.jpghttp://i196.photobucket.com/albums/a...hog3/lion2.jpg

Re: NHL '09 - '10 Thread
 

That's is cool. I believe Philly has a jersey that fits the William Penn statue on top of city hall. I would think they will do this once the series heads to Philly.

Re: NHL '09 - '10 Thread
 

So NBC gets a shot at televising the games, instead of VS. Just a guess on my part. Hockey fans will watch no matter what network broadcasts the game.

Re: NHL '09 - '10 Thread
 

Looks like NBC is broadcasting a couple weeknight games, so I am still confused as to why wait until Saturday, Jeff.

Re: NHL '09 - '10 Thread
 

LOL! Hockey is still our game. If Buttman wasn't an ass, there would be more than 6 Canadian teams (you do know that the 6 Canadian teams generate over half the leagues revenue right?) and the cup would not be out of the holy land for near on two decades :(

From my perspective, I'm rooting for Hossa to lose again, and I LOVE the way Richards plays. Now that's a hockey player !! No heart transplant needed here (ARE YOU LISTENING JOE ? PATRICK? ...:=:)

Dog out !!

ps. Go Philli!!:banger

Re: NHL '09 - '10 Thread
 

Missed where anyone said hockey wasn't Canada's game...that doesn't mean that some of its biggest fans aren't in the States though.

4 of the Original 6 were from the States, but I would love to see cities like Winnipeg or Hamilton with a team.

Richard does play great, no doubt. But if I had to choose a captain to lead my team right now, I would go with Jonathan Toews without hesitation....and from the Canadian poll I saw earlier in the year, most of your fellow Canadian citizens agree with me. ;)

Hog out !!

ps. Go BHawks!! :banger

Re: NHL '09 - '10 Thread
 

I was just making a statment. Makes me feel better since the cdn teams are all out :banger


Toews is a great player, but i still like Richards :su

Dog out

ps. Go Nucks.....Habs.....Flyers :r

Re: NHL '09 - '10 Thread
 

Excellent, you won't mind that I took Toews if I get first pick. ;) :r

Hog out

ps. Go Hawks....Hawks....Hawks
http://i196.photobucket.com/albums/a...celebrates.jpg

Re: NHL '09 - '10 Thread
 

Wow...that's quite a statement. I admit to not seeing nearly as many Blackhawk games as Flyers games, but I can't imagine a player leading his team much better than Richards has recently. Power play, penalty kill (some say the best penalty killer in the NHL), even strength, defending teamates, checking, hitting...the list goes on. But, I'm sure it's a homer bias on both sides.

Re: NHL '09 - '10 Thread
 

but see Tom there are no canadian teams left as usual in the playoffs. This means that instead of the canadian press realizing and discussing how many canadians are on the remaining teams. They need to villify bettman for not giving them back teams there economy could not support before. Now that they can it's time to rip them from the other side. DO IT RIGHT NOW! Right now dammit! Hockey is there sport.

should ignore the fact that four our fourth major sport behind football, baseball and basketball, you lost to our jr's and needed OT to take our mens team. Got to wonder if in the years to come that slim lead will hold. Funny for our fourth sport which based on % of population few Americans play or care about.

Re: NHL '09 - '10 Thread
 

Probably so, Joel....but I know Toews is quite revered in Canada after his Olympic performance. That being said, I would love Richards in the Red and Black without a doubt. But I absolutely do stand by my statement.

Re: NHL '09 - '10 Thread
 

In this whole Toews vs Richards conversation, I'd have to take Toews. 6 years age difference is huge. For Toews to already be this good, there's a great chance he'll be better than Richards in 6 years.

Re: NHL '09 - '10 Thread
 

If I were picking a team for the future, I would certainly take the younger player. But that's not how I interpreted Tom's statement. And I just don't know if I would pick Richards over Toews...I haven't seen enough of Toews to judge. All I know is Richards is quite the leader.

I was listening to the local radio station (or maybe it was on Comcast Sports Net), and they mentioned how Richards, Carter, Sharp and Eager were all teammates on the Calder Cup winning Phantoms team back in '05. Other proven NHLers on that roster included RJ Umburger, D. Seidenberg, J. Pitkanen, and A. Niittymaki. Looking back, that was quite the impressive AHL squad! Full Roster Link.

Re: NHL '09 - '10 Thread
 

I guess I am in the exact opposite boat as you, Joel. I probably saw Richards in 3 or 4 regualr season games and a couple Olympic games...though I have seen all Philly's playoff games.

Toews is an amazing leader and has been from the start. He is the first one to call out others when efforts are lacking, which he can do both because he has their respect, and he gives 100% every game, every shift. The Hawks record with him in, and out, of the lineup the last two seasons reflect the impact he has on this group.

I have already stated that I like Richards as a player and as a captain. And I stand by my statement that I would take Toews tomorrow, hands down, over any current captain in the NHL. (insert homer bias smiley here). :)

Re: NHL '09 - '10 Thread
 

Going to be able to make any games, Joel?

Re: NHL '09 - '10 Thread
 

I don't know Tom...probably not. :( I will actually be visiting family in NC next weekend so I'll be watching game 4 in college basketball county. I told my wife we had to switch our plans a little bit to make sure we were there by the time the puck drops... she totally understood. Good woman. :tu

And I called the hotel and confirmed they carried Versus and was offered to switch the 52" TV in the lobby to the game if I so desire! :D When I spoke to the woman she even offered to call the sports bar across the street to see if they were going to have the game on there. Thumbs up for customer service. :tu

I guess there's a chance I'll go to game 3 or 6 (if necessary), but we'll see. I hope to, but tickets are hard to come by at a somewhat reasonable price. Funny since, being not only a Flyer fan but a hockey fan, I was able to go to a Devils/Ducks game a few years back at the Devils old arena.

Long answer for a short question. :r

How about you Tom, are you making it any games?

Re: NHL '09 - '10 Thread
 

And as for Richards, I will say the only time he frustrates me is when he's coming off the ice he doesn't get to the bench as quickly as he should. Usually it's blamed on expending all of his energy on the shift and being exhausted coming back. That's about the only complaint I have for him.

Re: NHL '09 - '10 Thread
 

Oh, and FWIW, the age difference is only 3 years, 25 vs. 22.

Re: NHL '09 - '10 Thread
 

Is it me or does it seem real weird to be playing hockey into June?

(I know the winter Olympics)

Re: NHL '09 - '10 Thread
 

:tpd:
Hockey Should Finish in May:2

Re: NHL '09 - '10 Thread
 

Joel, I have a ticket for Game 5 and a ticket for Game 7. Got lucky enough to get Game 7 when they went on sale for face value, but paid a premium for Game 5. I wasn't willing to spend the premium for Games 1 and 2 since they can't be clinchers, so I will watch those on TV.

If the Hawks happen to be up 3-2 after 5 games, I plan on doing my best to get to Philly.

Re: NHL '09 - '10 Thread
 

Hockey should be year round. ;)

Re: NHL '09 - '10 Thread
 

They're here.......

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

Re: NHL '09 - '10 Thread
 

http://i196.photobucket.com/albums/a...Blackhawks.jpg

Let's Get It On!

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

http://i196.photobucket.com/albums/a...celebrates.jpg

Re: NHL '09 - '10 Thread
 

Go Hawks!

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My prediction is Flyers in 6.

That eing said. LETS GO HAWKS!!!!!!!!!!!

T