NHL '09 - '10 Thread

[yourchoice]

Originally Posted by GreekGodX

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?

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.

[kugie]

Originally Posted by yourchoice

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.

I have to agree with Joel. (That Hurts, Rotten Flyers )
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

[icehog3]

Originally Posted by yourchoice

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.

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.

They may make a blind pass instead of taking a hit to make the safer, often correct play.

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

[yourchoice]

Originally Posted by icehog3

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

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!

[yourchoice]

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