Stanley Cup Playoffs thread

jimd · Post by **jimd** » Fri Jun 02, 2006 9:52 am

tjung0831 wrote:
10spro wrote:A great series. Canes won because of a few guys with more experience but Sabres put on a great fight, even though they were a bit thin on D.

R. Brind'Amour is their MVP, this guy just carried his team to the finals, a great Captain and faceoff guy, tough to beat. What about those people that doubted on C. Ward?

Two trips to the finals in the past 4 years is not bad at all. How does Dougie Weight feel about playing his former team?

I am glad all the pep talk between Ruff & Laviolette is over now, let the finals begin. NOW!!!!!
I'll love Brind'Amour to the day I die, hell he scored goals on his first two shots in his first game as a Blue...a playoff game at that. However his on the ice interview comment about Ruff was pretty classless. Rod being the leader that he is should know better than to talk s***.

I was shocked to hear Brind'Amour bad-mouth Ruff like that. Ruff's in-between game banter was the norm for the playoffs.

Naples39 · Post by **Naples39** » Fri Jun 02, 2006 10:21 am

I was surprised to hear Brind'Amour mention the topic of Ruff unsolicited, but what he said was hardly controversial. Something like "you know, their coach says a lot of things, and it's a shame because it takes away from the efforts of their players" isn't so bad and I don't see it as shocking. Just as what Ruff was saying was pretty standard between game banter, I don't see how what Rod said was out of line banter either.

tjung0831 · Post by **tjung0831** » Fri Jun 02, 2006 10:56 am

Naples39 wrote:I was surprised to hear Brind'Amour mention the topic of Ruff unsolicited, but what he said was hardly controversial. Something like "you know, their coach says a lot of things, and it's a shame because it takes away from the efforts of their players" isn't so bad and I don't see it as shocking. Just as what Ruff was saying was pretty standard between game banter, I don't see how what Rod said was out of line banter either.

Uh not quite...Brind'Amour said "their coach TALKS alot" which is a big difference from saying "their coach says alot of things" it was pretty classless on Rod's part. I would have never guessed that Rod would stoop to that level. He's been the model NHL player for years. JD and Doc even talked about that comment after the game.

Naples39 · Post by **Naples39** » Fri Jun 02, 2006 12:13 pm

Okay, so I didn't remember the quote *exactly*, but I still fail to see what the big deal is. Ruff DOES talk a lot. Coaches and GMs say this type of stuff ALL THE TIME after series are over, and this time it's a slightly different wrinkle in that it came from the captain of the team. I don't get it--he didn't say anything qualitatively bad, just stated the obvious as just about every announcer on OLN has at some point in the series has called out Ruff for yapping too. A little surprising? Yes. Shocking and/or classless? I don't think so.

fightingcamel · Post by **fightingcamel** » Fri Jun 02, 2006 1:19 pm

Naples39 wrote:Okay, so I didn't remember the quote *exactly*, but I still fail to see what the big deal is. Ruff DOES talk a lot. Coaches and GMs say this type of stuff ALL THE TIME after series are over, and this time it's a slightly different wrinkle in that it came from the captain of the team. I don't get it--he didn't say anything qualitatively bad, just stated the obvious as just about every announcer on OLN has at some point in the series has called out Ruff for yapping too. A little surprising? Yes. Shocking and/or classless? I don't think so.

Exactly.

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Fri Jun 02, 2006 1:44 pm

I find it hard to believe that anyone is calling Rod Brind'Amour classless. Sean Avery is classless; Rod Brind'Amour is far from it.

Lindy is one of the biggest verbal sh*t stirrers among NHL coaches. He's probably a step below Hitchcock and Tortorella, but he's right up there. Great coach, but if he's going to dish shots, then people should expect some players to give them in return.

It's not like Brind'Amour is some rookie shooting his mouth after a victory. Ruff called Carolina arrogant earlier in the series, quite an accusation and one in which I didn't see much basis. So Brind'Amour, as a veteran leader and team captain, has the right to respond. And I don't think he trashed Lindy that much in response.

Take care,
PK

jimd · Post by **jimd** » Fri Jun 02, 2006 1:50 pm

For the record, I could give a rat's ass about the whole Ruff/Brind'Amour thing. I should have used the word "surprised" not "shocked". My bad.

Airdog · Post by **Airdog** » Fri Jun 02, 2006 2:00 pm

I'll never forget Lindy Ruff's "That's a definition of a joke right there" rant.

tjung0831 · Post by **tjung0831** » Fri Jun 02, 2006 2:08 pm

Brind'Amour didn't have to say it and as a captain he should have known better. I love Brind'Amour as a player and can't wait to see him hoist the cup here in a few days.

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Fri Jun 02, 2006 2:16 pm

tjung0831 wrote:Brind'Amour didn't have to say it and as a captain he should have known better. I love Brind'Amour as a player and can't wait to see him hoist the cup here in a few days.

He must have a plastic replica at his house, right? Because that's the only Cup Rockin' Rod is hoisting this month.

Take care,
PK

tjung0831 · Post by **tjung0831** » Fri Jun 02, 2006 2:33 pm

pk500 wrote:
tjung0831 wrote:Brind'Amour didn't have to say it and as a captain he should have known better. I love Brind'Amour as a player and can't wait to see him hoist the cup here in a few days.
He must have a plastic replica at his house, right? Because that's the only Cup Rockin' Rod is hoisting this month.

Take care,
PK

You sure about that?

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Fri Jun 02, 2006 2:53 pm

tjung0831 wrote:
pk500 wrote:
tjung0831 wrote:Brind'Amour didn't have to say it and as a captain he should have known better. I love Brind'Amour as a player and can't wait to see him hoist the cup here in a few days.
He must have a plastic replica at his house, right? Because that's the only Cup Rockin' Rod is hoisting this month.

Take care,
PK
You sure about that?

As positive as Rafael Palmeiro's steroid test.

Take care,
PK

tjung0831 · Post by **tjung0831** » Fri Jun 02, 2006 3:02 pm

pk500 wrote:
tjung0831 wrote:
pk500 wrote: He must have a plastic replica at his house, right? Because that's the only Cup Rockin' Rod is hoisting this month.

Take care,
PK
You sure about that?
As positive as Rafael Palmeiro's steroid test.

Take care,
PK

ok...just making sure.

fightingcamel · Post by **fightingcamel** » Fri Jun 02, 2006 3:17 pm

pk500 wrote:
tjung0831 wrote:
pk500 wrote: He must have a plastic replica at his house, right? Because that's the only Cup Rockin' Rod is hoisting this month.

Take care,
PK
You sure about that?
As positive as Rafael Palmeiro's steroid test.

Take care,
PK

I just hope you are as accurate with this prediction as you were with your last two regarding the Hurricanes!

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Fri Jun 02, 2006 3:59 pm

I've been right about the Oil in the last two series, so I expect that trend to continue.

Take care,
PK

XXXIV · Post by **XXXIV** » Fri Jun 02, 2006 6:13 pm

pk500 wrote:I've been right about the Oil in the last two series, so I expect that trend to continue.

Take care,
PK

Ditto that...2 in a row...Im ready for 3...Oil in 7...

Lets go Oilers !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

10spro · Post by **10spro** » Fri Jun 02, 2006 9:00 pm

I think that is about damn time that Lord Stanley returns to Canadian soil, so I'll be rooting for the Oils, having said that my gut feeling tells me that the Canes will win it in 6. Talking about R. Brind'Amour, watch this guy to be in key faceoffs, killing penalties, or in PP's, perhaps top three guy in key faceoffs.

Few teams can match the Oils speed, but CAR has those guys to match it and they have a good mobile D complimenting their forwards. If they win the cup, Brind'Amour is the Conn Smythe winner, ditto for Rollie if EDM wins.

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Fri Jun 02, 2006 9:27 pm

Brind'Amour is a great faceoff guy, no doubt. What people forget is that the Oilers have three of the top 25 faceoff guys in the NHL, statistically, this season -- Peca, Stoll and Horcoff. Carolina had no one besides Brind'Amour in the top 25.

In the playoffs, the Oilers have three of the top 24 faceoff men in the league. Carolina has one -- Brind'Amour.

It gives MacT the luxury of putting Peca and Stoll on the ice for a big draw. If one gets thrown out of the circle, you just insert the other guy. Once the draw is done, either Stollie or Pecs leave the ice for another wing.

MacT has been using this strategy to perfection the entire playoff run.

When the Oil wins the Cup, the Conn Smythe will be a nail-biter between Roli and Pronger, who is playing incredibly well.

Take care,
PK

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Fri Jun 02, 2006 9:39 pm

10spro wrote:Few teams can match the Oils speed, but CAR has those guys to match it and they have a good mobile D complimenting their forwards.

If there's one area where the Oilers have an advantage entering this series, it's defense. Pronger, Smith, Staios, Bergeron, Spacek and Greene are a better D corps than Commodore, Hedican, Kaberle, Ward, Wesley and Wallin, in my opinion.

Both teams are very deep at forward, but I think Carolina's talent runs deeper into the third and fourth lines. Both teams are good on special teams.

So with Carolina having the slight edge on offense, the Oil the slight edge on defense and special teams a push, it comes down to goaltending and coaching.

If you look at save percentage, the truest indicator of a goalie's play, Roloson has the slight edge over Ward and a big edge over Gerber.

Coaching is more of a push, but I still give MacT the edge. Yes, Laviolette has pushed all of the right buttons with the goalie rotation and has worked to overcome the big loss of Cole and his offensive punch. But MacT has employed three distinct styles to win the first three series, which is a superb feat.

Against Detroit, the Oil played the trap for the first time possibly ever. It worked. Against San Jose, the Oil was forced to use a physical style to neutralize Thornton, Marleau and Cheechoo and counter the Sharks' attempts to rough it up. It worked. Against Anaheim, the Oil used their speed and finesse game. It worked.

It takes brilliant coaching and adaptable players who buy into the system to be so flexible yet so successful with tactics. MacT has been brilliant, and the players have gobbled his philosophies hook, line and sinker.

Take care,
PK

10spro · Post by **10spro** » Sat Jun 03, 2006 8:27 pm

Looking at how far both teams arrived in quest for the Cup, the difference or tie breaker that will decide the series will be "Special Teams". On defense, CAR maybe has lesser know names, they don't have a C. Pronger but on their PP's they have two point men that can really bomb the puck in Ward and Wallin. All 6 D-men have about equalled amount of played minutes at an average of 20-22 minutes, while EDM of course plays Pronger for 30 min or more because he's such a horse while Green and Bergeron are used much less.

Looking at the numbers, it's interesting to see that EDM is the best in PK during the playoffs, while CAR has the best PP. Roloson has been their best PK player while grit players like S. Staios, J. Smith and whoever is playing forward in the PK unit have thrown their bodies fearlessly.

CAR will have to be patient when looking at the shooting lanes and wait for a better chance to find the opening because we have seen how many shots EDM has blocked. Faceoffs will be vital for both teams.

I would say Rollie has a slight edge over Ward now, he's the reason the Oilers have gone this far, while CAR has the luxury of playing Gerber if the rookie Ward is having a bad game. Special Teams will be the decider.

On another note, once the Champ is crowned all teams will be looking to sign the rich list of UFA's this year. Names like N. Lidstrom, J. Sakic, R. Blake, E. Jovanoski and even the players involved in the Cup finals like D. Weight, S. Samsonov, M. Gerber, F. Pisani, M. Peca, D. Roloson etc.

10spro · Post by **10spro** » Mon Jun 05, 2006 9:10 pm

If CAR's Wesley can come back againt this game, then he's made of pure steel. Amazing the 2 shots he just blocked. One that landed him on his butt and while still trying to kill a penalty on one leg, blocks a second shot and still barely manages to make an line change.

So far is the battle of Special Teams indeed.

tjung0831 · Post by **tjung0831** » Mon Jun 05, 2006 9:30 pm

How about Kevin Lowe calling Chris Pronger "The best defensmen EVER"

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Mon Jun 05, 2006 9:33 pm

Prongs is the best defenseman in the NHL right now. But better than Bobby Orr? Hell, I love the Oilers, but that's a big stretch.

Take care,
PK

Sully · Post by **Sully** » Mon Jun 05, 2006 10:32 pm

Unbelievable game...

How about that save by Cam Ward? Save of the year, hands down.

Inuyasha · Post by **Inuyasha** » Mon Jun 05, 2006 10:54 pm

wow, what a game! shitty way to lose for EDM, but what a great save by the hurricane goalie with 3 seconds left. I thought for sure edm had the goal there.