Stanley Cup Playoffs thread

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Sat Jun 10, 2006 10:57 pm

F*CK YEAH! Series on!

Torres and Peca were outstanding, and it was nice to see Smytty get a classic Smytty garbage goal. And Markkanen made some clutch saves.

But the story of the game for me for the Oil is that Pronger was only the team's third-best defenseman on the night. Jaroslav Spacek and Matt Greene were OUTSTANDING tonight.

Spach moved the puck really well on the power play and was able to find shooting lanes from the point, something no Oilers' defensemen could do in the first two games.

Greene had his best game in an Oilers' uniform -- ever. The kid made big hits, moved the puck with confidence from the Oilers' zone and even was the rear-guard commander bringing the puck out of the zone. It was pretty telling when Tarnstrom -- an offensive defenseman -- was passing back to Greene to oversee the offense and make the proper breakout pass. He looked a lot like Pronger tonight.

Take care,
PK

Sudz · Post by **Sudz** » Sun Jun 11, 2006 1:10 am

hurricanes never had ANY quality chances in this one...aside from williams CHOKING on the breakaway.

tjung0831 · Post by **tjung0831** » Sun Jun 11, 2006 10:05 am

pk500 wrote:F*CK YEAH! Series on!

Torres and Peca were outstanding, and it was nice to see Smytty get a classic Smytty garbage goal. And Markkanen made some clutch saves.

But the story of the game for me for the Oil is that Pronger was only the team's third-best defenseman on the night. Jaroslav Spacek and Matt Greene were OUTSTANDING tonight.

Spach moved the puck really well on the power play and was able to find shooting lanes from the point, something no Oilers' defensemen could do in the first two games.

Greene had his best game in an Oilers' uniform -- ever. The kid made big hits, moved the puck with confidence from the Oilers' zone and even was the rear-guard commander bringing the puck out of the zone. It was pretty telling when Tarnstrom -- an offensive defenseman -- was passing back to Greene to oversee the offense and make the proper breakout pass. He looked a lot like Pronger tonight.

Take care,
PK

Greene was very impressive last night.

Gangrel · Post by **Gangrel** » Sun Jun 11, 2006 9:27 pm

Sudz wrote:hurricanes never had ANY quality chances in this one...aside from williams CHOKING on the breakaway.

Actually, he didn't choke. I saw more replays after the game last night on the CBC post game, and the puck hits Markenan in the arm and misses the net.

PK, i was righ there with ya bud. I couldn't beleive all the PPs, and the Oil just couldn't score! When the 'canes scored, I first thought "here comes OT", then thought "man, if they score another, we're toast."

Never have I been happier to see a goal then Smyth's el garbago one. Nice play from Hemsky to set it up too.

This is what Edmonton needs to do to beat ward. Deflect, screen and plug! The 2 goals were a deflection and crashing the crease. Like they say on CBC, if Ward sees it, he's going to stop it.

Now, let's hope for a repeat performance tomorrow night!

fightingcamel · Post by **fightingcamel** » Mon Jun 12, 2006 8:05 am

A win tonight, and we can close it out on home ice!

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Mon Jun 12, 2006 4:15 pm

Very nice story about a Make-A-Wish kid's dream coming true in Edmonton. Hockey players really are class acts, in general:

http://www.nhl.com/cupcrazy/2006/series ... 61206.html

Take care,
PK

Sudz · Post by **Sudz** » Mon Jun 12, 2006 4:25 pm

pk500 wrote:Very nice story about a Make-A-Wish kid's dream coming true in Edmonton. Hockey players really are class acts, in general:

http://www.nhl.com/cupcrazy/2006/series ... 61206.html

Take care,
PK

totally agree...so many AWESOME stories like this about NHL players!

10spro · Post by **10spro** » Mon Jun 12, 2006 4:42 pm

As the Stanley Cup finals goes into the final week, rumours are abound as to who's going where as ther's a rich UFA list this year and the junior draft coming up. The latest has Luongo going to DET for P. Datsyuk. And Tampa will be trading V. Lecavalier or more likely M. St Louis for a quality keeper.

Tonight if EDM is to tie the series they must contain again the Brind'Amour line with the Peca checking line and Jussi continue to stop the puck.

XXXIV · Post by **XXXIV** » Mon Jun 12, 2006 7:03 pm

Two words......GO OILERS!!!!!!!!!

XXXIV · Post by **XXXIV** » Mon Jun 12, 2006 8:41 pm

Either Hemsky starts shooting the puck or I shoot him.

10spro · Post by **10spro** » Mon Jun 12, 2006 8:41 pm

Watching the Stanley Cup in South Korea, (now AM tuesday) while having a cup of coffee is definitely different than at home with my usual beer and snacks. But in any case a great play by Stoll and a good start by the Oils.

Gangrel · Post by **Gangrel** » Mon Jun 12, 2006 9:18 pm

I'm going to shoot the entire PP unit! Edmonton should be up 3-1 now. What the hell was Horcoff thinking on the stupid back pass?

Argh!!!!!!!!!!

XXXIV · Post by **XXXIV** » Mon Jun 12, 2006 10:02 pm

Davidson...please retire I want a real color guy...The minute the Carolina guy touched the puck the play was done... power play Oilers Mcreary you hand raisng moron....Davidson is still wondering what happened.

Mcreary...verteran of 8 million finals...proving its not who you know but who you blow....um ...you cant use a broken stick....

Poorly officiated and announced game...

Well played though...well played...players and fans deserve better.

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Mon Jun 12, 2006 10:15 pm

I think the Oil can play Carolina even 5-on-5. But Carolina's special teams are f*cking incredible and are the difference right now.

It just amazes me that Edmonton can't make adjustments to the power play. They keep two guys at the point, two guys on the half-boards and Smyth in the crease -- ALL THE F*CKING TIME. It makes Carolina's job of penalty-killing that much easier.

Yeah, the Oil tried to cut Horcoff through the high slot on some PP's in the first period, but it was very awkward.

Pronger is having another sub-standard game. Two stupid penalties, the giveaway that created Recchi's goal.

Markkanen is keeping the Oil in this game right now.

Take care,
PK

XXXIV · Post by **XXXIV** » Mon Jun 12, 2006 10:25 pm

Bitches swallowing their whistles...what happened to calling all the clutchung and grabbing?..

swallow em all 3rd...could have called 3-4 on Carolina now Watson found his whistle...bullshit...

Gangrel · Post by **Gangrel** » Mon Jun 12, 2006 11:01 pm

Well..... s***.

That's all I'll say.

XXXIV · Post by **XXXIV** » Mon Jun 12, 2006 11:03 pm

The NHL did revert back to the old reffing last period...whistles were shoved up asses...but...in the end...
the team that deserved to win won...

Ward is just too cool as is the entire Carolina team...

10spro · Post by **10spro** » Mon Jun 12, 2006 11:58 pm

One of the penalties not often called this playoffs was the diving one. Why? They wanted to clear the game up, why not call on more guys that take the dive? Right J.Smith & M.Recchi?

10spro · Post by **10spro** » Tue Jun 13, 2006 2:16 am

Canes just played smarter and were more disciplined. The problem with the Oilers is that they haven't capitalized on their PP chances. When you're like 1 for the last 25 PP's, you won't win many games with that low percentage. You can see that the Canes players constantly out pressure on EDM's point men, and why they don't change strategy and work the puck down low, it's a mistery to me.

We know Jussi is not the problem and the last 2 games has been tight. The difference so far is the special teams. E. Staal may not be scoring but he was instrumental in setting up the Canes' goals.

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Tue Jun 13, 2006 9:12 am

MacTavish nailed the problem with the Oilers in his post-game analysis: They're not being outplayed; they are being outcapitalized.

Carolina is taking advantage of its chances, both even-strength and on the PP. Edmonton is not, mostly because Carolina's special teams are superb, and the Canes' defense gets more disciplined as the game progresses. With as well as Markkanen has played in the last two games, the goalies are a wash.

Like Gangrel, that's all I've got to say.

Take care,
PK

Airdog · Post by **Airdog** » Tue Jun 13, 2006 10:42 am

The Oilers seem to be having a case of Maple Leafitis, as I like to call it.

In essence, this is when they pass the puck around forty times on the power play before deciding to shovel it on net only because the PP is about to expire. Luckily this season the Leafs must have blackmailed Kaberle into taking shots though, because the PP was actually pretty effective.

EDM's gonna have to revamp their PP strategy and work it down low more often. I saw this after the Olympic break when players started covering McCabe heavily. This should allow some room down low when they're playing at the top so aggressively. Might be too late for strategy change now though.

10spro · Post by **10spro** » Tue Jun 13, 2006 6:03 pm

C. Julien is the new coach of the Devils. Lou loves his Habs conection: Lemaire, Robinson and now Julien.

tjung0831 · Post by **tjung0831** » Wed Jun 14, 2006 6:46 pm

who's gonna hoist the Conn Smythe tonight? Brind'Amour or Ward? Stillman has an outside shot I guess. As long as Ward doesn't throw a shutout and stand on his head doing so, I'll go with Brind'Amour.

Gangrel · Post by **Gangrel** » Wed Jun 14, 2006 9:13 pm

sorry tjung, i don't think the conn smythe is going to be hoisted tonight.

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Wed Jun 14, 2006 9:14 pm

Wow -- what a period by Hemsky. We finally saw what happens when the kid shoots the puck. No goalie in the world would have stopped that laser. Hemmer has world-class talent when he puts it all together, which he did in the first.

I doubt Matt Greene is going to see much more ice time this game. The kid had a horrible first period.

It appears this game will resemble the Ali-Frazier "Thrilla in Manila." Two heavyweights throwing bombs every round. We'll see who's standing at the end.

The Oil needs to cut down on the silly penalties to have a chance, as they're a better team right now 5-on-5. Offensively, they're getting a lot more traffic in front of Ward, and Carolina's defensemen are having trouble clearing those bodies from the crease. It's almost like the Carolina defensemen are in shock at the traffic, as they've had few bodies to move from the crease or low slot since Game 1.

Take care,
PK