NHL Playoffs

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Fri Apr 13, 2007 11:02 pm

That Clowe-Tootoo scrap was EPIC late in the San Jose-Nashville game tonight. What a tilt.

Take care,
PK

CrazyPsycho · Post by **CrazyPsycho** » Fri Apr 13, 2007 11:24 pm

That's what the playoffs are all about. If a game is decided, you take care of business. Nice to see Clowe/Grier going after Hartnell for taking out Cheechoo. It will be interesting to see if they do the same to Radulov next time he's out there. It's been awhile since I've seen a good old fashioned ass kicking at the end of a game.

I was disappointed to see so many Sabres fans upset after the Islanders tried stirring it up at the end of last night's game. I have no problems with "gooning" it up as long as you aren't out there cheapshotting.

This Ducks/Wild series is looking especially nasty as well.

10spro · Post by **10spro** » Fri Apr 13, 2007 11:41 pm

Yeah, it's nice to see the Western match ups gaining some heat as the series go on. Watched a bit of the SJ-NAS game and I don't know how Cheechoo managed to start the game. He was noticeably limping on every shift and I know these are the playoffs, but you have to think long term at the same time.

Switched back to watch my 'Nucks and DAL got a quick two goal lead and they sat back ever since. VAN is missing their grinders and it really showed tonight. Aweful trapping system DAL plays once they're ahead, but you do what it takes to win, and they'll go home with a split.

Dave · Post by **Dave** » Fri Apr 13, 2007 11:53 pm

CrazyPsycho wrote:This Ducks/Wild series is looking especially nasty as well.

Game 2 has been physical as hell through 1+ periods, that's for sure. The Ducks are taking a "check it if it moves" approach, some of which are definitely questionable, but it is paying off for the most part. Since the game is so physical the refs can't call everything.

Anaheim's speed, size, and power have completely taken Bouchard and Todd White out of the Wild's offense, taking the Wild down to a one-line team.

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Sat Apr 14, 2007 10:35 am

CrazyPsycho wrote:I was disappointed to see so many Sabres fans upset after the Islanders tried stirring it up at the end of last night's game. I have no problems with "gooning" it up as long as you aren't out there cheapshotting.

Agreed 100 percent. It's called sending a message.

It usually takes a game or two for real animosity to build. Now that we're moving toward Game 2 and 3 with all of the series, the cackles will be up, and the boys will start getting nasty.

I love it!

Take care,
PK

tjung0831 · Post by **tjung0831** » Sat Apr 14, 2007 2:38 pm

I really really hate the Predators...I can't even describe it. I hope the Sharks really run them like crazy come monday night and I hope that they go after Forsberg and Kariya....whatever it takes to knock those bastards out of the playoffs.

While the NHL playoffs are a great time for all of us, the following is a great article and keeps things in persepective.

http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/sports ... enDocument

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Sat Apr 14, 2007 2:43 pm

Good story, Tim. Thanks.

Take care,
PK

nyisles16 · Post by **nyisles16** » Sat Apr 14, 2007 11:14 pm

DP plays off his head! takes one in Buffalo.. series tied 1-1 now going back to the Isle..

ps- Bergeron has some shot!

10spro · Post by **10spro** » Sun Apr 15, 2007 6:54 pm

Game 3 is in DAL tonight and it maybe a very late start as a Basketball game is being played before they start preparing the ice. I hope the conditions of the ice will be OK, as I expect some strange bounces in that warm building. Expect another tight game overall, the Stars have the momentum as Canucks are missing some key bodies and are not able to play the physical game needed to play with DAL. Still waiting for Turco to come down to earth...

laurenskye · Post by **laurenskye** » Sun Apr 15, 2007 7:38 pm

Wings are looking damn good allowing under 20 shots for the first 2.

10spro · Post by **10spro** » Mon Apr 16, 2007 12:17 am

It doens't get any tighter than this between DAL-VAN. Very evenly played, 'Nucks were able to be more aggressive in the offensive zone in this game but M. Turco has been very good so far folks.

Here we go again sudden death OT.

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Mon Apr 16, 2007 9:11 am

laurenskye wrote:Wings are looking damn good allowing under 20 shots for the first 2.

They're playing arguably the weakest opponent among the 16 playoff teams, too. Isles and Flames are neck and neck for that distinction. But that's the coast you're supposed to get by finishing first in the conference, so all power to them.

But as I said in an earlier thread, I'll be convinced when the Wings handle Anaheim, San Jose, Dallas, Vancouver or Nashville with similar ease.

Take care,
PK

ddtrane · Post by **ddtrane** » Mon Apr 16, 2007 9:39 am

10spro wrote: Still waiting for Turco to come down to earth...

Very good observation. I love the Stars but can't get excited just because of Turco. He is the weakest link

. He's 1-10 in playoff OT. That will be our undoing. Watched the game last night and was waiting for the other shoe to fall, and when it went into OT, it was just a matter of time.

Feanor · Post by **Feanor** » Mon Apr 16, 2007 10:27 am

It can't be all Turco's fault, though. Why can't the Stars' skaters score in OT?

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Mon Apr 16, 2007 10:34 am

Tonight's games:

Very good double-dip tonight, with Isles-Sabres followed by Sharks-Preds. As for watching New Jersey, I'd rather have my balls fried in hot oil. I'll only watch Jersey if no other teams are playing.

Take care,
PK

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Mon Apr 16, 2007 10:45 am

I'm sick of reading even questions about whether Colby Armstrong's hit on Patrick Eaves yesterday was legal. Of course it was. Armstrong's hit on Koivu earlier this season and his hit on Eaves last night both were LEGAL.

If you have a problem with it, complain about Colin Campbell and the NHL brass. Until the NHL penalizes any hit to the head, players' heads will be at risk through legal hits.

For those who say, "How can you penalize an unintentional hit to the head?" I bring forth the two-minute minor for clearing the puck over the glass in your end. Do you think that every clear over the glass by a defenseman or goalie is intentional? Of course not. But all are assessed a two-minute penalty.

The same should go for hits to the head. Intentional or not, they should be penalized by at least a minor, maybe a major.

Violence is at the epicenter of the NFL, as football is a sport in which contact occurs on EVERY play. Yet the NFL has banned hits to the head. Why can't hockey, a sport in which contact only is a big part of most plays, not every play, do the same? Head hits have been banned in the OHL (juniors), and it has worked fine.

The NHL must ban hits to the head and institute no-touch icing. They are safety issues, plain and simple. But neither will change until, God forbid, Sidney Crosby is being wheeled off the ice on a stretcher, not a minion like Patrick Eaves.

Take care,
PK

Sudz · Post by **Sudz** » Mon Apr 16, 2007 11:31 am

eaves came around the net low and with his head down.

he just delivered a solid, clean hit.

and the pens will LOSE if they drop the next game.

and gary roberts...i owe him an apology. great pick-up for the pens.

10spro · Post by **10spro** » Mon Apr 16, 2007 12:13 pm

High elbows are flying everywhere in the Pens-Sens series but I agree that the Armstrong hit was crystal clear. Having said that I hope Eaves is OK as he was caught in the wrong place and with his head down.

The Schubert hit was way more dangerous and he was penalized for it.
Pens need to be more disciplined, Senators will burn you on their PP, and Fleury needs to play better. I liked how E. Malkin tried to defend Crosby in dropping the gloves with Phillips.

I don't fault M. Turco at all in the OT loss last night, the shot did hit a skate and surprised him. This series has been close and both keepers have been very stingy.

Another underachiever in the playoffs is doing his job so far as P. Datsyuk scored again and is a threat whenever he's been on the ice. Flames need to cut down their penalties and shoot more. Way more than the pathetic 14 shots they got yesterday on Hasek.

JackB1 · Post by **JackB1** » Mon Apr 16, 2007 12:19 pm

anyone else been following the Rangers/Thrasher series?

Thrashers have not been getting any scoring from their big guns, Kovalchuck, Hossa and Kozlov. Anyone think they have a chance
at taking 2 in NY?

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Mon Apr 16, 2007 12:28 pm

JackB1 wrote:Thrashers have not been getting any scoring from their big guns, Kovalchuck, Hossa and Kozlov. Anyone think they have a chance
at taking 2 in NY?

No.

The Thrashers are soft. Hossa, Kozlov, Tkachuk and Kovalchuk have combined for one goal and two assists, with Hossa and Kozlov scoreless. Atlanta is all but done because the team has no balls, no grit.

Avery is completely under the Thrashers' skin, and that will allow Jagr, Shanny and the other Rangers to outplay Atlanta.

New York in five, maybe six. And I can't say I'm massively surprised.

That said, I'm very surprised at how Anaheim is taking care of business with Minnesota. Very impressive. Anaheim has wowed me more than any other team so far in the first week of the playoffs. I say that with begrudging respect, as I hate those c*cksuckers.

Take care,
PK

nyisles16 · Post by **nyisles16** » Mon Apr 16, 2007 11:29 pm

well after tonight's Isles/ Sabers game - i have two points:

-1) Refs SUCKED big time tonight... they basically handed the Sabres the game.. a 4 minute high sticking call against Poti when he was pushed by the Sabres player, lost his balance (mind you backwards) & accidentally made contact with the player? c'mon.. WAKE UP!

But I believe there is some sort of "hidden conspiracy" against the Isles because they hired Nolan (watched too many games this year to tell me otherwise)..

-2) I am ashamed of the fans that threw debris on the ice tonight.. a sold out building, team at home, & some jerks go & do that??

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Tue Apr 17, 2007 10:12 am

Tonight's games:

As I watched the Sabres-Islanders' game last night, my admiration of the Islanders grew despite their loss. The Isles have NO business even competing with the Sabres, as Buffalo's offensive talent and skill are far superior.

But the Islanders have a lot of grit and hustle and are staying in games long enough to challenge the Sabres. DiPietro will need to play out of his mind for the Isles to have any chance in the last four games of this series.

Still, I think a big, physical team from the West with skill, such as Anaheim or San Jose, can beat Buffalo in the Finals based on what I've seen in the Sabres' series with the Islanders. Buffalo isn't soft, but it's a bit too pretty to beat the best in the West unless the Western champion just beats the sh*t out of itself to reach the Finals, which is very possible.

Take care,
PK

10spro · Post by **10spro** » Tue Apr 17, 2007 11:46 am

NYI are hanging in there, the games are not blowouts as many thought but at the same time I don't think that the Sabres have put forward their best game yet. Most goals so far have been scored by their third and fourth lines and the top forwards have been rather quiet. If they don't win the next game, I think BUF will wrap it up at home.

No vengeance in the SJ-NAS game last night. In fact another well fought, tight game where J. Thornton showed his brilliance and B. Guerin showed his grit. M. Grier has been a headache for the Preds, and the game now is in favour of SJ 2-1. Last year they went on to win the next two games, I am sure NAS is aware of that.

What's up with M. Brodeur? He's been average at best and has been given a few short sided goals in the last couple of games, most recent one to M. St. Louis yesterday. Kudos to J. Tortorella's big guns who have been playing at a high level.

Sudz · Post by **Sudz** » Tue Apr 17, 2007 11:49 am

that call at the end of the buf/nyi game was HORRID.

tjung0831 · Post by **tjung0831** » Tue Apr 17, 2007 11:51 am

If not for a couple of bad goals allowed by Holmqvist in game 1, the Lightning would be on the verge of a sweep against the overrated Devils. I cannot wait until Tampa finishes them off. That will be pure hockey joy!