Looks like it's the "Champions on Ice" show on the 26th. Probably takes them a couple days to set up for it, then turn around and set it back up for the Finals after.
I actually just bought that game after being frustrated with 2K7. I'm having fun with it, but the quirky animations just take some getting used to. I wouldn't mind trying some online, though, that's for sure.
10spro wrote:The only guy that's happy Pronger is back in the Stanley Cup final is PK, as EDM gets an extra 1st rounder from the Ducks which was a conditional pick. But they got there, so Oilers fans rejoice.
I won't be very happy when I see Pronger lifting the mug in a Ducks' sweater, though.
Take care,
PK
"You know why I love boxers? I love them because they face fear. And they face it alone." - Nick Charles
"First on the throttle, last on the brakes." - @MotoGP Twitter signature
10spro wrote:The only guy that's happy Pronger is back in the Stanley Cup final is PK, as EDM gets an extra 1st rounder from the Ducks which was a conditional pick. But they got there, so Oilers fans rejoice.
I won't be very happy when I see Pronger lifting the mug in a Ducks' sweater, though.
Take care,
PK
I will be
...even if 90% of Southern California goes "what cup?"...
If that's true, I'm sure as hell not going to defend Chelios. The handshaking thing is one of the great playoff traditions and if he didn't do it then shame on him. But Selanne can blow me with all that talk in the interview about having to "beat the refs too". Cheli may be guilty of being a sore loser, but that isn't how a gracious winner talks either.
---Todd
Both teams had some weird calls and got jobbed a bit. I thought it was bizarre that he would say something like that too. Here's a thought...instead of saying something about the refs, quit standing around trying to ride out the win and push an attack instead? It was like watching deer in the headlights, praying to the hockey gods to bless Giggy with 10 more minutes of superhuman ability. I think, if anything, Anaheim benefited more from a few non-calls in earlier games. It was a fairly evenly called series overall.
I'm not saying this excuses Chelios's actions, but if he's being honest in this interview it wasn't purely about him trying to be a dickhead. Just careless and stupid.
---Todd
The quest for Lord Stanley begins tonight. It should be an interesting match up. A hot top line from OTT vs two of the better defensemen in the league. These two teams haven't faced each other in more than a year, Go Sens go!
As Sammy Pahlsson, Travis Moen, and Rob Niedermayer typically do, they forechecked the #1 line so much that the Spezza/Alfredsson/Heatley line couldn't really get it going other than a couple of short spurts.
The Ducks, when staying out of the penalty box, had to have the Sens a bit wide-eyed last night. Guys were getting crushed left and right, but that's part of the problem with Anaheim. When they play that style of hockey and lose some of the technique, just chasing guys to harrass them and punish them, they end up in the box. Their PK is as streaky as Teemu is, and last night it was horrific (as it was last series).
I know that Ottawa will come out a bit more fired up, and even with a narrow win the Ducks seemed to dominate the 5 on 5 to me. Perhaps I'm viewing it through rose colored glasses, but I felt Anaheim dominated almost everything except for the faceoffs, and even then it didn't seem to be that much of a problem because they'd just check the sh*t out of whoever had the puck and take it.
And how about the 4th line they had to come up with. All in all, I think Randy Carlyle did a hell of a job with the matchups. Eager to see what Ottawa comes back with in game 2. Funny thing is, I bet this Finals match up is as exciting as watching grass grow to a lot of people with regards to the teams involved, yet the two teams played a whale of a game last night.
Yeah, the checking line of the Ducks won the game last night. Too many giveaways by OTT's top line as a result of ANA's tremendous forecheck, something they will have to get used to and adjust and in some cases even break that line if the Ducks continue to win. ANA did commit many infractions as well, and it's good that their PK unit came thru with the exception of Redden's goal but they will have to be more careful, as a skillful team like the Sens will eventually score on their PP.
Both teams suffered from the long stretch of days off, I expect a close final.
Indeed. 1:35 of 5-on-3 is not what you want to consistently do against a team with the offensive talent of the Sens. You won't win that battle many times.
As some predicted, including me, Anaheim was just too physical for Ottawa last night. In fact, I think the Sens were hit more last night than in their first three series combined.
Physical play is an important part of effective forecheck, and that was again decisive for Anaheim.
I disagree with Terry that Anaheim carried all 5-on-5 play. Ottawa was flying the first seven minutes of the game and dominated. The Sens hit Scott Niedermayer every chance they got and made the Ducks look flat-footed.
But then Anaheim started forechecking, skating and hitting, and that was all it needed.
Emery looked shaky to me, which is to be expected. I just don't think the guy is that good. He's benefiting from playing behind a team that finally committed to team defense in the playoffs. Emery is beyond lucky that Getzlaf didn't score into the open net when Emery wandered to play the puck and errantly put it on Getzlaf's stick.
There are only a few things that Ottawa can do to have a chance in this series:
1. Keep Jiggy moving side to side. Giguere is not a quick goaltender laterally. Not at all. If Ottawa can move the puck well with passes or wraparounds, Jiggy can be beaten.
2. Skate and hit like it did in the first seven minutes. But in the long run, Anaheim will win any hitting game, so this might not be that sound of a strategy.
3. Hope Anaheim continues to take stupid penalties. Ottawa will hurt Anaheim on the PP if the Ducks continue their inane path to the box. The Getzlaf cross-check was a classic example. Getzlaf DRILLED Comrie in the back four or five times right in front of the ref, and he acts outraged that the penalty is called? Sometimes Anaheim shows too much of the Brian Burke Neanderthal DNA on the ice.
If last night's game was any indication, this will be a superb, entertaining series. Game 1 was one of those contests you burn to DVD and show to someone who you're trying to convert to the great game of hockey. Just a really, really fun game to watch, with a bit of everything.
Take care,
PK
"You know why I love boxers? I love them because they face fear. And they face it alone." - Nick Charles
"First on the throttle, last on the brakes." - @MotoGP Twitter signature
Yeah, I should have clarified. I meant after the initial "jitters" or "adrenaline rush" or whatever happens with these teams when dropping the puck in the Finals.
Ottawa obviously controlled the match for at least the first 10 minutes of play, whether it was 5-on-5 or on the Power Play. It wasn't until Miller's check that got the turnover and feed from Selanne to Macdonald that Anaheim came out of their shell. I guess a goal will do that...get a team fired up.
So I agree with you completely. I guess that's those rose-colored glasses...I didn't even really count the beginning because it's like both teams were just getting into the flow of the game.
They definitely do. I don't know if it's how he postures himself or what, but he looks about a mile wide.
The method you mentioned before...wrap arounds, hard arounds, something to get him moving side to side...that's about all that will work against him straight up other than a top-shelf glove-hand sniper shot. His glove needs work, but rarely does it matter since he's so big he can just deflect it with a shoulder or something.
I have to believe they measure all of the pads and whatnot before a Finals game, no? It's just an optical illusion of some kind? If not, that's kind of silly. That'd be like bringing out a race car that's 1/2" too low to the 500 and nobody saying anything.
Good analysis on Giguere, PK. He's positionally sound but a bit slow moving laterally. Another slight weakness maybe on his glove high side as the Sens tried unsuccesfully to roof a few shots up there. B. Murray had him as a player when he was coaching ANA, I am sure he knows a couple of things about Jiggy.
R. Emery was not at his best for sure, but I'd like to give him another chance, you don't reach the finals just like that, when you faced the likes of M. Brodeur and R. Miller. He does give too many rebounds from time to time, and ANA have to take advantage of that.
