NHL 08 Playoffs

Gangrel · Post by **Gangrel** » Sat May 03, 2008 9:52 pm

XXXIV wrote:Price you suck !!!

Sad play boy...

EDIT#1: He has been terrible!

EDIT#2 :Watching the highlights at intermission...I was too kind...Price should be taken away quietly...DISGRACEFUL!

EDIT#3 : MUCH of the blame should go to Guy and Bob for putting so much on this not so ready for prime time kid....What a waste!!!!

Actually, rumour has it Guy didn't want them to trade Huet, and that Gainey basically was forcing him to play Price all year.....

XXXIV · Post by **XXXIV** » Sat May 03, 2008 9:53 pm

Gangrel wrote:
XXXIV wrote:Price you suck !!!

Sad play boy...

EDIT#1: He has been terrible!

EDIT#2 :Watching the highlights at intermission...I was too kind...Price should be taken away quietly...DISGRACEFUL!

EDIT#3 : MUCH of the blame should go to Guy and Bob for putting so much on this not so ready for prime time kid....What a waste!!!!
Actually, rumour has it Guy didn't want them to trade Huet, and that Gainey basically was forcing him to play Price all year.....

If thats true...Bob can blow Me...

Diablo25 · Post by **Diablo25** » Sat May 03, 2008 9:56 pm

WooHoo! Conference Finals!

Naples39 · Post by **Naples39** » Sat May 03, 2008 10:32 pm

This loss isn't on Price.

The Habs got everything they wanted in the first. They got the early lead. They drove the net. Price gave them goaltending in the first period including an excellent stop on Richards. But in the end they just weren't good enough for 60 minutes. Both goalies gave up two goals they'll want back, but can't be blamed for the other 5 goals surrendered between the two of them.

Goaltending wasn't decisive tonight, but the Flyers turned up their play in the 2nd and 3rd and the Habs couldn't match. What happened to the net crashing the Habs were doing so successfully in the 1st? In the 2nd and 3rd they were back to their old tricks of outside wrist shots.

Habs aside, great win for the Flyers. Down 3-1 and came roaring back. And Umberger's first goal was phenomenal.

Looking forward to the Pens series!! Should be epic! (Well, assuming the Pens win anyway)

Feanor · Post by **Feanor** » Sat May 03, 2008 10:34 pm

Go Rangers!

XXXIV · Post by **XXXIV** » Sat May 03, 2008 11:18 pm

Naples39 wrote:This loss isn't on Price.

With all due respect...

Bullshit!

Maybe not entirely but...All 3 goals in the 2nd are easy NHL stops.

Flyer fans

...I now see what you guys mean....

Naples39 · Post by **Naples39** » Sat May 03, 2008 11:55 pm

The Flyers had more shots and more scoring chances, and generated more pressure around the net as well as more odd man rushes.

They scored goals on a rebound attempt after a 2 on 1, a slapshot off the post, one excellent deflection, and another lucky deflection. The worst goal Price allowed was on Umberger, and even that was an uncontested shot from 5 feet away on a blown coverage down low. Price also made scrambling saves during a 5 on 3 PP and made two excellent saves on very good breakaway moves by Richards and Briere.

Exactly what do the Flyers have to do to 'deserve' beating the Canadiens in your mind?

I'll say it again--goaltending a wash between the two teams tonight as neither goalie impressed himself upon the game. Goaltending was not a major factor in tonight's outcome.

Feanor · Post by **Feanor** » Sun May 04, 2008 8:54 am

XXXIV wrote:Flyer fans ...I now see what you guys mean....

You disagree with a Flyers fan about how well Price played in game 5, and that's part of some overall pattern of Philadelphia fan behavior?

Sully · Post by **Sully** » Sun May 04, 2008 9:36 am

I thought Price was awful, once again, in game 5. Umberger's 2nd goal, and Hartnell's slapper, are routine saves for most NHL goalies. Flyers fans have been through this in the past, watching goalies allow those deflating softies in. That is what's been so great about Biron thus far, he makes all of the saves he should make. Even when we were down 3-1 last night, I still thought we could climb back into it. We played our best game of the series in game 5.

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Sun May 04, 2008 9:48 am

I thought Zetterberg's behind-the-back goal would be the goal of the second round. Then I saw Umberger's last night.

Yowza!

Take care,
PK

XXXIV · Post by **XXXIV** » Sun May 04, 2008 9:57 am

Feanor wrote:
XXXIV wrote:Flyer fans ...I now see what you guys mean....
You disagree with a Flyers fan about how well Price played in game 5, and that's part of some overall pattern of Philadelphia fan behavior?

I was refering to other posts in the thread.

You havent read the thread?

Now you are asking me to suspend disbelief.

dougb · Post by **dougb** » Sun May 04, 2008 10:35 am

Sully wrote:I thought Price was awful, once again, in game 5. Umberger's 2nd goal, and Hartnell's slapper, are routine saves for most NHL goalies. Flyers fans have been through this in the past, watching goalies allow those deflating softies in. That is what's been so great about Biron thus far, he makes all of the saves he should make. Even when we were down 3-1 last night, I still thought we could climb back into it. We played our best game of the series in game 5.

Price was not very good - Canadiens defense needs a look in the mirror as well. Philly were consistently beating the Habs defensemen to the puck in behind the net. That blind pass giveaway that led to the Flyers winning goal was a terrible play, and resulted from the Philly forward beating the defenseman to the end boards again.

Good win for Philly though - and games that were terrific to watch even though I would have obviously preferred the Habs to win.

Best wishes,

Doug

Naples39 · Post by **Naples39** » Sun May 04, 2008 11:28 am

Well I certainly agree that Price wasn't great last game, but I think it's a cop out to put that game 5 loss solely on Price because he let in 2 soft goals. Biron himself played his worst game of the series and let in 2 goals on shots that he has been eating up.

From a series-wide perspective, I think MTL is going home because 1) Gainey erred in trading Huet and putting it all on a goalie who proved not to be ready, and 2) for all their speed and skill, MTL lacks finishers. At the end of the day Kovalev is their only reliable finisher.

Unfortunately for the Flyers PIT does not suffer from any such finishing problem with that lineup...

XXXIV · Post by **XXXIV** » Sun May 04, 2008 12:00 pm

Naples39 wrote:Well I certainly agree that Price wasn't great last game, but I think it's a cop out to put that game 5 loss solely on Price because he let in 2 soft goals. Biron himself played his worst game of the series and let in 2 goals on shots that he has been eating up.

From a series-wide perspective, I think MTL is going home because 1) Gainey erred in trading Huet and putting it all on a goalie who proved not to be ready, and 2) for all their speed and skill, MTL lacks finishers. At the end of the day Kovalev is their only reliable finisher.

Unfortunately for the Flyers PIT does not suffer from any such finishing problem with that lineup...

1) Price was s*** period. It was THREE soft goals in the matter of three minutes that flipped the game upside down. We all have eyes and ears...

2)Biron, The Flyer D sweeping away everything that came off of him and some luck with the pipes were why the Habs couldnt finish. I think its a cop out to say it was the Habs lack of finishiing when all season long they were finishing...the credit should go to the Flyers.

3) Good luck with the Penguins...They dont have an easily shaken 20 yr old who is going to be giving away free goals.

Edit: If by cop out you meant I was trying to take credit away from the Flyers...I think the team that deserved to win the series won. 4 games to 1 pretty much says it all.

Feanor · Post by **Feanor** » Sun May 04, 2008 4:52 pm

I'm still hoping for the Rangers. Game 5 is going into overtime...

XXXIV · Post by **XXXIV** » Sun May 04, 2008 5:04 pm

Feanor wrote:I'm still hoping for the Rangers. Game 5 is going into overtime...

I think u just jinxed them

The timing was awesome...As I read your post the Pens put the Rangers away....

Grats Pens...and enjoy

10spro · Post by **10spro** » Sun May 04, 2008 9:01 pm

As potent as the Pens'offense is, I have to say that it is the performance of J.M. Fleury that stood out in the series. Timely saves today and thourought the series frustrated the Rangers in the end. Where was B. Shanagan in the series?

fletcher21 · Post by **fletcher21** » Sun May 04, 2008 9:04 pm

Is it just me, or is Mike Emerick the BEST hockey announcer and it ain't even close?

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Sun May 04, 2008 9:29 pm

fletcher21 wrote:Is it just me, or is Mike Emerick the BEST hockey announcer and it ain't even close?

It's just you. I think Emerick sucks like a Hoover, for two reasons.

One, he's a screamer. The guy gets way too animated too often. He starts screeching on a limp wrister from the point. It's so cliched that it reduces the effect of a play that deserves vocal drama.

Two, he's a hockey geek and constantly wants to reinforce that with the audience. Emerick loves to share little morsels of his knowledge about players, such as their stats or bus rides in the AHL, that they scored 48 goals as a 4-year-old in mites, etc., even when it has zero relevance to the game. He just stuffs them into the broadcast to say: "Hey, look at me. I'm really, really smart about hockey stats and trivia!"

The best play-by-play announcer in hockey is the CBC's Jim Hughson, the lead announcer for "Hockey Night in Canada." And it ain't even close.

Emerick isn't even the best hockey announcer in the U.S. Gary Thorne and Dave Strader skate circles around him, and old pros like Sam Rosen in New York, Rick Jeanneret in Buffalo, Randy Hahn in San Jose, Bob Miller in L.A. and guys like Ralph Strangis in Dallas are very, very good. And it was criminal when Mike Lange was fired as the Penguins' TV play-by-play man. At least he's still on radio.

I will give Emerick this: He's not the worst on Versus. Beninati drives me nuts. If I hear him call a period a "stanza" one more time, I'll play Elvis and blow out my TV.

Fletch, you owe it yourself to hear Hughson if you haven't. Unfortunately, Versus and NBC will have their own crews at both conference finals and the Stanley Cup Finals, no longer borrowing the CBC feed from which you might hear the almighty Hughie.

Take care,
PK

fletcher21 · Post by **fletcher21** » Sun May 04, 2008 9:40 pm

WOW Gary Thorn is still around? I haven't heard him since the days that Espn actually showed more than 5 minutes combined Nhl coverage over the course of a week... He's awesome... I used to really like the guy on Espn who died... Forget his name... I agree with you on Mike Emerick getting a little excited, but the only Nhl games I get to see besides the local Mn games are the ones on Versus.. Versus must make a habit of hiring color comentary guys from local cable access tv, as 90% of them are AWFUL.... Mike Emerick reminds me of being a kid when I played hockey... I suppose you hate John Madden too, huh Paul? Lol.... I also LOVE Madden... I end up loving a lot of guys that are considered annoying to the majority... In my opinion, the best voice on tv is David Hobbes who does F1 on Speed... Dude is great

Naples39 · Post by **Naples39** » Sun May 04, 2008 9:41 pm

I'll take Sam Rosen. Living in DC watching all the Flyers games on dish I see all the opposing team's broadcasts and the Rangers clearly do it best. Listening to those opposing color guys is brutal though...the color guy on the devils is particularly idiotic.

I have to disagree with PK though about the now fired PIT pbp guy. Couldn't stand him.

fletcher21 · Post by **fletcher21** » Sun May 04, 2008 9:44 pm

Was the Pitt guy the one who would always say "heeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee shoots and scores?"

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Sun May 04, 2008 9:48 pm

Fletch, my forever lover:

Sadly, Thorne only does the Frozen Four NCAA games for ESPN since that network dumped hockey. He's still one of the best, though.

You're right about me and Madden: Can't stand him. He was fresh and interesting, oh, about 25 years ago. Now Madden is just a walking, talking cliche, although I must admit that he's concentrating more on football and less on the cliches and histrionics since his move to NBC. Michaels has been a very good influence on Madden, as I think his strong personality in the booth has helped put Madden in check. Madden could run roughshod over Summerall, who was so passive behind the mike.

Hopefully you can hear Hughson next year when Versus picks up the CBC feed of some first-round playoff games. What makes Hughson brilliant is that he knows just when to use his voice to match the drama, unlike Emerick, but he also knows when to shut the hell up and let the crowd noise or the play on the ice speak for itself, unlike Emerick.

Emerick, like most American TV sports announcers, get apoplectic at the thought of a second of dead air. They think they must chatter -- or in Emerick's case, screech -- all the time.

Another strength of Hughson's calls are how well he sets up his color man. He conveys his knowledge of the teams and the game in a way that always provides a good lead-in for his color man. He doesn't just spew it to make himself look good.

And when Hughson paired with a strong color man, it's a brilliant sports TV.

Finally, I LOVE your ode to Hobbs. Couldn't agree more with you, man. The Speed F1 broadcast team of Varsha, Hobbs and Matchett is the best booth in American sports television, hands down. Each have very differing strengths that dovetail so well, and it's so obvious in the booth that they really like each other and enjoy each other's company off camera, too.

Plus Hobbs is hilarious and outspoken, with that very cheeky, irreverent and salty British sense of humor.

Great call on Hobbo, man!

Take care,
PK

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Sun May 04, 2008 9:50 pm

fletcher21 wrote:Was the Pitt guy the one who would always say "heeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee shoots and scores?"

Yes, sir. He also said wacky things after goals, too, like, "Scratch my back with a hacksaw."

Rick Jeanneret in Buffalo has a great voice and has made some of the more memorable calls in the NHL:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JEfbyrKnKc0

Take care,
PK

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Sun May 04, 2008 9:52 pm

Naples39 wrote:I have to disagree with PK though about the now fired PIT pbp guy. Couldn't stand him.

Of course. You're a Flyers' fan, right?

Agree on Sam Rosen. He and John Davidson were the best team PBP and color combo in the NHL for the Rangers. The Blues' gain in the front office was definitely broadcasting's loss when JD left for St. Louis.

P.S.: Have Flyers' fans continued to call Danny Briere "The Cookie Monster" as he was called in Buffalo? He scored so many top-shelf goals while in Buffalo that Jeanneret started calling him "The Cookie Monster." Here's Jeanneret calling him by that famous name after Briere torched the Oilers for an OT game-winner:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jgcZbKME0EI

Peca wasn't The Cookie Monster in Buffalo, but he put a few top shelf that Jeanneret enjoyed:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zF48VxULU8A&NR=1

Take care,
PK