ScoopBrady wrote:BIG BIG BIG 2 points for the Hawks last night. I want them to make the playoffs but I just don't see them being able to make a deep run this year. They are not physical enough nor healthy enough to do so. Even if they were completely healthy they just can't play tough, playoff hockey IMO. They are missing the size of Buff and Eager and the toughness of Burrish.
A Stars loss tonight would clinch a spot for the Hawks (I think) so go Lanche!
I'll be rooting for your Hawks all the way. There's no other team that I want to face more in the first round than your team for obvious reasons. I think they'll make.
You might well get your wish. The Hawks looking sweet right now as Hossa just took an extra long pass and scored a pp goal for a 4-0 lead in Detroit.
ScoopBrady wrote:BIG BIG BIG 2 points for the Hawks last night. I want them to make the playoffs but I just don't see them being able to make a deep run this year. They are not physical enough nor healthy enough to do so. Even if they were completely healthy they just can't play tough, playoff hockey IMO. They are missing the size of Buff and Eager and the toughness of Burrish.
A Stars loss tonight would clinch a spot for the Hawks (I think) so go Lanche!
I'll be rooting for your Hawks all the way. There's no other team that I want to face more in the first round than your team for obvious reasons. I think they'll make.
I remember last year Buff single handly beat VAN and SJ in the playoffs. They don't have that big body to sit in front of the net anymore. I can see the hawks a quick out in the playoffs this year in round 1.
Damn ANA keeps on winning. If it stays like this SJ is gonna play ANA first round. Not sure if I want to be any team that wants to play the ducks right now.
I see how he single handedly led his team to 11th place in the east this year
Thats single thing may work in a certain other sport but it doesnt in hockey....Only a goaltender has that ability and thats only to to a certain extent.
Even the the Oilers won the Cup two years after Gretzky left.
XXXIV wrote:I see how he single handedly led his team to 11th place in the east this year
Thats single thing may work in a certain other sport but it doesnt in hockey....Only a goaltender has that ability and thats only to to a certain extent.
Even the the Oilers won the Cup two years after Gretzky left.
I see Buff as a game changing role player, but not as a superstar. He obviously did not have as much talent around him this year as he did with the Hawks, and the results bear that out. I think it is probably true that he was a major reason the Hawks won the Cup since he gave them a huge physical presence that they had to have to be as successful as they were. His absence this year in Chi will prove to be big in the playoffs.
NYR and NJ tied early in the game. I would love nothing more than to see NY kept out of the playoffs. Their style is boring as hell and I would like to see how Skinner does in a playoff situation.
XXXIV wrote:I see how he single handedly led his team to 11th place in the east this year
Thats single thing may work in a certain other sport but it doesnt in hockey....Only a goaltender has that ability and thats only to to a certain extent.
Even the the Oilers won the Cup two years after Gretzky left.
I see Buff as a game changing role player, but not as a superstar. He obviously did not have as much talent around him this year as he did with the Hawks, and the results bear that out. I think it is probably true that he was a major reason the Hawks won the Cup since he gave them a huge physical presence that they had to have to be as successful as they were. His absence this year in Chi will prove to be big in the playoffs.
I never said he wasnt...My point was and that NO ONE is going to lead a team single handedly defat another team in any series unless its an incredibly hot goalie. Maybe I wasnt clear enough?
Buff was great last year but Im pretty sure some other player got the MVP trophy...Again Im more of a Chess fan so I could be wrong.
XXXIV wrote:I see how he single handedly led his team to 11th place in the east this year
Thats single thing may work in a certain other sport but it doesnt in hockey....Only a goaltender has that ability and thats only to to a certain extent.
Even the the Oilers won the Cup two years after Gretzky left.
I see Buff as a game changing role player, but not as a superstar. He obviously did not have as much talent around him this year as he did with the Hawks, and the results bear that out. I think it is probably true that he was a major reason the Hawks won the Cup since he gave them a huge physical presence that they had to have to be as successful as they were. His absence this year in Chi will prove to be big in the playoffs.
I never said he wasnt...My point was and that NO ONE is going to lead a team single handedly defat another team in any series unless its an incredibly hot goalie. Maybe I wasnt clear enough?
Buff was great last year but Im pretty sure some other player got the MVP trophy...Again Im more of a Chess fan so I could be wrong.
Right, no argument really, just expounding upon Buff's role. That's why I was saying he is more of a big time role player than a superstar. Sometimes the guy who makes the biggest difference in a game is not necessarily the guy who gets the accolades. I will use Chara as a prime example since I know you are a charter member of the Chara fan club. Chara doesn't usually show up big on the scoring sheet, but in the games I've seen Boston play this year he has been the difference maker much of the time. His presence allows for the likes of Lucic, Thomas, etc do their thing, otherwise the Bruins are mediocre. I felt that Buff had a role last year that allowed the more heralded stars to shine, yet without Buff the team would have been lucky to even make the finals. You are correct that hockey is a total team sport and one player in today's NHL is not going to single-handedly win a 7-game series.
toonarmy wrote:Right, no argument really, just expounding upon Buff's role.
You are right. He was a huge part of that machine.
I agree they are going to miss him. They already miss him. They arent in the playoffs yet...but they also miss the other role players like Ladd, Eager, Versteeg and even Niemi. They are missing eleven players from last years team. Eleven is a lot especially in a season where they have been hit hard by injury. Its taken them a while to fill those spots on those lines.
toonarmy wrote:Right, no argument really, just expounding upon Buff's role.
You are right. He was a huge part of that machine.
I agree they are going to miss him. They already miss him. They arent in the playoffs yet...but they also miss the other role players like Ladd, Eager, Versteeg and even Niemi. They are missing eleven players from last years team. Eleven is a lot especially in a season where they have been hit hard by injury. Its taken them a while to fill those spots on those lines.
34: No, go watch the playoffs again from last year. Buff dominated VAN and SJ with his presence. He was one part of the machine that won the cup, but against those 2 teams, he was unstoppable. Of course with the team he's on now that sucks, he can't do what he could do with CHI. He and Niemi will be sorely missed this year for them.
Lancer wrote:34: No, go watch the playoffs again from last year. Buff dominated VAN and SJ with his presence. He was one part of the machine that won the cup, but against those 2 teams, he was unstoppable. Of course with the team he's on now that sucks, he can't do what he could do with CHI. He and Niemi will be sorely missed this year for them.
I saw the games and he was great but if he wasnt playing with Toews and Kane it wouldnt have happened.
Sharp, even with an injury that sat him out a couple of weeks, is leading leading the team in goals this year taking Buffs place on that line.
If you can singlehandedly do anything you should be able to do it for more than two weeks of your entire career...I think the Thrashers moved him back to defense ...
I dont like this spot cause with a quick read it sounds like I dont like him. I like Buff!... Very much and it was cool the way he messed up the nucks heads. The way he cam up huge! I wish he was still on the team. Again he is missed...It obvious from the 8 position, the Hawks, occupy in the standings.
In a mean nothing game for both teams, Flames & Canucks will finish their season tonight. For 'Nucks nation this date couldn't come sooner as they've been going through the motions for the past 2 weeks. Bring on the playoffs alright.
More importantly D. Hamhuis wad cleared to play after suffering a concussion and if he does indeed dress up tonight, it'll be the first time that all 6 starters will be playing together. Hey it took 82 games for the D to get healthy but better late than never. Only depth defenseman A. Alberts is still on the sidelines for another week.
That was close. I kept holding my breath when R. Kesler limped into the bench and then into the dressing room. The way he fell into the boards looked like a high ankle injury but eventually he came back later into the game. I just hate these mean nothing games. He'll be reevaluated, should be ready to go. I can let go my breath now...
Will have to wait until Sunday if indeed we faced the Hawks or the surging Stars but with key players missing in DET, I hope it's CHI.
In the East, no match up looks better than the Habs vs the Bruins, I think Buffalo may surprise and be a dark horse.
MizzouRah wrote: Oshie scored a goal from his knees.. freaking awesome.. and Halak recorded his 7th shutout of the season. Oh, and Steen scored his 100th goal.
Canucks only showed up in the 3rd period last night and played solid 20 minutes where they managed to tie the game and win it in OT. Speaking of nice goals, here are the Twins doing their magic with Kesler.
Blackhawks just needed a point to advance, instead they got none. DET minus Zetterberg played well and they'll be tough in the playoffs. CHI fans can only hope for a MInny win later on, so do I.
I want my 'Nuckers to take sweet revenge on the Hawks.
10spro wrote:Blackhawks just needed a point to advance, instead they got none. DET minus Zetterberg played well and they'll be tough in the playoffs. CHI fans can only hope for a MInny win later on, so do I.
I want my 'Nuckers to take sweet revenge on the Hawks.
Though I think they are more than capable, asking them to beat the Wings three times in ten days proved to be too much to ask for.
Im rooting heavy for the Wild just so you get your wish
Not the way it was supposed to go down but it did go down. Hawks take the 8th seed. Hard to believe 97 points almost didn't make the playoffs and that 95 points did miss them. Thank you , Minnesota!
I am a patient boy.
I wait, I wait, I wait, I wait.
My time is water down a drain.
ScoopBrady wrote:Not the way it was supposed to go down but it did go down. Hawks take the 8th seed. Hard to believe 97 points almost didn't make the playoffs and that 95 points did miss them. Thank you , Minnesota!
ScoopBrady wrote:Not the way it was supposed to go down but it did go down. Hawks take the 8th seed. Hard to believe 97 points almost didn't make the playoffs and that 95 points did miss them. Thank you , Minnesota!
They're gonna get rolled by VAN in 5.
That's definitely possible but let's just see how it plays out. They have an awful lot of pressure on them to win the Cup this year. They've had a fantastic regular season but I want to see what they do in the postseason.
I am a patient boy.
I wait, I wait, I wait, I wait.
My time is water down a drain.
