NHL Playoffs

10spro · Post by **10spro** » Thu Apr 19, 2007 11:37 am

pk500 wrote: Here's to hoping that one of the teams on the 3-1 ropes can bring their series to six or seven games! I know Cox thinks Calgary could do that; I think he's crazy. Minnesota is the sleeping pest. The Wild could take Anaheim all the way if Demitra and Gaborik continue to play as well as they did in Game 4.
Take care, PK

Well, even though Canucks can wrap up the series tonight at the garage, they must remember what happened to them back in 04 with the Wild, when they came back to win the series while being down 1-3. The series with DAL have been so close, that with a bounce here and there, 'Nucks could have been on the other end looking to prolong the series.

The Flames seem to be have two different faces, the one at home have been tough to beat all year long while away they've been soft as pudding. However Iggy finally showed up last game and CAL relies heavily on him to lead.

MIN has enough team to get another game or two from ANA but they've been very inefficient away from home. The trio of Pronger, Niedermayer and Beauchemin just take turns to control the Gaborik, Rolston or Demitra line. Best player for them have been P.M. Bouchard.

R. Getzlaf is turning into a great player for ANA.

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Thu Apr 19, 2007 11:54 am

Is Beauchemin back? I thought he missed Game 4.

Take care,
PK

10spro · Post by **10spro** » Thu Apr 19, 2007 12:28 pm

pk500 wrote:Is Beauchemin back? I thought he missed Game 4.

Take care,
PK

He did. But you know how it is during the playoffs, no one says much about injuries. One thing for sure, B. May won't be dressing for the next three games due to that punch to K. Jonhsson, so Parros should take his place. I expect a chippy affair especially with Boogaard around.

J.S Giguere should be back in goal for the Ducks.

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Thu Apr 19, 2007 9:52 pm

Damn, Ottawa looked impressive tonight closing out the Pens. The Sens are the most complete team I've seen so far in the first round, and I've seen all 16 teams play at least once, most more than that.

If Ottawa continues to play this well, I think only Buffalo can challenge it in the East. And I think the Sens' team defense is better than Buffalo's right now, and their respective offenses are equally good. Both teams are very deep. Super-tough to shut down one line and put the entire team down.

Take care,
PK

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Fri Apr 20, 2007 12:10 am

Nice win for Calgary, as much as I hate to admit it.

The Flames just showed more grit and better team defense than Detroit, which I still think is a soft hockey team.

How can Calgary be so good at home and so bad on the road? Unless Calgary gets its sh*t together away from Cowtown, Detroit still will win this series.

Take care,
PK

10spro · Post by **10spro** » Fri Apr 20, 2007 12:40 am

Another OT at the garage. It's nail biting time again and both goalies have been great again. Still, with the season on the line I expected DAL to be more aggressive, to have that extra edge, yet they are still playing the patient game, waiting for the 'Nucks to make that 1st mistake. That's how D. Tippett likes it and that's fine with us.

OTT looked very strong indeed but they've been playing good Hockey for awhile now. They are getting their noses dirty and playing physical, something that was criticized in their past playoffs perfomaces. When a little guy like M. Comrie plays physical it rubs on the other guys too. The key thing is that they have all four lines rolling with confidence.

Key win for CAL indeed. If they can steal one in DET they can make a great come back at home where they are so tough to beat, but that's the question. Can they play with the same intensity away from home?

10spro · Post by **10spro** » Fri Apr 20, 2007 12:53 am

Too many men penalty for the 'Nucks kill them in OT. The series goes back to DAL on Saturday. Second SO for Turco in the series, he's been really good this year so far.

Feanor · Post by **Feanor** » Fri Apr 20, 2007 8:55 am

I'm glad for Turco that he finally got some goal support in OT. His OT record is 2-10 now I think, which is awful but a lot better than 1-11.

10spro · Post by **10spro** » Sat Apr 21, 2007 12:38 am

Now that the NYI are done, the K. Lowe trade is starting to look really good for EDM. With prospects, a 1st round pick and enough cash to resign R. Smyth, things are looking up in OIL town.

NAS just followed the same fate as last year to the Sharks. With the game 2-1 for the Preds, Scotty Nichols commits a selfish spearing penalty, causing his team a five minute penalty and his ejection, changing the momentum they had during the game.

Sharks & Sens are the most impressive teams I watched so far in the first round and they are on course to my SC prediction. ANA looks strong too.

The NJ-TPA series is heating up. J. Tortorella was screaming at the NJ bench at the end of the game and shouting profanities at NY Post's Larry Brooks during the press conference. His top players looked a bit tired today and they better solve M. Brodeur to extend the series to 7.

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Sat Apr 21, 2007 12:46 am

10spro wrote:Now that the NYI are done, the K. Lowe trade is starting to look really good for EDM. With prospects, a 1st round pick and enough cash to resign R. Smyth, things are looking up in OIL town.

Yep. And things are looking pretty bad in Atlanta and Nashville. Both mortgaged a bit of their futures to bring a "savior" to town for the playoffs, and both are making tee times.

Sad thing is that neither franchise is stable, either. So a first-round exit is one of the worst things that could have happened.

What a GREAT save by Miller with nine seconds left in the Isles-Sabres' game. Props to the Isles -- this was not your typical 4-1 series. Very hard-fought.

I'm still not convinced that Buffalo will emerge from the East. The Sabres' team defense was shambolic the last nine minutes tonight, and a quality team like Ottawa or New Jersey will make Buffalo pay dearly for those lapses.

10spro wrote:Sharks & Sens are the most impressive teams I watched so far in the first round and they are on course to my SC prediction. ANA looks strong too.

Agreed. But something tells me the Rangers have a bit of that Oilers' mojo from last season. Hot goalie, late-season acquisition adds skill and grit (Avery), and the kids called up from Hartford are playing really well. I don't think Buffalo is going to walk all over the Rangers unless its team defense stiffens considerably.

Take care,
PK

Feanor · Post by **Feanor** » Sat Apr 21, 2007 10:41 am

Sad to see Forsberg stuck in the penalty box at the end of what might have been his last NHL game, but I think Nashville going out early means the Flyers get a higher draft pick.

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Sat Apr 21, 2007 12:05 pm

Feanor wrote:Sad to see Forsberg stuck in the penalty box at the end of what might have been his last NHL game, but I think Nashville going out early means the Flyers get a higher draft pick.

Yeah, that was a bullsh*t call. Two guys jousting behind the net, that's all.

Still, Nashville showed a lack of discipline during the entire series. You can't win a series with a steady stream of guys skating to the box. That spearing penalty to Ehrhoff's balls last night was nasty. I grimaced every time it was shown on replay.

One sad thing about Nashville's early exit: The loss of the best name in the NHL -- Vern Fiddler.

Take care,
PK

CrazyPsycho · Post by **CrazyPsycho** » Sat Apr 21, 2007 12:17 pm

I'm still not convinced that Buffalo will emerge from the East. The Sabres' team defense was shambolic the last nine minutes tonight, and a quality team like Ottawa or New Jersey will make Buffalo pay dearly for those lapses.

They play terribly when they lay back, the reason they are so good is the pressure and speed they can apply to a team. When they sit back, they are just a bunch of unphysical speed guys, not a good recipe. You could tell after the first two shifts of the third period that they were in trouble, that may be the very first time all year they've decided to sit on a lead. I have no idea why Lindy would do that, but Miller stood on his head(save the first goal).

I'm not too terribly concerned, as it was a workmanlike, emotionless series. I guess playing against the Satan's and Yashin's has a way of sucking the life out of you. I can't think of one nasty hit the whole series. I've already seen a few people pick the Rangers, which is great in my opinion(barring a miracle TB comeback). Anything to get a chip on their shoulders is fine with me, hopefully Avery does something stupid in Game 1 to really light a fire under their belly.

ddtrane · Post by **ddtrane** » Sat Apr 21, 2007 12:46 pm

10spro wrote:
Sharks & Sens are the most impressive teams I watched so far in the first round and they are on course to my SC prediction.

Great minds think alike.

ddtrane wrote:I like the the Sharks beating the Sens in the finals.

Don't know if it will hold true with 3 quarters of the playoffs to be determined yet, but thats been my choice since the chase for Lord Stanley begin.

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Sat Apr 21, 2007 12:55 pm

CrazyPsycho wrote:I'm not too terribly concerned, as it was a workmanlike, emotionless series. I guess playing against the Satan's and Yashin's has a way of sucking the life out of you.

Good point. I can't imagine how soft this Islanders' team was before Smyth arrived. There are quite a few floaters, with Yashin and Satan as the poster boys.

Ted Nolan must be praised to the high heavens for his job with the Islanders this year. He molded a group of floating individuals into a team and got guys like Yashin and Satan to buy into the concept somewhat.

CrazyPsycho wrote: I can't think of one nasty hit the whole series. I've already seen a few people pick the Rangers, which is great in my opinion(barring a miracle TB comeback).

I'm not seeing the Rangers win against Buffalo even though they have some 2005-06 Oilers' mojo, as I said in an earlier post. They simply don't have the talent, and the Rangers were flattered in the first round by the horrible Thrashers, big time. Atlanta was one of the softest, most gutless teams I've seen in the Stanley Cup Playoffs in a long time.

Take care,
PK

Sudz · Post by **Sudz** » Sat Apr 21, 2007 1:56 pm

talk of PITT going after Smyth HARD

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Sat Apr 21, 2007 3:18 pm

Sudz wrote:talk of PITT going after Smyth HARD

Interesting. Hadn't heard that!

Good for Pitt, especially since it's probably going to lose Roberts. Smyth will give you the same leadership as Roberts and eight fewer years. While he won't give you the hitting of Roberts, he will give you more goals.

Every team in the league could use Ryan Smyth. The bidding war will be fierce. We'll learn the strength of his allegiance to Edmonton this summer, as I don't think the Oilers will post the highest bid.

Take care,
PK

XXXIV · Post by **XXXIV** » Sat Apr 21, 2007 6:06 pm

Calgary Flames ...Whats the line from slapshot about the Hansons?..."their a freaking disgrace"?

Nice way to showcase hockey to the American audience in the NHL's national network appearance.

Having said that...Go Flames !!! tomorrow night

10spro · Post by **10spro** » Sat Apr 21, 2007 6:23 pm

Who can figure the Flames? They're pathetic playing away from the Saddledome and they must do it again at home in order to stretch the series to seven.

DAL-VAN game six tonight. Along with NJ-TPA series, they are the closest and tighest games played so far. I hope Canucks can solve Turco tonight but I wouldn't be surprised if this series goes all the way to seven games. Morrison, Smolinski and Nazzy must get their noses dirty a bit more, the D-men along with Luongo have been stellar.

Sudz · Post by **Sudz** » Sat Apr 21, 2007 8:10 pm

pk500 wrote:
Sudz wrote:talk of PITT going after Smyth HARD
Interesting. Hadn't heard that!

Good for Pitt, especially since it's probably going to lose Roberts. Smyth will give you the same leadership as Roberts and eight fewer years. While he won't give you the hitting of Roberts, he will give you more goals.

Every team in the league could use Ryan Smyth. The bidding war will be fierce. We'll learn the strength of his allegiance to Edmonton this summer, as I don't think the Oilers will post the highest bid.

Take care,
PK

It was online at SI...take that for what it is worth...

but they have major cap space and he, drury and briere are the top guys available...

they need D bad...

10spro · Post by **10spro** » Sat Apr 21, 2007 11:58 pm

It's not really surprising but the VAN-DAL series is going to the wire. The games have been so closely disputed that it'll all comes down to one final decisive game for both teams. Game seven is on Monday and the anemic 'Nucks offense better solve the Turco dilemma. He's been great but at the same time I don't think the VAN forwards had any legitimate chance for scoring against him tonight. The Sedins have been shut down by the Stars' checking line and DAL showed more urgency in their game than VAN. It all comes down to game seven and I still think Canucks will come out victorious. They better...

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Sun Apr 22, 2007 5:00 pm

I think Turco has ripped the "doesn't show up for the playoffs" tag from his resume once and for all. Three wins, all on shutouts. Very impressive.

Take care,
PK

ddtrane · Post by **ddtrane** » Mon Apr 23, 2007 12:38 am

pk500 wrote:I think Turco has ripped the "doesn't show up for the playoffs" tag from his resume once and for all. Three wins, all on shutouts. Very impressive.

Take care,
PK

We'll see tomorrow night. He better get it done in regulation, because his 2-10 OT record favors the nucks.

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Mon Apr 23, 2007 2:28 am

And now it's time for Detroit to step up to the varsity in the second round. The Wings better be ready, as it will be much tougher than the Calgary series.

Take care,
PK

XXXIV · Post by **XXXIV** » Mon Apr 23, 2007 3:41 am

pk500 wrote:And now it's time for Detroit to step up to the varsity in the second round. The Wings better be ready, as it will be much tougher than the Calgary series.

Take care,
PK

On the otherhand I doubt they will have to deal with a goalie making 50 saves a night....