NHL Playoffs 09. Drop The Puck.

toonarmy · Post by **toonarmy** » Sat May 09, 2009 12:05 pm

Sudz wrote:Could the Bruins possibly suck more?

Short answer: no.

This series has been a shocker for me. I knew Ward and Carolina were hot, but did not think Chara would be so ineffective. The lack of Ferrence has hurt, but the Bruins won a lot of games in the regular season with all sorts of makeshift lineups. The main difference makers so far have to be the stepped up play by Staal and Jokinen, and of course Ward. Boston is not playing with the level of intensity necessary to defeat a team like Carolina. Intensity is a major ingredient for Boston to be successful yet they are being outhustled most every period. If Chara doesn't get his rearend in gear and the rest of the team cannot step it up a notch then Boston is through. Maybe all the Thornton haters can now blame Chara for an earlier than expected exit, if it happens.

XXXIV · Post by **XXXIV** » Sat May 09, 2009 12:10 pm

Sudz wrote:Could the Bruins possibly suck more?

Yes. By losing one more game

Go Carolina!

toonarmy wrote:Maybe all the Thornton haters can now blame Chara for an earlier than expected exit, if it happens.

Thornton haters club meeting tuesday at 7:00... B.Y.O.B....R.S.V.P.

HipE · Post by **HipE** » Sat May 09, 2009 3:15 pm

Looks like Gonchar is done for the year:

http://tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=278120

This is a big blow to the Pens chances both in this series and if they advance. They were terrible all season without Gonchar, he might actually be the most indispensable player to the team.

10spro · Post by **10spro** » Sat May 09, 2009 6:56 pm

toonarmy wrote:In-game I thought the AO hit on Gonchar was dirty, however upon watching the replay a bunch it was not dirty at all. Look at the replay closely. Gonchar quite clearly has his leg extended out pretty far and AO never moves his leg out whatsoever. He stays on tracks completely and only tries to make contact with his shoulder. AO should not be suspended or fined since he did absolutely nothing wrong in this instance. I was furious at him last night when I was watching live, but upon further review I am not mad at him at all since it appears this was not a cheap shot. His reaction to the play in the post-game interview seemed to be quite sincere. AO is a pretty up-front guy, so since his personal feelings seem to jibe with the various replay angles I do not believe the injury was intentional.

The loss of Gonchar is big. The Pens certainly got going after his return in the regular season. I still think the Pens will take the series, but how much further they can get than that is a big question mark without their key player in the lineup.

It was not a necessarily a dirty hit, as I've seen much worse but he did stick his knee out, a penalty was correctly called and if this was Brashear the NHL would have suspended that particular action for a minimum of two games. Double standard you may argue, he does play recklessly at times but he did not intend to injure Gonchar, I don't think. Having said that, sooner rather than later someone is going to get AO good.

Tough luck for the Pens, maybe they can get veteran P. Boucher in his place but he's definitely an important piece of the puzzle for PIT and they'll miss him especially during during PP's.

toonarmy · Post by **toonarmy** » Sat May 09, 2009 8:50 pm

10spro wrote:
toonarmy wrote:In-game I thought the AO hit on Gonchar was dirty, however upon watching the replay a bunch it was not dirty at all. Look at the replay closely. Gonchar quite clearly has his leg extended out pretty far and AO never moves his leg out whatsoever. He stays on tracks completely and only tries to make contact with his shoulder. AO should not be suspended or fined since he did absolutely nothing wrong in this instance. I was furious at him last night when I was watching live, but upon further review I am not mad at him at all since it appears this was not a cheap shot. His reaction to the play in the post-game interview seemed to be quite sincere. AO is a pretty up-front guy, so since his personal feelings seem to jibe with the various replay angles I do not believe the injury was intentional.

The loss of Gonchar is big. The Pens certainly got going after his return in the regular season. I still think the Pens will take the series, but how much further they can get than that is a big question mark without their key player in the lineup.
It was not a necessarily a dirty hit, as I've seen much worse but he did stick his knee out, a penalty was correctly called and if this was Brashear the NHL would have suspended that particular action for a minimum of two games. Double standard you may argue, he does play recklessly at times but he did not intend to injure Gonchar, I don't think. Having said that, sooner rather than later someone is going to get AO good.

Tough luck for the Pens, maybe they can get veteran P. Boucher in his place but he's definitely an important piece of the puzzle for PIT and they'll miss him especially during during PP's.

You need to watch the replay again. AO absolutely did not stick his knee out in any way whatsoever. The TSN guys have a piece on it, and they correctly note that AO never sticks his knee out. He stay perfectly in his tracks. It was Gonchar's leg that was out, not that of AO.

10spro · Post by **10spro** » Sat May 09, 2009 9:07 pm

toonarmy wrote:
10spro wrote:
toonarmy wrote:In-game I thought the AO hit on Gonchar was dirty, however upon watching the replay a bunch it was not dirty at all. Look at the replay closely. Gonchar quite clearly has his leg extended out pretty far and AO never moves his leg out whatsoever. He stays on tracks completely and only tries to make contact with his shoulder. AO should not be suspended or fined since he did absolutely nothing wrong in this instance. I was furious at him last night when I was watching live, but upon further review I am not mad at him at all since it appears this was not a cheap shot. His reaction to the play in the post-game interview seemed to be quite sincere. AO is a pretty up-front guy, so since his personal feelings seem to jibe with the various replay angles I do not believe the injury was intentional.

The loss of Gonchar is big. The Pens certainly got going after his return in the regular season. I still think the Pens will take the series, but how much further they can get than that is a big question mark without their key player in the lineup.
It was not a necessarily a dirty hit, as I've seen much worse but he did stick his knee out, a penalty was correctly called and if this was Brashear the NHL would have suspended that particular action for a minimum of two games. Double standard you may argue, he does play recklessly at times but he did not intend to injure Gonchar, I don't think. Having said that, sooner rather than later someone is going to get AO good.

Tough luck for the Pens, maybe they can get veteran P. Boucher in his place but he's definitely an important piece of the puzzle for PIT and they'll miss him especially during during PP's.
You need to watch the replay again. AO absolutely did not stick his knee out in any way whatsoever. The TSN guys have a piece on it, and they correctly note that AO never sticks his knee out. He stay perfectly in his tracks. It was Gonchar's leg that was out, not that of AO.

I watched it a few times. You know why Gonchar gets hurt? He tries to avoid the knee collision by lifting his and that's when you see AO's knee out. He does not stick his knee out per Se, he's got a wide stance and is following his track line but it's out. As I said earlier, it wasn't his intent to do so, I do believe that AO does try hit him shoulder first but Gonchar's self own protection made the impact worse.

10spro · Post by **10spro** » Sun May 10, 2009 2:21 am

Went to the 261st consecutive sellout at GM place as VAN-CHI played game five of their series. Tough loss for the Canucks as the transition game of the Blackhawks and especially the play of their tough guys is so far outplaying VAN's fourth line. D. Byfuglien had a great game for the visitors and he's so tough to move for a guy of his size.

The speed of the Hawks is just causing too many turnovers for my 'Nuckers and they keep drawing penalties. It was a tough loss because with five minutes to go, CHI gets a PP, W. Mitchell breaks his stick and they score. With a minute to go and Luongo pulled, Salo & Bernier coliide with each other at the blueline with the man advantage, and Havlat scores the empty netter. This was certainly a bruising game.

Time to regroup, Canucks have to play better, I still believe in this team but credit to the Hawks tonight, I am really impressed with their speed & skill and their transition game is just a killer.

The Zebras were atrocious IMO with doubtful calls and non-calls, not to the point that changed the game but they were many no calls for the home team that the sellout crowd took it upon themselves.

I just hate it when drunken-fans start throwing their beers in disgust to the ice, just poor taste Vancouver.

10spro · Post by **10spro** » Sun May 10, 2009 11:50 am

Nothing beats the atmosphere of playoffs' Hockey, even FIN grew a beard and ahem, the ladies seem to like it.

10spro · Post by **10spro** » Sun May 10, 2009 9:45 pm

Remember when the Mule Franzen was on tear during last years' playoffs? He's peaking again at the right time as ANA is concentrating to shut down the pair of Zetterberg and Datsyuk. More importantly for DET they seemed to have cooled down the Getzlaf-Ryan-Perry line.

Looks like BOS will head back to CAR.

XXXIV · Post by **XXXIV** » Sun May 10, 2009 10:44 pm

Carolina looked like they took the Rangers approach to a 3 games to 1 series lead.

10spro · Post by **10spro** » Mon May 11, 2009 8:58 pm

Another close one between WAS & PIT, S. Varlamov has definitely come down to earth lately and he'll need to tighten up this third period if the Caps are to take the series to 7, which I sincerely want. Great series.

Hawks-Canucks in a few minutes, VAN has faced adversity throughout the year and I expect them to play their best game yet tonight. They have to.

Danimal · Post by **Danimal** » Mon May 11, 2009 11:46 pm

WTG Hawks!

10spro · Post by **10spro** » Tue May 12, 2009 12:57 am

What a thriller of a game! One of the best that I watched in these playoffs. The end result absolutely sucks for me but anyone that's a Hockey fan had to enjoy this one. This is a fine young cocky Hawks team and with good direction they deserved the win. Why? Because VAN just didn't know how. Not tonight, not on game four and by blowing a lead again in game five.

A key momentum swing tonight was when the Canucks finally played with some desperation in the second period and tied the game 3-3. You could see the tide changing and CHI just didn't know what hit them. So what does J. Quenneville do? Somewhere in the background I see the influence of Scotty Bowman. JQ is fine coach and by calling a time out, he absolutely settled this young group and it was back to square one.

Throughout the series, Canucks just couldn't counter the Hawks's speed. They're a shifty bunch with a lot of skills and tough guys that can make anyone's life miserable. Just ask the likes of Kesler and Burrows, two of VAN best players during the first round that just couldn't play their game.

Looking back at the series, VAN had too many undisciplined moments, none more costly than in game five when we were up 2-1 and with the momentum riding on our side. This is a team that was 3 minutes away from being 3-1 in the series and all of the sudden they faced elimination tonight. Talk about momentum swing. They had the lead three times tonight and yet they couldn't stop the surging Hawks.

Bottom line, our best players didn't play like they were the best during the series including Luongo, and this is just another devastating loss in the almost 40 years of futility trying to chase the big prize. Just coming back home after watching the game with some friends a 'Coldplay' song in the radio summarized our playoffs hope: 'One minute I held the key. Next the walls were closed on me'. No kidding.

On all but one game, Canucks had the go ahead goal, yet they never were able to put away CHI away. Credit to them, they never quit. If DET advances, it should be a beauty of a series and one that Hockey aficionados would salivate for. Two excellent skating teams that love open Hockey.

I really thought that VAN had enough depth this year to go far, I guess not enough. I am absolutely floored, pissed, devastated.

10spro · Post by **10spro** » Tue May 12, 2009 1:08 am

Never seen Bobby Lou so emotional after a game, that's how all Canucker's feel right now.

lexbur · Post by **lexbur** » Tue May 12, 2009 9:40 am

The Blackhawks almost had as high a shooting percentage as the Atlanta Hawks last night.

Naples39 · Post by **Naples39** » Tue May 12, 2009 11:40 am

The 3rd periods of those games last night were crazy. My kind of hockey

Devastating loss for Luongo personally I think. Here he is, the clear leader of the team, and he gives up the most goals he has in over 9 years. Not to say it's all his fault, but he knows he could've done better.

Also, what more could you ask for from the Caps-Pens series. Another OT game, and it's clear no lead is safe in the 3rd period. In the 6 games of the series, the big 3 of Ovechkin, Crosby and Malkin have 31 points.

I'm taking the Pens in game 7. Though they won, the Caps looked very tense in game 7 vs the Rangers, and even if Ovechkin outplays Crosby, the rest of the Caps will not be able to match Malkin Staal and Fluery.

MizzouRah · Post by **MizzouRah** » Tue May 12, 2009 11:49 am

Was a good game CHI - VAN.

10spro · Post by **10spro** » Tue May 12, 2009 9:38 pm

I never counted the Bruins out even though they were down 1-3, C. Ward looked human the last couple of games and BOS's T. Thomas is playing tough again. Should be a great 7th game in BOS.

RallyMonkey · Post by **RallyMonkey** » Wed May 13, 2009 9:06 am

The'Canes made a huge mistake the other night and woke the sleeping giant. Between the sucker punch, the slash on Chara, and getting beaten up and down the ice, they gave the Bruins momentum heading into their own building taking away any home ice advantage that would have factored in. And to the B's credit, they exacted their revenge on the scoreboard as a good team should.

XXXIV · Post by **XXXIV** » Wed May 13, 2009 10:19 am

RallyMonkey wrote:The'Canes made a huge mistake the other night and woke the sleeping giant. .

Yes they did.

RallyMonkey wrote: And to the B's credit, they exacted their revenge on the scoreboard as a good team should.

Yep, They beat em up and down the ice last night.
10's Im a Lucic convert

Nice win for the Ducks last night stretching the wings to 7. ...This isnt anything but good news for the hawks.

Nice elbow Scotty

10spro · Post by **10spro** » Wed May 13, 2009 2:30 pm

XXXIV wrote:
RallyMonkey wrote: And to the B's credit, they exacted their revenge on the scoreboard as a good team should.
Yep, They beat em up and down the ice last night.
10's Im a Lucic convert

Nice win for the Ducks last night stretching the wings to 7. ...This isnt anything but good news for the hawks.

Nice elbow Scotty

Ha, you don't want to get Chara and Lucic pissed, they got all the momentum now. The only way CAR may take this series is if C. Ward plays out of this world again and lately he hasn't.

And you know the Ducks are under the Wings skin when Scotty and out of the people "Lady Bing' several times award winner Pavel Datsyuk get into a scrap.

10spro · Post by **10spro** » Wed May 13, 2009 2:48 pm

It's been 48 hours since the devastating series loss to CHI and this town is still talking about the Canucks. You can see the disappointment in people's faces, some are talking about trading Luongo, maybe it's extreme but this is one of the most frustrated losses in Canucks' history. Why? Because I looked at the depth of the team and we all thought that while not necessarily winning lord Stanley, at least VAN would be in the final four.

Sweeping the Blues in four was more harmful than good, now that I look at it. Bobby Lou lost his mojo and while some guys healed some bruises here and there, having 10 days off harmed the team more than not.

And I can see the frustration of fans around the city with Bobby Lou. He's our captain, the highest paid player in the team and in the biggest game of the year, a 'must win' for the Canucks, he lets in 7 goals. I don't totally fault him though. After all, this is the team that many figured would be out of the playoffs at the beginning of the season, had many injuries including Luongo and on the final day of the season they win the NW division. And Luongo had to do a lot with the late comeback.

But such is life in a city hungry for a Cup, no hero is safe and with one more year of contract you wonder if M. Gillis may pull the trigger next season. After all, look at the teams still in the hunt for the big prize, and none of the goalies are superstars. There's no Brodeur, no Kipper and now no Luongo. Instead the likes of Varlamov, Hiller and Ward are shining.

And if you look at the last couple of Stanley Cup winners, no superstar goalie were present as well. Is this a trend? Should a GM buld his team around grit and skill then like CHI?

I feel for Sundin, he's gotta retire, the game is too fast for him but he did show flashes here and there. Walking around town and seeing people with Blue Orca Jerseys was so cool, now all I see is frowned faces. Oh well, there's always next year.

tjung0831 · Post by **tjung0831** » Wed May 13, 2009 2:49 pm

I'm hoping for a Blackhawks and Bruins final...

Jimmydeicide · Post by **Jimmydeicide** » Wed May 13, 2009 3:16 pm

Brilliant end to Ducks wings game last night With all the top guys scrapping what a riot that was and the most fist pumping of moments for me loved it.

Game 7 is going to be one helluva game.

toonarmy · Post by **toonarmy** » Wed May 13, 2009 4:23 pm

People are making too much of the Chara slash and punch on Ward. That game was decided before and outside of those two incidents. They had no bearing on Boston winning the past two games. Julien is showing why he should get COTY. He downright challenged his team before game 5. He called them out privately and in the media as well. He got them back into the mindset of the underdog and playing the way they did in the regular season. My impression is that Bos had a 9-day layoff, had just swept their biggest nemesis, and did not take the Canes as seriously as they needed to. Once they got down 3-1 and got a firm kick in the behind from Julien they went out and played the hard-nosed style that got them to this point.

The discipline the Bruins showed the past two games is indicative of how much Julien has the respect of these guys. When he says no fighting or no funny business, even the hotheads on the team make damn sure nothing happens, even if they intensely want to do something about it. Thornton said it best in discussing revenge on Walker when he stated that the Bruins have a very long memory, but for now winning is all the team cares about. Next season is when Walker better watch his back. Anything can happen in a game 7, but my money is on Boston advancing. I honestly thought this series would not go beyond 5 games, but the Bruins made it hard on themselves and the Canes, to their credit, had several players step up real big early on. If those same players (Ward, Staal, Jokinen) can turn things back on in game 7 then we could be in for one heck of a game, unlike the past two games when the result was never in much doubt after the first period.