HOCKEY NIGHT in DSP 07-08

Gangrel · Post by **Gangrel** » Mon Mar 31, 2008 9:47 pm

The worry here in Ottawa is the fact it's conceivable that the Sens miss the playoffs. Or, if the Sens and Caps end up in a tiebreaker that goes to head to head, the Sens are toast as the Caps beat them all 4 times.

Heads would roll here if that happened!

Post by **ScoopBrady** » Tue Apr 01, 2008 4:46 pm

The buzz is definitely back in Chicago. With 3 games left the Hawks still have an outside shot at the playoffs. They've been selling out recently and the club just announced that starting next year all Blackhawks games will be on tv, the first time in club history! I know it sounds trivial to a lot of people but it's a dream come true for this Hawks fan.

10spro · Post by **10spro** » Wed Apr 02, 2008 12:22 am

'Nucks put themselves in a peril playoff position now, after a couple of costly mistakes while leading 2-0 vs the Avs. And I am mean costly. Theo was awesome too.

Now to make things worse in the standings, how could the Blues choke away a game they were winning 3-0 and eventually lose in OT vs the Preds? No, I wasn't score watching at all

.

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Wed Apr 02, 2008 12:32 am

F*UUUUUUUUUUUCK! Not only was the Oil eliminated from the playoff race by Calgary tonight, TimeWarner Cable changed its channel sequence in the last few days and showed a f*cking baseball game on the channel the Oil-Flames was originally scheduled. A baseball game, for Christ's sake -- I'd rather drag my balls through broken glass than watch that sport!

Damn, damn, damn.

Thank God for extended highlights on NHL.com and the NHL Network.

Take care,
PK

10spro · Post by **10spro** » Wed Apr 02, 2008 1:00 am

I'll be missing the voice of the Canucks, Jimmy Hughson as he'll be a full timer for HNIC. His play by play call is just short of amazing, as good as when Jim Robson was doing the color commenting in VAN.

You know things are not well in OTT, when Jason Spezza drops the gloves. What happened to that team?

Feanor · Post by **Feanor** » Thu Apr 03, 2008 8:24 pm

I hope ESPN never get near the rights to the NHL again if they're going to be such obvious Penguins cheerleaders. Scott Hartnell had his face split open by the butt end of Sergei Gonchar's stick (no penalty was called) and was attacked by Crosby when he was lying on the ice, but neither fact was mentioned in the highlights ESPN showed.

10spro · Post by **10spro** » Fri Apr 04, 2008 12:25 am

Feanor wrote:I hope ESPN never get near the rights to the NHL again if they're going to be such obvious Penguins cheerleaders. Scott Hartnell had his face split open by the butt end of Sergei Gonchar's stick (no penalty was called) and was attacked by Crosby when he was lying on the ice, but neither fact was mentioned in the highlights ESPN showed.

There were a lot of cheap-shots in that game and from what I saw S. Hartnell was head hunting a few stars earlier like Crosby and Malkin. He got #87 pretty good on one play when he was just on one knee with an elbow to the head. I am not saying Gonchar's hit was acceptable by any means, on the contrary, but there was a lot of dirty stuff going on earlier in the game...

10spro · Post by **10spro** » Fri Apr 04, 2008 12:28 am

Third period has just started and Roloson is about to put 'Nucks' miserable season to an end. They couldn't score on a five minutes PP and honestly the way VAN has been playing, I rather not see them at all in the postseason.

Frustrating

.

Feanor · Post by **Feanor** » Fri Apr 04, 2008 6:35 am

10spro wrote:There were a lot of cheap-shots in that game and from what I saw S. Hartnell was head hunting a few stars earlier like Crosby and Malkin. He got #87 pretty good on one play when he was just on one knee with an elbow to the head. I am not saying Gonchar's hit was acceptable by any means, on the contrary, but there was a lot of dirty stuff going on earlier in the game...

Yeah, dirty stuff like Jarko Ruutu kneeing Danny Briere. Another incident that wasn't shown because it didn't fit the storyline ESPN had in mind.

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Fri Apr 04, 2008 9:24 am

Feanor wrote:
10spro wrote:There were a lot of cheap-shots in that game and from what I saw S. Hartnell was head hunting a few stars earlier like Crosby and Malkin. He got #87 pretty good on one play when he was just on one knee with an elbow to the head. I am not saying Gonchar's hit was acceptable by any means, on the contrary, but there was a lot of dirty stuff going on earlier in the game...
Yeah, dirty stuff like Jarko Ruutu kneeing Danny Briere. Another incident that wasn't shown because it didn't fit the storyline ESPN had in mind.

Feanor:

Honestly, why the hell are you trusting ESPN to give hockey any kind of treatment at all? The network couldn't give four sh*ts about the sport.

Save yourself the aggro, man. ESPN hasn't cared about hockey ever since it gave up the rights. That's the way ESPN works: If it doesn't have all or part of the broadcast rights of a sport, it provides meager to no coverage of that sport.

Take care,
PK

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Fri Apr 04, 2008 9:34 am

My man crush on Jarret Stoll -- my favorite Oilers' player -- reached a new level last night. Stollie gets drilled in the ear on a clearing slap shot by teammate Steve Staios early in the third, ripping open his ear.

Dude skates off with a small puddle of his blood left on the ice, goes to the dressing room and gets sewn up. No Novocaine for an ear stitch, either, according to Ray Ferraro.

Stollie returns later that period and scores the Oilers' second goal, which ends up being the game-winner.

Stoll has suffered through a tough season, but he's never stopped hustling, skating or showing grit. Plus he's a nice guy, and he bangs Rachel Hunter. What's not to like?

The Oil missed the playoffs for the second consecutive year, but what a difference the feeling is this April 4 compared to last April 4. This year's team has 15 guys younger than 25 and built a hell of a run toward the playoffs that fell just short.

Last year after their last game, I had a mental laundry list of at least five guys who had to go from the team before the 2007-08 season, led by that loafing sack of sh*t Joffrey Lupul. This season I can think of only one guy who's a definite goner, Geoff Sanderson, because he's about 107 years old.

Otherwise, anyone the Oil sheds this summer will be for salary reasons only, namely Pitkanen and Roloson. If somebody made a deal for Torres, he's probably expendable.

They need to sign my boy Stollie to a one-year, incentive-laden deal to see if he can rebound to the form he showed in 2006-07. Reasoner is a question mark, but the Oil should keep him if he agrees to a two-year deal at fair pay. Marty has been really solid defensively down the stretch.

Otherwise, Kevin Lowe must sign Tom Gilbert to a six-year deal NOW. He also must sign Garon to a three-year deal to solidify the net situation. And he must sign Glencross, Brodziak and Stortini to fair deals to keep the best fourth line in the NHL together. Seriously, the Crosstiniaks were the Oilers' best line during some games of this playoff push, and MacT had no problem leaving them on the ice against the opponents' top line when they were on the road and didn't have the final change.

I just can't believe the Oil's season is over. Watching their games brings me so much joy, is one of the anchors of my free time from October through April. It's a bit of an empty feeling this morning. Yeah, I'll watch the playoffs until the mug is hoisted, but it's not quite the same when your team is on the outside.

Take care,
PK

10spro · Post by **10spro** » Fri Apr 04, 2008 11:12 am

And that's the difference between your season and the one that painfully ended last night for VAN, PK. We have at least six UFA's including Nazzy & Morrison. Will Trevor retire? I think so. What the Canucks missed dearly this season was a J. Stoll type of player, more determination, more desire. Heck, even our great Bobby Lou wasn't himself since the AS' break.

I don't think they missed in the toughness department as they were ready to duke it out with anyone at anytime, but definitely more players that can put the puck in the net.

Sure, the easy way out would be to blame it on the injuries (which were ridiculously high) but the bottom line is that this team lacked scoring, heart and urgency when they needed it most. I mean how much more help you can ask from other teams if you don't help yourself which is to 'just win baby'.

The Wild took care of the Flames earlier, setting up an all war affair on Saturday between them & VAN for the final playoff spot. But like I said earlier if you can't score on a 5 on 3 albeit a short one and on a full 5 minutes PP, with all that was at stake, then you don't deserve to make it in the big dance. How does the world change, Flames fans cheering for the Oils.

It's a sad morning in Vancouver, all talk is on the team and how they missed a great chance. I am so bummed out.

Go Caps!

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Fri Apr 04, 2008 11:30 am

I'm on the Capswagon now, too. Won't root for them with even a glimmer of the fervor for which I do the Oil, but I'd like to see them make a deep run.

Ovechkin and Co. seem to be having a lot of fun playing the game right now. I love that infectious enthusiasm. Plus I love Boudreau. Fun team to watch.

Take care,
PK

Feanor · Post by **Feanor** » Fri Apr 04, 2008 6:31 pm

pk500 wrote:Feanor:

Honestly, why the hell are you trusting ESPN to give hockey any kind of treatment at all? The network couldn't give four sh*ts about the sport.

I'm just pissed off in general about the Flyers' playoff chances slipping away.

But I would rather have Washington get the #8 seed if they're then able to go on and beat the Penguins, something I don't think Philly can do this year.

Btw, Lupul has had a great season for the Flyers when he hasn't been injured. 45 points in 54 games. I really hope he doesn't go back in the tank next year.

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Fri Apr 04, 2008 6:58 pm

Philly was a good change of scenery for Loops. He was solid in the anonymity of Anaheim, but he never seemed to have the stones for playing in his hometown, the goldfish bowl of Edmonton.

Take care,
PK

Sully · Post by **Sully** » Fri Apr 04, 2008 9:56 pm

Flyers are in! Awesome effort tonight. By far their best game of the year.

Naples39 · Post by **Naples39** » Fri Apr 04, 2008 10:41 pm

Sully wrote:Flyers are in! Awesome effort tonight. By far their best game of the year.

It was pretty nerve-wracking for a while when the Flyers were heavily outplaying NJ, but only led 1-0. Either way the boys have returned to the playoffs after last season's embarrassment! I don't see them doing much damage in the playoffs but I think the season can now be considered a 'success.'

I think the Crosby-Ovechkin first round matchup was also ruled out tonight, as WSH will either win the division and take the 3 seed, or miss the playoffs entirely. WSH doesn't look like the scariest team in the playoffs, but they sure are finishing hot.

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Fri Apr 04, 2008 11:05 pm

Lord, I hope Washington dumps Carolina out of the playoffs. I'm still bitter about the Stanley Cup Finals two years ago, yes, sir.

Take care,
PK

Gangrel · Post by **Gangrel** » Fri Apr 04, 2008 11:55 pm

With Carolina's loss tonight, the Sens have backed into securing a spot, despite losing to Boston.

So, I will be watching playoff hockey after all..... for at least 4 games or so.

Sully · Post by **Sully** » Sat Apr 05, 2008 12:09 am

Naples39 wrote:
Sully wrote:Flyers are in! Awesome effort tonight. By far their best game of the year.
It was pretty nerve-wracking for a while when the Flyers were heavily outplaying NJ, but only led 1-0. Either way the boys have returned to the playoffs after last season's embarrassment! I don't see them doing much damage in the playoffs but I think the season can now be considered a 'success.'

I think the Crosby-Ovechkin first round matchup was also ruled out tonight, as WSH will either win the division and take the 3 seed, or miss the playoffs entirely. WSH doesn't look like the scariest team in the playoffs, but they sure are finishing hot.

I agree. I wanted them to make the playoffs for the experience since they're a fairly young bunch. They were fearless tonight, and the forecheck was suffocating. Being up 1-0 against a team that owns us had me worried, especially when we were dominating the play. We've seen it too many times before from the Devils. They always have our number. It was probably the best game this team has played all season.

10spro · Post by **10spro** » Sat Apr 05, 2008 12:09 am

A Hart winner in my books, what a season he had. Mirtle on AO:

http://www.globesports.com/servlet/stor ... ockey/home

Diablo25 · Post by **Diablo25** » Sat Apr 05, 2008 12:52 am

Sully wrote:Flyers are in! Awesome effort tonight. By far their best game of the year.

Love it. After the 1st 5 minutes of the game I knew I was in for an entertaining game. The Flyers were flying around everywhere. When Upshall scored I about went thru the roof. After the BS game against the Pens the other night this was a great one.

dougb · Post by **dougb** » Sat Apr 05, 2008 9:39 am

Gangrel wrote:With Carolina's loss tonight, the Sens have backed into securing a spot, despite losing to Boston.

So, I will be watching playoff hockey after all..... for at least 4 games or so.

Might have been better had they missed the playoffs - to call them horrible right now would not be much of an overstatement. Was it really the failure to deal with one player's idiocy (Emery) that created the collapse? Last night it just looked like they didn't really care that much - they were getting beaten to pucks left, right, and center by Boston in the portion of the game I watched.

Best wishes,

Doug

Gangrel · Post by **Gangrel** » Sat Apr 05, 2008 9:56 am

Emery is a convienant scapegoat, but the real problem is the fact the Ottawa Defense is horribly lost in their own end. I don't know how many goals I've seen this year by the opposition from people left widddeeeee open in the sloth. Whehter it's the D, or the forwards not backchecking enough, the overall D is just horrible!

Hopefully now they can rest a few days, and wipe the slate clean and have a good playoff run, as last year was pretty fun here (even as an Oil fan I have to admit I loved going to the games)

However, my gut tells me it's a short playoff year this year for the Sens.

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Sat Apr 05, 2008 10:38 am

Gang:

Very short, especially with the loss of Alfie and Fisher for an extended shelf stay due to injuries suffered in the game Wednesday against Toronto.

Ottawa is toast. Good riddance -- the biggest underachievers in the NHL. Only a handful of players on that team have any heart or balls. Heatley and Spezza are gutless, soft loafers.

Take care,
PK