VeeshanVault

NHL Playoff time and here are my predictions:

East

Montreal over Boston in 5 games. Sorry Bean towners but the beat up Bruins can't match the Habs in any area at the moment.

Pittsburgh over Ottawa in about the same 5 games. Two teams going in opposite directions with last year's cup finalists heading to an early golf round.

Washington and Philedelphia is an ugly series to predict but I say the Flyers in 7. Yeah Alexander the Russian Bear is on the other side and they've got injury issues but there is a lot of youth and defensive liability on the Caps.

New Jersey against the hated antichrist of the NHL NY Ranjas. The Rangers are a better team than last year but I'm still not a believer. They have the 3rd best goal tending in the NYC area and though they won the season series against the Devils, its a different season. Devils in 6.

The West (Home of this year's eventual champion)

Detroit over Nashville in 5. Yes Nashville has been hot. Yes there are some questions in Detroit's net but Ozzy is good enough with his defence corps to beat the Preds.

San Jose over Calgary in a blood bath. This season will showcase Calgary's toughness against San Jose's skill with the length of the series centering on Calgary's discipline. If the Flames keep it under wraps they could upset in 7 but I see this more likely as the Sharks in 6.

Minnesota and Colorado. Another tough series to call. I'm not in love with the Wild (and its not just the bad name) but they play a very team oriented defensive style under the coach that set the stage for cup wins in NJ. The Avs have a lot of aging talent and as much as I love Sakic I don't know if he can do it anymore. Wild in 6


Anaheim over the Stars. Sorry Dallasites but your team isn't fast enough, skilled enough or tough enough for this match up. Turco will be heroic in a losing cause (again) but the defending champs from Fu-ville will go to at least the 2nd round. Ducks in 5

Fucking shame that the NHL can't work their shit out with the networks! I have no idea what channel # Versus is.


PS: Go flyers!

Hockey is the Nascar of non-motor sports. REAL athletes? Yeah right... more like angry white trash and wannabe fighters!

I agree with Canelek. It used to be on every other station, now I can't find it on any channels around here.

Fash wrote:Hockey is the Nascar of non-motor sports. REAL athletes? Yeah right... more like angry white trash and wannabe fighters!

I actually like to watch hockey a bit. I would say the most physically demanding sports are soccer/hockey/lacrosse.

Anyways, Wild are gonna own !

Fash wrote:Hockey is the Nascar of non-motor sports. REAL athletes? Yeah right... more like angry white trash and wannabe fighters!

I can see the NASCAR comparison in that there is more speed than in any non-motorized sport and more collisions than anything other than football but it IS atheltic: its all about muscle, coordination and conditioning.

I agree the US TV situation is a clusterfuck: they need to rebuild the audience that the pre-lockout wrestling matches killed before trying to milk it through specialty cable and PPV crap. A major failure of the NHL head office has been to address that fact. They can do it Canada because they are king (1 MLB, 1 NBA, 0 NFL franchises vs 6 NHL teams and culture that has always embraced and loved the game), but the US market, while regionally strong, needs to built as a whole and this Versus thing is limiting not enhancing exposure.

LOL@NHL

Good points, Wulfie. Also, the NHL had become quite diluted before the lockout. Teams in odd places like Tampa Bay, Arizona and Dallas seem a bit off, although there are indeed towns that support and embrace their teams. LA is a good example--I had been to several games at the Forum and then Staples Center that were wild.

I think it would be badass to have a local NHL team, but that just ain't going to happen--Portland seems content with its sole pro sports franchise and Seattle has all they want (and they are going to lose their NBA team). I suppose there is always Vancouver, but that is a bit of a drive (and in a different country). I suppose there is always the Portland Winterhawks (WHL, member of Canadian Hockey League), and there are some talented kids there, but it just ain't the same for me since I have been a NHL fan for so many years.

I really hope the NHL finds its legs again. It is a fantastic sport and really is not done justice until seen live. Hell, it is about the only sport you can go watch and be captivated despite not knowing the names of anyone playing.

Sure, hockey is bashed around a bit here in USAdia, but to compare it to NASCAR is a bit below the belt!

Hockey is freaking awesome to see in person. It's pretty boring on television. Maybe I'd like it better on TV if I knew more about it.

I agree with Sueven's assessment of hockey being pretty awesome to see in person. My dad had season tix for the Red Wings for a number of years, I took 15 or 20 different people (many of whom never watched hockey) and we always had a blast.

I was at Joe Louis Arena when the Wings won the cup in 2002, and nothing in my life has ever approached being such a high-energy crowd. It was euphoric.

Hockey is a pretty cool sport, harder for me to get really into it in the regular season but the playoffs are as entertaining as anything in sports.

Hockey on TV takes almost a trained eye to follow the play and catch the other shit going on. Its like football but faster because of the skates. Its a lot easier to catch more and follow the play in person than on even a 30"-40" screen.

Canelek wrote:I suppose there is always Vancouver, but that is a bit of a drive (and in a different country). I suppose there is always the Portland Winterhawks (WHL, member of Canadian Hockey League), and there are some talented kids there, but it just ain't the same for me since I have been a NHL fan for so many years.

Personally, I love the WHL/OHL/QMJHL (collectively known as the CHL): I've probably been to more Hitmen games than Flames in recent years. Those kids are the NHL players of the future. A lot of the talent/ability is showing for those kids and while they may not be as polished as they get in the NHL, but a lot of times they have more raw desire because they are trying to prove that they deserve a shot in the bigs or to be drafted. Thats the big reason I love the World Junior tourney at Christmas every year: best 17-21 year olds from all over the world and there's no quit in them.

That being said, I was flipping between TSN and CBC last night (sometimes it IS good to be Canadian) and I was pleasantly surprised by the games last night. It was good hockey, lots of skating, hitting and great goaltending.

Canelek wrote:Teams in odd places like Tampa Bay, Arizona and Dallas seem a bit off

The Dallas Stars are a pretty well supported franchise. Hockey has really taken off here in this area, compared to how it was 10-15 years ago. Many of the high schools in the area offer it as a sport now, which they didn't when I was in high school.

Too bad I'm a huge Red Wings fan. I do like the Stars though, but not when they play Detroit.

Stars tickets are rediculously high price, and almost always sold out, if not near capacity.

It really doesn't make a whole lot of sense to me, but the money, and the young & pretty people really like to go to stars games and be seen.

Personally, I can't afford it, and my interest in hockey has really waned since the strike (though not for any reason other than visibility).

Like Xou said, the Stars organization have built ice rinks all around the metroplex and the high schools have picked it up as a UIL sport.

I just wanted to re-iterate that the Wild fucking own you so hard it should knock you off of your feet.



P.S. - fuck the traitor faggot Stars and everyone that likes them.

That is all.

IS THERE ROOM ON THE BANDWAGON FOR ME?!?!?!

noel wrote:IS THERE ROOM ON THE BANDWAGON FOR ME?!?!?!

THE MOR TEH MARRYER !!11!!111

Sueven wrote:Hockey is freaking awesome to see in person. It's pretty boring on television. Maybe I'd like it better on TV if I knew more about it.

It does help to understand the game of hockey to enjoy it more on TV, but it's not a terribly difficult game to follow. The puck may be harder to follow but watching it in hd on the newer larger screens really really helps people unfamiliar with the game. Once you get into the flow, you know a winger is breaking on a potential interception, you know when lines are trying to change, and you know what guys are trying to do around the puck even if it's difficult to see.

It's just a fantastic sport. Nothing comes close to comparing to it for me. A great save will get you up as much as a great goal or a great hit or even great tic tac toe passes.

Chidoro wrote:

Sueven wrote:Hockey is freaking awesome to see in person. It's pretty boring on television. Maybe I'd like it better on TV if I knew more about it.

It does help to understand the game of hockey to enjoy it more on TV, but it's not a terribly difficult game to follow. The puck may be harder to follow but watching it in hd on the newer larger screens really really helps people unfamiliar with the game. Once you get into the flow, you know a winger is breaking on a potential interception, you know when lines are trying to change, and you know what guys are trying to do around the puck even if it's difficult to see.

It's just a fantastic sport. Nothing comes close to comparing to it for me. A great save will get you up as much as a great goal or a great hit or even great tic tac toe passes.

After watching the last couple games on a friends 60" plasma I can say for certain that it really makes a big difference when watching the game. Just makes me want a new tv even worse.

My Sens got swept in the first round... Can't say than them losing was unexpected but in 4 was just adding insult to injury.. =(

Guess it's time to start cheering for Montreal now..

Flyers have a 2-1 edge. Briere is once again rocking the playoffs.

So far I have 2 disappointments in this years playoffs:

- Ottawa's inability to do fucking ANYTHING... talk about a team in need of a shake up. Cup finalists last year to dogs who couldn't take a win if it was handed to em the 2nd half of this season. Coaching change did sweet fuck all (so John Paddock has got to feel a little better about getting fired in that they sucked as bad if not worse under Murray, after him) so that says there is nothing left but cleaning house on some attitudinal players... and although Ray Emery is getting shit on hard, as he never played in the playoffs or much down the stretch, its more than just him

- the Devils inability to put pucks high on Lundqvist. Fucking Swede is down on his hands and knees than a bum stealing change from a fountain but they keep shooting low. This series shouldn't have the Rangers in control if they'd pay attention to their scouting reports. (fuck I HATE the Rangers!!!)


Heard the the Wings are starting Osgood instead of Dominique "Flop like a fish out of water" Hasek. About time: Osgood played well for the Wings all year when the Czech prima donna was pulling his groin.

Think the Sharks dodged a bullet at the end of that last game in Calgary. I'm still not sold on Nabokov but the rest of his team is good enough to take them over the Flames (too bad though: this town is a lot of fun when the Flames are on a run).

Dunno if Perry coming back will help Anaheim as much as just being smarter about when/where they hit the Stars. I won't call Dallas a pleasant surprise (only guys I really like on the team are Morrow, Turco and Ribeiro) but they are playing smart and hard against the defending champs.

Cannobeer, quit loving Briere so much: he wasn't even yours last year (poor Sabre fans feeling salt in the wound from you)! Gotta like the way your boys are playing but truthfully, if you were playing a team that understood defense at all, you'd be in trouble. The Caps are a fun team to watch because they are always attacking but they are ALWAYS attacking

The Wild need to get rid of Backstrom STAT. Last night was a fucking joke and imo 75% of the blame is on him.

We still have a chance but two in a row with that idiot in the goal isn't likely.

Hey man, I am just happy to see that the Flyers had a strong surge after a near collapse. That they made the playoffs at all is a small miracle, after last year's debacle.

Having a guy like Briere is just gravy. Knuble had a strong showing yesterday as well.

(would have been cool to get Forsberg back though)

And then there is Ottawa....whew, what a start they had this season! They just sorta fell off the map and backed into the playoffs.

Funkmasterr wrote:The Wild need to get rid of Backstrom STAT. Last night was a fucking joke and imo 75% of the blame is on him.

We still have a chance but two in a row with that idiot in the goal isn't likely.

Dude, last night the Wild ran into a goalie who stole a game. Backstrom may not have been perfect but Theodore was unreal. The shots were what? 42-18? And they weren't all long shots that he could see from the blueline: he made some impressive stops.

Wulfran wrote:

Funkmasterr wrote:The Wild need to get rid of Backstrom STAT. Last night was a fucking joke and imo 75% of the blame is on him.

We still have a chance but two in a row with that idiot in the goal isn't likely.

Dude, last night the Wild ran into a goalie who stole a game. Backstrom may not have been perfect but Theodore was unreal. The shots were what? 42-18? And they weren't all long shots that he could see from the blueline: he made some impressive stops.

Oh I totally agree, a co-worker and I were saying the exact same thing this morning. Theodore was on top of his game and he definitely did steal the game, but backstrom is garbage.. The problem is he isn't a clutch goalie like we need, a shot comes at him and he just lays down on the ground, leaving the upper 60% of the net wide open.

What the hell is going on with Montreal. I cought the 3rd of Saturday night's game and the errors on the game winning goal for Boston were just baffling..

They had all that momentum going for em and all of a sudden Boston really turn it on and all of a sudden they're falling apart.

It's gonna be a really interesting game come Monday.

Mtl hasn't lost a series after gaining a 3 game to 1 lead in 26 years. Boston hasn't made up a 3 game deficit in 20.

Animalor wrote:
Mtl hasn't lost a series after gaining a 3 game to 1 lead in 26 years. Boston hasn't made up a 3 game deficit in 20.

Looks like this will hold true

LOL. It's a round one win and the fans in Montreal are already rioting...

http://www.cbc.ca/canada/montreal/story ... sriot.html

If they win the cup, I have a feeling the city might burn down..

Well round one is over and its not too different from what I expected. I was surprised by Boston's grit and determination and proud of Calgary's. I went 5-3 for picks with the most surprising one being the Ducks and their lack luster performance. I was disappointed in the Devils plan of "let Brodeur win it for us" but not really surprised and while I picked the Wild to beat Colorado, its hard to really call it an upset.

On to round 2

Montreal over Phillie. Sorry Canno but the dream dies in 5 games. Price looked mortal in a couple games in the Boston series but Briere and Co will have to work a lot harder for their chances and it won't be enough. The Flyers D looked BAD and if Marty Biron hadn't stood on his head in games 6 and 7, they wouldn't be there.

Pittsburgh over the Rangers in 5. I'm still not a believer in Lundqvist and the Pens have a lot better offense than New Jersey or the Rangers. Add to this a defense corps thats solidifying and a confident Fleury and its not much of a contest.

Detroit over Colorado in 6. Detroit looked beatable when they had Hasek in net and will be if they go back to him. The Avs are tougher and grittier but the Wings will win on raw talent.

Dallas will beat San Jose in 6. Nabokov may have wrangled a Vezina nomination but I thought he was the weakest link against Calgary. On the other side Marty Turco is hungry and the whole Dallas team seems to be sharing that hunger. San Jose can't do the off and on thing against another team with more skill than the Flames and expect to come out on top.

Wulfran wrote:NHL Playoff time and here are my predictions:

East

Montreal over Boston in 5 games. Sorry Bean towners but the beat up Bruins can't match the Habs in any area at the moment.

Pittsburgh over Ottawa in about the same 5 games. Two teams going in opposite directions with last year's cup finalists heading to an early golf round.

Washington and Philedelphia is an ugly series to predict but I say the Flyers in 7. Yeah Alexander the Russian Bear is on the other side and they've got injury issues but there is a lot of youth and defensive liability on the Caps.

New Jersey against the hated antichrist of the NHL NY Ranjas. The Rangers are a better team than last year but I'm still not a believer. They have the 3rd best goal tending in the NYC area and though they won the season series against the Devils, its a different season. Devils in 6.

The West (Home of this year's eventual champion)

Detroit over Nashville in 5. Yes Nashville has been hot. Yes there are some questions in Detroit's net but Ozzy is good enough with his defence corps to beat the Preds.

San Jose over Calgary in a blood bath. This season will showcase Calgary's toughness against San Jose's skill with the length of the series centering on Calgary's discipline. If the Flames keep it under wraps they could upset in 7 but I see this more likely as the Sharks in 6.

Minnesota and Colorado. Another tough series to call. I'm not in love with the Wild (and its not just the bad name) but they play a very team oriented defensive style under the coach that set the stage for cup wins in NJ. The Avs have a lot of aging talent and as much as I love Sakic I don't know if he can do it anymore. Wild in 6


Anaheim over the Stars. Sorry Dallasites but your team isn't fast enough, skilled enough or tough enough for this match up. Turco will be heroic in a losing cause (again) but the defending champs from Fu-ville will go to at least the 2nd round. Ducks in 5

Not a bad job at all on that one although I'm glad you were wrong about the Rangers and bummed about being right about the Flyers.
The color guy for the Devils was so pissed that the Rangers had so much support in Newark but I don't know why he was so surprised now that you can take the train to the game. I know I saw two Devils games this year to root against them and enjoy the new arena.
I don't even dislike the Flyers as a team all that much but the fans are just so awful. Cursing at Ovechkin (not the normal respectful booing upon a touch). But then it's Philly, they're a-holes for all of their losing franchises I guess (save the MLL champ Barrage).

The Penguins offense is pretty amazing. The speed and agility that kid Crosby has is unbelievable.

Time to show old man Jagr the new guard of the NHL.

Well, the Flyers still have to win another game before losing to Montreal in 5...

edit:
NM, I missed a game.

Almost took the first game from Montreal tonight...almost.

The Pens won one their way, edging out the Rangers in a 5-4 shootout, and then followed it up with a slower, defensive 2-0 win. Off to NYC they go.

Montreal's run ends with Philly taking it 4 games to 1.

Looks like we may be looking at a battle of Pennsylvania for the title in the east...

Animalor wrote:Montreal's run ends with Philly taking it 4 games to 1.

Looks like we may be looking at a battle of Pennsylvania for the title in the east...

And trust me, as a Philly local.. I have been waiting for this day for a while now.

LETS GO FLYERS!!!

woohoo!

Well I went 3 for 4 with my only error being Montreal over the Flyers... and the fan part of me is happier that way I wonder how many people in Montreal will be after Carbonneau or Gainey's heads for going with the 20 yr old Carey Price as there mainstay in net. The Canadiens look like they could be scary from the young talent they've assembled in the future... but this performance (both the close call against Boston and now bounced by the Flyers) makes me wonder if they have character/chemistry flaws like what showed up in Ottawa. The young talent of the Pens has some questions marks too but not many and they're falling by the wayside as the playoffs progress and making me a believer. I shed about 3 crocodile tears for the Rangers and hope they don't resign that fucking retard Avery (I lost a lot of respect for Shanahan trying to copy him too). And what about those Stars? Damn but Brendan Morrow is a wrecking machine. People were talking about Ovechkin flying around trying to hit people but last night I think he was credited with over 20 hits, including the Hit Of The Year on Michalek (wonder if he can stand on his own yet...). In the end I think Dallas' physical play and Nabokov's shakiness in the early games tell the whole story of the series. My major disappointment of the round was the way Team Swedish Meatballs were able to send the Avs limping away so fast...

Now Round 3

Dallas and Detroit - Player for player Detroit is more talented but I think they can be had, especially by a team that can skate and hit like Dallas can. I see Detroit's weakness as the physical end: some of those Swedes are big strong guys (and you can never have too much respect for Lidstrom) but they don't thrive in the hard hitting environment unless it becomes undisciplined and puts them on the powerplay. The roll Franzen is on is downright scary to defenses. Goaltending, Turco has been awesome and Osgood has played well too but I think Dallas has an edge here. I'm thinking Wings but cheering Stars. Detroit in 7.

The Battle of Pennsylvania - Was it only the beginning of last year that the Flyers totally shook up their front office and removed Clarke et al? What a difference 18 months can make. Two young teams, two inexperienced goalies, two excited fan bases look to add some new hate to a rivalry. Canelek is going to laugh but I'm picking his Flyers to lose again. I think the Flyers are playing great but I think they lack the defense to contain 2 of the NHLs brightest young stars, Crosby and Malkin. I love the way guys like Knuble and Umberger have picked up their games but I don't think it will be as easy with Pittsburgh: the same youthful confidence is buoying both teams and I think under it all the Pens match up better across the board, which in a way is too bad because its been fun watching the Flyers. Its over in 5 with the Pens heading to the Finals.

Detroit v Philly


---


Now, I can see the East going to 7 games. If it were based on early season matchups, I would go with the Flyers in 4 or 5. Since Pitt stepped it up later in the season against their cross-state rivals, I think this will be relatively close.

Of course, I am a fan, so cannot have a very objective opinion here.

Ahhhh...the only sport where the Final 4 is actually referring to viewers remaining

Stuff it, hillbilly!

Kilmoll the Sexy wrote:Ahhhh...the only sport where the Final 4 is actually referring to viewers remaining

Not everyone is in Ohio where in the football offseason, all there is to watch is your neighbour fucking your livestock...

Kilmoll is the neighbor, Zamtuk owns the livestock.

Wulfran wrote:Now Round 3

Dallas and Detroit - Player for player Detroit is more talented but I think they can be had, especially by a team that can skate and hit like Dallas can. I see Detroit's weakness as the physical end: some of those Swedes are big strong guys (and you can never have too much respect for Lidstrom) but they don't thrive in the hard hitting environment unless it becomes undisciplined and puts them on the powerplay. The roll Franzen is on is downright scary to defenses. Goaltending, Turco has been awesome and Osgood has played well too but I think Dallas has an edge here. I'm thinking Wings but cheering Stars. Detroit in 7.

The Battle of Pennsylvania - Was it only the beginning of last year that the Flyers totally shook up their front office and removed Clarke et al? What a difference 18 months can make. Two young teams, two inexperienced goalies, two excited fan bases look to add some new hate to a rivalry. Canelek is going to laugh but I'm picking his Flyers to lose again. I think the Flyers are playing great but I think they lack the defense to contain 2 of the NHLs brightest young stars, Crosby and Malkin. I love the way guys like Knuble and Umberger have picked up their games but I don't think it will be as easy with Pittsburgh: the same youthful confidence is buoying both teams and I think under it all the Pens match up better across the board, which in a way is too bad because its been fun watching the Flyers. Its over in 5 with the Pens heading to the Finals.

Now that my team is out (even though they really could/should have won the series) I really only care about the Flyers losing. So hopefully the Pens can move on. In the West, I don't really care. They are both very likable teams. Detroit has some of the best tic-tact-toe goals I've ever seen. Osgood is a likeable goalie and I hope he stays in through the rest of the playoffs. Dallas has a good game as well. I am going to enjoy watching both series a lot.

Ahhhh...the only sport where the Final 4 is actually referring to viewers remaining

This coming from a Braves fan, funny stuff

Go Flyers!

Dallas had better stop giving Detroit so many power plays. They did seem to get it under control the second half of the game, though. They looked really bad the first part.

Also, you can't stop The Franzen. 12 goals in 11 games? Wow.

No real surprises in the conference finals (what us old timers used to call the Semi-Finals before they switched shit around). Dallas had a longer harder road sap their energy before they ever met Detroit (and Detroit deserved the softer sched for winning the President's Trophy) and Philadelphia just wasnt on the same level as the Pens. I'm pretty happy with my 10-4 record through the first 3 rounds.

Now the end game: the Stanley Cup Finals.

I'm sorry to say this: Be Happy Zoocow!!! Team Swedish Meatballs will beat the Kids in 5 games. Both of these teams are relatively fresh, not having to face a lot of adversity to get this far, steamrolling most of their opponents. Pittsburgh has the best 2 forwards (and possibly the best 2 overall players) in Crosby and Malkin but Detroit has depth and a system. I've been impressed by the Pens in this run, they've showed a lot more discipline and savvy than I was expecting out of a young team but the Wings have more experience and are so damned good at playing keep away with the puck (and thus limiting the opposing teams scoring chances). Pittsburgh is a team of the future, maybe as close as next year with one more good defenseman. Detroit is the team of now. But I'm still going to hope the kids can prove me wrong: I think they're more entertaining to watch overall.

Should be a good series Too bad we don't get Vs. at work.

Yeah, I agree. I think the depth and experience of Detroit will be too much for the Pens. However, give them a couple more years and I have a funny feeling Pittsburgh will be home to the Stanley Cup champions once again.

I think this is the best Detroit team in recent history, though. The work the scouting team does to find and develop young, talented players is nothing short of amazing.