2010 NHL Stanley Cup playoffs

[93henfan]

I'm waiting for all that referee bias that y'all promised.

I haven't had a chance to watch the Pitt-Mtl series, but I'll gladly be wrong if it means Cocksby is sent home early.

[bandl]

I'm waiting for all that referee bias that y'all promised.

I’ve only watched about 240ish minutes of the Pens in the playoffs this year, and the favoritism has not been as prevalent this year as in last years’ playoff. Perhaps that is in response to the complaints about the refs last year? Nah, couldn’t be that, no way the league responded to the criticism, right? But I just googled last year’s playoffs and in about 20 seconds I found countless examples of the favoritism shown toward the Penguins via youtube, sports columns, op-eds, etc. I’m sure if would take you just about as long to find the same results as it was for you to type your post or to jump on your NHL teams’ bandwagon this year.

[89Hen]

But man a Bruins/Canadians Eastern Conf Finals would be

I'm certainly hoping for the Flyers to spoil that, but agreed that it would be a great series in a long rivalry.

[JayJ79]

I'm waiting for all that referee bias that y'all promised.

I’ve only watched about 240ish minutes of the Pens in the playoffs this year, and the favoritism has not been as prevalent this year as in last years’ playoff. Perhaps that is in response to the complaints about the refs last year? Nah, couldn’t be that, no way the league responded to the criticism, right? But I just googled last year’s playoffs and in about 20 seconds I found countless examples of the favoritism shown toward the Penguins via youtube, sports columns, op-eds, etc. I’m sure if would take you just about as long to find the same results as it was for you to type your post or to jump on your NHL teams’ bandwagon this year.

For the record, I always jump on the same bandwagon. I've been a part-time Pittsburgh fan since jr. high. But it is true that my hockey fandom mostly starts with the playoffs (or sometimes the last month or so of the regular season), and if the Penguins aren't in contention, then I don't pay much attention at all. But it's not like I jump on just any teams bandwagon.

[UNHWildCats]

Montreal up 4-1. I would totally be laughing if the Bruins werent on TOTAL CHOKE watch.

[93henfan]

Montreal up 4-1. I would totally be laughing if the Bruins werent on TOTAL CHOKE watch.

As of now:

Mtl 4 - Pit 2 0:59.2 2nd
Phi 1 - Bos 0 4:48 1st

It would be a very tough order for the Flyers to come back from 3-0 down, but who knows. It hasn't been done since 1975, I believe I heard earlier today.

[93henfan]

Mtl goes up 5-2 with 10 mins left!!! Fuck yeah!

Halak is in the zone. Wow.

[Grizalltheway]

5-2 bitches! Bye bye Pens!!

[93henfan]

2-0 Fly guys, 3:40 2nd.

[93henfan]

Book your tee time, bitch.

[UNHWildCats]

Well Montreal has done their part for a potential epic Eastern Conference Finals. Come on Bruins get motivated.

[JayJ79]

Halak has definitely made a name for himself this postseason.
Goes to show how in hockey, a goalie getting hot at the right time can carry a team a long way.


And, of course, Pittsburgh totally stunk it up the past two games.

[UNHWildCats]

Book your tee time, bitch.

+847568456

[93henfan]

Flyers become just the sixth team in NHL history to force a Game 7 after being down 3-0.

[89Hen]

Well Montreal has done their part for a potential epic Eastern Conference Finals.

Yes they have. 7 vs 8 for the right to play 1 vs 2. LET'S GO FLYERS!

[dgreco]

The Bruins are reverting back to their old ways. The offense has been horrible Marc Savard has been making bad play after bad play. Wideman after a decent first round has been subpar. Hopefully Rask can have a good game and the Bruins can get a goal or two and win tomorrow.

[Ivytalk]

Flyers become just the sixth team in NHL history to force a Game 7 after being down 3-0.

Remember the '75(?) Islanders? They did it twice, but the Flyers got them the second time after coughing up the 3-0 lead.

Da Flyahs have da Mojo! SUCK IT, RASK!

[93henfan]

Remember the '75(?) Islanders? They did it twice, but the Flyers got them the second time after coughing up the 3-0 lead.

I really hate making people feel old(er) but here's a true story for you. I remember my dad putting a little oval sticker on the back of my tricycle. It was orange and black and said "DON'T GIVE UP THE STANLEY CUP!" around a Flyers emblem. That had to be around 1975.

[bandl]

Just wondering, but how come no one is ganging up on Crysby like they did Ovie after they (read: their respective teams) both lost to the Habs?

Seven games against Montreal
Ovechkin: 5 goals, 5 assists, 10 points, +5, 34 shots
Crosby: 1 goal, 4 assists, 5 points, -1, 17 shots

[93henfan]

Just wondering, but how come no one is ganging up on Crysby like they did Ovie after they (read: their respective teams) both lost to the Habs?

Seven games against Montreal
Ovechkin: 5 goals, 5 assists, 10 points, +5, 34 shots
Crosby: 1 goal, 4 assists, 5 points, -1, 17 shots

Oh, I don't know.

[bandl]

Just wondering, but how come no one is ganging up on Crysby like they did Ovie after they (read: their respective teams) both lost to the Habs?

Seven games against Montreal
Ovechkin: 5 goals, 5 assists, 10 points, +5, 34 shots
Crosby: 1 goal, 4 assists, 5 points, -1, 17 shots

Oh, I don't know.

He can thank his TEAMmate and the playoff MVP, Malkin, for that. And that was last season. I'm talking about this season, this series. Where was he in the series vs. Montreal? He was pretty much a non-factor. He even put his team in the hole in game 7 within 30 seconds and lord only knows how much crap Ovie would have taken for drawing a penalty 10 seconds into the game.

[89Hen]

[youtube][/youtube]

[isumatt]

OK so lets talk west for a minute...Hawks @ Sharks, Hawks won season series 3-1, sharkes were 1-2-1, if will make sense if you follow NHL hockey...Anyway, Sharks 5-1 @ home, Hawks 5-1 on Road, Hawks knock off Rinne and Luongo (arguably the best goalioe but those of us in CHI know better). SJ knocks out COL and DET handily. SJ has the monster line of Thornton, Marleau, and Heatley, Chicago has Keith and Seabrook, the best 2 shutdown defensemen in the NHL as a pair, not to mention the Hawks roll out 3 scoring lines and John Madden on the 4th line...Toews, Kane and Byfuglien are on fire. CHI PP lit up the Canucks and have scored SHGs vs NAS and VAN

IMHO, the top line favors SJ, but overall depth favors CHI
Defense favors CHI, no questions asked there
Goaltending SHOULD favor SJ but Niemi just beat Luongo so all bets are off
Home Ice for SJ but the road team has won more thru the 1st 2 rounds

MY PICK: BLACKHAWKS IN SIX

[isumatt]

Where was he in the series vs. Montreal? He was pretty much a non-factor.

I think the Montreal defence and gameplan account for this more than Crosby being a no-show. Im not gonna rip Sid, he is awesome, Montreal just found a way to shut him down and make him ineffective, which few other teams have figured out...Id give all the credit to the MON coaching and defense for this

[bandl]

Where was he in the series vs. Montreal? He was pretty much a non-factor.

I think the Montreal defence and gameplan account for this more than Crosby being a no-show. Im not gonna rip Sid, he is awesome, Montreal just found a way to shut him down and make him ineffective, which few other teams have figured out...Id give all the credit to the MON coaching and defense for this

I'm not going to argue that, because you are 100% correct. That was actually kind of where I was going to steer this. It is a TEAM game and Montreal as a TEAM beat down the two best players in the game. More credit should go towards Montreal for stopping these two (and Malkin, and Backstrom, and Semin, and Staal, etc.) than blame should go to Ovie/Crysby for not 'carrying' their team to the next round.

I came across a really good article about the Ovie/Crosby comparison. (let me know if you want to read the whole thing). It puts it all into perspective, but I really like how the writer ended it.

"So say Crosby, at 22, is the most accomplished player in the game; say the game revolves around him, at the moment. Say Ovechkin, at 24, still needs to use his teammates better, or at least to get better teammates. Say Crosby is the best player in the NHL, right now. Fine. Just don't say it's over. The story's not done yet."

It's going to be a hell of alot of fun for hockey fans to watch these two over the next decade.
(well, maybe not so much fun for some fans/teams )