Official 10-11 NHL Playoff Thread

[bestrafer7]

Go Wings Go! Epic comeback!

[bruins72]

Are the old Sharks are rearing their ugly heads? I haven't seen these games. Has Detroit's comeback been more about Detroit just battling back or have the Sharks been choking?

[philou21]

I would say that they choked the last game, like the good old sharks we know.

[batdad]

Both teams have played good hockey. The usual suspect in San Jose has not been able to get anything done--That Marleau floater. But both teams are battling and playing hard. Maclellan switching up his lines has hurt. Especially putting Marleau and Heatley together..the two guys who have done the least. But Detroit has been coming and coming. Datsyuk playing with some injury..shoulder likely since they are saying wrist. He has been absolutely amazing the last 3 games

However..no one is doing what Ryan Kesler is doing. This guy shuts down Jonathon Toews completely (and Kane for that matter) in the first round, and totally gives up all of his offensive game to do so. COmpletely unselfish. Then he comes out in round 2. I believe the Canucks scored 14 goals in round 2 against Nashville. Kesler--11 points. Absolutely outstanding effort. And....guess what...Nashville's biggest offensive threats..Fisher, and that dufus guy Kostystsin got nothing done. Weber---Too busy trying to stop Kesler to even think about offense. Kesler looked so much like Mark Messier in his prime in round 2 it was scary. Kid is definitely leading the league as the Conn Smythe Trophy winner right now.

Tim Thomas of course is in the running as would Datsyuk be. But Kesler has basically taken over for the Canucks. Thomas has Chara and the boys playing well. Pavel has a whole team of guys. The Sedin's....they be MIA.Trotz said after the series he could not find anyone to stop Kesler and that is the best any player has ever played against any team he has coached.

[philou21]

Did Marleau caught the same thing that Thornton as? He suck so bad so far, all I heard on TV about the Sharks is only on Marleau.

[Danny]

Patrice Bergeron skated this morning with the Aces as he continues to progress from his mild concussion

[racicot]

Pfft, who needs Bergeron when you have Seguin! Seven shifts, four points in the 2nd period alone.

It has to be said, though, that both goalies were fighting the puck brutally. Im pretty sure Roloson thought he was a batter in baseball the way he would slap the puck around the ice (when he actually stopped them, which was rare in the second).

Good luck Boston, I still hate you though.

[bruins72]

Seguin had a great night! I helped that he was playing with guys with some skill, instead of being put with the 4th line muckers. I really don't like the way Julien has handled him but now I don't see how he can not let the kid play.

Peter Chiarelli was on the local sports talk radio show this morning and he said that Bergeron skated yesterday with some contact. That's a very good step forward. He's also traveling with the team to Tampa today. It's looking like he'll be in the lineup on Thursday.

[philou21]

That was a nice game! Crazy playoffs one. Seguin's first goal was awesome to watch. Tampa was on fire at the end of the game!

[philou21]

Big game by the Nucks, I hope they will not have a let down if they lead the series 3-0 again.

It seems that Boston will finally let Seguin in the line up but let's say he didn't let them have the choice.

[philou21]

Hawks signed Crawford with a 3 years contract. The first year he will earn 3.2 millions I think. Good raise for him! Glad to see another goalie from Qc getting good.

[racicot]

Just two wins away from a Boston Vancouver final. That would be nice. Two very good hockey markets with ridiculously talented rosters. Looking forward to it.

I think the Boston series will still be a little closer than Vancouver's, but I still think both those teams have got it.

[bruins72]

Just two wins away from a Boston Vancouver final. That would be nice. Two very good hockey markets with ridiculously talented rosters. Looking forward to it.

I think the Boston series will still be a little closer than Vancouver's, but I still think both those teams have got it.

Yeah, it's going at least 6 games after the stinker the Bruins put up on Saturday afternoon.

[racicot]

You're 5 games away from changing your name to Bruins11

[bruins72]

LOL! Yeah, that would be a nice change. My Bruins72 will still stand though. Not only is it the year that the Bruins last won the Cup but it's also the year I was born. Of course, I was born at the end of the year and they won the Cup months earlier, so I've still never had the Bruins win the Stanley Cup in my lifetime.

[Círyatan]

Maybe not just this year. Still, I won't begrudge you Bruins going all the way, B. You've been waiting a lot longer than me.

[timmy_t]

Thomas' stick save on Downie was awesome! Downie is such a tool; I'm just glad he got robbed.

[philou21]

Downie is a really improved character since his false start in the NHL. I bet that Boucher is for something in this.....Though Thomas save was awesome for sure!

[JakeTheSnake]

Downie is a really improved character since his false start in the NHL.

Downie might have gotten over the worst of his crazy antics, but by no means is he still one of the 'good guys' at this point. He might not be as dangerously reckless a guy as he used to be but he's still a rather dirty guy. Sure, he's been somewhat domesticated, but still.

On a different note, i'm really hoping for a Vancouver-Boston final. That's going to be some good hockey.

[racicot]

I'm sorry, but I just can't be excited about the Bruins in the Cup final. Just too depressing for a Habs fan.

On a side note, if by some miracle Tampa does win, Bruins fans will take solace knowing that this team is the real deal and will have a legitimate chance at redemption for many years to come.

I suppose on a similar note, if the Bruins do win, they will rejoice in knowing that the team will continue to be dominant in years to come.

Basically, it's a good time to be a Bruins fan.

[YZG]

I think you can look at it both way. Granted, seeing the team that got your's out reach the final is annoying, but at the same time, you can tell yourself your team wasn't upset by mere chance - the only chance being the rotten luck that matched your team against that one.

I too hope for a Boston-Vancouver final.

- YZG

[philou21]

JakeTheSnake, improved doesn't mean been perfect. I will always have doubts because of what he done in the past.


Vancouver in the final great, great, great!! Luongo did a really good job yesterday, I was surprised by his performance! I really want Tampa to win tonight but a little voice tells me that Boston will be in the final two.

[Círyatan]

Lou was great yesterday! But that Bieksa goal... stroke of luck, but man, what an ending to the season for the Sharks...

[batdad]

Either Boston or Tampa Bay will be good rivals for the Canucks. However...this Vancouver team is unbelievable. Tampa Bay has one major and one minor candidate for the Conn Smythe--Bergenheim..followed by Lecavalier. Boston has Tim Thomas and not much else as candidates. No one has stood out crazy on those teams. In Vancouver...if they don't beat you with Henrik, they beat you with Kesler. If they don't with Kesler...it is Bieksa. And last night...Roberto Luongo showed up. This team is freaking scary. Kesler at times has looked like the Mark Messier of the olden days. Henrik is making plays like Gretzky and leading the league in scoring, without even putting the puck in the net himself. KEVIN BIEKSA??? This guy is going to get a $5 mill contract next season from someone.

After watching virtually every game the 3 teams left have played I am amazed. I just don't see the Canucks losing to any one. The only way it happens is if someone chops off Kesler's head. Burrows scoring crucial goals. Bieksa. Kesler. Lapierre looks like Malhotra. Jannik Hansen and Raffi Torres were unreal against San Jose. Even Ballard comes out of the doghouse and is amazing. Chris Tanev...wow! I don't know. Vancouver is unreal right now guys.

Boston could give them a run...maybe. And likely only if Milan Lucic goes superhuman. Kesler has checked Jonathon Toews into the ground. Led the team in scoring vs Nashville, and then led the team shutting down Thornton and the Sharks...Bieksa is lights out...a shutdown dman with what 6 goals?

I never ever say the Canucks will win. But this team just seems to have it all. Not even going to mention the Olympics thing...(Calgary 1989, Montreal 1977). Check who hosted Olympics the year before. B72--You are going to have to wait at least another year. SOrry.

[philou21]

I'm not surprise of Lapierre success. When the Habs reached the conference final last year he was playing extremely good, I was really surprise because I never liked the guy really. But Lapierre is the kind of guy that gives is 110% if you gives him the opportunity, he can check, stake fast and make good plays. The only thing about him....he is so fake! But he was doing well at MTL, until a certain Martin make him bench and forced him to play alot more defensive than needed....you know what happened.