Official™ 2007 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs Talk

Post by **batdad** » Fri May 04, 2007 5:43 am

LUUUUUUU. Oh well. Ducks definitely deserved to win. A hell of a lot earlier than they did. Clearly the better team won this game. Too bad it had to end on a stupid one. Roberto is freaking amazing.

TehJesster · Post by **TehJesster** » Sat May 05, 2007 3:16 am

Chris Druuuuuuury! and Maxim Afinogenov are clutch!!!! Buffalo takes the series lead 3-2 against the Rangers.

Post by **CatchUp** » Sat May 05, 2007 3:32 am

TehJesster wrote:Chris Druuuuuuury! and Maxim Afinogenov are clutch!!!! Buffalo takes the series lead 3-2 against the Rangers.

I have to admit - Buffalo is my favourite team to listen to on NHL.com Radio. The play-by-play is the best ever!

Post by **batdad** » Sat May 05, 2007 6:29 am

Drury=playoff god. He now has more playoff goals than anyone still active in the NHL. He has 41, Sakic 40, Forsberg 40. Hmmm...those three have alot in common.

For those who do not know, Drury lists his biggest championship as the Little League World Series. He wears 23 for Don Mattingly. Dude pitched in the LL WS Championship game, and was the winning pitcher. Quite the overall athlete.

Post by **batdad** » Sun May 06, 2007 11:44 pm

And...the Rangers destiny is....Pitch and Putt for the summer.

Used hombre because he is funny looking! Poor Rangers...much sympathy.

Systemfel · Post by **Systemfel** » Tue May 08, 2007 4:14 pm

Conference Finals Predictions
Detroit vs. Anaheim - Ducks in 6
Buffalo vs. Ottawa - Sens in 7

Woo, went 3/4 in the semi finals.

Systemfel wrote:Sharks in 4
Ducks in 5

Sabres in 6
Sens in 5

Kekkonen · Post by **Kekkonen** » Tue May 08, 2007 6:08 pm

I went 2 for 4. That's the same accuracy as you'd expect from a blind monkey poking at the sports pages.

Post by **batdad** » Wed May 09, 2007 12:11 am

COnference finals

Anaheim over Detroit in 5.(Somehow typoed 4 originally) No way without Schneider. Noone can make me believe.

Buffalo over Ottawa in 7. Drury with Game 7 OT winner, stealing the puck from Alfredsson, who could be seen on the ice prior to the play visibly shaking and saying..."I think I can, I think I can"

Post by **Danny** » Wed May 09, 2007 2:36 pm

Wings in 7

Sabres in 6

darn you Sharks

Post by **CatchUp** » Wed May 09, 2007 9:52 pm

Here's the analysis of my 2nd Round picks:

CatchUp wrote: Series A #1 Buffalo Sabers vs. #6 New York Rangers
I would love to play the Rangers right now. I think their first round pounding of Atlanta was a bit of a fluke. Avery does seem to have injected some cohesiveness into the room but I don't think it's enough to get by Ryan Miller and the extremely strong Sabres.
Sabres in 6.

Bingo - The Rags did give them a good fight, but I knew they didn't have the stuff to take it to the Buffaslugs.

1 for 1.

CatchUp wrote: Series B #2 New Jersey Devils vs. #4 Ottawa Senators
This is going to be a great matchup, IMO. Emery is not in Brodeur's league but the Sens offense is scary good - especially with Alfie stepping up his play. The Devils will need an offensive player to step up and match the intensity and leadership of Alfredsson or Brodeur could get overwhelmed. I also think Heately elevates his game.
Sens in 6.

Got the team, but the Sens made quicker work of the Devils than I thought. I don't think Brodeur was himself - but you have to hand it to the Alfie-Spezza-Heater line. Good grief - they dominated. 2 for 2.

CatchUp wrote: Series C #1 Detroit Red Wings vs. #5 San Jose Sharks
The Wings got off easy against Calgary. They were expecting a battle and didn't get one, which could set them up to fail against a strong Sharks team that looked very polished against a decent Nashville team. In the end, I think this comes down to goaltending and I like Nabokov/Toskala over Hasek/Osgood.
Sharks in 5.

Aww. The poor Sharkies. I really did want them to win - and not just because I despise the Wings. I really would like to see Jumbo Joe and Marleau win a Cup in SJ. Oh well, maybe next year.

2 for 3.

CatchUp wrote:Series D #2 Anaheim Ducks vs. #3 Vancouver Canucks
Awww yeah. This is going to be a battle. Anaheim will beat up on Vancouver forwards - can they take it? Luongo isn't going to be fazed by the Ducks physical play but I don't think the Nucks will generate enough offense for him to steal the series.
Ducks in 6.

And the Ducks took it in five. Ah, the poor Canucks. I heard so much more about this team than I usually do. Granted, it's because I'm living on this side of the continent for the first time, but still...Vancouver is mad about the Canucks. I've lived in Toronto as well during the playoffs and let me say - Canucks fans own Leafs fans when it comes to devotion to the team. In downtown TO you didn't notice much change in the atmosphere when there was a Leafs game on. In downtown VanCity, I could hear all kinds of screaming with all the windows and doors shut in my apartment EVERY time something happened in a 'Nucks game. It really did seem like the whole city was glued to their TV's. I'm looking forward to next year when Roberto "steps up his game" (a quote from an interview with Lu - he actually thinks he can play BETTER!). 3 for 4.

Final Second Round tally : 3 for 4 - 75% - 2 exact predictions.

Another 75% performance. Go me.

Here's what I think about the Third Round:

Series A #1 Buffalo Sabers vs. #4 Ottawa Senators
This reminds me of a Saturday night in downtown Windsor, Ontario. I got to see a lot of these two teams living in Leafs country - and this is going to be one heck of a series - maybe a classic in the making! Obviously, both teams are offensive juggernauts - the Sabres more so than the Sens. I like the team defense idea the Sens have been using - I think it gives them the edge over the Sabres.
Sens in 7.

Series B #1 Detroit Red Wings vs. #2 Anaheim Ducks
I will say this : Without Schneider, the Wings have zero chance against the Ducks. The only way Detroit has a chance to is frustrate the Ducks into taking penalties and try to beat them on the PP. But without Schneider's point presence, the Wings PP takes a big hit. I say the Ducks come out gunning early in this series and Detroit never recovers.
Ducks in 5.

Alright - there's another round of predictions recorded for the world to see. Now you won't have to hear from me again until I tell you who will win the Cup. Cheers all!

Post by **Minstrel** » Thu May 10, 2007 11:14 am

Minstrel wrote: Buffalo v NYR

I see this as a lot closer than other people I think

I guess that's the call I'm most proud of as nobody was thinking the Rangers could hang with the Buffaslugs...

3 for 4 though I obviously blew the Sharks call... It's frustrating when a team stops playing like they're capable of and I think it's official that the aquisition of Bill Guerin added nothing but line chemistry problems to the team down the stretch. I think this has to do with why Marleau played a terrible series, it was him and Joe's team when they were winning, one anchoring one line, the other the next and they had great chemistry with their lines... add Guerin to the mix and obviously he needs big ice time and assignments and he never meshed with anyone, but had to keep being put out there due to the price they paid and role they projected him too. Honestly they'd have been better served to have kept Ville Niemenen. They also caved to the pressure of the veteran Wings, got out of their game, were panicky with the puck etc.

Sucks. Especially since I hate watching the f'n Wings and listening to yet another set of announcer verbally go down on Chris Chelios game in and game out. Schneider is a HUGE loss for them though especially as they'll be up against Pronger and Niedermayer now and they WILL lose games due to having to play Chelios for as many minutes as they'll have to.

Anaheim in 6 but I'm just being a bit tentative after the San Jose series...

I think Buffalo finally meets their match in Ottawa, though it's going to be a great series. I just haven't been impressed with Miller or Buffalo's D and I think Ottawa can exploit them and Emery can be solid enough to get them through. Ottawa in 6.

Also, it should be pointed out that Marty ended the series with his 151st consecutive playoff game... after averging like 70+ games a season for so many years he's played whole seasons more than other 'tenders and I think he just lost his 'edge' and needs the time off and a serviceable backup. I think he and Luongo should both cut their loads way back next year and save it for late in the season instead. I still say Marty is one of the best to ever play and he still has time to prove it. (I mention this often but Marty's much younger than people think just because he's been playing so long)

Thundercleese · Post by **Thundercleese** » Sun May 13, 2007 7:09 am

Well I've been away for the last week and a bit so it's going to be hard to get credibility when I come in and say Sens in 5 after two huge road wins. They've been winning games in all possible fashions and are showing everything they lacked in previous years. Does anyone know off-hand how many game-tying goals the Sabres had in the final minute of play during the regular season/previous rounds? How about the final ten seconds? If they had that much commit the entire game the series would be heading in a drastically different direction. How about Bob Cole calling Chris Drury "Harold Druken" in the third. Time for the CBC to send someone packing, and it ain't Don Cherry.

Detroit taking out SJ in six makes me feel better about the Flames. A little. Not much, really. How many games can Hasek steal? My guess is three. Ducks in seven.

Systemfel · Post by **Systemfel** » Mon May 14, 2007 5:17 am

Anaheim gets two goals get shouldn't have counted, woo-hoo.

Post by **batdad** » Mon May 14, 2007 11:53 pm

Chris Neil...evil evil evil!

No response from Buffalo? What is Lindy doing? Lindy on the road is back....This game is going to be very very interesting.

Systemfel · Post by **Systemfel** » Tue May 15, 2007 4:20 am

Man, the Sabres are one loss away from getting swept. Unbelieveable.

Post by **batdad** » Tue May 15, 2007 5:35 am

I think it is time...I believe in the Senators. I guess when they do not have to play the LOAFS in the playoffs (ott is 0-4 against Tor in playoffs) they actually can do stuff. Yes Sens ... I believe.

Post by **Shadd666** » Tue May 15, 2007 1:03 pm

Unless the Sabres learn to play hard during 60 minutes (or more!), they'll never reach the Finals. Ottawa deserves a spot in the Finals more than the Sabres,and i wouldn't be surprised to see a clean sweep in two days.

Tonight, the Ducks may take the lead of their series at home...unless Hasek does miracles...

Kekkonen · Post by **Kekkonen** » Tue May 15, 2007 1:04 pm

It looks like I'll get to pick against the Sens for the 4th time this spring. Maybe I'll finally get it right...

Post by **Shadd666** » Tue May 15, 2007 1:06 pm

Kekkonen wrote:It looks like I'll get to pick against the Sens for the 4th time this spring. Maybe I'll finally get it right...

Lol! Same here!

Kekkonen · Post by **Kekkonen** » Tue May 15, 2007 1:32 pm

Of course, there is still the remote possibility that the Sabres are, as the headline on the NHL website suggests, just on the ropes instead of face down and unconscious in the middle of the ring. However, believing that takes a heck of a lot more not-believing in the Sens that I'm able to muster at this point. But I still say they'll meet the Ducks in the final and lose.

Kekkonen · Post by **Kekkonen** » Wed May 16, 2007 9:59 am

I woke up just before 6 am EET and went straight to the TV since I knew the Wings-Ducks game would still be on. It was already 4-0. So, what on Earth happened there?

Konstantinov16 · Post by **Konstantinov16** » Wed May 16, 2007 1:48 pm

Kekkonen wrote:I woke up just before 6 am EET and went straight to the TV since I knew the Wings-Ducks game would still be on. It was already 4-0. So, what on Earth happened there?

What happened there? The Wings ended up winning 5-0... I was slightly surprised but not by much. I thought they would win by at least 2 though. Guess they have the series lead... Can't wait 'til tomorrow.

Systemfel · Post by **Systemfel** » Wed May 16, 2007 4:26 pm

Kekkonen wrote:So, what on Earth happened there?

Wings brought their A game.

Thundercleese · Post by **Thundercleese** » Wed May 16, 2007 4:52 pm

Hasek was solid, solid, solid too. Any hope of a Ducks comeback was quashed every time they got close to the net. If Pronger gets suspended for the Holmstrom hit, this series will be over pretty quickly...

Post by **batdad** » Wed May 16, 2007 5:20 pm

Systemfel wrote:
Kekkonen wrote:So, what on Earth happened there?
Wings brought their A game.

Ducks brought their F game.

Oh and I forgot to mention this. Holy mackinaw what a hit by Robert Horry.....

Oops wrong forum.