Official™ 2007 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs Talk

holydogg · Post by **holydogg** » Tue Apr 17, 2007 2:37 am

TB just won 3-2 against Devils. Lou 1 - The Great Tortellini 2 (quoting Bob Clarke)

It's amazing how three guys can drive an ordinary team to the victory. Tonight Tamba just got my heart for the remaining playoffs

If New Jersey is eliminated, does Lamoriello got one foot in his [GM] grave?

Thundercleese · Post by **Thundercleese** » Tue Apr 17, 2007 3:53 am

I'm not saying the Isles will make a splash, I'm just saying that I like the way they play and their style can be very effective against Eastern teams (hence picking Buffalo in five on my prediction post). That said, if they find a way to beat the Sabres, they're going to the Cup.

Systemfel · Post by **Systemfel** » Tue Apr 17, 2007 1:10 pm

holydogg wrote:If New Jersey is eliminated, does Lamoriello got one foot in his [GM] grave?

Probably not.

Post by **Minstrel** » Wed Apr 18, 2007 10:37 am

Retro-post! okay, so this is what I'd have said about the playoffs had I had the time to post prior to them beginning. These are the things I was saying to people at our annual year-end fantasy draft for Charity with Blackhawks Charities witht he Fighting Blindness League. And since it's back dated some things obviously don't match up so well with what has transpired so far, but ya know, hindsight is always 60/40 so I haven't updated any of this to speak to what has occurred so far, because that? Would just be weak

How I saw it coming in:

EAST

#1 Buffalo Sabres vs. #8 New York Islanders

Yeah, I'm calling this one right now, Isles advance.

It won't be easy but I love this matchup. A well coached physical team that has been fighting for their lives and had a near-death experience are now back in a series nobody gives them a chance in, they've got nothing to lose and that my friends makes them dangerous. They have Ryan Smith who will live at the net all series and big ole nasty Witt on the back end... they can take it to Buffallo's speed game with physicality and defense. Buffallo has missed so many games to injury and have played so many different lines I think they'll be really up and down all series. How do you fit in to a gelled line a guy who only played two games during the season? Teams win series and I think Buffalo is a bit to hit or miss right now and the Isles can wear them down. Isles (yes, Isles!) in a 7 game war or 4-5 score games.

#2 New Jersey Devils vs. #7 Tampa Bay Lightning

Classic offense vs defense. Tampa has one line and Brad Richards and no goaltending. That might be good for a game when they are rolling but if Broduer plays up to potential and Elias and company can come back healthy and score a couple a night NJ can breeze through here. NJ in 5.

#3 Atlanta Thrashers vs. #6 New York Rangers

Have I mentioned how little faith I have in Atlanta as a top team? I think they're fantastically overrated as a #3 seed. Has anyone seen Illya Kovalchuk lately? He seems to have fallen into that elusive 'Plays great when nothing is on the line...' category. They are one of two teams that have goalies as the key to their success (or failures) and here it's Lehtonen who needs to decide for himself if he wants to be a NHL goalie or an AHL one. He has the talent but he need to get his head together and own his talent and that means consistency. This is a tough matchup for Atlanta though as the Rangers have skill, speed and size. Don't forget how darn good this team was a the beginning of the season. Also they have a 'tender who has owned that he has undisputed #1 goalie talent and run with it in Henrik Lundqvist. I see Atlanta taking a token game but this is more like they are the #6 and the Rangers are the #3. Rangers in 5.

#4 Ottawa Senators vs. #5 Pittsburgh Penguins

I don't belive in Ray Emery. However I also don't believe in the youngsters on Pittsburgh being able to pull it together under pressure they've never felt before in their lives. It's great they made it this year, the experience will be good for them. The team also made the right moves as far as bringing in veteran leaders. However see my above statements about Lehtonen needing to decide if he's an NHL goalie as they apply here to Fleury. As I mentioned before he's Jim Carey Vezina Winner (and famous bust after that!) one game and Jim Carrey, Pet Detective all flailing and contortions the next. If he's not at least "solid" making a few spectacular saves a game Ottawa is going to destory him. This team has a hell of a lot of firepower and they are playing tremendous hockey down the stretch. I think Ottawa just has too much for the Baby Pens to handle. Again they drew a terrible matchup for their team. I think they'd have had a shot against Atlanta or New York. Ottawa in 5.

WEST

#1 Detroit Red Wings vs. #8 Calgary Flames

Wow, such a tough one for my heart to call but my head says Detroit in 6. Calgary deserves the spot as they palyed great down the stretch but I think they are a team with serious issues including being out of gas physically and emotionally after fighting a war down the stretch. Drawing a speed/skill team is a particularly bad bit of luck for them. And I'm sorry I don't 'buy' Kipper as one of the best let alone one of the best ever as some people do. He's good. Very good. But so was Belfour when playing behing smothering defenses. Kippersoft is Belfour or Kolzig that led Washington through many a Cup run pretty much on his own. Kip might steal one here but he's not going to anchor a Cup run with this team in front of him. Iginla? Again, like Kip he's very good. But I still don't feel he's an 'elite' player. Both are terrible overrated by those listening to the hype not watching the games.

So, While I'd love to call another embarrasing first round Detroit exit I'd rather see the Flames (and their fans) not infect my enjoyment of games any longer than necessary, Detroit in 5.

#2 Anaheim Ducks vs. #7 Minnesota Wild

The only chance Minny has here is to bore Anaheim to death. Since that's not full-time their style anymore I think they're simply outclassed at every position here. Add Gaborik to my list of "very good" players that just aren't elite liek the hype says. Being the best player on your team doesn't make you an elite player, ask Tony Amonte about his days with the Hawks and what's happened since... Ducks sweep and then go home and relax waiting to see who they get next.

#3 Vancouver Canucks vs. #6 Dallas Stars

Will the real Marty Turco please stand up? This could be the series he establishes his reputation as an elite goalie or cements it as a playoff flop. Luongo clearly has proven that sometime you should belive the hype. That said he has to continue to be the difference here and carry the 'Nucks or Dallas' depth with be the difference. I think this is going to be a great series and Luongo is enough for me to give the Game 7 edge to Vancouver.

#4 Nashville Predators vs. #5 San Jose Sharks

Holy Hand Grenades is this going to be a WAR! Seriously, this is the can't miss series of the first round. The Sharks, who I love, have been sputtering down the stretch and I'm not sure if Bill Guerin has 'fit in' on the team. I still think they should have gotten more help on defense instead of Guerin. Speaking of moves I don't belive in though, Forsberg was a move that needed to be made by Nashville to signal to their fans and the rest of the league that they aren't taking it lightly, they are going for it. On the ice though I think this slows down a speed team and renders Jason Arnott a checking third liner instead of an overwhelming physical first liner. Early on in the season playing between speedsters Sullivan and Kariya he was better than having a Forsberg, but now they have the acutal Forsberg who is half injured all slow and I think he makes the on-ice team worse. It'll be a war but San Jose will be too much for Nashville, especially with Steve Sullivan out and giving too much time/focus to proving what a great move bringing in Forsberg was. And can I add that the 'Tootoo whistles' are the dumbest fan thing ever? How do you tell a team that has no identity? When their fans throw their most enthusiast support behind a fourth line energy guy. Sharks in 6.

Kekkonen · Post by **Kekkonen** » Wed Apr 18, 2007 12:02 pm

Minstrel wrote: Will the real Marty Turco please stand up? This could be the series he establishes his reputation as an elite goalie or cements it as a playoff flop.

To me it looks like this issue will most likely go undecided this spring. Poor Marty; he's been playing very, very well all series, perhaps excluding the first 60 minutes of it. In the first game, he kept his goal clean for almost 4 overtime periods, but the Dallas offense was nowhere to be found; then in the last 3 games, his team has spotted him a grand total of 4 goals, and he still managed to get one win. I don't think the Stars are going to win 3 straight, so Turco's legacy for this spring will consist of losing heroics. That's not enough to shed the play-off choker label.

Systemfel · Post by **Systemfel** » Wed Apr 18, 2007 3:58 pm

Minstrel wrote:#2 New Jersey Devils vs. #7 Tampa Bay Lightning

Classic offense vs defense. Tampa has one line and Brad Richards and no goaltending. That might be good for a game when they are rolling but if Broduer plays up to potential and Elias and company can come back healthy and score a couple a night NJ can breeze through here. NJ in 5.

That all sounds so funny right now.

Post by **batdad** » Wed Apr 18, 2007 4:11 pm

I have to say I am feeling pretty bad for Marty Turco. He is playing real well. No one on his team can score on Roberto though...and it is going to kill Dallas.

On the other hand, Turco has not stolen any games for Dallas, and Luongo has stolen 2. (Last night the Canucks actually won the game).

Good to see Calgary get in the "W" column.

Oh....and boy did Phaneuf ever get Phaneuffed. WoW! What a hit. And yes...I believe it was clean. Dion had his head down, and got smoted. I hope Mr P is okay. But he sure looked groggy.

Kekkonen · Post by **Kekkonen** » Wed Apr 18, 2007 5:50 pm

The Dallas O has made stealing games pretty hard for Marty. One goal in game 3 and then again one in game 4.

Turco has a GAA of 1.66, his save percentage is .939. Those *should* be winning numbers, but their offense works like the Finnish national team it occasionally resembles.

Post by **batdad** » Wed Apr 18, 2007 6:12 pm

Van 5 Dal 4, Van 0 Dal 2, Van 2 Dal 1, Van 2 Dal 1..Series total: Van 9 Dal 8.

Vancouver's offense has made "stealing" a game difficult for Luongo too. However, he has managed to do it twice (G1, G3). Turco has not. That is the point. Turco's numbers should be winning numbers, but they are not because the Canuck's goalie is "stealing" the games away. Turco could have done that last night for Dallas, because by all accounts (I did not see the game) Vancouver finally played a full game, and possibly outplayed the Stars.

"Stealing" games is not about Stats. It is about making the big saves at the biggest point in time. Turco did not do that for the Stars last night, nor in game 3 or in game 1. Luongo did. Turco did not.

I know the Stars offense sucks so far, but so does the Canucks. Even more so in many ways. Shot totals in this series, chance totals in this series are way in Dallas's favour with the exception of Game 4. Dallas needed Turco to steal one for them..and he did not.

Again I feel bad for Marty...cause his numbers show he is playing great, and his offense (particularly Modano and Morrow are playing horrible) But that rebound off the Mitchell shot for Linden was BRUTAL. Same with the Bulis rebound goal on the Hansen shot in G3. Horrible timing for those to happen, and you have to wonder if he is tensing up in the clutch points.

Here in Vancouver we saw this alot with Dan C. He did well for us, but could never, ever steal a big win when the team had an off night. So far in this series Dallas has had 1 off night, and Vancouver has had 3. Yet, Vancouver leads the series. Hmmm.... Last night was the first time Van played a whole game, and the first time Dallas did not. Wonder what happens if both teams play a full game for once.

Post by **Minstrel** » Wed Apr 18, 2007 7:01 pm

Systemfel wrote:
Minstrel wrote:#2 New Jersey Devils vs. #7 Tampa Bay Lightning

Classic offense vs defense. Tampa has one line and Brad Richards and no goaltending. That might be good for a game when they are rolling but if Broduer plays up to potential and Elias and company can come back healthy and score a couple a night NJ can breeze through here. NJ in 5.
That all sounds so funny right now.

Agreed... but that's how I felt before the series started.

Maybe we have to change that "you never know about a team that has an awesome goalie come playoff time" to "You never know about a team that only has one really good line come playoff time"

batdad wrote:Here in Vancouver we saw this alot with Dan C. He did well for us, but could never, ever steal a big win when the team had an off night. So far in this series Dallas has had 1 off night, and Vancouver has had 3. Yet, Vancouver leads the series.

Nice comparison there with Cloutier. "Stealing" is the art of winning games you had no business winning. If you team has scored, at all, then the steal is there for the taking. Turco has posted great stats but poor results and he's the only player that can singlehandedly turn the tide of a game. I disagree that this will go down as an 'incomplete' mark on Turco's regarding his being a playoff choker though. I think he can say he's shed that tag now, but now he like all other goalies that want to make it into the elite needs to be THE difference maker. He's a solid playoff performer (given he's played about three extra games worth of time at this point!) but unless he puts Dallas on his back that's all he'll be.

Kekkonen · Post by **Kekkonen** » Wed Apr 18, 2007 9:09 pm

Systemfel wrote:
Minstrel wrote:#2 New Jersey Devils vs. #7 Tampa Bay Lightning

Classic offense vs defense. Tampa has one line and Brad Richards and no goaltending. That might be good for a game when they are rolling but if Broduer plays up to potential and Elias and company can come back healthy and score a couple a night NJ can breeze through here. NJ in 5.
That all sounds so funny right now.

If the Bolts win this -- and that's still a pretty big 'if' -- I'm so gonna come here and gloat about my superior hockey instincts.

holydogg · Post by **holydogg** » Wed Apr 18, 2007 9:35 pm

Kekkonen wrote:
If the Bolts win this -- and that's still a pretty big 'if' -- I'm so gonna come here and gloat about my superior hockey instincts.

Gloat, gloat as long you're liking

Go Tamba Go :

Post by **Minstrel** » Thu Apr 19, 2007 7:27 am

This just in: The proclaiming of the demise of the Devils has been rather premature.

Atlanta however are stone cold dead... swept from their first playoff appearance ever. That's gotta sting given what they gave up to make it. It also would appear that they've given up on Lehtonen as they played Hedberg in net for the fourth game. Wow... what a mess this team is now

Nashville is dancing on a landmine with one leg left in their series with the Sharks... they were really outplayed today. Anyone seen Paul Kariya lately? I also have no respect left for this team of cheapshot artists disguised by "playing physical", another cheapshot knee on knee hit this time vs Thornton. It's pathetic.

The Isle gave Buffalo a run again today, some bad breaks though. Numminen is lucky he didn't get 5 and a game for that

hit from behind on Jason Blake

I wouldn't count on him escaping a suspension though.

Kekkonen · Post by **Kekkonen** » Thu Apr 19, 2007 9:49 am

Minstrel wrote: The Isle gave Buffalo a run again today, some bad breaks though. Numminen is lucky he didn't get 5 and a game for that hit from behind on Jason Blake I wouldn't count on him escaping a suspension though.

Teppo did that? Wow. If he gets suspended, I think it'll be a career first for him.

I have to wonder what little demon has gone into the standard good-guy Finns this spring? First Ville Peltonen, who's been a national team captain in several tournaments, gets that drunk & disorderly arrest, and now Teppo Numminen, who's never had a 40 PIM season in his long NHL career, acts like he's Ville Nieminen or Jarkko Ruutu.

Well, apparently Peltonen had been drinking with Belfour, but what's Teppo's excuse?

Systemfel · Post by **Systemfel** » Thu Apr 19, 2007 9:54 am

Kekkonen wrote:Well, apparently Peltonen had been drinking with Belfour, but what's Teppo's excuse?

He's old.

holydogg · Post by **holydogg** » Thu Apr 19, 2007 1:47 pm

Minstrel wrote:This just in: The proclaiming of the demise of the Devils has been rather premature.

There is nothing wrong being sentimental a bit

Nice devils goal on the overtime.. "Arrrgggg" is what I said after that...

Good riddance to Atlanta, Rangers are back in business

Too bad for Bob Hartley, but that's the playoff life, at the end only one team will remain!

Kekkonen · Post by **Kekkonen** » Thu Apr 19, 2007 2:19 pm

holydogg wrote: Good riddance to Atlanta

Well, at least they didn't go nuts at the trade deadline and throw away big chunks of their future for a couple of overrated, overpaid, and underperforming has-beens. Imagine how embarrassing it would be to get swept after that!

No... wait.

Kekkonen · Post by **Kekkonen** » Thu Apr 19, 2007 2:20 pm

Well, at least they didn't mess with the mind of their designated future franchise goalie.

Oh drat. Never mind.

Post by **batdad** » Thu Apr 19, 2007 3:48 pm

Maybe now Atlanta will realize they need a centre, and about 4 defensemen.

Devils won't die. I predict they pull it out no problem,with at least one vintage Brodeur shutout.

Numminen's hit was icky. So was Kariya's...ooh that was hard to say. I love Paul, and hate, hate, hate Gary Suter....shocking I know.

Oh yeah...the Stars better let the dogs out today and have their O-boyz go for it...or they are done.

Post by **Minstrel** » Thu Apr 19, 2007 9:43 pm

What really got me about that hit was that Blake was already off balance and going down AND like 6 feet from the boards. His back could not possibly have been squarer to Nummininen but at about 25% throught he process of falling that is when Teppo decides "This would be a good time to put my stick right in this guys numbers as he falls into the boards!" It was just hideous. Hits to the numbers like that I can't stand... same with the knee-to-knee shots which Nashville has been specializing in. No class, no respect.

Post by **batdad** » Fri Apr 20, 2007 2:29 am

So do you think Gary Roberts wishes he said no to the Pens trade, and forced Martin to deal with Ottawa and trade him there instead? Hmmmmmmmm

Bye bye baby faces...hopefully you learned something about playoff hockey...so that next time around you can do something. TOTAL OTTAWA DOMINATION of the baby face pens. Better to come for them for sure.

ETA: I HATE GREG MILLEN. Handshake sending Pit home, Ottawa on...and he is talking about Crosby. Cole about him too. SHUT UP> Ottawa won...celebrate. Talk Crosby later.

Oh wait..they did make a token mention of the Sens being "businesslike" and winning the series.

Post by **CatchUp** » Fri Apr 20, 2007 2:34 am

Go Sens! That was a sweet win tonight and Emery looks very sharp. Hopefully, Luongo can shut the door on the Stars here in the V-spot tonight. hey batdad - want to come downtown and riot with me when the Nucks move on tonight? haha.

Post by **batdad** » Fri Apr 20, 2007 2:36 am

I would say something about that nice avatar, but I am not going to jinx anything...so I won't! (yes I have delusions that anything I say and do will affect the result of a game I am not coaching, playing, or refereeing in.

)

ETA: Riot? What riot? There ain't no stinking riot.

ETA2: Plus if I were to riot...it would not be with any Habs fan jumping on any bandwagon. Closet boy.

jackknife77 · Post by **jackknife77** » Fri Apr 20, 2007 4:22 am

batdad wrote:
ETA: I HATE GREG MILLEN. Handshake sending Pit home, Ottawa on...and he is talking about Crosby. Cole about him too. SHUT UP> Ottawa won...celebrate. Talk Crosby later.

I totaly agree with you. I hate when commentators ( like Yvon Pedneault on RDS ) cant stop talking about a player. Even when they scratch their nose.. they make it a great moment of hockey.. TALK about whats going up in the ice!!
Geez.. I hate Yvon Pedneault.. and Pierre McGuire by the way.. Mr I know everything and cant admit my mistakes..

Kekkonen · Post by **Kekkonen** » Fri Apr 20, 2007 4:32 am

1st period gone in the Wild - Ducks game, and it looks like the Ducks are serious about ending the series now. It's still a one-goal game though.

I must say I was wrong about Bäckström, he looks like the real deal now. He's been good or even great in our domestic league but he's always faltered in international play, and the latter is usually a better predictor of NHL performance than league games alone.