Official 10-11 NHL Playoff Thread

[racicot]

Wow, the more Boston wins, the more I feel awful about the Habs loss.

The logic behind it is that if the Bruins quickly exited in 4, I could have said that the Habs couldn't even beat a team that could compete with Philly. Now I keep asking what might have been.

Tim sad...(me speaking in third person, sorry)

[bruins72]

I don't know. I wonder if the Habs would have had trouble against the Flyers. Look at how good Price was versus the Bruins. He might've been able to steal a series against the Flyers. And you've got to wonder how Montreal's speedy forwards would've stacked up against a team as physical as the Flyers.

I take my hat off to Tim Thomas. He was stellar last night. Some people in the Boston area quested his big game/playoff ability. He's awesome during the regular season but couldn't win the big playoff games. Well last night he STOLE that game. He stood on his head and gave the Bruins the chance to wake up and win it in OT.

Reports are that McQuaid sprained his neck but his injury isn't too serious. I hope he's not out for long. He's been a nice physical presence.

[philou21]

MTL would've been destroyed against Boston if they played physical like the regular season. Price help the Habs to go at that game 7. If the Habs had passed Boston their series against Philly would've looked like last year.

[Danny]

It might be a surprise the Bruins are up 2 while they had so many problems with the Habs but
a) series is far from over, Philly has the quality to win 4 out of 5, 2-0 means nothing in the end if you can't win two more
b) although the results from the regular season don't matter it showed the Bruins match up much better against teams like Philly or Washington than Buffalo or Montreal

[philou21]

Whoa Washington is in the s***. What a bunch of losers and probably bye bye Humpty Dumpty.

[racicot]

Whoa Washington is in the s***. What a bunch of losers and probably bye bye Humpty Dumpty.

I know eh? Brucey's job is definitely on the line here. Hats off to Guy Boucher, though, he gets little credit for turning that team around. Other than Roloson, Ohlund, Moore, and Gagne (who hasn't been that great) that team has pretty much the same core as the one that easily missed the playoffs last year.

Guy won the AHL Calder Cup last year and will likely be in the ECF in his first year as an NHL coach; and he's 2 years younger than his starting goaltender.

Somewhere in South Florida, Boudreau is binging on a collection of baked goods and gravy, crying in the fetal position on the bathroom floor in his hotel.

[bruins72]

It might be a surprise the Bruins are up 2 while they had so many problems with the Habs but
a) series is far from over, Philly has the quality to win 4 out of 5, 2-0 means nothing in the end if you can't win two more
b) although the results from the regular season don't matter it showed the Bruins match up much better against teams like Philly or Washington than Buffalo or Montreal

Yeah, we learned that last year. Didn't we?

[philou21]

Hamilton didn't won the Calder Cup last year. It's four years ago they won it.

[racicot]

Hamilton didn't won the Calder Cup last year. It's four years ago they won it.

Sorry, I meant to say that they had the most points (AHL equivalent to President's Trophy). They ended up going 52-17-11 last year under Boucher. They got upset by the Stars affiliate in the 3rd round methinks. Perhaps 2nd?

[philou21]

I don't remember though but a couple of players were called by MTL ( Subban is the one that come to my mind ) so it probably didn't help them.

[philou21]

Tampa keeping up the pace holy molly!!!

[Danny]

3-0...not again

[philou21]

Bye bye the Caps. Let start a bet....When Boudreau will be fired? I bet on tomorrow. Guy Boucher is oustanding, he wins everywhere he goes.

[racicot]

After such an intense set of Conference Quarter-Finals, these Conference Semi-Finals seem pretty anti-climactic. Looks like all series could be done in 5 games or less.

If Vancouver goes long, I wonder what effect that will have on the well rested teams down the stretch.

[bruins72]

3-0...not again

Yeah but it's going to turn out differently this year. Tim Thomas is on FIRE and the team is rallying around that. And they finally scored on the PP!

[racicot]

3-0...not again

Yeah but it's going to turn out differently this year. Tim Thomas is on FIRE and the team is rallying around that. And they finally scored on the PP!

Not gonna lie, I was hoping they would sweep the Flyers without a PP goal. It would likely have been the first time that a team has made it to the third round without a PPG. The fact that it was a meaningless 5 on 3 goal made it even more painful for me.

[bruins72]

That would have been something. Imagine going 2 rounds without a PPG?

[philou21]

That would have been funny!

[racicot]

Looking good Bruins fans.

They exorcised many demons last night. They got revenge for last year's 3-0 comeback, Lucic put pucks in the net and they scored a legit, meaningful powerplay goal. Good luck in the ECF.

Philly looked absolutely dreadful in this series. I don't understand it. They allowed SO many odd man rushes and were completely stifled in the neutral zone. I just can't believe how bad they were.

[philou21]

The Flyers fan at my job is desperate.

Maybe bad news for the Bruins though, it seems Bergeron got another concussion last night.

[bruins72]

Looking good Bruins fans.

They exorcised many demons last night. They got revenge for last year's 3-0 comeback, Lucic put pucks in the net and they scored a legit, meaningful powerplay goal. Good luck in the ECF.

Philly looked absolutely dreadful in this series. I don't understand it. They allowed SO many odd man rushes and were completely stifled in the neutral zone. I just can't believe how bad they were.

It was huge to get that monkey off their back. You wouldn't believe how many questions/comments they were getting about last year's collapse. Now they're going back to the Eastern Conference Finals for the first time in almost 20 years.

I'm really worried about the loss of Bergeron though. He's been a key player on this team throughout the regular season and the playoffs. His loss could be major. I'm also hoping this concussion doesn't have a lasting effect on him. He's already suffered enough from these.

[philou21]

I hope to have an update soon. I hope as well that it will not be a bad concussion but from the replay his head hit the ice really hard so...

[racicot]

Too much depth on that team. They will still come out strong despite the injury. How many team's would have a guy as good as Seguin as an injury replacement only?

He will likely help the PP too. I'm excited to see what this kid can do in Game 1 (whenever it finally happens).

PS. I still hate you guys.

[bruins72]

The Western Conference needs to sort itself out so we'll know when our next round starts! The anticipation is too much!

I guess a long wait in between rounds could be a good thing when it comes to Bergeron. If he concussion really is minor (as they're saying in the press here), that would allow him more time to come back. McQuaid is skating again and he expects to play in the next round. A little rest for the guys would be nice but not too much rest.

[philou21]

At least I got a prediction right in this weird playoffs round. Vancouver in 6.