Official™ 2007 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs Talk

Post by **batdad** » Sat Apr 28, 2007 6:52 am

WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

COW_____AN FROM LINDEN

COWAN! COWAN!

Post by **CatchUp** » Sat Apr 28, 2007 6:53 am

COWAN! THE BRA-BARIAN! WHERE ARE THE BRAS!!! WHOO!

Post by **batdad** » Sat Apr 28, 2007 6:54 am

Wrong city for the bras...but run downtown....fast

Captain Clutch...Trevor comes through...what a great forecheck those two put on for that goal. How in god's name did it sneak in?

Big T · Post by **Big T** » Sat Apr 28, 2007 8:01 am

Linden looking like a 1994 version, instead of a 2007 version.

1-1 going home, gives the Canucks a legit chance.

Seen some Buffalo Rangers highlights. Getting real tired of Ruffs continual whining. I am starting to thing Darcy Tucker is no longer the worst whiner in the NHL.

Post by **Shadd666** » Sat Apr 28, 2007 11:28 am

Is it planned in Vancouver to build a statue for Luongo? He really keeps all the team on his shoulders since the beginning of the playoffs.

However, i don't know how deep the Nucks can go in the playoffs. 9 games in the first round (with all the OTs), 2 more OTs against the Ducks with some heavy physical hockey... Sooner or later, they'll be to tired to play hockey and Luongo won't be enough to keep them in

Important win for Buffalo. No doubt that the Rags can beat them, and i wouldn't be surprised to see this series tied at 2 after the games in NY.

Tonight it will be interesting to see the reaction of the Devils, and see if the Sens can keep the momentum of their first game of the series, especially the first third.

Detroit is under fire! A loss tonight, and i don't see how they could come back in the series with the following games in Sharks territory...

Let's drop the puck!

Kekkonen · Post by **Kekkonen** » Sat Apr 28, 2007 11:41 am

Ladies (if any) and Gentlemen (ditto),
it's now officially a series. The Canucks win in multiple overtime. (Now, where have I heard that before?)

Kekkonen · Post by **Kekkonen** » Sat Apr 28, 2007 11:41 am

Shadd666 wrote:Is it planned in Vancouver to build a statue for Luongo? He really keeps all the team on his shoulders since the beginning of the playoffs.

I think he's currently 11 wins away from getting the whole city renamed in his honor.

Post by **batdad** » Sat Apr 28, 2007 5:06 pm

Shadd...did you see the game last night? Did you notice the Canucks had more shots than Anaheim? Did you notice that for some of the game Vancouver was missing Willie Mitchell on top of Salo and Bieksa?

Did you notice the Canucks pounding the Ducks as well? Not sure what game you watched, cause although last night Luongo was amazing...it is the first time in a long time a Cancuks team can say "If _____ goalie was not in net for ______ team than we would have thumped them" meaning Giggy and Anaheim of course. Without Luongo there would not be a Canucks-Ducks series for sure, but last night the Canucks "team" won the game. The Luongo steals in this series are still to come. That bodes well for Vancouver.

Giggy came close to stealing one for the Ducks though. And Teemu: Keep on missing the empty nets.

For those of you watching the CBC feed...We have a new drinking game. Every time Hughson says "And Sopel falls down" take a drink...I did...alot of em last night.

Thundercleese · Post by **Thundercleese** » Sat Apr 28, 2007 7:02 pm

Be glad you don't watch the Flames regular season broadcasts if you're into drinking games for repetitive play-by-plays. Roger Millions is the worst in the biz and repeats the following on an almost minute-ly basis: "cleanly," "can't get the handle on it," and "FIRES!!" (his voice cracks, yes like a pubescent teen, it CRACKS when he shouts that one). You Canucks guys are lucky to have Hughson, who's among the best. Seems to me he's been a major Canucks homer ever since the playoffs started, though, which is unusual...I've always respected his ability to keep some analytical distance from the team that he covers all year on two different networks.

Anyways. I don't think Buffalo is beatable anymore. I mean, you can outhit them, outwork them, outchance them, outskate them, outshoot them, but you can't outSCORE them. All they have to do is really try for five or six minutes and whoops, game over.

If the Sens have learned anything they won't score on Brodeur until the 19:00 mark of the third. Lou said that Elias was out with a cold--this is why Don Cherry hates Europeans; not because they're soft (regardless of the fact that the 'cold' prognosis is obviously garbage) but because they don't listen to him and take ColdFX! This city (Ottawa) doesn't deserve the Sens. My brother lives in Vancouver and he can hear people shouting when the Canucks score inside his apartment in the 'burbs. I live in walking distance from at least four different bars/pubs and all I hear when the Sens score is someone swearing in English and someone swearing back in French. But that's what I hear all the time.

Post by **batdad** » Sat Apr 28, 2007 7:26 pm

Yeah, Millions is brutal. But it actually wasn't the repetitive play by play of Hughson that bothered me. I mean, what is Jim gonna say?

It's that Sopel guy. Always...falling...down. He has no ability to turn on inside edges. He falls way more than any other NHL skater and almost always he is turning on his right (oops I meant) left inside edge. It is hilarious. That being said, he is still a very good #5 d-man. Unfortunately, normally he is not a great 3 or 4. Last night, he apparently was a good enough #1 (based on ice time)

As for P x P guys ... they always sound like homers when the playoffs come, for whoever the winning team is. It is hard not too. In his defense he has really criticized the Canucks for game 1. Last nite, he was right to be good for them...Cause they were good. But when you grow up cheering for a team, then announcing for them in horrible disappointing seasons, it must be hard to tone it down for national broadcasts. He does a much better job of it than Coley does for Toronto games.

AS for Elias...yeah right it's a cold...Salo and Bieksa are out with the flu you know.

And Vancouver is crazy when the Canucks win in the playoffs. I wonder if there were any showings of bra areas on Robson when Cowan scored?

ARGGGHHHHHHH EDITED: EVERYWHERE I wrote right inside edge, and then changed it...I mean right outside edge,. Turning to the right...argh. Slow this morning

Thundercleese · Post by **Thundercleese** » Sat Apr 28, 2007 8:32 pm

You can be critical and still be a homer....I'm the biggest Flames homer ever and I know how much has gone wrong this past season

The Sharks are up 2-0 already. This series is going to be REAL ugly if you like the Wings. It's always a tough call when a team knocks your guys out--do you want them to win it all so at least your guys got beat by the best, making it easier to swallow in retrospect? Or do you want revenge?

I was in Vancouver when the Canucks went down 3-1 in the series against St. Louis--I actually won tickets to game 1 in which they were smacked down 6-0; that was UGLY. When they came back to win you would've thought the Prime Minister had declared WWII over or something. I was also there when they blew a 3-1 lead against Minny and I've never seen a city so deflated. Everyone was walking home with their heads down; I've never seen so many people bump into each other on the sidewalk.

Post by **batdad** » Sat Apr 28, 2007 9:03 pm

Maybe we have met

Thundercleese · Post by **Thundercleese** » Sat Apr 28, 2007 9:29 pm

I doubt it...unless you hung around the Cambie or the Amsterdam Cafe. Those were not the most...responsible...of my days.

Thinking back, I do have to say that Vancouver fans, whatever else one can say about them, came out to party for the TEAM. When the Canucks won and people took to the streets, it was in earnest celebration of the win (it was kinda funny, a film crew shooting Scooby-Doo 2 was shooting at the art gallery when the people exploded from the bars into the streets. The look of frustration was priceless). In Calgary, during the Red Mile, it felt like the people were out there to party just for the sake of partying. It was about seeing topless girls and getting drunk, not about the Flames. Of course it was great that nothing really got destroyed property-wise and no one was hurt--if the Flames find a way to go on a long run again the Red Mile's going to get nasty when the police try to suppress the people. The city decided to up the police presence because some stupid store owner kept her merchandise outside and lost like $500 dollars worth of pots. Drunk, irrational people don't respond well to being told what to do by authority figures who are, really, over-stepping their bounds.

The issue of playoff partying/rioting....that can be a pretty hot topic.

Post by **Shadd666** » Sun Apr 29, 2007 12:18 pm

batdad wrote:Shadd...did you see the game last night?

Unfortunately, no

Keep in mind that there's absolutely no hockey at all on french TV

So i'm limited to the nhl.com highlights

As a result, i have a hard time to judge how well/bad a team play as a team or how well/bad a player does on the ice...but have however been in the top-10 of the prediction league!

Back on topic... The Devils will have to do a lot better in Ottawa than they did at home if they want to keep the faith. Sharks let an easy win go, but will now play twice at home. And i'm curious to see how well Sabres and Ducks will perform on the road tonight...

Post by **batdad** » Sun Apr 29, 2007 6:22 pm

Langenbrunner scores in OT. Must be the playoffs. The "L' clutch performers are coming through.

Oh...and now Fitzpatrick has the flu for the Canucks. Ugg yeah the flu

Big T · Post by **Big T** » Sun Apr 29, 2007 7:36 pm

Another CBC FEED drinking:

Tip one for every time Bob Cole
a) confuses what's going on.
b) misidentifies a player.
c) indicates Team A is "just hanging on now"

Chances are you won't even make it to watch the 2nd period.

Thundercleese · Post by **Thundercleese** » Sun Apr 29, 2007 7:54 pm

The way the Rangers are playing I'm having a really hard time believing they're not up in the series. They're tough, quick, make smart plays in their own zone (as smart as possible given the ability of their opponents....) and Lundqvist has made some big, big, big saves. I really want somebody to show the Sabres that winning in the playoffs takes sixty minutes of effort, not a ten-minute long scoring explosion--because if the Sabres keep winning that way, I'll be proven wrong, and I'm NEVER wrong!

Post by **batdad** » Sun Apr 29, 2007 9:00 pm

Really? Insert Canucks logo looking down upon Flames logo here

Thundercleese · Post by **Thundercleese** » Sun Apr 29, 2007 11:16 pm

No need to be cheeky, batdad...especially given that I'm sure you'd agree with the point I was making (about hockey, not about my perpetual correctness).

Speaking of perpetual cheekiness or the need for correctness or whatever, great, GREAT win by the Rangers. Holding Buffalo to one goal should count as two wins. It's not too too often you see such an exciting, free-wheeling 2-1 game.

Post by **batdad** » Mon Apr 30, 2007 5:40 am

Nah...not being cheeky...sorry was just being silly.

And yeah that Ranger-Sabre game was awesome! Wrong team won (I will always hate the Rangers, and always have since before 1994) but one heck of a game.

Missed Canucks-Ducks unfortunately as was coaching my boy's baseball team. But I hear it was a decent game? (Again...wrong team won...)

Oh,,, Roberto: STAY IN THE NET!

Thundercleese · Post by **Thundercleese** » Mon Apr 30, 2007 7:47 am

I missed the first two periods at a very, very poor comedy show. Bad jokes are as vicious towards the world's happiness as nuclear weapons. Almost (how's THAT for cheeky). Seems to me that the 'Nucks couldn't capitalize on the heaps of PP opportunities they were given and that's what cost them the game. Towards the end they couldn't gain the zone, trying to carry it in and/or pass it off to a guy on the point who would then try to get it deep (Calgary used to do this ALL THE TIME earlier in the season and throughout on the PP...it's the worst tactic I've ever seen; it's easy to read and the puck-carrier is always right next to the guy receiving the pass so it's an easy double-cover on the receiver and good defenders can prevent the give-and-go pass or even a chip behind the goal line easily). The Ducks pressed hard in the neutral zone and the Canucks D were skating far too casually for them to crack the pressure and rifle it deep. Finally, with the goalie pulled, they had three or four quality chances but no dice. My ex-girlfriend (don't ask) was watching it with me and asked "Why didn't they play like that ten minutes ago?" Of course they did...they had the extra man all game long and couldn't get it done

Post by **Minstrel** » Mon Apr 30, 2007 1:54 pm

Thundercleese wrote:The way the Rangers are playing I'm having a really hard time believing they're not up in the series. They're tough, quick, make smart plays in their own zone (as smart as possible given the ability of their opponents....) and Lundqvist has made some big, big, big saves.

So... what happened to Buffalo not being beatable anymore

And btw on Elias; he really was out with the flu, it is going around. However it would actually keep Elias out of a game because his immune system is thrashed from catching Hepetitis A during the lockout

so any time he gets sick he gets knocked on his ass...

Interesting to see that Broduer was using a brand new catching glove for the last game after being beaten gloveside so often

He was just godlike in that game!

Vancouver is playing the way I said they'd need to... max focus on defense and hope to be able to capitalize on enough chances to get by, but it seems they are waging an uphill battle. Has anyone seen the Sedins?

Post by **batdad** » Mon Apr 30, 2007 3:42 pm

Daniel and Henrik are getting spoken about alot in the press. They need to be better for sure. And that freaking power play....has been brutal alot of the season. They have to get it going.

Thundercleese · Post by **Thundercleese** » Mon Apr 30, 2007 6:50 pm

I never said Buffalo was unbeatable...if I did I was being sarcastic but I don't think I said it even in that context. If anything I've said that Buffalo is HIGHLY beatable. They're very non-commital about winning puck battles, they don't consistently backcheck as hard as they should, basically they don't give even 80% effort every night. They assume they're going to coast to the Cup Finals on their talent alone and they may well do that, given all it takes them to win is a quick offensive uppercut and Ryan Miller. Big ups to the Rangers for giving 80+ minutes of 100000% effort yesterday (even Jammie Jagr! Look who was paying the price in front of the net to screen on the winning goal!) and holding the Sabres to one goal. Which should count as two wins. The series is now tied.

Marty was using more than just a new catching glove, he was using an entire new set of pads. Everything except his chest/elbow pads, which he's been wearing for ten years...Goalies are creatures of insanity so a psychological tweak like this can be very important. Brodeur was probably thinking to himself "I've come to rely on these old pads to make saves for me; if I get some new, inexperienced pads I'll have to do all the work for THEM and I'll play my best." Whatever was going through that wacky mind of his, it worked.

I was mind-bottled by the lack of effort and committment shown by the Sedins late in last nights game. Daniel was shying away from the best spots for puck support, apparently because he's afraid of getting hit, or he doesn't care about winning, or something. He got the puck in deep to Pyatt in the right corner and then kinda sauntered his way to the left half-boards before drifting a little bit into the slot while Pyatt engaged in trench warfare to keep the puck in. Keep in mind through all this, that it was this exact style of play (against the Ducks, no less) that inspired the more offensive mindset in Calgary. The Flames would play great defense with a top-three goaltender and then sputter offensively, losing by a goal when they couldn't capitalize on their powerplay chances. It's going to be an interesting off-season with Nonis bumping around so close to the cap (they better stop raising that thing before the system implodes). I'm sure he'd like to keep things exactly as they are, re-signing only the eminently marketable Trevor Linden (forget that the Canucks marketing machine could make Stalin popular) but if they're not scoring the fans may be clamouring for change.

Post by **batdad** » Mon Apr 30, 2007 7:16 pm

On the Buffalo thing...you did say it. It does not sound sarcastic and it is about 6 posts up the page. No biggie really. But the Sabres do lots of nothing, and for 10 minutes tend to go nuts and get the job done. Any team that can win as much as they have by playing hard, for only 10 minutes, must be one hell of a hockey team. the Sabres, are one...hell...of...a...hockey team. Maybe they learned last night to play harder longer, maybe not. But they have more talent than anyone in the league. I recall a certain 1980's team that was often criticized for

1. not winning battles.
2. not playing well in their own end
3. not working hard at all
4. not working hard for 60 minutes.
5. not having a good goalie (umm Fuhr, Moog, Ranford-they sucked)

And all that team did was rewrite the record book. Not saying Buffalo is that team..just saying with the right group of people, at the right time...it is possible.

You may not like the Sabres, but darn they are good. And sorry...but Lindy Ruff teams work hard. They just do. Or like Afinogenov(mini Pavel) and Vanek have found out in the past..they don't play.

Marty's new gear--just proves that some goalies are better than others. They can change things and it will not affect them at all. Or will make em better.

The Canucks won't really have any cap problems...Chouinard will never see the NHL in a Canucks jersey again. Sopel and Smoke will be gone. Unless Soapy resigns for a big discount. And everyone else has a contract next year, save Kesler. Who will resign for about exactly what he got last season. Any other FA's the Canucks have (including Pyatt) do not matter. Pyatt however will get a bit of a raise, unless he pulls an Anson. In which case, Vancouver just finds another guy who can kick the puck in 20 times playing with Henrik and Daniel. Maybe Hansen. Maybe Grabner. Maybe some other dude with another team who is doing nothing.With the Cap going up a bit, the Canucks end of season starting point is going to be at a better place than it was last year. With less to get done. Bulis also may not be resigned, or get the same $ depending on what he finishes the playoffs like. Trust me, Calgary is in a tougher boat than the Canucks are Cap wise.

And no, the city is not going to clamour for change...the team is winning. Winning more than any other division rival...We will go one more year, and then Nazzy is gone with his big (but at the time-well deserved Contract), then get some parts. Nazzy may even retire. Who knows? This city is in love with this team. Danny and Henrik are 1st time playoff performers (at least 1st time they have been counted on) and they will be given the opportunity to learn. God, remember waaaaayyyyy back to September...when most people had the Canucks barely in the playoffs, if in at all? This team is on an upswing. Maybe it is time to bring back Minty's joke thread...to show again the disbelief in the Canucks, who are now where FLAMES fans thought their team would be.

Don't be to concerned about Daniel and Henrik. Take a look at Anaheim's ice time chart last night. Although Selanne line played normal ice time, take a look at the PPG line. 10 minutes for Perry/Penner, Getzlaff 15 due to his PK time. I find that very telling. Alain is keeping the Anaheim scorers off with Henrik and Daniel, and when the twins are on the ice, even when they are not scoring... most of the time the puck is in the other team's end. Yes, they need to get going on the PP, but at even strength they are fine. Especially 4x4 when it happens.
The Canucks know for this to be effective they need Nazzy and Mo to step up to the plate, and get some help from the back end. It appeared to somewhat come in the last two games, and hopefully continues. Now if only Salami, Ronald and Krumpitz were not getting ice time.

Or we could have Bieksa back in the lineup. he seems to help the PP go for some reason. Not sure why...but he does.