The official 2007-08 NHL Season discussion thread.

Post by **B. Stinson** » Thu Apr 17, 2008 5:19 pm

My theory about that is that skilled players don't really know how things work. I mean, they are naturally skilled to do things right, so it's mostly natural to them.

I've always thought the same thing.

Best example would be language. I've heard so many of my English teachers say how we should all pass the class with flying colours, because we naturally speak English.

However, the reality is that we don't actually know the English language, we simply know how it's supposed to sound because we've been hearing it all our lives.

Same with the best athletes, as I think you're getting at. They basically start these sports the day they're born, and as a result, they know what to do... but not why they're doing it.

Anyway... enough of my off-topicness.

Post by **CatchUp** » Fri Apr 18, 2008 8:26 am

Wow - what a meltdown by the Habs tonight.

I didn't get to watch or listen to any of the game because I had class - but darn, what a mess. The one play by Price, dropping the puck right in front of the net (was that on Metropolit's goal??) was just boneheaded.

Hopefully, Price and the rest of the boys can shake this one off and come out hard in game 6.

bigargon · Post by **bigargon** » Fri Apr 18, 2008 10:18 am

got love it up!
three game to one against cr*pitals (thanks Milbury for that one)

Post by **Danny** » Fri Apr 18, 2008 10:26 am

Funny fact, Modry has been on the ice for all Caps goals. Smith for all but one, I think. I can't stand Philly but the Caps hype was getting quite annoying. Ovi has been rather quiet, no ?

Lots of similarities to 2004 in the Bruins vs Habs series, Jesus Priceless even did a Raycroft. Gotta love that, batdaddy jinxed him

Now he's gonna shut the Bs out again

bruins72 · Post by **bruins72** » Fri Apr 18, 2008 1:29 pm

Of course, I missed the game again last night. Hopefully I'll get to watch the Bruins even things up on Saturday! I'm glad the boys were able to get a win last night though. I wonder if Julien regrets scratching Kessel all of this time. His first game, he scores!

Post by **batdad** » Fri Apr 18, 2008 5:41 pm

Ovi is doing at least as much as Crosby did in his first go at the playoffs. So...noone should be starting to ram on Ovi.

Joe Thornton..yes. Ovi...not at this time.

Post by **Shadd666** » Fri Apr 18, 2008 10:17 pm

Thornton get the winning goal in game 4 against the Flames with under 10 seconds on the clock

Okay, his only goal of the series so far, and he's been pretty transparent the rest of the time so far.

I'm still widdled off with Huselius and Tanguay... Nothing new here. But well, they combine for 2 assists in 5 games

Even Thornton has better stats! In fact, even Stephan Yelle has better stats (2 goals so far), and for way cheaper... If i remember well, Huselius' contract ends this year, right? I hope Sutter will accidentally forget to re-sign him, it would be a huge benefit to the team to see him go...

Post by **batdad** » Fri Apr 18, 2008 10:21 pm

Huselius--Wuss
Tanguay--Wuss
Yelle-- Clutch Peformer.

So that says it all. Always has, always will.

Post by **B. Stinson** » Fri Apr 18, 2008 10:26 pm

Ovechkin may not be scoring, but he certainly has his diving skills down to a tee.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=Rh6t7McxDQc

Post by **batdad** » Fri Apr 18, 2008 10:31 pm

Without looking..is that the leg out one? With the pretty spin move flourish?

Part trip part dive..both should have gone.

Post by **B. Stinson** » Fri Apr 18, 2008 10:37 pm

Part trip part dive..both should have gone.

No.

The above video is the all-out-dive one. No trip involved. Except Ovechkin's trip to the "no-class club".

Post by **CatchUp** » Fri Apr 18, 2008 11:05 pm

B. Stinson wrote:Ovechkin may not be scoring, but he certainly has his diving skills down to a tee.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=Rh6t7McxDQc

I dunno...Umberger's leg definitely makes contact with AO's. But there is also definite embellishment there. I'm with batdad - both should have been penalized.

Post by **Danny** » Fri Apr 18, 2008 11:15 pm

batdad wrote:Ovi is doing at least as much as Crosby did in his first go at the playoffs. So...noone should be starting to ram on Ovi.

Joe Thornton..yes. Ovi...not at this time.

I don't know. I've just been asking since I don't really follow that series.

Post by **B. Stinson** » Sat Apr 19, 2008 12:49 am

CatchUp wrote:
B. Stinson wrote:Ovechkin may not be scoring, but he certainly has his diving skills down to a tee.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=Rh6t7McxDQc
I dunno...Umberger's leg definitely makes contact with AO's. But there is also definite embellishment there. I'm with batdad - both should have been penalized.

In that video there does appear to be clear contact. However, Comcast(our home broadcast channel) showed numerous replays(out of shear disbelief) from a different angle during the game, showing the feet very clearly. The contact was merely between the outside heel of Umberger's left skate, and the outside heel of Ovechkin's skate. Honestly, no player in the NHL would have fallen from it... especially in triple-axel fashion, an hour after the contact was made.

But either way, the dive, and the resulting call for that matter, was an embarrassment... and it really killed my image of him.

EDIT: Four more posts to 1,000!!!

Post by **getzlaf15** » Sat Apr 19, 2008 12:52 am

I hate diving. Fair enough their may have been a little contact but that eccentric dive is ridiculous. A player of his quality shouldn't need to dive. It's becoming a bigger part of every sport, Soccer (e.g. Cristiano Ronaldo), and it's getting out of hand. I don't even think Umberger should be penalised there.

P.s. I hate commentators, there so biased towards the best players!

Post by **Shadd666** » Sat Apr 19, 2008 1:05 am

Soccer is highly popular all over Europe... Diving is highly popular in soccer... That should explain it. It sucks nonetheless

Talking of euro hockey players making soccer gimmicks, Huet made a spectacular soccer goalie dive to block a shot in the last game, after throwing his stick to get both hands free to block the puck

(don't remember when it was exactly, but it's in the last game's highlights on nhl.com)

Post by **batdad** » Sat Apr 19, 2008 1:17 am

Lets not get out of hand here. One dive does not make Ovi Greg Lougainis. He tried it once (maybe others I have not seen) but I am giving him the benefit of the doubt on this one.

He is a balls out hockey player, and way more of a Canadian style player than any Russian I have ever seen, save possibly Konstantinov and Mogilny in the early part of his career. (AlMo really did give it all he had for quite some time)

I just hope this is one time, and he does not become Jarku Ruutu

Post by **CatchUp** » Sat Apr 19, 2008 1:39 am

Goodbye Devils. Looks like the Rags will be the second team through to the next round. They are up 4-1 in the 2nd right now.

Post by **batdad** » Sat Apr 19, 2008 2:12 am

I think I said it before and I will say it again. The Rangers are gonna be very tough. In fact I would not be shocked to see them come out of the East.

Hopefully that puts the jinx in place.

Post by **Danny** » Sat Apr 19, 2008 2:23 am

batdad wrote: Hopefully that puts the jinx in place.

DO NOT talk about the Bruins.

Post by **B. Stinson** » Sat Apr 19, 2008 2:25 am

Hopefully that puts the jinx in place.

Nah... they don't need it. They jinxed themselves by being the NY Rangers.

Kind of like how the playoffs are an auto-jinx for Philly...

Post by **CatchUp** » Sun Apr 20, 2008 2:34 am

The freaking habs are giving me panic attacks.

Post by **Danny** » Sun Apr 20, 2008 3:01 am

holy mackinaw

That 3rd period was sick. Cost me like 20 years of my life probably.

bruins72 · Post by **bruins72** » Sun Apr 20, 2008 3:42 am

The Bruins won!

What a game! That was so exciting. I know what you mean about costing you years! I felt my heart in my throat when Higgins scored to tie it up right after Kessel's second goal. Did you watch the NESN telecast or a Canadian one? I know on NESN they kept showing the team's luxury box after the Bruins goals and Neely was up there going nuts.

I'm proud of our boys. Nobody expected them to do this much. No matter what happens Monday, I'll be proud of them.

Post by **Danny** » Sun Apr 20, 2008 3:52 am

I'm in Europe so I've got to deal with whatever feed our channel gets. For the regular season games it was sometimes NESN whenever they showed Bruins but for the playoffs they never use regional broadcasts. CBC has done a good job covering this series though. They showed some reactions from the box after the goals and after the game as well. Cam was going mad, nobody wanted to highfive him after the last goal...can't blame them...poor Chia

Can't go to bed, still too excited. I've seen maybe about 1000 NHL games in my life and that one easily makes the top 20. Gotta love the kids. Just hope Phil is ok, on CBC they were saying he was walking off in some pain after the game and they showed the last clear of the game where he kinda collided with Markov.