2010 NHL Thread

[One]

Guess the NHL is (belatedly) starting to take this crap seriously. Colby Armstrong gets a well-deserved 2 games off. I suspect Tanner Glass may also have a call scheduled with Colin Campbell soon.

[jgalt]

The glass thing definately deserves a suspension- it is exactly what was outlined as illegal in the little video the NHL put out.

But i actually dont agree with the armstrong suspension. I think a double minor on the play and then no penalty for the caps rebuttal should have been enough, but of course the refs screwed it up. The elbow wasnt intentional and it wasnt blind side so i dont really think it deserves a suspension. Seems like Armstrong is just targeted because of his past

[One]

I guess the Armstrong suspension was based partly on reputation. Then again, he shouldn't do stuff like that every other game, and maybe people wouldn't think he was doing it on purpose. I guess I don't mind the league making a point here that unnecessary head hits have to go.

Interesting note: Hawks and Devils last night played the first penalty-free game in the NHL in about 9 years.

[jgalt]

Apr 3, 2010 11:24:37 GMT -5 One said:

Interesting note: Hawks and Devils last night played the first penalty-free game in the NHL in about 9 years.

Wow. Thats pretty crazy. The Hawks usually draw alot of penalties.


Looks less and less like ATL will make the Playoffs with the loss today. The rangers are only 2 points back but have a game in hand.

For the Caps, i am hoping to see Philly in round one. I would rather face a team with forwards as a strength then Goalies (like BOS, MON and NYR) who can get hot and steal a series. Plus the caps have seemed to have a hard time against hot goalies this year and just get flustered.

[One]

In the East, I'd hate to face Lundvquist in the playoffs. That said, I'd also hate to play Philly if they happened to get a week's worth of above-average goaltending. They're so talented everywhere else, at least for the East (they had the Penguins on the ropes in last year's playoffs until Carcillo's stupid fight against I can't remember who turned the series on its head), they'd be a tough out for anyone if they could get some goaltending. Of course, they're also a team of headcases and they're the Flyers, so they won't get good goaltending.

If I'm a Caps fan (which I'm not), I want Boston in the first round because there is no way the Bruins can keep up the scoring pace of the Caps over the course of 4 or 5 games.

Will be an interesting final week in the East to see who gets in. West is just about set on teams, now its just about the seedings.

[The Stig]

As a Caps fan, I'd love to face Atlanta in the first round, since the Caps have owned them (and the rest of the SE division) in recent years. But it looks like the Thrashers' chances are slim at best.

Of the teams with a real chance, I'd rather face Philly. The biggest threat to a high seed in the NHL playoffs is a hot goalie, and Philly is the least likely to get a hot goalie. A recent article I read summed it up best: "How do you spell desperation? Try S-E-B-A-S-T-I-E-N C-A-R-O-N." Philly has talent up front, but you're not going to beat the Caps in a straight up battle of talent.

As far as the Rangers are concerned, I had enough of Lundqvist in last year's playoffs, and Tortarella's teams are always tough to play against, especially in a 7 game series. The Bruins are less scary, but although Rask isn't as good as his numbers indicate, he's still not somebody I want to face in a playoff series. The Bruins can't put the puck in the net, but they've also been very good lately at keeping the puck out of their own net.

[jgalt]

One, i agree that the Bruins wouldnt be able to keep up the scoring against the caps. But they know that so they would play tight and rely on defense. The Flyers seem to play like they have a decent goalie behind them so they play a little looser. While i think it is stupid for RJ Umberger to criticize a team that just beat him, he was right that the Caps get frustrated playing in their defensive zone all the time. That was the game plan last night against the bruins and when they got it to work they scored (see the goal in the first period, and that was only after about a minute in the d zone).

I think the Caps can beat any of the teams in the east, but i think they match up against the current Philly team the best. All will be known in a few weeks, which makes April so great.

I am pretty interested in what will happen between NJ and PIT. The pens really need to finish second because i think they are pretty vulnerable to a team like Ottawa. I dont know that the exact record is but the Pens have not fared well against the top teams in the East this year so they need to play a team like NY or BOS in the first round to give them a good chance to make it through.

[Boz]

I don't think the Caps and Bruins are going to wind up with each other.

A lot can still happen, and the Rangers have a game in hand on everyone, but if the Bruins can even squeak three points out of their final three games, they're much more likely for the 7 seed than the 8 seed. If they can do better than three points, they even have an outside shot on the six seed.

(Of course, if they tank those three games, they're either 8 or out.)

Bruins-Devils would be a a whole hell of a lot of 2-1 games, I think, while Bruins-Sabres would have a lot more fire to it, IMO. Obviously, first and foremost, I want the B's to clinch a spot, but if they can get to that 6, I'd really like that.


Beware the Presidents' Trophy curse, Caps fans!

[One]

You other frequent posters in this thread certainly see the East teams more than I do, so I'll trust you Caps fans who want Philly in Round 1. Truth be told, as an outside observer of the East, I can't see the Caps losing in the 1st round to any of the teams in contention for spots 6-9. I don't think things will get interesting for the Caps until Round 2. (I'm not trying to jinx the Caps or anyone else in the East. I have no dog in that fight, so just trying to call it - impartially - like I see it.)

Despite my rooting interests, I think the West is a toss-up 1 thru 8 starting in Round 1. Hopefully you east-coasters can stay up to watch the late games on Vs next week - - should be some excellent matchups out West from the outset.

[Boz]

I think the most interesting thing remaining for the Caps is whether they'll face the Pens in the second round or in the Conference finals.

Clearly, it's the matchup everyone wants to see.

I wouldn't mind my Bs throwing a little monkey into that wrench, of course, but I'll be honest, it's pretty much the matchup I want to see too.

Rightfully, it should probably be in the conference finals, but the thing for me is, I don't care who WINS it, per se, I just want to make sure I SEE it, so I'd prefer it happens in the second round as there's less chance of upsets in advance.

[The Stig]

I think the West is a toss-up 1 thru 7. The Avs don't strike me as a dangerous low seed.

The 2 seed in the West is actually pretty desirable right now. The way things stand now, it looks like the Wings are more likely to face the 1 seed instead of the 2 seed in the 2nd round. That will change though if the Wings get past Phoenix for the 5 spot.

In the East, I think there's a gap between the top 4 and the rest. The Pens are the Pens - if Malkin pulls his head out of his backside, they're still lethal. The Devils and the Sabres probably can't skate with the Caps, but they've got the 2 most dangerous goalies in the playoffs, with the possible exception of Luongo.

When you add the Caps in, I think those are the only 4 that can win the conference. However, Ottawa and Montreal have given the Caps fits this year, so it's certainly possible that one will upset the Caps and make the conference finals.

Below that it's pretty simple. The Bruins would be dangerous if they could put the puck in the net. The Flyers would be dangerous if they could keep the puck out of their own net. The Rangers are the only low seed I can see threatening the Caps.

[Boz]

Apr 6, 2010 17:42:57 GMT -5 The Stig said:

Below that it's pretty simple. The Bruins would be dangerous if they could put the puck in the net. Marc Savard hadn't been taken out of the rest of the season and playoffs by a deliberate cheap shot to the head!!

Fixed it for you.

Ah well. What're ya' gonna' do, I guess.


Speaking of the West, wouldn't it be funny though if this year, the year no one is really talking about the Sharks at all, was the year they finally decided not to choke in the playoffs?

(Not that I am rooting for that, mind you. I like watching them go down in flames....with any luck, maybe even TO the Flames.)

There are some dangerous, dangerous teams in the West, far more so than in the East, where I consider the Caps and Pens to be the only real Cup contenders (though I suppose you have to include Martin Brodeur and whoever is playing in front of him). I think the top five seeds in the West are better than any team in the East except the Caps.

[jgalt]

Apr 6, 2010 13:39:03 GMT -5 Boz said:

I don't think the Caps and Bruins are going to wind up with each other.

Senator John Thune would seem to disagree with you Boz ;D

There is a big part of me that really wants the Pens to lose in the first round so the caps dont have to face them. Yeah its really entertaining if you arent the one having the heart attack with every shot.

BUT i would love it if the last game ever played at Mellon Arena is a Caps win.

My dream after such a game: Bruce Boudreau "Mellon Arena is Officially Closed"

If he said that i would tattoo his face on my chest and name all of my kids Bruce.

A man can dream

[The Stig]

Apr 6, 2010 20:26:51 GMT -5 jgalt said:

BUT i would love it if the last game ever played at Mellon Arena is a Caps win.

My dream after such a game: Bruce Boudreau "Mellon Arena is Officially Closed"

If he said that i would tattoo his face on my chest and name all of my kids Bruce.

A man can dream

I was actually thinking during tonight's game about how totally awesome that would be.

[jgalt]

Loved Ovie's Empty net Goal tonight. yeah it is a cheap way to tie crosby, but i will just love hearing them bitch and moan about it tomorrow.

[The Stig]

So it comes down to a straight fight tomorrow afternoon between the Rangers and the Flyers for the final playoff spot.

Oddly, I don't think the Caps can face the Flyers in the first round. If the Flyers win tomorrow, I think they actually take the 7 seed because they have more wins than Montreal (who has played all their games). So its Rangers or Habs for the Caps, I think.

Between those two, I'd rather face the Habs. They've given the Caps fits this year, but they haven't played well lately. The Rangers are playing well, and they have King Henrik.

All the other seeds in the East look pretty set. As usual, things are crazier in the West.

It was interesting to see the NHL present the Presidents' Trophy on the ice to the Caps last night. I've never seen that done before. Ovie refused to touch the trophy.

After Ovie's 2 goals, the crowd at the Verizon Center was all chanting "Crosby Sucks." We were playing the Thrashers.

[jgalt]

Stamkos tied the goal scoring lead today. Ovie might sit tomorrow against the B's, but will he be able to just give up the richard and art ross?

The bruins three shorties is just nuts. I dont know if i should be congratulating the Bruins or shaking my head toward the Canes.

Also, the NCAA Championship was kind of lame. I was rooting for BC but would have liked to see a more exciting game.

[The Stig]

Boudreau said that he won't sit Ovie without Ovie's permission. From what I'm hearing it sounds like Ovie will play, with Knuble back in the lineup.

The entire Frozen Four was pretty lame. The Ford Field thing was a nice idea, but it didn't quite work. Maybe it would have been better if the games had been closer. The final was the closest 5-0 game I've ever seen, but it was still a 5-0 game. I'm from Wisconsin, so it wasn't too fun to watch. It certainly didn't measure up to last year's tournament, with two good semifinals, an all-time classic final, and a great atmosphere. Next year's atmosphere should be great - the Xcel Energy Center is the best big hockey on the planet.

[jgalt]

Apr 10, 2010 23:16:19 GMT -5 The Stig said:

Boudreau said that he won't sit Ovie without Ovie's permission. From what I'm hearing it sounds like Ovie will play, with Knuble back in the lineup.

The entire Frozen Four was pretty lame. The Ford Field thing was a nice idea, but it didn't quite work. Maybe it would have been better if the games had been closer. The final was the closest 5-0 game I've ever seen, but it was still a 5-0 game. I'm from Wisconsin, so it wasn't too fun to watch. It certainly didn't measure up to last year's tournament, with two good semifinals, an all-time classic final, and a great atmosphere. Next year's atmosphere should be great - the Xcel Energy Center is the best big hockey on the planet.

The worst thing to happen to this years tournament was last years awesomeness. And the fact that last year wasnt in traditional hockey market and this year was is just salt in the wounds. Dont really know how they could mess the ice up that much, its not like that for the Winter Classic and it was the same NHL team. Who knows.

What i do know is that Evander Kane's KO of Cooke tonight was sick. Cooke has had it coming and he finally got it.

[DanMcQ]

Loved this - Evander Kane is an honorary Bruin: