One
Century (over 100 posts)
Posts: 192
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Post by One on Dec 31, 2011 16:57:30 GMT -5
I recognize Boston is cleaning up in the east and has been awesome this season. But the Hawks-Wings game last night was about as fast paced a hockey game as I've seen all year. Two really good teams playing near their best, and they have to be two of the best teams in the NHL. Now that I said that, Hawks will probably get creamed in Philly next week in a game all the east coast folks will see.
As an aside, Lidstrom got horsed by Toews all night. If he wins another Norris this year, it's on reputation alone. I will hate it when the Wings trade for Ryan Suter or Shea Weber in February.
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Boz
Blue & Gray (over 10,000 posts)
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Post by Boz on Apr 4, 2012 10:33:56 GMT -5
Will the Caps choke?
In the short view, I don't think it makes much of a difference. If they do hang on to the 8 spot, I am pretty sure the Rangers will demolish them and their stay in the postseason will be brief.
(I will happily be wrong on that, but I just don't see it).
But in the long view, and from an intangibles standpoint, missing the playoffs will be a huge blow to a team and organization that already lacks a heart. Or at least seems to lack any kind of intestinal fortitude at gut check time. Dale Hunter has not been able to fix that.
I think some major changes will be made if the Caps miss the playoffs. If they can hang on, they'll be playing with house money. Like I said, I don't think they have any shot at the Rangers, but teams with nothing to lose and everything to gain have a history of doing well in the first round of the playoffs.
I would say the Sharks are in a similar situation, but San Jose falls short every season and never does anything about it, so I guess it doesn't matter what they do. Plus, they're not really the chokers in this situation as much as Dallas is.
Given the Sharks' playoff experience though, they'd definitely a team that could pull the 8-1 upset.
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hoyarooter
Blue & Gray (over 10,000 posts)
Posts: 10,215
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Post by hoyarooter on Apr 4, 2012 12:11:12 GMT -5
The Sharks aren't locked in to the 8 spot. They have a home and home left with the Kings, so they could easily end up in the 3 slot. My one hope for the Kings is that Jonathan Quick seems to be on a roll at the moment, and even I, a casual hockey follower at best, know what a hot goalie can do for a team.
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hoopsmccan
Golden Hoya (over 1000 posts)
Posts: 1,422
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Post by hoopsmccan on Apr 4, 2012 12:59:11 GMT -5
a Rangers/Sabres first round match-up would not be good for domestic tranquility in the mccan household...
hm
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Post by HoyaSinceBirth on Apr 5, 2012 13:58:15 GMT -5
Clearly high seeds have been the problem for the caps. Clearly they've been sand bagging on purpose so they can win it all from the 8 seed. At least that's what I'm hoping.
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whatmaroon
Silver Hoya (over 500 posts)
Posts: 819
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Post by whatmaroon on Apr 15, 2012 15:27:31 GMT -5
The Blackhawks are trying to give me a heart attack I think, sending both games to overtime in the last 15 seconds. The Penguins and Flyers, I'm not sure if they're trying to get both fanbases heart attacks or if the Pens are a fantastic offensive team with only the slightest idea of defense.
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The Stig
Diamond Hoya (over 2500 posts)
Posts: 2,844
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Post by The Stig on Apr 15, 2012 17:36:30 GMT -5
This Pens-Flyers series has been great. I'm never going to cheer for the Pens to win a game, but it would be nice to see this series last a little longer, just for the entertainment value.
You have to ask the unthinkable question now - does Johnson start in place of Fleury for Game 4?
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Ottomatic
Bulldog (over 250 posts)
Posts: 378
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Post by Ottomatic on Apr 15, 2012 17:47:09 GMT -5
STL BLUES!
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TBird41
Platinum Hoya (over 5000 posts)
"Roy! I Love All 7'2" of you Roy!"
Posts: 8,740
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Post by TBird41 on Apr 15, 2012 18:07:35 GMT -5
The opening round has been insane so far. How many OT games already? And two empty net game tying goals for the Hawks? Just crazy. Seems almost fitting that the thunderstorm woke me up just before the Hawks game winner last night.
/Hifi
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kchoya
Platinum Hoya (over 5000 posts)
Enter your message here...
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Post by kchoya on Apr 15, 2012 19:28:19 GMT -5
Not a hockey fan at all, but the Flyers really seem like they're making the Penguins their b_ _ _ _es.
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CTHoya08
Diamond Hoya (over 2500 posts)
Bring back Izzo!
Posts: 2,868
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Post by CTHoya08 on Apr 15, 2012 20:37:02 GMT -5
Who gave Brendan Shanahan's job to John Cahill?
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Boz
Blue & Gray (over 10,000 posts)
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Post by Boz on Apr 16, 2012 8:57:22 GMT -5
Not a hockey fan at all, but the Flyers really seem like they're making the Penguins their b_ _ _ _es. Actually, they've been doing that pretty much all season long. Though I did think the Pens would put up a little more of a fight in the playoffs (no pun intended).
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hoyarooter
Blue & Gray (over 10,000 posts)
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Post by hoyarooter on Apr 16, 2012 10:24:18 GMT -5
Kings - huh???
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Boz
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Post by Boz on Apr 16, 2012 11:04:10 GMT -5
OK, so I normally don't do this, but I am going to name drop a little bit here.
I've had the opportunity to get to know Dale Hunter just a little over the past few months. He lives just a few blocks from me and we both hang out at the same bar/restaurant for dinner drinks every once in a while. Not really friends, but we chat when we're both in the place. He's a really nice guy, contrary to his player persona.
He was talking last night about the Western conference and his opinion of the recent powers out there (Detroit, San Jose, Vancouver), is that they all extremely vulnerable and he doesn't expect them to do very much. His pick for Western Conference champs? St. Louis Blues.
He was not at all surprised at the Vancouver - LA series.
(We didn't ask him about the Eastern conference, for obvious reasons.)
He then proceeded to deliver a speech about how all women, even the seemingly sane ones, are @#$^$%^ drama queens.
Good times! ;D
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Deleted
Deleted Member
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Post by Deleted on Apr 16, 2012 12:56:13 GMT -5
hifi, is that you? : )
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Boz
Blue & Gray (over 10,000 posts)
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Post by Boz on Apr 16, 2012 13:18:01 GMT -5
OK, I deserved that. But still, it was fun to listen to someone of his knowledge talk about the playoffs (among other subjects). I will not reveal how many beers he had. ;D
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Deleted
Deleted Member
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Post by Deleted on Apr 16, 2012 14:09:20 GMT -5
I bet it was. Good stuff...
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whatmaroon
Silver Hoya (over 500 posts)
Posts: 819
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Post by whatmaroon on Apr 17, 2012 23:29:42 GMT -5
Torres better sit, and sit for a while, or the NHL has confirmed forevermore in my mind it's a garage league and likes being a garage league, so it will always remain a garage league.
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Deleted
Deleted Member
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Post by Deleted on Apr 18, 2012 13:58:35 GMT -5
Torres better sit, and sit for a while, or the NHL has confirmed forevermore in my mind it's a garage league and likes being a garage league, so it will always remain a garage league. It was almost a carbon copy of the James Neal hit on Couturier, and Neal only got one game. We'll see how this one plays out...
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Boz
Blue & Gray (over 10,000 posts)
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Post by Boz on Apr 18, 2012 14:12:49 GMT -5
Well, he'll be suspended for at least one game, since they moved his hearing back to the day after after Game 4.
Really, I think the only truly bad move that Shanahan has made so far is not suspending Weber. It doesn't matter that Zata wasn't hurt. Weber still should've gotten booted for a game.
(I also think that would've sent an early message and maybe prevented some of the subsequent incidents; perhaps not, but maybe).
And yes, Nick Backstrom deserves what he got too.
Injuries to the opposing players, intent to injure or not and other factors like that can be considered for length of suspensions, but the minimum one-game suspension I think is appropriate in all cases.
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