jgalt
Diamond Hoya (over 2500 posts)
Posts: 4,380
|
Post by jgalt on Apr 27, 2009 10:47:58 GMT -5
Schoenfeld said that the fan never dumped beer on Torts, like was originally reported. He claimed that it was only the insults being thrown at the players.
Of course I think the fan should have been thrown out too (the report is he wasnt) and I am very embarrassed that fans in Washington would act like fans from philly. I think the suspension to torts was necessary and I dont think it really effected the outcome of the game.
On the other side of the coin, I think Brashear will get suspended for the confrontation with Orr pre-game and not the hit on Betts. The whole accusation that Morrison "bit" Dubinsky is pretty ridiculous. It is clear from the video that Dubie grabbed Morrison across the face and was most likely "bit" then and Im guessing it was an accident.
Life goes on. I am worried about game 7. Even though the Rags skaters look like they have given up, Henrik can always pull another huge game out of his butt.
The only minus from yesterdays game was the last two goals the Rangers scored (the first on the five on three was the worst- the Erskine penalty, like the NBC guys said was not a penalty). Varly could have opened a huge lead on Luongo in terms of GAA and SV% if he had kept it at 1 goal.
|
|
Boz
Blue & Gray (over 10,000 posts)
123 Fireballs!
Posts: 10,355
|
Post by Boz on Apr 27, 2009 11:07:49 GMT -5
You're not really tracking GAA and save percentage, are you?
The only number Luongo has right now that Varlamov should be concerned about is 4.
But I think you were kind of kidding, so no big whoop.
I am psyched for two game 7s so far. I think we'll end up with at least three. I am convinced that either San Jose or Calgary will win tonight. Maybe both of them will, but I'm sure at least one will.....just not sure which one.
I am bummed however that the two game 7s in the East are on the same night. I am working on tickets for the Caps game, but I'm almost half-hoping I don't get them, so I can watch both of these games at the same time. Guess I'll just have to record the Devils-Canes. Wish the NHL could bump one of them by a night. That would be great, but I know it's probably impossible.
And pleasepleasepleasepleaseplease let one of these Game 7s go into overtime. There is no more beautiful phrase in the world than the words "Game Seven, Overtime."
|
|
mchoya
Bulldog (over 250 posts)
Posts: 377
|
Post by mchoya on Apr 27, 2009 11:28:18 GMT -5
So who here saw Glen Sather's letter to the NHL asking for more security at VC? Honestly, the only letter I want to see from Slats is a letter of resignation. When you only have no star players giving effort consistently in the playoffs (I'm looking at you Scott Gomez, Nik Zherdev, and Chris Drury), it's time to evaluate the person who puts the players on the ice.
But, I digress. If the Giants can win a Super Bowl with a "Nobody believed in us" mentality, surely the Rangers can win at least one more game when their best penalty killer and faceoff man was knocked out with a cheap shot from a noted thug.
For the love of all things holy, stop playing Aaron Voros.
Finally, Donald Brashear deserves at a minimum a eight game suspension, effective immediately. He threw an elbow to the head with intent to injure. If Sean Avery gets suspended indefinitely (later 6 games) because he said something about Dion Phaneuf, if John Tortorella gets suspended one game for squirting water, and Andre Roy gets suspended one game for a pre-game skirmish, Brashear deserves at least eight (one for the pre-game, seven for the hit).
|
|
The Stig
Diamond Hoya (over 2500 posts)
Posts: 2,844
|
Post by The Stig on Apr 27, 2009 11:58:48 GMT -5
If the Flames and Sharks both win tonight, we'll have one of each seed matchup going to Game 7:
1-8 (Sharks-Ducks) 2-7 (Caps-NYR) 3-6 (Devils-Canes) 4-5 (Hawks-Flames)
|
|
whatmaroon
Silver Hoya (over 500 posts)
Posts: 819
|
Post by whatmaroon on Apr 27, 2009 14:43:27 GMT -5
That was a great Game 5 for the Hawks on Saturday night. The Flames helped them out by taking an absolutely moronic penalty a minute and change into the game, then a couple more later on in the first, but the Hawks were able to take advantage and really dominated 5-on-5. I've really been enjoying the play of the Eager (4th) line-they know they're not hugely skilled, and have been playing like they know their job is to bang and not get fancy. The team as a whole seems to be playing smarter defensively in the offensive zone than they did the beginning of the series.
Now, though, game 6 in Calgary. Last playoff series they won was finished off in Calgary, back in '96 on Joe Murphy's 3OT winner (Iginla's first NHL game & goal, right up from juniors), and it'd be nice not to have to come back.
|
|
hifigator
Platinum Hoya (over 5000 posts)
Posts: 6,387
|
Post by hifigator on Apr 27, 2009 14:46:49 GMT -5
Boz wrote: And pleasepleasepleasepleaseplease let one of these Game 7s go into overtime. There is no more beautiful phrase in the world than the words "Game Seven, Overtime." I totally agree. Overtime playoff hockey in general is great. Game 7 Wow, just wow.
|
|
jgalt
Diamond Hoya (over 2500 posts)
Posts: 4,380
|
Post by jgalt on Apr 27, 2009 15:08:01 GMT -5
Finally, Donald Brashear deserves at a minimum a eight game suspension, effective immediately. He threw an elbow to the head with intent to injure. If Sean Avery gets suspended indefinitely (later 6 games) because he said something about Dion Phaneuf, if John Tortorella gets suspended one game for squirting water, and Andre Roy gets suspended one game for a pre-game skirmish, Brashear deserves at least eight (one for the pre-game, seven for the hit). Of course i am biased i will admit that. And i do think Brash should be suspended. but he did not use his elbow. the shoulder is what hits Betts, then the arm follows through from momentum. One game for the stuff with Orr (that is standard) and two games for the hit. Using the Avery suspension as an analogy is poor. That suspension was for something off the ice and was way too long. I wrote on here that he should not have been suspended for that (though that doesnt mean I dont think there are other things he should be suspended for) Also Torts threw a water bottle in to the stands that hit a women in the head, that is a little different than squirting water. Either way, lets not fight about it. And anyway as I type this i find out that he is suspended for a total of 6 games. So there is not much for us to discuss. We'll see what happens tomorrow night, that is all that really matters.
|
|
jgalt
Diamond Hoya (over 2500 posts)
Posts: 4,380
|
Post by jgalt on Apr 27, 2009 15:18:43 GMT -5
You're not really tracking GAA and save percentage, are you? The only number Luongo has right now that Varlamov should be concerned about is 4. But I think you were kind of kidding, so no big whoop. Haha ;D yeah i was being a little facetious. But that was really the biggest down side for me from the game yesterday (although now is is that Brash is out for 6 games, something tells me that Chris Clark and Micheal Nylander just arent going to bring the same level of asskicking ability as Brash, but I could be wrong ) Obviously it doesnt matter how well Varly plays if the caps lose tomorrow night. And your right that the most important number is 4 wins and he only has 3. I know i am double posting but I hope i get a pass, the last post had a very different tone and may start and agrument that i will regret starting, so sorry in advance. Anyway, anyone want to weigh in on the Vezina Finalists. I know Boz's vote. I would have to agree that Thomas should get it. You could argue that Mason "won" more games for the BJs, but he is a youngster and of course vets usually get preference. It would have been interesting to see what would have happened had Luongo not gotten hurt. I also thought that Puck Daddy had a good discussion about the impact of systems on the goalies in the running: sports.yahoo.com/nhl/blog/puck_daddy/post/Vezina-finalists-Systems-of-a-downer-in-best-go?urn=nhl,159258 Thoughts?
|
|
Boz
Blue & Gray (over 10,000 posts)
123 Fireballs!
Posts: 10,355
|
Post by Boz on Apr 27, 2009 20:22:52 GMT -5
I don't buy the system argument. Yes, that helps, but you still have to make the stops, and you have to make plenty of them, game in and game out. (I'm sure Buffalo will disagree with me).
I think all three are deserving candidates. Yeah, I'd love to see Thomas win it, but I wouldn't be crushed if either of the others won.
On another note, NHL/Center Ice/Versus...somebody really spit the bit tonight. Anyone want to tell me why I can't watch the Flames-Blackhawks game in it's entirety on Center Ice, or at least when Versus switches over to Ducks-Sharks? That is just stupid, stupid, stupid. I'm going to go ahead and blame Gary Bettman without any evidence, just because it seems like one of his boneheaded moves.
EDIT: Oops, never mind. Looks like Versus is sticking with Chicago-Calgary til that's done and Center Ice has the Sharks-Ducks.
My bad (but Gary Bettman is still a bonehead).
|
|
The Stig
Diamond Hoya (over 2500 posts)
Posts: 2,844
|
Post by The Stig on Apr 27, 2009 22:33:26 GMT -5
Khabibulin is OWNING the Flames, just like he did in 2004. The shots are something like 40-15 for Calgary, but Chicago is winning 3-1.
|
|
The Stig
Diamond Hoya (over 2500 posts)
Posts: 2,844
|
Post by The Stig on Apr 27, 2009 22:57:03 GMT -5
|
|
whatmaroon
Silver Hoya (over 500 posts)
Posts: 819
|
Post by whatmaroon on Apr 28, 2009 0:12:25 GMT -5
Khabby was impressive tonight, but didn't really stand on his head like Lundquist. I thought the Hawks had more and better chances the first period-this game could've been 4-0 10 minutes in. The Flames did play better, and put a bunch of rubber on net, but didn't have that many great scoring chances.
It's over in California, too. I only caught the last couple minutes, but the Ducks really deserved to win the series from what I saw. Still never rooted for that team, though, even if I do like Selanne.
|
|
Boz
Blue & Gray (over 10,000 posts)
123 Fireballs!
Posts: 10,355
|
Post by Boz on Apr 28, 2009 8:35:17 GMT -5
Anyone else think Joe Thornton might be on his way out of San Jose?
I will never defend the awful, awful trade the Bruins made, simply because they could have gotten a lot more for him (though Marco Sturm was playing really well this year until he got hurt), but the Bruins were right about one thing on Thornton: he is not a leader and he is definitely not a clutch player.
The lack of offensive production in this series is one thing. But the lazy play and the turnovers in his own end are completely ridiculous.
Oh, and Getzlaf totally made him look like a chump.
Don't get me wrong. The guy is still an incredibly talented player. He needs to go to a team with some established leaders though, where he can play more of a support role. It's almost like an Alexei Kovalev situation (though they are different kinds of players). Kovalev gets a lot of highlights and scores a lot for the Canadiens, but Saku Koivu is undeniably the leader of that team.
|
|
SFHoya99
Blue & Gray (over 10,000 posts)
Posts: 17,899
|
Post by SFHoya99 on Apr 28, 2009 9:15:25 GMT -5
I think San Jose will probably do something stupid like turnover the whole team. I realize the current incarnation has disappointed, but they should be looking at tweaks. However, for whatever reason, hockey seems to be a sport of massive player and coach turnover when you lose or are disappointing.
|
|
hifigator
Platinum Hoya (over 5000 posts)
Posts: 6,387
|
Post by hifigator on Apr 28, 2009 11:18:09 GMT -5
It was an 8 over a 1 ... not like it was really that much of an upset or anything, right?
|
|
jgalt
Diamond Hoya (over 2500 posts)
Posts: 4,380
|
Post by jgalt on Apr 28, 2009 11:40:41 GMT -5
Oh, and Getzlaf totally made him look like a chump. Oh yeah. I really like Getzlaf not fighting Thorton the past couple games even though Thorton kept goading him, and then waited to jump Joe. It was a smart move and gave the Ducks the momentum instead of the Sharks. I think San Jose will probably do something stupid like turnover the whole team. I realize the current incarnation has disappointed, but they should be looking at tweaks. However, for whatever reason, hockey seems to be a sport of massive player and coach turnover when you lose or are disappointing. I agree. I havent watched enough to say exactly what they need, but an over haul would be stupid. The issue I guess is that they have a lot of vets. They need some youth that they can build on. It was an 8 over a 1 ... not like it was really that much of an upset or anything, right? Point taken, but any other team in the west (outside of Detroit) would have gotten run over but the sharks. The Ducks were probably the worst match up for them. The Ducks hit them right where the Sharks were week- in toughness and grit
|
|
The Stig
Diamond Hoya (over 2500 posts)
Posts: 2,844
|
Post by The Stig on Apr 28, 2009 14:46:23 GMT -5
It was an 8 over a 1 ... not like it was really that much of an upset or anything, right? It's actually not that rare in the NHL.
|
|
hifigator
Platinum Hoya (over 5000 posts)
Posts: 6,387
|
Post by hifigator on Apr 28, 2009 15:40:55 GMT -5
Stig, I didn't word that well. My point was that the earth stopped for a few hours when the G.S. Warriors pulled off the 8-1 upset just a few years ago. The NBA is different.
|
|
Boz
Blue & Gray (over 10,000 posts)
123 Fireballs!
Posts: 10,355
|
Post by Boz on Apr 28, 2009 16:03:52 GMT -5
A few reasons this wasn't a "shocker" (OK, bear with me, I know I didn't predict it; I thought the Sharks would win, just trying to point out why this is not like the Nuggets upsetting the Sonics). 1. This was no ordinary 8 seed. As many people pointed out, this was a team not far removed from being the champions and had a lot of the same players with championship experience. Plus, they had gotten very hot late in the season just to get into the playoffs. Even for people who didn't think they could get the upset, many pointed this out as to why this very well could be a close series. 2. This was no ordinary 1 seed. For all of the points the Sharks put up in the regular season, if there was one doubt any serious NHL fan or analyst had about them, it was that they have not performed well in the playoffs. Even for those of us who picked them to win, when they opened up in a hole, it was really not a huge suprise. (Believe me, when #1 seed Detroit lost in the first round, it was a MUCH bigger deal than this.) 3. The NHL has much more parity top to bottom than the NBA, season in, season out, at least in playoff teams. The difference between the #1 seed and #8 seed in the NHL is usually somewhere in the neighborhood of 12-14 wins. I think the difference in the NBA is a lot more drastic most seasons....more like 20-25 wins...or more. And in the NBA, the top seeds nearly ALWAYS win or get to the Finals. You might get a Houston Rockets once in a while, but that's much rarer. The NHL is more wide open, not hugely so, the top seeds advance more often than not, but just more open than the NBA. It's part of the reason I watch every round of the NHL playoffs and only tune into the NBA around conference finals time. (the other part of the reason is that hockey is just plain better )
|
|
SFHoya99
Blue & Gray (over 10,000 posts)
Posts: 17,899
|
Post by SFHoya99 on Apr 28, 2009 17:39:40 GMT -5
As part of #3, basketball has no equivalent of a hot goaltender.
|
|