Author Topic: The Hockey/Stanley Cup Playoffs Thread (Read 26171 times)

NWR_insanolord · « **Reply #75 on:** May 04, 2009, 12:40:30 AM »

I was planning on watching the Anaheim-Detroit game this afternoon but never got around to turning it on. Damn, I can't believe I missed it, triple overtime and Detroit lost, it doesn't get much better than that.

Ian Sane · « **Reply #76 on:** May 04, 2009, 12:41:00 PM »

So the Canucks lose and on cue all the local papers are saying "playoff hopes in jeopardy" and such. What? Were we going to go 16-0? Losses were going to happen. I'm concerned that the Canucks have blown leads in two games in a row. I would say Chicago has the momentum right now but it's only one loss. All the series that have gone two games are currently even.

Khushrenada · « **Reply #77 on:** May 05, 2009, 12:47:43 AM »

Quote from: insanolord on May 04, 2009, 12:40:30 AM

I was planning on watching the Anaheim-Detroit game this afternoon but never got around to turning it on. Damn, I can't believe I missed it, triple overtime and Detroit lost, it doesn't get much better than that.

Preach it! Looking forward to the game tomorrow.

The game tonight was pretty good as well. Ovechkin and Crosby really lived up to the billing tonight. I'm surprised that the Capitals are leading 2-0 in the series. I guess it would help if someone other than Crosby could score a goal for the Pens. Of the five goals scored, he has 4. That's crazy. As for the Capitals, as great as Ovechkin is for them right now, Varlamov is the star of that team. If Theodore was still in net, they wouldn't even be in this round. I thought they were crazy to play him in game 2 but he has been unreal. If he keeps playing the way he is, the Capitals could very well make it to the Finals, something I would not have thought possible until he started playing.

As for the Canucks, they seemed to have slacked off a bit and were running around a bit crazy last game. They were a bit lost. But now that they've had time to get over, I expect them to be focused and for everybody to be ready to step it up again next game. But Chicago has accomplished something that didn't seem possible before this series. Actually appear to be a serious threat for the Canucks.

Here's hoping the Ducks can win Game 3 tomorrow. As crucial as Game 2 was, I think Game 3 is even more critical. Detroit is going to want to crush any momentum gained from that overtime win and put it behind them. I expect Hossa and Datsyuk to step it up. They're getting critized of late. With Rafalski still hurting, you need to win as many games as you can before these guys wake up or come back in the line-up. Otherwise, it will be even tougher. I'm curious to see how Detroit tries to slow down Getzlaf. If the Ducks can win game 3, it may sap the Wings just enough to keep giving the Ducks the advantage.

Ian Sane · « **Reply #78 on:** May 08, 2009, 02:11:31 PM »

I am very displeased with how the Canucks played last night. The played boring trap hockey to protect a puny one goal lead. That's fucking Minnesota Wild hockey and there's a reason that team sucks. I understand trying to just hold the lead when you've got some insurance goals. Then if the other team manages to score you've still got the lead. Holding onto a 3-0 lead makes sense. But 1-0 is nothing. One small goof can result in the other team tying the game which is exactly what happened and it happened at the very last minute so that the game had to go into overtime. When you're up by one you KEEP PLAYING so as to get that insurance goal. Yeah going on the offense has risks but they're worthwhile.

I'm mad at the coach because I KNOW it was his idea to play like that. Players love scoring goals and being on the offence. No team would decide to just start shovelling the puck in the other zone and hold back unless their coach was specifically telling them to do so. Now the series is even. If we were up 3-1 it would be a big demoralizer for Chicago. But we keep letting them get back. They've caught up to our leads in THREE of the four games. They've got to be feeling confident.

They deserve to win because they don't give up and that bothers me. They're playing with more heart and more guts. The Canucks are a better team and a smarter team but Chicago has more heart. We should have won that game last night. Chicago was helpless. But we played like pussies and we lost and we fucking deserved it.

Though on the bright side I'm did very well in my hockey pool last night because almost everyone else has tons of Canucks that got no points last night.

Ian Sane · « **Reply #79 on:** May 11, 2009, 11:58:40 PM »

FUCKING CANUCKS!!! DAMN IT!!!

What is it like to cheer for a GOOD team? What is it like to have a local team that you feel you can count on? What is it like to have clutch players that pull through when you need them to? Every year it's the same thing. We just never seem to have those types of players that just deliver when it counts. Even Luongo isn't clutch. Last time he was in the playoffs he let in the series ending goal because he thought there was an icing and stopped playing before the whistle went. Last year we missed the playoffs because his wife was having a baby and he had a mental breakdown. This year in the last game he lets in SEVEN GOALS! **** ME! Is he like the Joe Thornton of goalies? I know he's a great goalie but come on!

That game four that I absolutely hated really did **** everything up. We never play that lame ass trap hockey in that game and we're not eliminated tonight. Maybe we still would lose but not tonight. And all this series it was the same stupid ****. Stupid penalties. Stupid turnovers in their own zone. And it's the same guys doing it every time. It was just tons of brainfarts. I think the downtime after sweeping the Blues really did affect things because the Canucks were just making a bazillion stupid mistakes. Game three is the only one where they really played like we expected them to.

NWR_insanolord · « **Reply #80 on:** May 12, 2009, 12:21:18 AM »

Even though I nearly always disagree with you, Ian, I felt bad for you when the Blackhawks scored that 7th and put it out of reach. And I know how you feel, I'm a Cleveland Browns fan.

Khushrenada · « **Reply #81 on:** May 12, 2009, 12:24:31 AM »

My condolances. Sadly, my playoff picture isn't looking too rosy either. I was Pittsburgh would finish things off but now we have to go back to Washington. Boston is on the brink of elimination along with the Ducks and Canucks are now out.
If all those teams go, I think I'm done for the playoffs this year.

Ian Sane · « **Reply #82 on:** May 12, 2009, 12:49:32 PM »

On the bright side I have a real shot at winning the playoff pool now since so many of my co-workers are total homers and picked Canuck players. As the only person with a Carolina player and no Boston players I could totally clean up if the Canes beat eliminate the Bruins. I have more Caps in my pool than Pens BUT most people have Caps and very few have Pens so I stand to benefit more from Pittsburgh winning.

So right now my teams are Carolina, Pittsburgh and Detroit. Yes, I'm more or less hoping for a rematch of last year's finals.

vudu · « **Reply #83 on:** May 12, 2009, 01:30:00 PM »

Oh, quit your bitching. We haven't won the Stanley Cup since the early 60s. We've sucked for as long as I can remember. Cut us some slack.

Ian Sane · « **Reply #84 on:** May 12, 2009, 02:39:25 PM »

Quote

Oh, quit your bitching. We haven't won the Stanley Cup since the early 60s.

We haven't won since 1915!

vudu · « **Reply #85 on:** May 12, 2009, 02:55:04 PM »

Bullshit! You've only been a part of the NHL since 1970!

Ian Sane · « **Reply #86 on:** May 12, 2009, 03:05:28 PM »

The Vancouver CANUCKS have only been in the league since 1970 but the Vancouver Millionaires won the Cup in 1915. So while the Blackhawks have the longest Cup drought of active NHL teams they do not have the longest drought of active NHL cities. Of NHL cities we would have the longest drought with Ottawa being number 2.

But I have no problem with the Blackhawks winning a Cup. I hate them right NOW but generally have no beef with them. It's when fans whine that their team hasn't won a championship in ten years that piss me off (ie: New York Yankee fans). Chicago is certainly overdue.

vudu · « **Reply #87 on:** May 12, 2009, 03:08:25 PM »

Ah, see, Wikipedia didn't tell me that.

Quote from: Ian Sane on May 12, 2009, 03:05:28 PM

It's when fans whine that their team hasn't won a championship in ten years that piss me off (ie: New York Yankee fans). Chicago is certainly overdue.

Chicago Cubs. One hundred one years. Yeah, baby.

Ian Sane · « **Reply #88 on:** May 12, 2009, 06:43:36 PM »

Quote

Chicago Cubs. One hundred one years. Yeah, baby.

Yeah, so if I complain about the Toronto Blue Jays' World Series drought you are free to smack me upside the head.

vudu · « **Reply #89 on:** May 22, 2009, 10:13:07 PM »

Just got back from the bar ... GO HAWKS!!!

NWR_insanolord · « **Reply #90 on:** May 23, 2009, 05:01:08 PM »

I'm not much of a Blackhawks fan, but I absolutely hate the Red Wings, so GO HAWKS!!! indeed.

Ian Sane · « **Reply #91 on:** May 28, 2009, 12:31:35 PM »

So it's a rematch of last year's finals. I'm rooting for the Pens just because I feel for their fans. When your team makes the finals and loses it really sucks. You got your hopes up and the whole thing just feels like a wasted opportunity. Like "this was it! This was our year and we blew it!" The closer you get to success the worse failure is.

But as a Canucks fan I've never had my team come back from that and make the finals again with the same core of guys. For the Pens to come back like this and then lose AGAIN would be even worse. Making the comeback and making the finals two years in a row just gets your hopes up even more and to lose now would be even more crushing. That's Buffalo Bills stuff where you're like a dynasty of choke. I'd rather have a mediocre team that's realistically not a contender than one that's clearly one of the elite teams of the league but never gets over the hump.

I think they've got a shot though. Detroit is out two of their best players and the finals start this weekend with back-to-back games. It doesn't give time for those Detroit players to heal up and the Pens are younger and would be able to handle back-to-back games easier. And Crosby is just playing like a man possessed. You can tell he wants this and that losing last year REALLY bothered him.

And if Pittsburgh wins it truly makes Crosby the man. To lead his team to the finals at such a young age, lose, and then comeback the next year and win it? The last person to do that was Wayne Gretzky.

And who doesn't want to see Hossa lose in the finals to the team he hung out to dry.

NWR_insanolord · « **Reply #92 on:** May 28, 2009, 08:43:35 PM »

I hate that it's two teams I hate in the finals and I hate that I'm forced to root for a team from Pittsburgh.

Djunknown · « **Reply #93 on:** May 31, 2009, 11:43:57 PM »

When I was going downtown, last night, I left a little later than usual so I'd avoid the traffic at Joe Louis. Its quarter to midnight, and the traffic going downtown was still packed. People were honking their horns, then I saw the score board Detroit 3, Pittsburgh 1. I guess people were in the mood to celebrate the first victory. Never mind the fact that there's the rest of the series to play.

I have no beef against Pittsburgh, let the best team win. Though another Cup would be some welcome news in a city/tri-county area that needs a little cheer.

Ian Sane · « **Reply #94 on:** June 01, 2009, 02:08:51 PM »

Well so much for Detroit being hurt by the back-to-back games.

The Pens did better than they did in the first two games last year. And they lost the first two games to the Caps as well and won that series in seven. It ain't a series until the home team loses, right? So we'll see how game three goes.

Djunknown · « **Reply #95 on:** June 08, 2009, 12:50:31 AM »

So...how about that game 5? Yeah....

Its a shame the Penguins couldn't keep their composure at the end. No doubt they were frustrated, but man, the last thing they want is one of their players to be suspended for taking it too far...

Will this light their proverbial fire, hopefully to take it to game 7, or Detroit get another back-to-back Cup?

Khushrenada · « **Reply #96 on:** June 10, 2009, 12:08:42 AM »

Game 7. Yee-haw! Let's hope this game is closer than Game 5's blowout.

Khushrenada · « **Reply #97 on:** June 13, 2009, 12:23:14 AM »

Yessssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssss! They did it. It wasn't the shutout I was hoping for but somehow, the Pens did it. What a run. What a game. I actually do feel for Marian Hossa a bit. I don't like the snub he gave the team but you have to feel bad for a guy to end up in such a surreal situation. His choice seemed so right a week ago. And given the season the Pens had, after December, I didn't think they would challenge for a cup. Sure, it was never a guarentee that Marion would win the cup but I thought it would be another western powerhouse that would stop the Wings. Namely the Ducks. But for it to be Pittsburgh. Man, this will probably be the roughest summer of his life.

Looking back right now, I've been able to enjoy some good years in hockey. I've been able to see my favorite teams, the Pittsburgh Penguins and the Mighty Anahiem Ducks both twice make it to a Stanley Cup final and to see each win a Stanley Cup. I didn't watch hockey when I was younger so I never saw the first two Pittsburgh cups. But I did get to see the Pens go from a bottom feeder team to annual contenders. The Ducks also for that matter. It's awesome to have been a fan of these teams during some brutal years and have something to cheer about and see them accomplish some great victories. It most likely won't always be this way and there'll most likely come a time when they do go through some brutal years again. But at least now, there are some glory years to go with them.

It's nice to not have to think about maybe winning it next year.

NWR_Lindy · « **Reply #98 on:** June 13, 2009, 01:46:31 AM »

Those Lemieux/Jagr teams were amazing. I highly suggest you find some Lemieux highlights on YouTube, the only guy better than him in his prime was Gretzky. Weirdest thing about Lemieux is that he never looked like he was putting any effort out, but then he'd somehow score 4 goals. Softest hands I've ever seen, the guy was sick. His puck control and vision on the ice was godly.

Makes me want to play NHL 95 on the Genesis.

Props to the Pens, by the way. They really buckled down defensively and took out Detroit. Hopefully that'll be a big rivalry for years to come, like Colorado vs. Detroit in the 90's.

Ian Sane · « **Reply #99 on:** June 13, 2009, 01:20:02 PM »

My brother was cheering for the Wings because he doesn't like Crosby. So I enjoyed rubbing this in his face last night!

Exciting as hell game with Fleury earning Pittsburgh sports immortality with that last second save against Lidstrom. I saw the pass going across the crease, saw who is was receiving it and the big open net in front of him and thought for sure they would tie it. They'll make posters of that save.

Pittsburgh just won the Superbowl and Stanley Cup in the same year! Now the Pirates just have to win the World Series, right? Uh, yeah. Well 2/3 ain't bad.

Marian Hossa's fate suggests to me that maybe karma is real.

The rest of my family doesn't like Crosby because of this TV commercial he did earlier in the season. It showed a still shot of the Pens from last year when they lost in the finals looking really upset. Crosby then came out of the photo and said how he never wanted to be in this position or feel this way again. My family saw it as poor sportsmanship - Crosby should be happy with second place. I saw it differently. I saw a man with a goal that came so close to achieving it only to have it slip away at the last second. I've had goals like that where I almost succeeded and that sort of stuff eats at you. I'll bet Crosby had thought about that every night for the entire year with last night being a huge relief for him. To come close to your goal, lose it and then come back and achieve it as soon as you could is inspiring. That's what I took from the ad and that's why I wanted the Pens to win.

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Author Topic: The Hockey/Stanley Cup Playoffs Thread (Read 26171 times)