The NHL Discussion Thread

[QueerRudie]

Now Boarding: All Rangers for flight 423 to NEW YORK... Please remember to PACK YOUR GOLF CLUBS.

[imawesome1124]

Now Boarding: All Rangers for flight 423 to NEW YORK... Please remember to PACK YOUR GOLF CLUBS.

Post of the day!

 

That was an awesome win, but it's a bittersweet moment. I am over-elated that the Caps won the series, but I am bummed that Neuvy didn't get the shutout.

 

In the regular season I thought Neuvy was the weakest of our 3 goalies, but in the playoffs he is leading the league in GAA. Neuvy is really proving himself in the playoffs.

[tdub96]

^As Varlomov appeared to be doing a few years back...another Caps promising goalie down the drain. Well, not completely but still, he isnt the player he was that playoff year. Don't get too excited Caps fans, it was only the 8-seed.

 

Sweet goal by Ovechkin though, he just blew the doors of the D.

[imawesome1124]

^As Varlomov appeared to be doing a few years back...another Caps promising goalie down the drain. Well, not completely but still, he isnt the player he was that playoff year. Don't get too excited Caps fans, it was only the 8-seed.

 

Sweet goal by Ovechkin though, he just blew the doors of the D.

Varly is still good, not as good as he was a couple of years ago in the playoffs. Our best this year was obviously Holtby though. 10-2-2, 1.79 GAA. If only he wasn't just a call-up from Hershey, I think he earned himself a contract the way he played in March.

[Jew]

Wait, the refs allowed the Caps to win a series? How'd that happen?

[imawesome1124]

Wait, the refs allowed the Caps to win a series? How'd that happen?

The officiating sucked, the whole series. But we played through it.

[QueerRudie]

Wait, the refs allowed the Caps to win a series? How'd that happen?

 

Uncle Ted gave them all AOL for life.

 

(Seriously, the saying "I'm Blind, I'm Deaf. I wanna be a Ref" FULLY applied to this series.)

[Yamez]

I attended that game, while the officiating wasn't great the game was called reasonably fair. Not too much bias on either team, not to mention that building was LOUD. My ears are still recovering today!

[QueerRudie]

I noticed that.... WE- ARE-LOUD-ER... WE-ARE-LOUD-ER.

 

I think I could hear it here.. OF course, I was just as loud, too-

[Philrad71]

Ughhh...another blown lead for the Sabres, but this time, it led to a loss in OT.

 

Not looking forward to going back to Philly for Game 7, but the Sabres have played well on the road all year...let's pull out one more win guys!

[BaMiTsPaT]

Is anyone out there? The Sabres look dead out there! Ryan Miller is 15/16 in the first period. Buffalo really needs to step up its level of play in the 2nd if they plan on even evening the score.

[beatle11]

The Flyers are in, and the Habs have forced another game 7. Canucks up 1-0 with 5 minutes to play in the first.

[Top Thrill Dragster]

That Blackhawk Canucks game 7 was one hell of a game. Disappointing that the Canucks won given how much the Blackhawks battled back in the series.

[imawesome1124]

That Blackhawk Canucks game 7 was one hell of a game. Disappointing that the Canucks won given how much the Blackhawks battled back in the series.

I completely agree with that. I was more bummed out that Vancouver won than I am that Philly won. I like Chicago, quite a bit, and I really wanted them to complete that comeback. Everyone I talked to in school today that watches hockey agreed with me.

[beatle11]

It's a wonderful day for an exorcism!

 

 

 

I'll do my second round predictions now for the West.

 

Canucks vs Predators - I'll admit I definitely underestimated the Predators. They won't be an easy opponent for Vancouver. But I find it hard to imagine the Canucks will lose this series after they just exorcised the Blackhawks in such dramatic fashion. Canucks in 6.

 

Wings vs Sharks - The Sharks definitely have improved much over the last couple years in the playoffs, but the Wings have rested up over the last week and are just too good right now. Wings in 6.

Edited April 28, 2011 by beatle11

[djbrcace1234]

 

I'll admit I definitely underestimated the Predators.

 

 

I kind of figured Nashville would have won, but I was expecting them to win in game 7. With the Ducks issue with goaltendeing, and the fact Nashville statistically have been better the past few seasons against the Ducks, I just didn't think they would have gotten far.

[Philrad71]

Is anyone out there? The Sabres look dead out there! Ryan Miller is 15/16 in the first period. Buffalo really needs to step up its level of play in the 2nd if they plan on even evening the score.

 

What a disappointing end to the season, but I had that bad feeling when we blew it in Game Six and knew that Game Seven was going to be tough. Never expected the Sabres to come out and suck a fattie like that though. We were totally out-classed by Philly and my hats off to them for showing up when it mattered most - tough hockey team there.

 

Despite the fail, I think most Sabres fans are still excited even though we lost. We now have an owner that is passionate about winning the Stanley Cup. Give us a couple more decent defenseman and a gritty forward that can forecheck AND score and we will be right in the mix for a Cup run next year!

[BeemerBoy]

[FeelTheFORCE]

Boston will have a chance for revenge...should be interesting.

[beatle11]

Boston is so freaking lucky. 3 OT wins. And with Tampa completing their comeback. We now have our eastern conference semi's series'

 

Capitals vs Lightning - Props to Tampa for taking out Pittsburgh but Washington is much more healthy and are playing great hockey. If Roloson stands on his head, we could see an upset, but I say Caps in 5.

 

Flyers vs Bruins - The Bruins will have to be better vs the Flyers than they were vs the Habs. The goal-tending edge definitely goes to Boston but the Flyers seem to be back to their game. Should be a good series. Flyers in 7.

[Top Thrill Dragster]

Redwings out of the west and Flyers out of the east.

[imawesome1124]

Prediction time:

Capitals vs Lightning: Tampa was probably the toughest opponent we could possibly face in the second round. They have great offense as we saw in game 5, and Roly was outstanding. However, if Neuvy performs like he did in round 1, we can win this. I say

Capitals in 7.

 

Flyers vs Bruins: The Flyers do not have a goalie they can rely on, the Bruins have Thomas, who is an amazing goalie. The Flyers have a tremendous offense, the Bruins have a mediocre offense. This will be a good match-up, but I say Flyers in 7.

 

Canucks vs Predators: After avoiding what would have been the comeback of the decade, the Canucks must be feeling pretty good. The Preds were the surprise of the playoffs so far for knocking off the Ducks, but I don't really think they have what it takes to beat Vancouver. Canucks in 6.

 

Sharks vs Red Wings: This will be another good match-up, but like the Flyers, the Sharks don't have a goalie they can rely on. And that will ultimately be thier downfall in this round. Red Wings in 6.

[BeemerBoy]

Boston is so freaking lucky. 3 OT wins.

We were down 0-2 after the first two games at home, and won in 7 games....all while never scoring a single power play goal in the entire series, but we're just "lucky?" Interesting reasoning there.

 

I like to look at it as Montreal being as bad at closing out a series as we were against Philly last year.

 

EDIT: Okay, nothing was as bad as our collapse last year, but still...

[FeelTheFORCE]

Sharks vs Red Wings: This will be another good match-up, but like the Flyers, the Sharks don't have a goalie they can rely on. And that will ultimately be thier downfall in this round. Red Wings in 6.

 

I wouldn't underestimate Niemi. He has the experience and can hold his own.

[imawesome1124]

Sharks vs Red Wings: This will be another good match-up, but like the Flyers, the Sharks don't have a goalie they can rely on. And that will ultimately be thier downfall in this round. Red Wings in 6.

 

I wouldn't underestimate Niemi. He has the experience and can hold his own.

Remember, he got pulled twice in the series. The way I see it, the only reason the Sharks won that series is because of th Sharks offense. And I never said I didn't underestimate him, I just said, based on the last round, Niemi had several breakdowns. If Niemi is as inconsistent this series as the one against the Kings, I don't think the Sharks will be able to pull it off.