The OFFICIAL Stanley Cup Playoffs Thread [Archive] - Page 5

Chief Rum

05-29-2007, 12:13 AM

He's not. The Sens need to play well enough that they don't need that from him.

(Although you could say the same about Giguere, and he's actually had a chance to do it.)

I'm not sure I would say that. Jiggy may not have won the Cup for the Ducks in Game Seven four years ago, but he certainly showed he's the kind of guy they can depend on to be a rock in goal when they need it. 111 overtime playoff saves in 112 overtime playoff shots says that, not to mention that Conn Smythe thingy. Unless you thought the Ducks were actually better as a team than either the Wings or the Stars in '03.

Although he hasn't been as shutdown as guys like Kiprasoff or Hasek or Brodeur at their best, I think he's one of the top goalies in the league, and particularly when it matters.

Chief Rum

05-29-2007, 12:16 AM

5-on-5 the Ducks shutdown line did an amazing job on the Senators scoring line. That was the big difference. If we could just stop taking stupid penalties I would feel even better about this series. The Sens powerplay is very impressive.

Emery is a good goalie, but I've yet to see anything that convinces me he's a backs to the wall, win the Stanley Cup in game 7 goalie. That second Ducks goal was a bit strange, he didn't play the shot at all.

I hate stupid penalties. I especially hate stupid penalties when you're already on the kill. I can't stand 5-on-3's. They almost always come down to a lack of discipline or careless play.

But we have given up tons of these opportunities this postseason. It's amazing we have come as far as we have with all the stupid penalties.

Good game for the Ducks. Puts us in a real good position for Game Two, having broken the ice of the long layoff, and also seeing the Sens for the first time (before tonight, we hadn't played them since December 2005--when we beat Hasek of all people in a shootout in Ottawa).

bhlloy

05-29-2007, 05:33 AM

He's not. The Sens need to play well enough that they don't need that from him.

(Although you could say the same about Giguere, and he's actually had a chance to do it.)

Giguere is slowly starting to make me a believer in these playoffs, although like you say he's 0 for 1 so far in his Stanley Cup finals career.

He's as technically sound as anyone in the league. FWIW, Emery probably would have made the diving save on the first Ottowa goal. Giguere has shown that a lot this season, where he loses the puck after making the initial save, and doesn't have the athleticism to get back and scramble it away. He also relies on his positioning so much that if he's a little bit off on a given night, he can have a bit of a meltdown once in a while. But other than that, he's a damn good goalie. Handles the puck well and is very good going side to side and facing up to shooters. Can he handle the finals pressure - who knows?

Still haven't seen a replay of the Emery pass to Getzlaf and I missed it on the live broadcast. Should Getzlaf have scored or was it more of a snap shot from beyond the center line kind of thing?

Maple Leafs

05-29-2007, 07:55 AM

... on the first Ottowa goal.
OK, Render.

Still haven't seen a replay of the Emery pass to Getzlaf and I missed it on the live broadcast. Should Getzlaf have scored or was it more of a snap shot from beyond the center line kind of thing?
No idea, CBC didn't get a good shot of it either. I assumed it was from center or beyond, though.

RendeR

05-29-2007, 08:04 AM

OK, Render.

No idea, CBC didn't get a good shot of it either. I assumed it was from center or beyond, though.

I am not to be used as an insult stick in this forum.

damnit ;)

Dr. Sak

05-29-2007, 08:04 AM

Getzlaf missed the net high and wide. It was so bad that after Emery's inital panic of being so far out of the net, he realized how far off the shot was and just skated slowly back to the crease.

I think Getzlaf hurried the shot, if he would've settled the puck for a second he could've made a decent attempt. If my memory serves me correctly it was between then red and blue lines in Ottawa's zone.

Chief Rum

05-30-2007, 10:27 PM

Terrific game tonight. One of the "best" 1-0 games I have ever seen. Back and forth, lots of shots and hits, not too many whistles. The Ducks deserved their win.

Ottawa is going to have to regroup big time in the next couple days to get back into this.

Draft Dodger

05-31-2007, 07:27 AM

they should add the sound effect of a cash register every time Giguere makes a save, because he's going to get paid this summer.

I think we can safely assume that neither Heatley and Spezza are going to win a Selke Award any time soon. Hey boys, you can go behind your own blueline.

Dr. Sak

05-31-2007, 07:33 AM

Did anyone else chuckle when Emerick said "There is even a nice fellow with a fake mustache on in the crowd. Oh...that is...Snoop Dogg."

I also liked the shot of the one fan wearing a Mighty Ducks jersey and on the back of it where the name is it said DUCK OFF.

Draft Dodger

05-31-2007, 08:11 AM

Did anyone else chuckle when Emerick said "There is even a nice fellow with a fake mustache on in the crowd. Oh...that is...Snoop Dogg."

I thought it was amusing that Emerick knew who he was, but Olczyk didn't.

Dr. Sak

05-31-2007, 08:16 AM

Honestly I didn't think either knew, with the long pause I think someone told Doc through the headset.

Maple Leafs

05-31-2007, 08:43 AM

Can't say enough about how impressive the Ducks look. There's a lot of talk here in Ottawa along the lines of "we've played two terrible games and still only lost by one, once everyone gets going we'll be OK". But I think this is a case of the Ducks making Ottawa play "terrible" by just beating them in every aspect of the game. And it's not like Anaheim has even played their A+ game yet -- where are Getzlaf and Selanne so far?

Ottawa's still alive as long as they take games three and four, but they're on life support right now.

Draft Dodger

05-31-2007, 08:44 AM

Honestly I didn't think either knew, with the long pause I think someone told Doc through the headset.

I agree, but thought my version was funnier

RendeR

05-31-2007, 08:47 AM

Glad to see its just some weird karmic retaliation for me this playoff season. I said Sens in 6 and now the Ducks are kicking their ass. I guess I just had it too good during the season =)

Go Figure.

GMO

05-31-2007, 06:53 PM

Anaheim is doing most things right and Ottawa seem to be in a daze.

Bryan Murray will have to think of some other strategy fast or it could be iover in 4 games.

Karim

05-31-2007, 07:45 PM

I just hope with Anaheim's Stanley Cup victory it brings in a whole new set of hockey fans in California.

And yes, the series is over...

Buccaneer

05-31-2007, 08:00 PM

I just hope with Anaheim's Stanley Cup victory it brings in a whole new set of hockey fans in California.

And yes, the series is over...

Just five more fans will apparently make a difference.

NEW YORK -- The Stanley Cup Finals lost nearly a quarter of what already was a small television audience.

Anaheim's 1-0 victory over Ottawa in Game 2 on Wednesday night got a 0.6 cable rating on Versus and was watched in 446,000 homes in the United States.

The rating was down 33 percent from last year's second game, a 5-0 victory for Carolina over Edmonton, which received a 0.9 cable rating (600,000 homes) on OLN, as the same network was known then.

Through two games, the Stanley Cup Finals averaged a 0.7 rating, down 22 percent from last year's 0.9, and households are down 20 percent, to 485,000 from 606,000 last year.

The remainder of the series will be broadcast by NBC, starting with Game 3 at Ottawa on Saturday night.

With NBC's abysmal ratings of late, they might not even get a bump.

I vote for we keep hockey north of the Ohio River.

Maple Leafs

05-31-2007, 08:29 PM

The final is not doing well ratings-wise in Canada either. Ottawa has by far the smallest fan base of any Canadian team in the league. And considering they've focused nearly all the marketing efforts on building up a fake rivalry with the biggest market (Toronto), that's lead to them being actively disliked or basically ignored by most Canadian fans.

Still, if it turns into a long series (which I still think it could), it will be hard not to get an audience in Canada given the quality of the two teams.

Draft Dodger

05-31-2007, 10:12 PM

I'm sure the 6-day layover helped as well. way to go, Bettman!!!

Pumpy Tudors

05-31-2007, 11:12 PM

The 6-day layover succeeded in making me lose interest. I didn't watch much of the conference finals, but I love the finals, even when the Devils aren't in it. After having almost a week of no hockey, though, I've found myself looking forward to the Monday night AFL games over the the Stanley Cup Finals. I'm a big AFL supporter, but man, this is just sad.

Fidatelo

06-01-2007, 08:57 AM

Yes, the week-long layover was definately an interest killer for me. This isn't like the NFL where the media coverage is so intense that the interest can be maintained in an absence of actual gameplay.

Gary Bettman will go down as one of the worst comissioners of any sport, ever.

RendeR

06-01-2007, 08:26 PM

Karim

06-02-2007, 03:19 PM

Gary Bettman will go down as one of the worst comissioners of any sport, ever.

Franchise values are on the upswing and revenue has never been higher. I suspect the owners think he's doing a really good job.

Maple Leafs

06-02-2007, 04:43 PM

Broken hand. Out for the season. :(

He should be back in September, of course.
September came early... Cousin Chris is cleared and will likely be in the lineup tonight.

RendeR

06-03-2007, 08:30 AM

Real nice elbow by Pronger, only thing bad about it was that he didn't take out Neal with it instead of a relative no name player.

Didn't look bad at all at full speed, but man, that slo-mo replay really showed him aiming that elbow well. Vicious blow to the head the Ottowa guy took and then cracked it on the ice as well.

I flipped between the game and Pirates of the Carribean all night...I've watched pirates 4x this weekend off and on and it was STILL more riveting than this pathetic finals matchup.

But I'm not bitter....

Draft Dodger

06-03-2007, 08:48 AM

some typical McGuire analysis last night:

McGuire: "One thing about Pronger and Niedermayer: at even strength they play on the right side, but switch on the penalty kill. Not many guys can do that"
Emerick: "And what makes it so hard to switch sides like that, Pierre?"
McGuire: "It just takes a lot of skill, which both those guys have"

riveting.

Maple Leafs

06-03-2007, 09:18 AM

Oilers9911

06-03-2007, 09:22 AM

Well, fans around the country will now get to learn what Toronto fans already know. If there's one thing the Senators can do better than anyone else, it's call for suspensions.

Remember to take a drink every time one of them looks at the camera and earnestly says "That's not hockey".

If Pronger's hit isn't a suspendable offence then I don't know what is. Pronger is a nasty piece of work when he is pissed off and he deserves at least 2 games for this since he is now a repeat offender.

Maple Leafs

06-03-2007, 09:32 AM

A few thoughts on the Pronger hit:

- It was a forearm, not an elbow. That may not really matter, but it's just annoying how every hit these days has to be an "elbow". Basically if any part of the arm is involved, it's an elbow now.

- I heard a few people say that McAmmond was out cold on impact. I don't think he was... I think he just happened to fall in a way that had his head hit the ice, and that's what knocked him out. I know Pronger still caused it either way, but I hate to see a guy get suspended for another guy's bad luck.

- On that note, how do you suspend Pronger for a forearm shiver on a guy coming at him, but not suspend Neil for a double forearm in the first period where he was charging and left his feet? If the answer is "because only one guy got hurt", fine, but that's a pretty tough line of reasoning when the injury is caused by an awkward fall.

- I enjoyed hearing some reporters say that we'd have to wait and see how bad the injury was before making a decision on a suspension. Yes, because I'm sure the Senators will be announcing today that McAmmond is just fine. This is the reason I've never supported the "have the guy be out as long as the guy he hurt" argument -- because there's zero chance of a fourth-liner like McAmmond playing again if it means Pronger sits out too. The Sens already faked one injury to draw suspension (Arvedsson, a few years ago), but we think we're going to get an honest injury report now?

If I had to bet I'd say he gets two games. One would be better, I'd be shocked if he doesn't get anything.

Draft Dodger

06-03-2007, 11:57 AM

I think if he hadn't already been suspended once this playoffs for an elbow, it'd be a game. Now I think he's looking at 2, maybe 3.

let his whining commence

Honolulu_Blue

06-03-2007, 01:10 PM

Pronger gets a game again.

GMO

06-03-2007, 06:11 PM

It was a vicious hit.
Pronger is lucky he's only suspended for one game.
Players who intend to injure (and you don't put out your elbow or arm like that without an intention to injure) should be given long suspensions.
Hockey would be better without them.

Chief Rum

06-03-2007, 09:58 PM

First, let me say, for the viciousness of the hit, Pronger deserves his suspension. And as a Ducks fan, as much as I enjoy his presence for what it means to my team's chances of winning, I have never warmed to Pronger, and none of the "misunderstood" articles put up by the local papers in the past year have eased my previous impression of him from St. Louis/Edmonton days (he's just a big freakin' jerk).

All that said, what is the difference between Pronger's hit and Neil's hit earlier on AndyMac? Mac bounced back up when McAmmond didn't. That's it. At least Pronger didn't leave his feet. Not that Ottawa fans will want to hear that while they're villifying Pronger.

Maple Leafs

06-04-2007, 07:56 AM

All that said, what is the difference between Pronger's hit and Neil's hit earlier on AndyMac? Mac bounced back up when McAmmond didn't. That's it. At least Pronger didn't leave his feet. Not that Ottawa fans will want to hear that while they're villifying Pronger.
The only differences were that Neil's hit was far more dangerous, and Pronger's resulted in an injuey. That's it. If the NHL tries to claim this suspension is based on anything other than seeing a guy lying on the ice, they're lying. Which will make it all the more funny when McAmmond miraculously recovers and plays tonight.

Edit: Here's the Neil hit, since most people have probably never seen it during the dozens of Pronger replays:

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Honolulu_Blue

06-04-2007, 09:06 AM

Wow. I hadn't seen Neil's hit before watching that. A terribly dirty hit. Much worse than Pronger's, save the result.

Fidatelo

06-04-2007, 09:42 AM

I've said it before, but the way the NHL deals out suspensions based on results instead of intent is one of the most frustrating things about the league.

The other thing that must be frustrating for someone like Pronger is how the difference in size exacerbates things. When a guy who is 6' sticks out an elbow the opposing player takes it in the chest or shoulder, and quite often no one even notices. When Pronger does the same thing, the opposing player gets it in the head. Does it make it right? No. But does it mean that Pronger is necessarily dirtier than most other d-men? I don't think so, I just think his transgressions, especially things like elbows, are much easier to pick out.

bhlloy

06-04-2007, 10:05 AM

Just would like to clear one thing up - the NHL absolutely does not decide suspensions on the play resulting in an injury, that is a slur against a great league and a great commissioner.

What the NHL does is decide suspensions based on the number of times the hit is shown in slow motion on SportsCenter, and how many crappy sportswriters decide that "hockey is way too violent for me to take my kids to".

Which is nice, because in most other areas the league is a complete PR nightmare (let's have the playoffs on a channel that half of America doesn't even get for free) But at least nobody can say we don't have our disciplinary system in the court of public opinion

Not saying that Pronger shouldn't have been suspended (one game is fine, more would have been a travesty)

Maple Leafs

06-04-2007, 12:31 PM

What's aggravating about the Neil hit (other than his holier-than-thou bad mouthing of Pronger after the game) is the media reaction to it. They loved that hit. They've been having a collective circle-jerk over Neil the past few days since he had a good game after the birth of his daughter, and that hit is exhibit A for the great game he played.

If McDonald doesn't get up, the media would be in full head-shaking, hushed-tones serious mode about how dangerous it was. But he was OK, so they celebrate it. Why is it so hard to say "that was an incredibly dangerous play and we're lucky the guy wasn't hurt"? Why is it either one or the other?

P.S. As far as McAmmond's devastating injury, when was the last time you saw a guy suffer a head or neck injury and be allowed to skate off the ice on his own? These days they strap a guy to a stretcher if he loses a contact, yet McAmmond gets knocked out and is allowed to leave under his own power? I don't understand the medical procedures sometimes.

Dr. Sak

06-04-2007, 12:41 PM

P.S. As far as McAmmond's devastating injury, when was the last time you saw a guy suffer a head or neck injury and be allowed to skate off the ice on his own? These days they strap a guy to a stretcher if he loses a contact, yet McAmmond gets knocked out and is allowed to leave under his own power? I don't understand the medical procedures sometimes.

Isn't that just a part of Canada's universal health care plan?

st.cronin

06-04-2007, 12:51 PM

Dr. Sak

06-04-2007, 02:38 PM

For those that watch on NBC, I believe Don Cherry will be on during the First Intermission.

Fidatelo

06-04-2007, 02:45 PM

For those that watch on NBC, I believe Don Cherry will be on during the First Intermission.

Sounds like a good reason to avoid the NBC feed.

Draft Dodger

06-04-2007, 04:20 PM

Sounds like a good reason to avoid the NBC feed.

well, at least they'll make him knock off all the tributes to fallen policemen and soldiers. right?

Maple Leafs

06-04-2007, 04:31 PM

This quote from Bob McKenzie on TSN.ca bothers me...

Ultimately, the league judges on the consequences of the hit, not the intent. While Neil's intentions may have been to injure MacDonald, the consequences do not add up to a suspension.
If this is actually the league policy, then I'm not surprised we still have guys getting nailed in the head. If the policy if "you can go for the head and even try to hurt a guy, as long as you don't actually cause an injury", then let's not act surprised when guys do end up getting hurt.

Dr. Sak

06-04-2007, 09:02 PM

What a fuckin dick move by Alfredson.

Maple Leafs

06-04-2007, 09:05 PM

Dr. Sak

06-04-2007, 09:13 PM

Nice dive by Emery on the first Ottawa goal. I really wish they would put the diver in the box and let the other guy go.

Maple Leafs

06-04-2007, 09:17 PM

What a fuckin dick move by Alfredson.
Haven't seen a replay but assuming it was just a freak thing. Ottawa is occasionally dirty but even they're not that dirty.

Dr. Sak

06-04-2007, 09:18 PM

ML it was bad. He was about 10 feet from him off to the left. Alfredson could've slapped the puck down the middle where no one was, instead he hit it to the right. Right into Niedermeyer.

Pumpy Tudors

06-04-2007, 09:36 PM

I would have torn the "C" off Alfredsson's sweater immediately for that stunt he pulled.

Anyway, as a huge Scott Niedermayer fan, I hope the Ducks win. :)

Maple Leafs

06-04-2007, 09:56 PM

Pumpy Tudors

06-04-2007, 09:59 PM

Still haven't seen a replay, so I'll reserve comment.

P.S. Did Neidermayer sprawl out on the ice, wait for a doctor to come take his pulse, get wheeled off on a stretcher without moving, then hop up as soon as he was out of camera and start talking on his cell phone?
Niedermayer went right after Alfredsson and there was some shoving and punching. No injury, no worry, just a stupid play by Alfredsson and the Ducks trying to make him pay for it.

Dr. Sak

06-04-2007, 10:02 PM

Then Alfredsson punched a Duck and the Duck went down. No penalty called.

Maple Leafs

06-04-2007, 10:04 PM

Then Alfredsson punched a Duck and the Duck went down. No penalty called.
Well, OK, that doesn't surprise me. I've been going on for years about the Sens get away with a ridiculous amount of blatant stuff. But you all just called me a paranoid Leaf fan. Who's laughing now?

Got to go, still have to duct tape my door frames incase Kerry Fraser is coming to get me.

bhlloy

06-04-2007, 10:09 PM

No worries, that wasn't even the most blatant penalty on the play that didn't get called on Alfredsson. Apparently having a C on your jersey means you can punch a guy in the face and not take a penalty as well.

Who gives a shit... Go Ducks!

Karim

06-04-2007, 11:40 PM

Giggy is in for one hell of a payday this summer.

Draft Dodger

06-05-2007, 07:18 AM

Giggy is in for one hell of a payday this summer.

and not with Anaheim, I suspect.
who needs a goalie this summer? LA, Phoenix, Florida...Detroit?

Maple Leafs

06-05-2007, 07:55 AM

who needs a goalie this summer? LA, Phoenix, Florida...Detroit?
Cough.

Dr. Sak

06-05-2007, 07:57 AM

I heard Cujo was coming back to Toronto so you are set.

Honolulu_Blue

06-05-2007, 08:03 AM

Nice dive by Neil on the first penalty. The guy is one of the worst divers in the league. He's not quite Derek Roy bad, but he'd bad.

Random Chris Neil factoid: he refuses to pay for a meal in Ottawa. If the waiter actually brings him a bill, he'll ask to see a manager and make it clear that he doesn't have to pay.

Nice on the meal thing. Really classy. Having watched Chris Neil play a bit more than usual, the guy is classless. Totally. He's not a "character" guy like Don Cherry, Brett Hull (more on these two later), and the general hockey media make him out to be. Sure, he hits and he'll fight, but he's a little bitch.

The Don Cherry/Brett Hull segment on NBC was painful and predictable. More fights. Fighting is good. Get rid of the instigator rule. Change the equipment. No visors. Shocking stuff. Hull seemed like a little kid jumping up and down and trying imitate Papa Cherry. The worst part about it is that CBC aired the first part of the segment, which meant less time for the report from the GM's meeting and less analysis by Kelly Hrudey (who, in my opinion, provides the best between period analysis in the game).

I always liked Dustin Penner.

Pumpy Tudors

06-05-2007, 08:22 AM

I'd forgotten just how good Giguere is. I didn't follow the West playoffs much this year except for Detroit-Calgary. After watching much of last night's game, though, I remember why I was having fits as a Devils fan back in 2003. He's playing brilliantly right now, just as he did then.

We talked about Emery's rebound control earlier this year. Last night made me remember that. The Sens took a couple of hard slapshots, and Giguere sucked them right in. If anyone shot at Emery that hard, the puck would bounce off of him and end up in Montreal. Seriously, why does Ray Emery even bother wearing a glove? He might as well wear a ping pong paddle.

Pumpy Tudors

06-05-2007, 08:40 AM

Dr. Sak

06-05-2007, 08:41 AM

I must be in the minority, I like Don Cherry. Anything that takes air time away from Ray Ferraro and Brett Hull is fine in my book.

Honolulu_Blue

06-05-2007, 08:50 AM

I must be in the minority, I like Don Cherry. Anything that takes air time away from Ray Ferraro and Brett Hull is fine in my book.

I like Don Cherry too. Quite a bit. I always try and watch "Coach's Corner". He and Ron MacLean are great. I never take anything Cherry says seriously and a lot of it is nonsense (and if he were American, I'd probably hate him), but I've always liked him and found him entertaining.

Ron and Don signed the Wings' jersey I was wearing when the Wings won the Cup in 1998. They were good guys, taking time to sign everything offered to them and Ron even gave some kid a pin.

My adverse reaction to the NBC segment was mainly directed towards Brett Hull and the fact that it seemed very forced and not all that natural.

Draft Dodger

06-05-2007, 09:05 AM

Cough.

:D

well, you guys are ALWAYS in the market

Maple Leafs

06-05-2007, 09:22 AM

Haven't seen a replay but assuming it was just a freak thing. Ottawa is occasionally dirty but even they're not that dirty.
Hey dumbass, how about next time you wait to see a replay before you spout off? From the replay, it was clearly intentional and about as dirty as you can get. There's no possible defence for what he did.

Homer.

Draft Dodger

06-05-2007, 09:23 AM

I like Cherry too to a point. I record the Saturday CBC games during the season just to watch Coaches Corner and Satellite Hot Stove. Hot Stove is the main draw for me, but Cherry entertains me. He gets a bit repetitive and his schtick can be tiring at times, but generally he is both entertaining and informative, which is more than I can say for about 99% of the rest of the analysts out there.

I also second the Hrudey props - he's terrific.

Fidatelo

06-05-2007, 09:33 AM

Hrudey is awesome, Grapes is brutal. I haven't heard Cherry say anything meaningful in 10 years.

bhlloy

06-05-2007, 09:53 AM

Anyone reckon that Alfredsson deserves to get suspended for a game? I can see it as intent to injure, and I can see it as a two minute unsportsmanlike conduct penalty, so I'm not really sure.

I guess he's a) Swedish and b) a "good guy" so either way it doesn't really matter.

It's a big shame it's not the regular season where we could just send Parros or Thornton after him.

Maple Leafs

06-05-2007, 10:08 AM

Random thoughts:

- I mentioned it before, but wow, Ottawa fans have completely turned on Wade Redden. The die-hards were already against him but now even the casual fans hate the guy. I was talking to a woman yesterday who barely watches hockey, and she was telling me how awful he is, and how he'd play better if he wasn't stoned all the time. (Oops, that's supposed to be one of those small-town Ottawa secrets, forget I mentioned it.)

- The Ottawa Citizen (main newspaper here) didn't have anything on the Alfredsson puck-shooting incident today. Not a story, not even a mention in the main game summary. The only clue about it was a reference to Don Cherry talking about it on NBC. Other than that, it never happened. God bless the Ottawa media.

- That said, in a shocking upset, both local papers called Emery out for his obvious dive on the Getzlaf penalty. Although only one actually used the word dive, the other just called it an "embellishment". Close enough.

- Has a team ever won a series without ever having a two goal lead? Emery turns into the 1993 version of Roy as soon as the Senators are behind.

- I've mentioned my Second Goal theory before, but we're seeing it again this series. The team that scores first is 1-3, with the one win being in the 1-0 game. The team that scores second is 3-0.

Fidatelo

06-05-2007, 10:16 AM

So Redden is a big pot-head? I'd never heard that before. I've always thought he was a pretty good player.

Pumpy Tudors

06-05-2007, 10:31 AM

I hadn't heard about Wade Redden being stoned before, but I find that kinda funny. Last night, I was talking about Penner's winning goal, and I said that "Wade Redden got smoked" just because the Ducks kinda blew right by him. Little did I know...

:D

st.cronin

06-05-2007, 10:35 AM

/sarcasm

I never would have guessed in a million years that there are hockey players who smoke pot.

/sarcasm off

Maple Leafs

06-05-2007, 10:45 AM

He needs to do something to get the night started before he moves on to...

But I've said too much.

Fidatelo

06-05-2007, 10:57 AM

No, no you haven't. Please continue. These are the stories I miss since the Jets left. I used to love having female substitute teachers in high-school because they'd tell all the sleazy stories about Keith Tkachuk at the local bars.

Draft Dodger

06-05-2007, 11:03 AM

Tkachuk is the brother-in-law of a former co-worker. Sadly, I never heard any of the stories

Fidatelo

06-05-2007, 11:18 AM

Tkachuk stories are pretty prevelant, but basically he's a douche-bag. He was engaged I believe at the time, yet he'd go to a club, leave with a girl, show back up at the club an hour or two later, and then leave later on with a different girl.

I'm also pretty sure he pulled crap like the Chris Neil story above, I remember hearing of an incident at a golf course where he refused to pay, yelling "do you know who I am? You're lucky to have me here" and stuff. I believe it was either Thomas Steen or Kris King that smoothed things over with the owner once Keith was shuffled out of earshot by another teammate.

Suburban Rhythm

06-05-2007, 12:19 PM

The Don Cherry/Brett Hull segment on NBC was painful and predictable. More fights. Fighting is good. Get rid of the instigator rule. Change the equipment. No visors. Shocking stuff. Hull seemed like a little kid jumping up and down and trying imitate Papa Cherry. The worst part about it is that CBC aired the first part of the segment, which meant less time for the report from the GM's meeting and less analysis by Kelly Hrudey (who, in my opinion, provides the best between period analysis in the game).

My wife's exact words "Who's this annoying old guy?"

I was trying to watch that through the eyes of a non-hockey fan, and hearing those two babble reminded me why the NHL can not attract new fans.
Brett Hull is living proof that because you have immense talent of a certain skill, you don't necessarily have immense talent for conveying/explaining that skill.

RendeR

06-05-2007, 12:59 PM

THank god someone else is finally seeing that f*ckwad Neil as the whiney cheapshot bitch that he is.

Simms

06-05-2007, 01:34 PM

Neil = whiny bitch
Alfredsson = asshole

Haven't Leaf fans been saying this for years? :)

Dr. Sak

06-05-2007, 01:57 PM

Wait...Maple Leafs fill me in on this one. I am listening to Hockeycentral at Noon on FAN590, so Sean Hill was allowed to play even though he tested positive for a banned substance?

Fidatelo

06-05-2007, 01:57 PM

Oh I thought of the best Tkachuk story over lunch, that is 95% likely to be completely untrue, but that I love nonetheless.

The basic gist is that Keith and Dallas Drake are hooking up with some broads, and I believe the action is supposedly taking place in the back of a cab or limo. Anyways, Keith's getting head or a handjob, but isn't pleased with the talent of his chick. At this point, so the story goes, he says "Show her how its done, Dallas"... and Dallas does.

Draft Dodger

06-05-2007, 02:01 PM

Wait...Maple Leafs fill me in on this one. I am listening to Hockeycentral at Noon on FAN590, so Sean Hill was allowed to play even though he tested positive for a banned substance?

if a washed up defenseman that no one cares about falls in the woods, does he make a sound?

Dr. Sak

06-05-2007, 02:02 PM

To Maple Leafs fans yes...didn't he score a goal to knock them out of the playoffs this year?

Maple Leafs

06-05-2007, 02:59 PM

To Maple Leafs fans yes...didn't he score a goal to knock them out of the playoffs this year?
No, but he did log 20+ minutes of ice time for the Islanders down the stretch, and they beat the Leafs out of a playoff spot by one point. He apparently played at least the last month, maybe two, after failing his drug test while the appeal process dragged on. Assuming he was good enough to help them get a single point along the way, you could say he cost the Leafs their playoff spot.

Sort of a non-story. It shows that the league's drug testing system is screwed up, but from a Leaf perspective all he really did was save up from getting swept by the Sabres. Ferguson may try to play it up as more than that, but he's scrambling right now.

Honolulu_Blue

06-06-2007, 08:59 AM

Wow. The Islanders finally bit the bullet and bought out Yashin. A good and necessary move on their part. He was never worth that kind of money and the team needed to go in a different direction.

It looks like he'll eat up $2.2 million in cap space for the next 8 years. Well done, Mr. Wang.

http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/news_story/?ID=209988&hubname=nhl

Fidatelo

06-06-2007, 09:55 AM

Honolulu_Blue

06-06-2007, 10:03 AM

OK, I'm no Yashin apologizer, but why would you pay him $18mil to go home? He had 50 points and was +6 last year. Is he worth $26mil? No. But he has to be worth the $8mil they can now afford to spend on someone else. How many $2mil per year, 70 point players are there out there? Why not just take the "C" off his chest and throw him on the second line?

As I understand it, Yashin's cap hit was about $7.4 million a year for the Islanders. By buying him out, they lose Yashin, but get about $5 million more to spend under the cap. I think they could easily sign a player with that $5 million who brings more to the table than Yashin. Easily. Either that, or go and two second tier players.

He was playing on the 4th line in the play-offs. You can't pay a 4th line guy $7.4 million. That's just crazy.

Maybe they should have just traded Yashin to the Devils. I am sure Lou Lamoriello would have been able to convince the NHL that the Devils were no longer responsible for his contract and that it should not count at all against their cap. The NHL does whatever Lou tells them when it comes to this sort of thing.

Fidatelo

06-06-2007, 10:09 AM

I guess if you look strictly at cap space the move makes sense. And I suppose the Islanders are a large enough market where they can afford to throw away almost $20mil. So I guess I see it now.

Chief Rum

06-06-2007, 08:19 PM

I'm getting this thread to the top of the board. I don't want to have tolook for it. :)

Dr. Sak

06-06-2007, 08:32 PM

The Ghost of Steve Smith returns

Maple Leafs

06-06-2007, 08:35 PM

Oh my...

Dr. Sak

06-06-2007, 08:38 PM

Phillips should open mouth kiss Alfredsson for that shorthanded goal

Dr. Sak

06-06-2007, 08:38 PM

Nevermind...

Dr. Sak

06-06-2007, 08:44 PM

Who is rooting harder for an Anaheim victory...the fans or NBC so they don't have to show another game?

Maple Leafs

06-06-2007, 09:49 PM

Funny story... a buddy of mine bought season's tickets for next year just so he could get tickets for the Finals. Then people were paying such high prices for scalped tickets that he sold his game three and four tickets. He held onto those game six tickets, though. Strong move there.

Chief Rum

06-06-2007, 09:50 PM

AND YOUR 2007 NATIONAL HOCKEY LEAGUE CHAMPIONS!!!

THE ANAHEIM DUCKS!!!

Maple Leafs

06-06-2007, 09:52 PM

Congrats, Chief.

(What's it like?)

Chief Rum

06-06-2007, 09:53 PM

Wow, I'm so happy for this team. There are just a bunch of strong character guys in this lockerroom that deserve this more than just about anyone, starting with Teemu and Jiggy. God willing, they'll both be back. But I fear they have played their last games with us.

If there's a way you want to go out, though, this is the way.

Chief Rum

06-06-2007, 09:55 PM

Congrats, Chief.

(What's it like?)

I know you do and don't really want an answer to that at the same time. Being a Leafs fan must feel a little like the Angels before 2002, except amped even more because of their status in NHL lore.

I wish everyone could feel how I feel right now.

Chief Rum

06-06-2007, 09:56 PM

Oh, and thanks. It's just me and bhlloy on this board, right? Drinks are on us (bhlloy's got first round).

SackAttack

06-06-2007, 10:01 PM

I'm happy for Rob Niedermayer, although I wish he could've gotten his sip from the Cup in '96.

Maple Leafs

06-06-2007, 10:01 PM

They just interviewed Cousin Chris on CBC... cool to see him to get some spotlight time, my wife's grandmother and family were all watching the game tonight to see him.

Draft Dodger

06-06-2007, 10:06 PM

I DONT HAVE TO LISTEN TO PIERRE MCGUIRE FOR LIKE 3 MORE MONTHS!!!

Maple Leafs

06-06-2007, 10:12 PM

I DONT HAVE TO LISTEN TO PIERRE MCGUIRE FOR LIKE 3 MORE MONTHS!!!
He apparently had a falling out with the local radio station this morning. He came on the air in the morning (as he does every day), but apparently he was still a little sleepy and forgot that this is Ottawa, and you have to sugarcoat everything and find a silver lining on every failure, so he ripped the Sens. That didn't sit well with the hosts, and the listening audience basically reacted with the sort of stunned silence that Marty McFly got at the end of Back to the Future.

So good times, basically.

Chief Rum

06-06-2007, 10:12 PM

I'm happy for Rob Niedermayer, although I wish he could've gotten his sip from the Cup in '96.

Since that would have also stopped one of Roy's Cups, yes, I agree, I would have liked to have seen that, too.

Hey, bhlloy, where are our drinks?

Chief Rum

06-06-2007, 10:13 PM

They just interviewed Cousin Chris on CBC... cool to see him to get some spotlight time, my wife's grandmother and family were all watching the game tonight to see him.

Kunitz? I know you have been asking about him. I didn't realize you were related.

I am still shocked he played in this series. Now that's a gamer. Don't tell me his hand doesn't hurt like hell right now.

Chief Rum

06-06-2007, 10:15 PM

lol..."Service Unavailable" at anaheimducks.com.

We crashed the site.

Maple Leafs

06-06-2007, 10:15 PM

Kunitz? I know you have been asking about him. I didn't realize you were related.
Yeah. Well, by marriage twice (my wife is his cousin) but it's as close as I'll ever get.

Chief Rum

06-06-2007, 10:17 PM

Yeah. Well, by marriage twice (my wife is his cousin) but it's as close as I'll ever get.

Close enough in my book. That means we're related via marriage and team. :)

Does that mean I have to start rooting for the Leafs?

Maple Leafs

06-06-2007, 10:19 PM

Does that mean I have to start rooting for the Leafs?
After we poach Brian Burke, you might.

Chief Rum

06-06-2007, 10:21 PM

After we poach Brian Burke, you might.

Hands off! We're keeping him. And stay away from Carlyle, too.

You can take Brad May.

Chief Rum

06-06-2007, 10:22 PM

Actually, naw, we'll keep May, too. We'll ship you some pucks and ice chips.

Maple Leafs

06-06-2007, 10:24 PM

We'll ship you some pucks and ice chips.
Sounds like we found a new first-line winger for Mats.

Chief Rum

06-06-2007, 10:24 PM

Yeah. Well, by marriage twice (my wife is his cousin) but it's as close as I'll ever get.

Hey, speaking of which, how close are they and/or their families? I mean, are you actually going to get to be in the company of the Cup sometime this summer?

Chief Rum

06-06-2007, 10:24 PM

Sounds like we found a new first-line winger for Mats.

The pucks or the chips?

Maple Leafs

06-06-2007, 10:25 PM

Hey, speaking of which, how close are they and/or their families? I mean, are you actually going to get to be int he company of the Cup sometime this summer?
My wife has never met him, although she knows all about him from the family. She's going out to Regina with the baby this summer and we were hoping he might have the Cup that week, but apparently he's actually from Calgary. So no dice.

Edit: About three years ago I went out to small-town Saskatchewan with the wife. Every relative I met was like "Oh, you're a hockey fan, do you know Chris Kunitz, he was drafted by the Ducks". They even have his picture hanging in the arena. And every time I was like "oh yeah, I think I've heard of him" all the while laughing at these smalltown folks and their minor league scrub of a local hero. Oops.

Maple Leafs

06-06-2007, 10:27 PM

The pucks or the chips?
He needs two wingers, doesn't he?

Chief Rum

06-06-2007, 10:29 PM

My wife has never met him, although she knows all about him from the family. She's going out to Regina with the baby this summer and we were hoping he might have the Cup that week, but apparently he's actually from Calgary. So no dice.

Edit: About three years ago I went out to small-town Saskatchewan with the wife. Every relative I met was like "Oh, you're a hockey fan, do you know Chris Kunitz, he was drafted by the Ducks". They even have his picture hanging in the arena. And every time I was like "oh yeah, I think I've heard of him" all the while laughing at these smalltown folks and their minor league scrub of a local hero. Oops.

Funny stuff. Yeah, we signed him out of the NCAA's. We have had some success with that (also got McDonald and Penner that way). He was relatively unknown, but had a good looking game.

One of our local sports guys just interviewed him. He said he would probably bring the Cup around to show "friends and family" and talked about family a lot. Sounds like you have a trip to Calgary to plan. ;)

Chief Rum

06-06-2007, 10:31 PM

He needs two wingers, doesn't he?

Touché.

SackAttack

06-06-2007, 10:34 PM

Say, Chief, how long before the Ducks get renamed to the Los Angeles Ducks of Anaheim, now that they've won a championship?

Wolfpack

06-06-2007, 10:34 PM

I wish everyone could feel how I feel right now.

I do. I experienced it last year. Great, isn't it? Watching the celebration brought all those good memories back. Well, not that they ever left or anything. I still have last year's CBC broadcast of Game Seven and the celebration on my DVR. I really need to figure out how to get it to DVD somehow.

Congrats to you and your Ducks. Have fun with the Cup! :D

nilodor

06-06-2007, 10:36 PM

I DONT HAVE TO LISTEN TO PIERRE MCGUIRE FOR LIKE 3 MORE MONTHS!!!

God bless the CBC, I tried to watch a little bit of the NBC feed and it would be fine if I unplugged my speakers.

Chief Rum

06-06-2007, 10:37 PM

Chief Rum

06-06-2007, 10:38 PM

Say, Chief, how long before the Ducks get renamed to the Los Angeles Ducks of Anaheim, now that they've won a championship?

Haha, don't be bitter now. If it makes you feel better, we scheduled a loss today to the Twins, thereby wrapping up our loss for this week.

Chief Rum

06-06-2007, 10:41 PM

I do. I experienced it last year. Great, isn't it? Watching the celebration brought all those good memories back. Well, not that they ever left or anything. I still have last year's CBC broadcast of Game Seven and the celebration on my DVR. I really need to figure out how to get it to DVD somehow.

Congrats to you and your Ducks. Have fun with the Cup! :D

Thanks! And I was rooting for the Canes, too. It was fun seeing them win it.

I'm probably going to be buying memorabilia left and right. I already put in an order at nhl.shop.com for some stuff from tonight. I'm such a gullible impulse buyer. :)

I'm sure they'll do a DVD for this (someone will),a nd I'll get that, too. I would be surprised if you couldn't get a DVD celebrating the Canes' win, too.

Fidatelo

06-06-2007, 10:41 PM

Getzlaf saying he played his balls off was the highlight of the night for me. I love live TV!

SackAttack

06-06-2007, 10:42 PM

Chief Rum

06-06-2007, 10:48 PM

Bitter, hell.

I think the Angel name change was retarded, but I'm certainly not bitter over it. I'm just wondering if Duck ownership is going to have the same "OMG we're champions we have to go for the regional name because Los Angeles sounds better than Anaheim" knee-jerk reaction that the Angels did.

It's like there's an inferiority complex when sports teams play in Orange County and I've never quite understood why that is.

Well, I don't want to detract from the Dcuks here, so I won't get into some massive discussion about that decision, but it was purely a business move. Moreno felt he could parlay the name through branding into a wider reach in the SoCal area. I'm not sure it's done much more than just the Angels being a winning team. But that's why. It has nothing to do with inferiority. That would suggest people from OC care what people from LA think, or that they care that others compare them to LA. That couldn't be further from the truth. We didn't come up with the "Orange Curtain" term for nothing. We want nothing to do with LA. We're a wholely separate area. Even though you can't tell when LA becomes Orange County in the middle of suburbia, there's really doubt that you eventually are distinctly aware you are no longer in LA once you're there.

As for Ducks ownership, the Samuelis are half of the uber-rich owners of Broadcom in Irvine, and are OC through and through. They don't want anything to do with LA.

SackAttack

06-06-2007, 10:51 PM

Well, I don't want to detract from the Dcuks here, so I won't get into some massive discussion about that decision, but it was purely a business move. Moreno felt he could parlay the name through branding into a wider reach in the SoCal area. I'm not sure it's done much more than just the Angels being a winning team. But that's why. It has nothing to do with inferiority. That would suggest people from OC care what people from LA think, or that they care that others compare them to LA. That couldn't be further from the truth. We didn't come up with the "Orange Curtain" term for nothing. We want nothing to do with LA. We're a wholely separate area. Even though you can't tell when LA becomes Orange County in the middle of suburbia, there's really doubt that you eventually are distinctly aware you are no longer in LA once you're there.

As for Ducks ownership, the Samuelis are half of the uber-rich owners of Broadcom in Irvine, and are OC through and through. They don't want anything to do with LA.

Last comment on the matter and then I'll let it drop so that, as you say, it doesn't detract from the Ducks.

I know the Rams played in Anaheim, called themselves the Los Angeles Rams. Fairly certain that when the Clippers first moved north, they also played in Orange County while calling themselves the Los Angeles Clippers.

Am I wrong?

PM me if you'd rather reply out of thread.

Pumpy Tudors

06-06-2007, 10:57 PM

Hockey fans everywhere will appreciate this exchange between a local sports guy and Pronger (even if they hate him like most do).

Fred Roggin: Did you separate your shoulder?
Chris Pronger: ::so what, shrug:: Yes. Nothing was keeping me from this game.

I liked the old "Roggin's Heroes" TV show.

Congrats, Ducks! It was great to see Scott Niedermayer win one as a captain, and watching him pass the Cup off to his brother was awesome, too.

Chief Rum

06-06-2007, 10:59 PM

Last comment on the matter and then I'll let it drop so that, as you say, it doesn't detract from the Ducks.

I know the Rams played in Anaheim, called themselves the Los Angeles Rams. Fairly certain that when the Clippers first moved north, they also played in Orange County while calling themselves the Los Angeles Clippers.

Am I wrong?

PM me if you'd rather reply out of thread.

Naw, that's okay. We're still talking about the Ducks, at least periperally.

The Rams started in LA, and were playing there for a couple decades before moving to Anaheim. It made sense to keep the name because that is what people recognized. Plus, the Raiders weren't in LA yet, so even if the Rams wanted to change it (which I don't think they did), I doubt the NFL would have let them.

As for the Clips, it predates me a bit, so I might not be sure, but I thought the Clips went straight to LA from San Diego. Before moving to the Staples Center, they always played their games at the Sports Arena, IIRC.

The Clips have flirted some with moving to the Honda Center, but have never played more than a couple exhibition games there every year.

Chief Rum

06-06-2007, 11:00 PM

I liked the old "Roggin's Heroes" TV show.

Congrats, Ducks! It was great to see Scott Niedermayer win one as a captain, and watching him pass the Cup off to his brother was awesome, too.

lol...I forgot about Roggin's Heroes. That went national?

I loved seeing Scott hand the Cup to Rob. Very emotional moment. Another great moment was when they tried to talk to Teemu, and he was just blubbering happily like a kid. It was great.

RPI-Fan

06-06-2007, 11:10 PM

So, I played hockey with a couple of NHL (or potential NHL'ers tonight).

Matt Lashoff of the Bruins org and Nick Petrecki, who is going to BC in the fall and will be a first round pick. Lashoff was nasty; I wasn't quite as a blown away by Petrecki.

bhlloy

06-06-2007, 11:18 PM

Drinks are definitely on me... freaking awesome stuff. I felt really good about the Ducks matching up with the Sens coming into the series, because the Sens offense was basically one line. I don't think people outside of the Western Conference knew how unbelievably good the Ducks line shut down line of Moen-Pahlsson-Niedermayer were. But I never would have seen the series comfortably over in five games.

Like Chief Rum, I'm totally stoked for so many guys on this team right now. Giggy deserved one in 2003, Teemu definitely deserved one and to win it back in Anaheim after his career looked pretty much over is amazing, Robbie Niedermayer gets one, Sean O'Donnell, May and all the young kids who have such good careers ahead of them.

Only got to see the last period because I couldn't get out of work until late because we have electrical contractors in, so I'm watching the first two periods on Tivo right now. I know I wasn't really comfortable until the Travis Moen goal went in... you could see the Sens deflate when that one went in.

The Ducks are also 2-0 without Chris Pronger. I'm not sure what that means, except maybe I owe Kent Huskins and Joe DiPenta an apology. I definitely owe Brian Burke one as well, because Brad May definitely helped big time in the playoffs. I thought the failure to pick up another defenseman at the deadline would kill us, but Beauchemain really stepped up and gave us three top class Dmen, which I guess is all you really need.

Second best sport related feeling ever after Cardiff City won the League One playoff final in the last 5 minutes of extra time. I don't think I've ever been a fan of a team that has won anything else, ever.

Chief Rum

06-07-2007, 12:00 AM

Going to the rally, bhlloy? Looks like it will be Saturday.

I know it always sounds so sad sack after the series is over to say this, but I honestly feel a bit bad for the Senators. I kinow this won't make any friends for me amongst our Leaf contingent, but I have always liked the Sens. They have a lot of quality guys, too. I felt really bad for Phillips. I mean, he's going to be kicking himself forever on that one (he's probably sorta glad it wasn't a one goal game at least).

General Mike

06-07-2007, 12:17 AM

Congrats to the Ducks and Duck fans.

bhlloy

06-07-2007, 12:25 AM

Going to the rally, bhlloy? Looks like it will be Saturday.

Definitely :)

Dr. Sak

06-07-2007, 05:38 AM

I DONT HAVE TO LISTEN TO PIERRE MCGUIRE FOR LIKE 3 MORE MONTHS!!!

Amen Brother!

Suburban Rhythm

06-07-2007, 06:43 AM

How is the official 2007 NHL Offseason thread not started yet?

Dr. Sak

06-07-2007, 06:54 AM

Thanks for the reminder

Pumpy Tudors

06-07-2007, 07:59 AM

This morning, I heard on the radio that an episode of "Mama's Family" on the ION Network outdrew game 4 of the Finals. That doesn't make any sense to me, unless it's either the episode on which the Harpers go on "Family Feud" or the episode in which Mama Harper does professional wrestling.

Honolulu_Blue

06-07-2007, 09:35 AM

A solid effort by the Ducks. They were clearly the better team in the Finals. Ottawa had no answer for them.

Burke's built and impressive team. With the youth and skill upfront and with Neidermayer and Pronger on the blueline, they should be very good for quite sometime.

Maple Leafs

06-07-2007, 09:45 AM

Before this thread disappears, let's look back at some of the memories we all shared...

Getting the suspense out of the way early

The correct answers are:

EAST
Sabres over Islanders in 4
Devils over Lightning in 5
Rangers over Thrashers in 6
Senators over Penguins in 5

WEST
Red Wings over Flames in 5
Ducks over Wild in 6
Canucks over Stars in 6
Sharks over Preds in 7

Stanley Cup pick: Anahiem over Ottawa.

It only took one round for everyone else to be wrong.

I'm surprised to see everyone picking the Pens over Ottawa.

Mark my words, the Sens have a "2006 Colts" vibe happening this year. They always choked when they were the favorites, but now that the pressure is off, look out...

Maple Leafs brings his A+ game

The Senators fold whenever they run into any adversity. I think they're good enough to get through the first two rounds without hitting much in the way of adversity. That sets up a showdown with Buffalo in the conference finals, which I think is the worst possible matchup for the Sabres.

I can't predict everything. For example, I missed "shooting the puck at someone after the period ends"

Ottawa has been one of the dirtier teams in hockey for six years. But they were feuding with the Leafs, who were probably the dirtiest, and the hockey media treats feuds the same way the WWF did in the mid-80s. So the Sens got their halos, and they've been wearing them ever since (removing them occasionally to sucker punch, head hunt, or groin kick, but oh well).

But really, who's keeping track?

Once again, the correct answers are:

Detroit vs San Jose - Wings in 6
Anaheim vs Vancouver - Ducks in 5

Buffalo vs New York - Sabres in 5
New Jersey vs Ottawa - Senators in 6

And my Cup pick remains: Ducks over Sens

Getting cocky

And I don't even need to make any more predictions, since I had the correct Stanley Cup result (Ducks over Senators) in my first post.

Good times, good times...

st.cronin

06-07-2007, 09:49 AM

Yeah but you get points deducted for being a Maple Leaves fan.

Draft Dodger

06-07-2007, 10:04 AM

that really is ridiculous, ML

MizzouRah

06-07-2007, 10:04 AM

Congrats to the Ducks! Another Blue note gets a ring!!

It was great to see Selanne get a ring as well!

Honolulu_Blue

06-07-2007, 11:01 AM

that really is ridiculous, ML

Agreed. Quite the masterpiece there, ML. Very well done.

Maple Leafs

06-07-2007, 12:09 PM

On the radio at lunch time, two Ottawa media "experts" were making the case that Daneil Alfredsson should have won the Conn Smythe.

Seriously, does this nonsense happen in other hockey towns?

Honolulu_Blue

06-07-2007, 12:19 PM

On the radio at lunch time, two Ottawa media "experts" were making the case that Daneil Alfredsson should have won the Conn Smythe.

Seriously, does this nonsense happen in other hockey towns?

No. Not so much. The Detroit media range usually from "fair" to "harsh" when the Wings lose. There is definitely not the perception that the team can "do no wrong."

JonInMiddleGA

06-07-2007, 12:24 PM

I have to wonder whether hockey on a US broadcast network might not be dead after this season.

http://www.medialifemagazine.com/artman2/publish/Overnights_50/Iced_over_NHL_final_game_skunks_out.asp

Not many people saw the Anaheim Ducks capture their first Stanley Cup trophy last night by defeating the Ottawa Senators in Game 5 of the finals. In fact, this looks to be the least-viewed National Hockey League finals since they moved from broadcast to cable in 1995.

Last night’s finale averaged a mere 2.88 million viewers in primetime, according to Nielsen overnights. Those measure timeslot and not actual program data, which means they aren’t entirely accurate for live shows such as last night’s game, which ran past 11 p.m. Final ratings out later today will give a better view of how many people watched.

But compared with primetime overnights for Game 5 last year, last night was down in both households, from a 2.7 to a 1.8, and in adults 18-49, from a 1.7 to a 1.2.

The series is on track for fewer viewers than last year, when Edmonton-Carolina averaged 2.8 million, the lowest since at least 1995, according to Nielsen records.

Last week, coverage of Games 1 and 2 on Versus was down more than 20 percent compared with 2006. And last Saturday’s Game 3 on NBC drew just 1.6 million total viewers, the lowest viewership for any finals game since the network began carrying hockey last year.

The finals did revive in the two games since, up more than a third over Saturday’s game.

To put that in perspective a little further

At 8 p.m. Fox led with a 2.8 for a repeat of “So You Think You Can Dance,” followed closely by ABC with a 2.7 for “The Next Best Thing: Who Is the Greatest Celebrity Impersonator,” up from last week’s 2.5 for its premiere.

Univision was third with a 1.9 for “La Fea Mas Bella,” CBS fourth with a 1.8 for an hour of “King of Queens” repeats, NBC fifth with a 1.1 for its first hour of Stanley Cup coverage and CW sixth with a 0.4 for “Hidden Palms.”

Fox led again at 9 p.m. with a season-high 4.4 for an original “Dance,” with ABC second with a 3.0 for the second-season debut of “American Inventor.” Univision remained third with a 2.1 for “Destilando Amor,” with CBS fourth with a 1.9 for a “Criminal Minds” rerun, NBC fifth with a 1.2 for its second hour of hockey and CW sixth with a 0.9 for “One Tree Hill.”

CBS took the lead at 10 p.m. with a 2.7 for a repeat of “CSI: NY.” ABC was second with a 1.8 for “Traveler,” Univision third with a 1.5 for “Don Francisco Presenta” and NBC fourth with a 1.3 for its last hour of hockey.