The OFFICIAL Stanley Cup Playoffs Thread

[Suburban Rhythm]

Wow...I've never made an official thread before :)

First round predicitions anyone?

East
(1) Buffalo vs. (8) NY Islanders - Sabres in 5. Nobody sweeps anyone anymore, right?

(2) New Jersey vs. (7) Tampa Bay - Devils in 6. Madden/Pandolfo shut down Vinny/Marty.

(3) Atlanta vs. (6) NY Rangers - Rangers in 7. Rangers just playing WAY better than the Thrashers right now.

(4) Ottawa vs. (5) Pittsburgh. Penguins in 6. Homer pick alert ;) Seriously, Ottawa disappoints every year.

West
(1) Detroit vs. (8) Calgary - Wings in 7. Calgary a damn good 8 seed, but Wings have to win a series sometime, right?

(2) Anaheim vs. (7) Minnesota - Ducks in 6. I really want to pick the Wild...but can't.

(3) Vancouver vs. (6) Dallas - Stars in 7. Does VAN have any scoring?

(4) Nashville vs. (5) San Jose - Preds in 6. SJ disappoints every year (see Ottawa above)

Outside of the Sabres/Isles matchup, all the series could go either way. I think the teams are that close.

[Pumpy Tudors]

Obviously, I hope for two things in the first round as a Devils fan:

1. The Devils defeat the Lightning
2. The Rangers stink it up in the playoffs like they did last year

[Mizzou B-ball fan]

Please let this be the year for the Sharks. PLEASE!!!!!

[sachmo71]

Turco is in denial about his playoff problems. Vancouver in 6. I haven't watched enough hockey this year to make any other predictions, other than the fact that the Sabers will lose the cup on a goal scored by a Western Conference team that goes through the net, but the officials will refuse to review the play.

[Green Caesar]

I'll play ...

EAST
Sabres over Islanders in 4 ... Sabres have Ryan Miller, Islanders don't.
Devils over Lightning in 5 ... Who bets against Brodeur?
Thrashers over Rangers in 7 ... {HOMER PICK}
Penguins over Senators in 6 ... not a question of if the Senators choke, its when
WEST
Red Wings over Flames in 7 ... Calgary is a tough out
Wild over Ducks in 6 ... just a hunch
Canucks over Stars in 7 ... tough series goes to home team in game 7
Predators over Sharks in 6 ... Nashville looks good

[JonInMiddleGA]

First round predictions anyone?
Sure, why not?

East
(1) Buffalo vs. (8) NY Islanders - Sabres in 5.
(2) New Jersey vs. (7) Tampa Bay - Lightning in 7.
(3) Atlanta vs. (6) NY Rangers - Thrashers in 6
(4) Ottawa vs. (5) Pittsburgh. Penguins in 5.
West
(1) Detroit vs. (8) Calgary - Wings in 6.
(2) Anaheim vs. (7) Minnesota - Ducks in 5.
(3) Vancouver vs. (6) Dallas - Stars in 7.
(4) Nashville vs. (5) San Jose - Preds in 5.

[JonInMiddleGA]

You purchased 2 tickets to:
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
Atlanta Thrashers Playoffs - Round 1- Home Game 2
Philips Arena, Atlanta, GA
Date TBA It's 3pm Saturday March 14

Seat location: section 311, row F, seats 15-16
Total Charge: $137.05

[Honolulu_Blue]

East
(1) Buffalo vs. (8) NY Islanders - Sabres in 4.

I love Dubelweicz or however you spell his name. Any guy who likens himself after Yoda is A-Ok in my book. Buffalo is getting healthy and they are just that good. I saw that Deron Quint was playing for the Islanders and, but for a German suspension, Todd Simpson would have. That's not a good sign for the Isles.

(2) New Jersey vs. (7) Tampa Bay - Devils in 5.

Tampa has a huge question in net and the Devils do not. I don't know if it's going to be the 25% rule or whatever the hell was going on last year, but I don't see the Lightning rallying.

(3) Atlanta vs. (6) NY Rangers - Atlanta in 7.

Could be a great series. Atlanta has many question marks going into the post-season. It will be the first time for the team and I don't know if they have any proven playoff preformers, Tkachuk certainly is not. The Rangers folded horribly last year. Lundqvist was shaky. If Shanahan performs like he did the last few seasons with the Wings, the Rangers are in big trouble. In the course of this poorly written paragraph, I have changed my own mind.

(4) Ottawa vs. (5) Pittsburgh. Pittsburgh 6.

Could be the best series in the east. Certainly the toughest. Ottawa does disappoint, but the Pens are awfully young and go in with an untested goalie, that's always a huge wild card. I will go with Pitt. I don't know why exactly.

West
(1) Detroit vs. (8) Calgary - Calgary in 6.

The Wings' health is a big concern. Bertuzzi has a concussion, Zetterberg's back is very iffy, and Calgary is exactly the type of team the Wings lose to. Despite the 7-2 win Saturday, the Wings have not been playing all that well.

(2) Anaheim vs. (7) Minnesota - Ducks in 6.

Pronger and Niedermayer are very good. I think the Ducks goalies will come through. Backstrom is untested in the playoffs.

(3) Vancouver vs. (6) Dallas - Vancouver in 5.

Until Turco can prove otherwise, he cannot be trusted in the post-season.

(4) Nashville vs. (5) San Jose - San Jose in 6.

San Jose is too big, strong, and fast for Nashville to handle. Thornton has never played well in the playoffs, but I think that will change and they have enough players around him that it wont matter.

Outside of the Sabres/Isles matchup, all the series could go either way. I think the teams are that close.

[Pumpy Tudors]

You know, I wish I could feel as confident in the Devils as some of you guys. I'm just constantly wondering who's going to score the goals for New Jersey. Gionta has been hurt this year, Elias has been hurt this year, Gomez doesn't score anymore, and Langenbrunner is so streaky that he sometimes can't hit the net if he's standing in the crease. That pretty much leaves Zach Parise, and while I love him, he needs at least two or three of his teammates to turn their games on.

Obviously, Brodeur is one of the best goalies in the league today. He's one of the best ever. He's just not going to win an entire playoff series by himself. I don't know much about the Lightning, and maybe they're no match for the Devils, but only 5 Devils are positive in the +/- category. It's hard to feel confident in a team - even a division winner - that doesn't have any skaters whom you can absolutely count on. Brodeur is a lock, but every other player on that team a question mark, and I don't feel good about that.

[Maple Leafs]

I hate you all.

[JonInMiddleGA]

I hate you all.

Thanks. The impact of the Islanders win yesterday was probably the thing that made Thrashers fans the happiest :D

[Honolulu_Blue]

I thought Don Cherry's comments after the Toronto/Montreal game were classic. He basically said that it would not be "fair" if New Jersey did not start Brodeur against the Islanders and that Lamoriello should do it and, if not, he would pay for it somewhere down the line. Then he started going off an how some poor kid would pay all of this money to go see the Devils and not get to see Brodeur play. He really pulled out all the stops.

I feel bad Toronto is not in the playoffs. There's always an extra buzz in the air on CBC when Toronto are playing. Granted, I don't think that buzz would have lasted longer than 4 games, but so be it.

[ISiddiqui]

LOL... not like Brodeur hasn't played in enough games ;). I think he earned at least one game's rest!

[Young Drachma]

You know, I wish I could feel as confident in the Devils as some of you guys. I'm just constantly wondering who's going to score the goals for New Jersey. Gionta has been hurt this year, Elias has been hurt this year, Gomez doesn't score anymore, and Langenbrunner is so streaky that he sometimes can't hit the net if he's standing in the crease. That pretty much leaves Zach Parise, and while I love him, he needs at least two or three of his teammates to turn their games on.

Obviously, Brodeur is one of the best goalies in the league today. He's one of the best ever. He's just not going to win an entire playoff series by himself. I don't know much about the Lightning, and maybe they're no match for the Devils, but only 5 Devils are positive in the +/- category. It's hard to feel confident in a team - even a division winner - that doesn't have any skaters whom you can absolutely count on. Brodeur is a lock, but every other player on that team a question mark, and I don't feel good about that.

They have been really shaky this year and this isn't the sort of Devils club that I'm sold on like in past years. But at the same time, I think Lou fired the coach like he seems to do every year, because he wants another Cup and he wants it under his watch. I have a feeling he'll light a fire under them and they'll come out and do what they usually do in the playoffs - win the Cup - or lose in the first round.

[DeToxRox]

East
(1) Buffalo vs. (8) NY Islanders - Sabres in 4. The Isles are an average team in an average conference. The Sabres are an excellent team in said average conference.

(2) New Jersey vs. (7) Tampa Bay - Lightning in 7. I think this is the series in the East that proves to be the shocker. Madden and Pandolfo are great defensivley but I think Marty and Vinny will help lead the Lightning in four of the seven which is all they need to do. Marty is gonna' be tested a lot.

(3) Atlanta vs. (6) NY Rangers - Thrashers in 6. Rangers are playing better hockey but (Wings biased) Shannahan disappears in the postseason. If he gets rolling I'd say flip the pick but I don't see it happening.

(4) Ottawa vs. (5) Pittsburgh. Penguins in 6. The Penguins just don't know any better when it comes to the Playoffs. In this case the youth wins over the experience.

West

(1) Detroit vs. (8) Calgary - Flames in 6. Wings will lose game two, then get swept in Calgary. They'll bring it it 3-2 in game five but will not win in the Saddledome all series.

(2) Anaheim vs. (7) Minnesota - Ducks in 5. Ducks have too much defense and goaltending for an offense that's not that explosive.

(3) Vancouver vs. (6) Dallas - Canucks in 6. Sorry Devs fans but this year Roberto is the best goalie in the NHL and Dallas is as limited offensivley as Vancouver.

(4) Nashville vs. (5) San Jose - Sharks in 7. Preds have yet to show much in the playoffs as is the case with the Sharks. The Preds also don't have a #1 goalie. You can't win without a number one, even if you have two capabale guys. Expect Trotz to use both and it bites him in the ass.

[gstelmack]

I think if there is anything the last decade or so of hockey have shown us, it's the either the Devils take the East, or a team from the South takes the East (Caps, Lightning, Hurricanes). Since I think the Devils are getting old and slow, and Tampa Bay already won a cup, I predict a nightmare for all the diehard hockey fans:

Nashville over Atlanta in 6 for the Cup

[Maple Leafs]

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...

[Chubby]

I don't want to jinx my sabres.

[Karim]

East
(1) Buffalo vs. (8) NY Islanders - Sabres in 5. Getting in with the last game of the year gives the Isles one game.

(2) New Jersey vs. (7) Tampa Bay - Devils in 6. Lecavalier and company can't score enough to cover their goaltending deficiencies but will score enough to win two games.

(3) Atlanta vs. (6) NY Rangers - Rangers in 5. Lehtonen and Kovalchuk show up for one game only.

(4) Ottawa vs. (5) Pittsburgh. Penguins in 7. Upstart Penguins pull it out with Fleury being the story.

West
(1) Detroit vs. (8) Calgary - Detroit in 6. Calgary's been inconsistent all year and the playoffs are no different.

(2) Anaheim vs. (7) Minnesota - Anaheim in 6. Not sold on Backstrom, Gaborik or Demitra in the playoffs.

(3) Vancouver vs. (6) Dallas - Vancouver in 7. Brutal physical series with neither team advancing past this round. Luongo shows he's the real deal. Questions remain with Turco despite playing well.

(4) Nashville vs. (5) San Jose - Sharks in 6. The biggest team in the NHL pounds the snot out of the team no one cares about.


A Buffalo/San Jose final with the President's Trophy winner taking it all.

[Suburban Rhythm]

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



I can agree...and that's as a Pens fan.

I think part of the feeling is, after that 14-0-2 run, everyone expected a collapse. Especially with a 17 game schedule in March. All they did was go 12-3-2 in that stretch.

I am not expecting a Cup parade in June. But I'm not expecting to be golfing next week either.

[Honolulu_Blue]

Over the last two days or so, I have been glancing over most "experts'" picks for the first round of the playoffs.

I would say that 75-80% of these "experts" (myself incldued) have picked Calgary to beat Detroit in the first round. There is logic to this pick.

What I am officialy fed up with, however, is experts who make this pick and call it an "upset" or, even worse, their "favorite upset vote" (I am looking at you Fischler...).

If the majority of "experts" think that Calgary will beat Detroit, that's no longer an upset. In fact, this could be the first time that a #1 seed ever went into a first round playoff series as the underdog.

Game 1 will be huge. If Detroit loses Game 1 all of the old demons will come out. Heads will be hung low, questions will be asked, and the old fear will grip the Wings. Do the Wings have the leadership to rally back from that? Tough to say...

Also, it appears as if Bertuzzi wont be in the line-up for game one. He's still suffering from a concussion he sustained when he ran over Osgood in second-to-last game of the season. Zetterberg is expected to play, however, so that's good.

[sabotai]

East
(1) Buffalo vs. (8) NY Islanders - Sabres in 6. Just to be different...

(2) New Jersey vs. (7) Tampa Bay - Lightning in 6

(3) Atlanta vs. (6) NY Rangers - Atlanta in 7

(4) Ottawa vs. (5) Pittsburgh. Penguins in 6.

West
(1) Detroit vs. (8) Calgary - Wings in 6

(2) Anaheim vs. (7) Minnesota - Ducks in 6.

(3) Vancouver vs. (6) Dallas - Canucks in 5

(4) Nashville vs. (5) San Jose - Nashville in 7

[Travis]

East
(1) Buffalo vs. (8) NY Islanders - Sabres in 5.
(2) New Jersey vs. (7) Tampa Bay - Jersey in 7.
(3) Atlanta vs. (6) NY Rangers - Thrashers in 6
(4) Ottawa vs. (5) Pittsburgh. Sens in 6.

West
(1) Detroit vs. (8) Calgary - Wings in 7.
(2) Anaheim vs. (7) Minnesota - Ducks in 6.
(3) Vancouver vs. (6) Dallas - Canucks in 5.
(4) Nashville vs. (5) San Jose - Preds in 6.

Edit to note: I hit 7 of 8 first round series in last years office pool, so I have to assume a maximum of 3 correct picks this year to offset that.

[Karim]

Over the last two days or so, I have been glancing over most "experts'" picks for the first round of the playoffs.

I would say that 75-80% of these "experts" (myself incldued) have picked Calgary to beat Detroit in the first round

That's interesting as I've seen the exact opposite. The entire crew on TSN picked Detroit and only Watters on Sportsnet picked Calgary. And from the print and online media, it's been predominantly Detroit.

[Dr. Sak]

East
(1) Buffalo vs. (8) NY Islanders - Buffalo 4-1
(2) New Jersey vs. (7) Tampa Bay - NJ 4-2 I think this has the potential to be a good series if TB's goalie can step up.
(3) Atlanta vs. (6) NY Rangers - NYR 4-2
(4) Ottawa vs. (5) Pittsburgh. Pittsburgh 4-3 A lot of unknowns in this series. If you look at Pittsburgh's winning streak, quite a few of those wins came via a Shootout. They became a good shootout team and I think they actually played for them in the 2nd half of the season. Plus no one really knows how the young guys will react. This is a chance for Ottawa to get rid of some past playoff demons. Should be a good series, I'll be there for Game 4.

West (These are pure guesses)
(1) Detroit vs. (8) Calgary - Detroit 4-2
(2) Anaheim vs. (7) Minnesota - Anaheim 4-1
(3) Vancouver vs. (6) Dallas - Vancouver 4-1
(4) Nashville vs. (5) San Jose - San Jose 4-3

[Pumpy Tudors]

A couple thousand tickets for Game 6 of the PIT-OTT series go on sale in about 20 minutes. I'm really on the fence about if I want to spend the money or not. I've never been to an NHL playoff game before, but it's a pretty decent chunk of cash. I need to do some quick thinking. :D

[RendeR]

THe first round is always the one where the upsets happen, if only because there are more chances for it. I'm not sold on some of the top seeds this season:

East
(1) Buffalo vs. (8) NY Islanders - Sabres in 5.
THe Sabres have the Isle's number this season, NY has very week goaltending and they never seem to play as a team, its a random star getting their glory when it happens. Teams win, and the Sabres are the best all around team in the east.

(2) New Jersey vs. (7) Tampa Bay - Tampa in 7.
I really like jersey, always have had a soft spot for them, but I'm just not convinced this year. At times they look older and slower than detroit and at others they look amazing. Tampa's scoring always wakes up in the playoffs. I think they sneak past marty in this one.

(3) Atlanta vs. (6) NY Rangers - Thrashers in 5
The Rangers are the antithesis of the yankees, they buy up good talent for rediculous prices and then suck. I'll rarely ever pick the rangers, they've disspointed more fans than the cubs.

(4) Ottawa vs. (5) Pittsburgh. Pens in 6.
This is a bit of a tough one. I WANT the pens to win this series because I'm sick to death of the senators causing my Sabres trouble ;) that said though this is the series that could change the way the entire east falls out. If the pens cave in due to youth and inexperience (and piss poor goaltending) then that may give the senators enough confidence to go out and play very well in round 2 before caving in as they do in round 3. GO PENGUINS.


West
(1) Detroit vs. (8) Calgary - Flames in 6.
Never been a more perfect matchup for a first round upset of the wings. And Detroit is older than dirt. Hasek can't save this Redwings team.

(2) Anaheim vs. (7) Minnesota - Ducks in 6.
I hate to admit it, but the Wild are just not ready for this series. Anaheim is a strong club with proven talent. minnesota still has to pull together a few more pieces of the playoff puzzle before they move on.

(3) Vancouver vs. (6) Dallas - Canucks in 6.
Single toughest series to pick. Vancouver's defense or Dallas' offense? Defense wins in the playoffs so I give the nods to Vancouver. honestly this one could go in any number of games to either team.

(4) Nashville vs. (5) San Jose - Sharks in 6.
Can't say it enough, Defense Defense Defense. Sharks win more one goals games in this series to upset Nashville. The preds looked dominant early in the season, but early season means squat now. Sharks are on a roll.


Lets go SABRES! One Team, One Dream baby!

[Dr. Sak]

A couple thousand tickets for Game 6 of the PIT-OTT series go on sale in about 20 minutes. I'm really on the fence about if I want to spend the money or not. I've never been to an NHL playoff game before, but it's a pretty decent chunk of cash. I need to do some quick thinking. :D

I got two tickets in F (I can stand and touch the roof) for $150 for Game 4. If you want them get them quick.

[Pumpy Tudors]

I got two tickets in F (I can stand and touch the roof) for $150 for Game 4. If you want them get them quick.
Thanks, but due to work, I won't be able to make it to Pittsburgh in time for a 7pm start on a Tuesday. I'll be stuck in Latrobe until at least 6:00, and then I'd have go to home, change, and drag the wife out the door. I'd never make it. :)

[Dr. Sak]

Thanks, but due to work, I won't be able to make it to Pittsburgh in time for a 7pm start on a Tuesday. I'll be stuck in Latrobe until at least 6:00, and then I'd have go to home, change, and drag the wife out the door. I'd never make it. :)

Good thing Game 6 is a Sunday at 1pm ;)

[Ryche]

I think the Wild are getting underestimated a bit. If Gaborik hadn't missed a couple months early in the season, they would have won their division. They have two lines that can score. And Backstrom is the real deal. I think the Wild will at least push the series to 7 games.

[RendeR]

Thanks, but due to work, I won't be able to make it to Pittsburgh in time for a 7pm start on a Tuesday. I'll be stuck in Latrobe until at least 6:00, and then I'd have go to home, change, and drag the wife out the door. I'd never make it. :)

Excuses, excuses ;)

[RendeR]

I think the Wild are getting underestimated a bit. If Gaborik hadn't missed a couple months early in the season, they would have won their division. They have two lines that can score. And Backstrom is the real deal. I think the Wild will at least push the series to 7 games.

I really do agree, and I wish I had enough faith in them to pick them. I really like this team and think they could do a lot this year, but I'm just not convinced they have enough pieces to make the big playoff run. I KNOW Aneheim has those pieces, hence my dissapointed choice.

[Maple Leafs]

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.

[RendeR]

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.

The Senators on the finals? You do belief in miricles don't you ;) I just c an't see that team going anywhere, its got no heart.

I'm just glad Toronto is out, they gave Buffalo fits this season. ;)

[Maple Leafs]

The Senators on the finals? You do belief in miricles don't you ;) I just can't see that team going anywhere, its got no heart.

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.

The Senators were ready to blow the team up back in November. They went into Buffalo, and the Sabres had a chance to bury them. They couldn't get it done, and Ottawa's been one of the best teams in the league ever since. The Sabres couldn't finish them back then when they were on the ropes, I'm not sure they can do it now.

[Pumpy Tudors]

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.

The Senators were ready to blow the team up back in November. They went into Buffalo, and the Sabres had a chance to bury them. They couldn't get it done, and Ottawa's been one of the best teams in the league ever since. The Sabres couldn't finish them back then when they were on the ropes, I'm not sure they can do it now.
Sooooo, that Ottawa media finally got to you, huh?

[Lathum]

What a joke. All 3 NY area teams play Thursday night. How stupid is the NHL?

[Pyser]

am i reading the schedules right where the devils arent on national tv for game 1? and for some reason the $150 i spent on center ice doenst carry any playoff games right now either??

anyone?

[Honolulu_Blue]

am i reading the schedules right where the devils arent on national tv for game 1? and for some reason the $150 i spent on center ice doenst carry any playoff games right now either??

anyone?

I am not sure about that first part, but I thought Center Ice carried at least the first (and perhaps second) round games, no?

I must check...

[kingfc22]

That sure looked like a deliberate shot at the legs of Cheechoo after he tried to side step the hit. And the way he left the ice was not very promosing.

[JonInMiddleGA]

I am not sure about that first part, but I thought Center Ice carried at least the first (and perhaps second) round games, no?

I must check...

http://www.nhl.com/nhlhq/centerice.html#q2
Are NHL playoff games included in NHL® CENTER ICE®?
Yes, select games from the first two rounds of the Stanley Cup playoffs are included in your NHL CENTER ICE subscription.

[JonInMiddleGA]

am i reading the schedules right where the devils arent on national tv for game 1?

Looks that way, Versus apparently took Flames-Red Wings instead.

And looking ahead, it appears that none of the Devils first four games are currently scheduled for a national audience in the US.

[kingfc22]

All Rissmiller had to do was send the puck down the ice. Now the Sharks have to try and turn back on the offense to win this in OT.

[Pyser]

http://www.nhl.com/nhlhq/centerice.html#q2
Are NHL playoff games included in NHL® CENTER ICE®?
Yes, select games from the first two rounds of the Stanley Cup playoffs are included in your NHL CENTER ICE subscription.

that may be but none seem to be on their schedule so far. what a crock.

[st.cronin]

Marty Turco + the Playoffs = disaster

[General Mike]

My picks, and I know it's late:

Sabres in 4
Devils in 5
Rangers in 6
Penguins in 7

Flames in 7
Ducks in 5
Canucks in 6
Predators in 6

[Pumpy Tudors]

that may be but none seem to be on their schedule so far. what a crock.
For the record, I'm watching the Sharks and Predators (second overtime coming up!) on NHL Center Ice right now.

[kingfc22]

Come on Sharks

[Pyser]

thanks pumpy! its not on the schedule here, but it is on. phew!

can you tell me what channel the devs game is supposed to be on tomorrow, if your cable system has a schedule?

[Vince]

Sigh. If we lose game one in double OT by giving up a two-goal lead in the third period, I think things aren't looking so hot :(

[kingfc22]

Man, what a sorry power play there.

[Vince]

Anyone know of a place outside of Yahoo that has an updated box score? I can't watch right now, and their page sucks for letting me know how much time is left, etc.

[Karlifornia]

Sharks win!

[kingfc22]

What a way to make up for that mistake in the 3rd. Woooooo!!!!

[Vince]

HELL YEAH!

[Pyser]

2 ot games already, and it sure looks like anaheim-minn could go to ot too

how could you not love this?

[bhlloy]

Backstrom is the real deal - the Wild are going to be a very tough team throughout this series. I think it goes to at least six and I have no idea who comes out the winner.

[kingfc22]

Stars have a great chance here with a 5 on 3 in the second OT period.

[kingfc22]

And we are now in 3OT

[TazFTW]

This game will just not end.

[TazFTW]

Uh, where did the game go? My VS station is now showing an informercial. :mad:

[TazFTW]

Looking at the Versus message boards...

Way to fuck this up Versus.

[Vinatieri for Prez]

In case anyone's still up, the Canucks just won it 5-4 by scoring with 2 minutes left in the 4th OT. I think it registered as the 5th or 6th longest game in NHL history. Good result for them after blowing a 4-2 lead with 12 minutes left in the 3rd period. For Luongo's first career playoff game, he faced about 76 shots.

[TazFTW]

:mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad:

[Vinatieri for Prez]

You also gotta love this from the pregame injury report in the Canucks' game:

"Vancouver D Brent Sopel won't play after hurting his back trying to pick up a cracker from the floor Tuesday."

[Suburban Rhythm]

Pens just got roughed up :confused:

Disallowed goal, while not a difference maker, was a terrible call. I truly believe that any other player in the league that is allowed--not because of some conspiracy against Crosby, but because the thinking of he was trying to make that play.

And typical Bryan Murray coached team end of game crap--high sticks and trips all over, but nobody to drop the gloves.

Thank God it's only one game.

[Honolulu_Blue]

For the record, I'm watching the Sharks and Predators (second overtime coming up!) on NHL Center Ice right now.

Thanks for this info, Pumpy.

I checked the "guide" on my digitial cable and no games showed up, so I didn't even try those channels. I will not make the same mistake again.

I am glad I decided to go to bed after the first period of the Dallas-Vancouver game. There's no way in hell I could have stayed up for all 4 OTs.

[RPI-Fan]

Thanks for this info, Pumpy.

I checked the "guide" on my digitial cable and no games showed up, so I didn't even try those channels. I will not make the same mistake again.

I am glad I decided to go to bed after the first period of the Dallas-Vancouver game. There's no way in hell I could have stayed up for all 4 OTs.

Just tune to one of the Center Ice channels when the games aren't on (e.g. now) and on the screen (with the stupid background music playing) it will list the schedule of today's games.

[Honolulu_Blue]

Just tune to one of the Center Ice channels when the games aren't on (e.g. now) and on the screen (with the stupid background music playing) it will list the schedule of today's games.

Excellent! I avoid those channels like the plague exactly because of that stupid background music. I hate it so... very... much...

[Maple Leafs]

Got to watch the Pens/Sens game live... holy smokes, this one might be done in four.

Pittsburgh just looked outclassed in every possible way. They're a skill and speed team but they couldn't keep up with Ottawa. The Pens looked overwhelmed by the whole playoff experience, the Sens looked like "been there done that". The Penguins really looked like kids playing with grownups. Not to mention Fleury having the yips all night.

And on top of that, when the game was decided it was Ottawa that started the physical stuff. Pittsburgh should have been in "send a message" mode in the third, but instead the Sens were pounding away at them. That's not good. If it's the playoffs, and Ottawa is playing tougher than you are, then you're pretty much done as a contender.

It's only one game, but I didn't see anything at all that would give me any optimism as a Pens fan.

[Pumpy Tudors]

As I was about to go to bed at 1am, I thought about checking out the games to see if there were any still going. I'm glad I didn't. I never would've gotten to sleep if I had watched a game go to four overtimes. My goodness, what a start to this year's playoffs.

As for the games I did watch, the Penguins just looked terrible. I missed the first period, but they apparently only got 4 shots on goal in the first, so I didn't miss much from them. I agree with Suburban Rhythm that the disallowed goal against Crosby was a horrible call. I can't see any defense for the video goal judge's decision. The Penguins were finally getting some momentum, and it got sucked away on something like that. The Senators didn't even try to hide that they were out there to physically hurt the Penguins once the score hit 6-1. The high sticks and tripping got way out of hand, and two Pens were left with bloody jerseys by the time the game was over. Of course, I wouldn't be surprised if the Sens are good little boys in Game 2 when the refs will really be watching them.

I only caught the final 10 minutes of regulation and the overtimes in Nashville. The Predators made a hell of a comeback. Radulov's goal to make it 4-3 was one of the prettiest goals I've seen in a while. It was one of those plays that just couldn't be stopped. It doesn't matter who's defending him or who's in the net. He's just going to make that play. The Preds showed a ton of energy at the end of regulation, and they carried it over into the first overtime. The Sharks just seemed to be more composed than the Preds in the second overtime, though, and that's how they won the game. They relied on Nabokov to keep them in it, and when an opportunity came for a game-winner, they took advantage of it. It's probably not the best way to win a multi-overtime game -- you'd probably want to be more aggressive -- but it worked.

What kind of excitement do the playoffs have for us tonight?

[Suburban Rhythm]

And on top of that, when the game was decided it was Ottawa that started the physical stuff. Pittsburgh should have been in "send a message" mode in the third, but instead the Sens were pounding away at them. That's not good. If it's the playoffs, and Ottawa is playing tougher than you are, then you're pretty much done as a contender.


The high sticks and tripping got way out of hand, and two Pens were left with bloody jerseys by the time the game was over. Of course, I wouldn't be surprised if the Sens are good little boys in Game 2 when the refs will really be watching them.

Where were Schubert and Neil when Laraque was on the ice? He was out there pretty often in the final 10 minutes. Schubert had to problem trying to run people the first 50 minutes of the game, but like I said, it became all sticks.

When the Pens started to hit back, the sticks come up. Orpik steps up on Alfredsson in the neutral zone, Alfie 'defends' himself with a stick to the chops.

[Dr. Sak]

The Pens, for a lack of a better term, looked like chickens with the heads cut off. Especially in the first period. I think Fluery kept them in the game as long as humanly possible. Without him that game could've been easily 5-0 after the first period. I also noticed that anytime Malkin got near the puck he was checked. I think the word around the league is to hit him because by doing that it is easy to take him out of the game that way. The one time it was pretty close to being knee on knee and nothing was called, it was a trip at least.

They have a few days to regroup and settle down. There was a stat on TV last night that the Sens have never gone up 2-0 in a series. They now know what it is like to be in a playoff game, and no matter if they lost 8-0 or 2-1, they are still only down 1 game to none. Hopefully they will step up the physical play, they cannot go through a series and expect to win if they get beat around like they did in the first two periods.

[Suburban Rhythm]

The one time it was pretty close to being knee on knee and nothing was called, it was a trip at least.


Schubert...again.

[Maple Leafs]

Where were Schubert and Neil when Laraque was on the ice? He was out there pretty often in the final 10 minutes. Schubert had to problem trying to run people the first 50 minutes of the game, but like I said, it became all sticks.

I really doubt Neil goes anywhere near Laraque. Neil likes to think of himself as a tough guy, but during the playoffs he switches to "agitator" mode. Remember his turtle act against Dingman last year? Expect more of the same this year if Laraque gets a hold of him.

That said, it's pretty clear that Laraque isn't a good enough player to be on the ice in a close game, so I can't see him having much impact unless a game turns into a total goon show.

[DeToxRox]

Stayed up till 4 watching the Canucks/Stars. The fact each team hit 4 goals amazed me more then the four OT.

[Pyser]

hey, DeTox, when did you shorten your name?

i styaed up for the whole game too. gotta live living on the west coast.

wearing my devils jersey to work today. it is on!!!

[DeToxRox]

hey, DeTox, when did you shorten your name?

Switched it a few weeks ago when it kept bothering me because it was so long.

[Pumpy Tudors]

wearing my devils jersey to work today. it is on!!!
My wife is wearing a Flames jersey today. I know when I was in college, I never saw a professor wearing a hockey jersey. If I had, that person would be my friend for life.

I'm not wearing a jersey at work today, but I'll be wearing one when I go bowling tonight. It's going to be a New Orleans VooDoo jersey, though. What is wrong with me?

[Pumpy Tudors]

My wife is wearing a Flames jersey today. I know when I was in college, I never saw a professor wearing a hockey jersey. If I had, that person would be my friend for life.
Dola

Now that I think about it, some college student is probably going to try to become my wife's friend. Oh, shit.

[Dr. Sak]

Dola

Now that I think about it, some college student is probably going to try to become my wife's friend. Oh, shit.

Actually at Seton Hill I'd be more worried about a girl becoming your wife's "friend" if you catch my drift..;)

[Pumpy Tudors]

Actually at Seton Hill I'd be more worried about a girl becoming your wife's "friend" if you catch my drift..;)
I'm putting fresh batteries in the camera right now.

[Honolulu_Blue]

My wife is wearing a Flames jersey today.

:confused:

No. Me. Gusta.

If sent her a Wings jersey would she wear it? Would you wear it and post a picture?

I have spares.

She could have her choice of Keith Primeau, Rick Zombo, Sergei Fedorov, or Petr Klima.

[Pumpy Tudors]

:confused:

No. Me. Gusta.

If sent her a Wings jersey would she wear it? Would you wear it and post a picture?

I have spares.

She could have her choice of Keith Primeau, Rick Zombo, Sergei Fedorov, or Petr Klima.
She might wear it if you convinced her that it was an Aerosmith jersey. I would absolutely not wear it under any circumstances. Petr Klima is overrated.

OK, MY WORK HERE IS DONE!

[st.cronin]

otoh, Sergei Fedorov is very underrated

[Pumpy Tudors]

otoh, Sergei Fedorov is very underrated
GO BLUE JACKETS!

[Honolulu_Blue]

There are still tickets available for tonight's game. Quite a few. Not just single seats either, rows of seats.

It's official, the Wings have become the Atlanta Braves of the NHL.

I think the lack of interest in the Wings is multi-fold.

1. One main reason is Yzerman retiring. When Yzerman retired, that severed the deep connection between many fans and the team. Yzerman was an amazing talent and force of personality (in his own quiet, humble way) that is rare in sports, in any era, but particularly so today with free agency being what it is. Despite the fact that holdovers like Lidstrom, Draper, Maltby, etc. are still around they are not and never will be Yzerman. The team has changed and fans haven’t really kept up. I think Zetterberg has a chance to capture some that magic and Datsyuk may, but not until he gets over that “ice-dancer who crumbles in the playoffs” image.

They Tigers have had a slogan the last two years: “Who’s your Tiger?” I love it. (Mine’s Sean Casey, by the way). How many Wings' fans could honestly answer “Who’s your Red Wing?” I guess I would say Zetterberg, but that’s more by default than anything else.

2. The next big reason is the combination of the Wings' past playoff successes and the Wings' recent history of early round playoff collapses. First round of playoffs? So what? It’s quite an emotional and financial investment to go to a first round hockey game. People aren’t willing to pay that price after getting burned three years in a row. It’s going to take the Wings getting into the second or third round before people start realizing that this team may be on the verge of something. There's also the "been there, done that" mentality.

3. The other reasons are a conglemeration of the poor Michigan economy, ridiculously expensive ticket prices, and the success of the Tigers/Pistons. Sure, all these things play some role in the lack of interest in the Wings, but not as much as people are giving them credit for. Though, $68 for "standing room" tickets is ridiculously high. I don't know what playoff ticket prices are like in other cities, but feels VERY expensive to me.

I listen to a lot of sports talk radio on my to and from work. The most sustained Red Wing talk I heard all year was during the “10th Anniversay of the March 26, 1997 Colorado/Detroit ‘Bloodbath’ Game”. Now, that is clearly the greatest regular season game of all time (of any sport), but it’s odd to see a 10 year old event generate far more excitement and energy than anything that happened during a 110 point season, which included one of the Wings’ biggest acquisitions (pun not intended) (Bertuzzi) since the Shanahan trade.

[JonInMiddleGA]

There are still tickets available for tonight's game. Quite a few. Not just single seats either, rows of seats.

FWIW, I just tried to find 2 in both the upper & lower sections & got the "no tickets available" message for tonight.

[bronconick]

H-B, over on one of the Red Wings' sites, the issue is that a lot of season ticket holders (like 3 or 4 thousand) turned down their playoff tickets, as one guy mentioned his season tickets were something like $4,500, and they wanted $6,000 for the playoffs alone.

[Honolulu_Blue]

H-B, over on one of the Red Wings' sites, the issue is that a lot of season ticket holders (like 3 or 4 thousand) turned down their playoff tickets, as one guy mentioned his season tickets were something like $4,500, and they wanted $6,000 for the playoffs alone.

Yeah, the number I heard was 2,500. 2,500 season ticket holders decided not to purchase playoffs tickets. Apparently the Wings have more season ticket holders than the typical franchise, but that's still quite a few.

I head something similar about the price for playoff tickets. I don't know the exact math, but I think prices double for the first two rounds and then keep going up after that.

[Karlifornia]

FWIW, I just tried to find 2 in both the upper & lower sections & got the "no tickets available" message for tonight.

That would be quite a commute, Jon. Private jet?

[JonInMiddleGA]

That would be quite a commute, Jon. Private jet?

Hey, it's playoff hockey ;)

[DeToxRox]

Red Wings ticket prices will only keep rising too especially once they build this new stadium that's rumored. It's not going to be good.

[bhlloy]

FWIW, I wouldn't be caught dead watching a Red Wings game because of the style they play and the fact that Andreas Lilja is the toughest guy on the ice.

I have no idea if that has anything to do with Detroit fans reasoning (I figure at least some of the hardcore must have been weaned on Probert and Kocur) but I thought I'd throw it out there.

[DeToxRox]

FWIW, I wouldn't be caught dead watching a Red Wings game because of the style they play and the fact that Andreas Lilja is the toughest guy on the ice.

Wings do play a rather boring style of play but as a Ducks fan you can't really split hairs (minus the fighting they do).

[bhlloy]

Wings do play a rather boring style of play but as a Ducks fan you can't really split hairs (minus the fighting they do).

Fighting, hitting, standing up for each other and generally playing hockey like I want to see it played is actually what I was getting at. I hated the Wings with Yzerman, McCarty & Lapointe but they played old school hockey & I respected them.

And with McDonald & Selanne the Ducks aren't that boring I don't think :)

[Honolulu_Blue]

FWIW, I wouldn't be caught dead watching a Red Wings game because of the style they play and the fact that Andreas Lilja is the toughest guy on the ice.

I have no idea if that has anything to do with Detroit fans reasoning (I figure at least some of the hardcore must have been weaned on Probert and Kocur) but I thought I'd throw it out there.

Style they play? Too much puck possession? Too much skill? Too much finese? It's not dump and chase hockey and certainly not rough and tumble, furthest thing from it, but when it's clicking, it's a great style of hoceky to watch. It's not like watching the Devils in the mid-to-late 90's.

That said, there is something to it. Between the end of the Brad Norton Era (all 6 games of it) and the begining of the Todd Bertuzzi Era (all 8 games of it), Andrea Lilja was the "toughest" player on the ice. We all feel much shame for that.

There are a ton of Wings fans out there, the vast majority, that would love for the team to get a tough guy. I mean, fans on one Wings' board were going crazy when the Wings decided not to pick up Ktystof Oliwa when he was waived last year. They are that desperate for some team toughness. I miss the Bruise Brothers days. They were a lot of fun, but that era's past.

There's no doubt that the Wings would be more popular if they had a little more grit to their game and toughness, a little more "blue collar" if you will. Even back in the day I remember sitting next to fan in the Joe was constantly complaining about how the Wings had "too many Russians" and needed to trade them all for Keith Tkachuk. The stars of this team are the "Euro Twins" (Datsyuk and Zetterberg) and Lidstrom, an insanely good defensemen, but his game has no physical aspect to it at all. It's a tough pill for a lot of fans to swallow.

[DeToxRox]

Flippula scores his first career playoff goal 5 minutes in to give the Wings a 1-0 lead.

[DeToxRox]

2-0 Wings as Lidstrom scores a PPG off a shot that went wide and deflected off Stuarts stick into his own net.

[DeToxRox]

Good first period by Detroit. Took the physical play to the Flames and had them reeling with a lot of pressure in the offensive zone. Calgary is getting called for a lot of the clutching and grabbing and they're looking tentative.

[RendeR]

Hasek is a traitourous pig with no team loyalty whatsoever.

I hope the wings crash and burn for that and a number of other reasons ;)


Go FLAMES!

[RendeR]

DOLA:

LETS GO SA-BRES
lets go buffalo!
LETS GO SA-BRES
lets go buffalo!!!
LETS GO SA-BRES
lets go buffalo!!!!!!!

[DeToxRox]

Hasek would be much cooler if i never had to hear him talk again.

[DeToxRox]

Kipper with a HELLUVA save on a Wings 2 on 1. Should be 3-0 after that. Simply amazing.

[DeToxRox]

Jesus. Kipper highlight reel in the last two minutes.

[DeToxRox]

Datsyuk gets the 27 playoff game without a goal off his back. 3-0 Wings.

[DeToxRox]

4-0 Wings. Scheinder with a blast right as the Flames penalty ends.

[RendeR]

SCOOOOOOOORRRRRRRRRRREEE!

1-0 Sabres!

[RendeR]

DOLA:

Buffalo looks freakish out there. I know the Islanders suck but we're looking downright dominant. I can only hope they carry this fresh attacking attitude all teh way to Lord Stanley's Cup!

[JonInMiddleGA]

3-1 Rangers lead just became 3-2 as Shane Hnidy blasts one past Lundqvist.
Lots of ebb & flow in the momentum in this one so far.

[DeToxRox]

shots through two:

Wings 31
Flames 12

[JonInMiddleGA]

4-2 Rangers after two. Thrashers don't look terrible but some of the youngsters do seem to have some nerves in the first post-season experience.

[RendeR]

C'mon Thrashers!

[JonInMiddleGA]

Dupuis ... wrister ... SCORE.
Back to within 4-3 with 10 minutes left.

edit to add -- still 4-3 NY with 6 minutes left.
First playoff goal for Dupuis in 4 years, first playoff goal for Hnidy in 6 years, first playoff goal for Belanger in 6 years.

Meanwhile similar story for the Rangers - first career playoff goal for Rozsival & Marcel Hossa, first in four years for Jagr & first in three years for Nylander.

[JonInMiddleGA]

Rangers hang on to win Game One 4-3 despite a furious 6-on-4 rally by Atlanta in the final minute. Lundqvist was better than Lehtonen tonight, but the longer the game went the better Atlanta seemed to be, so I'm still optimistic for Saturday afternoon.

[RendeR]

SCOOOORRRRRRREEEEEE!!!

3-1 Sabres!

[Telle]

SCORE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

4-1 Sabres!!!!!!

LETS GO BUFFALO!!!!!!!!!

[sterlingice]

I think this one is pretty much over...

SI

[Telle]

One game down, fifteen to go. GO SABRES!!!!!!!!!

[TazFTW]

Go Rangers!

[Pyser]

i hate my cable company.

cable went out right before the game. fuckers.

how loud should i yell when i call to complain?

time warner being the same company that turned off my center ice package for a whole week for no reason whatsoever

[RendeR]

Stop the pain, get DirecTV, I've never been happier with a service provider than I have thus far with DTV.

[Honolulu_Blue]

Obviously last night was a good start for the Wings. They really gave the Flames nothing at all. They out-worked them and matched them hit-for-hit in the physical department. After the 3rd and 4th goals, the Flames sort of became unglued and went into "send a message" mode. Things got a little nasty out there, but all in all it was fine.

Hopefully the Wings can build on this and keep the momentum. Not to look past Game 2, but the real test for the Wings will be in Calgary. If they can play like that there, then they have a very good chance in this series.

[Pumpy Tudors]

Due to working late and then bowling, I didn't see any of the Devils/Lightning game. I'm encouraged to see that the Devils scored so many goals, though. For tonight, I'm really excited about Sharks/Predators, as they played a fantastic game on Wednesday. I expect that whole series to be terrific.

Also, a sick part of me hopes that the Stars and Canucks play 4 overtimes again. Can you imagine what it'd be like if these teams ended up playing nearly 14 periods of hockey in a little over 48 hours? Jeez, those guys would be so slow and tired. Their shots would probably be missing the nets. The goalies may have trouble standing up. You'd think you were watching the Blackhawks play against themselves.

[Green Caesar]

Rangers hang on to win Game One 4-3 despite a furious 6-on-4 rally by Atlanta in the final minute. Lundqvist was better than Lehtonen tonight, but the longer the game went the better Atlanta seemed to be, so I'm still optimistic for Saturday afternoon.

Was at the game last night. Great crowd. The Thrashers definitely outhit the Rangers all game. That could be a factor later in the series. Lundqvist was shakey at the start of the game. He was giving up a lot of rebounds ... but there were no Thrashers there to capitalize.

Looking forward to the game Saturday.

[JonInMiddleGA]

Whoa. Can't say I expected this.
http://www.ajc.com/sports/content/sports/thrashers/stories/2007/04/13/0414thrashers.html

The decision took Kari Lehtonen by surprise.

Coach Bob Hartley has decided to start John Hedberg in goal for the Thrashers in Saturday's Game 2 of their best-of-seven first-round series. Hartley informed Lehtonen of the decision this morning, only hours after the Thrashers fell to the Rangers 4-3 in Game 1.

Lehtonen finished with 34 saves in his playoff debut, but did allow a soft fourth goal to Michael Nylander.

"I'm disappointed, of course I would like to play," Lehtonen said after Friday's practice in Duluth. "On the other hand, I just need to stay ready, I'm sure I'll be in net if we go far."

Hedberg has a lot of playoff experience, leading Pittsburgh to the Eastern Conference finals in 2001. He's ready to go.

"It's a playoff series, this is when the fun begins," Hedberg said. "We need to win this game, it's a big game for us. Everybody has to be prepared for it."

[Honolulu_Blue]

Whoa. Can't say I expected this.
http://www.ajc.com/sports/content/sports/thrashers/stories/2007/04/13/0414thrashers.html

The decision took Kari Lehtonen by surprise.

Coach Bob Hartley has decided to start John Hedberg in goal for the Thrashers in Saturday's Game 2 of their best-of-seven first-round series. Hartley informed Lehtonen of the decision this morning, only hours after the Thrashers fell to the Rangers 4-3 in Game 1.

Lehtonen finished with 34 saves in his playoff debut, but did allow a soft fourth goal to Michael Nylander.

"I'm disappointed, of course I would like to play," Lehtonen said after Friday's practice in Duluth. "On the other hand, I just need to stay ready, I'm sure I'll be in net if we go far."

Hedberg has a lot of playoff experience, leading Pittsburgh to the Eastern Conference finals in 2001. He's ready to go.

"It's a playoff series, this is when the fun begins," Hedberg said. "We need to win this game, it's a big game for us. Everybody has to be prepared for it."

Wow. Makes two of us. Interesting decision by Hartley. Only one soft goal? Is that an accurate description of his play?

Has Hedberg seen a lot of action this year? If I recall, he played some earlier in the year (when Lehtonen was hurt), but I don't remember much after that.

[Green Caesar]

Whoa ... is right.

Whoa. Can't say I expected this.
http://www.ajc.com/sports/content/sports/thrashers/stories/2007/04/13/0414thrashers.html

The decision took Kari Lehtonen by surprise.

Coach Bob Hartley has decided to start John Hedberg in goal for the Thrashers in Saturday's Game 2 of their best-of-seven first-round series. Hartley informed Lehtonen of the decision this morning, only hours after the Thrashers fell to the Rangers 4-3 in Game 1.

Lehtonen finished with 34 saves in his playoff debut, but did allow a soft fourth goal to Michael Nylander.

"I'm disappointed, of course I would like to play," Lehtonen said after Friday's practice in Duluth. "On the other hand, I just need to stay ready, I'm sure I'll be in net if we go far."

Hedberg has a lot of playoff experience, leading Pittsburgh to the Eastern Conference finals in 2001. He's ready to go.

"It's a playoff series, this is when the fun begins," Hedberg said. "We need to win this game, it's a big game for us. Everybody has to be prepared for it."

[Pyser]

along the same lines....a loss tonight, and id imagine its the last time we'll ever see Turco in a stars uniform. no pressure, buddy.

[DeToxRox]

along the same lines....a loss tonight, and id imagine its the last time we'll ever see Turco in a stars uniform. no pressure, buddy.

With that contract Turco signed I don't know where he can be traded too where he won't feel the pressure of the Playoffs. There are so little options out there that he'd have to go to a place like Florida and I don't see them making that move when they let Roberto walk.

Definetly an interesting scenario to see play out.

[DeToxRox]

As far as Hedberg in net for the Thrashers, it seems to be Hartley is trying to catch lightning in a bottle ala Cam Ward. Except now he's reversing it by benching the Rookie for the Vet. Not sure how good an idea this is for the future but you take your chances now while ya' got 'em.

[JonInMiddleGA]

Wow. Makes two of us. Interesting decision by Hartley. Only one soft goal? Is that an accurate description of his play?


That might be a little bit of a gentle description, but I thought his play overall mostly improved as the game went on (after Tkachuk & I think Larsen both went & had little "settle down" talks with him). My own feeling was that he suffered from first playoff jitters as much as anything & expected him to be better on Saturday.

Has Hedberg seen a lot of action this year?
21 games, 18 starts.

I'm not a huge Kari guy, nor do I have any discomfort about having Hedberg between the pipes. But this just seems like a strange decision, which is actually sort of par for the course with Hartley & his handling of goalies. I'm overall a pro-Hartley guy but that's one of the things I find myself questioning most about his coaching.

If you don't believe that he's already got an unannounced contract extension in his pocket, then tomorrow might very well turn out to be the deciding moment in whether Hartley returns as the Thrashers coach next season. If Moose loses and then a confidence-shaken Kari gets hammered in game three, I think that might be the end for Hartley.

[bob]

I think this is a really bad move by Hartley - no matter what happens (barring a 7 - 0 loss), he has to start Hedberg in Game 3. If he wins game 2, fine, but you can't keep going back and forth in the event of a loss. And if Keri was shakey b/c it was his first playoff game, imagine his first playoff game on the road in the Garden.

[MikeVic]

Since when was his name John Hedberg? I always thought it was Johan Hedberg...

[sachmo71]

I think this is a really bad move by Hartley - no matter what happens (barring a 7 - 0 loss), he has to start Hedberg in Game 3. If he wins game 2, fine, but you can't keep going back and forth in the event of a loss. And if Keri was shakey b/c it was his first playoff game, imagine his first playoff game on the road in the Garden.

Why not? Didn't Minnesota do this successfully with Fernandez and Roloston for years?

I know it's converntional wisdom to stay with your horse, but sometimes you have to go against the grain.

[Honolulu_Blue]

Bertuzzi's been cleared to play Sunday.

I think that means that Hudler is likely to sit.

The lines will most likely be:
Zetterberg / Datsyuk / Holmstrom
Bertuzzi / Lang / Calder
Maltby / Draper / Cleary
Franzen / Filppula / Samuelsson

While in the past two years Lang has been one of the better playoff performers, he was horrible last night and that line was nearly invisible. Babcock wont sit him, but the idea of Lang and Bertuzzi on the same line just sort of makes me nervous...

[bob]

Why not? Didn't Minnesota do this successfully with Fernandez and Roloston for years?

I know it's converntional wisdom to stay with your horse, but sometimes you have to go against the grain.


Well, if the reason you are sitting him is because he looked nervous / deer in the headlights, sitting him and then starting him in hostile territory probably won't help that.

Also, this is coming as a surprise - I think it would be more successful if they knew this strategy going in.

[Karim]

Game 1 was an absolute joke. The Flames came out as if it was just another regular season game. How can you not come out pumped for a playoff game? The Jeckyll and Hyde nature of this team is frustrating to no end. They coasted the last four games of the regular season. A perfect example was the heart NJ showed in a meaningless game against the Isles. Meanwhile, the Flames give up against the Oilers after being up 2-0 when it's announced Nashville has beaten Colorado which guaranteed a playoff birth.

This team has no heart and desire. Part of the blame has to reside with Playfair who admitted to local media during the last game against the Oilers that he can't motivate the team. It was embarrasing being a Flames fan after that debacle. I wonder how many of the 10,000 people on the season ticket waiting list were having second thoughts.

I said Detroit in 7 but I wouldn't be surprised to see a sweep. Maybe Calgary wins one at home knowing they'll be booed off the ice if they don't put in a better effort.

[sachmo71]

Well, if the reason you are sitting him is because he looked nervous / deer in the headlights, sitting him and then starting him in hostile territory probably won't help that.

Also, this is coming as a surprise - I think it would be more successful if they knew this strategy going in.

Hartley didn't say why he did it. could be because he thinks the Rangers have his number.

[kingfc22]

Screw Nashville and their dirty play in this series. We should just knock Kariya or Forsberg out on Monday if that's the way they want this series to go.

[TazFTW]

along the same lines....a loss tonight, and id imagine its the last time we'll ever see Turco in a stars uniform. no pressure, buddy.

Good performance for Turco tonight.

[Chief Rum]

Far from a perfect night of hockey by the Ducks tonight, but we got the win, and that's what matters.

[bhlloy]

Seems to be the story in pretty much every game I have seen this year - we very rarely make things easy on ourselves. All three Wild goals in the series so far have been loose pucks in the slot that could easily have been cleared. A lot of shots that have hit the post as well, and this evening a worrying number of passes straight through the crease. Must play better to have a chance of getting out of the west this year.

If the Sharks still have Scott Parker in the organization now would be a good time to dress him and take a few runs at Forsberg & Kariya. They are in real danger of being physically played out of the series and Scott Hannan and Ryan Clowe aren't going to send much of a message.

[bronconick]

Screw Nashville and their dirty play in this series. We should just knock Kariya or Forsberg out on Monday if that's the way they want this series to go.

Unfortunately, the Sharks lack the testicular fortitude to do anything like that. This series is dangerously close to turning into the Edmonton series. They won't hit back, and they don't make the Preds pay on the power play, so there's no reason for Nashville not to play dirty. Very disappointing to watch them make the same mistakes they made last year.

[Suburban Rhythm]

Meant to post this earlier...

Thursday press conference, Michel Therrien was asked if Georges Laraque needed to make more of an impact in a game that was 6-1 and out of reach, and Therrien's response-

No doubt.

Asked to expand on that, and why Laraque didn't start something, he responds again-

Maybe you need to ask him.

Interesting to see if Laraque will be in the lineup or replaced by Ronald Petrovicky, who can at least skate with some of the Sens.

But it's not all Laraque-- guys like Malone and Armstrong up front, and Orpik need to stay laying some hits too. Or this is over fast.

Still interested to see though, if the Pens take game 2 today, which will be more volatile--the Pen's psyche after getting drilled game 1, or Ottawa splitting the first 2 at home, after dominating game 1.

[JonInMiddleGA]

About to leave for Thrashers-Rangers and thought "Let's play two" ... so since it's my son's birthday weekend (turns 9 on Monday), I just picked up a pair of tickets for tonight's ECHL Gwinnett-Texas playoff game too. Thrashers start at 3p, Gladiators at 735p, so as long as we don't go four overtimes or something, we should hit it just about right.

[Honolulu_Blue]

About to leave for Thrashers-Rangers and thought "Let's play two" ... so since it's my son's birthday weekend (turns 9 on Monday), I just picked up a pair of tickets for tonight's ECHL Gwinnett-Texas playoff game too. Thrashers start at 3p, Gladiators at 735p, so as long as we don't go four overtimes or something, we should hit it just about right.

Awesome. Great birthday present, a hockey double-feature. A "Grindhouse" on ice if you will.

Enjoy!

[Maple Leafs]

Asked to expand on that, and why Laraque didn't start something, he responds again-

Maybe you need to ask him.

They did ask him yesterday, and his response was "It's hard to hit anybody from the bench".

He might have added "also, it's hard to hit anybody when you can't catch them".

[Maple Leafs]

Weird stat... despite making the playoffs ten straight years and playing something like 15 series, the Senators have never held a 2-0 lead in a playoff series.

[Honolulu_Blue]

Bertuzzi's been cleared to play Sunday.

I think that means that Hudler is likely to sit.

The lines will most likely be:
Zetterberg / Datsyuk / Holmstrom
Bertuzzi / Lang / Calder
Maltby / Draper / Cleary
Franzen / Filppula / Samuelsson

While in the past two years Lang has been one of the better playoff performers, he was horrible last night and that line was nearly invisible. Babcock wont sit him, but the idea of Lang and Bertuzzi on the same line just sort of makes me nervous...

Turns out Bertuzzi wont be in the line-up for Game 2. So the lines will be the same as Game 1.

[Ryche]

I think the Wild are getting underestimated a bit. If Gaborik hadn't missed a couple months early in the season, they would have won their division. They have two lines that can score. And Backstrom is the real deal. I think the Wild will at least push the series to 7 games.

Yeah, Anaheim is pretty damn good. Don't think I realized how good till I saw them play the last two games.

[Chief Rum]

Weird stat... despite making the playoffs ten straight years and playing something like 15 series, the Senators have never held a 2-0 lead in a playoff series.

I agree it's surprising, but then, do the math. They have only been in 15 series in 10 years? So they only make the conference semis half the time (and that's if you assume they never went further, and I, of course, know that they did).

[Chief Rum]

Yeah, Anaheim is pretty damn good. Don't think I realized how good till I saw them play the last two games.

The respect is mutual. I knew the Wild were good. They have done nothing to dispel that notion with me. But I have always had a lot of confidence in this Ducks team. If we could do halfway decent on shootouts, we would have blown by both Detroit and Buffalo for the President's Cup. Or if we hadn't lost Pronger for more than a month in the middle of the season (when we had our only seriously protracted troubles).

[henry296]

Huge first goal for the Penguins. It always helps to have a little luck as the point shot was deflected past Emery.

[Maple Leafs]

I agree it's surprising, but then, do the math. They have only been in 15 series in 10 years? So they only make the conference semis half the time (and that's if you assume they never went further, and I, of course, know that they did).
True. But they've had at least two series that they won in five games (NYI and TB) and I think one of the Philly series as well. You'd think they'd have at least been up 2-0 in one of those.

[Karim]

Is Giguere hurt? Bryzgalov has played well but I thought J.S. was the undisputed #1.

As an impartial observer, the San Jose-Nashville series is the best so far. When two teams really hate one another it makes for a better series.

After Versus cut off the feed at 3:00 am EST before the conclusion of Vancouver/Dallas, I've been hearing from American media of the need for a way to decide the game without going to endless overtime. *Please* tell me this isn't gaining currency within the NHL.

[Chief Rum]

Is Giguere hurt? Bryzgalov has played well but I thought J.S. was the undisputed #1.

Jiggy is fine. He and his wife had a son born last week who has a serious eye condition that could cost him his sight (almost for certain in one eye, maybe in the other). It has been a trying time for him. He missed the last three games of the regular season to be with his wife for the birth, and then for the followup when the medical condition became clear.

Bryz played well to the end the season and as Game 1 came up, Jiggy had just found out his son will liekly have sight in one eye. Carlyle decided the emotional rollercoaster was a little much for him, so he started Bryz. Since Bryz has played well and we continue to win, my guess is Carlyle is sticking with the winning goalie.

At some point, I am certain we will see Jiggy in net.

[sterlingice]

Tie game!

SI

[General Mike]

Hedberg;s playing his ass off.

[sterlingice]

Wow- what a sequence. Great chance messed up by a broken stick and it goes back the other way for a beautiful goal

SI

[Logan]

I swear Glen Sather's acquisition of Avery makes up for all the shitty ones.

[Logan]

That was a penalty on Shanahan, but that was also a dive by Kozlov.

[sterlingice]

Really exciting game on NBC here today (Pens/Sens). Definitely fun to watch :D

SI

[Logan]

Keep taking your runs Atlanta, while we take our 2-0 lead home.

[General Mike]

I swear Glen Sather's acquisition of Avery makes up for all the shitty ones.

I agree. Avery gives the Rangers something they needed.

[Honolulu_Blue]

I agree. Avery gives the Rangers something they needed.

Definitely. I've liked Avery ever since I saw him as a free agent at a Red Wings' prospect camp back in 2000. He just had that "makes things happen" quality about him when he's on the ice, even when those "things" may not always be the best for the team.

Hell of a game for him today. A goal and an assist, wins the key face-off when it's 4 on 6, races down the ice to disrupt to the Thrashers, and then caps it off by drawing a penalty on Kovalchuk.

[Logan]

Hell of a game for him today. A goal and an assist, wins the key face-off when it's 4 on 6, races down the ice to disrupt to the Thrashers, and then caps it off by drawing a penalty on Kovalchuk.

There should be a name for this, a la the Gordie Howe hat trick.

[Chief Rum]

I swear Glen Sather's acquisition of Avery makes up for all the shitty ones.

Wow, I wanted to quote this, so I could preserve such a rare sentence for posterity.

[RPI-Fan]

LET'S GO YOU MOFO'ING ISLES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[RPI-Fan]

FUCK!!!!!

[bhlloy]

Here is one thing I still don't understand from the Sens-Penguins game earlier. Why the fuck did the Senators send the smallest guy on their team after Colby Armstrong to send a message? The fight happened 4 seconds in the period, so it must have been pre-meditated. And you have Chris Neil on the bench, hell you even have Mike Fisher who has 3 inches and 30 odd pounds on Comrie and has fought more often. Doesn't make any sense to me. Comrie threw a punch and fell over... those Penguins will make sure they don't run the goalie again in this series :rolleyes:

[st.cronin]

Here is one thing I still don't understand from the Sens-Penguins game earlier. Why the fuck did the Senators send the smallest guy on their team after Colby Armstrong to send a message? The fight happened 4 seconds in the period, so it must have been pre-meditated. And you have Chris Neil on the bench, hell you even have Mike Fisher who has 3 inches and 30 odd pounds on Comrie and has fought more often. Doesn't make any sense to me. Comrie threw a punch and fell over... those Penguins will make sure they don't run the goalie again in this series :rolleyes:

That was quite pathetic.

[cartman]

So, who bought Sanjay Kumar's interest in the Isles, since that is part of his agreed sell off as part of his $800 Million settlement?

(I have a vested interest in this, not because of CA, but the guy my former employer hired away from Computer Associates)

[JonInMiddleGA]

What a yuck at Phillips Arena.

Short of an expansion team maybe, I can't imagine there's ever been a more worthless collection of defensemen in one lineup that what we're putting on the ice. Andy Sutton isn't worth the price of the bullet that it would take to kill him and DeVries is simply too damned slow to play at this level any more, he's a freaking statue. Meanwhile Marian Hossa apparently thinks he's still in Ottawa, he's been completely invisible for two games. Nobody can win a loose puck except Mellanby. The powerplay is beyond abysmal, we'd be better off declining the penalties or if that isn't allowed then somebody quickly take an obvious whistle so we can play 4-on-4. Most disturbing to me though, and the reason I absolutely expect them to lose two straight in NY is that the team simply quit for all but about 45 seconds after falling behind 2-1. When they should have been their most desperate, instead there were people behind the play just watching the puck get turned over. Kovy's judgement was questionable (I'm being generous) at the end but at least he seemed to care enough to be pissed off at the situation, more than I can say about most of the rest of them.

Barring a miraculous change of fortunes (or a contract already signed prior to the past two games) Hartley is finished in Atlanta. I've pretty much always given him the benefit of the doubt & have defended him against the consistent criticism but the complete lack of any offensive adjustment, the apparent lack of any plan other than "win the hitting battle", and the embarrassing ineptitude of the powerplay ... well, I just can't defend him in good conscience any more.

Gladiators salvaged some of the day for us, winning their ECHL playoff opener 5-2, thanks to 3 goals in the first ten minutes (all of which we missed thanks to the joke of a transit system in Atlanta). And we got a funny fight sequence that I really can't do justice here in writing.

Best I can do is that a frustrated Texas player decided to try to take on two Gladiators at the same time. They actually stopped before punching him, looked at each other as if to say "I don't want to be 3rd man in", realized that he had a handful of each of their jerseys & had punched them both, so they shrugged & proceeded to alternate pounding him (think synchronized punching, like they had practiced it), bouncing him repeatedly face first into the top of the boards in front of the Gwinnett bench. Like I said, I really can't explain it well enough in writing but it was funny as hell to watch.

[Logan]

What a yuck at Phillips Arena.

Short of an expansion team maybe, I can't imagine there's ever been a more worthless collection of defensemen in one lineup that what we're putting on the ice. Andy Sutton isn't worth the price of the bullet that it would take to kill him and DeVries is simply too damned slow to play at this level any more, he's a freaking statue. Meanwhile Marian Hossa apparently thinks he's still in Ottawa, he's been completely invisible for two games. Nobody can win a loose puck except Mellanby. The powerplay is beyond abysmal, we'd be better off declining the penalties or if that isn't allowed then somebody quickly take an obvious whistle so we can play 4-on-4. Most disturbing to me though, and the reason I absolutely expect them to lose two straight in NY is that the team simply quit for all but about 45 seconds after falling behind 2-1. When they should have been their most desperate, instead there were people behind the play just watching the puck get turned over.

I thought that was amazing. I actually caught myself looking at the banner with the score and clock and thinking, "Wait, we are up a goal with only a few minutes left right? I didn't imagine Shanny's goal, did I?"

[DeToxRox]

Wings dominate the first vs Calgary and are up 2-0. The Flames are like chickens with their heads cut off. Playfair could honestly get fired DURING this series with how awful they look.

[Draft Dodger]

if the Flames didn't want to play in the postseason, they could have just let the Avs get in. it's embarrassing when 90% of their effort is in mugging Red Wings after the whistle.

[bhlloy]

Holy shit - Patrick Eaves just got knocked out cold by Colby Armstrong. Best hit I have seen in a long time. Wouldn't be surprised to see Neil going after Crosby or Malkin before the end of the game.

[Honolulu_Blue]

if the Flames didn't want to play in the postseason, they could have just let the Avs get in. it's embarrassing when 90% of their effort is in mugging Red Wings after the whistle.

The Flames finally seemed to calm down after the first 10 minutes, which was complete madness. They played pretty well in the second period, but were still out shot in the game something like 51-16 or something.

Game 3 will be very interesting. The Flames have pulled this Jekyl and Hyde routine all year. They are a very different team at home. Hopefully it will be too little, too late and the Wings can steal one in Calgary and finish them off in 5. There's still a long way to go before we start thinking about that.

Kipursoff has been outstanding. None of the Wings' 3 goals were his fault at all

[Maple Leafs]

Holy shit - Patrick Eaves just got knocked out cold by Colby Armstrong. Best hit I have seen in a long time. Wouldn't be surprised to see Neil going after Crosby or Malkin before the end of the game.
Notice how the defenseman gives him a little shove forward right before impact... that's what got him.

I hope Ottawa fans make a big deal out of this, just so we can hear Buffalo fans go insane.

[RendeR]

Ottowa finally getting some of their dues eh? Good.

[NoSkillz]

Notice how the defenseman gives him a little shove forward right before impact... that's what got him.

I hope Ottawa fans make a big deal out of this, just so we can hear Buffalo fans go insane.

You rang?

:D

[Maple Leafs]

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).

[Pumpy Tudors]

Someone needs to tell the Penguins that the first 40 minutes of the game are meaningful. They come to play in the third period, but they allow themselves to get bullied in the first and second periods. It's terrible.

On the bright side, at least they're not looking nearly as bad as the Flames are. My goodness, the Wings could've put up 10 goals on an average goalie. I watched most of the game and was still surprised to see that the final score was 3-1. Kiprusoff was amazing.

[bhlloy]

Must be tough to be a Wild fan - 2 games in a row the Wild probably should have come away with a win, but their powerplay is unbelievably inept espcially given some of the offensive firepower they have. Having said that, great defense wins in the playoffs and between Bryzgalov, Pronger, Niedermayer & Beauchemin the Wild really haven't had that many clear cut scoring opportunities.

Giguere must be sick... two years running something bad has happened just before the playoffs and Bryzgalov plays him out of a job.

The Red Wings scare me a lot, they look the most playoff ready of all the teams out there right now. Hopefully Nashville and San Jose's war of attrition means whoever comes through that series is completely banged up.

[Suburban Rhythm]

Someone needs to tell the Penguins that the first 40 minutes of the game are meaningful. They come to play in the third period, but they allow themselves to get bullied in the first and second periods. It's terrible.


Don't know if you caught this on FSN....during the mad rush at the end, Bob Errey commented 'This team is pretty good when their desparate, eh?'

Not related to any one series in particular (although I've watched PIT-OTT the most intently)- I can see why the NHL can not draw new fans.
Maybe because I didn't have a vested interest with the Pens out of the playoffs, but could the officiating be any more inconsistent?

Not just talking calling things the same for both teams, but calling things the same for the SAME team, across 3 periods.

[Maple Leafs]

Maybe because I didn't have a vested interest with the Pens out of the playoffs, but could the officiating be any more inconsistent?
The officiating has been maddening in the OTT/PIT series, on both sides. Guys are getting called for brushing someone in the hip with their stick or putting hand on a shoulder for a fraction of a second, then on the next shift somebody gets a stick to the face or a blatant knee and it's not called.

[Draft Dodger]

The officiating has been maddening in the OTT/PIT series, on both sides. Guys are getting called for brushing someone in the hip with their stick or putting hand on a shoulder for a fraction of a second, then on the next shift somebody gets a stick to the face or a blatant knee and it's not called.

it's been ridiculous. stunningly bad.

[Draft Dodger]

Must be tough to be a Wild fan - 2 games in a row the Wild probably should have come away with a win, but their powerplay is unbelievably inept espcially given some of the offensive firepower they have. Having said that, great defense wins in the playoffs and between Bryzgalov, Pronger, Niedermayer & Beauchemin the Wild really haven't had that many clear cut scoring opportunities.


I had to switch from this game last night. The Minnesota FSN announcers were BRUTAL homers. I can handle homers to a point, but these guys were so far over the top that I couldn't take it.

[Suburban Rhythm]

The officiating has been maddening in the OTT/PIT series, on both sides. Guys are getting called for brushing someone in the hip with their stick or putting hand on a shoulder for a fraction of a second, then on the next shift somebody gets a stick to the face or a blatant knee and it's not called.

OK, I feel better now that I'm not the only one seeing it.

Last night's game, OTT up 2-1, Gonchar springs Erik Christensen into the OTT zone. Pens already on the PP. Chris Philipps, about a step behind Christensen, immediately puts his stick across the Penguin's logo on EC's jersey. Not long, probably a second, 2 tops. But enough to slow him down. EC shoots from about 5 feet in from the top of the circle, Emery makes the save.

The exact same play, not a vicious swing of the stick or dragging down of a player, but quick tug on the sweater, got Malkin 2 hooking calls during the game, both in the neutral zone.

The only difference was there was no way they were giving PIT a 5-3 for that.

Another fantastic call was Roberts getting dumped from behind into Emery, I believe by Volchenkov. Pens had pulled Fleury, and had the puck in the corner. Why in the world would Roberts dive into Emery 50 feet from the puck?

And then the Schubert hit on Scuderi near the end of the game from behind. The only difference between Schubert's hit and Radulov's hit on Bernier is Scuderi left the ice on his own.

[Karim]

I didn't expect to beat the Wings but I did expect an effort and trying to keep it close. We're easily the worst playoff team and do not deserve to be there. Colorado would have easily given Detroit a better series.

Guess I need to find another team to cheer for for the remainder of the playoffs...

[Honolulu_Blue]

I didn't expect to beat the Wings but I did expect an effort and trying to keep it close. We're easily the worst playoff team and do not deserve to be there. Colorado would have easily given Detroit a better series.

Guess I need to find another team to cheer for for the remainder of the playoffs...

A team isn't in trouble in the playoffs until they lose at home. While the Flames haven't shown any life at all so far in the first two games, they've been pretty crappy on the road all season. Based on that, they should be pretty solid at home. If it goes to a game seven, anything can happen...

If the Flames do end up not being able to rally, we stand here with open arms, Karim.

Join us. Join The Red Wave. ("Join The Red Wave" is just the latest of a string of horrible playoff slogans the Wings' PR people have come up with.)

[st.cronin]

The officiating in the NHL is never as bad as people try to make it. At its worst, its still better than the NBA.

[Suburban Rhythm]

The officiating in the NHL is never as bad as people try to make it. At its worst, its still better than the NBA.


But it at least is consistently awful. You go into the game knowing you can take 3 steps and carry the ball all night.

[Karim]

There has been a lot of interesting fallout from Bob MacKenzie's suggestion that the Flames should create history and fire Playfair before Game 3. His contention is that a weak exit will result in Playfair's dismissal anyway, so the best coach in the organization (Sutter - with 410 wins) should step behind the bench.

Ignoring the fact that Sutter chose Playfair (who has been in the organization for seven years, working his way up from the minors) and publically stated that he has no interest coaching, there is no doubt that it was Sutter who got this team into the playoffs. With Colorado's amazing run putting pressure on the Flames and closing the gap to four points, Sutter went to talk to the players in the dressing room. Calgary proceeded to rattle off six straight wins, including against Nashville, Detroit and Vancover. It was enough to hold onto eighth spot.

It's clear to many that Playfair does not command the respect of the players. He benched Amonte this year only to apologize publically afterwards even though Amonte deserved it. He publically stated that he can't motivate this team. And this beauty from earlier in the year:

I asked why the Wild has been able to “figure it out” on the road and the Flames have not, and Playfair said, “I think their leaders have taken it upon themselves to listen to their coach.”

It's likely we'll lose even if Sutter takes over but at least it would no longer be easy for Detroit.

[st.cronin]

But it at least is consistently awful. You go into the game knowing you can take 3 steps and carry the ball all night.

My favorite thing in the NBA is when a guy takes a shot, and the ref watches to see if it goes in or not before he calls a foul. Ok, I'm done talking about basketball. Back to hockey.

[Honolulu_Blue]

Wow. Hartley is going back to Lehtonen in Game 3. What's he doing here? I can't see how either of those two goals were Hedberg's fault at all.

http://www.ajc.com/blogs/content/shared-blogs/ajc/thrashers/entries/2007/04/16/kari_lehtonen_y.html

Kari Lehtonen - you’re up

By Craig Custance (http://www.ajc.com/blogs/content/shared-blogs/ajc/thrashers/entries/2007/04/16//blogs/content/shared-blogs/ajc/thrashers/entries/2007/04/16/kari_lehtonen_y.html#postcomment) | Monday, April 16, 2007, 11:55 AM
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

It’s back to Kari Lehtonen for game three in New York. Bob Hartley announced today after practice that he’s returning to his young goalie, and expects him to play well on Tuesday in New York. He said this one was a no-brainer, pointing out that Lehtonen plays well at Madison Square Garden and that he has the talent to win the big game.


Lehtonen said he’s ready to go. He admitted that there were a couple days where he was a little disappointed and down after being benched, but some quiet time at home helped him turn the corner.


Hedberg, as usual, handled the whole situation with class. “There’s no room for egos,” he said when asked about his reaction.

No other lineup changes for game three.

[JonInMiddleGA]

Hartley has apparently lost his mind. In the current situation, there's absolutely no way you don't put Hedberg back out there for game three.

[Draft Dodger]

I think Lehtonen is the right move here, and I agree with Hartley that it's a no-brainer.

Lehtonen is the guy in Atlanta. Sitting him in game 2 was the right thing to do, but you have to go back to him now.

[Logan]

Even if Lehtonen is the franchise, I just don't understand how you take Hedberg out when he made some unreal saves and played a fantastic game (a fluke goal and a great setup by Avery that led to Shanahan putting it into an empty net). I forgot who shot it, but he blocked a sure goal with a toe save coming across the crease that was incredible.

[JonInMiddleGA]

Lehtonen is the guy in Atlanta. Sitting him in game 2 was the right thing to do, but you have to go back to him now.

I see it totally the opposite. If you're going to play him in game three, you might as well as played him in two as well. Hedberg outplayed him, and has consistently outplayed him against the Rangers specifically. If being "the guy" means you have to play him again at some point in the series, fine, tell him today that he's starting game four. But no way I can justify going back to him for this one.

[bhlloy]

I see it totally the opposite. If you're going to play him in game three, you might as well as played him in two as well. Hedberg outplayed him, and has consistently outplayed him against the Rangers specifically. If being "the guy" means you have to play him again at some point in the series, fine, tell him today that he's starting game four. But no way I can justify going back to him for this one.

Pretty much dead on. The only other thing I can think is that dropping Lehtonen for game 2 was a message and that Hartley always intended to go back to him after the benching. Not sure that game 2 of the opening round of the playoffs is the right time to send a message though.

If Lehtonen has a bad game tonight and the Thrashers eventually lose the series, wonder whether Hartley might pay the price in the offseason.

[General Mike]

Islanders fans were this close to rioting tonight.

[RPI-Fan]

Islanders fans were this close to rioting tonight.

Reprehensible behavior by those fans, reprehensible judgement shown by the referee late in the game.

[Logan]

Reprehensible behavior by those fans, reprehensible judgement shown by the referee late in the game.

Details please?

[RPI-Fan]

Details please?

*shrug*

...throwing stuff on the ice due to a bad call = terrible behavior.

...calling a weak-as-shit tripping penalty in the offensive zone
with under two minutes to go in a close playoff game = horrendous judgement.

[Logan]

Thanks. The ending of the game was close to the end of 24, so...

[kingfc22]

Unfortunately this is starting to look eerily similar to the EDM series last year. The Sharks have been horrid on the power play.

[NoSkillz]

*shrug*

...throwing stuff on the ice due to a bad call = terrible behavior.

...calling a weak-as-shit tripping penalty in the offensive zone
with under two minutes to go in a close playoff game = horrendous judgement.

I heard the fans were throwing BEER BOTTLES on the ice. Is that true?!

Horrific behaviour if that's the case and why in the blue hell does the arena let fans into the seating area with bottles if so...

(Sorry, just got home and didn't see the game...just heard about it on another board)

[TazFTW]

Go Lightning!

[Vinatieri for Prez]

I believe it was one bottle, and probably plastic. Still bad form, but not quite throwing a glass bottle at somebody.

And that was a horrid tripping call. It was a half-slash that barely caught the guy in the foot. Hardly worth calling even in the first minute of the game.

[RendeR]

They were plastic bottles, however the ones being thrown were half full and 3 or 4 times as many hit the glass and bounced back at other fans than ever reached the ice.

Typical New York fans reaction to a game not going their way. If your team can't beatem, the fans will try.

[Vinatieri for Prez]

They were plastic bottles, however the ones being thrown were half full and 3 or 4 times as many hit the glass and bounced back at other fans than ever reached the ice.

Typical New York fans reaction to a game not going their way. If your team can't beatem, the fans will try.

Ok. I stand corrected. More than bad form. I'm an Islanders fan, but that is not good.

[Logan]

2-0 Rangers on 2 goals by Nylander, one 32 seconds in, the next almost 10 minutes in.

[Logan]

*ahem*

3-0.

Should I first wait for JiMGA to get here before I blast Hartley/Lehtonen?

[st.cronin]

In my experience, the typical Islanders fan is barely human. Hardly surprising.

[TazFTW]

Bob Hartley rules.

[General Mike]

Rangers looking good in First period

[JonInMiddleGA]

Should I first wait for JiMGA to get here before I blast Hartley/Lehtonen?

You may fire when ready Gridley.

(I'm fighting the flu and losing nearly as bad as the Thrash, so anything I've got to add won't be my best work)

[Logan]

You may fire when ready Gridley.

(I'm fighting the flu and losing nearly as bad as the Thrash, so anything I've got to add won't be my best work)

Thanks.

Simply put, it was fucking moronic to ditch Hedberg. Supposedly you pulled Lehtonen because he gave up a cheapy. Fine. But outside of the Rangers two cheapies, a fluke bounce and a empty net for Shanny to shoot into (fine, not a true cheapy, but you gotta put that on the defense), Hedberg played one of the best games a goalie could play. It was the type of game that you get out of the superhuman goalie that you've been riding through the playoffs and into the Finals. And he did that in his first game, just unreal.

Get him out after the 3rd goal. Hell, you wouldn't kill Hartley if he pulled him after goal #2. Yes, it shows you made the wrong move, but it also shows that you don't give a shit what other people think of you -- you're doing whatever you can to salvage the game and the series.

edit: 5-nil after 2.

[Draft Dodger]

ok, so maybe I was wrong.

[JonInMiddleGA]

Y'know, Kovaluchuk is probably never going to be the smartest player in hockey and I certainly get frustrated with his shortcomings but damned if I don't like the fact that he at least seems to care enough about how badly they've been embarrassed in this series to be pissed off about it.

edit to add: Now 6-0, and Atlanta doesn't have a shot on goal in the last 13+ minutes, and only 1 in the last 20 minutes.

[Pumpy Tudors]

I haven't watched the NYR/ATL series at all, but just judging by the scores of the games, it's embarrassing. The Thrashers have managed to make the Rangers look like a playoff threat, which is something that I haven't seen out of New York in 10 years.

[Ryche]

Damn, the end of the Ducks-Wild game was getting nasty. The next game should be fun. If the Ducks don't win that one, they might be in trouble, the Wild looked like they had much more energy tonight.

[Young Drachma]

Nice slapshot by Iginla to put the Flames ahead.

[sachmo71]

Hard to pin the Stars woes on Turco this time. The Stars haven't won a playoff game at home in six tries. Unbelievable.

[Dr. Sak]

Did anyone else find it amusing that Rutuu got a charging penalty last night for running over Ryan Malone...his own teammate??

[MikeVic]

Did anyone else find it amusing that Rutuu got a charging penalty last night for running over Ryan Malone...his own teammate??

Hahaha. Really??

[Pumpy Tudors]

I missed Ruutu's charging penalty, but I do know that Ryan Malone is a sexy, sexy man.

[Young Drachma]

Pumpy. If the Devils blow this Series against the Bolts, is it time to call for Quick Trigger Lou's head? Or at least, ask politely if he would stop firing coaches with less than 10 games left in the regular season?

And beg him not to trade us to some western outpost as punishment for questioning him and not kissing the rings?

[Scholes]

Just wondering what the take is on the West Coast re: game 4 last night between the Ducks and Wild.

Everyone is pretty fired up around here, saying Thornton jumped in to gang up on Adam Hall, Brad May is public enemy #1 after his sucker punch of Kim Johnsson, and just the overall meltdown of the Ducks.

I'm not sure if Thornton was a third man jumping into fight Hall, he may have been trying to break it up, but what he did was dangerous. I never did see what May did, the camera didn't get a good shot.

It was strange though. In my opinion, the Ducks are simply the better team here but to see them come unglued like that was strange. I still think they take the next one, although it should be interesting to see what Boogaard, Parros, etc. are up to.

[Pyser]

Pumpy. If the Devils blow this Series against the Bolts, is it time to call for Quick Trigger Lou's head? Or at least, ask politely if he would stop firing coaches with less than 10 games left in the regular season?

And beg him not to trade us to some western outpost as punishment for questioning him and not kissing the rings?

lous not going anywhere. but maybe he'll learn from this if it turns into a first round exit.

article in nj papers today say burns is ready to return to coaching...

[bbor]

I always liked Pat Burns.I hope he gets the job.

[Young Drachma]

lous not going anywhere. but maybe he'll learn from this if it turns into a first round exit.

article in nj papers today say burns is ready to return to coaching...

I wouldn't want Lou to leave. Rod Thorn probably needs to put some pressure on Bruce RATner to figure out what the Nets are going to do, languishing away at the Meadowlands will be even worse once the Devils move to Newark next year.

They better take them up on that offer to move to the Prudential Center since that arena in Brooklyn is gonna get built at the same time that Brooklyn gets a new MLB team.

[Chief Rum]

Just wondering what the take is on the West Coast re: game 4 last night between the Ducks and Wild.

Everyone is pretty fired up around here, saying Thornton jumped in to gang up on Adam Hall, Brad May is public enemy #1 after his sucker punch of Kim Johnsson, and just the overall meltdown of the Ducks.

I'm not sure if Thornton was a third man jumping into fight Hall, he may have been trying to break it up, but what he did was dangerous. I never did see what May did, the camera didn't get a good shot.

It was strange though. In my opinion, the Ducks are simply the better team here but to see them come unglued like that was strange. I still think they take the next one, although it should be interesting to see what Boogaard, Parros, etc. are up to.

Wish I could say much about this. That's what sucks about the night shift--you miss all the night time sporting events when it ain't your day off. I listened to the game on radio at lunch, but it was just 1-1 then near the end of the second period.

I still don't know the details of what happened at the end of the game or what qualified as "coming unglued". But I will say this--for all of our quality and skill, the Ducks have an awful lot of "edge" and "toughness". In other words, we have a lot of guys who qualify toughie/gritty players, May, Parros, Moen, Pahlsson (yup, a Euro tough guy go figure). And the organizational philosophy, per Brian Burkian history, suggests the willingness to meet you out on the playground after school mentality. Neither Burke nor Carlyle are inclined to rein in the players' emotions when it comes to getting mad, fighting, etc.

So the Ducks can be involved in some pretty volatile situations when the emotions get high.

The toughies may have won out last night, but expect the cool calm of guys like Niedermayer (Scott) and Jiggy to reign over the team for the next game. The Ducks are the type of team to totally blow a game and then just come back and whip your ass in the next one. I haven't seen much evidence of carry over for this team when it has a bad game.

[Honolulu_Blue]

Just wondering what the take is on the West Coast re: game 4 last night between the Ducks and Wild.

Everyone is pretty fired up around here, saying Thornton jumped in to gang up on Adam Hall, Brad May is public enemy #1 after his sucker punch of Kim Johnsson, and just the overall meltdown of the Ducks.

I'm not sure if Thornton was a third man jumping into fight Hall, he may have been trying to break it up, but what he did was dangerous. I never did see what May did, the camera didn't get a good shot.

It was strange though. In my opinion, the Ducks are simply the better team here but to see them come unglued like that was strange. I still think they take the next one, although it should be interesting to see what Boogaard, Parros, etc. are up to.

It's not too surprising the Ducks became unglued at the end there. I think this was really the first time in the series that the final result of a game was not in question. Once teams have 3 goal leads with little time left, that usually becomes "send a message" time or "take out all the pent up agression we've had over the last three tight games" time. Given the Ducks' cast of characters (see, e.g., Chief Rum's list above), that can be a volataile time.

Unless Minnesota takes a big lead again, I would be surprised if anything happens in the next game. It's certainly possible, especially with Boogaard around, but unlikely. The Wild have their backs against the wall and have to be focused on winning. The Ducks should be all business because they don't want to go back to Minnesota for Game 6.

If the game gets out of hand quickly for the Ducks' favor, I suppose there's a chance for tom foolery to breakout, but based on past viewing experience, teams rarely seem to engage into too much of that stuff when being eliminated from the playoffs. Perhaps that's the case because there is no "next game" to send a message about. Or something like that...

This series, the Nashville/San Jose series, the nastiness in the Ottawa/Pitt series just, once again, goes to show you that all good rivalries in the NHL are formed in the playoffs, not because teams meet each other 8 times in the regular season.

It was disappointing to see the Wings blow a 3rd period lead. They didn't look particularly sharp last night. Very disorganized and certainly didn't seem to be playing with too much of a sense of urgency, other than Dan Cleary who was amazing. I will also have to get props to Andreas Lilja. I've been hard on the guy all year, but he's really been playing well. He's been sound defensively and even appears to be playing with a bit of an edge. Perhaps he's finally discovering his inner Peter Worrell or something.

The goal for the Wings was to split the series in Calgary and that remains the goal.

I hate games that start at 10 pm on weeknights.

[Logan]

Hedberg starting tonight, so Hartley admits his fuckup roughly 5 goals too late.

[JonInMiddleGA]

Tkachuk scores 6:38 into the first period, giving Atlanta their first lead in the series.
...
which lasts for a whole 1:19, as the Rangers answer on the powerplay.

[Logan]

Series over. Rangers played really well.

[kingfc22]

The Isles are done.

[Pyser]

gomez shot the puck!

GOMEZ SHOT THE PUCK!!!

[bbor]

Hell of a shot by Gomez for the OT winner.

[bhlloy]

Just wondering what the take is on the West Coast re: game 4 last night between the Ducks and Wild.

Everyone is pretty fired up around here, saying Thornton jumped in to gang up on Adam Hall, Brad May is public enemy #1 after his sucker punch of Kim Johnsson, and just the overall meltdown of the Ducks.

I'm not sure if Thornton was a third man jumping into fight Hall, he may have been trying to break it up, but what he did was dangerous. I never did see what May did, the camera didn't get a good shot.

It was strange though. In my opinion, the Ducks are simply the better team here but to see them come unglued like that was strange. I still think they take the next one, although it should be interesting to see what Boogaard, Parros, etc. are up to.


Well, I'm not crying too much for Hall seeing as he did start the whole thing and went after Huskins, who is not much of a fighter and didn't want any part of Hall at all. Can't justify May jumping Johnsson, but you can see the line of thought - you go after one of our "skilled" defencemen (haha) and we go after one of yours.

Actually what the Ducks did was pretty stupid. With May and Thornton given the gate, we had Penner and O'Donnell matched up with Boogard and the Wild bigs. If things had gotten out of hand in the last minute and a half somebody on the Ducks could have got seriously hurt. I'd imagine Carlyle was pissed with Thornton and May both getting the gate. I don't know if Carlyle thought that Lemaire wouldn't dress Boogard with the series on the line and very little offense so far, but not dressing Parros was a big mistake IMO.

Anyways, I don't see it affecting us at all. All season we have played chippy games and have done fine afterwards. You wouldn't have thought we could possibly drop 2 in a row at home, but if the Wild powerplay gets hot and we keep taking dumb penalties stranger things have happened. Certainly praying that Beauchemain gets back for game 5 because Rome played like a guy in his first ever NHL game.

[Pumpy Tudors]

Pumpy. If the Devils blow this Series against the Bolts, is it time to call for Quick Trigger Lou's head? Or at least, ask politely if he would stop firing coaches with less than 10 games left in the regular season?

And beg him not to trade us to some western outpost as punishment for questioning him and not kissing the rings?
Yes, yes, and yes. :)

Really, Lou won't go anywhere, and I think Pat Burns is the only coach who'd have any type of security there. Hell, Jacques Lemaire could go back to New Jersey and immediately be on the hot seat. Really, that's got to be one of the least secure jobs in American sports.

As for tonight's game, the Devils played so well early in the game, and they had so many chances in overtime. You'd think that they deserved to win. Unfortunately, they gave Tampa Bay a lot of chances, too. It never looked like either team was really going to take control. It's fitting that the game ended on a turnover. Somebody finally got burned by a breakdown.

Also, Pyser and I talked about Gomez in PM earlier. He hasn't been shooting the puck, and I'm just as shocked about the shot as Pyser was. GOMEZ SHOT THE PUCK... AND WON THE GAME!

Parise is clearly the best player for the Devils in the playoffs (possibly in the regular season, not counting Brodeur) so far. I hope his teammates help him from this point forward.

[Young Drachma]

Glad the Devils won tonight. I was getting a little scared, but didn't get the see the game. Hopefully, we'll take it back to the swamp and go ahead and finish 'em off. I haven't had occasion to root for one of my own teams deep into the playoffs for a few years now.

I think it's time again.

[bhlloy]

May gets 3 games for the punch on Johnsson. Sounds about right. I didn't realise he was actually hurt, I thought he was just turtling.

[Suburban Rhythm]

Did anyone else find it amusing that Rutuu got a charging penalty last night for running over Ryan Malone...his own teammate??

Chiming in two days late on this, but...

Dan Marrouelli, for the sake of the NHL attracting new fans, should not call another game this playoffs. Please, can't we give him the Joey Crawford treatment? His children should have been embarrassed to go to school on Wednesday.

[Mizzou B-ball fan]

Another solid, if somewhat unspectacular win for the Sharks. Hopefully they can wrap up the series in Nashville and avoid prolonging the series. Need to start scoring on the power play as well.

[Draft Dodger]

not that this is news, but geez, Ottawa fans are sure cocky considering the playoff history of this franchise...