No Teefh (nhl playoffs)

[Shadarr]

And for the record Mario Lemeux played the same way, though not with as much speed.

Mario almost never hit anyone, and certainly never left his feet. The superstar you're thinking of is Pavel Bure.


And the Canucks let it go. Again.

Yeah. For all the fanfare, Luongo really didn't impress me in the post season. There were goalies who looked nigh-unbeatable, winning games when their team was badly outplayed. Luongo wasn't one of them.

None of the seven goals was particularly soft, but he still let in seven. His save percentage was .914 in the playoffs, 9th best out of 16 starters, which isn't terrible but is worse than guys like Osgood and Biron who aren't talked up as the best goalie in the league. At least he didn't Joe Thornton us out in the first round.

[Eightball]

"I really don't know why you keep phrasing it as a "yeah, but what if YOUR player did it?" thing.

Just to get a few shots in about Crosby, that's it ;)

[Xaroc]

Crosby plays the prettyboy, sure, but there's also Malkin.

Look, I don't care whether Ovechkin's actively trying to injure people or whether he's just a free-spirited nutjob. The point is that he gets away with crap that'd be criticized as careless, dangerous play if he was pretty much anybody else in the league.

This is a bunch of crap. OV hits mostly very hard and very clean. Most of the time he doesn't leave his feet until after he has hit whoever he is hitting. He explodes up through them with great force he doesn't jump into them. Also, that knee on knee on Gonchar was a missed shoulder check. The penalty was appropriate but he was not trying to hurt Gonchar at least not with his knee.

[Tim James]

I haven't watched a game in years but I am watching the playoffs this season because my mom's family is from Pittsburgh and the Penguins are my only loose connection to the sport. It kind of makes me sad that might late grandfather (a hockey addict) isn't around to enjoy the games in HD.

For my own part, I enjoy it a hell of a lot more now that I can see what's going on!

[delirium]

Yeah, hockey in HD has really improved the TV watchability of games...probably more so than any other sport I can think of. I'm hoping hockey's popularity grows with the HD market because "It sucks watching it on TV, you really have to see it live" is no longer a valid excuse.

[Omniscia]

Except when you're watching on Versus or NBC, because even their HD broadcasts suck. The camera angle is too high, the video is all compressed to hell, the contrast is flat, the audio is lackluster and fails to capture the arena atmosphere, Doc Emrick does the play-by-play...

NESN HD, on the other hand, is awesome. It's easily the next best thing to actually being at the game. The image is bright, crisp, and colorful, the audio is expansive, Doc Emrick doesn't do the play-by-play...

[Tim James]

New England Sports Network? Somehow I doubt I get that in Florida with cable.

I specifically mentioned not watching the sport for years because the last game I watched was probably on something like a 23" CRT. It's a monumental improvement. Bad HD will still be with us for years.

[delirium]

The NBC broadcasts look pretty good to me, but yeah, games on Versus look like crap a lot of the time. It seems to depend on the arena. As annoying as I find Mike Emrick's style, I have to admit he does a great job of actually calling the games.

[Omniscia]

Maybe it's just Comcast that's compressing the hell out of NBC, then, 'cos it often looks like a sea of grey macroblocking. One of these days I'll have to get the ol' Voom receiver out of the basement and see how the OTA signal looks by comparison.

And, yeah, Tim, you probably wouldn't get NESN outside of New England, but my point was simply that while great HD hockey is available, in my experience the national broadcasts are disappointing compared to what you get from local networks.

Either way, it's far better than the old stuff. We get CBC here, but not CBC HD, so Hockey Night in Canada looks just as blurry and indistinct as it did 15 years ago. I much prefer (some of) their commentators, but the awful video is a dealbreaker for me if I can find the same game in HD elsewhere.

[nixon66]

I've been watching the games up here in Washington on Comcast on Versus and haven't really had any issues with the HD broadcast, but then maybe I wasn't really looking for it. I had more issues during football season with an NBC broadcast of a game, but Fox usually came through for me most of the time.

[NuclearWinter]

YES! LET'S GO BRUINS!!!

Bring on game 7, I just hope that Savvy is ok to play.

[Major Icehole]

This has been already one of the best playoff seasons I can remember.

[Omniscia]

All right Bs! Keep on keepin' on, and all that.

[Major Icehole]

And yet another game 7.

Ducks are the first team to take the wings to 7 in 7 years. WOW.

[delirium]

The NHL must be pretty stoked on how these playoffs are going. ESPN still gives basketball the most love, but hockey is getting some coverage, and some of the heads on there will even openly admit the NHL playoffs are more exciting this year.

[Major Malphunktion]

The NHL playoffs have been awesome this year- Caps v pens- incredible show of talent. B's and 'Canes Drama central-and some of the best team play in the game. Ducks v Wings-David vs Goliath...
i just haven't been watching the NBA other than in between periods.

[Wallapuctus]

Agreed this is the best playoff season in a while... and I'm not just saying that because the Bruins got past the first round!

Well, maybe that's why I'm saying it but I am having a good time watching.

[Shadarr]

The Ducks aren't really David, they're a very good team who recently won a cup, but for a number of reasons underachieved in the regular season. And they also have the best goalie in the playoffs right now.

[nlanza]

Holy crap.

I really was not expecting to see Theodore in net in Game 7, especially not this way.

[sluggo]

Ye gods, this is a massacre.

[Major Icehole]

Shit.

[Omniscia]

I didn't know you could legally play a hockey game when only one team bothered showing up.

[Acoustic Rob]

Wow, I was expecting a really tense hard-fought game, but Washington just got flattened.

On to the next round for the Pens! Nice to see Gonchar skating around, though I'd feel happier if Malkin would show up for more than one game per series.

[Arkon262]

Wow, I was expecting a really tense hard-fought game, but Washington just got flattened.

On to the next round for the Pens! Nice to see Gonchar skating around, though I'd feel happier if Malkin would show up for more than one game per series.

If Malkin would play with the same intensity and outright determination as Crosby the Pens would be nigh unstoppable.

[Eightball]

The better team won the series. That's as it should be.

Surprising to see how badly the Caps played yesterday. Apparently, in Boudreau's postgame conference, he said that Tom Poti had been playing the last 6 games on a broken foot; Mike Green hurt his shoulder in game 1 against the Rangers and hasn't recovered; Ovechkin is playing on a groin injury (ouch...); and Semin has some undisclosed injury which would have sidelined him if it was the regular season. The Caps just aren't good enough to overcome injuries like that to 3 of their top 4 guys.

Oh well. The core of the team is really young, so the Caps have a bright future. Time to go get a defenseman in the offseason....

[Tim James]

That's interesting. The Versus guys specifically mentioned injuries but said that at least from the booth it didn't seem like they were playing hurt. While watching I just figured it was a game 7 exhaustion breakdown and it happened to be Washington first.

[Omniscia]

Overtime!

I'm glad the Bruins have lasted this long. It was looking a little dicey for a while.

Also, fuck you, Scott Walker.

[NuclearWinter]

Fucking Scott Walker, figures. Oh well, at least the torture is over.

It was still a season to be proud of for the Bruins, hopefully next year will be even better.

[Major Malphunktion]

well, yeah I have nothing nice to say. Go 'Guins!

[Omniscia]

It was still a season to be proud of for the Bruins, hopefully next year will be even better.

If next year follows the emerging pattern, they'll make a good run in the playoffs only to hit a wall, claw their way back, and then lose in Game 7 of the conference final.

[Skipper]

Great game last night, then again I was on the other side pulling for the Canes. To be honest I really wasn't sure who would win but I'm happy with the result. The Bruins should indeed be proud of their season.

[Major Icehole]

I'm rooting now for the Canes and Blackhawks to make the finals. PUCK FITTSBURG. Srsly.

Hopefully the 'Canes won't let him (Sid) camp out near the crease like the Caps did.

[Skipper]

I'm rooting now for the Canes and Blackhawks to make the finals. PUCK FITTSBURG. Srsly.

Hopefully the 'Canes won't let him (Sid) camp out near the crease like the Caps did.

Yeah I'm rooting for the same. Funny though, seeing your location made me wish for the days of the Av's in their prime again. I'm a huge Sakic fan.

[Major Icehole]

When the Av's won the cup it was so freaking fun here. Not so long ago they sold out over 400 games in a row. Now you can buy tickets for a few dollars right up to game time.

[Shadarr]

I'm rooting now for the Canes and Blackhawks to make the finals.

Prepare to be disappointed. I expect Detroit to completely dominate the Hawks. They probably won't blow them out or sweep, but I predict that when you watch the games it will look like a total mismatch.

And to drag up something we were talking about before, Boston's depth in goal did not matter, at all. What is kind of intersting is that Fleury is the only goalie left who hasn't won a cup. I don't think it means anything since Khabibulin's win had more to do with the Hawk forwards and Luongo than his own play, but it's something to ponder.

Hiller played great but ultimately couldn't hold back the tide, Miller played great but let in the one goal that renders it all for naught. Goalie is such a mental position, it's worth speculating whether some guys really are "playoff" goalies and some aren't. Roy was, Luongo isn't. Belfour won cups with largely the same Dallas team that Turco failed with. Osgood gets no respect, but here he is again.

[Skipper]

Canes game tonight, I'm ready. Please Carolina hold out through this series.

[Creole Ned]

Anyone else getting a feeling of inevitability, that Detroit is just going to march to another (boring) cup win?

[Skipper]

Hell I hope not. At this point ... ABD. (Anybody but Detroit.)

[Xaroc]

Detroit is going to win again and really should because they have the best run organization in the league. I like the Hawks youth and peppiness but they just don't have the chops to hang with the Wings IMO. Honestly I think probably of the teams that are left Carolina might have the best chance against the Wings. They are three lines deep, skate well, play good team defense, have the best goalie in the playoffs, and won it all 3 years ago with a lot of the same players. The Penguins no matter how you slice and dice it are worse than last year. The moves they made at deadline and earlier were good but they are down Hossa and just don't have the overall talent to stack up against Detroit.

[Brooski]

Anyone else getting a feeling of inevitability, that Detroit is just going to march to another (boring) cup win?
There is nothing boring about the Red Wings winning.

When I was growing up, they were called the Dead Things, were flat-out awful, never made the playoffs, hadn't won the Cup since 1955, and the best thing about their games was going to Olympia Stadium.

I lived in Chicago for a long time but never became a Hawks fan, and am loving this series matchup. I'm back here (Chicago) on vacation for a week and can't wait to hit one of the Detroit expat bars (there are several - we used to go to Wellington's way back when) for one of the games.

If the Wings win their series, and the Canes win theirs, I am going to go to one Finals game for sure.

[Major Icehole]

I lived in Chicago for a long time but never became a Hawks fan, and am loving this series matchup. I'm back here (Chicago) on vacation for a week and can't wait to hit one of the Detroit expat bars (there are several - we used to go to Wellington's way back when) for one of the games.



I grew up in the Chicago area and it was hard to become a Hawks fan. The owner refused to let the games be broadcast locally and if you couldn't go to games it was hard to remember they existed. This year I believe is the first year they've really had any local games on TV.

[Omniscia]

This year I believe is the first year they've really had any local games on TV.

And that's only 'cos Bill Wirtz finally kicked it.

[Skipper]

From most of my Hawks buddies, nobody liked that guy at all. What a prick to kill fans by doing that.

As for the game tonight, it was tough to watch, a nail-biter for sure. Carolina came so close but that early lead is what kept Pitt in it. Did anyone catch that story during the break about Patrick Roy asked to come coach the Avs?

[Omniscia]

Yeah, the Canes really put the pressure on toward the end. It was great. Too bad they lost.

[Shadarr]

Anyone else getting a feeling of inevitability, that Detroit is just going to march to another (boring) cup win?

You'll note I predicted exactly this before the weekend. I root against them because they're a dynasty and it makes the playoffs less wide open.

However, considering that they are from Detroit--which has nothing else going on except layoffs and the Lions losing--and they are just a tremendously well-run organization which brings in top talent and plays solid two-way hockey, I can't really hate them the way I do the Yankees, Lakers or Patriots.

They don't have a Steinbrenner, Belichick or Kobe to loath, they have guys I wish were on my team. They don't play boring hockey, they just play so well that it seems totally lopsided and the result inevitable. They do exactly what the other team wants to do, they just do it better. That's enough for me to root against them, but not enough for me to hate them.

[Creole Ned]

Well said. I don't hate the Wings (and I remember when they were the "Dead Things") but they've won the cup four times since 1996 and I prefer more of a mix-up in the battle than one really strong team pushing toward an inevitable if well-deserved finish. And Detroit isn't boring to watch, it's just boring to me to have them rack up yet another championship. But we've actually seen some unexpected championship teams recently, so my complaint isn't entirely valid.

When I went back looking over past Stanley Cup winners I noticed Canadian teams won the cup 6 times in the 70s (all Montreal, including four in a row), 7 times in the 80s (consecutively, no less, with Montreal, Calgary and Edmonton winning), then only once in the 90s when Montreal won in 1993. So far no Canadian team has won in the 2000s and there's only one chance left next year. Canada sucks.

[Skipper]

When I went back looking over past Stanley Cup winners I noticed Canadian teams won the cup 6 times in the 70s (all Montreal, including four in a row), 7 times in the 80s (consecutively, no less, with Montreal, Calgary and Edmonton winning), then only once in the 90s when Montreal won in 1993. So far no Canadian team has won in the 2000s and there's only one chance left next year. Canada sucks.

A lot of folks attribute that directly to the amount Canadian teams can pay for equivalent talent versus a US team. It's an interesting topic, note the graph below. That being said there are a number of things that come into play, and this is only one of them.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/48/CAD_USD_Exchange_Rates.png

[Acoustic Rob]

Like the two of you, as much as I dislike sports dynasties, I really can't hate the Red Wings too much. Even though they beat my Penguins last year. They just play a good brand of hockey.

Part of the reason I can't bring the Hate is because when they won in '97 they beat the Flyers, and I HATE the Flyers. So they've got that going for them.

[Omniscia]

I like the Red Wings. Not because I have any particular affinity for Detroit, but because, as Rob said, they play a good brand of hockey.

I love how adept their players are at each end of the ice. They don't need a designated scoring line, or a checking line, or anything like that, because most of their regulars seem equally suited to scoring and tight defense. They're so well-balanced.

[Shadarr]

A lot of folks attribute that directly to the amount Canadian teams can pay for equivalent talent versus a US team. It's an interesting topic, note the graph below. That being said there are a number of things that come into play, and this is only one of them.


Since NHL salaries are in US dollars and there is a salary cap in place now, I'm not sure how much of a factor that is. Obviously it was a big deal pre-cap, since it actually doomed a couple of teams and the Oilers have never been able to hold onto their talented players. Although as Pronger showed, even with the cap Edmonton is fighting an uphill battle because it's Edmonton.

I think that the simpler explanation is just that there are 6 Canadian teams out of 30, and we no longer have the current dynasty team in Canada (formerly Edmonton, now Detroit). When you look at the teams on a case by case basis, it's not an obvious case of money problems except for Edmonton and maybe Calgary. Vancouver's problem was that they had an ownership shake-up which led to Burke leaving right when that team was getting good. Since then they've gone through two GM changes.

Ottawa had a similar story; they got very very close, and then the whole thing blew up. Montreal is always on the verge of being good, but then they get to the playoffs and it turns out they're still too small. Toronto is just a case of fans demanding that the team win now, all the time, and mortgaging their future on over-the-hill veterans, never going through a proper rebuilding phase. Basically what I see is mismanagement and a lack of the kind of continuity and quality organization that teams like Detroit and New Jersey have. Perhaps the other cities suffer from a milder form of the Toronto affliction; fans are hockey crazy and are less patient, leading to frequent front office shuffles and a lack of the continuity you see in Detroit.

Also, as mentioned, teams moving south. Those Colorado cups are surely a sore point for Quebec City.

[Creole Ned]

Yeah, that had to sting. The Quebec Nordiques won the cup the year after they moved to Colorado and became the Avalanche. Nothing like waving bye-bye to what turns out to be a Stanley Cup-winning franchise.

[Staff Sergeant]

Enh, hockey is a business and QC was a really terrible market, what with everything being announced/publicized only in French and the hockey fans being split between Montreal and QC.

[delirium]

I think that the simpler explanation is just that there are 6 Canadian teams out of 30, and we no longer have the current dynasty team in Canada (formerly Edmonton, now Detroit). When you look at the teams on a case by case basis, it's not an obvious case of money problems except for Edmonton and maybe Calgary. Vancouver's problem was that they had an ownership shake-up which led to Burke leaving right when that team was getting good. Since then they've gone through two GM changes.


Let me add that the 2 teams with potential money issues both came within one game of winning the cup in the last 5 years. And Calgary was even before the salary cap.

[Skipper]

Let me add that the 2 teams with potential money issues both came within one game of winning the cup in the last 5 years. And Calgary was even before the salary cap.

This is true and a great point. The money problem always seems to come up when the talking heads discuss it on TV though. Like I said, I think it's a lot of reasons but Canada deserves a Cup again.

Another great game last night. I thought for sure Chicago was going to win it but that breakaway was something to behold at the end.

[Shadarr]

Yeah, that had to sting. The Quebec Nordiques won the cup the year after they moved to Colorado and became the Avalanche. Nothing like waving bye-bye to what turns out to be a Stanley Cup-winning franchise.
As a counter-arguement, Montreal would never have traded Patrick Roy to the Nordiques, and it's questionable whether the Avalanche would've won the cup with someone else.


Like I said, I think it's a lot of reasons but Canada deserves a Cup again.
There's no such thing as deserve, but I think it's good for the league to have teams from Canada and the northern US in the final. Tampa, Carolina, Anaheim and other southern teams don't generate any excitement, even locally.

[Skipper]

There's no such thing as deserve, but I think it's good for the league to have teams from Canada and the northern US in the final. Tampa, Carolina, Anaheim and other southern teams don't generate any excitement, even locally.

I think the Hurricanes would get a lot more excitement had they not been placed on the fringes of Raleigh and instead been placed in Charlotte. Besides being a much larger city, Charlotte boasts a much wider audience of transplanted residents, many from areas where hockey is popular. The Canes are still popular throughout the area, but having to drive 3 hours one way for a game will put a damper on turnout for a lot of the hockey fans here.

For god sakes add the Nashville Pred's to that list. I think they have the worst fan attendance of any team if I remember right.

EDIT: No but I was close (http://www.bupipedream.com/Articles/Ranking-the-NHLs-best-and-worst-fans/7246). Apparently Tampa is near the worst but strangely the Washington Capitals are number 2?!?

EDIT2: Stats for this year (http://sports.espn.go.com/nhl/attendance). Wow look at Colorado on that list.

[Omniscia]

I wonder how the Canes numbers compare to the Whalers?

And, man, I wish I lived near a failing hockey market. Cheap tickets aren't easy to come by when the Canadiens are the closest team. Hell, it costs $30.00 per ticket for preseason tickets! And that puts you way up in the nosebleeds.

Granted, that doesn't really matter at the Bell Centre, because you can see the ice perfectly from just about anywhere. Even if your back is literally against the wall in the highest seat in the building.

Still, it would be nice if I could score Habs tix for the bargain-basement prices that less-popular teams command.

[nlanza]

DIT2: Stats for this year (http://sports.espn.go.com/nhl/attendance). Wow look at Colorado on that list.

Yeah, 85% is pretty sad for a franchise like Colorado.

Not as bad as Atlanta's 79%, though. Ow.

I'm a little fascinated by how Chicago's averaging 111%, though. That's a hell of a lot of standing-room-only tickets.

[nlanza]

And, man, I wish I lived near a failing hockey market. Cheap tickets aren't easy to come by when the Canadiens are the closest team. Hell, it costs $30.00 per ticket for preseason tickets! And that puts you way up in the nosebleeds.

I think it's partially just that the Habs are super-expensive to see.

The Pens have a pretty long season ticket waiting list at this point, >100 straight sellouts, and so forth, and I'm still paying less than $50 per ticket to sit in the lower bowl (admittedly, that's with the season ticket discount).

[Skipper]

You can actually still buy Canes tickets for the playoffs right now. $85 for nosebleed and up to about ~$200 for very good but not on-ice seats. I took some friends during regular season and had very good seats for like $80 per. If it's me and a friend, l can get by for less than that, but $50 a ticket, that's a steal. Season discount here might get you in that range but the lesser discounts (1/2 season, 1/4 season) you probably would not get that cheap.

EDIT: Wow I take that back. Nosebleed season tickets are at $25 per. That's nearly as cheap as seeing the local ECHL team here in Charlotte.

[Shadarr]

For god sakes add the Nashville Pred's to that list. I think they have the worst fan attendance of any team if I remember right.
I was just giving examples of teams from non-hockey markets that had gotten to the finals. Obviously teams like Columbus and Phoenix also have horrible attendance, but part of that can be attributed to sucking.

I should've included the Devils, though. They were a perenial contender for years, and I remember hearing that after some of their cup wins there were barely any fans to meet them at the airport. The Canucks probably get a better reception for losing in the second round.


And, man, I wish I lived near a failing hockey market. Cheap tickets aren't easy to come by when the Canadiens are the closest team. Hell, it costs $30.00 per ticket for preseason tickets! And that puts you way up in the nosebleeds.

This is why I don't understand Bettman's absolute refusal to allow Balsillie to move a team to Hamilton. There are a lot of fans in the area who can't get tickets because games are sold out, even though the Leafs suck. And yet he's dead set on keeping a bankrupt team in one of the worst markets in the league. And the most bitter of the ironies is that it's the exact same franchise that was already moved out of a Canadian market.

[seventimessix]

This is why I don't understand Bettman's absolute refusal to allow Balsillie to move a team to Hamilton. There are a lot of fans in the area who can't get tickets because games are sold out, even though the Leafs suck. And yet he's dead set on keeping a bankrupt team in one of the worst markets in the league. And the most bitter of the ironies is that it's the exact same franchise that was already moved out of a Canadian market.

The Leafs will sell out until the end of time no matter how good or bad they are. Hamilton's biggest hurdle in getting an NHL franchise is the same thing they've always been fighting when trying to get one: the Buffalo Sabres. Buffalo gets about 25 percent of their ticket sales from people going over the border. They'll fight tooth and nail to keep that. It's really a shame; Hamilton is a great city, it's where I was born and raised, and they would go absolutely hockey crazy, I just don't see it happening

[Shadarr]

Yeah, well, fuck the Sabres. Maybe they should move to Hamilton.

I don't see why one team should have any say over a team being in another city. Hamilton is not a suburb of Buffalo.

[Acoustic Rob]

I'd feel happier if Malkin would show up for more than one game per series.

And tonight was his game. How'd he score that third goal?

[nlanza]

And tonight was his game. How'd he score that third goal?

I have no idea.

From the look of it, Cam Ward wasn't all that sure either.

[Omniscia]

Geez. Of all the games not to watch because I'm getting burned out on playoff hockey and my team isn't in it anymore anyway...

I did catch the last 7 minutes or so, though. And the replays. I must say, some of those objects scattered on the ice didn't look like hats...

And apparently I like ellipses...

[Skipper]

I have no idea.

From the look of it, Cam Ward wasn't all that sure either.

It looked like he crossed the puck back around in front of him to his left for a short stealthy lefty wrister. But if he did that there would be no way he'd know the placement of that puck, he was looking in the opposite direction.

I watched it three times and still couldn't figure it out. Either way though, what a shootout of a game.

EDIT: Actually he was able to see it. It was a 180 degree turn then a wrist shot. All his shots are on video here (http://www.nhl.tv/team/console.jsp?id=42426).

[Eightball]

EDIT: No but I was close (http://www.bupipedream.com/Articles/Ranking-the-NHLs-best-and-worst-fans/7246). Apparently Tampa is near the worst but strangely the Washington Capitals are number 2?!?

Were...in February 2008. As you can see from the stats this year, the Caps were at 97% attendance, a 20% attendance jump. Anecdotally, I could get a ticket last year for the Caps for 20 bucks...and basically the same ticket this year cost 50 dollars.

You have to remember that Washington, first and foremost, is a Redskins town, so it will never really be a hockey town. However, it was pretty amazing to see how the town really embraced the Caps this year, and how many fans hopped on the bandwagon and went whole hog. It was said multiple times that the Verizon Center became a tough place to play this year (and the Caps had an excellent record at home in the regular season at 29-9-3...with most of those losses coming after the Caps had secured the SE division title and were coasting (5 of those losses came after Feb 19...they were 24-4 at home until then).

[Omniscia]

So, why did Chicago pull Khabibulin? Sure, he may have let in three goals in the second, but I didn't think he played that badly. Is he injured or something?

Nice to see Patrick Sharp net the OT game-winner. He spent a couple of years here, at UVM, before jumping ship and joining the Flyers. Sure, he's not as illustrious an alum as Martin St. Louis, John LeClair, or Tim Thomas, but we Catamounts fans will take what we can get. And he's already a better playoff performer than fellow recent ex-Cat Torrey Mitchell.

[wolfbane]

So, why did Chicago pull Khabibulin? Sure, he may have let in three goals in the second, but I didn't think he played that badly. Is he injured or something?

Lower-body injury (http://sports.yahoo.com/nhl/players/1174/news;_ylt=AteAI1WRMBMD92VXz.F2J_NivLYF)

[Omniscia]

Ah. Thanks.

Good thing they've got Huet for a backup.

[nlanza]

SWEEP



Also, looking at ESPN's recap (http://scores.espn.go.com/nhl/boxscore?gameId=290526007):


Attendance: 18,680 (99.7% full)

C'mon, guys, I know it's an elimination game and all, but you can't sell out the friggin' conference finals?

[Omniscia]

If I'd been there, I'd have gone. My sister's in Raleigh until tomorrow, and she didn't...

I only watched the first period, but apparently that was enough. Too bad for Ward to give up that game-winner, but even if he'd saved it, it may not have made a difference.

[nlanza]

I only watched the first period, but apparently that was enough. Too bad for Ward to give up that game-winner, but even if he'd saved it, it may not have made a difference.

Even as a Pens fan, that goal just hurt to watch.

Honestly, I feel kinda bad for the Canes. Getting swept in the playoffs sucks to start with, but the conference final and at home? Ow.

[Omniscia]

At least your guys presumably get a rematch with the Wings. That could be awesome.

[Tim James]

Yeah I felt really sad too when they cut to the Canes GM in the 2nd period after the third goal. I'm too sensitive for sports. :(

[Skipper]

Tough game to watch indeed. But I'm still proud of the Canes, they came a long way this season, the great playoff games had to come to an end and this series seemed to be it. They were outplayed and I have a bit more respect for the Pit team coming away from it.

[Omniscia]

Lookin' like a rematch... Just 10 minutes and change to go, Chicago.

Okay, so Patrick Kane remembered he was supposed to play tonight. Now we've got a game.

And then Huet comes up with the save of the playoffs (one of 'em, anyway) to send it to OT. This will be fun.

[Mandrel]

I'm a little fascinated by how Chicago's averaging 111%, though. That's a hell of a lot of standing-room-only tickets.

I think they're including the game that was played in Wrigley field. Check out Buffalo's attendance last year.

[nlanza]

I think they're including the game that was played in Wrigley field. Check out Buffalo's attendance last year.

Ah, yeah, that'd do it.

ESPN's stat tracking does leave something to be desired.

[Creole Ned]

Lookin' like a rematch... Just 10 minutes and change to go, Chicago.

Okay, so Patrick Kane remembered he was supposed to play tonight. Now we've got a game.

And then Huet comes up with the save of the playoffs (one of 'em, anyway) to send it to OT. This will be fun.
And now it's suddenly deja vu all over again for the final.

Detroit in...6?

[Omniscia]

5 if they get Lidstrom back.

[Omniscia]

Aaaaaaaaaand the Wings are 25% of the way there.

Poor Marc-Andre Fleury, getting victimized by those lively boards...

Man, Hossa and Zetterberg (and Helm) looked dangerous out there tonight. Covering well on defense, and transitioning instantaneously to offense when opportunity struck.

[Lake]

It is going to be a snooze unless the Penguins step it up at home.

[Tim James]

I haven't even bothered to watch. Just checked the scores and deleted it on the DVR.

[nlanza]

Last year the first two games were 3-0 and 4-0. Now they're both 3-1.

If this matchup keeps happening, in a couple years the Pens will have a serious chance.

[Creole Ned]

See, this is why I didn't want to see Detroit make it. :P

[Acoustic Rob]

Game three tonight. Can the Pens win the next two at home and at least make a series of it?

[Shadarr]

I think they can win one of two and stretch the series to six.

[Acoustic Rob]

OK, there's one.

[Tim James]

I watched the third period. High-level play in hockey is pretty intense. The conference finals weren't even like this.

[Acoustic Rob]

Good thing you missed the second period--the Pens played like roadkill. It's a wonder the score wasn't 5-2 Red Wings at the break.

The third period, on the other hand, was playoff hockey. Nice seeing the Pens' role players step up on a night when the superstars were kept in check.

[nlanza]

Good thing you missed the second period--the Pens played like roadkill. It's a wonder the score wasn't 5-2 Red Wings at the break.

Yeah, the second period was pretty painful.

Good thing Fleury showed up tonight, though.

[Omniscia]

Yeah. But at least now the Wings can win it all on home ice.

I'm still amazed at how much better Fleury's gotten since he came into the league. I know I've said it before, but I was sure he was going to fizzle like, say, Andrew Raycroft. He just keeps getting better...

[nlanza]

I'm still amazed at how much better Fleury's gotten since he came into the league. I know I've said it before, but I was sure he was going to fizzle like, say, Andrew Raycroft. He just keeps getting better...

His first couple years were pretty rough, and for a while I was really wondering whether he was ever going to get any consistency -- he'd string together a couple great games and then just stink the joint up for a few.

That's a lot better now, though I still wish he'd stay in the friggin' crease more often.

[Acoustic Rob]

He's always flopping around. As good as he is now, I'd be wary about counting on him long-term, because once he slows down, he's gonna be *bad*.

[nlanza]

He's always flopping around. As good as he is now, I'd be wary about counting on him long-term, because once he slows down, he's gonna be *bad*.

Yeah, that's definitely true.

Right now he has the speed and athletic skill to save his ass when he makes a bad call about where to be; in ten years that's probably not going to work so well.

[Shadarr]

He's always flopping around. As good as he is now, I'd be wary about counting on him long-term, because once he slows down, he's gonna be *bad*.

Just like Dominic Hasek. The only goalies with longevity are the big, positionally sound ones.

[Mandrel]

Just like Dominic Hasek. The only goalies with longevity are the big, positionally sound ones.
Yeah... 16 years in the NHL with a 2.20 career GAA was just a flash in the pan.

[Omniscia]

WTF, Detroit? You're up 2-1, and looking invincible, and then you let Staal score a shorty, and six minutes later you're down 4-2 and reeling? Jebus.

This just may be Pittsburgh's year.

[Acoustic Rob]

WTF, Detroit? You're up 2-1, and looking invincible, and then you let Staal score a shorty, and six minutes later you're down 4-2 and reeling? Jebus.


Up 2-1 with four consecutive minutes of power play time, at that.

And then the wheels came off. I'm not sure I've ever seen a game turn around that fast.


This just may be Pittsburgh's year.

Well, they still gotta win one in Detroit.

[nlanza]

Well, they still gotta win one in Detroit.

Yeah, game 5 is the real test here.

I mean, sure, the Pens won both home games, but they won two last year and that didn't do them any good.

Sure would be delicious to see Hossa watch the Pens hoist the cup at Mellon Arena after Game 6.

[Omniscia]

I still kinda wish Hossa had stayed with the Sens, but I can see why Heatley wanted out of Atlanta, and it was a good trade (at the time). But Pittsburgh was nuts to trade away their future just to get him for a couple of months.

[nlanza]

I still kinda wish Hossa had stayed with the Sens, but I can see why Heatley wanted out of Atlanta, and it was a good trade (at the time). But Pittsburgh was nuts to trade away their future just to get him for a couple of months.

Eh. Armstrong was a fan favorite, and I loved the guy, but there's dozens of players like him in the league.

Christensen's a good player, but there's no room for a center like him on a team with Crosby, Malkin, Staal, and Talbot.

With Esposito it's not clear yet, but he's probably not a huge loss.

The draft pick, though, that could be a big deal.

And remember, the Pens have gotten some good use out of Dupuis, who came along for the ride in that trade.

Also, they had a solid chance at the cup last year, which they probably wouldn't have had without Hossa. And they did expect (and try) to keep him; it was a bit of a surprise when he turned down a big pile of money to go to Detroit.

Overall, I think they probably overpaid a little for Hossa and Dupuis, but not by an insane amount.

[Omniscia]

Well, if you put it that way...

In hindsight they were nuts. But there was probably no way of knowing he'd walk.

[Major Icehole]

Up 2-1 with four consecutive minutes of power play time, at that.

And then the wheels came off. I'm not sure I've ever seen a game turn around that fast.

What game was it in the Boston series when they were down 3-nil and turned it around in about 10 mins. They can be super explosive like that.



Well, they still gotta win one in Detroit.

It's not a series until the home team loses.

It's pretty hard for me to watch because I can't root for anyone. That being said, I'm glad to see the Pens have put up a fight. Nothing is more boring than watching the Red Wings march to another sweep.

[Omniscia]

Nothing is more boring than watching the Red Wings march to another sweep.

Wrong. Watching New Jersey trap their way to another Stanley Cup is infinitely more boring. But that doesn't seem to happen as often these days.

[Staff Sergeant]

Rumors flying around that Joe Sakic will return to the Avalanche. How I pine for the glory days...

[nlanza]

Rumors flying around that Joe Sakic will return to the Avalanche. How I pine for the glory days...

My current favorite rumor is the Flyers signing Ray Emery.

'Cause, y'know, what the Flyers really need is another player with an anger management problem.

[Major Icehole]

Rumors flying around that Joe Sakic will return to the Avalanche. How I pine for the glory days...

Rumor also has it that there is a PROFESSIONAL Hockey team in Denver, but I see no evidence to corroborate at this time.

[Creole Ned]

You have two more cups than the Canucks with your bunch of amateurs.

:(

[Omniscia]

Rumor also has it that there is a PROFESSIONAL Hockey team in Denver, but I see no evidence to corroborate at this time.

Sure there is. DU.

[Major Icehole]

Sure there is. DU.

You're right. DU games are really fun to go to and tickets are harder to get than AVs tickets.

I know they have 2 cups, but it just makes me sad seeing what they've done to the team.

[Creole Ned]

There was a massacre in Detroit tonight.

[nlanza]

There was a massacre in Detroit tonight.

I'm pretty sure the team that left Pittsburgh was the Pens, but the team that got to Detroit seems to have been the Islanders.

I can't quite figure out how this happened.

[Tim James]

I was highly confused when I turned that on expecting game 4 and then saw a blowout and a crowd wearing red.

[Acoustic Rob]

Looks like the Pens found their mojo tonight.


they still gotta win one in Detroit.

Just one more, boys. Just one more....

[nlanza]

Looks like the Pens found their mojo tonight.

Also, Rob Scuderi definitely earned a big raise in his next contract this summer.

[Tim James]

Wasn't someone typing recently how Fleury gets wildly out of position? :)

[Shadarr]

I don't understand what the difference is with Pittsburgh on the road. I understand Crosby and Malkin could have more trouble because the Wings can match lines, but why do they stop hitting? Do they drug Matt Cooke's water in Detroit?

[Albert Woo]

Go Pens. : )

[wolfbane]

Whooho! Let's go Pens!

Whooho! Let's go Pens!

[The Bird Flu]

Grrrrr...

[dwolfe]

16 seconds left...LET'S GO PENS!

It's been the opposite of game 5, and one of the best games I've seen all year.

...how many offsides did they call?

and that first goal by the Pens that could have been called a penalty (invalidating the goal?) will haunt Detroit for many years if they lose, much like Superbowl XL and the Steelers.

[Shadarr]

Woo! Fuck you Hossa!

[dwolfe]

Sweet, sweet revenge after them celebrating on our ice last year!!!

Edit: NBC sounds pretty disappointed the Pens won.

[Shadarr]

I take back what I said earlier about not hating the Wings. After watching them trip and hold and obstruct and run the goalie and knee check both Crosby and Malkin, I'm really glad they didn't get rewarded.

[nlanza]

So we watched the game at a bar in Greenfield (kind of a blue collar neighborhood, for the non-Pittsburgh people).

It was mobbed, and possibly louder than Mellon Arena was for the home games.

With about six seconds left, the doors swing open and maybe 10-12 Pittsburgh cops pour in, most of them with the plastic ties on their wrists.

The bar gets really quiet, 'cause people are wondering if this is a raid or something.

Turns out the cops just wanted to watch the end of the game.

When time expired, they clapped, cheered, and filed back out.

I cannot fuckin' believe the Pens pulled that out.

[dwinn]

That was a great series, even without the win. It's also good to have a rivalry brewing for the cup as opposed to the last few years of Florida, Tampa Bay, etc.

[Omniscia]

Poor Marian...

Good series, though, even if the Wings ran out of gas toward the end.

If it were up to me, I think I'd have given the Conn Smythe award to Fleury, though.

[Creole Ned]

I'm surprised that Pittsburgh pulled it off, especially after Detroit had smacked them 5-0 at home in Game 5, but they played well and deserved it. Fleury had a great game and made key saves in the dying seconds when Detroit poured it on (and you just knew they would score toward the end to keep themselves in it right to the buzzer).

Now, about the Canucks getting to the final is 2010...

[Tim James]

Finally watched most of the game. I was surprised to see most of the Detroit fans stuck around to watch the Stanley Cup. I guess it's kind of a spectacle by itself. Plus, there were some obligatory boos and generous cheers to hand out depending on who was in the spotlight, and you can't forego your obligations.

[Shadarr]

I'm surprised that Pittsburgh pulled it off, especially after Detroit had smacked them 5-0 at home in Game 5

There's a danger in blowing a team out in a 7 game series. You don't want to embarrass a good team, because they'll play harder in the next game.


Fleury had a great game and made key saves in the dying seconds when Detroit poured it on (and you just knew they would score toward the end to keep themselves in it right to the buzzer).
The crossbar was huge, probably determined the champion, though Fleury's save in the last few seconds certainly looked impressive.

[Creole Ned]

HNIC ran a replay during a break late in the game that showed Fleury lovingly stroking his good friend the crossbar. I think if that one had gone in Detroit probably would have muscled their way to the win in overtime.

[Shadarr]

Yeah, they showed it during the post-game too.

I would've thought Detroit winning in overtime was inevitable, but then again I thought Detroit winning period was inevitable. Maybe Talbot would've got the hattrick, maybe Malkin would've made Osgood look stupid... who knows? Pittsburgh is a damn good team.