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dogma wrote:

Of course, they may not be in Phoenix much longer, so who knows.

Don't we Canadians wish this was true. It's pretty clear though that Bettman would rather keep a shrivelled, dying franchise south of the 49 before he'd let some dirty, unworthy Canadian take back their own game

The guy is ruining hockey. I think we should have him go out for a skate along the boards with Chara...

CANUCKS ALL THE F***ING WAY!!!!!!!

I agree Boston was crap in that first game. Game 2 is an entire different test. I've got my breakfast all ready to go and want to sit back and watch the game. Unfortunately its Versus and not HNIC, so no Don Cherry or that goof Milbury. I just can't stand the Habs, but Price has been awesome, even though he goes down too much. (That's what all his team mates say. -arr arr arr lol)

@Metallifan - I think the universal hatred for Bettman in Canada is one thing that could unite the country. I love how he is booed everywhere he goes in Canada. They used to throw garbage on the ice in Maple Leaf Gardens whenever he'd go out there. He was the only personality that could do that.

I didn't see the Van C'hawks game, but I'll give it to Van that this is the best team they have ever had. Better than the team that went in 1994 and the one in 1982. I just don't want to say that they'll win as they remind me too much of the Sharks in the last few years who beat up on crappy regular season opponents (Edmonton, Colorado, Minnesota and Calgary before Christmas) and then blow all but one tire in the 2nd round. So far the Orange County Cup has been the best series to date.

The Pens are sucking bad without their two best players. They know it. Only Fleury is keeping them in it...well not last night. It looks like Tampa might be a good dark horse to bet on. They still have St.Louis and Vinny C. Stamkos too.

Khornholio wrote:I agree Boston was crap in that first game. Game 2 is an entire different test. I've got my breakfast all ready to go and want to sit back and watch the game. Unfortunately its Versus and not HNIC, so no Don Cherry or that goof Milbury. I just can't stand the Habs, but Price has been awesome, even though he goes down too much. (That's what all his team mates say. -arr arr arr lol)

Yeah, so great game...

I'm a ranger fan... i think we definitely have a team that could turn around and beat the Caps, if they, i dunno... PLAY A FULL GAME OF HOCKEY! for some reason since the lockout the rangers have been unable, as a team, to play more than 40 minutes a game.

@CT Gamer The Bruins were terrible and Price was awesome. Even though the B's were givin' her in the 3rd, down 2-0 in the first 3 minutes in a must win game is a pretty big hole to get out of. I'm praying the hockey gods are setting up the Habs for an implosion at home, but I doubt it.

Philly-Buttfullo was a good game. I'm looking forward to tomorrow's games already. The first round is the best round.

Khornholio wrote:@CT Gamer The Bruins were terrible and Price was awesome. Even though the B's were givin' her in the 3rd, down 2-0 in the first 3 minutes in a must win game is a pretty big hole to get out of. I'm praying the hockey gods are setting up the Habs for an implosion at home, but I doubt it.

They B's better pray Chara is back for starters...

And then pray that Price catches whatever was ailing him...

DarkDrgon wrote:I'm a ranger fan... i think we definitely have a team that could turn around and beat the Caps, if they, i dunno... PLAY A FULL GAME OF HOCKEY! for some reason since the lockout the rangers have been unable, as a team, to play more than 40 minutes a game.

Blame Avery.

Wow. The Hawks are either total crap (they did back into the playoffs) or the Canucks are really good. Or both.

Khornholio wrote:Wow. The Hawks are either total crap (they did back into the playoffs) or the Canucks are really good. Or both.

Aside from the first game, the series has been closer than it looks based on records alone. Luongo has been standing on his head, especially in game 3, and the Hawks have been misfiring on what should have been really easy goals (either not getting the puck off the ice, or missing the shot altogether). That said, the Canucks are very good, and they seem to be on one of those streaks where everything goes their way (eg. rebounds coming right to players at the opposite point). Basically, they've switched roles with the Hawks of last season.

As an aside, it was nice to see the officials start calling interference, especially on Vancouver (they throw sooo many blatant picks).

Wow 20,000 Canadians fans are really pissed they over-payed for their seats...

Also did anyone else catch the commentary that the Bruins have more actual Canadians rostered then the Montreal Canadians...

dogma wrote:

Khornholio wrote:Wow. The Hawks are either total crap (they did back into the playoffs) or the Canucks are really good. Or both.

Aside from the first game, the series has been closer than it looks based on records alone. Luongo has been standing on his head, especially in game 3, and the Hawks have been misfiring on what should have been really easy goals (either not getting the puck off the ice, or missing the shot altogether). That said, the Canucks are very good, and they seem to be on one of those streaks where everything goes their way (eg. rebounds coming right to players at the opposite point). Basically, they've switched roles with the Hawks of last season.

As an aside, it was nice to see the officials start calling interference, especially on Vancouver (they throw sooo many blatant picks).

The C'hawks are one game away of being the Leafs of every season - playing Golf in April.

As for the Bs, I was so happy to come home and see that they crushed their battle opponents balls tonight. I haven't checked the schedule yet, but I'm hoping there is a game on Friday night so I can watch it LIVE on Saturday morning at my buddy from New Haven's place. Beers and pizza at 9 am is always fun.

How about Nashville, eh?

Khornholio wrote:

As for the Bs, I was so happy to come home and see that they crushed their battle opponents balls tonight. I haven't checked the schedule yet, but I'm hoping there is a game on Friday night so I can watch it LIVE on Saturday morning at my buddy from New Haven's place. Beers and pizza at 9 am is always fun.

Thursday actually if I'm not mistaken...

Khornholio wrote:
The C'hawks are one game away of being the Leafs of every season - playing Golf in April.

Well, except for last season.

Khornholio wrote:
How about Nashville, eh?

No joke, though they were a solid playoff team last year too. They play really solid at the blue line, and that tends to make more aggressive teams slip up.

Flyers took 2 after bombing the first game. Boucher was a monster in goal stopping 35 of 37 including 11 pp shots. He even worked off a 2 man deficit in the third (Zherdev and Powe). Flyers were out shot 37 - 26.

All I can say is that I'm -REALLY****INGSUPRISED- that Raffi Torres was allowed to play game 4. I'm a Canucks fan, but I still would've pulled him for that lolpwned hit on Seabrooke. The fact that he's back just speaks more wonders for the NHL's ability to hand out proper discipline. Seriously, it's weaker than a Leukemia patient. I love seeing a good hit, but there's a pretty distinguishable line between a good hit, and a shady hit. Willie Mitchell laying out Toews at centre ice last year because ol' Johnny boy wasn't watching where the hell he was going, THAT was a ****ing GLORIOUS hit.

But Torres? That's just dirty stuff that, despite inherent "OWWWWNED!" factor, shouldn't be happening without repercussions.

metallifan wrote:All I can say is that I'm -REALLY****INGSUPRISED- that Raffi Torres was allowed to play game 4. I'm a Canucks fan, but I still would've pulled him for that lolpwned hit on Seabrooke. The fact that he's back just speaks more wonders for the NHL's ability to hand out proper discipline. Seriously, it's weaker than a Leukemia patient. I love seeing a good hit, but there's a pretty distinguishable line between a good hit, and a shady hit. Willie Mitchell laying out Toews at centre ice last year because ol' Johnny boy wasn't watching where the hell he was going, THAT was a ****ing GLORIOUS hit.

But Torres? That's just dirty stuff that, despite inherent "OWWWWNED!" factor, shouldn't be happening without repercussions.

He should have been suspended if the NHL is serious about cracking down on head shots (they aren't). That said, I look at Torres in a light that is far too close to the light with which I view Avery, and I really would have loved to watch Scott explain civility to him at the end of the game.

Unfortunately the NHL is caught between "charging is bad" and "fighting is bad".

Being from Cleveland where we don't have an NHL team, I adopted the Devils in 1987, when they still had the ugly green piping. I started liking them because the were the featured team in Pirate Corp$, a comic by Evan Dorkin. I mean you have to love a team called the Devils. The are in a downturn now and Brodeur is almost 40, but I watched them get their first cup and all the rest since then.

Man, oh man, did the Canucks ever schisse the bed in Game 4. I still figure they'll win, but that was a bit of shock when I got home today to see. The 3rd must've been a circus with all the penalties dished out.

If Detroit wins one more game, the Jets will be reborn like a Phoenix. Another team to wholeheartedly hate. Life is good. It's be way cool if another team left the South and moved to K-bec.

Khornholio wrote:Life is good. It's be way cool if another team left the South and moved to K-bec.

Indeed. They'd certainly stop whining about the majority of the Canadiens not speaking French. Goddamn frogs and their crazy complaints.

If nothing else, it might encourage a Conference rebalance.

Then again, its totally fair for Western teams to jump two time zones on away games.

The Jets are on their way home.

Montreal fans should have spent more time cheering for their players instead of booing Chara and chanting "Thomas". Losers...

Gotta love the goalie battle building in the Flyers - Sabres series..... Hoping Boucher is in goal for Philly tonight.... Miller should be off as he was in last game. (Hopefully)

You know, as long as the Blackhawks don't win, I'm ok

LETS GO BLUES!!!!!!1

I'm a little surprised that Luongo is getting the start in game 6, but then again it may be that Vigneault wants to maintain some type of emotional stability in the locker room. Personally, that seems like a mistake to me, as the Canucks need something to change if they want to close out the series.

But hey, I'm a Chicago fan, so I'm happy to see Luongo in net. Not that his play has really been all that bad.

The last B's/Habs game was crazy. The last Philly/Sabres one was even crazier. I couldn't believe the score of the Chi-Van Game 5. I thought it was a mistake. If they implode this soon in the playoffs with a 3-0 series lead, that's a shame.

I love the first round the most.

dogma wrote:I'm a little surprised that Luongo is getting the start in game 6, but then again it may be that Vigneault wants to maintain some type of emotional stability in the locker room. Personally, that seems like a mistake to me, as the Canucks need something to change if they want to close out the series.

But hey, I'm a Chicago fan, so I'm happy to see Luongo in net. Not that his play has really been all that bad.

It's the same mistake Alain Vigneault has made year after year. The regular season has shown us that Louie needs a break after every 3 or 4 games or he just hits rock bottom. It never fails. If he wants to knock out the Hawks he's either going to have to play Schneider, or else he best make sure that Lou is running at 110%. There's still 2 games left and Vancouver only needs 1 of em. All I'm hoping is that he won't make the same error in judgement further down the line.

As the saying goes, 'Those who forget the past are doomed to repeat it.' Vigneault needs to look back at the regular season and realise that a regular swap in the net once every few games has done wonders for them.

See, if I were a Canucks fan I wouldn't be all that worried about Luongo. He didn't play well in game 4, but in game 5 the goals he let by were either fantastic shots, or simply ones that left him no chance (thinking Sharp's first). The real worry is that the Van defense simply looked terrible in both games. They left open far too many passing lanes (something they did very well in the first 3) and instead of taking the body to retrieve the puck they focused on hitting to injure (and took a lot of penalties as a result). I think it would be good to sit Bobby Lu not because he has played poorly, but because its a hard indication to the defense that they have.

And, I hate to say it, but looking back on the series the Hawks had a lot of great scoring chances that either Luongo miraculously saved, or the Hawks miraculously wiffed; aside from game 1, of course.

dogma wrote:See, if I were a Canucks fan I wouldn't be all that worried about Luongo. He didn't play well in game 4, but in game 5 the goals he let by were either fantastic shots, or simply ones that left him no chance (thinking Sharp's first). The real worry is that the Van defense simply looked terrible in both games. They left open far too many passing lanes (something they did very well in the first 3) and instead of taking the body to retrieve the puck they focused on hitting to injure (and took a lot of penalties as a result). I think it would be good to sit Bobby Lu not because he has played poorly, but because its a hard indication to the defense that they have.

And, I hate to say it, but looking back on the series the Hawks had a lot of great scoring chances that either Luongo miraculously saved, or the Hawks miraculously wiffed; aside from game 1, of course.

I didn't say that it was all Lou's fault, I just said he chokes after 3 or 4 consecutive games. We've seen that proven all season and for the last couple years. Yes, the defense looked pretty out of it, but I think it was pretty clear that Roberto just wasn't completely in the game mentally. He really looked unfocused early on and there were a couple goals in game 5 that had no business whatsoever getting past any pro goalie. Plus, I think Schneider would really play harder than he has all season, as he's got a lot to prove to Vigneault if he wants to grab a couple starting games later in the series. Vigneault and the guys at the top know he's a good goalie, but is he playoff good? That's something they're going to need to answer sooner or later by putting him out there if they want to win this series.

I also think that a lot of it is due to just plain -terrible- luck for the Canucks' top scorers. They've had some downright beautiful shots and great setups, but something just comes along and punches them in their collective balls at the last possible second. Having shot after shot robbed from you because of simple awful luck can really do a number on a team's morale. Especially when the witless idiots at TSN start calling guys that are otherwise the breadwinners 'Team-damaging non-scorers'


Daniel Sedin and Kesler are non-scorers and are damaging the team's ability to play? Get new jobs you f***-headed c***knuckles. Clearly professional sports anchors, even on the worst, most biased network on TV, are not your calling.