NHL Hockey Thread

[Lups]

I expect seeing my former team being in your next years playoffs.

The small ring kills hockey.

[BayMoWe335]

Stars give 3 goals given up in 5 shots. I don't get Kari. Looks great, then like absolute garbage.

Nice comeback, but you'll win 1 out of 10 games giving up 5 goals.

Need game 3 or it won't be good for my Stars.

[jgoens]

Originally Posted by BayMoWe335

Stars give 3 goals given up in 5 shots. I don't get Kari. Looks great, then like absolute garbage.

Nice comeback, but you'll win 1 out of 10 games giving up 5 goals.

Need game 3 or it won't be good for my Stars.

Where you been?
You gotta hand it to the Stars for trying to match the physicality of the Blues. Stars need to jump out front early and force the Blues to take chances and give up odd man rushes and so forth...playing a grinding rough game will only play into the Blues game plan.

[///WORK-F36]

Originally Posted by BayMoWe335

Stars give 3 goals given up in 5 shots. I don't get Kari. Looks great, then like absolute garbage.

Nice comeback, but you'll win 1 out of 10 games giving up 5 goals.

Need game 3 or it won't be good for my Stars.

I think I mentioned something before about Dallas' goaltending being suspect

Worst save percentage of any team left in the playoffs.

Dallas played alot more physical than I've seen them play though in game 2, didn't expect that

[BayMoWe335]

Originally Posted by ///WORK-F36

I think I mentioned something before about Dallas' goaltending being suspect

Worst save percentage of any team left in the playoffs.

Dallas played alot more physical than I've seen them play though in game 2, didn't expect that

They can play physical and are still missing their best or second best offensive player.

Remember, you can have a lower save percentage if you're scoring 4 goals/game. They are the highest scoring team in the league and have proven they can also do it in the playoffs.

Where they are going to have issues is if one guy can't even make it through a game and puts them in a 3-0 hole in the 1st period. Even with that, they still had a chance to win in OT. Their goal tending might not be elite, but their offense IS elite and has shown it can put up points in the playoffs. If they can just get the goal tending to be respectable and not give up goals in bunches, they'll be fine even with a lower %.

[///WORK-F36]

Originally Posted by BayMoWe335

They can play physical and are still missing their best or second best offensive player.

Remember, you can have a lower save percentage if you're scoring 4 goals/game. They are the highest scoring team in the league and have proven they can also do it in the playoffs.

Where they are going to have issues is if one guy can't even make it through a game and puts them in a 3-0 hole in the 1st period. Even with that, they still had a chance to win in OT.

Relying on having to score 4 goals a game to win in the playoffs is not IMO a solid strategy. They've scored 4 goals 3 of 8 games.

A save % under .900 is not gonna get you a cup

[jgoens]

Originally Posted by ///WORK-F36

Relying on having to score 4 goals a game to win in the playoffs is not IMO a solid strategy. They've scored 4 goals 3 of 8 games.

A save % under .900 is not gonna get you a cup

Your right, but the Stars by their strong physical defensive play are trying to step up in that category...which they can, but can they maintain that? Honestly I think the Blues are a difficult team to play against..one that I think the Sharks would have a hard time with....Hitchcock is as good as it gets and you have to battle to the end with them...so we'll see.. I'm still hoping for a Stars/Sharks 3rd round.

[///WORK-F36]

Originally Posted by jgoens

Your right, but the Stars by their strong physical defensive play are trying to step up in that category...which they can, but can they maintain that? Honestly I think the Blues are a difficult team to play against..one that I think the Sharks would have a hard time with....Hitchcock is as good as it gets and you have to battle to the end with them...so we'll see.. I'm still hoping for a Stars/Sharks 3rd round.

Blues/Sharks would be a great series. I think the Shark's PP would be too much for Dallas to handle with how spotty their goaltending has been.

I'm picking Blues/Sharks in the West, and Washington/TB in the East

[Chihuahua]

Originally Posted by ///WORK-F36

Blues/Sharks would be a great series. I think the Shark's PP would be too much for Dallas to handle with how spotty their goaltending has been.

I'm picking Blues/Sharks in the West, and Washington/TB in the East

I'm going with Penguins/Sharks in the SCF. Not sure who would win between the two.

[BayMoWe335]

Originally Posted by ///WORK-F36

Relying on having to score 4 goals a game to win in the playoffs is not IMO a solid strategy. They've scored 4 goals 3 of 8 games.

A save % under .900 is not gonna get you a cup

Yeah, but you're not mentioning they've also proven they can win even when NOT scoring 4 goals...they've won 5 out of 8 games too.

[BayMoWe335]

Originally Posted by jgoens

Your right, but the Stars by their strong physical defensive play are trying to step up in that category...which they can, but can they maintain that? Honestly I think the Blues are a difficult team to play against..one that I think the Sharks would have a hard time with....Hitchcock is as good as it gets and you have to battle to the end with them...so we'll see.. I'm still hoping for a Stars/Sharks 3rd round.

Hitchcock is fat.

[jgoens]

Originally Posted by BayMoWe335

Hitchcock is fat.

And he did lead your Stars to a championship.

[fecurtis]

Originally Posted by Kyle B

I'm going with Penguins/Sharks in the SCF. Not sure who would win between the two.

If the Caps lose tomorrow, I'm with you.

And Letang will be playing tomorrow, I'd bet money on it. Not like he's Brooks Orpik (or any other player for the Caps) so they can't suspend him.

[///WORK-F36]

Originally Posted by fecurtis

If the Caps lose tomorrow, I'm with you.

And Letang will be playing tomorrow, I'd bet money on it. Not like he's Brooks Orpik (or any other player for the Caps) so they can't suspend him.

Sidebet he gets at least 1 game suspension?

[fecurtis]

Originally Posted by ///WORK-F36

Sidebet he gets at least 1 game suspension?

Just saw this, but since he was suspended one game, I'll just concede that I was wrong and being a salty homer.

Visual approximation of Letang's response to the suspension:

[jgoens]

Looking forward to see if the Sharks can get full command tonight. They basically stole that last one and were out-played. But, that is what it takes to go all the way--get a win even when you don't play your best. Kind of think the Preds played as good as they can in that one. So far the Sharks are playing steady with the same program every game instead of the typical choke game. Just take the physicality, block lots of shots and put the other teams mistakes in the net..going with that recipe.
Starting to feel like there is a chance this could be the year--if we can get one out of two in Nashville I think we got this series.

[///WORK-F36]

Originally Posted by jgoens

Looking forward to see if the Sharks can get full command tonight. They basically stole that last one and were out-played. But, that is what it takes to go all the way--get a win even when you don't play your best. Kind of think the Preds played as good as they can in that one. So far the Sharks are playing steady with the same program every game instead of the typical choke game. Just take the physicality, block lots of shots and put the other teams mistakes in the net..going with that recipe.
Starting to feel like there is a chance this could be the year--if we can get one out of two in Nashville I think we got this series.

I think San Jose has this series wrapped up....unless Nashville can play like angels and not take any penalties, teh Sharks should take this in 5

[///WORK-F36]

Originally Posted by fecurtis

Just saw this, but since he was suspended one game, I'll just concede that I was wrong and being a salty homer.

Visual approximation of Letang's response to the suspension:

Trotz would have gone ballistic if Letang didn't get suspended after they dropped 3 games on Orpik

Looks like I'll be betting on the Caps in game 4.

[jgoens]

Originally Posted by ///WORK-F36

I think San Jose has this series wrapped up....unless Nashville can play like angels and not take any penalties, teh Sharks should take this in 5

Hope your right...man, I've been a Sharks fan for so long...and so many years where we were "supposed" to be one of the top contenders. This year the goal was just to get back in the playoffs, which we did, but I am seeing a different mentality than any other team. It's like were not entitled to anything....been there..done that..we've been humiliated plenty.

But the reality is, is that the Sharks have big time goal scorers on 3 lines and a 4th line that is difficult. While the big guns are showing up every night, every single guy is coming in to play. Not to mention we have a couple world class d-men as well. And Jones wants this real bad too. This is almost feeling like when the Blackhawks won a few years ago with Niemi in his first year--solid D and a bunch of strong scorers.
This is a humble team that is just all about playing their game.

[Chihuahua]

Originally Posted by fecurtis

Just saw this, but since he was suspended one game, I'll just concede that I was wrong and being a salty homer.

Visual approximation of Letang's response to the suspension:

Fack LePoontang. He's lucky he didn't get 20 games and an eleventy billion dollar fine for his decapitation attempt during the Rangers series. "It was an accident" my ass. Every time the camera pans over to him he's shaking his head at something. He should have the name on the back of his sweater changed to "who, me?"

The Penguins are a bunch of total whiners that have the entire NHL leadership in their back pocket. I'd love nothing more than to see Willy launch Cindy Crosby into the third tier of the Consol Center. F Crosby, F Letang, F the Penguins, F pierre mcguire, F that other Pennsylvania team, F the whole lot of them.

/rant

[lilg1993]

Originally Posted by Kyle B

Fack LePoontang. He's lucky he didn't get 20 games and an eleventy billion dollar fine for his decapitation attempt during the Rangers series. "It was an accident" my ass. Every time the camera pans over to him he's shaking his head at something. He should have the name on the back of his sweater changed to "who, me?"

The Penguins are a bunch of total whiners that have the entire NHL leadership in their back pocket. I'd love nothing more than to see Willy launch Cindy Crosby into the third tier of the Consol Center. F Crosby, F Letang, F the Penguins, F pierre mcguire, F that other Pennsylvania team, F the whole lot of them.

/rant

Someones upset.

Be happy, man. Tampa had a huge comeback win against the Isles tonight, one that I think might just crush my team's collective soul. I'm the one who should be upset here...and I am. Fucking Josh Bailey, the Islanders first round (9th overall) draft pick back in 2008, who has been our worst forward for weeks and months and has not even come close to living up to his potential since being drafted, scored twice tonight, and was robbed of a hat trick on a terrific save by Bishop after Bailey juked the defender out of his skates, and the islanders still lost the game. I can't believe it. This guy has been a ghost all season and the night he actually shows up to play we lose. yes, I know that was a massive run on sentence

But seriously, Kyle Okposo left the guy way too much space to just walk down the boards towards the goal line, letting him feed the slot and they hammered it home to tie it up with 38 goddamn seconds left. 38 seconds. only John Tavares is allowed to score with the net empty in the final minute of the game to tie it up.

And then idk, Brian Boyle's OT goal was legit, but I just fucking hate Brian Boyle so much. he is just such a turd...and I'm salty because he pushed an islander player into his own goaltender in game 2, which in turn led to a penalty against the islanders (garbage call, btw), and then Tampa scored on the ensuing power play to go up by 2 goals and pretty much put the game out of reach. and he used to play for the Rangers. fuck the Rangers.

Overall, I thought the islanders played well tonight, but I'm just furious that they lost. whatever. we'll get em on Friday.

TLDR:
Isles played well, Tampa came back and scored in the final minute and then won in OT. Josh Bailey has been resurrected from the dead, but somehow we lose. Fuck Brian Boyle. I write run-on sentences when I'm angry. Fuck Brian Boyle.

[lilg1993]

BTW dallas is getting absolutely spanked right now. STL goes up 3-1 at 2:34 of the 2nd. Lindy pulls Niemi. STL scores on I think the first shot that Lehtonen sees at 3:50 of the second to go up 4-1.

Kari let-one-in I crack myself up