NHL Hockey Thread

[///WORK-F36]

If it comes down to a beard contest, the Pens are fucked

[Fundguy1]

Go sharks!

[jgoens]

[ShopVac]

Everybody is saying how great the Sharks are. I think the Pens are going to just call mercy and give them the cup.

[jgoens]

Originally Posted by ShopVac

Everybody is saying how great the Sharks are. I think the Pens are going to just call mercy and give them the cup.

Don't know who says that. The Pens are higher seeded and the Sharks are saying how tough this series is going to be. Many people are excited for the Sharks because we have never been there and have a few guys who have played a long time and never had a cup.

[eluded]

Crosby is going down like the cry baby he is. SHARKS in four.

[ShopVac]

Originally Posted by jgoens

Don't know who says that. The Pens are higher seeded and the Sharks are saying how tough this series is going to be. Many people are excited for the Sharks because we have never been there and have a few guys who have played a long time and never had a cup.

Well, you have this video pick.
https://www.nhl.com/video/nhl-tonigh...374/c-44093903

And this...

[ShopVac]

Originally Posted by eluded

Crosby is going down like the cry baby he is. SHARKS in four.

Isn't there an Audi forum out there for you? (assume you know the irony in this)

[jgoens]

Originally Posted by ShopVac

Well, you have this video pick.
https://www.nhl.com/video/nhl-tonigh...374/c-44093903

And this...

Remember the Blues were picked by 13 analysts to win. So, here's my pick, because I can pick so well: both these teams on paper are pretty equal but if the Sharks play the same way they have been playing and the Penguins as well I think the Sharks will prevail. The Penguins are putting 35 shots on net a game so how Jones does will be the deciding factor. Jones had 1 1/2 games being shaky...not a problem if the rest of the games he is solid.
I don't think we will have a problem getting goals but how we shut the Penguins down will be the difference. The Sharks have been a surprise for sure, and that is why I'm picking Sharks in 7.

[ShopVac]

Originally Posted by jgoens

Remember the Blues were picked by 13 analysts to win. So, here's my pick, because I can pick so well: both these teams on paper are pretty equal but if the Sharks play the same way they have been playing and the Penguins as well I think the Sharks will prevail. The Penguins are putting 35 shots on net a game so how Jones does will be the deciding factor. Jones had 1 1/2 games being shaky...not a problem if the rest of the games he is solid.
I don't think we will have a problem getting goals but how we shut the Penguins down will be the difference. The Sharks have been a surprise for sure, and that is why I'm picking Sharks in 7.

Pens in 5 - only because Lemieux wants the home game revenue.

[lilg1993]

Originally Posted by jgoens

Remember the Blues were picked by 13 analysts to win. So, here's my pick, because I can pick so well: both these teams on paper are pretty equal but if the Sharks play the same way they have been playing and the Penguins as well I think the Sharks will prevail. The Penguins are putting 35 shots on net a game so how Jones does will be the deciding factor. Jones had 1 1/2 games being shaky...not a problem if the rest of the games he is solid.
I don't think we will have a problem getting goals but how we shut the Penguins down will be the difference. The Sharks have been a surprise for sure, and that is why I'm picking Sharks in 7.

I think you also have to factor in if Mike Sullivan decides he wants to lose one night and starts Fleury in goal. The only reason for Fleury to be between there pipes would be if Murray gets injured, or if the Pens are down 4+ goals heading into the 3rd period.

I'm going with Pens in 7, solely because they have home ice in this series.

FWIW, I have correctly picked the winner and number of games in 9/14 playoff series' this year

Looking forward to another awesome cup finals tho

[jgoens]

Shit..feeling emotional now..just can't believe it....I've waited 20 years and what 2000 games for this.....oh man.

[ShopVac]

Well...I'll be honest, thought the game was over after the 1st. They came back hard.

Burns mistake in dropping the stick cost them the game.

[jgoens]

Originally Posted by ShopVac

Well...I'll be honest, thought the game was over after the 1st. They came back hard.

Burns mistake in dropping the stick cost them the game.

Pretty good game...Penguins looked fast and Sharks looked nervous especially in the first. I really wasn't worried when it was 2-0 because you could tell it was not the Pens game that was beating the Sharks, it was that they seemed a little awe struck by the whole thing while the Pens just came to play their game. Jones looked good as did Murray. I think the honeymoon is over, adjustments will be made and the next game the Sharks will be ready for hockey instead of the Stanley Cup spotlight.

Next game I think you will see the big guys (Burns, Pavelski, Thornton, Couture) for the Sharks come up big.

[UncleWede]

If they had won, Jones deserved the game MVP. So many of those he just casually kicked aside. That first period was very un-Sharky

[///WORK-F36]

Originally Posted by ShopVac

Well...I'll be honest, thought the game was over after the 1st. They came back hard.

Burns mistake in dropping the stick cost them the game.

Burns is high risk/high reward.....As much of an offensive threat he is (one of the best in the game) , I don't think he's that good of an actual defenseman. I thought it was laughable he's a Norris candidate.

[jgoens]

Originally Posted by ///WORK-F36

Burns is high risk/high reward.....As much of an offensive threat he is (one of the best in the game) , I don't think he's that good of an actual defenseman. I thought it was laughable he's a Norris candidate.

I agree..Burns has had some mistakes that led to game losses, however he has far more game winners. He is not that great of a stay at home d man, but that is why Martin is there. This partnership is a big reason for the Sharks success this year.

[///WORK-F36]

Originally Posted by jgoens

I agree..Burns has had some mistakes that led to game losses, however he has far more game winners. He is not that great of a stay at home d man, but that is why Martin us there. This partnership is a big reason for the Sharks success this year.

Martin is a perfect pairing for Burns....It's crazy how good Burns is though at getting his shot off and getting it on net

[jgoens]

Originally Posted by ///WORK-F36

Martin is a perfect pairing for Burns....It's crazy how good Burns is though at getting his shot off and getting it on net

Yeah..basically Burns is like a half forward...really a great addition in Martin for the Sharks. And, Martin makes few mistakes and is second only to Vlassic who really is a superstar himself.

[ShopVac]

Ahhh...don't even know where to post!!
Pens 2-0

[jgoens]

Originally Posted by ShopVac

Ahhh...don't even know where to post!!
Pens 2-0

The Penguins are looking fast and aggressive and shutting down the Sharks game so far. For some reason they didn't look nearly this good for Tampa. If the Sharks don't find a way to get past all those defensemen in front of the net all the time..they will get swept.

[Chihuahua]

Almost everyone on the Caps blog was predicting "Sharks in 6! Sharks in 6!". I posted that the Penguins have pretty much steamrolled the league since they made the coaching change, and that I think the Penguins will win it all, and it probably won't even take 6 games. Needless to say, I was lambasted. I still stand by my prediction.

It is amazing what nothing more than good coaching can do for a group of players.