NHL 2013 post season thread!

[dangnewt]

Some early Bruins power plays got the Rangers into trouble, but they snuck out a game with an OT goal.

My wish has come true, and we can now lose with dignity. I'll admit that I'd love to see us steal one in Boston too though.

That was a strange game - the Rangers didn't have much going until the Rask slip. But then enough of them seemed to realize that they can win and proceeded to do just that. You have to admire the pride there, it would have been easier to pack it in and they didn't..

Reminds me of one of my other favorite movies: Monty Python and the Holy Grail

The Dead Collector: Bring out yer dead.

[a man puts a body on the cart]

Large Man with Dead Body: Here's one.

The Dead Collector: That'll be ninepence.

The Dead Body That Claims It Isn't: I'm not dead.

The Dead Collector: What?

Large Man with Dead Body: Nothing. There's your ninepence.

The Dead Body That Claims It Isn't: I'm not dead.

The Dead Collector: 'Ere, he says he's not dead.

Large Man with Dead Body: Yes he is.

The Dead Body That Claims It Isn't: I'm not.

The Dead Collector: He isn't.

Large Man with Dead Body: Well, he will be soon, he's very ill.

The Dead Body That Claims It Isn't: I'm getting better.


I saw the Seguin goal coming and Jagr looks better each game. The B's generally had a better compete level throughout the game than the Rangers so that wasn't a problem but the B's were not as focused as they need to be to eliminate a playoff team - I expect a much more focused B's team Saturday.

 

[dangnewt]

If the Rangers turn up the compete level to 11 - game 5 will be interesting.

 

[Strat-Mangler]

That was a load of weird goals for the Rangers fo' shore.

 

[MJ5150]

I'm happy to see Detroit getting better as the playoffs go on. They made a late run to even get in the playoffs, now they are shaping up to be a serious SCF contender.

-Mike

 

[burk48237]

What is up with Toews and his reckless (and stupid) stick play? 3 penalties on 3 consecutive shifts for this guy.

He's rattled and he has to not only step up his game, but keep his stick and his attitude in check.

It's a difference in lineage. The Wings past Captains were Yzerman, Lidstrom, followed by Zetterberg. They are all guys that got , clutched, grabbed, slashed, and boarded with no calls in every big game. But they all keep their cool on the Ice. Zetterberg learned from the Best.

Toews followed Lapointe, Auccoin, Zhamanov, and Amonte. I suspect they aren't setting up a "leadership" Wing in the Hockey HOF for recent Black Hawks Captains. Plus little whinny Quinville has always been the Wings little B----. He gets owned by good Wings teams and has never impressed me as a playoff coach.

 

[Strat-Mangler]

With all due respect, I don't think there's any validity in what you wrote.

Toews is a captain who has already led his team to win a Stanley Cup. He is usually so calm and collected, which is why it is surprising for me to see him being rattled and agitated. His stick being insanely high is equally uncharacteristic of him.

99% of players keep their cool regardless of the situation. That's why Toews' reactions stand out so much.

Zetterberg never played in a clutch-&-grab era of the NHL, so that argument also goes out the window.

The captains the team had before these people played has absolutely no impact whatsoever on their performance. It's a really strange leap of twisted logic to state that.

Lastly, here's a nice little look at Toews' accomplishments.

Honours and Awards
2011-12 NHL - Named to play in the NHL All-Star Game
2010-11 NHL - Named to play in the NHL All-Star Game
2010 Olympic Gold Medal
2009-10 NHL - Stanley Cup
2009-10 NHL - Conn Smythe Trophy (Playoffs' MVP)
2008-09 NHL - Named to play in the NHL All-Star Game
2007-08 NHL - All-Rookie Team

Oh, and he did all of that and is 7 years younger than Zetterberg. I *think* he has proved himself to have character.

 

[doktorfeelgood]

If the Rangers turn up the compete level to 11 - game 5 will be interesting.

That's what I'm afraid of....last night's game was the ugliest I've seen in awhile and the Bruins have played some ugly games this year. Like Julien says, Jeckyl and Hyde team. Tuukka Rask's numbers are now 2-8 in elimination games and that AIN'T good. He'll be in another one tomorrow night...hopefully the home crowd can keep him focused. And Chara needs to have more of a sense of urgency..Dosey-doe-ing around out there on the ice with the puck AIN'T gonna get it, IMO. AND they have to stop these stupid penalties....another "too many men on the ice" penalty in a play-off game and I'll be ready to shoot myself....

 

[burk48237]

With all due respect, I don't think there's any validity in what you wrote.

Toews is a captain who has already led his team to win a Stanley Cup. He is usually so calm and collected, which is why it is surprising for me to see him being rattled and agitated. His stick being insanely high is equally uncharacteristic of him.

99% of players keep their cool regardless of the situation. That's why Toews' reactions stand out so much.

Zetterberg never played in a clutch-&-grab era of the NHL, so that argument also goes out the window.

The captains the team had before these people played has absolutely no impact whatsoever on their performance. It's a really strange leap of twisted logic to state that.

Lastly, here's a nice little look at Toews' accomplishments.

Honours and Awards
2011-12 NHL - Named to play in the NHL All-Star Game
2010-11 NHL - Named to play in the NHL All-Star Game
2010 Olympic Gold Medal
2009-10 NHL - Stanley Cup
2009-10 NHL - Conn Smythe Trophy (Playoffs' MVP)
2008-09 NHL - Named to play in the NHL All-Star Game
2007-08 NHL - All-Rookie Team

Oh, and he did all of that and is 7 years younger than Zetterberg. I *think* he has proved himself to have character.

I didn't say he wasn't a good player or didn't have character. What I said was he wasn't a lead by example kind of guy. Keith Katchuk was a great player. But he got flustered a lot in big games. That was Bluffton who stepped up when the Blackhawks won the cup wasn't it?

Now I'm not saying Toews couldn't become a great leader, he's young and he has time. But I don't see him as captains material yet. Captains don't get three minors in one period in a key playoff game. What has Chicago done since the cup, two early playoff exits, as I recall?

 

[MJ5150]

Sergei Gonchar looked bad tonight, which disappoints me. But since the Pens won, I'll get over that minor disappointment.

First playoff series victory for Voukon and first conference finals for James Neal. That's cool.

-Mike

 

[Bipslapper]

Congrats Bruins. Rangers were tough, especially Henrik.
I am very impressed with Krug!

Ference who???

 

[Zootsuitbass]

Yup. Krug is so smooth a composed for his size. He's been a infectious shot in the arm for the B's. Hate to say it though he's a rookie and will plateau(thanks Mangler)/slump. Just keep hitting the net!

I love to see Jagr's determination (he looked better tonight) but take shorter shifts old man.

The B's seem to be waking up just in time!!!! Good thing too because those Pens can put up the goals for.

This should be a barnburner of a series! They match well!

I want Bruins in 6,but I'm not betting on it. I'd bet Pens in 7.

 

[Zootsuitbass]

Reverse that, Penguins in six, Bruins in seven.

 

[Strat-Mangler]

Yup. Krug is so smooth a composed for his size. He's been a infectious shot in he arm for the B's. Hate to say it though he's a rookie and will plato/slump. Just keep hitting the net!

Agreed. BTW, it's "plateau."

Jagr has the most shots of anybody in the Playoffs who has yet to score. 35 is what I saw.

Pens/Bruins will be a hell of a series. I wholeheartedly agree!

 

[Bipslapper]

Good Blackhawks win from what I could see.

I had the perfect Saturday: golf in the morning, watched the Bruins win & eliminate the Rangers at 5:30, drove to my gig (packed and 3 different women were celebrating their birthdays with several drunk girlfriends) and had a huge flat screen tv near stage where I watched the Detroit / Chicago game & got free wings & beer (Laganitus IPA)!

Happy / Happy!

So, how was your day? 😁

 

[dangnewt]

Nice focused effort from the B's. No panic on the team even when the Rangers went up by a goal. I was thinking that every game would be like game 5 - (2-1 or 3-1 with an emptynetter). The NY series turned out to be higher scoring than I thought - 5.2 goals per game instead of 3. If the Pens series comes in around 5 per game that will be less scoring than most people expect.


The plateauing of Krug has already happened - he went from a goal-a-game to a goal-every-.8 game. Disappointing, but I'm sure I will learn to live with it.

The Pens are a tough matchup for the B's with all that skill and speed and the Pens deserve their status as the favorite. But with a great effort from the B's, some puck luck and hopefully some brain farts by the Pens, the B's have a chance.

Jagr is a bit of a shift hog, but he has had a lot of great shots that required great saves by both Reimer and Lundquist. It will be nice to see him score a few against his old team.

 

[MJ5150]

Time to switch over to some NHL hockey. Halifax is blowing out Portland 3-0 in the first period of the Memorial Cup Final.

-Mike

 

[dangnewt]

Leads to plenty of rest for the Pens and B's.

I'll probably watch both games - nothing like a Stanley Cup playoff game 7.

 

[mkandolf]

Picking San Jose tonight and Hawks tomorrow night. Thinking Niemi and San Jose have got it in them to win one in LA and also think Chicago has finally figured out that getting their D active screws up the Wings.

 

[MJ5150]

I read an article where Brad Richards said he is hoping to be back with the Rangers. At his salary, I'm sure he is.

-Mike

 

[dangnewt]

I read an article where Brad Richards said he is hoping to be back with the Rangers. At his salary, I'm sure he is.

-Mike

I heard Tortorella explain why he made Richards a healthly scratch rather than play him on the fourth line and it actually made sense to me. He said that Richards is not a fourth line player and therefore doesn't give the team what it needs on the fourth line. It begs the question of what line should Richards be on and if he doesn't fit the Rangers system on one of the top three lines, perhaps either he will be gone or the Rangers will gone to a different system.