NHL Playoffs!

[teedub]

Ok i have a question. Does anyone think that reason Anaheim lost was Bryzgalov???

Absoutely not. They lost because of a few bonehead plays that Edmonton took advantage of. That, and Roloson stopped a few sure goals. Bryz really sh*t the bed on the first goal, but it's not as if the floodgates opened right there. Errant passes leading to odd-man rushes, and brief moments of defensive lapses hurt the Ducks. 5-on-3 PP and breakaway goals aside, the Ducks would have won the game.

As for starting J.S., it's all about sending a message to the team. They want to win one game. If that happens, then they'll think about winning another. Also, Burke needs to figure out who his starter will be for next season. He's already invested a lot of $$$ into J.S., and I'm sure Bryz will want a raise next year after this stellar playoff run. Having that kind of $$$ sitting on the bench for the duration of the playoffs doesn't do much for the team's business. This game determines if Edmonton goes the Finals, but it's also going to determine if Giguere still has what it takes. I know it's unfair to have that kind of pressure on one game, but you've got to think that will be on the mind of the Burke and J.S.

 

[socalpyropunk]

Bryz has been tearin it up these playoffs. does anyone remember the reason they put him in, when JS had 3 goals againt in like 8 shots, far from spectacular shots at that. They put Bryz in and he has done well, MUCH better than initially expected.
I completely agree that this game is important to decide who will be starting next year. JS makes 10x the $ of Bryz and he has been sitting for the majority of the playoffs. Its not speaking well of the teams spending.

 

[Jazzin']

Bryz has been tearin it up these playoffs. dows anyone remember the reason they put him in, when JS had 3 goals againt in like 8 shots, far from spectacular shots at that. They put Bryz in and he has done well, MUCH better than initially expected.
I completely agree that this game is important to decide who will be starting next year. JS makes 10x the $ of Bryz and he has been sitting for the majority of the playoffs. Its not speaking well of the teams spending.

The same thing happened with the Hurricanes this post-season. And now the two rookies are doing poorly. Their beginners luck wore off.

 

[teedub]

Their beginners luck wore off.

Sadly, that's the definition of Giguere. 1 win away from the Cup, Conn Smythe winner......to bench warmer.

 

[bucephylus]

Being a long time Wings fan (back to the 6 team league days), I appreciate the frustration that the Anaheim fans have. But, the Oilers' success is due to much more than Roloson (even though he has beeen incredible). Goalies do not win games. They make it possible to win games. Pisani, Peca, and a bunch of the other Oilers have really raised their game up a bunch of notches. They have been so opportunistic that it is frightening. Plus Mactavish is emerging as an incredible coach.

I'm thinking Buffalo and Edmonton for the Cup; no disrespect intended to the Canes or Ducks. And I think that would be great, because you are really looking at two primarily skills based teams - and that is what the NHL is really looking for.

However, it is curious that only one of the regular season dominating teams made it into the semis. Something definitely changed. Whatever it was, the Oilers have it nailed.

 

[Snarf]

+1

And plus one more the OLN gang is weak. A little too full of finger pointing instead of praise. It's always someone's fault they lost instead of someone's fault they won with these guys.

more importantly though, Holy crap, how bout them Sabres!

Go Sabs Go!

I agree, the OLN guys are a little lame. I want my Darren Pang and Barry Melrose NHL back!!!

 

[Bob Lee (QSC)]

I'm thinking Buffalo and Edmonton for the Cup; no disrespect intended to the Canes or Ducks. And I think that would be great, because you are really looking at two primarily skills based teams - and that is what the NHL is really looking for.

As much as I'd like to see the local team, Anaheim, win this series, I couldn't feel too bad if Edmonton continues on to battle for the Cup. As an old WHA fan, I think it would be great to see them regain the greatness they represented in the 80s.

 

[bucephylus]

I agree, the OLN guys are a little lame. I want my Darren Pang and Barry Melrose NHL back!!!

I agree the OLN play calling has not been great. But, they have had several sets of commentators.

Dave Strater is excellent, and way better than even Pang, IMO. Also, I never cared at all for Melrose. If you want a real analyst who really knows the game, misses nothing, and calls them both ways, you should hear Mickey Redmond sometime. He's at least John Madden caliber for hockey, and probably better.

This is an interesting and problematic thing for hockey. So many things are all happening at the same time, that the typical viewer really needs top notch commentary. I think that is one reason the game has had trouble on TV - most of the bozo's calling the games don't know the game so well.

I always felt that ESPN basically hated hockey, since it is not one of the holy trinity of American sports. The ESPN team always drove me nuts. They were regularly biased, missed key events, and generally lacked substance. IMO.

 

[Bob Lee (QSC)]

ESPN used to love hockey. For several seasons after the reopening of the Hartford Civic Center coliseum, they even used to handle video production at the Whalers' home games (ESPN is based in Bristol, a suburb of Hartford).

 

[nateo]

I...most of the bozo's calling the games don't know the game so well.

Up here in Canada we've got Bob "The Leaf-blower" Cole. At least he's got a better grasp of what the game is than he does of who's playing it. If I had a dollar for every player he misnamed during these playoffs I might be able to afford to fly out and see an Edmonton game.

On the other hand he's pretty much the modern voice of hockey. If you can ignore what's actually happening and who's playing on the ice, Bob Cole makes an awesome play-by-play man.

"In a word, Chara... is... enormous." -Bob Cole

-Nate

 

[kserg]

ESPN used to love hockey. For several seasons after the reopening of the Hartford Civic Center coliseum, they even used to handle video production at the Whalers' home games (ESPN is based in Bristol, a suburb of Hartford).

I wasnt a huge fan of ESPN, until i heard these guys that is... now i want ESPN back.

 

[bigfatbass]

Hey! Lets not leave out that GREAT Fox hockey team lead by hockey legend and afficionado JIM BROWN?!?!?!?!?
If the glowing puck didnt' make a hockey fan want to kill people, the team in booth would seal the deal. Thank god that's over with.

I miss JD calling games, there's a guy who at least knows the xs and os of hockey.

 

[Bob Lee (QSC)]

Hey! Lets not leave out that GREAT Fox hockey team lead by hockey legend and afficionado JIM BROWN?!?!?!?!?
If the glowing puck didnt' make a hockey fan want to kill people, the team in booth would seal the deal. Thank god that's over with.

ROFLMAO!! You had to remind us of that, didn't you??

 

[socalpyropunk]

ok I just turned the game on. and Roloson pissed me off in the first few seconds I've been watching. baiting the goalie interference by coming out of the crease sticking his own leg infront of mcdonald and falling. from the view behind its obvious it was completely intentional and outside of the crease but mcdonald still gets called for goalie interference. ugh. oh well at least ducks are winnin this one.

 

[teedub]

"In a word, Chara... is... enormous." -Bob Cole

Their biases aside, Bob Cole and Harry Neal are the best in the biz. So many awesome quotes from over the years.

"I don't want to see this, this is LeCavalier and Chara........Don't do it, LeCavalier! Don't do it!..........Chara is too big.......and too strong."

"Chara could have killed him there......he just let up."

Pure gold.

And, FTR, the Ducks aren't playing any better than the other games, they've ALWAYS been playing this good. Edmonton is tired.

 

[Snarf]

ok I just turned the game on. and Roloson pissed me off in the first few seconds I've been watching. baiting the goalie interference by coming out of the crease sticking his own leg infront of mcdonald and falling. from the view behind its obvious it was completely intentional and outside of the crease but mcdonald still gets called for goalie interference. ugh. oh well at least ducks are winnin this one.

Yeah, it was really obvious, but Edmonton had gotten so many penalties that I think the blatant draw was alright.

But OMFG . . . this game astonished me. 6-3 Anaheim, those scores should be reversed. I can't believe how hard Anaheim played tonight.

 

[bigfatbass]

That was a great 2 periods, but the 3rd was hard to watch. Made me think the Devils were still playing, lol. Drag, trap, dump, drag, trap, dump, drag, trap, dump. Sure as shiite worked tonight though, the chances were few and far between. Still better than the foul fest that is the NBA east. After watching Nash pass circles all over LA it was hard to watch heat/pistons even just during the commercials of the hockey game. Every time i clicked over to check the score somebody was on the foul line.



Go hockey go!
Gonna be a tough game for my Sabres coming up!

 

[bucephylus]

ok I just turned the game on. and Roloson pissed me off in the first few seconds I've been watching. baiting the goalie interference by coming out of the crease sticking his own leg infront of mcdonald and falling. from the view behind its obvious it was completely intentional and outside of the crease but mcdonald still gets called for goalie interference. ugh. oh well at least ducks are winnin this one.

That's actually at least the third time he has gotten away with that stunt in the playoffs this year. You would think the refs would have gotten wise to it by now. It isn't a subtle move at all.

 

[Geoff St. Germaine]

Up here in Canada we've got Bob "The Leaf-blower" Cole. At least he's got a better grasp of what the game is than he does of who's playing it. If I had a dollar for every player he misnamed during these playoffs I might be able to afford to fly out and see an Edmonton game.

On the other hand he's pretty much the modern voice of hockey. If you can ignore what's actually happening and who's playing on the ice, Bob Cole makes an awesome play-by-play man.

"In a word, Chara... is... enormous." -Bob Cole

-Nate

My drummer and guitarists girlfriends went to the Edmonton game tonight. I think that they paid $395 for each ticket and they were in the 38th row or something. The 4th row tickets were selling for $2600 or something like that. To think my parent's had Oilers season tickets in the fourth row to the left of the Oilers' net from 1986-1990. A great time to be a kid.

 

[socalpyropunk]

seee...that is what is so sad about california. My seets are 7 rows up directly behind the visiting goaltender. They cost ~$95 per seat for these last few games. The sad thing is you can still buy tickets!!! Everywhere else the games are sold out and people are selling tickets for well over their face value. not here.