The Official 2012 NHL Stanely Cup Finals Thread: Part II

[Sonic_Death]

Well.. the refs sure screwed the Caps. LOL

...Because Ward didn't nail Hagelin in the face and bust his mouth open, or what?

I'd say the Caps got away with a number of calls and had just as many PP chances as the rangers (in fact, it was 4 each). The Caps got outworked a large portion of the game, save for a decent period of time in the 2nd.. the refs screwing them and the Rangers getting a fortunate last minute goal are not the same thing. With almost 40 shots on net, the Caps should be lucky a few more didn't get by - thank Holtby for that.

I read a really good article today talking about how fans in this year's playoffs are so eager to blame losses on the refs, and it's an easy thing to do. There have been inconsistent calls all around the playoffs, and not just on the ice, as we've all discussed. But when it comes down to it, a lot of these bad/blown calls even out, and in the end, it's up to the players to dictate what happens. A PP does not automatically mean a goal and is not necessarily the end all-be all of a game. Can't let it be a scapegoat, even though we're all guilty of it at times.

 

[Jeff K]

Look at Jeff....still bagging on the Pens and they've been out of the playoffs two weeks. /QUOTE]

Actually, I hadn't even thought about the Pens series UNTIL I saw that Giroux had been suspended. That's when I thought about the Neal hit on Couturier. Heck Mike, even an unapologetic Pens homer like you would have to admit that Neal got away with one big-time on the Couturier hit.

That being said, I'm much more disappointed in the way the Flyers are being out-worked by the Devils than I am with Shanahan's inconsistency. But the good news is that my heart has so much scar-tissue built up from nearly 40 years of being a Flyers fan that it's now pretty resistant to breakage. But it's still not pleasant to see them lose...

 

[Febs]

Mike Smith is putting a beat down on the Predators. He totally robbed Radulov right there on his porch.

-Mike

He came within about two inches of scoring into the empty net at the end of that game.

 

[stevetx19]

excellent- goalie duel for R3. I wonder what this means for Nashville- several of their top players are UFA's this year.

 

[warwick.hoy]

RE PHI/NJD,....the Flyers are coming unglued. Another game where I could tell in the 1st period they weren't ready to win it. Check the score,....yup. Didn't bother to finish the game. It's 1:10AM my time and I'm not gonna waste time watching these bums lose and get frustrated in the process.

So out of character for G. Not sure what his gripe with the Fayne hit is,...but to retaliate like that is not cool and not the example to set for this team. I realize things on the ice happen and circumstances can be unfortunate,...but if you are frustrated,...go out there and score a goal,...not this chicken**** crap.

I'm over this series,...just put us out of our misery so I can forget about hockey and focus on other things (archery).

 

[Hollow Man]

Uh... Excruciating loss for the Caps. The Rangers had been controlling the majority of the game, but the Caps were on the verge of stealing one... can't believe Ward took that penalty. He's been a goat for most of the year, became a hero after the series-winning goal in Boston, and now he's back to being a goat.

 

[mkandolf]

Well, what have I been missing? Got brought in ona last minute musical gig that started rehearsing last weekend and goes through this weekend. Have barely been able to keep up on games...

My comments on Devils/Flyers series... Game one went the Flyers way, then DeBoers made an adjustment and Laviolette hasn't been able to match it. Devils are better on the forecheck and fast coming back to defend. They aren't playing their old trap and clogging up center ice, they are just extremely fast getting back and it's frustrating the Flyers.

Brodeur is not the issue. if the Flyers can get the shots on him, they can score on him. But when you are being outshot almost 3-1, you just can't score.

And I do wish the NHL would get someone in there to be more consistent with the discipline/suspensions. Not saying Grioux didn't deserve a suspension for the hit to the head, but if you deserve a suspension for hit to the head, make it across the board for everyone... take the entire shift for one guy? take the entire shift for them all! Get it right Shanny! Maybe you've had too many head shots???

My pick for tonight's game is Devils 5-2 with a Flyers implosion. That is unless Bryzgalov has a monster game and Timonen and Briere somehow light a fire under the troops and the young guns quit making rookie mistakes on D. Oh, yeah, early score by Jersey, too!

 

[Febs]

Not sure what his gripe with the Fayne hit is,...but to retaliate like that is not cool and not the example to set for this team.

I read an article in one of the papers that said that his complaint was actually not with the Fayne hit but with a non-call before that on Brodeur playing the puck outside of the trapezoid.

 

[Lazarus.Bird]

There's a video of Bylsma fighting Shanahan on youtube. I wish I could tell you that Bylsma won, but he didn't =P

 

[MJ5150]

Haha, Jagr can't even stop talking about the Pens. He is taking credit for keeping the Pens in Pittsburgh. Good stuff Jagr....

http://prohockeytalk.nbcsports.com/2012/05/06/jagr-remember-when-i-saved-the-penguins/

-Mike

 

[Hollow Man]

Well the Flyers are hittin' like freight trains tonight, but it looks like Bryz is back to being Swiss cheese...

 

[Sonic_Death]

Big goal by Kovalchuk off the faceoff after a bad Flyers penalty. Let's see how the Flyers respond now.

 

[burk48237]

Well, my guess is we're going to have an exciting NJ-PHO series, and outside of NJ and PHO about six people on the planet not related to the players will turn in and five of them are posting here. Parity is boring.

 

[Sonic_Death]

Well, my guess is we're going to have an exciting NJ-PHO series, and outside of NJ and PHO about six people on the planet not related to the players will turn in and five of them are posting here. Parity is boring.

Think Phoenix will edge out the Kings? They both played remarkably well in Round 2. Lots of good goaltending to be had there.

Amazing that NYR/WSH is the only series going to a Game 6 in round 2. A testament to how well the winning teams have played.

 

[Broadstbully22]

Another year in the books, same result, same excuses, same disappointment. They didn't even show up this series. Oh well, I'm used to this. lol.

 

[warwick.hoy]

Pretty much the result I was expecting. From what little I saw this one came down to defense. New Jersey's was better. Congrats to the devils.

 

[Jeff K]

I read an article in one of the papers that said that his complaint was actually not with the Fayne hit but with a non-call before that on Brodeur playing the puck outside of the trapezoid.

Yeah, that's true. I saw an interview with Giroux. He said he was yelling at the ref because Brodeur played the puck outside the trapezoid (which of course should have been a penalty).

Flyers started out strong tonight, hitting anything that moved. That pathetic play by Bryzgalov giving the puck away and having it promptly deposited into the net behind him seemed to take some of the wind out of the Flyers' sails. Prior to that, they seemed to have the attitude of "Hey, if we keep playing like this, we might win this thing!" Then when the softie went in, it was like, "Uh oh. Here we go again. We're screwed..."

van Riemsdyk's idiotic holding penalty sure didn't help either. If the Conference finals end up being the Rangers/Devils, I'll be rooting for the Devils. If it's Devils/Caps, I'm not sure who I'll pull for. In the West, I don't really have a preference.

A disappointing end to yet another season for us Flyers fans. I did notice that Giroux came out in street clothes to go through the handshake line. I was glad to see that.

 

[Sonic_Death]

A disappointing end to yet another season for us Flyers fans. I did notice that Giroux came out in street clothes to go through the handshake line. I was glad to see that.

Street clothes?... dude was decked out in a fancy suit! But yeah, it was classy of him to make his way down for the handshake line. Always good to see people getting along and showing respect afterward, despite what may have happened during the series.

I'll hand it to the Flyers, they've done really well all season and have really stepped it up from the past. I think you guys still need to solidify your goaltending and work with Bryz over the off-season, but you're definitely top contenders in the East now.

 

[jp58]

I feel like we just didn't have an answer for PHX's bounces and goaltending. We outplayed them at several points in the series but couldn't close out the games. We were trying to win the games 2-1 or 3-2 instead of really putting the hammer down and putting up a few more goals. Smith was the better goalie during our series, kudos to him and PHX.

And let's not even mention the off-ice incident. Radulov can (edited for content).

 

[JimK]

A Quote from Giroux-
"I think we were thinking we were going to walk all over New Jersey," said Claude Giroux, who was suspended for Game 5. "It's kind of our fault a little bit. It should have been a tighter series. Not to be able to go to Game 6 is frustrating."

...wow, I cannot believe they would take Jersey that lightly.

I'm rooting for Jersey/Brodeur to go all the way.
It's tough...but gotta say it-
The Devils' playoff mentality & effort is what I would like to see from my team. Unfortunately, a solid goaltender is required for that type of play....something Philly has not had since, maybe Ron Hextall?
You may hate them...but you gotta respect them.


Another nugget from the Philly sports page-
Phoenix has advanced farther WITHOUT Bryz.