Hockey Playoffs!!!!

“Don't get excited NG. Bobo promised me a game last season.”

“Dang, well that sucked. Sens are now up 2 games to 1 over NJ”

“Don't get excited NG. Bobo promised me a game last season.”
Geobeet
8:24:46 PM
4/30/07

OUCH!
- the way the Flyers were playing, I didn't think you'd be much in the mood!
:-/”

“I hope they find something else to talk about in Pittsbuhrrrr next year!”
Capn Bobo
9:20:50 PM
4/29/07

They already do!! Jordan Staal, Marc-Andre Fleury, Evgeni Malkin, Colby Armstrong... I COULD go on!!!

[scratching head] That was random... Do you have some sort of death-grudge against the Eastern Conference? :D”
PhantomSoul
5:27:40 PM
4/30/07

I am now in love with the two Marty's (Brodeur and Turco) and Johnny Cheechoo. So my teams now (still in the playoffs) are the Devils and the Sharks!!!”

“Rangers 2, Sabres 1 (over a controversial non-goal by the Sabres in the last minute)

...though I must admit y'all got robbed by the NHL rulebook in the last minute of that game -- that had to be a goal by simple deduction of physics -- but I guess the NHL rulebook doesn't allow deductions. 'Tis business, I guess.

The reset button on the series hath been pusheth...
last edited: 5/01/07 8:48:19 PM”

“I'm from Buffalo. We're used to getting screwed.

See you in Buffalo tomorrow night.”

“Looks like the Devils are done. I don't see them winning 3 in a row against Ottawa, although they did manage to come back from a 3 games to 1 deficit back in 2000.”

“Here's what I see happening down the stretch (not to be confused with what I'm actually rooting for...)

Rangers/Sabres: Sabres
...only because the Sabres control their own destiny; if they turn their game on, they will win -- otherwise the Rangers will -- possibly over more questionable plays too, further adding insult to the injury.

Devils/Senators: Senators
Brodeur and Stevens together used to be able to keep anyone out of their net. Not so much Brodeur alone though...

Red Wings/Sharks: Red Wings
The Sharks don't seem to have that 100% discipline it takes to keep the Red Wings off the board, and consequently the Red Wings can stay alive with mere sporadic bursts of intense play.

Ducks/Canucks: Ducks
Much like New Jersey, the goaltender alone cannot win a semifinals series. With 3 single-elimination chances, the Canucks may want to start shopping for tee times...

Sabres/Senators: Senators
The Senators play the same style as the Rangers and Islanders, both of whom have given the Sabres trouble, except that the Senators are much better at it. The Senators' level of discipline shown against Brodeur's Devils is also no match for the slackers from Buffalo.

Red Wings/Ducks: Red Wings
Only because it's going to take a massive amount of 100% discipline to avoid the ol' sin bin and the Wings' lethal power play. Any slip-up, no matter how small, could end up in the back of the Ducks' net.

Red Wings/Senators: Senators
The Senators will show up with that discipline the Ducks wish they had, and consequently, it will be enough to keep the Red Wings off the board.

The bottom line:
Buffalo's struggle against the Rangers, a team that has nowhere near matching speed, scoring, or depth, has shown that Hockey is once again a defender's game.”

“I am rooting for the Rangers, that non goal at the end did look to actually be a goal though.”

“I'm rooting for NottheRangers. :D”

“Tonight.

7 PM EDT on Vs.

Live from Buffalo

...in a game that could very well determine the Stanley Cup fate of both teams...

(This is gonna be good)

...too bad I won't be home to watch it :(”

“That was a nail-biter for sure. Lundqvist had another incredible game, but not quite good enough.

Sabres lead 3-2 with game 6 looming large on Sunday.”

“8 more wins!”

“for stepping up and taking the series. Should make for an interesting series with the Senators. Too bad for the NHL that most of the US TV audience could care less at this point...

As for the Rangers, they've now got the entire summer to think about how they could improve their clutch play on the road -- a component whose performance probably cost them those two close games in Buffalo, and consequently sniping the series 4 games to 1 before the Sabres woke up.”

“I think the Rangers need to think about more than clutch play on the road. They need to think about replacing the oldtimers with newer, faster models. Lundqvist played 4 incredible games and kept them in the series, but he couldn't win it on his own. My hat is off to him.

Congrats on a good run.”

“Go Sabres!!!!!!!!!!!

They are my pick to win the cup and I hope the Suck Wings go down in flames!!!!!!!!

Sorry Sass and Birch.

8)”

“All my fave teams are now kaput! DAMN!!! Hockey season is over for me!”

“Going in to the last round I thought the Sharks would pull out an upset but Hasek stoned them and Nabokov got sloppy. So we move on to the final four, San Hose Heads.

And the two number one seeds are still alive . . . a rare occurence in recent hockey history.

Go Sabres!!”

“Lundqvist's weaknesses were exposed when the Rangers defense started to allow the Sabres to shoot high on him. The Rangers have relied on their defense to tie up the other team's forwards enough so that they could only really sweep the puck at the net -- and for a long time, it worked. Consequently, Lundqvist could then just drop low and barricade the net for a reliable save. He will definitely need to improve that for next year.

I'd say the Rangers could maybe get one more year out of Jagr and Shanahan. In that case, next year would have to be championship or bust. I think the Rangers have a good mix of youth and veterans, and together with Lundqvist can make a rather large splash next year.

Only thing I'd really do different is put the C on Shanahan. No offense to Jagr -- he's a great player -- but I think he's more of a contributor than a leader, as we've all seen in his dejected attitude after losing game 5 in overtime. You just cannot have your captain be like that when you're down 3-x in a series...
last edited: 5/08/07 12:07:34 PM”

“Man, that was a horrible showing by the Sabres!

Sloppy with the puck and some of the most horrific special teams play I've seen in these playoffs.”

“... not with a bang but a whimper.

Snooters drop the Slobbers 4-1.”

“It was an exciting series. Every game was a nail-biter.”