NHL Round 2: Conference Semi-finals

[tms13pin]

Time to start a new thread for round 2, that round 1 one was getting
quite long.

SJ starts it off with a 3-goal flurry that ends up being enough to hold
off the Wings. I'm sure they're glad to get the first one under their
belt.

We'll see tonight if Halak can sustain his "brick wall" status against
my Penguins!

--Tom

[Garygtr]

Looking forward to the game tonight, the Versus boys seem to think the Habs have spent their load-we'll see! Should be an entertaining series, I picked Pens in 6.

[MOJO]

personally i think the Penguins have a clear shot to the Finals now... they just
seem to take it up a few notches come playoff time

[Tom Gross]

...SJ starts it off with a 3-goal flurry that ends up being enough to hold off the Wings.


That was an awesome coupla minutes.

[yomama]

There have been some great games so far!!
Does SJ seem to be a little faster than the rest?

[tms13pin]

Pens just finish up with a 4 PPG effort vs. Habs. Nice to grab game 1.
Here's hoping they don't get comfy and just keep the ball rolling on
Sunday afternoon.

--Tom

[brandass]

Habs never got a rhythm going. Amazing when things are clicking, so fluid and spontaneous. But Pens didn't have too much trouble knocking them out of synch. I think tms13pin nailed it: Habs will be dangerous if the Pens get comfy. But if they stay focused and energetic they'll own the Habs.

[steve108819]

the Versus boys seem to think the Habs have spent their load-we'll see!
I'm a little ticked with Vs as I didn't get to see a single Flyers game. It was always the same 2 Eastern conference series that they chose to broadcast.

[The Cowboy Poet]

Canucks in 6, my friends :)

[tms13pin]

I'm a little ticked with Vs as I didn't get to see a single Flyers game. It was always the same 2 Eastern conference series that they chose to broadcast.

They're on NBC this afternoon. NBC did all Western Conf games last series... Detroit and Chicago got all
the games.

--Tom

[todd richman]

Flyers in 6

[tms13pin]

Way to go B's in OT! Nice shot by Savard.

Briere's goal at the end of the third to send it into OT was sweet too.
He just totally stuck with it and made it happen, but the B's were all
over the Flyers in OT. I'm surprised they didn't score in that first 2
minute flurry.

--Tom

[silencer eleven]

Crosby now has 16 points in 7 games. He's really on a tear.

[coldfingaz]

Very tough loss for Philly today especially after the way they played in the 3rd.

[NB_Terry]

I'm really looking forward to the Van vs Chi game tonight. I hope it's as good as last year's games.

I hope we don't have a Det vs Pit final again this year for the 3rd time. We need some new faces.

[puckhead]

Way to go B's in OT! Nice shot by Savard.

Briere's goal at the end of the third to send it into OT was sweet too.
He just totally stuck with it and made it happen, but the B's were all
over the Flyers in OT. I'm surprised they didn't score in that first 2
minute flurry.

--Tom

that was such an entertaining game from start to finish. Even watching Recchi go after Pronger all night. What a warrior.
Nice to see Headache pop the winner.

also, Go Canucks Go!!!!!!!!

[Garygtr]

Well, the Hawks seem content to piss away Game 1 of each series this year. They got away with it last round, don't know if they will this round. What an embarrassing lack of effort-no physicality, no guts. Luongo played well for sure, but the Hawks were just flat and lifeless, and amazingly sloppy with the puck. I would say Sopel needs to sit the next game, but who's going to replace him? :puh
I'm guessing Q dresses Burish and Eager for the next game.

[puckhead]

I'm guessing Q dresses Burish and Eager for the next game.

I was impressed at how disciplined the Canucks were. they were very businesslike, left all the other garbage alone. I don't think Eager will change that, and could cost some powerplays.

bigger question is... Who to start in goal for game 2? Niemi was awful.

[scuff]

personally i think the Penguins have a clear shot to the Finals now... they just
seem to take it up a few notches come playoff time

Did you watch the game today, dude?

Go Habs go!

[Garygtr]

I was impressed at how disciplined the Canucks were. they were very businesslike, left all the other garbage alone. I don't think Eager will change that, and could cost some powerplays.

bigger question is... Who to start in goal for game 2? Niemi was awful.

I'm thinking Eager more for physical size and presence, but of course that's what Byfuglien and Bickell are supposed to be doing. I would like to see Burish play, I think he has a lot of heart, which the Hawks need right now. I honestly don't think Niemi played all that bad, most of those goals were defensive breakdowns or the result of sloppy play in their own end. He sure does give up some juicy rebounds, though.

[tms13pin]

Did you watch the game today, dude?

Go Habs go!

Yeah, the Pens had a lot of shots, but I don't think they did much to try
to get rebounds. Noone was in front of the net (but Habs). And Malkin
looks like he's on ludes.

If the Pens thought they were in for an easy ride after Game 1, they got
their reality check today.

--Tom

[tms13pin]

So, Tom, considering how you carried on about Hossa, are you calling for Adams to be suspended after his penalty and ejection?

If Hossa had been suspended, I would absolutely call for Adams to be as
well. Given that Hossa wasn't, if they do suspend Adams, the NHL has
their head up their ass as Adams' hit was the least dangerous of the
three (Hossa, Ovi, Adams). If you look at the hit, Adams hits his
shoulder, not his back. It was still dangerous because of the proximity
to the boards and the defenders position, and Adams really didn't need to
clock him like that, it was definitely out of frustration. But this is how
people get injured. I just want the league to be consistent about this
stuff. The GMs made a lot of noise about this in March and how they
were going to crack down. If they mean it, they should do it. I have no
problem with protecting players from dangerous hits. I play myself and
I've been on the receiving end of a few of them (I'm a defenseman).

--Tom

[MOJO]

Did you watch the game today, dude?

Go Habs go!

believe me , i'd be more then happy if the Habs bounced Pittsburgh

[puckhead]

I'm thinking Eager more for physical size and presence, but of course that's what Byfuglien and Bickell are supposed to be doing. I would like to see Burish play, I think he has a lot of heart, which the Hawks need right now. I honestly don't think Niemi played all that bad, most of those goals were defensive breakdowns or the result of sloppy play in their own end. He sure does give up some juicy rebounds, though.

yeah it was a lot let physical that I was bargaining for. I'm not sure what was wrong with Chicago last game. Maybe they thought the series was a gimme?

- Wellwood (yes, Wellwood) outworking Seabrook for a goal
- Hossa being invisible, except for some pushing at the bench
- Byflugien was utterly invisible

in any event, it's a heck of a lot to fix in two days.

as for Niemi, maybe awful is too strong, but he definitely wasn't an asset.
Ehrhoff's was screened, but Niemi didn't look ready. The rebound to Raymond (10 seconds left) was tragic, no chance on Sedin's, Wellwood's was poor rebound control again. No chance on Grabner's,

if you asked me if I'd take a split coming out of the away games i'd have jumped at it, but here's a chance for the Canucks to really put their foot down. that's what they lacked so severely last year (remember, they were about 2 minutes from being up 3-1 in the series before it all fell apart).

Anyhow, should be fun. Go Canucks Go!!

[scuff]

believe me , i'd be more then happy if the Habs bounced Pittsburgh

Don't if that will happen but sure makes for a great series.

Go Habs Go!

[Garygtr]

I'm thinking Eager more for physical size and presence, but of course that's what Byfuglien and Bickell are supposed to be doing. I would like to see Burish play, I think he has a lot of heart, which the Hawks need right now. I honestly don't think Niemi played all that bad, most of those goals were defensive breakdowns or the result of sloppy play in their own end. He sure does give up some juicy rebounds, though.

Well, Eager and Burish played and actually had some good scoring chances on their line. Niemi rebounded nicely, but we can't afford this one game off/one game on pattern. Overall a much better game for the Hawks all around, more physical, fewer turnovers. I didn't see the beginning of the 1st due to the Bruins/Flyers on Versus, but caught it shortly after the Hawks 1st goal. I probably would have thrown a brick through my TV after they went down 2-0. :bitch
Luongo is playing great, I'm amazed we're getting anything past him.

[Teleplayer]

Well, Eager and Burish played and actually had some good scoring chances on their line. Niemi rebounded nicely, but we can't afford this one game off/one game on pattern. Overall a much better game for the Hawks all around, more physical, fewer turnovers. I didn't see the beginning of the 1st due to the Bruins/Flyers on Versus, but caught it shortly after the Hawks 1st goal. I probably would have thrown a brick through my TV after they went down 2-0. :bitch
Luongo is playing great, I'm amazed we're getting anything past him.

I watched the game a bit. The Hawks still seemed pretty lackluster even though they won. Seemed like they sleep walked through the first period. For some reason, they just seem like a completely different team than they were before the Olympics.

[DWB1960]

GO Bs!!!!!!!

[brandass]

I watched the game a bit. The Hawks still seemed pretty lackluster even though they won. Seemed like they sleep walked through the first period. For some reason, they just seem like a completely different team than they were before the Olympics.

Yeah, I watched the first two periods and was amazed when I found out later that they'd won. Not that they had been playing really badly, just that the Canucks seemed to have more jump in them and I figured that that difference would only widen in the last period. But the Hawks must've re-energized, or the Canucks wore down - what do you think?

Anyway, if the pre-Olympics Hawks return the Canucks, as good as they are, will go down in a heap. But so far those Hawks haven't returned (unless that last period went that way), and the Canucks would seem to have the edge - fewer mistakes, and wicked counterpunching. An entertaining series as an uninterested party, but must be frustrating for Hawks fans.

[Ultron]

Brent Sopel, skates like my Grandma, but absorbs pucks with his face.

[Garygtr]

Brent Sopel, skates like my Grandma, but absorbs pucks with his face.

:roll

If he could just absorb them and not turn them over, he'd be fine!

[Garygtr]

Yeah, I watched the first two periods and was amazed when I found out later that they'd won. Not that they had been playing really badly, just that the Canucks seemed to have more jump in them and I figured that that difference would only widen in the last period. But the Hawks must've re-energized, or the Canucks wore down - what do you think?

Anyway, if the pre-Olympics Hawks return the Canucks, as good as they are, will go down in a heap. But so far those Hawks haven't returned (unless that last period went that way), and the Canucks would seem to have the edge - fewer mistakes, and wicked counterpunching. An entertaining series as an uninterested party, but must be frustrating for Hawks fans.

It has been frustrating, but I think the Hawks are showing signs of breaking through.

[tms13pin]

Glad the Pens pulled it out last night. They needed to get at least one
up there in Montreal.

If anyone had told me the Wings would be down 3-0 in this series, I would
have told them they were crazy... and all by 4-3 scores! I just can't
fathom them being swept. Look for a crazed Wings team tomorrow night,
but it looks like too little too late. Still, if any team can win 4 straight...

--Tom

[tms13pin]

Crap, Pens really blew that one last night. Weak goal at the beginning
and one off of Letang's skate (groan). Habs are showing their first round
victory wasn't a fluke.

I knew the Wings would answer back big last night. No way they were
going down in 4 straight.

--Tom

[Count_Chocolat]

I was at the Montreal game last night. I am a big Montreal fan but I do really respect the Penguins on many levels. Both teams did their jobs last night and the place was rocking. But the refs definately did not do theirs, it was a total disgrace. At one point a lot of people were throwing stuff at the refs, they had to stop the game...I had never seen that before in Montreal. You don't see everything on TV, but live you do.
Montreal should have received more penalties than they actually got, but objectively speaking, the Penguins should have received a significantly higher quantity of penalties....it was sick...it was not about missed calls, but non-calls!!!

After having seen the Washington & Pittsburg so far, it's quite evident that the league is doing it's best to have the teams with the big stars go as far as possible.

Hockey is a great sport on many levels but the NHL is a sick league!!!:FM