Time for the NHL playoffs!!!! Go Kings! Go Flyers!

ultmetal wrote:

Penguins. They've been in the final round for the past two years in a row.

I LOVE IT ! GO PENS !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The Bruins get Marc Savard back just in time to get knocked out again by Matt Cooke in the second round of the playoffs. Unless the Habs win tomorrow and the Bruins end up playing the Flyers.

Friggin' Coyotes couldn't finish the job last night. Red Wings advance AGAIN! So tired of the same teams every year. If it ends up the Red Wings vs. the Penguins for the cup again for the third year in a row, something obviously needs to be done in the NHL.

ultmetal wrote:

Friggin' Coyotes couldn't finish the job last night. Red Wings advance AGAIN! So tired of the same teams every year. If it ends up the Red Wings vs. the Penguins for the cup again for the third year in a row, something obviously needs to be done in the NHL.

What,though ? There already is a salary cap in place. I don't know how else you could create parity in the league. If there is,that's great but you can't punish teams just for being able to build consistent contenders better than others (through the draft,free agents,etc).

These things are cyclicle. The Pens are currently on the upswing and the Red Wings are going down.Age is catching up to them and I doubt they'll make it past the next round.

Quote :

What,though ? There already is a salary cap in place. I don't know how else you could create parity in the league. If there is,that's great but you can't punish teams just for being able to build consistent contenders better than others (through the draft,free agents,etc).

If the NHL did better in the TV ratings, the networks could step-in and "talk" to the officials to make sure certain teams do and don't make it into the finals, like they do in the NBA. Don't think it doesn't happen.

It obviously happens in the NBA, I don't know about the NHL. I think some teams stay good because that's where players want to play, like Detroit. How many free agents have gone there to get ahold of the cup?

Hasek has to be one of the biggest names that comes to mind that sold out to the Maxiwings for a cup! Can't fault him...it worked! Curtis Joseph tried and failed miserably. Hossa as well.

T-Roy wrote:

Hasek has to be one of the biggest names that comes to mind that sold out to the Maxiwings for a cup! Can't fault him...it worked! Curtis Joseph tried and failed miserably. Hossa as well.

Hossa still has his shot this year with Chicago.

[quote="ultmetal"]

T-Roy wrote:

Hasek has to be one of the biggest names that comes to mind that sold out to the Maxiwings for a cup! Can't fault him...it worked! Curtis Joseph tried and failed miserably. Hossa as well.

Hossa still has his shot this year with Chicago.

007 wrote:

ultmetal wrote:

Friggin' Coyotes couldn't finish the job
last night. Red Wings advance AGAIN! So tired of the same teams every
year. If it ends up the Red Wings vs. the Penguins for the cup again for
the third year in a row, something obviously needs to be done in the
NHL.

What,though ? There already is a salary cap in
place. I don't know how else you could create parity in the league. If
there is,that's great but you can't punish teams just for being able to
build consistent contenders better than others (through the draft,free
agents,etc).

These things are cyclicle. The Pens are currently
on the upswing and the Red Wings are going down.Age is catching up to
them and I doubt they'll make it past the next round.

I don't know what they could do, if anything. It's just annoying and tiresome. There needs to be some upset.

If the Red Wings play like they did last night, they aren't going down any time soon.

h a l a k ! h o s s a !

Wow ! I did not expect the Capitals to be eliminated in the first round. Halak is a phenomenal goalie. He just shut them down.Gonna be tough for the Penguins next round.

Man, what an upset that was! Definitely, this will be talked about for many years by sports fans as one of the biggest upsets of the 21st century.

Haha!

I knew the Caps didn't have it in them to win the East, but I still thought they'd get past round one. Their team rules in shelling bad teams and not losing points, totally dominating with their offense. But they performed in the playoffs just like I expected them to perform against good teams - winning about 50% of their games.

The Eastern conference continues with the Penguins against Canadiens and the Bruins against the Flyers. Winter classic matchup, yay!

No surprises in the West. Sharks - Wings and Hawks - Nucks. Two great series'. I hope Joe Thornton finally wakes up and realizes he's the best player on the ice. Doesn't matter if it's the playoffs. Talent doesn't just disappear like that.

I have a feeling the Blackhawks/Canucks series will contain a ton of drama though.

Regarding the comment about league parity - there's plenty of it. Any team can beat another team in the NHL. Building contenders is just about keeping core players you think will win you games. Seems fair to me. Salary cap and last teams drafting first makes it extremely tough for a franchise to keep winning. You don't see those dynasty teams of the past anymore. The Islanders won four straight 1980-83. The Edmonton Oilers won five Cups between '84 and '90. This year, the defending champs Penguins fought hard to get past the Senators in six games, including two OT games. The Red Wings went seven just to advance to the second round, and I'd hardly call them favourites to win the West.

Required Fields wrote:

Man, what an upset that was! Definitely, this will be talked about for many years by sports fans as one of the biggest upsets of the 21st century.

Mhhh... cannot agree with that. The Caps were never 'true' contenders. Personally I thought the Flyers beating the Devils in five games was a bigger upset. Besides, we're not too far removed from the 8th place Oilers eliminating the top seed Red Wings in 2006. Or how about that early 90's San Jose Sharks team that beat Detroit with practically an AHL lineup? The playoffs ALWAYS have surprises. And the Montreal Canadiens? Never an easy opponent in the playoffs. Their home crowd makes sure of that. 2002 first round they beat Boston that was number one in the regular season (lead by one Joe Thornton).

Bye bye Washington Capitals! I guess Ovechkin will be breaking out his
golf clubs?

Now it's time for Philly to destroy Boston! GO
FLYERS!

I'd also love to see the HABS take out the Penguins. I
really don't want to see the Penguins or the Red Wings in the finals
again! ARGH!

Wow. I was absolutley flabbergasted to read this morning that the Caps lost! Up 3-1 in the series and then losing Game 7 at home? I thought for sure it was gonna be a Flyers/Caps series. Whew. I'm still in shock.

Oh well. Bring on the Bruins!!

The "darling" got sent packing!!

T-Roy wrote:

The "darling" got sent packing!!

No he didn't. Ovechkin isn't the darling. Crosby is the darling of the NHL, but he needs to be sent packing.

MetalGuy71 wrote:

Wow. I was absolutley flabbergasted to read this morning that the Caps lost! Up 3-1 in the series and then losing Game 7 at home? I thought for sure it was gonna be a Flyers/Caps series. Whew. I'm still in shock.

Oh well. Bring on the Bruins!!

I am as well! Like Ult said - now its time to send Cindy packing!

That Bruins goalie has been unconscience lately, could be tough for Philly.

TheNazgul wrote:

That Bruins goalie has been unconscience lately, could be tough for Philly.

i expect it will be tough for the flyers since losing Carter is a big loss. Should be a good series.

Bring on the stinkin' RedWings!!!!! 20 minutes away!!!! Go Sharks!!

Joe wrote:

Bring on the stinkin' RedWings!!!!! 20 minutes away!!!! Go Sharks!!

YESSSS!!!!!!

For the first time EVER I am cheering for the Sharks to win. I don't like the Sharks, but I hate the Red Wings even more!

I'm with you Ult.