It's here! The NHL 2003-04 playoff thread

[Maple Leafs]

And while the giveaway was heartbreaking, I'm with you re: Todd Gill....I always liked him. Solid, solid d-man. And IIRC, the Leafs and Hawks were both horribly horribly bad that season...but one of them had to make the playoffs. All the giveaway did was save the Leafs what would have likely been a humiliating sweep in the first round. Was it really *that* big a deal? :)Two things that most Leaf fans don't know (or have forgotten) about The Giveaway.

1.) The Leafs needed to win that game to make the playoffs. If they tied, the Hawks were in. So the goal didn't actually cost the Leafs anything other than another minute or two of overtime to try to score the winning goal. Gill took a risk, but in that situation you kind of have to.

2.) Gill was actually playing wing in that game. So next time you see the highlight, ask yourself "Where the hell were the two defencemen?" A little puck support would have been nice.

[Draft Dodger]

OMFG - am I missing something, or is the Avs/Sharks game actually not on DirecTV?

[Maple Leafs]

Leafs I loved:
- Wendel Clark. I am naming my first-born son after Wendel Clark. I am not joking about this.
- Bill Berg. For reasons outlined a few posts above. Also my wife's all-time favorite player
- Todd Gill. He got a bad rap.
- Mike Foligno. Jump, Mikey, jump!
- Allan Bester. Of course.
- Tim Bernhardt, Rick St. Croix, Mark LaForrest. Any crappy Leafs goalie of the 1980s, actually.
- Ken Baumgartner. Smartest goon of all time.
- Tie Domi. Respect where it's due.
- Brad Smith. Motor City Smitty!
- Peter Zezel. Best defensive center the Leafs ever had.
- Ed Olczyck. Don't know why, but he really grew on me after he left.
- Bob Rouse + Sylvain Lefvebre. Thanks for 1993, boys.

Leafs I hated:
- Garth Butcher. What a bum
- Sergio Momesso. Worse than Butcher. Just terrible as a Leaf. Plus I never forgave him for his OT goal in 1989
- Robert Reichel. Although he's trying hard to win me over this year.
- Kevin McLelland, Kevin Maguire, Nick Kypreos. Come on, it's Toronto, we deserve real tough guys!
- Trevor Kidd. Sieve.
- Larry Murphy. What a bum. Completely quit on the Leafs. I'm glad they ran him out of town.

[Johnny93g]

Leafs I loved:
- Wendel Clark. I am naming my first-born son after Wendel Clark. I am not joking about this.
- Bill Berg. For reasons outlined a few posts above. Also my wife's all-time favorite player
- Todd Gill. He got a bad rap.
- Mike Foligno. Jump, Mikey, jump!
- Allan Bester. Of course.
- Tim Bernhardt, Rick St. Croix, Mark LaForrest. Any crappy Leafs goalie of the 1980s, actually.
- Ken Baumgartner. Smartest goon of all time.
- Tie Domi. Respect where it's due.
- Brad Smith. Motor City Smitty!
- Peter Zezel. Best defensive center the Leafs ever had.
- Ed Olczyck. Don't know why, but he really grew on me after he left.
- Bob Rouse + Sylvain Lefvebre. Thanks for 1993, boys.

Leafs I hated:
- Garth Butcher. What a bum
- Sergio Momesso. Worse than Butcher. Just terrible as a Leaf. Plus I never forgave him for his OT goal in 1989
- Robert Reichel. Although he's trying hard to win me over this year.
- Kevin McLelland, Kevin Maguire, Nick Kypreos. Come on, it's Toronto, we deserve real tough guys!
- Trevor Kidd. Sieve.
- Larry Murphy. What a bum. Completely quit on the Leafs. I'm glad they ran him out of town.

After reading your list...I realize my list is too small.....I could add alot of names of players I really like.....Althoug I did like Larry Murphy more then others.....he was supposed to score and did....I also really liked Todd Gill, based on how long he was a Leaf....Im to young to remember the giveaway you guys are talking about.....Al Secord is another name that comes to mind....I remember liking him as a kid.....John Brophy was the man......and someone I forgot to mention who i hate...and I really did hate him....DMITRI KHRISTICH....enough said

GO LEAFS GO

[Simms]

- Brad Smith. Motor City Smitty!
Yes! I totally forgot about Smitty.

He scored a goal in an early-round series against St. Louis one year. It was early in the series (either game one or three), and early in the first period (in other words, a largely meaningless goal), but I remember him streaking down the wing after a loose puck and just ripping a slapshot past whoever the Blues goalie was...

I have not seen MLG or the ACC erupt like that after a Leaf goal before or since.

Great stuff. :)

[Draft Dodger]

no, really - no Avs on TV? seriously?

[Simms]

Avs/Sharks are off til tomorrow....gotta make sure they bring in that huge Saturday afternoon audience on ABC. :)

[Draft Dodger]

Avs/Sharks are off til tomorrow....gotta make sure they bring in that huge Saturday afternoon audience on ABC. :)

yeah...but they don't seem to be on tomorrow. ABC is going to show the Wings, and I don't see a Centre Ice Listing for the Avs.

[henry296]

DD,

I see it listed on channel 741 tomorrow at 3 PM.

Todd

[Simms]

In non-Leaf-related news....

Good call: http://sports.yahoo.com/nhl/news?slug=nieminensuspended&prov=st&type=lgns

Didn't think they'd have the balls to do it.

[Johnny93g]

In non-Leaf-related news....

Good call: http://sports.yahoo.com/nhl/news?slug=nieminensuspended&prov=st&type=lgns

Didn't think they'd have the balls to do it.

I thought this was a Leaf thread....

Very solid game by the Leafs....Sundin came out to play.....Belak wasn't as noticeable....but the other so called scrubs (Wilm, Kilger) played very smart....Mogilny seems to have this look in his eyes like he is ready to take his game to the next level....not that that means scoring more.......

GO LEAFS GO!!!!!

[Simms]

I thought this was a Leaf thread....

Oh, it is....but I wasn't going to say a word about the game until it was actually over. :)

[Draft Dodger]

DD,

I see it listed on channel 741 tomorrow at 3 PM.

Todd

THANKS! (I swear, that wasn't there earlier)

[Draft Dodger]

re: Tie Domi's CBC interview.

what was the Don Cherry thing about?

[Karim]

Ville deserves it. It was a bonehead play that makes a depleted lineup have to insert yet another AHLer.

I know injuries are part of the game but it's amazing the Flames are still in it with 6 regulars out. It's more amazing that they beat the Wings playing 5 defencemen in Game 3.

I like the Leafs makeup except for Antropov, Ponikorovsky and Reichel. Why those stiffs are on the team is beyond me.

[Simms]

DD:

Yesterday's Front Page News (http://www.globeandmail.com/servlet/ArticleNews/TPStory/LAC/20040429/CHERRY29//?query=Don+Cherry).

[Draft Dodger]

DD:

Yesterday's Front Page News (http://www.globeandmail.com/servlet/ArticleNews/TPStory/LAC/20040429/CHERRY29//?query=Don+Cherry).

interesting.
but, hasn't he always been like that?

[Johnny93g]

Oh, it is....but I wasn't going to say a word about the game until it was actually over. :)

Definatly....don't want to screw it up

[Simms]

interesting.
but, hasn't he always been like that?
Well, yeah. :)

It's all speculation at this point....he made an impromptu appearance on the afternoon drive sports radio show yesterday. He sounded very much like a guy who didn't really want to leave, but if he does, he's perfectly fine with that. Swore CBC hasn't actually said anything to him, so he couldn't elaborate on the story, but conventional wisdom would suggest even CBC isn't so stupid as to get rid of their mealticket (which he is, whether they ever admit it or not).

The entire country went apeshit a couple of years ago when CBC tried to play hardball with Ron McLean....can't imagine what the firestorm would be like after Don. :)

[Johnny93g]

Well, yeah. :)

It's all speculation at this point....he made an impromptu appearance on the afternoon drive sports radio show yesterday. He sounded very much like a guy who didn't really want to leave, but if he does, he's perfectly fine with that. Swore CBC hasn't actually said anything to him, so he couldn't elaborate on the story, but conventional wisdom would suggest even CBC isn't so stupid as to get rid of their mealticket (which he is, whether they ever admit it or not).

The entire country went apeshit a couple of years ago when CBC tried to play hardball with Ron McLean....can't imagine what the firestorm would be like after Don. :)

Ya, after that whole Ron McLean thing, I can't see the CBC not bringing him back.....I dont think the country would except HNIC without Don Cherry....I wouldnt know what to do during the first intermission....Don's been there my whole life

[bbor]

Wow....Where have the Flyers gone? they are a shadow of the team that played in game 1.Not that i mind :)

3 game series now....Looks like a 7 gamer.

Who pisses in Mogilnys' cornflakes recently?


BTW.....Another fave Leaf....Jeff Brubaker....i can still here the chants of BRUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU in the cashbox on Carlton

[Johnny93g]

Anyone remember the GUYYYYYYYYYY chants for Guy Larose....at least I think it was Guy Larose....played a handful of games in the late 80's or early 90's for the Leafs.....I remember going to a few games and every loving him......

[Draft Dodger]

ok, HNIC question 2:

during the Satellite Hot Stove thingamabog, John Davidson is on and always seems to completely hate some other guy (Al something or another?). What's the story there

[Maple Leafs]

during the Satellite Hot Stove thingamabog, John Davidson is on and always seems to completely hate some other guy (Al something or another?). What's the story thereThat's Al Strachan of the Toronto Sun. He's generally a weaselly little guy, and Davidson is Mr. Self Important US Hockey Bigshot, so they're like oil and water. Brian Burke also hates Strachan.

Jeff Brubaker... nice one. Good times.

Even though he was mentioned elsewhere, I can't believe I left Steve Thomas off my list. Stumpy!

Good games by the Leafs tonight, but not a good effort for the Flyers. I have a bad feeling this series is shaping into another one of those "home team wins every game" affairs, similar to TOR/NYI in 2002.

[Simms]

That's Al Strachan of the Toronto Sun. He's generally a weaselly little guy, and Davidson is Mr. Self Important US Hockey Bigshot, so they're like oil and water. Brian Burke also hates Strachan.

Actually, most of the hockey watching and reading public hates Al Strachan....at least the ones I know.

[Simms]

By the way DD, there's more on the Don Cherry situation here (http://www.ericmcerlain.com/offwingopinion/archives/003217.php#003217) (from the best pure sports blogger out there...check out the rest of this guy's site).

[bbor]

Thx for the linky Simms...good stuff...i'd be interested in seeing the rest of your hockey resources also....as i have none of my own :(

Are we to suffer through another Saturday night with no HNIC game ???

I am starting to get a bit upset with this catering to ABC who draws flies for their telecasts.

[sterlingice]

In non-Leaf-related news....

Good call: http://sports.yahoo.com/nhl/news?slug=nieminensuspended&prov=st&type=lgns

Didn't think they'd have the balls to do it.
They had to after he made that hit. That was indefensible... even against the Red Wings. ;)

SI

[Honolulu_Blue]

As for f*cking VILE Niemenen, what the hell? His ass should be (and will likely be) suspended for the next game.

It had to be done. It was too blatant and stupid. Given the timing of the hit, the five minute major, the misconduct, it was written in stone.

The Flames have played amazingly well despite the injuries. If the Wings survive this series, they could be in a world of trouble with San Jose and/or Colorado. The Wings are getting adequate, but not dominating goaltending, and many of their "big guns" (see, Shanahan, Hull, Zetterberg, Datsyuk) aren't firing all that well, if at all.

[Karim]

Some of the names back when I use to like the Leafs:

- Dan Daoust
- Daniel Marois
- Alan Bester
- Tom Fergus
- Chris Kotsopoulos
- Al Iafrate
- Wendel Clark
- Lou Franceschetti

[Maple Leafs]

Some of the names back when I use to like the Leafs:

- Dan Daoust
- Daniel Marois
- Alan Bester
- Tom Fergus
- Chris Kotsopoulos
- Al Iafrate
- Wendel Clark
- Lou FranceschettiI loved Iafrate. You just don't see a lot of pro atheletes who ride motorcycles, grow their hair out long even though they're bald, and smoke a few packs a day. He was everything David Wells thinks he is. All-time great Iafrate memory: when he wore his helmet during the all-star skills competition so people wouldn't realize how bald he was.

Another great name: Bill Derlago. As a kid, I just thought it was cool that we had a player named "Builder Lego".

Another guy I loved: Rob Pearson. I don't know why. He was slow, had no hands and couldn't fight anywhere near as well as he thought he could. But I just liked having a guy around who was ready to snap at any time.

More guys I hate:

Mike Craig: What a bum. I can't believe we traded Zezel and Grant Marshall for him.

Jamie Baker. What a bum. I can't believe we traded Gill for him. Baker's only positive was that he lead to one of the all-time great hockey one-liners. The leafs acquired him shortly after they picked up Garth Butcher, and one sportswriter quipped "Somebody stop Fletcher before he goes out and trades for a candlestick-maker."

[Karim]

Another black eye for hockey during an AHL playoff game between Hamilton and Cleveland. Alexander Perezhogin swung his stick like a baseball bat and caught Garrett Stafford square in the face. Absolutely sickening. You have been warned...

http://user.fundy.net/ranold/Perezhogin.wmv

[bbor]

ML....Was'nt Craig not a FA signing....and the compensation was Zezel and Marshall?


The Leafs offered another player...i can't recall who.....and the stars countered with those 2....i believe the arbitor can only choose between the 2 deals offered.

None the less...Craig was an all world POS when he got here.

[Simms]

Isn't Mike Craig a regular on the Spengler Cup circuit these days?

[sachmo71]

Trade info on Zezel...I loved that guy when he was here.


Traded to St. Louis by Philadelphia for Mike Bullard, November 29, 1988. Traded to Washington by St. Louis with Mike Lalor for Geoff Courtnall, July 13, 1990. Traded to Toronto by Washington with Bob Rouse for Al Iafrate, January 16, 1991. Transferred to Dallas by Toronto with Grant Marshall as compensation for Toronto's signing of free agent Mike Craig, August 10, 1994. Signed as a free agent by St. Louis, October 19, 1995. Traded to New Jersey by St. Louis for Chris McAlpine and New Jersey's 9th round choice (James Desmarais) in 1999 Entry Draft, February 11, 1997. Traded to Vancouver by New Jersey for Vancouver's 5th round choice (Anton But) in 1998 Entry Draft, February 5, 1998.

[Maple Leafs]

ML....Was'nt Craig not a FA signing....and the compensation was Zezel and Marshall?

The Leafs offered another player...i can't recall who.....and the stars countered with those 2....i believe the arbitor can only choose between the 2 deals offered.
You have it half right. He was a FA signing, but Marshall/Zezel was the Leafs offer. The Stars countered by asking for Kenny Jonsson (which they knew was unreasonable, but they figured they'd be happy with Zezel so why not take a shot). The arbitrator chose the Leafs' offer, and the rest was history.

FA arbitration trivia: When the Blues signed Shanahan from the Devils, the arbitrator stunned the hockey world by agreeing with the Devils' request for Scott Stevens as compensation. Which two players had the Blues offered?

[sachmo71]

Murray Baron and Turgeon?

[Vince]

HELL YEAH SHARKS!!!

Sorry DD.

[Vince]

Holy crap...Nabokov is my hero.

[ice4277]

Shit, I hope Yzerman is going to be ok :(

[Vince]

What happened? I'm watching the other game...

EDIT - Ouch...they just showed it.

[ice4277]

Can Fischer do something useful in the playoffs please? All he is doing is playing out of position and taking penalties.

[Vince]

Wow...one period left. Let's go Sharks!

[Johnny93g]

FA arbitration trivia: When the Blues signed Shanahan from the Devils, the arbitrator stunned the hockey world by agreeing with the Devils' request for Scott Stevens as compensation. Which two players had the Blues offered?

Thats a great question

could it be CuJo,
and hmm....
Adam Oates?

[Maple Leafs]

Thats a great question

could it be CuJo,
and hmm....
Adam Oates?
CuJo is correct. Oates is not. The other guy is still an active NHLer.

[Vince]

Holy crap!!!

My heart about stopped in that little series when the puck just dribbled along the line...

[Simms]

CuJo is correct. Oates is not. The other guy is still an active NHLer.
Barely. :)

Brind'Amour wasn't it? (I'd forgotten about Cujo though....wow)

[Vince]

Man, you can really tell the Avs are going all-out now.

[Maple Leafs]

Brind'Amour wasn't it? (I'd forgotten about Cujo though....wow)Bingo.

(So how would hockey history have changed if the Devils had acquired CuJo right before he broke into the upper tier of goalies...)

[Vince]

DAMN it.

[Vince]

And now McLaren's hurt. :(

[Vince]

Dang it, where's the high-stick call.

[MJ4H]

Hang on Flames!!

[Honolulu_Blue]

Oh boy... :(

[ice4277]

Shit.

[Hurst2112]

damn

[Hurst2112]

dola, 3 wings fan posts in a row. that's not a good sign.

Not too happy knowing the Wings took attitude out of their vocabulary.

Yzerman's injury probably sealed the coffin.

[Vince]

This sucks. I hate being worried about a series in which you have home-ice advantage, and are up 3-1.

[Vince]

:mad:
:mad:
:mad:
:mad:
:mad:
:mad:
:mad:

[SFL Cat]

What??? They're still playing hockey?

[MJ4H]

What??? They're still playing hockey?

The Flames? Yeah. I was as shocked as anyone.

[Johnny93g]

11 years ago today.....May 1, 1993 - Nikolai Borschevsky scores at 2:35 of overtime at Joe Louis Arena to oust the Red Wings 4-3 in the seventh and deciding game of the division semi-finals series.

It still seems like yesterday

Just thought HB would enjoy that...hehe

[Maple Leafs]

11 years ago today.....Jesus Christ do I feel old...

[bbor]

Wow...11 years ago...that IS depressing:(

Not as depressing as it is for H_B...but still depressing :)

Anyone hear how Stevie Y is doing?

[Cards4ever]

11 years ago today.....May 1, 1993 - Nikolai Borschevsky scores at 2:35 of overtime at Joe Louis Arena to oust the Red Wings 4-3 in the seventh and deciding game of the division semi-finals series.

It still seems like yesterday

Just thought HB would enjoy that...hehe


Could be worse, you could be rubbing in that 1967 Stanley Cup, oh wait, none of the Leafs fans on this board were alive when they won that one. :D

Seriously though, why do you guys get such satisfaction about Division Semi's and shit like that, why not win a Cup before talking all that smack.

[kingfc22]

Crap. Now I'm worried. Still up 3-2 but now its back to Colorado. Game 7 here we come.

[Draft Dodger]

WOHOO.

and my playoff beard gets a to stay a little longer...
I don't know if my heart can take another close game like that.

[Draft Dodger]

dola - yesterday was me wife and my 5th wedding anniversary. we went with some friends and our kids to the New England Aquarium, had an amazingly GREAT day. came home and my wife and we watched the recorded game after exchanging gifts (my wife gave me an extremely cool geneology report of our families she's been secrelty working on for months)...Sakic's OT winner was scored at 11:59 pm Tivo time...the last minute of one of the best days of my life.

[klayman]

Could be worse, you could be rubbing in that 1967 Stanley Cup, oh wait, none of the Leafs fans on this board were alive when they won that one. :D

Seriously though, why do you guys get such satisfaction about Division Semi's and shit like that, why not win a Cup before talking all that smack.
hehe :D

[ice4277]

Could be worse, you could be rubbing in that 1967 Stanley Cup, oh wait, none of the Leafs fans on this board were alive when they won that one. :D

Seriously though, why do you guys get such satisfaction about Division Semi's and shit like that, why not win a Cup before talking all that smack.
Didn't you hear, they are planning a parade through downtown Toronto if the Leafs make it to the Conference Finals.

[bbor]

dola - yesterday was me wife and my 5th wedding anniversary. we went with some friends and our kids to the New England Aquarium, had an amazingly GREAT day. came home and my wife and we watched the recorded game after exchanging gifts (my wife gave me an extremely cool geneology report of our families she's been secrelty working on for months)...Sakic's OT winner was scored at 11:59 pm Tivo time...the last minute of one of the best days of my life.

Gratz on 5 yars DD...I think any best day of my life would include hockey too :)

[Karim]

dola - yesterday was me wife and my 5th wedding anniversary. we went with some friends and our kids to the New England Aquarium, had an amazingly GREAT day. came home and my wife and we watched the recorded game after exchanging gifts (my wife gave me an extremely cool geneology report of our families she's been secrelty working on for months)...Sakic's OT winner was scored at 11:59 pm Tivo time...the last minute of one of the best days of my life.
That's sounds pretty awesome. Congratulations.

[Tekneek]

Congrats on 5 years.

That's good stuff. It will be 5 for my wife and I on 9/9/2004, if we can make it another 4 months and a week. ;)

Go Flames! Let's finish it in Calgary now!

[bbor]

Didn't you hear, they are planning a parade through downtown Toronto if the Leafs make it to the Conference Finals.

It used to be worse,we used to have a parade whenever we won a game in the early 80's....I think between 80-83 we had 10.....total :D

[Hurst2112]

Nice steal from Recchi. Good goal.

[bbor]

Memo to Leafs....The game started 12 minutes ago....how about a shot on net?

[Hurst2112]

It's official...Wings are done.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nhl/playoffs2004/news/story?id=1793957

[bbor]

Why is Mccabe playing with the knob of his stick on the ice instead of the blade? :D

[Honolulu_Blue]

11 years ago? Wow. I was in college. That's terrifying.

Poor Stevie. Sounds like he's done for the year for sure. Hate to think that's how he goes out. Makes me sick actually...

Well, I'm finally state-side. Watching the Philly-Toronto game at the moment. BKP (Big Keith Primeau) had an excellent goal. He's a big, whiny bitch, but that was still a nice goal. Good to see the Leafs get one right back. I want a good game.

[ice4277]

How long are you back in the States for?

[bbor]

Anyone know which channel the arena football game is on?

[Simms]

Can we call mercy rule?

[Simms]

Dola...

Better game five than game seven (like last year), but geez....this is fucking embarrassing.

[bbor]

Time to pull Eddie and sit Newy and rest them for game 6

[portnoise]

What the f^&* happened to the Leafs? The only ideas I have are that (a) they NEVER play afternoon games and have been thrown off their routine, or (b) they got seriously complacent after winning the last two games pretty easily. Either way, no matter how well Philly is playing, something's happened. The Leafs are NOT this bad.

...another question: how many toronto columnists will call for Quinn's head tomorrow morning? Let's set the over/under at 3.

[Honolulu_Blue]

How long are you back in the States for?

Three weeks at least. Maybe a month.

[Maple Leafs]

What the f^&* happened to the Leafs? The only ideas I have are that (a) they NEVER play afternoon games and have been thrown off their routine, or (b) they got seriously complacent after winning the last two games pretty easily. Either way, no matter how well Philly is playing, something's happened. The Leafs are NOT this bad.
Leafs started poorly, the Flyers were very good, and for once Eddie didn't save the day. Once it was 4-1 it was pretty much game over... the Leafs had to abandon the game plan and it was easy pickings for the Flyers the rest of the way.

What can you say, Philly is a great team. There are some teams you can get away with not bieng at your best, but not the Flyers and definetely not in Philadelphia.

[EagleFan]

:D

[EagleFan]

dola: What's the deal with the 4:00 start? Kind of messed up my sports viewnig schedule. It went like this:

Hey it's the bottom of the 9th, Phils down by 2.
(click)
1-0 already, what the?
(click)
Tie score, what happened?
(click)
2-0, now what?
...


Oh well, at least both games turned out how I was hoping. Not much to take from the game 5 though as neither of those teams will show up like that in game 6.

[Johnny93g]

dola: What's the deal with the 4:00 start? Kind of messed up my sports viewnig schedule. It went like this:


I never liked afternoon hockey games....and I blame the start time for the loss.....Leafs never win in the afternoon....The only time I remember winning a afternoon playoff game was against the Isles 2 years ago.....LEafs dont play afternoon games...... :mad:

[bbor]

I never liked afternoon hockey games....and I blame the start time for the loss.....Leafs never win in the afternoon....The only time I remember winning a afternoon playoff game was against the Isles 2 years ago.....LEafs dont play afternoon games...... :mad:

Unfortunatly.....the afternoon start works against both teams,so it was hardly an excuse for that lay down the Leafs did.

[Maple Leafs]

Unfortunatly.....the afternoon start works against both teams,so it was hardly an excuse for that lay down the Leafs did.Well, the argument has always been that US teams are used to the afternoon games. The Flyers, for example, seem to somehow play the Rangers every Saturday afternoon from December through April.

Still, I can see that being an edge of maybe one goal. Doesn't really explain the other four.

[Maple Leafs]

OK, in honor of the anniversary of Nik Borchesvky's OT goal, in continuation of some of the old-school Leafs talk from this thread, and in an effort to wash away the aftertaste of Sunday's debacle...

I now present the first installment of Hardcore Leafs Trivia.

That's right. None of this pansy "Who scored in overtime..." nonsense. The following questions range from relatively easy to "are you freaking kidding me". With a few exceptions, I believe these will be next-to-impossible to look up, but I still think that the hardcore Leaf fan will have a shot at most of them.

And yes, I actually know these off the top of my head. Kind of sad, isn't it?

Today's theme: the Leafs back-to-back playoff runs of 1993 and 1994.

TOR/DET, 1993
Each game in Detroit, HNIC would start it's broadcast with a shot of which Leaf standing silently by himself in the hallway prior to the game (5 points)?

TOR/DET, 1993, game four
After losing games one and two to the Wings in blowouts, the Leafs come home needing to win both games to stay in the series. The turning point of game four, and perhaps the entire series, was a thundering open-ice hit. Who threw the hit (1 point), and which Wing was on the receiving end (2 points)?

TOR/STL, 1993, game one
Everyone remembers Curtis Joseph's brilliant goaltending in the double-overtime Game One classic. But which future NHL starter had to come in to play goal during overtime when Joseph had to leave the game (2 points)? Which Leaf knocked CuJo out of the game and how (5 points)?

TOR/LA, 1993, game one
We all remember the classic Clark/McSorely fight after Marty decked Gilmour. But there was a second fight going on at the same time, which can only be seen in the background of the HNIC broadcast. Which two players were involved (3 points)?

TOR/LA, 1993, game five
The Leafs took the lead in the series on Glenn Anderson's overtime goal. Which King's half-hearted defensive effort allowed Anderson to be wide open to swat home the winning goal (3 points)?

TOR/LA, 1993, game six
This game will live in infamy for Kerry Fraser's missed call on Wayne Gretzky's high stick on Doug Gilmour in overtime. It wouldn't be overstating it to describe this game as the Leaf fans' Bill Bucker game. Still the only game in the history of sports to include all of the Sports Guy's 13 levels of losing. Sigh.

Anyway, the high-stick wasn't the only reason the Leafs lost. Some fans forget that Kings OT goal actually came on the powerplay. Which Leaf was in the box for boarding at the time of the goal (2 points)? Who did he hit (5 points)? And what was the ad on the boards that he hit him into (10 points)?

TOR/LA, 1993, game seven
HNIC opened it's broadcast of what Wayne Gretkzy would later call his "greatest game ever" and Leaf fans would later call "the game that should never have happened, Fraser, you bastard" with a montage set to the theme song of what classic sports movie? (10 points)

TOR/CHI, 1994, game two
With a 1-0 victory, the Leafs take a 2-0 series lead on Todd Gill's OT goal. Gill beats Hawks' goalie Eddie Belfour through the five-hole with a slapshot from the point, despite no traffic around the net, no deflections, and no screen. After the goal, Belfour goes ballistic. Why (5 points)?

TOR/SJ, 1994
What was unusual about the format of the TOR/SJ and later the TOR/VAN series (1 point)?

TOR/SJ, 1994, game six
With the Leafs down 3-games-to-2 and facing elimination, HNIC opened it's broadcast of game six with a video montage set to what appropriate musical selection (10 points)? Which Shark almost eliminated the Leafs, hitting the crossbar in overtime (5 points)? What song played at MLG when the Leafs scored to win the game (10 points)?

TOR/SJ, 1994, game seven
The Leafs beat the Sharks 4-2 to win the series. What was unusual about the final seconds of this game (5 points)?

[Simms]

OK, in honor of the anniversary of Nik Borchesvky's OT goal, in continuation of some of the old-school Leafs talk from this thread, and in an effort to wash away the aftertaste of Sunday's debacle...

I now present the first installment of Hardcore Leafs Trivia.

Are you freaking kidding me???

I remember those two playoff runs like they were yesterday, but apparently I've forgotten enough to be able to answer exactly none of those questions.

The fact that you know all the answers off the top of your head, frankly, scares me. :)

[Simms]

Actually the only one I *think* I can answer is the 1-point one about the formats of the '94 series against SJ and Van, and that's only because I have a vague recollection about *some* NHL playoff series doing this...no idea whether these two were among them.

Were they 2-3-2 instead of 2-2-1-1-1?

[Maple Leafs]

Actually the only one I *think* I can answer is the 1-point one about the formats of the '94 series against SJ and Van, and that's only because I have a vague recollection about *some* NHL playoff series doing this...no idea whether these two were among them.

Were they 2-3-2 instead of 2-2-1-1-1?Correct.

That year, the NHL had a rule where any series prior to the finals between a western team and an eastern team would be 2-3-2, to cut down on travel. This basically affected only Toronto and Detroit, since they were the only two "east" teams still stuck in the Western conference.

[Simms]

TOR/LA, 1993, game seven
HNIC opened it's broadcast of what Wayne Gretkzy would later call his "greatest game ever" and Leaf fans would later call "the game that should never have happened, Fraser, you bastard" with a montage set to the theme song of what classic sports movie? (10 points) Probably a 3-pointer at best using your scale, but while I can't answer yours, I'll offer a bit of minutiae from this game that I *do* remember...

In the final 3-4 minutes of the game, Gretzky completed his hattrick and put the Kings up 5-3 (I think) to seal the game and the series. Which Leaf's skate did he bank the puck off of to get the puck past Potvin?

[Maple Leafs]

Probably a 3-pointer at best using your scale, but while I can't answer yours, I'll offer a bit of minutiae from this game that I *do* remember...

In the final 3-4 minutes of the game, Gretzky completed his hattrick and put the Kings up 5-3 (I think) to seal the game and the series. Which Leaf's skate did he bank the puck off of to get the puck past Potvin?Dave Ellett.

(Who redeemed himself, a somewhat, by scoring to make it 5-4 with a minute left.)

[Simms]

Dave Ellett.

(Who redeemed himself, a somewhat, by scoring to make it 5-4 with a minute left.)
Somehow, I knew you'd know that. :)

[Maple Leafs]

Somehow, I knew you'd know that. :)If my wife were here, she'd be shaking her head in that "I can't believe I married this hamster" way.

[Johnny93g]

OK, in honor of the anniversary of Nik Borchesvky's OT goal, in continuation of some of the old-school Leafs talk from this thread, and in an effort to wash away the aftertaste of Sunday's debacle...

I now present the first installment of Hardcore Leafs Trivia.

That's right. None of this pansy "Who scored in overtime..." nonsense. The following questions range from relatively easy to "are you freaking kidding me". With a few exceptions, I believe these will be next-to-impossible to look up, but I still think that the hardcore Leaf fan will have a shot at most of them.

And yes, I actually know these off the top of my head. Kind of sad, isn't it?

Today's theme: the Leafs back-to-back playoff runs of 1993 and 1994.

TOR/DET, 1993
Each game in Detroit, HNIC would start it's broadcast with a shot of which Leaf standing silently by himself in the hallway prior to the game (5 points)?


TOR/DET, 1993, game four
After losing games one and two to the Wings in blowouts, the Leafs come home needing to win both games to stay in the series. The turning point of game four, and perhaps the entire series, was a thundering open-ice hit. Who threw the hit (1 point), and which Wing was on the receiving end (2 points)?

TOR/STL, 1993, game one
Everyone remembers Curtis Joseph's brilliant goaltending in the double-overtime Game One classic. But which future NHL starter had to come in to play goal during overtime when Joseph had to leave the game (2 points)? Which Leaf knocked CuJo out of the game and how (5 points)?

TOR/LA, 1993, game one
We all remember the classic Clark/McSorely fight after Marty decked Gilmour. But there was a second fight going on at the same time, which can only be seen in the background of the HNIC broadcast. Which two players were involved (3 points)?

TOR/LA, 1993, game five
The Leafs took the lead in the series on Glenn Anderson's overtime goal. Which King's half-hearted defensive effort allowed Anderson to be wide open to swat home the winning goal (3 points)?

TOR/LA, 1993, game six
This game will live in infamy for Kerry Fraser's missed call on Wayne Gretzky's high stick on Doug Gilmour in overtime. It wouldn't be overstating it to describe this game as the Leaf fans' Bill Bucker game. Still the only game in the history of sports to include all of the Sports Guy's 13 levels of losing. Sigh.

Anyway, the high-stick wasn't the only reason the Leafs lost. Some fans forget that Kings OT goal actually came on the powerplay. Which Leaf was in the box for boarding at the time of the goal (2 points)? Who did he hit (5 points)? And what was the ad on the boards that he hit him into (10 points)?

TOR/LA, 1993, game seven
HNIC opened it's broadcast of what Wayne Gretkzy would later call his "greatest game ever" and Leaf fans would later call "the game that should never have happened, Fraser, you bastard" with a montage set to the theme song of what classic sports movie? (10 points)

TOR/CHI, 1994, game two
With a 1-0 victory, the Leafs take a 2-0 series lead on Todd Gill's OT goal. Gill beats Hawks' goalie Eddie Belfour through the five-hole with a slapshot from the point, despite no traffic around the net, no deflections, and no screen. After the goal, Belfour goes ballistic. Why (5 points)?

TOR/SJ, 1994
What was unusual about the format of the TOR/SJ and later the TOR/VAN series (1 point)?

TOR/SJ, 1994, game six
With the Leafs down 3-games-to-2 and facing elimination, HNIC opened it's broadcast of game six with a video montage set to what appropriate musical selection (10 points)? Which Shark almost eliminated the Leafs, hitting the crossbar in overtime (5 points)? What song played at MLG when the Leafs scored to win the game (10 points)?

TOR/SJ, 1994, game seven
The Leafs beat the Sharks 4-2 to win the series. What was unusual about the final seconds of this game (5 points)?

#1- I was only 13....I think Felix Potvin...or Pat Burns....but Burnsy wasnt a player...

#2- Wendel Clark...and im gonna say he hit.....Ray Sheppard

#3- Easy....Guy Hebert

#4- I have no idea.....Dave Ellett and Charlie Huddy?

#5 Glenn Anderson....got the penalty with like 20 secs left in the third....it was a bs call......I have no idea who he hit...ill guess Darryl Sydor....and I cheated to get the ad....It was upper Deck.....I think....or Target....But I think it happend where the Upper Deck ad was....

#6- Cant remember...again...I was 13.....Rocky

#7- Damn...could be anything......Did he think the Net was off?.....

#8- 2-3-2.....I still dont like that format

#9- no idea which song.....um....Living on a prayer?......Igor Larinov hit the post...and passed when he had a open net.....And I have no idea what the music played when we won.....we are the champions?

#10- Clock problems?

[klayman]

No no no. You are all wrong. The correct answer is who gives a F***. :D :p

/with apologies to Triumph for stealing his bit

[Maple Leafs]

A very, very solid performace by the young kid...
#1- I was only 13....I think Felix Potvin...or Pat Burns....but Burnsy wasnt a player...Burns was the one I was thinking of, although Potvin showed up in the shot too for games five and seven. Nicely done.

#2- Wendel Clark...and im gonna say he hit.....Ray SheppardClark threw the hit (of course it was Clark... who else could it have been?). Sheppard is incorrect.
#3- Easy....Guy HebertCorrect. Do you remember which Leaf took CuJo out for a shift?

#4- I have no idea.....Dave Ellett and Charlie Huddy?Nope.

#5 Glenn Anderson....got the penalty with like 20 secs left in the third....it was a bs call......I have no idea who he hit...ill guess Darryl Sydor....and I cheated to get the ad....It was upper Deck.....I think....or Target....But I think it happend where the Upper Deck ad was....It was Glenn Anderson (that bastard). I don't think it was Sydor. And the ad I was thinking of was the Target ad. If memory serves, Anderson put the guy right into the Target "bullseye" logo.

#6- Cant remember...again...I was 13.....RockyNope.

#7- Damn...could be anything......Did he think the Net was off?.....Nope.

#8- 2-3-2.....I still dont like that formatYep.

#9- no idea which song.....um....Living on a prayer?......Igor Larinov hit the post...and passed when he had a open net.....And I have no idea what the music played when we won.....we are the champions?Incorrect on the music, and it was not Larianov who hit the crossbar.

#10- Clock problems?Nope.

[Karim]

No no no. You are all wrong. The correct answer is who gives a F***. :D :p
:D

[Johnny93g]

Clark hit.....Paul Ysebart?

Foligno took Josephs head off with his skate...and Clark did it again in game 7

Andreychuck in the fight...with Pat Conacher

Garpenlov hit the post then.....

I dont know the others...and I call myself a Leaf fan...... :confused:

[Maple Leafs]

Clark hit.....Paul Ysebart?
Foligno took Josephs head off with his skate...and Clark did it again in game 7
Andreychuck in the fight...with Pat Conacher
Garpenlov hit the post then.....
I dont know the others...and I call myself a Leaf fan...... :confused:Incorrect on Clark's hit and the second fight. It was Johan Garpenlov who hit the bar. And it was Foligno who kicked Joseph in the head. Clark took his mask off with a shot in game seven.

Hey Klayman, here's some recent Flames Playoff trivia: Who had an eagle on the 15th hole in 1997...

[Cards4ever]

http://momentsintime.ca/1967_toronto_maple_leafs1.htm

[bbor]

ML....Your knowledge of useless trivia continues to amaze:)

Your wife must look at you like a deer (or dear :) ) caught in the headlights....or something similar to how Bryan Mccabe looked like last night.

[bbor]

Some media outlets are reporting that the Canucks are not going to renew Brian Burkes' contratc for next season.

[Simms]

And in other breaking news....the sun will rise in the east tomorrow.

[bbor]

And in other breaking news....the sun will rise in the east tomorrow.

And people will call for the head of Pat Quinn and that Sundin should be traded for some Canadian player and if we package Antropov,Kidd and Clarke Wilm we should be able to get Sakic and Forsberg out of Colordo.

But only do that trade if Colorado throws in a 1st round pick.

[Simms]

c'mon bbor....no way in hell Colorado would do that deal.

Swap Ponikarovski for Wilm, though, and we're golden.

[Maple Leafs]

bbor, no guesses at all on the Leafs trivia? I'm speechless...

[Draft Dodger]

And people will call for the head of Pat Quinn and that Sundin should be traded for some Canadian player and if we package Antropov,Kidd and Clarke Wilm we should be able to get Sakic and Forsberg out of Colordo.

But only do that trade if Colorado throws in a 1st round pick.

we'll give you Wendel Clark for Sundin. how's that?

[Maple Leafs]

we'll give you Wendel Clark for Sundin. how's that?We're going to need to add in Garth Butcher or it's no deal.

[klayman]

Hey Klayman, here's some recent Flames Playoff trivia: Who had an eagle on the 15th hole in 1997...
Hell, that could be anybody. My question is which Leaf has the best chance of beating or tying that record this weekend? :)

[Maple Leafs]

Hell, that could be anybody. My question is which Leaf has the best chance of beating or tying that record this weekend? :)No fair...

[bbor]

bbor, no guesses at all on the Leafs trivia? I'm speechless...


Busy at work...gonna take a run at those questions tonight....some of those are brlliant...the only 1 that came directly to my mind was Garpenlov....I can STILL hear the ringing post behind Potvin.

[Honolulu_Blue]

Busy at work...gonna take a run at those questions tonight....some of those are brlliant...the only 1 that came directly to my mind was Garpenlov....I can STILL hear the ringing post behind Potvin.

Johan Garpenlov? What the hell are you people trying to do me here? Why are you bringing up Johan Garpenlov? We stand on the presipice of the end of an era of Wings greatness and you people are bringing up Johan Garpenlov hitting the post against the Leafs. You are horrible people. Isn't my current pain and anguish enough for you people???

BTW, my favorite Garpenlov memory was a game agains tthe Whalers where Pat Verbeek attacked him and Steve Yzerman had to go to Garpenlov's defense, which resulted in Yzerman getting a "Third Man In" penalty and getting kicked out of the game.

[Draft Dodger]

in non-Toronto/Detroit news...Paul Kariya says he's ready to play game 6. hopefully his definition of "ready" is not the same as Rob Blake's.

[Simms]

Busy at work...gonna take a run at those questions tonight....some of those are brlliant...the only 1 that came directly to my mind was Garpenlov....I can STILL hear the ringing post behind Potvin.
An easy question, but a natural follow-up....

Just seconds after the sound of iron finished echoing, who scored the OT-winner for the Leafs in that game?

[Maple Leafs]

Just seconds after the sound of iron finished echoing, who scored the OT-winner for the Leafs in that game?This is actually a bit of a tough one, since it was probably the least memorable Leafs OT goal of recent history. Just a simple bank shot from a bad angle.

It was Mike Gartner who got credit, I believe.

[Simms]

This is actually a bit of a tough one, since it was probably the least memorable Leafs OT goal of recent history.
Are you saying that Gary Valk's winner in game whatever-it-was in the 2nd round against Pittsburgh in '99 was *more* memorable that that?! :)

It was Mike Gartner who got credit, I believe.
Yessir.

[henry296]

Are you saying that Gary Valk's winner in game whatever-it-was in the 2nd round against Pittsburgh in '99 was *more* memorable that that?! :)


Yessir.

That would be game 6...

[MizzouRah]

WOW! The crowd in Calgary is electric tonight.

Go Flames! :)


Todd

[Johnny93g]

I decree that all Leaf overtime goals are memorable......i like Randy Wood's ot goal....as well as Cory Cross.......heres the question...what teams were they against.....what year....and what did it make the series(ex. 2 game to 1)

[sterlingice]

I decree that all Leaf overtime goals are memorable......i like Randy Wood's ot goal....as well as Cory Cross.......heres the question...what teams were they against.....what year....and what did it make the series(ex. 2 game to 1)
Wood was against the Hawks. Couldn't tell you anything else about it, tho. Sometime in the early-mid 90s

SI

[Maple Leafs]

I decree that all Leaf overtime goals are memorable......i like Randy Wood's ot goal....as well as Cory Cross.......heres the question...what teams were they against.....what year....and what did it make the series(ex. 2 game to 1)
Corey Cross was Game Three against Ottawa in 2001. It made the series 3-0, and was the stake in the heart of the Senators.

Well, you know. If the Senators had heart... Never mind.

Randy Wood... I'll have to think about that. Damn, I'm slipping.

Edit: If Wood was against the Hawks, I guess it must have been the 1995 series.

[Maple Leafs]

By the way, for those of you who were reading the trivia and wondering "What the hell is it with this guy and the HNIC opening music montage?"... well, see, it's like this.

When HNIC has a good music montage at the start of the game, the Leafs' chances of winning go up exponentially. When it's something else -- such as Ron MacLean trying to sound poetic, or the dreaded "fans milling around outside" shot that the CBC thinks we find so fascinating -- the Leafs usually lose.

Perfect example: Sunday's game against Philadephia. Instead of a montage, we get MacLean waxing poetic about Bobby Clarke and Keith Primeau and the beating heart of a captain. No music. Right then, you knew we were dead. Combined with the afternoon start, and my wife might as well have babbled though the Tkachuks, because the Leafs were done.

Compare that to Game Seven against the Sens. HNIC leads off with a rocking montage set to The Trews "Not Ready to Go". The Leafs go on to blow Ottawa out of the building.

By the way, I'm declaring "Not Ready to Go" as the official song of the 2004 Leafs playoff run. Yes, I have the authority to do this. It will go up there with the official songs of 1993 (Boys are Back in Town, by Thin Lizzie), 1994 (the answer to San Jose question in the trivia pack), and 2002's (Hero, from the Spider Man soundtrack*).

*Yeah, yeah, I know. I didn't say they all had to be good songs.

[Johnny93g]

Close enough.....Randy Wood scored the ot winner in game 6 against Chicago in the 84-95 playoffs.....LEafs were trailing 3 games to 2....and it extended the series to 7.....the Gardens went nuts that night....as did I....and our hearts were broken in a 5-2 game 7 loss....

I thought the Cory Cross goal was obvious.....Damn Senators

[klayman]

Hatcher showing his true colors.

[Draft Dodger]

Hatcher showing his true colors.

speaking of Hatcher and colors, am I the only one really distracted by the Home Depot commercial where they are scanning all the hockey players to match paint colors, and there's a guy from the Stars wearing #2?

[Maple Leafs]

speaking of Hatcher and colors, am I the only one really distracted by the Home Depot commercial where they are scanning all the hockey players to match paint colors, and there's a guy from the Stars wearing #2?Something else that annoys me...

Why is the goalie in that commerical wearing the number six? What goalie has ever worn #6? Didn't anyone involved in the commercial know that? Nobody thought to point out that? Come on people, I don't ask for much!

[sterlingice]

Close enough.....Randy Wood scored the ot winner in game 6 against Chicago in the 84-95 playoffs.....LEafs were trailing 3 games to 2....and it extended the series to 7
84-95, man that was a long series ;)

SI

[bbor]

Wow.....Is H_B still alive?

Cory Cross' OT goal was amazing....I remeber thinking"who the hell shot that?" it was way too good a shot for Cross to have taken.

[Hurst2112]

Congrats to the Flames.

It is going to be really hard not to root for them being a Western conference guy and despising Colorado.

I am bummed, but, hell...I will get over it (faster than I did from 99-01 and last year).

I would susspect that there will be 3 coaching positions available this summer. I like Barry Smith and hope that he stays. I don't know what to think about Lewis.

Again, congrats to the Flames and their fans. They were the better team.

[bbor]

Damn....Gelinas again.

Poor Cujo:(

[BigJohn&TheLions]

The Wings just didn't seem to have that fire that they had a few years back. That was when you just felt like when they got to OT they said "OK, this is our time!" I think they need to take a hard look at Lewis and see if he's really the man for the job. Two straight early playoff exits says a lot with the guys on this team.

Please don't let Steve be finished...

[Pumpy Tudors]

I jumped up and down when Gelinas scored just now. I can't stand the Wings, and it was great to see them go down again. I hope the Sharks FINALLY close out the Avalanche, and I really want Philly to lose, but I don't see that one happening. My dream final four this year would be Calgary, San Jose, Tampa Bay, and Toronto. At least then I wouldn't have anybody to hate.

Great stuff tonight. I wish I'd noticed Kiprusoff earlier in the season, because I would've watched a whole lot more Flames games. Unlike Giguere's regular season last year (which was good but not great), Kiprusoff has kept this stuff up all season long since he took over the job. I hope he can keep this going for years to come, because they could build something great in Calgary around him and Iginla.

[JeeberD]

Huzzah! The evil Wings are dead!!!

[klayman]

And all is right in the world tonight. God bless Martin Gelinas.

Sorry H_B.

[Hurst2112]

Haters :)

I think they need to take a hard look at Lewis and see if he's really the man for the job. Two straight early playoff exits says a lot with the guys on this team.

I would be willing to bet that Lewis will indeed be gone. Let's face it, this was Scotty's team. I think Lewis was put into a position to follow up the greatest hockey coach ever. That's a big order to fill. I realize that he was probably the best guy to take the reigns but it is obvious he can't get a team to give that extra 1 percent when it counts.

[bbor]

Will Cujo bear the brunt of this failure again?

[sterlingice]

Sorry, H_B, Hurst, and all the Wings fans out there. It really sucks when you have high hopes and they don't pan out (KU basketball every year, last year with the Cubs, the year Randy Johnson went to the Astros, practically every season with the Oilers, a couple of years with the Rockets before and after the title), so I'm going to spend the next 24 hours not bagging on Wings fans. That night when your team that you thought could win the title gets bounced once and for all, the only thing left is shock and that crappy feeling that you really can't come back now because it really is over. :(

So, my 24 hour no Wing bashing starts now. Then it's back to business as usual.

SI

[JeeberD]

Will Cujo bear the brunt of this failure again?

Hopefully so. Cujo's a little bitch...

[klayman]

I don't see how fans could blame him, if he does. The Flames just wanted it way more than the Wings did, and sometimes that's enough.

[Hurst2112]

GP GS MIN W L T GA GAA SOG SV SV% ENG SO

8 7 438 4 3 0 11 1.51 153 142 .928 0 1

I wouldn't think so. I thought he did an admirable job despite my frustration with him. I think it's a matter of other guys not putting up the numbers or putting up a fight.

[sterlingice]

Will Cujo bear the brunt of this failure again?
That seems kindof unfair considering he gave up 3 or less goals every game this series.

SI

[bbor]

He was even better in last seasons play-offs and they still blamed him.

[Hurst2112]

I don't see how fans could blame him, if he does. The Flames just wanted it way more than the Wings did, and sometimes that's enough.


Good word.

I was watching NHL tonight and listening to Ferraro talk about the Flames D.

One thing he mentioned, that I kinda noticed during the series was that Calgary did an excellent job of keeping the Wings on the outer edge of the offensive zone. When Kiprusoff did give a rebound, there weren't any Wings to follow up with another shot.

[sterlingice]

He was even better in last seasons play-offs and they still blamed him.
Yeah, I remember having to make a similar comment in last year's playoff thread.

SI

[Hurst2112]

Sorry, H_B, Hurst, and all the Wings fans out there. It really sucks when you have high hopes and they don't pan out (KU basketball every year, last year with the Cubs, the year Randy Johnson went to the Astros, practically every season with the Oilers, a couple of years with the Rockets before and after the title), so I'm going to spend the next 24 hours not bagging on Wings fans. That night when your team that you thought could win the title gets bounced once and for all, the only thing left is shock and that crappy feeling that you really can't come back now because it really is over. :(

So, my 24 hour no Wing bashing starts now. Then it's back to business as usual.

SI

That's okay, Mr. Jagermeister has helped me make amends with the loss.

I am more concerned with H_B. I hope he is doing ok.

[sterlingice]

In fact, here is my exact quote from last season " Damn straight. Nothing like blaming a guy for the offense scoring 1.5 goals per game." after it was suggested he was going to be blamed for last season's loss.

SI

[Hurst2112]

In fact, here is my exact quote from last season " Damn straight. Nothing like blaming a guy for the offense scoring 1.5 goals per game." after it was suggested he was going to be blamed for last season's loss.

SI

I admit, I was guilty.

[klayman]

He was even better in last seasons play-offs and they still blamed him.

Yeah, but they're Red Wing fans so it is perfectly logical for them to be illogical. Sort of what it is like being a Leaf fan. ;)

Seriously, Hull had no desire to even play. Hatcher was brutal. Zetterberg thought he could take on all 5 Flames on the ice by himself. Shanahan was invisible. Even if you throw Hasek in net, I don't see how the outcome of the series changes any.

[Vince]

Congrats to the Flames.

It is going to be really hard not to root for them being a Western conference guy and despising Colorado.
Come on...give my Sharks a chance. SOMEONE has to. :(

[sterlingice]

Come on...give my Sharks a chance. SOMEONE has to. :(
I'd still rather be in their shoes than the Avs. But each game that they don't close out in the Avs in makes it so much harder the next game. They really needed game 5 since game 6 is in Colorado and the crowd does give a little boost in hockey. Still, home ice isn't that important.

They won the first three games 10-3 and have lost a pair of OT squeakers they were one bounce away from winning. They looked like the better team in the first two games but they've been asking Nabokov to win the last three games so you hope they snap out of that.

SI

[Tekneek]

Hatcher showing his true colors.

It was very fitting that he was the man who blew his coverage on the game-winning goal. Don't watch the puck, Hatcher, play your man. Maybe he should concentrate on the basics instead of seeing how many infractions he can get away with in such a crucial game.

[Ksyrup]

I fell asleep at the end of regulation, woke up an hour later, rubbed my eyes, and watched Gelinas score 6 seconds later. Kinda like being shot in the back of the head, instead of being tortured for an hour.

That's about the best spin I can put on it.

[ice4277]

Well, another disappointing end to the season, and this time, it really does have to be the end for this team as we know it. No heart and a lack of commitment really showed through in this series. Props to the Flames, I don't think I've ever seen a team hustle every minute of every game like they did. They are going to be a very tough team to beat in the next round.

As for the future of the Wings, I think Lewis will be gone, but I haven't decided whether or not I would agree with such a move. I haven't heard anybody blaming CuJo for this series; talk around Detroit has been about the lack of hustle and energy the players have shown. Too many guys winding down in the twilight of their careers, truthfully I thought this was going to happen two years ago, it took a little longer than I thought but I can't see how anybody can truly be surprised that something like this could happen. With so many players out of contract at the end of this year, it is going to be a VERY different Wings team that takes to the ice next time, whenever that may be. Again, congrats Flames and Flames fans, you guys deserve to have your shot at the Cup. I'll be pulling for you from here on out.

[sachmo71]

If Colorado goes out early, it will illustrate yet again that big spending isn't everything.

I have to admit it's a little funny to hear Wings fans grumbling about Hatcher...get used to it. :)

[Ksyrup]

it is going to be a VERY different Wings team that takes to the ice next time, whenever that may be.
That the other reason why this team is over. If there's a protracted strike, I don't think I want most of those guys back, 1.5-2 years older.

[Maple Leafs]

Martin Gelinas... WTF? Three series-winning OT goals in three years? Someobody stop that guy.

Go Flames, but I'm not here to rub it in for the Wings fan. I've always liked Detroit, the Leafs/Wings rivalry was always a great one without most of the sideshow junk you see elsewhere. Wings fans suffered for a long time before they got their Cup, so I didn't mind seeing them get a few more. A loss in the playoffs always hurts, no matter who it comes it against. Sorry guys.

Just please don't hang Cujo out to dry. It was one thing to do it last year, but to blame a goalie for a pair of 1-0 losses is just wrong.

[Draft Dodger]

He was even better in last seasons play-offs and they still blamed him.

ditto his last playoffs with the Leafs.
the guy just doesn't get enough respect, IMO.

[Honolulu_Blue]

So it ends. Not with a bang, but with a whimper.

It has been a hell of a ride. It will be interesting to see how the Wings will re-invent themselves. There will be no telling for certain until the labor dispute is resolved.

Calgary were the better team in Game 6, by a good margin, and likely throughout the series. They played some great hockey and deserved the win. I wish them the best of luck and would love to see them go on and win it all.

Curtis Joseph was the Wings best player, by far, last night. He stopped everything he could. He had no chance on that last one, it was a defensive breakdown. There is no way the blame for losing this series can fall on his shoulders. If the team in front of you can't score a goal, there is little a goalie can do.

Congrats, Karim!

[Honolulu_Blue]

And all is right in the world tonight. God bless Martin Gelinas.

Sorry H_B.

No worries, K-man.

Can't argue that from a totally objective point of view, this would be a very good things, small market, hard-working Canadian franchise upsetting the big market, power-house.

It's good to see the Flames back in the thick of things. One of the first playoffs I really remember was the 88-89 season. So, the Flames were always a special team in a way.

[Honolulu_Blue]

Sorry, H_B, Hurst, and all the Wings fans out there. It really sucks when you have high hopes and they don't pan out (KU basketball every year, last year with the Cubs, the year Randy Johnson went to the Astros, practically every season with the Oilers, a couple of years with the Rockets before and after the title), so I'm going to spend the next 24 hours not bagging on Wings fans. That night when your team that you thought could win the title gets bounced once and for all, the only thing left is shock and that crappy feeling that you really can't come back now because it really is over. :(

So, my 24 hour no Wing bashing starts now. Then it's back to business as usual.

SI


Thanks for the 24 hour reprvie, SI. It's much appreciated. After the 24 hours are up, I do fully expect, nay, demand things return to normal!

[Maple Leafs]

Hey guys... thought some of you might find this site interesting. Maybe it says more about me than I want to reveal, but I could spend hours combing through this stuff:

http://www.whowins.com/

Basically, it's an exhaustive study of seven-game series. For example, I now know that the 2004 Maple Leafs became the 18th team in pro-sports history to win a best of seven series by winning games 2, 3, 5 and 7.

I also now know that the Avs have become the eleventh team in NHL history to win games 4 and 5 after losing games 1, 2 and 3. Two of those ten teams, of course, completed the comeback. Teams in that situation are also 5-5 all-time in game six.

Is any of this useful? Probably not, but it's still pretty damn cool...

[Honolulu_Blue]

One last thing. Besides CuJo, the best Wing on the ice, bar none, was Kris Draper. He was everywhere last night. He had the best (only?) scoring chances, showed great speed, and created opportunities. He really had a great season and playoffs. Not bad for a guy traded for a buck.

[Simms]

Hey guys... thought some of you might find this site interesting. Maybe it says more about me than I want to reveal, but I could spend hours combing through this stuff:

http://www.whowins.com/


That is freaking cool.

Also...not to hijack the Flames/Wings love/hate-fest, I thought of another good Leaf trivia question last night.

ML, given your encyclopaedic knowledge of pre-faceoff programming on CBC telecasts, I'm going to hope you didn't ask this one because you don't actually know it, as opposed to you just forgot about it (it'd make me feel smart again). But it's certainly no more obscure than most of the ones you posted. :)

1994, Leafs/Canucks, Game 5. Prior to the national anthem, closet homer Ron McLean, obviously bribed by the Canuck faithful to exhibit some semblance of objective journalism, went out of his way to jinx the Leafs.

What "paranormal" event took place on-camera, thereby sealing the Leafs fate and dooming any chance they had at a comeback in the series?

[Maple Leafs]

What "paranormal" event took place on-camera, thereby sealing the Leafs fate and dooming any chance they had at a comeback in the series?I have no idea. That was one of the few games I didn't get to see in it's entirety (had a hockey game that night and actually went for some reason). I think I saw the opening, but I can't remember what happened. Good question, though.

Here's an interesting fact I dug up, inspired by Johnny's Randy Wood question. In the last 15 years, the Leafs have played a game six at home when trailing a series 3-2 four times: 1994 vs. SJ, 1995 vs. CHI, 2002 vs. CAR and 2003 vs. PHI. All four of those games went into overtime.

Sign of things to come?

[Simms]

I use "paranormal" in quotation marks because it was really only "psychic" in hindsight.

But as the players were coming onto the ice, McLean was standing in between sections with a young Canucks fan. Behind them, the crowd is roaring and everybody's waving those g*ddamn white towels. To conclude the brief interview, McLean asks the kid if he has a prediction for the game. He looks into the camera and says, "4-3 Canucks in OT!"

The Leafs, naturally, would go on to lose 4-3....in overtime.

[Karim]

Congrats, Karim!
I'd like to take credit but... ;)

This team is the gritiest most resilient team to ever come through Calgary.

I think you could have used a few more Drapers, Maltbies and Holmstroms because guys like Hull, Shanahan, Datsyuk were invisible while Zetterberg was trying to do everything himself.

Lang is much more the player than I ever thought. Not seeing him much when he was out east, I thought he rode Jagr's coattails but no way. If he hadn't had a broken hand...

It will be interesting to see what happens to the Wings with a new CBA. I think Hull is definitely gone; he showed no passion at all.

Calgary obviously doesn't care who they play but I think they match up better against Colorado. Goaltending and coaching leans in our favour and we tend to do a good job bottling up skilled players. Plus anytime you can get a Colorado team without Blake, you take it.

San Jose, although great story lines with Sutter and Kirprusoff, plays too similar to Calgary. I don't know how we'd handle that.

[sachmo71]

Hull is speaking of retiring, especially if there is a lockout.

[Johnny93g]

I have no idea. That was one of the few games I didn't get to see in it's entirety (had a hockey game that night and actually went for some reason). I think I saw the opening, but I can't remember what happened. Good question, though.

Here's an interesting fact I dug up, inspired by Johnny's Randy Wood question. In the last 15 years, the Leafs have played a game six at home when trailing a series 3-2 four times: 1994 vs. SJ, 1995 vs. CHI, 2002 vs. CAR and 2003 vs. PHI. All four of those games went into overtime.

Sign of things to come?

Well the only one we lost was too the Canes and Martin Gelinas......Gartner scored against SJ......Wood against Chicago.....and Travis Green against Philly....Although we did lose the last 3 series..... :confused:

[Maple Leafs]

I use "paranormal" in quotation marks because it was really only "psychic" in hindsight.

But as the players were coming onto the ice, McLean was standing in between sections with a young Canucks fan. Behind them, the crowd is roaring and everybody's waving those g*ddamn white towels. To conclude the brief interview, McLean asks the kid if he has a prediction for the game. He looks into the camera and says, "4-3 Canucks in OT!"

The Leafs, naturally, would go on to lose 4-3....in overtime.Let's find that kid, and kill him.

[klayman]

Let's find that kid, and kill him.
Hehe...it was me!

[bbor]

Hull is speaking of retiring, especially if there is a lockout.

Hull speaks too much:D

ML...I can't get any of those damn question you asked...besides the ones that have been answered already:(

And please tell me the answer to the Kelvington question....i can't remember the 3rd NHL'er to come out of that town.

[Ksyrup]

Hull is speaking of retiring, especially if there is a lockout.
He started his retirement a month too early.

[Hurst2112]

He started his retirement a month too early.


No crap. ;)

[sterlingice]

I use "paranormal" in quotation marks because it was really only "psychic" in hindsight.

But as the players were coming onto the ice, McLean was standing in between sections with a young Canucks fan. Behind them, the crowd is roaring and everybody's waving those g*ddamn white towels. To conclude the brief interview, McLean asks the kid if he has a prediction for the game. He looks into the camera and says, "4-3 Canucks in OT!"

The Leafs, naturally, would go on to lose 4-3....in overtime.
And that little boy was... http://images.amazon.com/images/P/0879756764.01.LZZZZZZZ.jpg

[Maple Leafs]

And please tell me the answer to the Kelvington question....i can't remember the 3rd NHL'er to come out of that town.It was Kelly Chase.

I'll try to post the other answers later.

[Simms]

A rally cry for tonight, if you will....

hxxp://www.thefobl.com/downloads/LeafsFlyers.mp3

Totally clean...no fear in listening at work. :)

That said, I am posting this here with the knowledge that this thread gets far less traffic than FOFC at large. Please feel to listen/download as you wish if you're reading this, but I am paying for the bandwidth, so I would ask that you all not go "public" with this link or otherwise e-mail it to your 50 closest friends. :)

I've yet to see this make the rounds, so apologies if I'm just way behind the times and you've already heard this a couple dozen times....

[Vince]

Sharks need to win tonight...I don't know if we can overcome the momentum that will have built up in game 7, even if we are at the Shark Tank. Nobody talk about the fact that we're already up against a lot of momentum, AND in Colorado tonight. Ok?

Man do I hate the Avalanche.

[bbor]

A calgary/SJ series would be sick....2 teams that play fast no trap hockey...i'd love it.

[Draft Dodger]

Nobody talk about the fact that we're already up against a lot of momentum, AND in Colorado tonight. Ok?.

ok

Colorado, for a team that has sold out almost every game in their existence in Denver, and has the additional "thin air" advantage, really does a shitty job of cashing in on their home ice advantage.

Plus, the momentum shifting to Colorado probably hurts them more than helps them.

Man do I hate the Avalanche.

:p

[Draft Dodger]

A calgary/SJ series would be sick....2 teams that play fast no trap hockey...i'd love it.

I think they are actually the same team.

[Johnny93g]

A rally cry for tonight, if you will....

hxxp://www.thefobl.com/downloads/LeafsFlyers.mp3

Totally clean...no fear in listening at work. :)

That said, I am posting this here with the knowledge that this thread gets far less traffic than FOFC at large. Please feel to listen/download as you wish if you're reading this, but I am paying for the bandwidth, so I would ask that you all not go "public" with this link or otherwise e-mail it to your 50 closest friends. :)

I've yet to see this make the rounds, so apologies if I'm just way behind the times and you've already heard this a couple dozen times....

That is awsome.......anyone remember that music video with the leafs in the 92-93 season.....theres a clip of it on my 92-93 video.......hehe.....though this song is much better...

[Maple Leafs]

Hardcore Leafs Trivia -- the answers.

TOR/DET, 1993
Each game in Detroit, HNIC would start it's broadcast with a shot of which Leaf standing silently by himself in the hallway prior to the game (5 points)?
Johnny had this one right. It was indeed Pat Burns who was shown, standing by himself, staring into the distance before each game.

TOR/DET, 1993, game four
After losing games one and two to the Wings in blowouts, the Leafs come home needing to win both games to stay in the series. The turning point of game four, and perhaps the entire series, was a thundering open-ice hit. Who threw the hit (1 point), and which Wing was on the receiving end (2 points)?
I thought this was the easy one. The hitter, of course, was Wendel Clark. The poor sap on the receiving end was big Bob Probert. Probie had been running aroud for the first few games, but the Leafs didn't seem too afraid of him after Wendel laid him out.

TOR/STL, 1993, game one
Everyone remembers Curtis Joseph's brilliant goaltending in the double-overtime Game One classic. But which future NHL starter had to come in to play goal during overtime when Joseph had to leave the game (2 points)? Which Leaf knocked CuJo out of the game and how (5 points)?
Mike Foligno kicked Joseph in the head while going to the net (accidentally, of course... it would be four more years before Nick Kypreos showed us how to intentionally injure a Blues goalie in the playoffs). Guy Hebert came into the game in relief and robbed Mark Osborne before Joseph returned.

TOR/LA, 1993, game one
We all remember the classic Clark/McSorely fight after Marty decked Gilmour. But there was a second fight going on at the same time, which can only be seen in the background of the HNIC broadcast. Which two players were involved (3 points)?
It was noted tough guys Todd Gill and Dave Taylor.

TOR/LA, 1993, game five
The Leafs took the lead in the series on Glenn Anderson's overtime goal. Which King's half-hearted defensive effort allowed Anderson to be wide open to swat home the winning goal (3 points)?
"Half-hearted defensive effort"? Who else could it be but Wayne Gretzky, who left his old buddy all alone to score the winner, making Anderson a Leaf hero for exactly one game (see below). Gretzky later explained that he didn't try too hard because he knew the refs would let the Kings win the next game.

TOR/LA, 1993, game six
Anyway, the high-stick wasn't the only reason the Leafs lost. Some fans forget that Kings OT goal actually came on the powerplay. Which Leaf was in the box for boarding at the time of the goal (2 points)? Who did he hit (5 points)? And what was the ad on the boards that he hit him into (10 points)?
Anderson hammered Rob Blake into the boards for the dumbest penalty of all time. Showing his sense of irony, Anderson made sure he put Blake directly into the Target bullseye. Thanks for nothing Glenn, you bum.

TOR/LA, 1993, game seven
HNIC opened it's broadcast of what Wayne Gretkzy would later call his "greatest game ever" and Leaf fans would later call "the game that should never have happened, Fraser, you bastard" with a montage set to the theme song of what classic sports movie? (10 points)
It was the theme to Hoosiers. Great song, but now I can't watch that movie without getting mad.

TOR/CHI, 1994, game two
With a 1-0 victory, the Leafs take a 2-0 series lead on Todd Gill's OT goal. Gill beats Hawks' goalie Eddie Belfour through the five-hole with a slapshot from the point, despite no traffic around the net, no deflections, and no screen. After the goal, Belfour goes ballistic. Why (5 points)?
This was one of my all-time favorite Leaf moments. With both Potvin and Belfour looking unbeatable, it seemed like the game could last forever. But as Gill wound up for a harmless point shot, Wendel Clark reached from behind the net with his stick and tapped the top of Belfour's goalstick. The nudge was just enough to cause Belfour's stick to lift up for a second, leaving his five-hole open. Game over. Belfour went nuts, but the ref never saw the interference.

TOR/SJ, 1994
What was unusual about the format of the TOR/SJ and later the TOR/VAN series (1 point)?
It was a 2-3-2 (see a few posts above for the explanation of why).

TOR/SJ, 1994, game six
With the Leafs down 3-games-to-2 and facing elimination, HNIC opened it's broadcast of game six with a video montage set to what appropriate musical selection (10 points)? Which Shark almost eliminated the Leafs, hitting the crossbar in overtime (5 points)? What song played at MLG when the Leafs scored to win the game (10 points)?
HNIC went with an appropriate choice: Don Henley's "I Will Not Go Quietly". It turns out the Leafs didn't. Moments after Johan Garpenlov hit the crossbar, Mike Gartner scored to end it and the Leafs celebrated to the sounds of "Taking Care of Business".

TOR/SJ, 1994, game seven
The Leafs beat the Sharks 4-2 to win the series. What was unusual about the final seconds of this game (5 points)?
I'm surprised nobody remembers this. As the clock ticked down the final moments of an apparent 4-1 victory, the Leafs managed to score in their own net with no time left during the celebration. Make the final 4-2. I hope nobody had under on that 5.5 line.

[Simms]

Upbeat musical soundtrack for the open tonight....nary a sound from McLean.

We're in good shape. :D

[Vince]

Thanks for the answers ML...I was curious myself as to the Toronto-SJ answers...wasn't the biggest sports fan back then, and while I loved the Sharks...I don't remember much about the early years. And I call myself a Sharks fan :)

[Vince]

Nothing like drinking a beer, looking over the IHOF draft, and preparing for the Sharks/Avalanche game. Go Sharks!

[kingfc22]

GOAL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[kingfc22]

And another GOAL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[kingfc22]

Goodbye Colorado!!!! Bring on the Flames.

When are the Avs going to wake up in this game?

[Simms]

Here's an interesting fact I dug up, inspired by Johnny's Randy Wood question. In the last 15 years, the Leafs have played a game six at home when trailing a series 3-2 four times: 1994 vs. SJ, 1995 vs. CHI, 2002 vs. CAR and 2003 vs. PHI. All four of those games went into overtime.

Sign of things to come?
Nice call, Rain Man. :)

[Simms]

:(

[sachmo71]

Gah...sorry guys. :(

[Dr. Sak]

I heart JR!!!

Great series Leafs!

[Maple Leafs]

Crap.

(Slumps over. Briefly looks up...)

Crap.

(Slump)

[Johnny93g]

:(

[kingfc22]

Finally! And home-ice advantage in the Western Finals too.

[sachmo71]

The Avs are out, too.

Now...COME ON FLAMES!!!!

[Draft Dodger]

Crap.

(Slumps over. Briefly looks up...)

Crap.

(Slump)

that sums it up pretty well

[Draft Dodger]

time to go play UT2K4 and blow some stuff up

[Maple Leafs]

that sums it up pretty well(Poors DD a shot from the Bottle of Woe and slides it across the bar to him.)

[Johnny93g]

(Poors DD a shot from the Bottle of Woe and slides it across the bar to him.)

Leave me the bottle when your done :(

[Simms]

*half-heartedly waves in hopes of getting the bartender's attention*

[Simms]

Dola....

Usually it takes me a day or two to really recover emotionally from an early Leaf playoff exit. Tonight, it literally took less than 30 minutes.

You'd think I was getting used to this or something. :)

[Simms]

Double dola...

GO FLAMES!

[Honolulu_Blue]

*half-heartedly waves in hopes of getting the bartender's attention*

*looks up from the bar with bleary, blood-shot eyes, as he sits besides Hurst, Ksyrup, and the others* Whas.... Whas.... Whass took ya ssso long, boysh?

[Hurst2112]

*looks up from the bar with bleary, blood-shot eyes, as he sits besides Hurst, Ksyrup, and the others* Whas.... Whas.... Whass took ya ssso long, boysh?


hehe, good one.

I picture about 6 guys at the Front Office Football Central bar and grill, sitting at the bar with about 45 shot glasses, couple packs of smokes, several empty pitchers, and a whole bunch of drunken hugs and tears.

Yet, we still manage to stay and watch the rest of the playoffs, if only for an excuse to wallow a little longer with fallen comrades.

[bbor]

Arghghhhh....What a shot by Roenick...The guy is nails when it comes to this sorta stuff.

Too bad for Domi to miss that chance at the end of the 3rd...he played a great game.

Tuckers hit on Kapenen was just .......i'm speechless.

Sorry Vince....but i gotta throw my support behind Calgary now.

Calgary/TB would make an interesting final.

What a shitty way for Ronnie Franchise to end his career:(

[sterlingice]

Thanks for the 24 hour reprvie, SI. It's much appreciated. After the 24 hours are up, I do fully expect, nay, demand things return to normal!
Well, you're 24 hours are up. Hope the Wings enjoy their summer on the links right next to the Hawks. Enjoy that President's Trophy http://dynamic2.gamespy.com/%7Efof/forums/images/smilies/tongue.gif

SI

[Hurst2112]

:p Every team should have a chance to win the cup more than twice in their life. ;)

[ice4277]

Well, you're 24 hours are up. Hope the Wings enjoy their summer on the links right next to the Hawks. Enjoy that President's Trophy http://dynamic2.gamespy.com/%7Efof/forums/images/smilies/tongue.gif

SI
Enjoy another lottery pick in the draft ;)

[ice4277]

dola

Sorry to see that happen Leafs fans. You guys will get your Cup soon, I think.

A Calgary/Toronto finals would have been a classic; maybe some other time.

[chrisj]

For anyone in the NHL hockey pool... results after round 2:

sahyder1 29
thomasthomas 29
BruceM 28
chrisj 26
ill16ca 26
BigBambino 21
Honolulu Blue(FOFC) 19
sachmo71(FOFC) 19
SoxWin 18
LivnLegend 15
PittPanther 15
doubles 12
Muppetus Galacticus 12
kq76 11
Draft Dodger 9
Long_Long_Name 7
PrestonKaye 7
KidKala 5
Xenimus0 2

[sachmo71]

Round 3...

calgary over San Jose in 6 (yikes!)
Tampa over Philly in 6

[Tekneek]

I don't care too much who wins out of this round. My criteria for it being a very good playoff tournament primarily involved New Jersey, Detroit, Dallas, and Colorado NOT winning the Cup. Since that is what we are looking at, I am absolutely thrilled. I would 'prefer' that it be between Calgary and Tampa Bay, but any result is a good one at this point.

[bbor]

Iwould say

Calgary in 7

TB in 6

[Honolulu_Blue]

Iwould say

Calgary in 7

TB in 6


San Jose in 7

TB in 6.

I got every round wrong last time. I should have never gotten so sentimental...

[Vince]

San Jose in 5 ;)

Tampa Bay in 6.

[Dr. Sak]

May 15, 2004
Game 4: Eastern Conference Finals
Philadelphia Flyers vs Tampa Bay Lightning
I AM THERE!!!

Go Flyers!!!

[bbor]

Nice job Bsak...have fun:)

[Draft Dodger]

great quote from Bill Scheft in this weeks SI (which I'm suddenly getting even though I never subscribed)

on the TB/Montreal series:
"The series was over so fast the Canadiens' Mike Ribeiro had to fake an injury in the handshake line."

[Karim]

Looks like TB is for real. A lot of play is being made up here that 200 seats were being sold at $9. But I guess you do what you have to to sell out the building.

Can you imagine TB winning the Stanley Cup and then post-CBA the team is contracted?

[bbor]

I don't think there will be contraction in the NHL.

Has'nt TB been selling seats for 9 bucks all season?

TB will walk away with this series as long as they continue to play their game...which is built on speed.If they try to play grind it out hockey the flyers will beat them.

[Vince]

TB will walk away with this series as long as they continue to play their game...which is built on speed.If they try to play grind it out hockey the flyers will beat them.
I think that's exactly the way the Sharks/Flames series will go as well. The Sharks need to keep it at their own pace. With the depth we have, and the injury troubles they have, I don't think even the intangibles can keep us from doing that.

That being said, I'm still nervous as all hell...any team that beats the Red Wings scares the hell out of me.

[Vince]

:(

[Maple Leafs]

Yet another reason we love playoff hockey:

Tim Rattay will have surgery Tuesday morning to repair the torn groin he suffered during Friday's workout. The procedure will be performed by team orthopedist Dr. Michael Dillingham.

"The muscle came off the bone, it was obviously serious," head coach Dennis Erickson said. "He's looking at anywhere from 3-4 months of healing time. We all felt that surgery was the best option and would give him the best chance to heal."


Meanwhile, in Toronto, three different Leafs suffered the same injury in the playoffs. Each one missed between two and four games.

[Vince]

Nice.

Wow...the Sharks just turned it on in the second period...completely flip-flopping what is expected out of these two teams (Sharks = best 1st period team in the NHL, Flames = best 2nd period team in the playoffs). Kiprusoff has been out of his mind good, but Calgary is going to have to give him some breathing room. 33 shots on goal already for the Sharks? That's crazy.

[klayman]

Yay Flames!!!

[Draft Dodger]

wow - Kiprusoff makes 49 saves to beat his old team. He must be feeling kind of good right now...

[Karim]

Sharks did everything right except score on the 2 minute 5-on-3. It was a BS call on Simon but I guess it all evens out through the course of a series. Still, if Cheechoo had of scored on that trip on Nilsson...

Iginla was completely shut down but still managed to get an assist on the winner...

The Sharks are so much faster than Vancouver or Detroit and that exposed the Calgary defence for the first time in the playoffs...

It was a lucky win and we'll have to play so much better if we want to have a chance in this series.

[Cards4ever]

Sharks did everything right except score on the 2 minute 5-on-3. It was a BS call on Simon but I guess it all evens out through the course of a series. Still, if Cheechoo had of scored on that trip on Nilsson...

Iginla was completely shut down but still managed to get an assist on the winner...

The Sharks are so much faster than Vancouver or Detroit and that exposed the Calgary defence for the first time in the playoffs...

It was a lucky win and we'll have to play so much better if we want to have a chance in this series.



A young defense, but, gotta love Leopold!

I'm wondering what people think about Calgary, are they just the surprise team of the playoffs, or, are they a contender for the next couple of years.

[bbor]

I quite enjoyed Motador scoring the winning goal.He has worked hard as Gauthiers replacment.

[sterlingice]

A young defense, but, gotta love Leopold!

I'm wondering what people think about Calgary, are they just the surprise team of the playoffs, or, are they a contender for the next couple of years.
It depends a lot on two things. One, can they keep together what talent they have after the impending lockout *and* continue to build. Keep Iggy and get him help. They aren't nearly as deep as the "perennial" playoff teams, particularly in the west.

Two, it's all about Miikka. I mean, he had a 1.70 GAA and .933 save percentage this past season and those are downright gawdy numbers. There were a lot of years in the 90s when Jersey wasn't that talented (only a line or two deep) but they were always pretty good because of Brodeur. If Kiprusoff keeps playing like he has the second half of this season and the playoffs, then they could duplicate what New Jersey did for the longest time, relying on defense and a keeper and hoping to score enough to win. But look at Anaheim, Giggy was supposed to do that but he just wasn't as good as he was last year and it exposed quite a few of the weaknesses on the rest of the team.

Then again, this is coming from someone who hasn't really seen any of their games until the playoffs.

SI

[Karim]

I'm wondering what people think about Calgary, are they just the surprise team of the playoffs, or, are they a contender for the next couple of years.
The core is obviously Kirprusoff, Regehr and Iginla. The defence is all young with Warrener being the oldest (28). With Dion Phaneuf and Tim Ramholt coming in a couple years, that part of the team looks good.

Up front the plan is obviously to qualify Iginla, hope a new CBA is small/medium market friendly and then try and renegotiate the contract. Kobasew, Sapryking and Lombardi are the future along with potentially Taratukhin, Trubachev and Maki.

So much depends on whether Kirprusoff is long-term the real deal and the outcome of CBA negotiations.

[Vince]

Wow. I can't believe that. So many scoring chances for the Sharks, and we couldn't hit any of them. Allowing 3 goals and STILL having a .900+ Save percentage? Jeez. Tough to feel bad about that game, but we still just lost home ice advantage. :(

[sachmo71]

Go Flames!

[Dr. Sak]

Flyers finally woke up today!! 5-0 woo hooo!

[Maple Leafs]

My source at TSN says the Leafs have called a noon press conference.

Speculation inside TSN right now is that Gary Roberts is done, although it could also be the Belfour resigning.

[bbor]

Roberts done as a Leaf?...or just done period?

Papers here are saying he refuses to play again with Quinn.

[Simms]

I heard that about Roberts on the Fan this morning, but they said Rick Curran (Roberts' and Nieuwendyk's agent) says it's not true, and Ferguson has already approached him about extensions for both of them.

[Maple Leafs]

If not Roberts, it must be Belfour. What else would qualify as a major announcement right now?

[sterlingice]

Where are you finding news of this press conference. I can't find any mention on tsn.ca, NHL.com, or ESPN.

SI

[Maple Leafs]

Where are you finding news of this press conference. I can't find any mention on tsn.ca, NHL.com, or ESPN.A friend who works at TSN (Canadian version of ESPN) sent a note about it.

[Maple Leafs]

False alarm.

Aparently the "major announcement" is that the Leafs have signed a seven-year deal with a local radio station.

Sigh.

[bbor]

Mojo?