The Official NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs Thread

[DaddyTorgo]

Originally Posted by Logan

Kreider has played in the last two games, originally filling the role of Hagelin after his suspension. He missed an easy goal in the first one, saying that he was so nervous he completely whiffed on the puck, and then barely missed another last night on a shot that slowly trickled through the crease.

Go BC!

[johnnyshaka]

Originally Posted by Suburban Rhythm

Anyone have any theories on what the hell is happening with PPs in the playoffs?

Philly and Florida both at 60% going against the 3rd (Pittsburgh) and 1st (NJ) ranked PKs from the regular season.

Penguins and Blues also both over 30%.

Sure, small sample size, but with the Devils and Penguins, it's not even close, Flyers picking apart the Penguins PK easily.

MAF has been brutal...PK starts in nets.

[Grover]

Sub - a Flyers fan on twitter joked during the first period "You know the Pens will be on an 18 minute PP int he 2nd"

Well, they were close.

[Grover]

You got your wish, no discipline for Rinaldo.

Lavy should sit him on general principal. He doesn't deserve to play tomorrow. Give Zolnierczyk a chance.

[Suburban Rhythm]

Originally Posted by Grover

You got your wish, no discipline for Rinaldo.

Lavy should sit him on general principal. He doesn't deserve to play tomorrow. Give Zolnierczyk a chance.

I can't see why Z, a mostly healthy JVR, or maybe even a 7th D can't be more effective (read: intelligent) than Rinaldo.

I can understand the idea he's out there for any rough stuff - though I can't see him hanging with either of what would be the Pens two best fighters.

Asham is not a worry for the next 3 ( ) games. Engelland would kill him just as he would just about anyone Philly would dress, so it's not like he's doing something nobody else could.

At the risk of being over confident, if that's possible down, 1-3, I think it's going at least 6. My gut says Pens win at home tomorrow. Still a long road.

[Suburban Rhythm]

Originally Posted by johnnyshaka

MAF has been brutal...PK starts in nets.

He's actually been worse facing SH attempts!

The Giroux goal last night was soft. The Timonen goal was a 5-on-3.
More of the Flyers PPGs were just great passing.

[BlackJack]

Originally Posted by Logan

Kreider has played in the last two games, originally filling the role of Hagelin after his suspension. He missed an easy goal in the first one, saying that he was so nervous he completely whiffed on the puck, and then barely missed another last night on a shot that slowly trickled through the crease.

Kreider clearly not ready to be on the top line, very tentative, and understandably so. They have this frustrating habit of sitting back on their heels after getting a lead. The entire second period was in their zone.

[Logan]

Crawford knows that the point is to stop shitty shots in overtime, right?

[MizzouRah]

BLUES!!!!!!!!!!!

[Grover]

James van Riemsdyk is in the lineup for the Flyers tonight.

Unsurprisingly, Zac Rinaldo is not. (Sorry Sub)

[Honolulu_Blue]

Originally Posted by Grover

James van Riemsdyk is in the lineup for the Flyers tonight.

Unsurprisingly, Zac Rinaldo is not. (Sorry Sub)

Has van Riemsdyk been a healthy scratch? I kind of forgot about him.

Aww, poor Zac Rinaldo. I will miss his antics.

[Grover]

Originally Posted by Honolulu_Blue

Has van Riemsdyk been a healthy scratch? I kind of forgot about him.

Aww, poor Zac Rinaldo. I will miss his antics.

He brook his foot blocking a shot 5-6 weeks ago.

[General Mike]

G-A-R-B-A-G-E

[Grover]

So Pens fans, has Malkin always been this cheap/dirty?

[General Mike]

There goes the series

[RomaGoth]

Originally Posted by Grover

So Pens fans, has Malkin always been this cheap/dirty?

Watch the 2008 and 2009 Stanley Cup Finals and you will have your answer.

[RomaGoth]

Welp, Wings are done in 5 games. This team has been slowly but steadily declining; going from a game 7 SCF loss to back to back 2nd round losses to the Sharks...to a first round 5-game defeat is disheartening. We don't need to blow up the team, but definitely need some changes made. Not the same crap of filling in a 4th line grinder and saying we like what we have, either (glares at Ken Holland). We need a crease clearing defenseman, a scoring winger to help take the pressure off Dats and Zets, and someone on the 3rd or 4th line who can score once in a while. Not having Helm for the series didn't help either.

At least this team will get some rest this summer, although I have a strong suspicion that Lids is going to hang em up finally.

[Suburban Rhythm]

Originally Posted by Grover

So Pens fans, has Malkin always been this cheap/dirty?

Originally Posted by RomaGoth

Watch the 2008 and 2009 Stanley Cup Finals and you will have your answer.

He's a hot head, no doubt.

As much attention as Crosby gets for every move on the ice, Malkin is much dirtier with his stick.

[RomaGoth]

Originally Posted by Suburban Rhythm

He's a hot head, no doubt.

As much attention as Crosby gets for every move on the ice, Malkin is much dirtier with his stick.

Dis be true.

[MizzouRah]

So long Detroit.. it's really odd saying that after the first round.

[DeToxRox]

Torres got 25 games.

[Arles]

Originally Posted by DeToxRox

Torres got 25 games.

That seems a little excessive. 5-10 seems like the precedent for this type of hit. Had he not left his feet and Hossa been looking down, the hit would have been fine. Still, I don't have a huge issue with it as long as this is the consistent rule for leaping hits that injure people (which it hasn't been to this point).

[Johnny93g]

Originally Posted by Arles

That seems a little excessive. 5-10 seems like the precedent for this type of hit. Had he not left his feet and Hossa been looking down, the hit would have been fine. Still, I don't have a huge issue with it as long as this is the consistent rule for leaping hits that injure people (which it hasn't been to this point).

Excessive for 1 hit, ya. How about the 6th one?

[Grover]

Torres is a repeat offender and has been a dirty / on the edge type of player for a long time.

The suspension is apt. Shanahan needed to send a Cooke-type message to Torres and has. Now he can clean up his game like Cooke did, or continue to play the way he has when he comes back and find himself out of the league eventually.

[Suburban Rhythm]

There is a playoff photoshop thread over at HF, a few decent ones...

[Arles]

Originally Posted by Grover

Torres is a repeat offender and has been a dirty / on the edge type of player for a long time.

The suspension is apt. Shanahan needed to send a Cooke-type message to Torres and has. Now he can clean up his game like Cooke did, or continue to play the way he has when he comes back and find himself out of the league eventually.

Again, I can see 10 games, but 25 is a little excessive. Dale Hunter only got 21 for a complete cheap shot at Pierre Turgeon after Turgeon scored and was celebrating a goal. Turgeon got a separated shoulder and missed the next playoff round.

For those of you who don't remember - check it out here (2:43 mark is the best view):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xte-Vtxg-m8

Atleast Torres was trying to make a hit in actual gameplay. I don't have a huge problem with it, but the league hasn't exactly been consistent. There's no way that Torres' hit (even with his history) is 25 games but Weber's hit against Detroit is 0.

[bhlloy]

Of course not, but at some point you have to send a message. It would be nice if the message was "we treat all players equally" but that's never going to happen, so putting headhunters like Torres out of the league is an OK one to send.

Some questionable refereeing in the Caps vs Bruins game. Let's see if Ovechkin gets a call for a hit to the head of Bergeron. Somehow I doubt it.

[MizzouRah]

Wow.. what a final 6-7 minutes of the Blues - Sharks game..

[tarcone]

Go Blues! I hope the Kings win in 7. Tire them out and give us the 8 seed in the next round.

[RomaGoth]

Originally Posted by Arles

There's no way that Torres' hit (even with his history) is 25 games but Weber's hit against Detroit is 0.

Exactly. Weber should have been gone for at least 2 or 3 games, but what do us common folk know about this stuff?

[RomaGoth]

Originally Posted by MizzouRah

Wow.. what a final 6-7 minutes of the Blues - Sharks game..

Originally Posted by tarcone

Go Blues! I hope the Kings win in 7. Tire them out and give us the 8 seed in the next round.

....and the Sharks are the 2nd team to be eliminated in this years NHL Stanley Cup playoffs. All of the perennial favorites are struggling this year. The Rangers and Bruins and Canucks and Blackhawks are on the brink, and the Pens have been fighting for their lives.

[Wolfpack]

If the current series leaders hold to form then the only team that advances to the second round that has previously won the Cup is Philadelphia and they haven't won since 1975. It's also a bit surreal to think that there's a possibility that the Florida Panthers could be the top seed in the East after the first round.

The good folks at NBC are also probably fervently hoping that Boston and the Rangers rally at this point, as well. Otherwise, aside from the Philly/Pittsburgh winner, there will be no traditional big market teams to work with in the second round: St. Louis, Nashville, Vancouver/LA winner, Phoenix (probably), Florida/New Jersey winner, Ottawa (maybe), Washington (maybe)--not a big US draw in any of those selections.

[Honolulu_Blue]

Originally Posted by Wolfpack

If the current series leaders hold to form then the only team that advances to the second round that has previously won the Cup is Philadelphia and they haven't won since 1975. It's also a bit surreal to think that there's a possibility that the Florida Panthers could be the top seed in the East after the first round.

The good folks at NBC are also probably fervently hoping that Boston and the Rangers rally at this point, as well. Otherwise, aside from the Philly/Pittsburgh winner, there will be no traditional big market teams to work with in the second round: St. Louis, Nashville, Vancouver/LA winner, Phoenix (probably), Florida/New Jersey winner, Ottawa (maybe), Washington (maybe)--not a big US draw in any of those selections.

I am wondering if this holds true how long it will take before the flood of articles about how "disastrous" 2012 playoffs for the NHL has been with all of the hits and rough stuff in the first half of the first round and then the majority of the traditional big market teams getting knocked out in the first round.

[Suburban Rhythm]

If this the end of the line for Lidstrom, he joins Larry Robinson as the only players in NHL history to have careers of 20+ seasons, and make the playoffs in each season.

[Suburban Rhythm]

Originally Posted by Arles

Again, I can see 10 games, but 25 is a little excessive. Dale Hunter only got 21 for a complete cheap shot at Pierre Turgeon after Turgeon scored and was celebrating a goal. Turgeon got a separated shoulder and missed the next playoff round.

For those of you who don't remember - check it out here (2:43 mark is the best view):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xte-Vtxg-m8

Atleast Torres was trying to make a hit in actual gameplay. I don't have a huge problem with it, but the league hasn't exactly been consistent. There's no way that Torres' hit (even with his history) is 25 games but Weber's hit against Detroit is 0.

Originally Posted by RomaGoth

Exactly. Weber should have been gone for at least 2 or 3 games, but what do us common folk know about this stuff?

I don't buy the logic of too many games for player X compared to what player Y got any longer. I used to feel the same way, but have changed my stance.

While I am all for consistency, just because the league banged up the Weber suspension (or lack thereof), doesn't mean Torres should go free.

It's alot like Spygate vs. Bountygate. My initial reaction was "Well, Goodell only did this to New England, so how can he give anything worse to New Orleans?". But stepping back, just because he fucked up (IMO) the Patriots penalty doesn't mean he should purposely fuck up the Saints penalty.

The bigger issue is that it took I believe 3 incidents since the end of last season, and I believe 6 overall to arrive at this point. Obiviously 2 and 4 games suspensions don't stop guys like him and Cooke. Start giving 10 games to first time offenders, and watch it slow dramatically.

[Arles]

I seriously think some hockey god is offended by hockey in the desert and cursed them to never win a first round matchup. Hopefully they can win one of the next 2 to break that curse (but I'm not too confident).

Atleast the Blues won today.

[RainMaker]

Originally Posted by Arles

Again, I can see 10 games, but 25 is a little excessive. Dale Hunter only got 21 for a complete cheap shot at Pierre Turgeon after Turgeon scored and was celebrating a goal. Turgeon got a separated shoulder and missed the next playoff round.

For those of you who don't remember - check it out here (2:43 mark is the best view):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xte-Vtxg-m8

Atleast Torres was trying to make a hit in actual gameplay. I don't have a huge problem with it, but the league hasn't exactly been consistent. There's no way that Torres' hit (even with his history) is 25 games but Weber's hit against Detroit is 0.

Torres has a long history of it and his hit put one of the Hawks best players out likely for the season. I know I'm bias, but I do think they have to take a stand against the headhunting. Not just from a safety standpoint, but from a quality of product standpoint. You want the best players playing.

[Honolulu_Blue]

Originally Posted by Arles

Again, I can see 10 games, but 25 is a little excessive. Dale Hunter only got 21 for a complete cheap shot at Pierre Turgeon after Turgeon scored and was celebrating a goal. Turgeon got a separated shoulder and missed the next playoff round.

For those of you who don't remember - check it out here (2:43 mark is the best view):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xte-Vtxg-m8

Atleast Torres was trying to make a hit in actual gameplay. I don't have a huge problem with it, but the league hasn't exactly been consistent. There's no way that Torres' hit (even with his history) is 25 games but Weber's hit against Detroit is 0.

As far as suspensions go - in particular for suspensions involving hits to the head and concussions - we're in a totally different era. You really cant compare the length of a suspension of a player 20 years ago with a suspension today. It's like comparing a goalie of twenty years ago goals against/save percentage versus a goalie's today. Just meaningless.

[RomaGoth]

Originally Posted by RainMaker

I know I'm bias, but I do think they have to take a stand against the headhunting. Not just from a safety standpoint, but from a quality of product standpoint. You want the best players playing.

And I am a Red Wings homer, so perhaps my viewpoint here is biased as well, but the crap that Weber did to Zetterberg was inexcusable. Slamming a guy's head into the glass like he did and not even a suspension is inexcusable. Shanahan has failed repeatedly in regards to discipline since taking on his position with the NHL.

As you stated above, you want the best players playing. I wonder if this will come up in CBA negotiations?

[RomaGoth]

....and another one bites the dust. Pittsburgh makes a valiant effort but comes up short.

[Grover]

Claude Giroux was outstanding.

Sean Couturier owns Evgeni Malkin.

[Matthean]

Originally Posted by RomaGoth

....and another one bites the dust. Pittsburgh makes a valiant effort but comes up short.

This means one of my pastors will be a little more tolerable.

[Suburban Rhythm]

Congrats to the Flyers. Pens just were not in this game.

If Bryz can turn his play around, they'll be a tough out. I don't think he was challenged very much today, but made the saves he had to.

[DaddyTorgo]

Tim Thomas has played like absolute dogshit so far this postseason. He hasn't made the stops he should be making. I wouldn't be opposed to starting Rask if they somehow manage to force a Game 7. More specifically - he doesn't look confident in his angles/he's not taking good angles when he comes out of the crease, and he's constantly being beat by shots and having to check behind to see if the shot ended up in the net. He was superhuman last year - he hasn't been good enough this year. Far too many late period goals.

[DaddyTorgo]

SEGUIN!! WOO!! Not making it easy though, are they.

[Suburban Rhythm]

Great win Great effort #shesallyours #motivation #Flyers

[Grover]

I love Hartsy.

[Suburban Rhythm]

I lol'd

[Grover]

"When the best player in the world comes up to you and says 'I don't know who you're planning on starting out there tonight, but I want that first shift' it tells you everything you need to know about Claude Giroux." Flyers' head coach Peter Laviolette

[Dr. Sak]

I can't wait to wear my Giroux jersey to work tomorrow.