The OFFICIAL 2008-09 NHL Playoffs Thread

[Dr. Sak]

I listened to the Flyers feed online. And even when FSN came back up, I just listened to the radio so I didn't see any of the 2nd or 3rd period.

Yeah the Pens controlled the first period but it seemed like the Flyers changed it a bit after that....still have to win 2 games which will be tough.

[Suburban Rhythm]

I didn't have a radio in the room. I switched to the Sports Mix channel on Direct, which I could see (barely) and hear the VS feed.

Malkin's disallowed goal must have been pretty close behind Asham's. I flipped to ESPN News, they were doing an update on the game. They had the score up as 1-0, but showed both Asham and Malkin with goals. Then took Malkin's off the board as the were talking about the game.

[Dr. Sak]

I just saw it now and it looked like the right call...I don't think he got a stick on it before it went in.

I bet people were calling Comcast PISSED! During the Steelers playoff run last year the cable went out during the 2nd half of the San Diego game and people were flipping out at the bar.

[Suburban Rhythm]

My first guess was the arena finally crumbled. They had that once where the building lost power.

When they came back to start the 3rd, Steigy said lighting hit homebase for FSN in Atlanta, knocking out power there.

I got 4 calls asking if it was out for me on Direct as well, so I saved 4 people from calling Comcast.

[Wolfpack]

Ugh. 1-0, New Jersey. Ward did all he could, but Brodeur did all he could, too. Brodeur's usually going to win that sort of competition and he did so tonight, especially after Carolina pretty much laid siege to the New Jersey goal over the last 30-odd minutes.

Obviously, gotta win Game Six at home now and then find a way to win in New Jersey. I'm not optimistic if Brodeur keeps this up.

[kingfc22]

Sharks laid an egg tonight. No passion at all.

[Chief Rum]

Not really sure how to define how the Sharks are tonight, although, agreed, it's not good. They don't seem to have the same drive they had Tuesday night.

I think they had a lot of fight in them early on, but when Ryan got the first goal, I think it might have gotten in the Sharks' heads a little bit.

[yacovfb]

Originally Posted by kingfc22

Sharks laid an egg tonight. No passion at all.

Nope. Ducks are playing at a completely different intensity level. Seems like Dan Boyle and occasionally Clowe are the only Sharks able to match it. I'd love to be wrong but if they somehow escape San Jose with a win, it's over in Anaheim in game 6. Then we'll get to see who gets held accountable for this. Thornton? Nabby? Doug Wilson?

[Pyser]

nice win by the devils. ward was as good as brodeur tonight. cant wait for sunday. this has been a ridiculously tight series

[bhlloy]

It's almost like the Sharks aren't working to get good shots. Hiller makes 30+ saves again, but was really very comfortable the whole game. It's interesting because I heard a lot about McLellan making sure they took better shots in game 3 and it worked, but they really got away from it again tonight.

And again, Thornton and Marleau go absolutely nowhere near the net all night. Although Nabakov hasn't been good, I think you have to look at those 2first if the Sharks do lose the series.

[Chief Rum]

Do Thornton and Marleau spend a lot of time in front of the net during the regular season? Or is playoff hockey just a bad fit for their style of play? Despite their size, I can't recall ever being impressed with them gutting out scores so much has having this immense talent to score pretty goals.

[Suburban Rhythm]

Originally Posted by Dr. Sak

I just saw it now and it looked like the right call...I don't think he got a stick on it before it went in.

Watching this morning on NHL Network, I agree.

The only angle I saw on FSN was from the side boards, and couldn't see through the sticks and legs.

NHLN showed from behind the net, perfectly clear. If he just turns his foot, he's good. But, he wouldn't have gotten enough pace on it to beat Biron that way.

The killer player was mid way through the first, Kennedy intercepted a puck going around the boards, behind the net, walked out and tried to stuff it in. Biron was looking for him to come out the other direction. One more step and TK has an open net.

[Suburban Rhythm]

Originally Posted by Chief Rum

Do Thornton and Marleau spend a lot of time in front of the net during the regular season? Or is playoff hockey just a bad fit for their style of play? Despite their size, I can't recall ever being impressed with them gutting out scores so much has having this immense talent to score pretty goals.

This has been the book on Thornton for awhile I think. Big body, but plays on the perimeter mostly.

[bbor]

Looks good on the Leafs.

Wilson coached SJ to near the top of the league during the regular season in past years....then bailed in the play-offs and it was laid at his doorstep.Obviously it was'nt his doing...it was the players.

Burke put together the team (Ducks) that's taking SJ out of the play-offs.

Looks like a win-win for the Leafs.

[sterlingice]

Originally Posted by Pyser

nice win by the devils. ward was as good as brodeur tonight. cant wait for sunday. this has been a ridiculously tight series

That was an extremely fun game to watch- at least the part that we got to see after Versus switched over from the Pens/Flyers game

SI

[gstelmack]

Originally Posted by Wolfpack

Ugh. 1-0, New Jersey. Ward did all he could, but Brodeur did all he could, too. Brodeur's usually going to win that sort of competition and he did so tonight, especially after Carolina pretty much laid siege to the New Jersey goal over the last 30-odd minutes.

Obviously, gotta win Game Six at home now and then find a way to win in New Jersey. I'm not optimistic if Brodeur keeps this up.

Quite the performance by Brodeur, especially flipping over and snatching that puck away right before it dribbled across the line. One game was decided with 0.2 seconds left, another one by about 0.2 inches.

And quite the series. Aside from the game 1 stinker by Carolina (sigh), you have 2 overtime games and a pair of 1-goal games, each of which was very close to going to OT. Very evenly matched and hard fought. Maybe they'll finally get one on Versus and show it in HD.

Nah.

[Pyser]

the only thing the devils-canes series is missing is nastiness. the teams just dont hate each other the way id like to see in the playoffs. but other than that, its been great defensive hockey.

[TurnerONU22]

Well, the Jackets got swept last night, but it was the most entertaining games that I've ever been to.

Now to the final call:

I hate to say this, but the refs made the right call at the end of the game. By the letter of the law, there were too many men on the ice.

BUT

By the letter of the law, the Jackets would have had 2 more power plays in the 3rd period. Vermette gets boarded right behind the net, 5 feet by a ref, but it doesn't get called. Dorsett basically gets tackled at one point, but no call.

Here's my problem with the final call: If they're going to call the last penalty by the book, why don't they call the rest like that as well?

Just a terrible way to end the best game of the series.

[DeToxRox]

Originally Posted by TurnerONU22

Well, the Jackets got swept last night, but it was the most entertaining games that I've ever been to.

Now to the final call:

I hate to say this, but the refs made the right call at the end of the game. By the letter of the law, there were too many men on the ice.

BUT

By the letter of the law, the Jackets would have had 2 more power plays in the 3rd period. Vermette gets boarded right behind the net, 5 feet by a ref, but it doesn't get called. Dorsett basically gets tackled at one point, but no call.

Here's my problem with the final call: If they're going to call the last penalty by the book, why don't they call the rest like that as well?

Just a terrible way to end the best game of the series.

Total agreeance here. A blast to watch. This is the kind of game I expected to see all series which is why I was so nervous.

CBJ will be a force in the years to come though.

[gstelmack]

Originally Posted by Pyser

the only thing the devils-canes series is missing is nastiness. the teams just dont hate each other the way id like to see in the playoffs. but other than that, its been great defensive hockey.

I dunno, the brewing goaltender interference feud is building up to some nice moments. If Brodeur keeps leaving his net and getting in the way of the skaters, something is going to blow soon...

[samifan24]

Does anyone know where I can find a schedule for the 2nd round and later rounds? Like, has the NHL said "the Conference Final games" will definitely be held on "these dates" or anything like that?

[Logan]

A bad goal allowed by Henrik. Now I've seen everything.

[JonInMiddleGA]

Heh, I don't remember seeing this last year. It's a Gillette Fusion razor on-site ad that ran in Boston, was meant to be a one timer but got such a great reaction they ran it throughout the playoffs last year (not clear on whether they brought it back again this season). It just won the OBIE award for best execution of an alternative/street/transit media campaign.

Me? I just got a kick out of it.

[Logan]

Ovechkin just scored a ridiculous goal.

Unfortunately, looks like my ticket for Game 6 will be used.

[Pyser]

holy shit that was SICK

[Pumpy Tudors]

Every time I think Ovechkin's got nothing else in his bag of tricks, he pulls something else out of the bag of tricks. Amazing.

[Wolfpack]

Originally Posted by Pyser

the only thing the devils-canes series is missing is nastiness. the teams just dont hate each other the way id like to see in the playoffs. but other than that, its been great defensive hockey.

I was just thinking about this myself. I think not being division rivals probably dampens it some, but I think another part of it is generally the teams have a fair amount of respect for one another, starting with the goaltending and the generally similar styles of play. No one's being brutally nasty, but you still have to earn everything you get. Yes, there's been some feisty moments, but that's to be expected. This isn't going to turn into anything like Colorado-Detroit from the 1990s, though.

Frankly, for Carolina fans, while they'll say they don't like New Jersey a lot, they don't really hate them, either, especially not like they hate Buffalo (though that's more due to the clashes with Sabres fans during the 2006 playoffs than anything else).

Me personally, if NJ bounces Carolina and Washington also goes out, that pretty much leaves NJ as the team I'd want to win the East as I generally root for teams from non-traditional or "mocked" markets (NJ being more in the latter than the former due to the constant jabbing they take for attendance) when Carolina is out of the running for the Cup (tangentially, this also means I hope San Jose or Anaheim wins the West).

[Maple Leafs]

If I told you that an NHL prospect had been arrested for killing a referee and burying his body in the woods, would you be able to guess which team?

Of course!

[sterlingice]

Originally Posted by Maple Leafs

If I told you that an NHL prospect had been arrested for killing a referee and burying his body in the woods, would you be able to guess which team?

Of course!

Yay! I was right

SI

[Pyser]

this pennsylvania series is awesome to watch. stupid draft making me split my time.

[DeToxRox]

Cannot believe Carcillo fought Talbot. So stupid. You do not fight, up 3, at home and give Pittsburgh some life. So fucking stupid.

[Suburban Rhythm]

Originally Posted by DeToxRox

Cannot believe Carcillo fought Talbot. So stupid. You do not fight, up 3, at home and give Pittsburgh some life. So fucking stupid.

Wonder how Max managed to goad him into that...was Roberts somewhere in the building, and sent Talbot a message via telekinesis?

[Suburban Rhythm]

Dola

Max "shhhhhhhhh!" of the crowd about 35 seconds in- CLASSIC!
You can do that when you are a superstar.

YouTube - Carcillo Fights Talbot in HD - Flyers vs Penguins Game 6

[Maple Leafs]

I have no idea what you guys are talking about. Fighting never has any impact on the outcome of a game. Every media star in the world has told me that.

[gstelmack]

They aren't saying it has no impact, just that the impact it has is a negative one.

[Fidatelo]

ok, I know the puck went in before Kozlov hit Lundqvist, but isn't it still illegal to plow over the goalie? Should the goalie have to choose between saving the puck or bracing for a collision? wtf?

[Logan]

That was a very depressing game to be at.

[Dr. Sak]

Originally Posted by Logan

That was a very depressing game to be at.

I can about equal you as I was at the Flyers game yesterday.

[Suburban Rhythm]

Originally Posted by Dr. Sak

I can about equal you as I was at the Flyers game yesterday.

Does bitterness extend to the Philly press too?
Not that it matters much, but how is Crosby not one of the 3 stars?

[Suburban Rhythm]

[sterlingice]

Only 5 shots on goal and we're already midway through the 2nd period almost. Is Jersey just saving up their energy for game 7?

SI

[Pumpy Tudors]

I need my lovemuffin Zach Parise to take this game over.

[Dr. Sak]

Originally Posted by Suburban Rhythm

Does bitterness extend to the Philly press too?
Not that it matters much, but how is Crosby not one of the 3 stars?

Who cares...

[Chief Rum]

Originally Posted by Dr. Sak

Who cares...

Sak's gotta point. Why on Earth would Flyers fans, in the wake of being knocked out of the playoffs in such an awful comeback fashion, even care about who gets the three stars? Weird question, SR.

[Suburban Rhythm]

Don't get me wrong, the choice is meaningless. Just curious how the best player on the ice isn't selected. Why pick at all? Or, since it's voted on by the home team's press, have them select 3 players from the home team, cause that will make everyone happy.

[Maple Leafs]

You know, I really think Carcillo is getting a raw deal in all of this. People want to blame him for turning the game around. But what did he do? He fought, he knocked the crap out of the other guy, and the crowd was going insane. Where's the problem here?

People say that Talbot fired up his team by even being willing to go. Well, wouldn't he have accomplished the same by challenging Carcillo and being turned down? And he wouldn't have had his face tenderized in the process.

Sometimes a fight turns a whole game around. And sometimes, it just happens to occur right before something else does.

[Logan]

BTW, Donald Brashear's cheap shot elbow on Blair Betts from today. Amazingly, 18,200 fans plus every player saw it but not one ref did.



Washington scored to go ahead 2-1 a bit later during what should have been a Ranger power play, and then went ahead 3-1 on their own PP goal where we of course did not have our #1 penalty killer in the game.

[Maple Leafs]

Um...

[Suburban Rhythm]

Originally Posted by Maple Leafs

Um...

[Mizzou B-ball fan]

So, will I actually get to see the Sharks game tonight on Versus? Haven't been able to watch one yet thanks to the ridiculous TV contract. I guess I need to move to San Jose to remedy the problem.