The Official 2010-11 Stanley Cup Playoffs Talk Thread

[DrJones]

Re: The Official 2010-11 Stanley Cup Playoffs Talk Thread

http://www.easports.com/blogs/inthec...und-simulation

8/8

Damn. They were never that accurate back when I was simulating 'em.

[Scottdau]

Re: The Official 2010-11 Stanley Cup Playoffs Talk Thread

Last year it was the other way around with the Wings and the Sharks won the series in the playoffs. The only thing is Joe seems to play his best against the Wings this year and last playoffs. He uses his size and strength. If he does that again and the others follow. The Sharks are a tough team to beat. The Wings are rested and are hungry for revenge, so it can go either way this year. I say it will come down to which goalie makes the big or key saves when the team needs it.

[DrJones]

Re: The Official 2010-11 Stanley Cup Playoffs Talk Thread

#1 Washington vs #5 Tampa Bay

The Canucks and Bruins beat their respective boogeymen, the Caps don't get the opportunity. I think Roli & co. are gonna make them sweat.

Capitals over Lightning in 7

#2 Philadelphia vs #3 Boston

Tim Thomas hasn't had a signature playoff series yet. I think this is it.

Bruins over Flyers in 6

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#2 San Jose vs #3 Detroit

Were the Wings that good or were the Yotes that bad (or sad, thinking about the 'Peg?) I'm going to side with the fatalistic Detroit fans here.

Sharks over Red Wings in 6

#1 Vancouver vs #5 Nashville

What are these teams' mindsets coming into this series? Are the Preds happy to be here, or do they have a run in mind? Now that they're 800 pounds lighter, are the Canucks ready to roll, or will they be emotionally spent? Kinda reminds me of the 2003 Canucks/Wild series, complete with dummy 'Nuck fans severely underestimating the opposition.

I'll damn Roberto Luongo with the slightest praise I can give: He's better than Dan Cloutier. Don't make me regret that strong endorsement, 'Berto!

Canucks over Predators in 6

[IlliniM1ke]

Re: The Official 2010-11 Stanley Cup Playoffs Talk Thread

Wings over Sharks in 5
Canucks over Predators in 6
Lightning over Caps in 7
Bruins over Flyers in 7

[DrJones]

Re: The Official 2010-11 Stanley Cup Playoffs Talk Thread

Last note: Andrew Ference is a (insert bunch of random expletives here). He can stop with the "You guys know me. I'm a good guy." nonsense. That hit on Halpern was such a ****ing cheapshot and he just skates by like he did nothing wrong. I hope someone knocks him the hell out.

Not to worry, Don Cherry will jump all over Ference next Coach's Corner. He may be a Bruin, but Ference is an environmentally conscious "treehugger", which puts him squarely on Don's blacklist. 50/50 Don brings out his "fake gay" voice for this one.

[pietasterp]

Re: The Official 2010-11 Stanley Cup Playoffs Talk Thread

I'm forgoing predictions because: a) I'm always way off, b) haven't watched enough of the Preds, Lightning, or Bruins (prior to the start of the playoffs) to really have a feel for what the teams are like, and c) I'm oddly superstitious. Random thoughts that should not be considered endorsements or predictions about each series:

#1 Washington vs #5 Tampa Bay: I don't care about the Caps' alleged newfound commitment to defense; the way Tampa seems to be able to play shut-down "D" with their neutral zone trap-ish scheme and their explosive offensive weapons, I think the Caps are in for some long nights...

#2 Philadelphia vs #3 Boston: I can't for the life of me figure out Philly...but they seem to be able to win in the post season lately.


#2 San Jose vs #3 Detroit: The Wings' defense and goaltending are 10/10 on the shaky scale. Maybe we can win some shootouts, but they aren't as good as the Coyotes made them look in round 1...


#1 Vancouver vs #5 Nashville: Nashville is much better than I seem to want to give them credit for...just sayin'.


BTW, congrats to all the first round teams for a truly memorable opening stanza. I'm compelled to acknowledge the contributions of all the teams to making this one of the best first rounds in recent memory. It's fitting that there's an ad for a hospital's heart institute next to this reply box...

[goh]

Re: The Official 2010-11 Stanley Cup Playoffs Talk Thread

Hmm lesse...

Canucks in 6. - Was in 7 but they did it.
Red Wings in 6. - Too much credit to the Cy-otes I guess.
Kings in 7 and the best first round series. - Wrong here. Kings did a nice job though.
The Predators have only let me down and I hate the Ducks so I'm just not picking. - N/A

Rangers in 5,Lundqvist will be this years beastly playoff goalie. - Lundqvist was pretty dang good but they didn't win. Right on the 5 games though.
Bruins in 4. - Hey they won...eventually.
Flyers in 4. - Also won...eventually.
Lightning in 7. - Right on.

5/7 on winners. 2/7 on number of games or is that 1.5?

[TheMatrix31]

Re: The Official 2010-11 Stanley Cup Playoffs Talk Thread

First Round Predictions:

Caps over Rangers in 6
Flyers over Sabres in 7
Bruins over Canadiens in 7
Lightning over Penguins in 6 (if Crosby's not healthy, if he plays, then Pens in 6)

Blackhawks over Canucks in 7
Sharks over Kings in 6
Red Wings over Coyotes in 6
Ducks over Predators in 6

Not bad, I guess, for someone who doesn't know **** about hockey.

[Fiddy]

Re: The Official 2010-11 Stanley Cup Playoffs Talk Thread

kudos to the Bolts..

battled back from down 3 games to 1 and won game 7 in shut out fashion.

GREAT pass and finish last night for the lone goal. same play as the other night!! cant even be mad at those plays, just tip your cap to them.

as for the Pens, sure, missing 2 big guns, but totally inexcusable getting beat 3 straight times at home. that didnt have in i think 140 games or something like that. plus the way they did it by not showing up for 2 of the 3 last home games in the playoffs. 5-1, 8-2, then 1-0.. an embarrassment!!

getting beat 8-2 in a series clincher... then getting shut out in a series clincher!! both at home!!

Fleury played his butt off all year, tough start to the season, but hands down kept this team a float

its been a solid run for the Pens.. 1st Round exit 07 (first time for these guys in playoffs), Cup Finals 08, Won Cup 09, 2nd Round exit, now a 1st round exit. see a pattern? i do lol..

every year it seemed to get worse. its just that time for some changes. Shero will do what he needs to do. if dumb dumbs like myself etc see the lack of skill so to speak up front then he obviously sees it. im not talking 50 goal scorer skill, thats not possible, i just mean guys that can handle the puck, skate with the puck, make plays etc. plenty of them out there, hopefully the Pens can get a few of them.

with the depth at d in the organization from the Pens, to the Baby Pens, it maybe time to dangle Orpik to a team that needs that rugged type player on the back end. that could clear up some space a bit for Shero to do some work. he is a 3.7 cap hit etc.

just seems like these guys got a lil bit complacent.. sure, they also basically have been playoff style hockey for the last 35 games without Sid and Gino and that def takes its toll, and that was an issue IMO late in the series vs the Bolts. it was like they just hit a brick wall!! guys trying so hard, to where it backfires..

but very solid season by the Pens, esp with all the man games lost etc!! i honestly dont know how they won the games that they did on some nights. lack of skill up front, nobody that create space and get others open looks etc. tough time making small basic passes etc, just couldn't do none of that stuff and yet they still won!! amazing!! some what disappointed that we didnt get to see this team healthy from start to finish, bc even lacking that skill to play with Sid and Gino, they would have gave the Canucks a run for their money for the best record in the league, and thats just scary IMO..

Disco Dan = Jack Adams Award (IMO)

Shero will have some tough choices to make this off season, guys like Talbot, Adams, Dupers, Rupp, Connor, Asham etc etc.. Talbot will be gone IMO.. Kennedy (RFA) will get a raise to Talbot type money at like 1.2 or so a year. they should def bring Rupp back, he played his butt off and is a big body they need with the lack of size up front. then, after the dust settles hopefully can bring back Adams, to kill penalties etc. solid team guy that fits in well in Pittsburgh.

also hope we see a healthy Sid and Gino at the start of training camp next year!!

one last time this season, Let's Go Pens!!

[slickdtc]

Re: The Official 2010-11 Stanley Cup Playoffs Talk Thread

Yeah as much as you want to be pissed for the Pens blowing a 3-1 lead, with how decimated they were by injuries, it's hard to be too hard on them. They probably were going to get knocked out in the 2nd round, they're only hope was Fleury playing his *** off. Which he did, but it still wasn't enough.

Flyers get the B's. I think it's two teams that are peaking, but I think the Flyers have the higher peak. We beat Miller when he wasn't shutting us out, so I can't say I'm that much more scared of Thomas, though he had an incredible year. Like Laviolette said, they're a team that has tremendous depth just like us, they can play rugged, they can play with skill, they got that beast in Chara back there. And they're going to want revenge on us. Heh. It's going to be a great series, but I think we can finish them in 6 games. I think it's destined for a Caps/Flyers Conference Final.

Out West, wow, it's hard to pick the VAN/NSH series. It's too easy to say VAN finally gets it and breezes through NSH. I think the Predators have a hell of a team. If they don't win the series outright, they're going to make it hell for the Canucks. I think it could be the best series of the semi's. Predators in 7 games!

Sharks & Wings... gosh, I don't know. Wings just killed the Coyotes, but the Sharks are a whole different animal. It's going to rest on who's patrolling the net for the Sharks. But I think, if VAN doesn't make the Cup Finals, the Sharks do.

[ImTellinTim]

Re: The Official 2010-11 Stanley Cup Playoffs Talk Thread

Wings over Sharks in 5
Canucks over Predators in 5
Caps over Lightning in 6
Bruins over Flyers in 7
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[Fiddy]

Re: The Official 2010-11 Stanley Cup Playoffs Talk Thread

Wings in 5
Predators in 7
Caps in 4
Bruins in 6

[SPTO]

Re: The Official 2010-11 Stanley Cup Playoffs Talk Thread

Ok time for my 1st round picks:

Washington vs. NYR: Washington in 6 (Well I got that right tho it was in 5)
Philly vs. Buffalo: Buffalo in 7 (Got this one wrong but it did go 7)
Boston vs. Montreal: Boston in 5 (I really thought Boston would beat Montreal by using their physicality but they really struggled mightily at times at least Boston won)
Pittsburgh vs. Tampa Bay: Tampa in 6 (This was my "against the grain" pick and it worked out tho it ended in 7)

Vancouver vs. Chicago: Vancouver in 7 (DING DING DING!)
San Jose vs. LA: San Jose in 5 (Got this right but it ended in 6)
Detroit vs. PHX: Detroit in 6 (got this right but man, I thought PHX would actually get some wins)
Anaheim vs. Nashville: Anaheim in 4 (Wow I was way off on this one!)


Now for my 2nd round picks

Washington vs. Tampa Bay: Washington in 6
Philadelphia vs Boston: Philly in 7

Vancouver vs Nashville: Vancouver in 6
San Jose vs Detroit: Detroit in 7


I really struggled on the Philly/Boston pick. I don't like how Boston's PP is just not effective and Kaberle is so overrated that teams can just forget about him and target everyone else when killing off penalties. I must say Kaberle is the most overrated defenseman in the entire NHL.

[pietasterp]

Re: The Official 2010-11 Stanley Cup Playoffs Talk Thread

Fiddy....mad love for being so ascetic and virtually monastic about your team. They might need to tweak, but when you look back in a few months, you gotta say they played great and acquitted themselves nicely without their top 2 guys. I mean, I don't know too many teams that could have survived losing two All-Stars like the Pens did - I know injuries aren't an excuse, they're a fact, etc. etc. but really: there are injuries, and then there are INJURIES. Sid and Gino - I dislike them and I dislike the Pens because of the mini-rivalry they developed with the Wings over the years (not for any real reason, just petty rivalry), but I respect the hell outta the franchise, their team, and their fans. I'm not sure they're that far off from being Cup contender form - with a healthy dynamic duo, they're likely a favorite to come out of the East even without making any moves.

Either way, I doff my cap to those guys for keeping it together for the stretch run and playoffs without their big guns. No need for panic in Steeltown. Just repeat the sports fan's mantra over and over again: "We'll get 'em next year". We'll get 'em next year...

[Beantown]

Re: The Official 2010-11 Stanley Cup Playoffs Talk Thread

This just about sums up drunken Boston sports fans. I shake my head most of the time.

Rather NSFW

Spoiler

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