The Official 2012 Stanley Cup Playoffs Thread

[ImTellinTim]

Re: The Official 2012 Stanley Cup Playoffs Thread

Can't believe that fluke of a 2nd goal. Off Anisimov's skate, SMFH.

Even Steven.

[Psyblast]

Re: The Official 2012 Stanley Cup Playoffs Thread

Whaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaat.

[ImTellinTim]

Re: The Official 2012 Stanley Cup Playoffs Thread

Wow, I can't believe the Rangers have tied this game.

Brodeur with another one of his classic WTF playoff goals. He's had quite a few of those in his storied career.

[pietasterp]

Re: The Official 2012 Stanley Cup Playoffs Thread

Quebec should be first in line. Winnipeg was 3rd out of 30 teams in gate revenue in 11/12 (behind Toronto and Montreal), despite being the league's smallest market with the smallest arena. Untapped potential is nice, umpteen thousands of diehards who are angrily demanding to give you all their money is better.

Yeah, I think we had a good healthy discussion about this before. I won't get back into it, but suffice to say, I am on the side of expansion into untapped markets to grow the game. Otherwise, why have any teams outside Canada (who could probably support 30 teams) and the O-6 US markets?

It's crazy to me that the Rangers could win this game...

[TheMatrix31]

Re: The Official 2012 Stanley Cup Playoffs Thread

This game is freakin' wild. Wow.

[ImTellinTim]

Re: The Official 2012 Stanley Cup Playoffs Thread

LOL - was that a wrister on his own net? Nice save by Henrik!

[ASB37]

Re: The Official 2012 Stanley Cup Playoffs Thread

Hank can't let in 4 goals on 17 shots.

Putrid performance by him.

[DrJones]

Re: The Official 2012 Stanley Cup Playoffs Thread

Yeah, I think we had a good healthy discussion about this before. I won't get back into it, but suffice to say, I am on the side of expansion into untapped markets to grow the game. Otherwise, why have any teams outside Canada (who could probably support 30 teams) and the O-6 US markets?

Canada could NOT support any more than 9 teams (Quebec City and maybe a 2nd Toronto team; I don't count Hamilton because that would cripple the Sabres). Putting "growing the game" ahead of the concerns of diehard markets is what led to Phoenix-like situations in the first place. What other league does this?

By far the most financially successful US expansion team of recent years is (surprise, surprise) the Minnesota Wild, who consistently rank among the top 6-10 in gate revenue, even though the on-ice product has usually stunk. By your definition, Minnesota wasn't an untapped market because hockey is popular there with or without the NHL. So was giving them an expansion team a mistake? Would it have been better to ignore Minnesota in favour of somewhere like Portland?

I'd love to see an NHL team in Seattle, and I think it'll happen sooner rather than later. But putting them ahead of Quebec City is bad for business. QC will have a new arena ready by 2015, they already have a suitable arena to play in until then (unlike Seattle), and they have a mega-rich ownership group in place (Quebecor) that has way more money than the Seattle guys (who, like Seattle residents, have nothing against the NHL, but really just want their NBA team back).

[DrJones]

Re: The Official 2012 Stanley Cup Playoffs Thread

Devils lead series 3-2. Cue the innumerable (and interminable) references to Messier's guarantee over the next 48 hours.

[NYRBlue88]

Re: The Official 2012 Stanley Cup Playoffs Thread

Devils lead series 3-2. Cue the innumerable (and interminable) references to Messier's guarantee over the next 48 hours.

There isn't a Rangers player today who has the balls to step up and make such a claim. None of them, today, could back it up. Not even Hank, especially after his meltdown last night. I doubt many fans would make such a claim either. That was a once in a lifetime situation. There aren't many players today who are as great as Mess was and as much as I like Cally as a captain, he's no Messier.

The Rangers are not "done" but there are no guarantees. To make one today would be asinine. I believe the Rangers can still win IF they come out and play like they did in the 2nd, last night, but that's a big "if". The Devils have the momentum and the home crowd (even if 20% of it are Rangers fans). My only hope is that they have a little luck on their side and force a game 7. It's still possible. Hank will have to stand on his head once again.

[slickdtc]

Re: The Official 2012 Stanley Cup Playoffs Thread

A guarantee nowadays doesn't hold as much weight as it did back then, anyway. If the same situation occurred today, it would be a footnote because too many athletes have made guarantees in the past couple of years, right or wrong. They get forgotten quickly these days.

[jyoung]

Re: The Official 2012 Stanley Cup Playoffs Thread

These were the only NHL teams under 90% attendance this season:

http://espn.go.com/nhl/attendance/_/sort/homePct

22. New Jersey -- 87.4%
23. Florida -- 86.6%
24. Anaheim -- 86.4%
25. Colorado -- 86.1%
26. Carolina -- 85.9%
27. NY Islanders -- 81.3%
28. Columbus -- 80.8%
29. Dallas -- 76.8%
30. Phoenix -- 72.5%

All of those markets bar NJ and NYI are recent expansion/relocation teams.

[DrJones]

Re: The Official 2012 Stanley Cup Playoffs Thread

There isn't a Rangers player today who has the balls to step up and make such a claim. None of them, today, could back it up. Not even Hank, especially after his meltdown last night. I doubt many fans would make such a claim either. That was a once in a lifetime situation. There aren't many players today who are as great as Mess was and as much as I like Cally as a captain, he's no Messier.

The Rangers are not "done" but there are no guarantees. To make one today would be asinine. I believe the Rangers can still win IF they come out and play like they did in the 2nd, last night, but that's a big "if". The Devils have the momentum and the home crowd (even if 20% of it are Rangers fans). My only hope is that they have a little luck on their side and force a game 7. It's still possible. Hank will have to stand on his head once again.

I was referring to the media bringing it up again and again. I don't expect any players to do so.

[DrJones]

Re: The Official 2012 Stanley Cup Playoffs Thread

These were the only NHL teams under 90% attendance this season:

http://espn.go.com/nhl/attendance/_/sort/homePct

All of those markets bar NJ and NYI are recent expansion/relocation teams.

My point wasn't to bash Sun Belt teams. San Jose has been an unqualified success; I respect the energy of Nashville's and Carolina's fans. Just saying that if a team has to move (or there's further expansion), I feel that Quebec City is the most logical (and fair) choice, and Winnipeg's (and Minnesota's) success reinforces that belief. The return of the Nordiques would carry with it the added bonus of rekindling their awesomely bitter blood feud with the Canadiens. Think Philly/Pittsburgh with more poutine.

[NYRBlue88]

Re: The Official 2012 Stanley Cup Playoffs Thread

I was referring to the media bringing it up again and again. I don't expect any players to do so.

Well in that case, expect it to come up. With the exception of Andrew Gross and Steve Zipay, there aren't any good writers/reporters covering the team in the tri-state area. Many of them love to refer to '94 ad nauseam. I guess with the Knicks done and the Yankees underachieving, they have to have something to write about...

I'm sure ESPN and NHL.com will somehow bring it up. Thankfully, TSN has some integrity with writing about what's current and relevant.