NHL Playoffs 2004

Enforcer · April-7th-2004, 09:41 PM

WOO HOO!!! Red Wings 3, Predators 1! Finally, a f**king playoff win! Manny Legace gives up a goal 16 seconds into the game then has to face a penalty shot soon afterward. A terrible start, and a 1-0 lead that lasted until the start of the 3rd period when Draper made it even and then a nice, dirty goal from a point shot by Schneider that went in off Holmstrom's deflection. The deal sealer was one of the prettiest goals in memory, by Robert Lang on a ridiculous individual effort. Watch for it on the highlights.

Oh, yeah. I started a new thread for the playoffs. Let's get this motherf**ker rolling!

Larry

moneyp · April-7th-2004, 10:18 PM

Tell the truth, Larry. When it was 1-0 Preds, you were having flashbacks to last year, weren't you?

Nice comback for the Wings, one that I'm sure exorcises a lot of demons. I'd be remiss if I didn't point out that the Wings got the game-winner by crashing the crease, something they refused to do last year until it was too late. Nice goal by Robert Lang as well.

Watching Colorado-Dallas right now. Both teams flying. Good hockey.

moneyp · April-7th-2004, 10:19 PM

Oops, and Peter the Great pots one. Colorado has played better in these five minutes or so than they have in the past ten games.

Jim Dye · April-7th-2004, 10:20 PM

O.K. I have decided to follow the NHL playoffs this year to try and spark a bigger interest in Hockey. I'm not a total noob. Been to a few Red Wings games over the years. A couple at the Joe, one at the old Chicago Stadium and one at the GEC. I'm from southeast Michigan so its in my blood, right? I'm a Nashvillian now, so I couldn't ask for a better series to start with. Tonight's game was really enjoyable! 2 pretty impressive periods by Nashville, but in the end, Detroit was too strong. You're right Larry. That Lang goal was SICK.

Here's hoping for a good series. I'd like to see the Preds take 1 or 2, but I have to pull for Detroit to win it all.

Enforcer · April-7th-2004, 10:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mone peterson

Tell the truth, Larry. When it was 1-0 Preds, you were having flashbacks to last year, weren't you?

Nice comback for the Wings, one that I'm sure exorcises a lot of demons. I'd be remiss if I didn't point out that the Wings got the game-winner by crashing the crease, something they refused to do last year until it was too late. Nice goal by Robert Lang as well.

Watching Colorado-Dallas right now. Both teams flying. Good hockey.

Oh, man was it ever. You should see our board. And it really was the same problem last year. But they also looked like the time off left them really rusty. But yeah, the traffic goals will be what they need. I said it a million times last year and it's a relief that I can avoid talking about it for a while.

Welcome aboard, Jim! Should be a fun series with the Preds.

And yeah, f**king Floppa does it again. He'd be a lot more likable if he wasn't the best player in the NHL and on the wrong team.

Larry

Enforcer · April-7th-2004, 10:25 PM

Not a good start for Marty Turco!

Edited... not much chance for Turcs on that one... deflection.

moneyp · April-7th-2004, 10:28 PM

Tanguay pots one. 2-0 'Lanche. I have Dallas in five, right?

Welcome, Jim. I'm not sure of many things, but one thing I am sure of is that the Stanley Cup Playoffs is the greatest sporting event, period, bar none, end of discussion. You will never see athletes play as hard to win something. Unless we're talking about Roman Cechmanek, but he's not invited this year.

Enforcer · April-7th-2004, 10:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mone peterson

Unless we're talking about Roman Cechmanek, but he's not invited this year.

And I would be remiss if I didn't point out that it's because of my curse that he's not.

Hey, Thornton is playing for Boston. No way do I pick Montreal if I know that. But that's part of the game.

Larry

moneyp · April-7th-2004, 10:31 PM

Wow, Colorado's top line looks unstoppable right now. C'mon, Dallas. Get it together!

moneyp · April-7th-2004, 10:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Larry Nagel

Hey, Thornton is playing for Boston. No way do I pick Montreal if I know that. But that's part of the game.

I'd pick Boston with or without him. Montreal just stinks right now, and hockey isn't basketball. There isn't as much of a reliance on a "main man" unless it's the goaltender.

Enforcer · April-7th-2004, 10:39 PM

You're right about that, but the Bruins are shallow without Thornton. Think Colorado without Forsberg. They're a terrible team without him.

moneyp · April-7th-2004, 10:50 PM

Vancouver taking it to the Flames, up 2-0. C'mon, Calgary!

Enforcer · April-7th-2004, 10:52 PM

Who do I have, Vancouver? I think I picked them.

moneyp · April-8th-2004, 12:00 AM

Wild game. Flames came back to tie it, Vancouver just took the lead again. 3-2 Canucks right now. All goals scored on the power play.

Enforcer · April-8th-2004, 12:08 AM

Yeah, well, the officiating was sh** from what I saw. They haven't put their whistles away or anything. They were being more prudent about calling penalties in the last week of the regular season than what I saw in the Detroit-Nashville game.

Sakic with a pretty backhand. Seriously, though, the Stars are unrecognizable. They're usually hard to even get shots against, but tonight they're giving up tons of scoring chances.

Larry

moneyp · April-8th-2004, 02:05 AM

Kelly Hrudey was complaining about the refs calling too many penalties in the Vancouver game. I disagree. I think they SHOULD call all the games tight like that, until the players get it through their heads that they can't hook, hold and run interference all game. It didn't help the flow, but only because both teams were continuing to clobber each other and then yell at the refs when it got called. The only bad call was a too many men call against Vancouver.

Slurpy · April-8th-2004, 08:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mone peterson

I'm not sure of many things, but one thing I am sure of is that the Stanley Cup Playoffs is the greatest sporting event, period, bar none, end of discussion.

Amen, brother! I was wondering if Larry was getting figity by the end
of the 2nd period there, but I had confidence the Wings would come back.
Incredible goal by Lang to seal it! I missed the other games. What, do
you guys (Larry, Mone) have, the NHL package?? Swines

Enforcer · April-8th-2004, 09:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mone peterson

Kelly Hrudey was complaining about the refs calling too many penalties in the Vancouver game. I disagree. I think they SHOULD call all the games tight like that, until the players get it through their heads that they can't hook, hold and run interference all game. It didn't help the flow, but only because both teams were continuing to clobber each other and then yell at the refs when it got called. The only bad call was a too many men call against Vancouver.

Nobody hates the interference and holding more than me. But...

I think the playoffs are a strange time to start calling those penalties. If anything, teams have grown accustomed to the clutching and grabbing in the playoffs. Now, after the NHL spends the better part of 2 regular seasons paying lip service to calling obstruction penalties and never actually following through on it, the refs get a burr in their collective asses to make a statement in game 1 of the first round of the playoffs. All I ask of the NHL is for some goddamn consistency! Teams are left scratching their heads from game to game, not knowing what will or won't be called.

Enforcer · April-8th-2004, 09:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Slurpy

Amen, brother! I was wondering if Larry was getting figity by the end
of the 2nd period there, but I had confidence the Wings would come back.
Incredible goal by Lang to seal it! I missed the other games. What, do
you guys (Larry, Mone) have, the NHL package?? Swines

Nah, I just watched on CBC and ESPN. FSN covers our local games, but I flip channels to keep track of the other games. But yeah, our "Resident Techie" has the Center Ice package that I chickened out of this season. Ask him to tell you about how he once witnessed something like 28 goals in a span of 5 minutes by flipping through a bunch of games earlier in the season. As for me, I was too scared of what the lady would have done if I ordered Center Ice. I watch a lot of hockey as it is, even with the standard cable coverage.

Whipped,
Larry

Slurpy · April-8th-2004, 10:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Larry Nagel

Nah, I just watched on CBC and ESPN. FSN covers our local games, but I flip channels to keep track of the other games. But yeah, our "Resident Techie" has the Center Ice package that I chickened out of this season. Ask him to tell you about how he once witnessed something like 28 goals in a span of 5 minutes by flipping through a bunch of games earlier in the season. As for me, I was too scared of what the lady would have done if I ordered Center Ice. I watch a lot of hockey as it is, even with the standard cable coverage.

Whipped,
Larry

Oh, I get divorce threats about this time every year. Our local station that
shows the Bolts dropped them in the middle of last year for some reason that
I forget right now, so our local cable co stepped up and said if you're pissed
about that, call us and we'll give you the NHL package for free for the rest of the year. That was sweet. Couldn't justify pruchasing it this year tho. Plus, like you said Larry, I'd be in deep doo-doo. CBC? You lucky dog. Down
here the C, more than likely, would stand for Cuba!

MRS · April-8th-2004, 04:07 PM

Well. . .we sneak into the tournament and start tonight. Let the games begin. Wonder how Wasgood will fare and/or how much time Divis will see.

Let's go Blues!

moneyp · April-8th-2004, 05:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Slurpy

Oh, I get divorce threats about this time every year. Our local station that shows the Bolts dropped them in the middle of last year for some reason that I forget right now, so our local cable co stepped up and said if you're pissed about that, call us and we'll give you the NHL package for free for the rest of the year. That was sweet. Couldn't justify pruchasing it this year tho.

Center Ice is a fantastic deal, folks. You will find time to justify the expense, trust me.

I actually did have a romantic relationship dissolve over hockey a few years ago. In every relationship I've gone into (including Mel), I've told them not to schedule anything during the season without checking with me first. I don't miss Duck games if I can avoid it, and I don't miss the playoffs. This foolish girl actually took that as a challenge, and scheduled a mass of parties, dinners and whatnot between April and June, assuming I would cave and join her. I didn't, she got pissed, and issued an ultimatum, it was either hockey or her. Okay lady, I love you, bye bye. That relationship wasn't bound for glory anyway, but I've never asked anyone to give up something they love, and nobody had better ask it of me.

If Mel wasn't accepting of my hockey Jones, we probably wouldn't be together today. Now, during the season, she'll ask if a Ducks game is on such and such a night before even moving on to what we might be doing, and I'll say yes, no, or "I can miss it." I can't overstate the importance of Tivo in helping our relationship, either.

moneyp · April-8th-2004, 05:26 PM

"Wasgood." Hee hee hee. Nice, Pan Michaw.

Enforcer · April-8th-2004, 08:16 PM

Well, the apparent NHL mandate to have officials call all the interference penalties they've been ignoring for the past 2 years has begun effective with yesterday's playoff games. Good news for the fast, skilled teams. Bad news for the teams who loaded up on big, gritty players who aren't good skaters.

Great game in Toronto tonight. Sens are really controlling the play against the Leafs, but there have been some huge hits and fast action. This will be the most fun series to watch in the first round, IMO.

Larry

Slurpy · April-9th-2004, 08:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mone peterson

In every relationship I've gone into (including Mel), I've told them not to schedule anything during the season without checking with me first.

Mone, you are THE MAN! I think that feeling is only implied in my house
(the wuss that I am ....)

Bolts 3 - 0 over NYI. If Khabibulin keeps playing like that....watch out.
Tho we got no goals from our top 4 scorers.

Enforcer · April-9th-2004, 10:39 AM

Nice win by the Bolts, slurpy. Very impressive.

San Jose wins the war of attrition with St. Louis. Scoreless tie going into overtime, but the game was actually pretty exciting. Talk about a contrast of styles. St. Louis brings the heavy hitting game while San Jose is speed and puck possession. Both goalies looked good with Osgood making the one mistake, going down a little too soon on the shot and getting beaten top shelf.

Good hockey again to night as the 4-5 matchup is the highlight again for me. Dallas needs to win this one to stay in the series. They need to steal a road game, and tonight is when it needs to happen.

Larry

Enforcer · April-9th-2004, 11:05 AM

Bob McKenzie column on playoff officiating

Slurpy · April-9th-2004, 12:12 PM

Oh! *That* Bob McKenzie. I was thinking of Rick Moranis as Bob McKenzie on
SCTV's Great White North skit. Backbacon, beer and hockey, eh hosers? A classic.

Kevin Bresnahan · April-9th-2004, 12:24 PM

Tonight, I'm supposed to be able to get the Bruins game in HD... I can't wait to see that. March Madness was pretty nice but I hear hockey is even better.

Later,
Kevin

Enforcer · April-9th-2004, 01:55 PM

I saw a hockey game on the first HDTV I ever spied. It was at a Best Buy not far from my office. I might be biased, but I don't think HDTV serves any sport better than hockey. At least from what I've seen.