NHL Thread

[chicago51]

NY v. Chicago would also be original six

Right you are.

Bottom line you can't go wrong with any of the matchups from an entertainment and historical standpoint.

NHL has to be happy with the teams that have advanced this season and quite frankly the last several seasons. It seems like the last 6-7 years we have seen historic franchises and franchises in big television markets make it deep into the playoffs and into the Stanley Cup finals.

I'm sure most of Canada has to be really excited about the Canadians going this far. I believe a Canada located franchise has not won the Cup I believe since the Canadians in 93? I know the Cannucks threatened and came to within a game 7 on their home ice of doing so. Outside of Vancouver my understand is the rest of the country doesn't get as excited as they do for Montreal.

 

[aubeirish]

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I'm sure most of Canada has to be really excited about the Canadians going this far. I believe a Canada located franchise has not won the Cup I believe since the Canadians in 93? I know the Cannucks threatened and came to within a game 7 on their home ice of doing so. Outside of Vancouver my understand is the rest of the country doesn't get as excited as they do for Montreal.

Toronto is the biggest market in Canada and I don't know many Leafs fan that would ever cheer for Montreal to win. They just have not been very good in a long time. I would say that at least 50% of the 11.9million Canadians that watched game 7 Bruins vs Canadiens cheered for Boston to win. It's not really about a Canadian team to win as much your Canadian team to win. No matter who wins the cup, that team is filled with Canadian players... Therefore, I would say the media kind of put that Canadian team BS in our face all the time, but it doesn't make people who does not like the Montreal Canadiens like them more...

 

[gkIrish]

What a beatdown....

 

[IrishSteelhead]

The last time there was back to back Original 6 SCF was in 78 and 79.

 

[chicago51]

Expecting a tough series with the Kings. I'm saying Blackhawks but it could go either way. I know Jonnathan Quick monopolizes a lot of the attention when it comes to the Kings but reality wise they have a good tough team. Hawks better pack their lunch boxes for series though.

 

[Son of Kenmare]

The last time there was back to back Original 6 SCF was in 78 and 79.

If Boston and Chicago would have made it to the SCF again this year, Boston would have played an Original 6 team in every round of the playoffs. Thought that this would have been pretty cool.

 

[GO IRISH!!!]

Expecting a tough series with the Kings. I'm saying Blackhawks but it could go either way. I know Jonnathan Quick monopolizes a lot of the attention when it comes to the Kings but reality wise they have a good tough team. Hawks better pack their lunch boxes for series though.

On paper, this series is almost a pick 'em. It is going to come down to who stays the healthiest and, mainly, who wants it more. Like you said, it is going to be who packs their lunch boxes and gets in to the tough areas.

The Kings/Ducks series was one of the most entertaining I have seen, but this one has the makings to be even better.

The two big questions I have going in to Game 1:

(1) Did the layoff help or hurt the Hawks? Sometimes its tough to get back in to playoff mode after being off for several days.

(2) Can the Kings maintain the intensity and emotion they have had for the last two series? They really had to dig deep in both series and that can be very draining.

Should be a fun series to watch.

 

[calvegas04]

All comes down to Quick if you ask me.... he is either the best or worst goalie in the NHL

 

[TDHeysus]

obviously, Jonathan Quick has to play big for the kings to win...I worry about the skill guys outside of Toews and Kane; When LA lost to CHI in 5 games, I seem to remember they were getting killed by 2nd, 3rd line forwards for CHI. Bryan Bickell owned the kings in the playoffs last year....also, I think Hossa didn't even play in the series, or was hurt and was limited. LA has a shot if Quick plays consistently great, and the defense can hang in there. The addition of Gaborik is a difference maker. I have confidence that Kopitar will continue his high level of play at both sides of the ice. still, its gonna be tough to beat CHI

 

[blueNDgold44]

Hawks in 4.

 

[blueNDgold44]

Seriously though, Hawks have been great against LA the last 2 years. Kopitar, Gaborik, Doughty, and Quick are going to have to carry LA in my opinion.

 

[calvegas04]

Kings don't quit as we have all seen in this years playoffs, Plus they will be out for revenge after what happened last year.

 

[IrishSteelhead]

Hope the Kings blew their load Friday night and have a power outage today.

 

[blueNDgold44]

Absolutely terrible call

 

[IrishSteelhead]

Dunno about that call. Thought it was a goal.

 

[IrishSteelhead]

That's how quick a shitty call can turn the momentum. Time to get it back.....

 

[chicago51]

A lot guys out there tripping on both sides. Maybe lack of calls to going both ways. Every couple minutes someone seems like they are falling on their ass more so than unsual.

 

[IrishSteelhead]

Awesome. Outplayed, but not outscored. Great 3rd period.

 

[chicago51]

Awesome. Outplayed, but not outscored. Great 3rd period.

Blackhawks have an uncanny knack for winning games despite having long stretches they get outplayed and look like complete like crap. This whole post season there has been so many occasions I've said "man we suck" and we have a 2-1 lead on the scoreboard.

Some of that is Crawford but even when Crow stands on his head, he still doesn't account for all of this phenomenon.

 

[blueNDgold44]

Crow for MVP

 

[blueNDgold44]

 

[Emcee77]

Blackhawks have an uncanny knack for winning games despite having long stretches they get outplayed and look like complete like crap. This whole post season there has been so many occasions I've said "man we suck" and we have a 2-1 lead on the scoreboard.

Some of that is Crawford but even when Crow stands on his head, he still doesn't account for all of this phenomenon.

Absolutely. I was just saying that to a friend on Friday night, and then Game 1 happened and provided yet another example. I can't really explain it, unless it's just Crawford's goaltending.

Part of it is certainly that they are just built for weathering a storm, absorbing energy and channeling it, rather than wasting it by hitting back. That's just Q's philosophy.

Part of it is that they have four guys as skilled as anyone in the league who are supremely equipped to take advantage of whatever chances they get, even if there are fewer than the other team get. The Toews goal was an example. Late in games he and Kane especially just have the killer instinct.

And part of it is that they just have a real knack for scoring ugly goals off redirects of blue-line slapshots. How many Hawks goals in these playoffs have come on plays like the first two goals last night? I bet a strong majority.

Highlight for me was when Hoss leveled Dustin Brown. He is so tough. Someone called him during a recent telecast the most underrated defensive forward in hockey. That toughness is certainly a part of that.

Toffoli is such a good young player. He reminds me of a young Patrick Sharp ... just an ice-cold heartless conscienceless sniper. I almost felt bad for him when he hit that post. Lucky break for the Hawks.

 

[STLDomer]

Millers stay in St. Louis officially done

 

[Emcee77]

Wow really??

I wonder where he ends up. San Jose? Anaheim? Pittsburgh?

 

[STLDomer]

Last I heard before the playoffs was him and his wife wanted Anaheim. Don't know if they will be willing to pay him what he wants though

 

[gkIrish]

Price out for the rest of the series.

 

[chicago51]

So now that we've had time to see things play out what do you guys think about the new divisional playoff format? Do things play out any differently with the classic 1-8 conference playoff format?

 

[aubeirish]

Price out for the rest of the series.

Hate to see that happen. That particular play was an accident, but I have a big problem with the refs not letting defensemen protect their goalies and calling every retaliations on guys going after goalies. Best example is Chicago's first goal last night. They get a power play because Bollig breaks in the face of Quick and the defensemen give him a little push and gets 2 for it. SMH!

It has always been like this in hockey. You want to touch my goalie? Fine, you will pay the price. This league is becoming like every other sports. For pussies.

 

[gkIrish]

So now that we've had time to see things play out what do you guys think about the new divisional playoff format? Do things play out any differently with the classic 1-8 conference playoff format?

I love it. Playing rivals in the first 2 rounds makes for fun tv. Is it fair? Maybe not some years but I don't really care.

 

[gkIrish]

Hate to see that happen. That particular play was an accident, but I have a big problem with the refs not letting defensemen protect their goalies and calling every retaliations on guys going after goalies. Best example is Chicago's first goal last night. They get a power play because Bollig breaks in the face of Quick and the defensemen give him a little push and gets 2 for it. SMH!

It has always been like this in hockey. You want to touch my goalie? Fine, you will pay the price. This league is becoming like every other sports. For pussies.

I'm worried one of their players is going to try and injure Kreider and/or Henrik. Their coach is a P.O.S. IMO. After the game Saturday he said it was an accident. Sunday he started changing his tune and now he calls it a dirty play now that his goalie is out.