Hockey

[gaijinmark]

We've had comments in some other threads about this years Stanley Cup playoffs, so maybe we need a hockey thread. Who knows, maybe it'll attract some more Canadians to the site.

Last night's games:

Sharks beat the Kings 6-3 to take a 3-1 lead. Kings are done, put a fork in 'em. The real killer for them was having a 4-0 lead in game 3 and losing 6-5 in OT. Kings continue their run of futility. Since going to the Finals in '93, they have won a grand total of 1, count 'em, ONE playoff series! They may not be the Clippers of the NHL, but they're pretty close.

'Hawks shell the Canucks 5-0. The Canucks need to find out who that fan is wearing Luongos sweater and get him the hell out of there! Still think the 'Nucks will win the series though.

Bruins come back and beat the Habs in OT. The home team has yet to win a game in this series.

[hitomi #1]

Good thread to start, perhaps we should have started it bit earlier in the season but better late than never as they say.
Yeah, after the Kings blew a 4-0 lead in game 3 they stuck their own fork in them. Every sport has their franchise which seems to be snake bitten, like the Clippers, Lions, Cubs, guess the Kings would take the prize for the NHL. And nice comeback by the Bruins trailing in the 3rd and winning in OT, true about the home team losing every game so far, wonder if it's good a game 7 would be in Boston?
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[Rev]

Man, that Hawks/Canucks series is nuts. Torres lays out Seabrook and the sleeping giants awake. Doesn't hurt to have Bolland back and Keith has been unreal the past two games as well.

As for the Canucks, would be nice to see the Sedin's and Kesler finally show up. Still think the Nucks will take the series, but if in game 6 the Hawks take an early lead... yikes! Wouldn't be shocked to see Pavel Bure lace up his skates for game 7

The NHL Playoffs, where no 3-goal lead is safe!

[hitomi #1]

Rev wrote:

The NHL Playoffs, where no 3-goal lead is safe!

That's so true this year, normally the playoffs are low scoring affairs, not this year though. Sabres blew a 3 goal lead tonight but ended up winning in OT, Kings blew that 4-0 lead and perhaps the worst, Rangers at home up 3-0 in the 3rd and losing to the Caps in OT, losses like that are sometimes difficult to come back from.
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[gaijinmark]

Ducks lose at home AGAIN Sure would nice if Corey Perry would show up this series.

I wonder if that was Teemu Selanne's last home game.

[hitomi #1]

^^ Tough loss, allowing the tying goal with just over 1/2 minute to play, they won their last game in Nashville so anything is possible, doesn't seem as though home ice matters too much in the NHL. For what it's worth, all 5 of the 'Yahoo Hockey Experts' picked Nashville to win in 7 games.
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[hitomi #1]

Caps prevailed in the series today against the Rangers, winning today 3-1 and the series 4-1. That game 4 comeback is something which sometimes gives a team such a shot of confidence and sets them on a big roll, wouldn't surprise me if this is the year the Caps finally put it all together and reach the finals, only real question mark is having a rookie goalie, sure he's no Dryden.
Meanwhile defensive battle between the B's and Le Habs, scoreless after the second period.
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[hitomi #1]

Whew, what a game in Boston tonight, 0-0 after 2 periods, B's scored early in the 3rd but Le Habs scored with 7 minutes to go to force OT. No scoring in the first OT period but in the second with 9 minutes to go Horton scores for the B's giving them a 2-1 victory and now a 3-2 edge in the series. Lot of OT games so far this post season, not sure but don't think the NBA has had even one so far.
Good news, perhaps, for GM as the Kings have jumped out early over the Sharks and lead 3-0 with 4 minutes to go in the first.
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[gaijinmark]

hitomi #1 wrote:

Good news, perhaps, for GM as the Kings have jumped out early over the Sharks and lead 3-0 with 4 minutes to go in the first.

Yup, 3 goals in the first 4 shots I guess the trick this year is not to play at home. Hopefully it'll work tonight for the Ducks.

[hitomi #1]

gaijinmark wrote:

Yup, 3 goals in the first 4 shots I guess the trick this year is not to play at home. Hopefully it'll work tonight for the Ducks.

They hung on, no more goals but only allowed one in winning 3-1, next game for the Kings is at home, looks like Quick had a real solid effort, 51 saves.
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[Jav_sol]

hitomi #1 wrote:

Whew, what a game in Boston tonight, 0-0 after 2 periods, B's scored early in the 3rd but Le Habs scored with 7 minutes to go to force OT. No scoring in the first OT period but in the second with 9 minutes to go Horton scores for the B's giving them a 2-1 victory and now a 3-2 edge in the series.

Price & Thomas both had solid games. Finally a home win. MTL has been so much faster that the Bs.

[gaijinmark]

Ducks get bounced by Nashville 4-2

I guess it's a bad sign when your best player is 40 years old. Selanne had 6 goals in the series.

[hitomi #1]

^^ Yeah, he had a solid series, you mentioned above that game 5 may have been his last home game, leaning towards retirement? True he's 40 but better than most half his age.
In Chicago another nail biter going on, halfway thru the first OT and it's tied at 3, 'Hawks are a tough kill and the Canucks seem to be like the Caps of the West, that's my kiss of death on the 'Hawks.
And another team lost a lead today as at home the Sabres were up by 2 but watch the Flyers fly back into the game to tie it up and win in another OT game 5-4 to force a game 7 in Philly.

EDIT- So much for my kiss of death, Hawks force a game 7 as they score with less than 5 minutes to go in the first OT, wow, could coming back from an 0-3 deficit happen 2 years in a row?
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[Rev]

Tuesday can't come soon enough. Hopefully Kesler actually shows up


Oh, and the +/- for the Sedin twins in the last three games? -13

I can see Teemu playing one more season... for the Jets

[hitomi #1]

Rev wrote:

Tuesday can't come soon enough. Hopefully Kesler actually shows up Oh, and the +/- for the Sedin twins in the last three games? -13 I can see Teemu playing one more season... for the Jets

The Jets? Oh, you mean the NHL team from Winnipeg!

B's don't play until tomorrow but there are 2 games tonight, Sharks try to close out the Kings in LA, while the Pens try to do the same thing to the Lightning at Tampa. If the Pens can get by this series they could be a tough out, they've been playing without Crosby and Malkin and are still leading the high powered Lightning, glad to see they haven't used any excuses or looked for pity because their 2 best players are out.
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[gaijinmark]

hitomi #1 wrote:

The Jets? Oh, you mean the NHL team from Winnipeg!

I was living in Denver when the Rockies picked up and moved to 'Jersey. The whole next season I would say, "The Rockies are on the road tonight, playing in New Jersey."

[hitomi #1]

gaijinmark wrote:

I was living in Denver when the Rockies picked up and moved to 'Jersey. The whole next season I would say, "The Rockies are on the road tonight, playing in New Jersey."

Same thing the citizens of Quebec must have gone thru, they probably still cringe whenever the hear the word Denver.
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[gaijinmark]

hitomi #1 wrote:

Same thing the citizens of Quebec must have gone thru, they probably still cringe whenever the hear the word Denver.

Worse for them. The Devils sucked for a long time after leaving Denver. That Quebec team was just starting to get good and first year in Denver won the Cup.

Meanwhile, Lightning tied it up with the 'Pens. Last week when they announced the Vezina finalists I saw a lot of Penguin fans complaining that Fleury didn't make it. Let's see, 4 goals in 14 shots the previous game and 4 goals in just 21 shots tonite. Guess he's showing them why.

[hitomi #1]

^^ Bet most sports fans in Canada must hate the ones in the U.S., have stolen from them The Jets, Nords, Grizzlies, Expos, least they haven't sent us the Leafs.
Two periods played in LA and the Kings better come out strong as they face a 2-1 deficit against the Sharks who are outshooting them by a wide margin but Quick seems to be playing well again tonight.
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[Rev]

Brutal 5 minute powerplay for the Kings and Joe Thornton makes them pay in OT. Sharks move on to the 2nd Round.


Can't believe I just typed that. Big Joe with the clutch goal in the playoffs!?