Official 2007 NHL Playoffs Thread...

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Originally Posted by Fritz

Looks like this will be a good series. Pretty even matchup IMO. Sens in 7.

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I was at the game last night and sat next to some pretty cool Sens fans who made the trip out from back east. After the game I invited him to a local watering hole where we exchanged notes. It was a very entertaining game and I hope like you all games are as good. The keys will be if Emery can hold up in this series as he was not too impressive last night. Will the Sens hold up to the pounding they will receive each game? Will the Ducks lose the cup to penalties? Will the Ducks show up each night?

Lastly, I did not have replay last night but at the end of the game Pronger was called for hooking but it appeared as though it should have been called on Niedermayer. WTF was Getzlaf thinking crosschecking like five times before he was called or Pronger bear hugging with a throw down in front of the net.

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Originally Posted by atomicboy

Lastly, I did not have replay last night but at the end of the game Pronger was called for hooking but it appeared as though it should have been called on Niedermayer. WTF was Getzlaf thinking crosschecking like five times before he was called or Pronger bear hugging with a throw down in front of the net.

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Good call, it wasn't Pronger [although that doesn't change my opinion of him as a dirty hacker]. Great game tho, looks like a fun series.

Looks to me like Ducks in 7. Might have to change that to 6 if they win Game 2 tonight.
Ottawa better start hitting somebody if they want to win this series.
As much as I want Ottawa to win in order to say the Cup's coming back to Canada, I know it will be anyway, as most of the Duck players are Canadian and get to parade the Cup around at home in the off-season. Hell, the Cup lives in Canada anyway most of the time. Neidermayer bros will likely bring the Cup to Fernie, so good chance I'll get to touch the thing. BC Rules!

Fuck Anaheim, Carolina, Tampa Bay, Phoenix, Atlanta, Florida and Nashville. Bettman has destroyed the NHL with expansion and the bull shit referees controlling the flow of the game. The NHL is dead. That being said regardless of how many Canadians play on what team please dear god do not let the Cup rest in Southern California. I hate them, but go Sens.

Yes I know that Carolina and Phoenix were not expansion teams.


http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/teams/news_sto...name=nhl-ducks

Hard to find hockey fans in Anaheim
Ducks celebrate

Canadian Press

5/29/2007 3:38:54 PM

NEWPORT BEACH, Calif. (CP) - It may be less than an hour from the home of the Anaheim Ducks, but the only waterfowl attracting any attention in Newport Beach this week were the six pelicans flying overhead.

The Stanley Cup final is going on in its backyard but this affluent resort city with palm-tree-lined streets and kilometres of white sandy beaches might as well be on another planet.

Finding anyone who knew the NHL championship was even happening proved challenging.

It has been suggested that on the scale of important sports in the Greater Los Angeles area that hockey ranks somewhere between eighth and 10th. Ranked higher in the pecking order include two Major League Baseball teams, the NBA, college football, auto racing and even women's volleyball from Pepperdine University.

There was plenty of volleyball going on at the beach Monday but little sign of a hockey fan. Some say they are fans but it's wise not to scratch too deeply below the surface.





''Yes I am. I live right near where they train for the Ducks,'' said Anaheim's Sheryl Lobbig, who was taking a break from suntanning. ''I like how they get in fights. It's very aggressive. I like the aggressiveness.''

But can she name the team facing the Ducks in the final?

''No, not now I can't,'' she said. ''I'm not up on that right now. The Kings?''

Lobbig turned to her two friends.

''Who is the team from Canada?'' she asked.

The responses were ''Minnesota'' and ''the Royals''.

Ish Finley was playing Frisbee with his daughter and although a self-proclaimed football fan, he was aware the Stanley Cup final was going on in Anaheim.

''It's the Ducks and those guys with the Flames,'' he said. ''Flames, Flames Flames,all I can see in my head is the Flames. They are there every year.''

Many have never seen a hockey game but all feel they have to support the home team.

''I'm cheering for Anaheim because they've always been an underdog but they're pretty good aren't they?'' said LeDonna Bedsaul, a purchasing manager. ''I'm not really a fan but I do know a little bit.''

Eleven-year-old Natali Cooper from Mission Viejo, California had been spending the morning swimming and surfing and is about to get introduced to hockey at her school.

''We're doing it for sport in PE. It's on the ground,not on the ice,'' she explained. ''We're going to do it in our school. We have these sticks and we pass up the puck and we try and score it in the other goal.''

Nine-year-old Isabella Finley said she's seen the sport on TV before.

''They skate on the ice and they use equipment so they don't hurt themselves,'' she said. ''They put glass around the game thing so people don't get hurt.''

A group of skateboarders waded into the hockey debate.

''I'm cheering for the other guys to beat the Ducks because I am a Red Wings fan,'' he said to hoots of derision from his friends. ''I predict Ottawa will win it in three.''

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Originally Posted by 45hill

Fuck Anaheim, Carolina, Tampa Bay, Phoenix, Atlanta, Florida and Nashville. Bettman has destroyed the NHL with expansion and the bull shit referees controlling the flow of the game. The NHL is dead. That being said regardless of how many Canadians play on what team please dear god do not let the Cup rest in Southern California. I hate them, but go Sens.

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Enjoy it kid as the cup is coming to sunny southern california at my doorstep. I can't wait to see the cup resting on the beach and paraded around disneyland. Thanks for posting that article as that was fucking great. There are some choice quotes in that thing.

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Originally Posted by atomicboy

Enjoy it kid as the cup is coming to sunny southern california at my doorstep. I can't wait to see the cup resting on the beach and paraded around disneyland. Thanks for posting that article as that was fucking great. There are some choice quotes in that thing.

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The only positive about Anaheim possibly winnning is that GMs tend to build teams like the previous Cup winners. Anaheim is a tough hard hitting North American team. If teams are built like them in the future the NHL may be able to make a come back. If that's what it takes to bring the league back to it's former self then I'll accept the Cup in SoCal.

The bandwagon, know nothing about hockey people are what drives me crazy. And the parade to the penalty box. How about that call in last 34 seconds of the game Monday night. Hooking on Pronger. Wrong call wrong player. Cross checking on Neidermeyer, yes, but it's the final seconds of the game. Put the whistles away and let them play.

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Originally Posted by 45hill

The only positive about Anaheim possibly winnning is that GMs tend to build teams like the previous Cup winners. Anaheim is a tough hard hitting North American team..

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I don't much like the Ducks, but I'm pulling for them this year for that reason. Big, fast & hard hitting. Fuck the Euro style figure skating with sticks that the NHL seems to moving towards.

its sad the canadian press has to resort to nationalism while reporting the finals. why do they write weak stories describing american fans knowing nothing about hockey, poor attendance and how bad the ice surface at the pond is rather than admit the ducks have the better team?

national pride aside, from a pure hockey point of view, the ducks are the only team out there actually playing canadian style hockey. the ducks defence is an iron curtain, while the sens defence have spent more time with their face plastered against the glass than anything else. the ducks offence may lack the speed and nifty moves, but they get the puck in the net.

the way things are going, I predict a sweep.

It hurts to agree with ya powderdude, although i don't have a clue what the canadian press said. What they should have said was that the Sens played a freakin pathetic game. Can't convert on a over minute long 5 on 3. And fucked up a line change in the last ten seconds that left the Ducks standing there with the puck wondering if a whistle had been blown. :nonono2:

If the Sens take that level to the next games, you're right, a sweep for sure. My guess is they'll take at least one at home. Next Wednesday's game will be a good one. Not a Quacker fan at all, but damn if Giguere isn't one of the best goalies I've seen in a longggggg time.

After the Ottawa-Buffalo series, I was thinking, Ottawa was going to roll right thru Anaheim to take it.

After the first 2 games, it's going the other way. Ottawa cannot compete with anaheim's size and strenght and physical play. Ottawa can hardly get out of their own zone, and if their defense wasn't so good at clearing out the gaping rebounds that Emery gives up, it would easily have been 10-0 last night.

Ottawa needs to step it up at home. They are trying to get way too crafty with the puck, need more dump, chase, and retrieve. I dig the way they stepped up their physical play last night however. That Fischer penalty on Perry was fucking hilarious: sit down bitch! sit down bitch! sit down bitch!

I thought guarding the blue line was no longer legal in the NHL?

Fucking Emory was on fire last night. Easily the best player on the ice, despite letting the one and only goal in. Giguere may as well have taken a nap in the 2nd & 3rd. 8 Shots on goal in 2 periods? Whoah.

The Hamilton Predators.

One Southern team down five to go.

http://tsn.ca/nhl/news_story/?ID=209447&hubname=

It'll be the Winnipeg Predators before there is a team in Hamilton.

Hamilton is too close to 2 existing successful (and established) markets. Although it COULD happen, I see a team in Winnipeg (again) much sooner than Hamilton.

The rumour I heard on the Preds was for Kitchener/Waterloo. Crackberry dude has land purchased and zoned for an arena a convenient 2 miles past the Leafs protected range.
Even with the salary cap Winnipeg can't afford another NHL team, in spite of a small group that can't accept reality.

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Originally Posted by BigAirSkier1580

It'll be the Winnipeg Predators before there is a team in Hamilton.

Hamilton is too close to 2 existing successful (and established) markets. Although it COULD happen, I see a team in Winnipeg (again) much sooner than Hamilton.

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I agree with you. My wife is from Winnipeg and I would love to see a team return. They have great fans and the city was sad to see its beloved Jets move to the desert of Arizona. My wife was at the final game back in April of 96 a 4-1 loss to Detroit. She said it was the best event she has ever seen live. They have the new MTS Arena so I say bring back WHITE NOISE.

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Originally Posted by PlayHarder

Even with the salary cap Winnipeg can't afford another NHL team, in spite of a small group that can't accept reality.

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It used to be that way but things are better in Winnipeg now financially. I still don't like the city and God forbid the wife wants to return one day but I think they could afford it. What killed Canadian teams and put everyone in a world of hurt was the exchange rate as salaries had to be paid in $ not Loonies. Now the exchange rate is much better for Canada as the $ is weak and is only going to get weaker but that is another subject.

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Originally Posted by Fritz

Looks like this will be a good series. Pretty even matchup IMO. Sens in 7.

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What about the Sens in 4?

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Originally Posted by Staircase

What about the Sens in 4?

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A 7-game series is better for the sport ;)

(sorry i didn't get back to you, call ya later today)

good job Sens you played with heart today and wanted it more than the ducks. I tip my hat to you as the better team won today. Ducks again take cheap costly penalties. However, WTF was up with the refs calling some bullshit penalties. Also WTF was up with the assholes upstairs who overturned the no goal call? I watched that goal 50 times and there is no way he did not move his foot to hit the puck. That goal changed the game but would not have changed the outcome as the Sens would have won anyway. Pronger should not be suspended. Lastly, you deserve to lose if you cannot remember to put five men on the ice.

Go Sens!!!
But you're right Atomkid, that was certainly steered in with his skate. But BS penalties went both ways. And fckn Pronger sure as shit should have been game-misconducted for that cheap ass dirty scummy play. Hockey's got a hard enough time getting/maintaining a half decent rep without assmunches like him playing hack hockey.

That assmunch is a former Hart Trophy winner. That's why they give him a hallpass almost every time.

Ya gotta love a Canadian Hockey crowd. Tonight is gonna rock - I may be keeping the wife awake from 2 floors down...

(edited for stupidity)

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Originally Posted by Tippster

That assmunch is a former Hart Trophy winner. That's why they give him a hallpass almost every time.

Ya gotta love a Canadian Hockey crowd. Tonight is gonna rock - I may be keeping the wife awake from 2 floors down...

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Eh, Hart Trophy, pfffft. Never gave it to Patrick Roy, for just one example. I hadn't realized fckn Pronger DID get suspended! Yes, tonights game should be a rip roarer.

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Originally Posted by atomicboy

Also WTF was up with the assholes upstairs who overturned the no goal call? I watched that goal 50 times and there is no way he did not move his foot to hit the puck. That goal changed the game but would not have changed the outcome as the Sens would have won anyway. Pronger should not be suspended.

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1. The NHL's rule for the kicking motion is kind of vague. If you watch his foot, he doesn't actually kick, and he just re-directs the puck (which you are allowed to do). The kicking motion looked like it came after. They have to change this rule soon.

2. Pronger should have gotten 3 games instead of 1. That is his second offense in the past 3 weeks. Notice how they aren't complaining like they were about the first one, I think Burke knows they got away with one.

3. That Pronger elbow is just another example of the bullshit interference they are running. He's been doing it all series and they haven't been calling it.

4. Mike Fisher is amazing, and Cory Perry needs to stick to scoring instead of being a little prick who deserves a cross-check to the head.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ Good points Fridgemeister-
From NHL rules: [which i didn't understand until reading them...]:
A 'distinct kicking motion' is what is not allowed, which is when, with a PENDULUM MOTION, a player propels the puck with his skate into the net. This is even not a goal if it bounces off other players following the 'kicking motion'. I always thought if a player angled his skate just right and deflected it into the net was not a goal either, but it sounds like it requires the 'pendulum motion', which I agree, did not occur Saturday night.

And i second the 3 game suspension.

Less than a minute in and there's already a penalty. WHat a joke the NHL has become. BULLSHIT CALL FOR A BULLSHIT LEAGUE.

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Originally Posted by fridge

1. The NHL's rule for the kicking motion is kind of vague. If you watch his foot, he doesn't actually kick, and he just re-directs the puck (which you are allowed to do). The kicking motion looked like it came after. They have to change this rule soon.

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The problem I have with the kicking rule is it's not consistent. If you look at the goal that was disallowed in the Ranger/Sabres series there was less of a kicking motion then the Sens goal that counted. Same thing could be said about the kicking motion coming after the contact on Crosby's goal against the Sens that was disallowed. I don't think I'd want a return to the old way the rule was enforced where if it hit your skate it wasn't a goal but at least it was consistent.

Just when I started to not hate Alfredson, he pulls that bullshit. What a cock gobbler. On the plus side, the third should be unreal.

http://i.a.cnn.net/si/2004/writers/m...cherry_all.jpg

Don Cherry for Hockey Comissioner!

What a great fucking game. That crowd was amazing. Giguere en fuego, Alfredsson dirty....what??

'Twas a great night in hockey, gentlemen. Here's to hoping for a game 6 in Ottawa.

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Originally Posted by Tippster

Alfredsson dirty....what??

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Alfredsson is a fucking douchebag after pulling that shit. There is no excuse for that. Pure frustration on his part. Alfredsson's shot at Scotty was much worse than Pronger's forearm or Chris Neil's hit on McDonald.

Great fucking series...I just wish more people were watching:nonono2: :nonono2: :nonono2:

I have my tickets to game 5 on Wednesday. I would love to see the cup raised in person but the Duck's are due for a loss at home.

Alfredsson just seeled his fate as a sore loser. Neidermayer should take that slap shot as a compliment to the fact he's doing his job well. the ducks defence, even without Pronger, keep dominating Ottawas top line with good old bump & grind hockey while the offence manages to get the puck in the net when it counts. despite not seeming competitive, looking at the win/loss column, this series certainly has been exciting to watch and had some good drama as well. however, I think the ducks are motivated enough to end it in game 5.

Pretty good game, overall, imho. Props to Jiggy, what a goalie! Hope it goes 5 for ya atomdude!

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Originally Posted by atomicboy

Alfredsson's shot at Scotty was much worse than Pronger's forearm or Chris Neil's hit on McDonald.

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I'm pretty sure he actually shot it at Sammy Pahlson.

It's over now. Bring that cup to Fernie, man. Oh and bring the Conn Smythe too

cheers to anaheim

That is an experience I will never forget. The game had it all power play goals, short handed goal, fucked up goal, penalty shot. My ears are still ringing from the noise and cheers. It was an unbelievable time seeing the cup raised in person. I can't talk or hear. Now I can watch the game again tonight with the commentary and interviews after the game. The series was closer than 4-1. I love hockey and just wish more people understood the game as it is a million times more enjoyable to watch than the likes of baseball.

Congrats Atomicboy and all Ducks fans. You guys beat the shit out of a pretty good team.

so with 4 cups and the con Smythe, does Niedermayer go on the list with Harvey, Orr, Coffey, & Borque?

Why would Bourque be on that List? ;)

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Originally Posted by Woodsy

so with 4 cups and the con Smythe, does Niedermayer go on the list with Harvey, Orr, Coffey, & Borque?

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I'd say so, and the scary thing is that he could probably play at least another 6 years if he wants to.

I'm so disappointed in Ottawa, to be that dominant in the first 3 rounds and then play like that, they are not as soft as they showed in that series, but they just got mindfucked.

Ottawa plays a really exciting game (probably one of the best next to Buffalo, and much more exciting than the ducks run interference/picks/dump the puck in game) and I hope they make it back again. I'm kind of hoping they are going to be like the 82/83 Oilers, they needed to get that close to see what it actually takes to win.

Good for Anaheim, at the least the cup will be in Regina courtesy of Getzlaf & Kunitz (and fuck did Travis Moen play well that series).