Official 2007 NHL Playoffs Thread...

[Singel]

Yahoo. How big is that home ice for the Flames! Finally good to see some effort and urgency.

Hate to nit-pick, but am I the only one who thought that Cleary hit on Phaneuf looked a little questionable in terms of elbow? It was a pretty significant play in that it put Detroit up 2-1 and put Dion in the dressing room for a while (could've easily been much longer). It looks like the ref 10 feet away wasn't looking there, fair enough I suppose, but it seems to me like if this was a game in the east it would have been a pretty big deal...not looking to bitch about it I'm just honestly wondering what others thought? CBC commentators didn't feel the need to consider it, but that's probably just because they are fucking idiots

Great night overall though, especially with Jagr and Nylander in my pool! Rangers seem to be rolling right now, could be a fun series against Ott/Pitts if NJ doesn't get their shit together.

[axebiker]

Fucking go Wild. Now that's the team we saw preseason.

Amen!! Was that one of the best 3rd periods of hockey you've ever seen or what!?!?

BTW - did the officials even need to be on the ice???

[skier0178]

One more for the Sens, I like what I'm seeing...

[jtwassoc]

Damn, that was THE best WILD game of the season. The place was nuts, freaking ears are still ringing. Rolston finally snapped out of it, so did Parish. And it looks like Booooooooooooogard is going to get a lot of help beating the living crap out of people from Burns. Ducks didn't look so tough last night, and Thursday should be awesome. Prediction for Thursday: 6 fighting majors. It was great watching Boogie jawing with the Duck bench, too funny. Chances for the WILD are still slim, but Holy Moses what a game. Oh, and it should have been 5 to 1, but the officials were D-Bags......

[freshie247]

Luongo is awesome, but the Canucks don't have enough to go very far. The Wings look pretty solid, Sharks/Preds, anybody's guess, Sabres better take it up a notch,Rangers are suprising,Sens look good as well.

[Crud's Uncle]

Calgary is a good team especially at home. I have seen the WIngs choke too often to be comfortable, but I would rather be up 2 to 1 than down 2 to 1. Obviously, game 4 is huge.

Hey Detroit: wha'happened?

[road trip]

Amuch as I hate to say it as I'm sure it sounds like sour grapes, the Lightning would not be up 2 games to 1 versus the Devils right now if there had been better officiating. Granted, the Devils aren't doing themselves any favors but that would even out if only the Lightning weren't getting their favors from guys paid to see sticks striking the likes of Zach Parise and Brad Lukowich.

I'd love to hear of an impartial person who watched most of the Devils-Lightnings series comment on the officiating...

[PlayHarder]

Amuch as I hate to say it as I'm sure it sounds like sour grapes, the Lightning would not be up 2 games to 1 versus the Devils right now if there had been better officiating. Granted, the Devils aren't doing themselves any favors but that would even out if only the Lightning weren't getting their favors from guys paid to see sticks striking the likes of Zach Parise and Brad Lukowich.

I'd love to hear of an impartial person who watched most of the Devils-Lightnings series comment on the officiating...

The officiating has sucked across the league, go visit any message board for any of the playoff teams and people are bitching about the reffing. Defensive minded teams are getting the short of the stick, since that's the area that the NHL has decided to clean up in order to boost scoring, but all teams getting screwed at one point or another.
Some good hockey being played across the board, so happy to see the Flames at least show up even if they still weren't 100%. Hopefully tomorrow night they can finally get going all the way, Detroit is too good to beat in the series if Calgary can only get up to 75% of their potential.

[Tye 1on]

Sorry, but i thought both the penalties that Calgary scored on were weak. But i sure felt for the dude that caught the puck in the mouth! Owwwww!!!!!

[road trip]

The officiating has sucked across the league, go visit any message board for any of the playoff teams and people are bitching about the reffing. Defensive minded teams are getting the short of the stick, since that's the area that the NHL has decided to clean up in order to boost scoring, but all teams getting screwed at one point or another.

Yeah, so I've heard and read... although refs missed non-subjective calls against the Devils. Zach Parise in on goalie (not quite a break by any means) and the D tries to punch up his stick, misses, and hits him in the face with his stick blade. The ref was staring right at it... no call. They missed another stick to the face of Lukowich in Game 2 which drew blood! It's tough (albeit fullfilling) to bitch about subjective calls... but sticks to the face should be / have to be called every time!!! [/end rant]

[PlayHarder]

Sorry, but i thought both the penalties that Calgary scored on were weak. But i sure felt for the dude that caught the puck in the mouth! Owwwww!!!!!

Meh, while the Flames played like crap the 1st games, the Wings benefited from soft calls in those 2 games and had a couple soft ones go their way last night, as well.
At least one Calgary goal (Giordano) was the result of your 4 time Norris winner making a rookie mistake when clearing - can't blame the refs for that.

Road_Trip, I hear ya on those types of calls - you guys have McGoo reffing?

[PaSucks]

I can't believe Heatley's goal last night off of Staals stick and 20 feet in the air. It wouldn't hurt so much if it wasn't the difference in the series right now. Two things to consider Sens fans, the Pens have come back from a 3-1 deficit twice in their history, and have never lost a game seven on the road. Not saying, just sayin, y'know?

[nesta]

Luongo is awesome, but the Canucks don't have enough to go very far. The Wings look pretty solid, Sharks/Preds, anybody's guess, Sabres better take it up a notch,Rangers are suprising,Sens look good as well.

HUH??? Luongo's all they need. Without a top notch goalie, you don't go very far in the playoffs. Also,they replaced Matt Cooke (out with an injury) with Jannick Hansen who has played a grand total of 3 NHL games, but is looking better than 1/2 the playoff veterans. Canucks are going to do some damage. Just warming up.

[skier0178]

I can't believe Heatley's goal last night off of Staals stick and 20 feet in the air. It wouldn't hurt so much if it wasn't the difference in the series right now. Two things to consider Sens fans, the Pens have come back from a 3-1 deficit twice in their history, and have never lost a game seven on the road. Not saying, just sayin, y'know?

Spezza's goal was definitely lucky but it's not the reason they are up 3-1. As far as your facts go, I like the positive attitude, way to keep holding on to the sliver of hope

[GBB]

HUH??? Luongo's all they need. Without a top notch goalie, you don't go very far in the playoffs. Also,they replaced Matt Cooke (out with an injury) with Jannick Hansen who has played a grand total of 3 NHL games, but is looking better than 1/2 the playoff veterans. Canucks are going to do some damage. Just warming up.

That whole line is giving the stars all kinds of hell in the offensive zone. They are very tenacious on the forecheck and unfortunately for us have generated some good scoring chances.

[PaSucks]

Spezza's goal was definitely lucky but it's not the reason they are up 3-1. As far as your facts go, I like the positive attitude, way to keep holding on to the sliver of hope

If that puck doesn't go in the Pens probably win that game yesterday. Sure, it may not have happened that way, but the Pens outhit and outshot the Sens and overall just played a very good game. If they had won, the series would be tied right now, therefore that goal, which came as a result of sheer dumb luck and not a defensive breakdown on the Pens part or great play by Ottewa, is the difference in this series right now, and that is tough to swallow.

[Fritz]

PaSucks - i feel your pain but it's best of 7. You can't blame a series loss on a couple of dumb luck goals. Just one of the reasons why the Stanley Cup is the most coveted trophies in all of sports

[highflyingpilot]

we shall see at 7 eastern tomorrow night

[LeeLau]

Not only is Luongo top notch - the Canucks seem to get offence from just about everything you throw on the ice. Thing is that they've been doing that since christmas so you can't even say its a fluke

[fridge]

If that puck doesn't go in the Pens probably win that game yesterday. Sure, it may not have happened that way, but the Pens outhit and outshot the Sens and overall just played a very good game. If they had won, the series would be tied right now, therefore that goal, which came as a result of sheer dumb luck and not a defensive breakdown on the Pens part or great play by Ottewa, is the difference in this series right now, and that is tough to swallow.

The problem is that game is the only one that they actually deserved to win. In the previous 3 games, they had only outplayed the Sens in 1 period, and ended up winning game 2 because of that.

I like rooting for the Sens because they are actually amazing to watch. The amount of skill & speed they have is unbelievable, watch some of their breakouts and you'll see what I'm talking about. The pens have a ton of speed too and are pretty fun to watch.

For the first time in a while, the Eastern conference actually looks faster than the Western conference. The pens/sens, buffalo, lightning all awesome teams to watch right now. Anaheim/Wild & Sharks/preds are pretty good, but the Canucks/star/flames/detroit series almost look slow motion compared to the other series.

[axebiker]

Also,they replaced Matt Cooke (out with an injury)

GOOD! I hate that prick!! But he does do his job well -- he's a master of the "cheap shot behind the play". I'd love to see the Wild in the playoffs with Vancouver again. But we gotta get past the Ducks first, and that will be monumental in and of itself...

Tonight's game in Anaheim could be a bloodbath early on - there's a few scores to be settled from Tuesday. Kim Johnsson isn't making the trip (head injury from the blindside punch on Tuesday) - thanks May!! I predict 5 majors for fighting in the first period. Considering the "fine officiating" on Tuesday, tonight's crew will earn their money.

[skier0178]

The problem is that game is the only one that they actually deserved to win. In the previous 3 games, they had only outplayed the Sens in 1 period, and ended up winning game 2 because of that.

I like rooting for the Sens because they are actually amazing to watch. The amount of skill & speed they have is unbelievable, watch some of their breakouts and you'll see what I'm talking about. The pens have a ton of speed too and are pretty fun to watch.

Summarizes my feelings exactly. I'll be watching the Sens wrap it up in style tonight!

[nesta]

I'd love to see the Wild in the playoffs with Vancouver again. But we gotta get past the Ducks first, and that will be monumental in and of itself...

Oh, so would I! Nothing like sweet revenge for that last series where the Canucks were up 3-1 in games and had a complete meltdown. Completely different cast of characters though this time- especially having Luongo between the pipes. Wild scored copiously last time- that would not happen with Roberto in there. Canucks are now the masters of the one-goal game- something that could prove to be very important in these Stanley Cup play-offs.
But... like you said they have to get past the Ducks first! Don't think that's going to happen unless Anaheim has that same meltdown.

On another note, as much as I hate the Flames, they're still a Canadian team, and I hope they can tie it up tonight. Calgary's usually best at home, and it's do or die tonight for them, so things are looking good. Cleary had better keep his head up when Phaneuf and him are on the ice at the same time!!

[road trip]

That whole line is giving the stars all kinds of hell in the offensive zone. They are very tenacious on the forecheck and unfortunately for us have generated some good scoring chances.

Dude, want to watch a line that is impossible to contain? Watch the Lecavalier and St. Louis run rampant over the Devils.

That said, Parise has 6 goals in 4 games... can I get a 'hell ya?'

[PaSucks]

The problem is that game is the only one that they actually deserved to win. In the previous 3 games, they had only outplayed the Sens in 1 period, and ended up winning game 2 because of that.

The Pens have won games all year only playing a period or two. Obviously that doesn't work in the playoffs.

I like rooting for the Sens because they are actually amazing to watch. The amount of skill & speed they have is unbelievable, watch some of their breakouts and you'll see what I'm talking about. The pens have a ton of speed too and are pretty fun to watch.

The Sens are faster in their third and fourth lines and their 4-6 dmen. Joe Melichar and Rob Scuderi do not belong in the NHL as more than a seventh d-man. Scuderi can at least kill penalties, but Melichar is beyond useless. Regardless of what happens in this series, and I am not giving up hope, the Pens have to improve thier blue line tremendously, and I don't know that they can do it. I haven't looked at any UFA lists, but in-house the Pens traded their only defensive prospect in the AHL for Roberts and they have two highly touted but unproven guys in college/junior. They better hope one of them pans out and is ready for next season.