36 replies to this topic

[Dark Knight]

Please post your thoughts, pictures and comments on tonight's games in this thread.

NYR at Pittsburgh
Dallas at SJS

[Duck304]

Go Pit!

And Go.... Sharks?

[GLOVESAVE35]

And Go.... Sharks?

(lvsprt--don't look!)

[Dark Knight]

(lvsprt--don't look!)

As I said I don't root for any team, but I'll root against some teams. SJS is one of them Another one of those premature coronation things.

[GLOVESAVE35]

As I said I don't root for any team, but I'll root against some teams. SJS is one of them Another one of those premature coronation things.

Were the Ducks "one of those premature coronation things?" And if so, how are they different than the other teams?


NOTE: Just so you know DK, I haven't rooted for any non-Ducks teams just because they're the popular pick. I do so for my own reasons (even though you seem to disapprove .)

[Dark Knight]

Were the Ducks "one of those premature coronation things?" And if so, how are they different than the other teams?

Nope. They're my team. I expect them to win every season

I don't care which team you or anyone else root for. That's your prerogative. I neither approve nor disapprove.

[GLOVESAVE35]

Nope. They're my team. I expect them to win every season

EVERY season? Or every season since, oh 2006 or thereabouts?

[Dark Knight]

EVERY season? Or every season since, oh 2006 or thereabouts?

Since 2003, but definitely since Burke took over. But even during the lean 90s I expected the Ducks to at least be competitive and make the playoffs. When the media picked the Ducks to be the favorites last season, I cringed.

[GLOVESAVE35]

I neither approve nor disapprove.

Your words say that, but your tone says a bit differently. You have strong opinions and that certainly comes across.

[Dark Knight]

Your words say that, but your tone says a bit differently. You have strong opinions and that certainly comes across.

You can choose to believe what you will. Either the words you read, or the tone you can't read. Regardless, even if I approved or disapproved that should be irrelevant as you don't either from me.

[Still MIGHTY]

Go
Go

[GLOVESAVE35]

Regardless, even if I approved or disapproved that should be irrelevant as you don't neither either from me.

The reason I'm replying to your line of thinking is because you've already previously stated your point of view regarding rooting for other teams. I jokingly asked lvsprt not to look because of our ongoing conversation regarding SJ/Dallas. It's just that your repeated direct replies to me SEEM like disapproval (whether they are or not).

NOTE: Didn't mean to hijack this thread. Please continue with our regularly scheduled talk about the teams playing today.

[lvsprt]

Hmmmm how about we talk about how much we dislike Sean Avery. (oh there's a thread for that too)

Go Hockey!

[DropThePuck]

TSN's Ice Chips:

Bobby Allen will likely have surgery to repair the disc damage that triggered the four separate episodes of back spasms, plus nerve pain that at times spread down his legs. From the first sign of trouble in October, to the playoffs, Allen worked hard to come back. "It's just tough when you're trying to battle through the season and you don't have enough time to rest," he said. - Boston Herald

Flames defenceman Dion Phaneuf has declined an invitation to play for Canada at the upcoming World Championship stating he would rather rest up from the Flames first round loss to the Sharks - Calgary Sun

GM Jim Rutherford says he hasn't made a decision on the future of coach Peter Laviolette. "Everything's the same as it's been." - Raleigh News Observer

"It's a good thing we've got a couple days off right now, because we need to regroup," said Avs captain Joe Sakic, after the Game 2 loss the Wings. "We need to figure out how we're going to come back and play better."
The Avs again played without forward Peter Forsberg, who decided to sit out with an announced groin injury after taking the pregame skate. The Avs also had to do without minute-eating defenseman Scott Hannan.
Self-doubt might again be roaming around in Jose Theodore's head. Judging from his inability to keep the Avalanche in Games 1 and 2 against the Detroit Red Wings at Joe Louis Arena - and being yanked in each - Theodore could again be wrestling with his demons. In Game 2 against the Red Wings on Saturday, Theodore allowed four goals, just as in Game 1, before being pulled in favor of backup Peter Budaj. In Game 1, Theodore suffered from flu-like symptoms. After the Avs' 5-1 shelling Saturday, Theodore said he felt fine - at least physically. "I was OK to go," he said after allowing four goals on 20 shots. - Denver Post

Joel Quenneville strongly suggested that he isn't ready to start Peter Budaj when the series resumes Tuesday night at the Pepsi Center. "We'll talk about everything, but Jose's been our guy," Quenneville said. "Coming off what he went through is not easy. I thought 'Boods' did a real nice job in relief again, but Jose's the one who brought us here." - Rocky Mountain News

In a 45-minute practice Saturday afternoon, Sergei Zubov looked pretty much like Zubov. In other words, he looked like the smoothest skater and puck-mover on the ice. Afterward, he sounded confident for the first time, although he insists it will be a game-time decision whether he plays in Game 2 on Sunday. "Things are good," he said. "It's not there yet. It's better." Zubov said it will be a collective decision, although head coach Dave Tippett said he simply needs to hear from Zubov that he's ready to go. "We'll find a spot for him," Tippett said. - Dallas Morning News

Brad Stuart will be back in the lineup this on Sunday for Game 2. He missed Game 1 to be in San Jose with his wife, who gave birth Wednesday.
Johan Franzen has been the early star against the Avs with five goals in two games, including the Wings' first playoff hat trick since Darren McCarty did it six years ago against the same Avs in the Western Conference finals. - Detroit Free Press

Patrice Brisebois, who was a late scratch in Game 2 with a leg injury, will not travel with the team to Philadelphia on Sunday, but might join the team later. He remains in Montreal and will be getting more tests done on his injured leg on Monday.
The Habs held an optional skate Sunday with only 12 players taking to the ice, including the taxi squad. The only regulars who skated were Maxim Lapierre, Mathieu Dandenault and Ryan O'Byrne. - TSN

Nashville Predators coach Barry Trotz has expectations that the team’s new ownership group headed by David Freeman will allow the team to once again pursue some high-powered talent to help win a Stanley Cup. - Nashville City Paper

The Rangers' second-period woes have become troubling this season, highlighted Friday night when they wasted a three-goal lead against the Penguins in the opener of their second-round playoff series and lost, 5-4. The statistics bear out the trend. In the regular season, the Rangers scored fewer goals in the second period than in any other, and they gave up more goals than in any other period. They also shot less and allowed more shots. - New York Times

Head coach Tom Renney implied that Petr Prucha would make his first appearance of the playoffs here on Sunday in Game 2 against the Penguins, and though the coach did not say whom he would replace, it's likely Colton Orr will be the healthy scratch after getting 5:48 of ice in his first tournament game on Friday. - New York Post

The Rangers recalled 10 players from Hartford (AHL) Friday, including goalie David LeNeveu, defensemen Andrew Hutchinson, Corey Potter and Bobby Sanguinetti, and forwards Artem Anisimov, Dane Byers, Brodie Dupont, Lauri Korpikoski, Greg Moore and P.A. Parenteau. - Star Ledger

Flyers defenceman Jaroslav Modry will return to the Czech Republic on Saturday to attend the burial of his father, Jaroslav Sr., who died after a seven-month battle with colon cancer. - The Canadian Press

Penguins superstar Sidney Crosby is determined not to let Rangers' superpest Sean Avery get under his skin with his antics and trash talking. "He's not going to change what I do," Crosby said.
Penguins coach Michel Therrien warned that if Avery targets Crosby, that the Rangers' stars would have to deal with similar tactics from the Penguins. - Bergen Record

Though Sergei Gonchar and Brooks Orpik remained the top defense tandem, Therrien opted Friday to play Hal Gill with Rob Scuderi and Kris Letang with Ryan Whitney. In the opening round against Ottawa, Whitney partnered with Scuderi and Gill with Letang. The Penguins allowed only five goals in that series and limited the Senators to an average of 28 shots.
Pens' Gary Roberts practiced again with the team Saturday, but he is still listed as day-to-day with a sore groin. Roberts' status for Game 2 is uncertain. - Tribune Review

Kyle McLaren missed his third playoff game (in Game 1) with what the team has described as both a groin and lower body injury. - Mercury News

[Dark Knight]

Wow... can Crosby's diving be any more obvious ? And the NBC commentators bending themselves into pretzels trying to excuse him

[Still MIGHTY]

Wow... can Crosby's diving be any more obvious ? And the NBC commentators bending themselves into pretzels trying to excuse him

What? Our precious little Sidney could do no such thing! He's a perfect angel!

[Still MIGHTY]

Jordan Staal pokes the puck into the net on the power play
0 - 1 6:05 left in 3rd

[Still MIGHTY]

Pittsburgh hits the empty net
0 - 2 16.7 secs left in 3rd

Pens win 2-0, lead series 2-0

And Avery hits Fleury in the leg with the stick, Fleury taps him in the leg with the stick, and then fisticuffs ensue

[DropThePuck]

0
2 - Staal, J. (PPG, 13:55 in 2nd), Hall, A. (19:43 in 3rd)

Staal's game-winner no doubt delighted parents Linda and Henry Staal on their sod farm in Thunder Bay, Ontario, but also disappointed them. The Staals' parents decided not to attend the series because they knew one son would be disappointed when it ended.

Older brother Eric Staal of Carolina, a Stanley Cup winner two years ago, cut an NHL commercial in which he jokingly said the playoffs determine which son the Staals like best.

"That's a good question," Jordan Staal said, smiling. "I know they're cheering for a good game. This is tough for them, we know that, but it's part of the game."

<NHL.com recap>



New York Rangers' Jaromir Jagr (68) of the Czech Republic yells at Pittsburgh Penguins Sidney Crosby (87) as they are separated by linesman Brian Murphy in first period NHL playoff hockey action in Pittsburgh Sunday, April 27, 2008.
(AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)


Pittsburgh Penguins' Jordan Staal (11) flips the puck over New York Rangers goalie Henrik Lundquist, of Sweden, during second-period NHL playoff hockey action in Pittsburgh, Sunday, April 27, 2008.
(AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)


Goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury #29 of the Pittsburgh Penguins looks for the puck underneath him as Sergei Gonchar #55 of the Penguins defends against Martin Straka #82 of the New York Rangers and Brandon Dubinsky #17 of the Rangers looks on during game two of the Eastern Conference Semifinals of the 2008 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs on April 27, 2008 at Mellon Arena in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The Rangers thought they tied the game with a power play goal on this play, but the referee ruled that Fleury had iced the puck and the whistle was blown preserving the lead for the Penguins. Fleury had the shutout in a 2-0 win over the Rangers.
(Photo by Jamie Sabau/Getty Images)


Sean Avery #16 of the New York Rangers has words with goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury #29 of the Pittsburgh Penguins as Hal Gill #2 of the Penguins holds Avery back after the end of regulation of Game Two of the Eastern Conference Semifinals of the 2008 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs on April 27, 2008 at Mellon Arena in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
(Photo by Jamie Sabau/Getty Images)

[DropThePuck]

No East coast bias here ... or perhaps they think everybody not normally interested in this match up goes to bed before 9 p.m. EDT.


{click on larger image of current NHL.com home page}

Wilson claimed the Sharks' ability to harass Turco is hampered by the goalie's willingness to fall down at any provocation in hopes of drawing a penalty. Defenseman Craig Rivet got hit with a goalie-interference penalty in the first period that left Wilson laughing, but he's serious about getting more physical play from his team.

"We've got to make Mike Modano's life a little bit more miserable, too," Wilson said. "Because he seems to love playing here, and we never got a hand on him."

<NHL.com preview>

[Dark Knight]

Wow... that really puts it in perspective. Let's hope some of the journalists being paid to cover the game can find it on their hearts to watch a WC game now and then

[Dark Knight]

Yikes... the Dallas at SJS game being played at warp speed. SJS got a handful of chances on a number of back to back penalties, but Turco's standing on his head. SJS scored one one of the PPs, but Dallas tied. Late in the first 1-1.

[Still MIGHTY]

Dallas has been running around in their defensive zone for the first 6:25 of the 2nd.
1 - 1 13:35 left in 2nd

[Still MIGHTY]

Turco being Turco flops around for the call and knocks the net off in the process

[Still MIGHTY]

Michalek slashes in and grabs the puck on a break and puts it into the open net as Turco tried to get to the puck
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