Official NHL thread?

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Originally Posted by Nabby

The wings dropped Osgood in net hoping for something but yet again the goaltending bug has hit them. It seems that every year the mantra in Detriot is "please let our goaltending me decent." Hasek is good but past his prime and Osgood has been on a bit of a downward spiral since the all-star game.

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Yea. I'm not sold on either. But I think that Detroit is so good that their goaltending (or lack thereof) isn't apparent until they meet a team as talented. I am STUNNED that Nashville has made it a series. That was the one series where I thought a sweep *may* occur.

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I'm anxious to watch the Sharks play tonight. I'm fully expecting a hard hitting game; Calgary going after Joe/Patty/Cheechoo off the get go of course. We need a good fight in this series.

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Oh yes... brutally physical it will be! I can't wait!

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Did anyone catch Cheechoo's goal with less then 5 Minutes left? That was crazy, almost down by the goal line. Like Ron Wilson said "That's a goal scorers goal."

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I have always held Cheechoo in the highest regard. The guy is a pure sniper. Maybe one of the most accurate shots in the game today. He only had a few inches, and that's all that he needed.

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As for the Anahiem/Dallas series. I'm enjoying it so far, This bounce back by Anahiem had to be expected. You don't become Stanley Cup champs and then fold over in 4 games in the first round. Especially when you bring back Teemu Selanne and Scott Niedermayer, and you have Pronger already on that Blueline. Pronger being one of the best Defensemen in the league

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I agree completely.

Even when Anaheim went down 2-0... I didn't see the need to panic. But I do think that Anaheim was sleepwalking through the first two games.

On paper, Anaheim is a MUCH better team. I fully expect them to at least make a series out of it.

Their defensive corp is ridiculous. Maybe one of the best ever assembled. When you have two future HOF defencemen... both still very much on the top of their games... and then the second and third pairings have Beauceamien (sp?), Schnieder, O'Donnell, and Marc Andre Bergeron (if he's even playing... he's a talent)... then that is just crazy.

And their forwards and goalies aren't chopped liver either...

Heck yea go Avalanche all the way baby!

Flyers finally win game 4 in 2OT, I think I had about three heart attacks. Kimmo Timonen deserves recognition as an elite d-man; all he's done is make Ovechkin look completely regular over the course of the series. I had no idea he'd bring this level of shutdown capability. And PAY JEFF CARTER NOW! That guy is going to be an offer sheet target like nobody's business.

Looks like Cheechoo is starting to heat up for SJ, which will be vital to their success over the haul. Has Michalek been playing hurt or something?

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Originally Posted by r'aggro

Flyers finally win game 4 in 2OT, I think I had about three heart attacks. Kimmo Timonen deserves recognition as an elite d-man; all he's done is make Ovechkin look completely regular over the course of the series. I had no idea he'd bring this level of shutdown capability. And PAY JEFF CARTER NOW! That guy is going to be an offer sheet target like nobody's business.

Looks like Cheechoo is starting to heat up for SJ, which will be vital to their success over the haul. Has Michalek been playing hurt or something?

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Cheechoo with 2 goals and Michalek just hadn't shown up in the series until last night. Good lord has Ron juggled his lines; it's been nutty the last few games. I think it's brilliant because then Calgary has a hard time with match ups due to this. He's dropped Cheechoo/Setoguchi/Clowe together at times and they tied game 4. I also think that bringing in Setoguchi and getting Ehrhoff back have been crucial to our success.

Look out NHL, the big boys in SJ are getting their engines going :D. I honestly think that when the Sharks play to their potential, they're right p there with Detriot in skill and talent. *cough* except with better goaltending *cough*

Hands down Patrick Marleau has been the best overall Shark in this series. There is no question in my mind. Not bad for a guy that was on a number of trade rumors before the trade deadline... He is so clutch when it comes to playoffs. As a matter of fact since the lockout Iginla and Marleau are 1 and 2 in goals scored in the postseason. Last season he had two hat tricks in the first round.

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Originally Posted by Nabby

Look out NHL, the big boys in SJ are getting their engines going :D. I honestly think that when the Sharks play to their potential, they're right p there with Detriot in skill and talent. *cough* except with better goaltending *cough*

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We'll see, but this may be the year that SJ sheds it's reputation for folding in the playoffs. They are doing pretty well against who I think is a VERY tough team to play against.

And I do think that their talent is right up there with Detriots.... in fact, maybe even better. I have thought that they have been a VERY talented team the past few years... just that they lacked the chemistry, the desire, or SOMETHING to take them to the next level.

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Originally Posted by Spank_Me_Hard

We'll see, but this may be the year that SJ sheds it's reputation for folding in the playoffs. They are doing pretty well against who I think is a VERY tough team to play against.

And I do think that their talent is right up there with Detriots.... in fact, maybe even better. I have thought that they have been a VERY talented team the past few years... just that they lacked the chemistry, the desire, or SOMETHING to take them to the next level.

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We got smoked in Game 6. I just want to know why Ron changed up the lines when they were working so well in the previous two games. The Iginla line was doing damage last night skating circles around Campbell. That's the matchup that the flames want and need.

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Originally Posted by Nabby

We got smoked in Game 6. I just want to know why Ron changed up the lines when they were working so well in the previous two games. The Iginla line was doing damage last night skating circles around Campbell. That's the matchup that the flames want and need.

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When Campbell was playing in juniors, the scouting report on him was that he was and offensive talent, but was *very* small... there was a lot of uncertainty how he'd handle the NHL level physically.

I know that he's an All Star defenceman... but I don't know if he's somewhat of a liability defensively (like Phil Housley was... offensive D-man wizard but weak in his own end). I haven't had enough exposure to his game on the NHL level, so I don't honestly know... but I have to wonder.

Against a physical line like Iginla's... Campbell may not be a good matchup.

I took the Flames to win the series but it's anyone's game at this point. Though I do feel that since it's coming back to San Jose they have to have the advantage.

And I am surprised that the Ducks folder so easily to who I consider to ber a much inferior team. They basically look like they were sleeping the first two games and spotted Dallas a two game lead right out of the gates.

I really don't like Anaheim (though I absolutely LOATHE Dallas) so it doesn't hurt me at all that they got knocked out. The biggest reason I wanted Anaheim to win the Cup again was to rub it in all my friends faces here who are all Kings fans. I take pleasures from the simple things in life... LOL!

At this point, from the West... I'd only like to see San Jose or Calgary in the Finals. The rest of the teams in the West I dislike/hate.

I hate Game 7's when it's my team teetering on the brink of elimination. The Capitals have shown plenty of fire to climb back into this series, so good luck to them if they beat Philly tonight. I plan to keep watching no matter which teams are still in it.

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Originally Posted by r'aggro

I hate Game 7's when it's my team teetering on the brink of elimination. The Capitals have shown plenty of fire to climb back into this series, so good luck to them if they beat Philly tonight. I plan to keep watching no matter which teams are still in it.

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This is the type of series that you love and hate (you feel the pressure with almost every rush) as a fan of one of the teams. The games are almost all very tight, exciting and what makes playoff hockey great, especially with the older rivalries. I remember the Dale Hunter game. I also remember losing in 4OT, game 7 to the Islanders.

At the beginning of the playoffs I took Washington to win this series. Now though I think that Philly will win this series tomorrow night.

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Originally Posted by herbtv2

This is the type of series that you love and hate (you feel the pressure with almost every rush) as a fan of one of the teams. The games are almost all very tight, exciting and what makes playoff hockey great, especially with the older rivalries. I remember the Dale Hunter game. I also remember losing in 4OT, game 7 to the Islanders.

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Ain't that the truth!

With a good game, you can cut the tension with a knife! It's crazy!

Dale Hunter against the Islanders? When Pierre Turgeon scored the game winning goal, had his hands up in the air in celebration and Hunter blindsided him?

That was the year that the Canadiens went on to win the Cup ('93 I think?). I remember it well as my best friend is a Habs fan and I was cheering for the Islanders that year. Turgeon was the heart and soul of the team... and going on to play the Canadiens without him was the death knell.

Eh. The Dale Hunter gwg is probably the biggest knife-in-the-heart moment in the history of Flyer fans.

The Dale Hunter game was an overtime goal against the Flyers in game 7 to win - good memory.

The Islanders game was a game 7 that went to 4 overtimes and I think Pat LaFontaine scored the game winner for the Islanders - bad memory.

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Originally Posted by herbtv2

The Dale Hunter game was an overtime goal against the Flyers in game 7 to win - good memory.

The Islanders game was a game 7 that went to 4 overtimes and I think Pat LaFontaine scored the game winner for the Islanders - bad memory.

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My memory is foggy... but I think there were two massive game 7 OTs where the Islanders beat the Caps.

One was the Pat LaFontaine one. I remember because I watched thegame go into OT... went and saw a movie... came back and watched the end of the game. I was stunned that it was still going. Both teams looked like they were skating in molasses in the end.

The other one was Pierre Turgeon getting the winning goal and getting ambushed by Hunter.

Hunter ambushing Turgeon...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xte-Vtxg-m8