Official NHL thread?

[Snakespy]

Damn, what a game. Great hockey.

[[PinPals]Apu]

Cant believe USA blew it. Never seen so many shots from beyond the blue line in my life, and its the freakin gold medal game.

[Spank_Me_Hard]

Miller was the only reason why the US was in it. Goaltending is so important, and Miller proved it.

[r'aggro]

The whole team has been great, not just Miller. Canada got the bounces today and that all there is. No statistical domination whatsoever and OT proves that it was anyone's game.

Figures that crosby scored it. I hope all the USA fans in Pittsburgh are effing happy.

[JDC]

So...how bout them Playoffs.

[Spank_Me_Hard]

So...how bout them Playoffs.

Was meaning to comment on this before they started.

Here were my predictions before it started. And even after the first games have started, they remain true:

SJ-Col = SJ. This is the year that they *may* not choke IMO.
Chi-Nash = Chi. I think that you have to lose before you learn how to win oftentimes. Last year was Chi's lesson in losing I think. Them and SJ are my favs to go the furthest.
Van-LA = Van. IMO, this will be the toughest series. I think both teams are very good. I *think* that Van will win on the account of superior goaltending. But only by a hair. Would not be surprised in the least to see the Kings win tho.
Det-Pho = Det. As much as I hate Det, I think that Pho is overated. Pho played very well in the regular season but I just don't think that they have the talent to compete now that everybody is playing just as hard. I hope that I'm wrong. I feel that despite the regular season, that Det will be able to turn it up a lot.

Wash-Mon = Wash. My fav to win it all this year. Just too much firepower. Once again, the "you have to learn to lose to win". I think that they learned that last year.
NJ-Phil = Phil. I think that Philly is a far more talented team than their record indicated. Now that it's do or die, we'll see if I'm right.
Buff-Boston = Buff. I like Buff. A very underated team the last few years IMO. Boston simply doesn't have enough scoring to compete IMO.
Pitt-Ott = Pitt. Simply too talented not to compete for the Cup again. And one year removed from a disasterous year, I'm not convinced yet that Ott is "fixed".

Some AWESOME games! Have NHL Center Ice so I'll get to see everything! Saw Leopold get knocked the f'k out!

[Snakespy]

That CO/SJ game was nuts on Friday. Such a fun game to watch! I think that was the game to decide the series and now SJ will win for sure in that series. Wish I could say more about the other teams but haven't had time to watch at all

[JDC]

Um..bump?!?!

Finally Sharks get past Detroit. Still going to be tough to go thru either the Blackhawks or Canucks, but hopefully the top two lines can keep up their play and carry the team to the finals.

Haven't really followed the other series, but can the Habs keeping playing game 7's and advance? I would think it has to start to take its toll.

[Area51]

Um..bump?!?!

Finally Sharks get past Detroit. Still going to be tough to go thru either the Blackhawks or Canucks, but hopefully the top two lines can keep up their play and carry the team to the finals.

Haven't really followed the other series, but can the Habs keeping playing game 7's and advance? I would think it has to start to take its toll.

Blackhawks fan here, and I can definitely say the Sharks won't have too tough of a time getting through them, if they even beat out Vancouver. Chicago has an amazing young team, but they are not consistent, which usually starts with their terrible goaltenders.

[Spank_Me_Hard]

A few shockers for me.

Was STUNNED, as was pretty much everybody else that the Habs beat the Caps. That was one series which I didn't even think was going to be close... Caps in 4 straight or *maybe* five.

And as much as I was stunned by them beating the Caps, I am equally stunned that they are taking the Pens to seven games now. Game seven... anything can happen now.

Montreal is a Cinderella team... but they may just be for real. Top notch goaltending and timely scoring by the likes of Camalleri. My Kings friends are DYING right now... LOL!

If the Habs can beat the Pens, I think that they will also beat the team that emerges between Boston and Philly.

Speaking of shocks... I was shocked when Boston beat Buffalo and am surprised that they had been beating Philly. Philly may now end up making a series out of it afterall. In fact, this may be one of the only times in history when a team has come back from being down 3-0. I think that it can happen. In fact, I think that it will happen.

Boston was the lowest scoring team in the league last year. But somehow, they have found a second wind in the playoffs. Miro Satan has been a SHOCK! And their goaltending has been crazy... outside of Montreal, the best in the playoffs thus far.

Finally Sharks get past Detroit. Still going to be tough to go thru either the Blackhawks or Canucks, but hopefully the top two lines can keep up their play and carry the team to the finals.

This has (thus far) made my suspicions right that this may be the Sharks year. They made it past the first round and beat their nemesis in pretty convincing fashion.

Joe Thornton seems to be playing with an edge of nastiness which I haven't seen from him in years past. No more "Mr. Nice Guy" out there anymore. I like that. Pavelski has been a GEM. SJ's second line has carried them further than their first line thus far.

One thing that scares me about SJ... Nabokov. He just plain doesn't look very good. He looks shakey to me. As in with any given game that he can blow it for them. He's the weak link in the team IMO.

Blackhawks fan here, and I can definitely say the Sharks won't have too tough of a time getting through them, if they even beat out Vancouver. Chicago has an amazing young team, but they are not consistent, which usually starts with their terrible goaltenders.

I agree.

I don't know who will win this series. I LOL'ed when the 'Nucks beat them the first game and everybody was acting like they would roll over the Hawks for the rest of the series. Anything but.

It seems to me that the Hawks do the best when they get traffic in front of Luongo. Especially Big Buff. But for whatever reason, they don't seem to do this consistently. I do think that Luongo is the far superior goalie. With the capacity to steal a game or two.

The thing that I notice about the Hawks is that they are young and immature. They will play lax and let the other team jump out to a 3 goal lead before taking the game seriously and hitting their high gear. They have shown an ability to overcome those defeceits and come back and win those games. However, I think that this lulls them into a false sense of security that they can do it anytime. Not all teams will allow them to come back... specifically, I'm thinking about the way that Detroit used to play. Get the lead, and then "game over". Chicago needs to learn that they can't always spot the other team a three goal lead.

I am starting to think that Chicago needs to lose a painful series again before they will learn to win. I had thought that they learned that lesson last year with Detroit, but am thinking not now. Many of the great teams in the past had to lose painfully before they learned how to win.

SJ may now have that. And I don't think that Chicago has. If they even make it past Vancouver.

[r'aggro]

I can't help but be happy for SJ fans, they've had to put up with the "playoff chokers" label for years now. The Kings are my favorite Western team but I don't hate SJ.

I like this Chicago team too, although they may still be a bit too young and shifty to go any farther. It also rubs me wrong when teams tank for high picks, though Chi stopped well short of doing that as wantonly as the Pens did.

The Flyers are streaky too, I'm glad they're putting up a fight after being totally out of their groove those first three games. Those were all close games, the Bruins just kept finding ways to win. The series is still Bostons to win or lose in my mind.

I'm loving this run the Habs are putting together. I've never pulled for them before, but I'm in awe of Halak and hope they put Pittsburgh away tonight! They played Philly tough during the regular season too, there's a real chance they could win it all.

[Spank_Me_Hard]

Been an awesome playoffs thus far!

Looking forward to tonight's game.

Pronger vs. Big Buff has been the classic matchup that I have anticipated.

[dyne]

The problem I have with game one is that neither team played like they usually do. It's as if the league wanted a high scoring game one for ratings. There were also so many non-calls for the Hawks and a lot of times the refs were setting picks. It's bad when even the commentators make mention of it.

I hope they win. If I can have just one of my sports teams win a championship in my lifetime I'll be happy (my Seahawks almost made this a reality).

[Snakespy]

The problem I have with game one is that neither team played like they usually do. It's as if the league wanted a high scoring game one for ratings.

The ice was bad. You could tell how the puck wasn't acting like usual and the players looked a little off. Happens this time of year especially when it's hot outside.

[r'aggro]

For me, the whole post season has been a heart attack waiting to happen but especially now. The games have been great though, and I read that ratings are up like 80% over last year. Good for the league.

Officiating hasn't been too bad really; not enough to influence the outcome of the games and that's the most important thing. Was a little miffed when Keith about chopped Briere's face open with a high stick and didn't even take a penalty.