NHL Playoffs: Round 1 Discussion Thread

**skyguy52** · 04-25-2012, 10:28 PM

my opinion, Bruins deserved to win but lose on a flukey play. Good job caps but you guys were outplayed on this one.

**Mr.TaterSalad** · 04-25-2012, 10:31 PM

Braden Holtby by the way has been doing his best Pekka Rinne impressions. Rinne has a good game and then Holtby goes out and stands on his head too. I think this kid could be a real solid goaltender for a long time.

**skyguy52** · 04-25-2012, 10:32 PM

Originally Posted by Shinma

The Caps were a 7 seed I think.

ya. brain lapse again. Havin lots of those lately. Better change to hard stuff I guess.

**lordstanley** · 04-25-2012, 10:33 PM

Joel Ward. Biggest NHL goal by a black man (we don't really use the term African-Canadian) ever?

**lordstanley** · 04-25-2012, 10:34 PM

Originally Posted by Mr.TaterSalad

Braden Holtby by the way has been doing his best Pekka Rinne impressions. Rinne has a good game and then Holtby goes out and stands on his head too. I think this kid could be a real solid goaltender for a long time.

That's why I think the Canucks fans are overrating the market value for Cory Schneider and what they're likely to get for him. There are many good young goalies. There are other goalies who are good in the right system. There are other bad systems (think the Leafs) that are goalie graveyards.

**Mr.TaterSalad** · 04-25-2012, 10:35 PM

Originally Posted by lordstanley

Joel Ward. Biggest NHL goal by a black man (we don't really use the term African-Canadian) ever?

I believe Grant Fuhr once scored on himself, might that be a bigger goal haha?

**lordstanley** · 04-25-2012, 10:38 PM

On New Year's Day, at the All-Star Break, or heck, even 2 weeks ago, I give you 2 baskets of teams:

Basket 1

Boston
Vancouver
Detroit
Pittsburgh
Chicago
San Jose

Basket 2

St. Louis
Phoenix
Nashville
Los Angeles
Washington
Philadelphia

I tell you one basket has teams that all make Round 2, the other basket has teams that are all out by the end of Round 1. Bet 95% or more of people would have taken Basket 1 as the one with the advancing teams.

**skyguy52** · 04-25-2012, 10:39 PM

Caps, Joel Ward gets series winner. guy with least minutes played this game. good stuff there.

**skyguy52** · 04-25-2012, 10:41 PM

Originally Posted by lordstanley

On New Year's Day, at the All-Star Break, or heck, even 2 weeks ago, I give you 2 baskets of teams:

Basket 1

Boston
Vancouver
Detroit
Pittsburgh
Chicago
San Jose

Basket 2

St. Louis
Phoenix
Nashville
Los Angeles
Washington
Philadelphia

I tell you one basket has teams that all make Round 2, the other basket has teams that are all out by the end of Round 1. Bet 95% or more of people would have taken Basket 1 as the one with the advancing teams.

Yep good one. But I still had Phil and LA in there, Washington was a toss up. So were Nashville and Phoenix.

that's just me though.

Addendum: This league has changed. Red Wings do you hear that?

**lordstanley** · 04-25-2012, 10:46 PM

Maybe one of the best threads in the history of the Internet. From the thread title, to the original post, to the first reply, to the bumps in the past 15 minutes. LOLOLOL.

Joel Ward in the playoffs. WTF? - HFBoards

**lordstanley** · 04-25-2012, 10:48 PM

Originally Posted by skyguy52

Addendum: This league has changed. Red Wings do you hear that?

Yes, but maybe not for the better. This isn't sour grapes. But hard-nosed suffocating D is great to watch in the NFL, not so much in the NHL ...

**Mr.TaterSalad** · 04-25-2012, 10:51 PM

Originally Posted by lordstanley

Yes, but maybe not for the better. This isn't sour grapes. But hard-nosed suffocating D is great to watch in the NFL, not so much in the NHL ...

Not a fan of the 1994 New Jersey Devils style I see! Me neither!

**skyguy52** · 04-25-2012, 10:58 PM

Originally Posted by lordstanley

Yes, but maybe not for the better. This isn't sour grapes. But hard-nosed suffocating D is great to watch in the NFL, not so much in the NHL ...

I don't mind it. Sort of equals things out. They gotta work harder for it.

**lordstanley** · 04-25-2012, 10:59 PM

Originally Posted by Mr.TaterSalad

Not a fan of the 1994 New Jersey Devils style I see! Me neither!

Worse thing that ever happened to the league, IMO. Took a decade and a lockout to recover. Set back the league even more than the Broad St Bullies I feel, as the Philly style of the mid 70s spread to a couple of teams but the Devils style spread to damn near most of the league. If only the Wings had defeated the Devils in '95 - the Devils win was a turning point that ushered in the dead puck era.

**lordstanley** · 04-25-2012, 11:01 PM

So if that was Tomas Holmstrom in Tim Thomas' face on the winning goal, would the goal have stood or would have Homer been sent to the penalty box?!

**Mr.TaterSalad** · 04-25-2012, 11:03 PM

I personally don't mind a hard fought defensive battle, nor a great goaltender battle. What I hate is when one team forces you to dump the puck in and then they just collapse around the net and hardly ever try to make even man rushes or long plays in their zone. Rather, they just look to capitalize on errant passes, ones that go pass the blueline and can't stay in zone, etc. and then create scoring opportunities out of that. I also don't like teams that consistently box in guys, pick the puck and score. Some of that style is fair game in hockey no doubt, but when it is your entire strategy night in and night out, ZZZZZzzzzzzzzzzz...It gets old quick!

**Mr.TaterSalad** · 04-25-2012, 11:13 PM

Originally Posted by lordstanley

So if that was Tomas Holmstrom in Tim Thomas' face on the winning goal, would the goal have stood or would have Homer been sent to the penalty box?!

Most likely he'd get his two minute time out.

**skyguy52** · 04-25-2012, 11:26 PM

3-2, 2-1 in the playoffs is typical. What wasn't typical was 10-3, 8-4 in the Phil - Pitt series.

Play off hockey has been defense, goal tending, and goals from unlikely sources. I like it that way.

Its also about teams winning with depth and grit.

jz · 04-26-2012, 03:03 AM

There were 10 teams with 100 or more points this season. So far, 5 of those have been eliminated and 2 more are facing a game 7 on Thursday. Crazy playoffs so far.

**skyguy52** · 04-26-2012, 02:42 PM

The parity in the league is such that a 100 pts in regular season doesn't mean all that much, except for positioning in the playoffs. What matters more is depth, defense, scoring and goal tending. If any of those factors are missing forget what happened during the regular season because the playoffs are totally different animal.

**Lousluggage** · 04-26-2012, 03:16 PM

Well, congrats to DC. At least it was an entertaining series.

I kind of like that there will be a new champion for some reason, even though I'm not sure I care who it is right now.

**skyguy52** · 04-26-2012, 09:37 PM

And another one bites the dust. The Rangers fight off a valiant effort by the Senators to tie the game in the final minutes and send it OT. Whew. Rangers and their fans got to saying to themselves what a relief to have this one in the books as a W and be moving on to the second round.

**lordstanley** · 04-26-2012, 09:39 PM

Rangers escape with a 2-1 victory in Game 7 over Ottawa. NYR will play Washington. Philly will play Florida/NJ winner.

I think the Rangers win was huge for interest levels going forward. I don't mind - in fact even enjoy - small market or non-traditional market teams advancing. And don't forget, in the West, 3 of the 4 victors were the higher seeds. Pitt/Philly was a tossup going in and Washington/Boston wasn't a huge upset due to the Caps finishing high in the standings in recent years so you knew they had it in them. Florida/NJ is fine either way too - one is a division winner, the other had over 100 points. But if the NYR had lost meaning both #1 seeds were ousted, it would diminish the regular season IMO.

**skyguy52** · 04-26-2012, 09:50 PM

Originally Posted by lordstanley

Rangers escape with a 2-1 victory in Game 7 over Ottawa. NYR will play Washington. Philly will play Florida/NJ winner.

I think the Rangers win was huge for interest levels going forward. I don't mind - in fact even enjoy - small market or non-traditional market teams advancing. And don't forget, in the West, 3 of the 4 victors were the higher seeds. Pitt/Philly was a tossup going in and Washington/Boston wasn't a huge upset due to the Caps finishing high in the standings in recent years so you knew they had it in them. Florida/NJ is fine either way too - one is a division winner, the other had over 100 points. But if the NYR had lost meaning both #1 seeds were ousted, it would diminish the regular season IMO.

Good analysis. Three game 7s and two series that go 6 games in the first round is a plus any way you look at it. Some good regional warfare in the Eastern Conference coming up too especially if NJD prevails over Florida. I like the way the playoffs this year is shaping up despite the Wings early departure. Its all good IMO.

**skyguy52** · 04-26-2012, 09:59 PM

Had NYR, number one seed in the East been ousted, I'm not sure it would have diminished the regular season in some way. Again the regular season and the playoffs are two different animals. I think most fans realize and appreciate this. League parity is such that anyone making the playoffs can win and that, to me, makes the NHL a great league and hockey an even greater sport for the fan base.

**skyguy52** · 04-26-2012, 10:15 PM

Devils skate off at the end of 2 with a 2 goal lead amidst boos in Miami.

**skyguy52** · 04-26-2012, 10:18 PM

If the Devils hold off the Panthers in the third I can see things deteriorating to ugly on the ice and in the stands. I'm already sensing it.

**skyguy52** · 04-26-2012, 10:43 PM

Stephen Weiss Panthers comes thru (again) on power play to make things interesting. Love the desperation by the Panthers.

**skyguy52** · 04-26-2012, 10:45 PM

Originally Posted by lordstanley

Rangers escape with a 2-1 victory in Game 7 over Ottawa. NYR will play Washington. Philly will play Florida/NJ winner.

escape? lol

**skyguy52** · 04-26-2012, 10:50 PM

Wow since the Panthers scored to narrow the Devils lead to 1 they have come back with a vengeance. mid way thru third Panthers rally. I'm thinking if this keeps up the Devils will be the team attempting to escape out of Miami.

**skyguy52** · 04-26-2012, 10:55 PM

Stephen Weiss Panthers 6 pts in the series. 3 goals on the PP.

**skyguy52** · 04-26-2012, 11:03 PM

Wow. Goc Panthers evens it on a PP. Devils on their heels. Guess this is why Panthers were division leader in the East. What a show!

**skyguy52** · 04-26-2012, 11:10 PM

Brodeur the King is demonstrating why he's still a top 4 goalie. geez.

**skyguy52** · 04-26-2012, 11:15 PM

16th OT in first round to begin. New NHL record. Tied @ 2.

Doesn't get much better than this Hockey fans.

**Shinma** · 04-26-2012, 11:32 PM

Devils go on the powerplay in OT...

**skyguy52** · 04-26-2012, 11:36 PM

This battle is how playoff hockey was meant to be played.

**skyguy52** · 04-26-2012, 11:40 PM

Since midway thru the third period the Panthers have out-played the Devils, particularly after they scored to narrow the Devils lead to 1. Panthers showing no signs of letting up, but Devils getting their chances too.

Very good contest here.