DawgTalkers.net Forums DawgTalk Tailgate Forum NHL Playoffs/prediction thread

rough game, just a few bad breaks for the hawks. they had a great setup on that PP in overtime, that backdoor play from behind the net, give luongo credit he came up big when they needed it the most. i still don't see him as a big time goaltender though. he was kicking the puck around all night, simple glove saves ended up being rebounded up in the air, in the slot, etc.

as far as the hawks go, i think it was a valiant effort in a year where nothing seemed to go their way (other than dallas choking on the final day) but i think they found a few things out about themselves:

crawford is good. i don't know if he's an all star, but he was the best player on the ice yesterday (him or burrows) he's a free agent, i don't think he'll command big money but i think they should pay him on a 1-2 year deal. turco comes off the books too so i think they can afford it.

i like bickell a lot, i think he can develop into a really really good grinder. big body, can hold the puck for that extra second, seems to find the net in crucial spots. the guy also played with a screwed up hand, i love the heart.

not a fan of stalberg. he's got serious wheels but he's kris versteeg 2.0. a worthless player that looked better because the other guys around him were great.

i think campoli is a solid 5th defenseman. if you go keith/seabrook, cambell/hjalmarsson, and campoli as a guy who can spot between those 2 lines, you're in good shape. add in crawford and your defensive zone is pretty much set.

i go back and forth on frolic, but as a 3rd/4th liner i think you're ok.

i don't think it was roster as much as it was hangover/being spent. most people around here think the reason the hawks didn't finish at the top of the west was because they had to unload a bunch of guys after winning the cup. those people don't understand the salary cap and how it works.

but if you think about it, last year, they played an entire season, a full 4 round playoff, won a very emotional series. had to deal with everything that came with winning the cup, on top of 4 of their top players having to deal with the olympics (toews, seabrook, keith all won gold, kane won silver). i just think those guys were spent. i honestly don't think they had much of an offseason. those guys didn't have the jump that they did before. i think the front office makes a few moves, and they are very very strong next season. i would put money on it.

and i gotta bag the nhl for their scheduling again. you have 2 game 7's tonight, the b's/habs series is 2 days in a row. you're telling me you're going to schedule the most important game of both boston and montreal's seasons on the second leg of a back to back. bettman come on man. epic fail.

i am 6 of 8 on my predictions, with tampa and boston needing to win to give me a perfect round. shoulda gone to vegas on that one

Game 7 tonight! Let's go Lightning!

Is there anywhere to watch these games online these days or is that fully gone now? I've been following the series via the live updates which is pretty boring for hockey.

I honestly don't know.

In the past, I've used sites like www.justin.tv to watch games.

Though, I'm not sure what will be on there.

in a related story, how about the state of tennessee and their teams? memphis grizzlies could pull off the 1v8 upset. preds get their first playoff series win by beating the ducks. pretty awesome. fans have been great for both.

i haven't done it but guys i play hockey with make the nashville trip to see the hawks play down there and they say it's a blast. heard it's a pretty fun town.

I've been to Nashville (Not for a game), but yeah, it's a very fun place to visit.

cool beans. thanks.

you have quite a diverse sports collection in your fandom with the BoSox, Browns, Kentucky Wildcats, and TB Lightning (don't recall you having a particular NBA team, sorry if I just forget).

If you ever get into NBA/MLS, you should pick a team west of the Miss so you can't be dubbed as having East Coast bias

Cavs basketball fan.

I just avoid the Cavs thread, because I don't wanna hear about how we can trade for Dwight Howard and Chris Paul.

Or, I guess I could be like a few of the posters on the board, and rather than skipping what I don't wanna read, posting anyway and talking about how dumb the thread is

Heh... heh... don't be one of those people. We already have enough of them here.

Anybody watching tonight?

I have the Habs/Bruins Game 7 on now.... 2-2 in the second.

Is the pens/bolts game on TV anywhere?

I'm ALWAYS watching. The 3rd period should be quite good.

I'm hoping for at least one OT game tonight.

Bolts up 1-0!

Habs tie it up! Well, on to OT..... which means we'll miss all of the bolts/pens unless it ends quickly.

SUBBAN! BIG, HUGE, GIGANTIC goal!

We get a 2nd Game 7 OT in as many days.

just got home in time for the boston OT. awesome. this first round of games has been about as good as you can ask for. can't wait for round 2.

Ugh. Boston won. Boooooo!

Ooooooooooh how I love to watch pittsburgh lose!!!

8/8!

Wow, what a way to end a series. Subban tied it late with a howitzer, but the Bruins get the break in OT. One bounce is all it takes in hockey, esp. in overtime.

i feel pretty good about my 2nd round picks, with the exception of that vancouver/nashville series. i think the preds are gonna give them everything they can handle.

did you see that overtime the other night? they acted like they just won the cup. I think it's a bad sign. I would almost guarantee Nashville takes game 1.

While I agree getting over the hawks was a big hurdle for them, and it was emotional. you are still a 1 seed that just beat the 8.

i just worry about nashville getting chances, with the way vancouver outplayed the hawks in that series, nashville might not get 20 shots in a single game. vancouver owned every zone, and the hawks have 1 great line, another solid line, and despite losing guys are still pretty loaded. nashville doesn't have that.

Bring on the Capitals!!!

Lightning in 6!

Yeah, punch I'll do the same.
2nd round winners: Philly, Vancouver, Washington, Detroit.

Spergon: 8/8 is some great prognosticating: well done, man!

Washington over Tampa in 5
Philly over Boston in 7
Nashville over Vancouver in 6
Detroit over San Jose in 6

BOOM goes the dynamite!

vanny wins a tight one 1-0, i think nashville has to be encouraged though. if they can just generate a few more chances, even 1 or 2 per period, they are in business. because the defense and goaltending was exceptional.

pecca rinne is the best goalie left in the playoffs, even better than tim thomas, i think.

Big win for Tampa Bay tonight!

Yup. There'll be major pressure on Washington to win Game 2, they don't wanna lose the first two games at home. TB has been a surprise so far.

The Wings looked rusty from that 10 day layoff, but still shoulda coulda won that game. The offense was clicking, but they were horribly slow getting back on D and clearing the zone. I've never seen the Sharks play such a disciplined game, they've historically ridden their emotions. Howard looks like he's going to prove me wrong. He stood on his head last night, and throughout the playoffs so far. If he keeps that up, the Wings will be damn near impossible to beat.

The Caps have their hands full....especially if Ovechkin keeps trying to be a one man team.

We sure looked good last night.

Our offense is good enough to give us a fighting chance in any series.

Get a win in Game 2 in Washington and we'll be in GREAT shape