Aw shucks!! Just like Daman, you put the clues together and exposed me for what I am!!
When (or if? ) the Sharks finish off this series, I'm pulling for them. I like McClellan a lot. My kid went to the Red Wings summer camp 4 years ago and he was absolutely great with the kids. He's put together a great team and they are playing good, disciplined hockey. Maybe he's the man to stop the choking machine.
And into the forest I go, to lose my mind and find my soul. - John Muir
When (or if? ) the Sharks finish off this series, I'm pulling for them. I like McClellan a lot. My kid went to the Red Wings summer camp 4 years ago and he was absolutely great with the kids. He's put together a great team and they are playing good, disciplined hockey. Maybe he's the man to stop the choking machine.
Don't put on your SJ sweater just yet. Wings might force a Game 6, they were down 3-1 in the third but now lead with six minutes left. I assume you already know this since you're watching the game.
Lol. I had to work last night and my peeps did a wonderful job of not telling me anything so I could come home and watch the recording. I damn near quit watching after the 1st. The San Jose traditional lack of discipline/choking is starting to rear it's head. When they're clicking, they are probably the best in the NHL. The Wings have no answer.
I am stunned by the play of Jimmy Howard in these playoffs. I don't think he's ever gone this long without giving up 4+ goals (regulation). He's playing like he belongs in the playoffs.
And into the forest I go, to lose my mind and find my soul. - John Muir
if the sharks choke this thing away it's gonna get real interesting in that organization. how can you blame mclellan when it seems like it is the same story, new coach. they got ron wilson outta there pretty fast, i don't think he's all that bad of a coach either.
i know some shark fans, and i read some of the stuff they put out on twitter and what not, and it seems like they were all "see! joe thornton doesn't choke!!" after scoring an OT goal against the kings in round one.
and i mean, it's round one and you're the 2-seed, and you think your best player, who never shows up in big moments is not a choker after beating a 7 seed in ot.
Well, the Sharks of old are back! Cheapshotting, whining and forgetting the discipline that got them here. All that talent, a 3-0 series lead and they let the Wings get into their heads. I feel for McClellan, but GO WINGS!!!!
And into the forest I go, to lose my mind and find my soul. - John Muir
Should be a beauty Thursday night in California. It's weird, three teams in the past two seasons came back from 3-0 deficits to at least force Game 7. Philly over Boston last year, then the Hawks and Wings this year. It has rarely happened in the NHL ( just twice prior to last year had a team won a series after dropping the first three games).
Quote: Vancouver's liking a Game 7 between Detroit & SJ.
Should be a beauty Thursday night in California. It's weird, three teams in the past two seasons came back from 3-0 deficits to at least force Game 7. Philly over Boston last year, then the Hawks and Wings this year. It has rarely happened in the NHL ( just twice prior to last year had a team won a series after dropping the first three games).
for all the bagging we do on gary bettman (and a lot of it is warranted) he has gotten this league to have very nice parity and balance. maybe the most the league has ever seen. you've had in the last 2 years, an 8 beat a 1, an 8 make the finals, a 7 make the finals,and as you mentioned, a series 3-0 go to 3-3 3 different times.
the nfl will always be the king of balance and parity, but the nhl is a second and nobody else is really close, well the nba should be, but the players seem to be spoiling that.
So tonight.....goodness, 99% of the pressure is on the Sharks. If they go up a few goals early, that pressure won't go away, it will just get heavier. Jeez, what other sports town do we know is like that in playoff games ()?
Like you were saying Sperg, Boston lost their series last year after winning the first 3 games, but they even had a 3-0 goal lead in Game 7.....AND ended up losing in regulation too. Talk about a collapse.
I really hope the Sharks find a way to win this one. I smell a white-washing though....Wings get a few early goals and then coast to blowout victory (5-1).
Like I said before, either way, it will be good theater. (Last night stunk without playoff hockey).
“...Iguodala to Curry, back to Iguodala, up for the layup! Oh! Blocked by James! LeBron James with the rejection!”
Can't wait for tonight! As a life-long Wings fan (dating back to the "Dead Wings" era in the 70's and 80's) I'm hoping they can finish this comeback. It has been a great series though and I expect tonight's game to be another close one. I like the Wings' chances though. They definitely have experience and momentum on their side.
Win or lose, there's nothing like a Game 7 in the NHL playoffs.
[color:"white"]"Never argue with a fool, onlookers may not be able to tell the difference."
it really is the best. i get nerves like i do watching a browns game and i'm not really a fan of any team. i am not a hardcore fan of anybody. i enjoy the blackhawks, when my cousin was doing radio for the panthers i pulled hard for them, but growing up in cleveland i just didn't have that super hardcore fandom like i do with the browns cavs or tribe, or even osu football.
but man, i just love the intensity, those guys put it all out there. i really believe it is the ultimate in sports. i hope san jose's crowd is wild tonight. they should not sit on their hands. i know it looks bad but i think just like the team should, you just gotta tune out what happened before tonight.
Even though Vancouver lost the first 3, their fans were absolutely wild in that game 7. I don't expect any different in SJ unless the Wings get a couple early goals.
And into the forest I go, to lose my mind and find my soul. - John Muir
Quote: What about the Blue Jackets? I root for the blue jackets.
they were still kind of a new thing when i left home for chicago. so i never got really into them, but i always pull for them to do well because they're an ohio team. i can't say i follow them from game to game though.
i was a red wings fan growing up (which makes it hilarious that i am now a hawks fan, but like i said, never hardcore for either team) i saw my first nhl game at joe jouis in '96, got to meet a few of the players from both detroit and florida.
i loved steve yzerman. still probably my favorite hockey player of all time maybe favorite athlete of all time. i wish there were more like him in all sports. he is the epitome of what a leader and athlete should be.
and for those wondering, while i consider myself a hawk fan now, i don't boo detroit or chant detroit sucks or any of that, i still have a ton of respect for that organization. and still love to watch them play. they are world class.
Quote: What about the Blue Jackets? I root for the blue jackets.
While not directed to me, I'll answer.
Despite the demographics, number of current professional teams, or TV deals....they should have just picked between Cleveland and Cincy. Or at least call them the Ohio Blue Jackets while having them in Columbus. Maybe they're better off in Columbus, I don't know. As a Cleveland fan, I don't identify with Columbus. So they may as well put them in Mexico City.
I moved to Chicago in 2000 and decided to start being a fan of them. I had already watched the NHL playoffs religiously for 4+ years at that point, so it was nice to have a local team to root for. Though while I went to Toledo, I seemed to dislike the Red Wings because they got the title monkey off their backs while the Indians couldn't. And that ticked me off. Not sure why.
“...Iguodala to Curry, back to Iguodala, up for the layup! Oh! Blocked by James! LeBron James with the rejection!”
I think Detroit and Boston would probably be the best matchup. I bet the NHL is really pulling for that. I'm sure they'd also like to get team from Canada in the Finals if Detroit isn't there.
Of the teams left, here's how they rank:
Sharks Nucks Lightning Red Wings Bruins
“...Iguodala to Curry, back to Iguodala, up for the layup! Oh! Blocked by James! LeBron James with the rejection!”
of all the possible matchups, i would not mind any of them. all the teams left are pretty fun to watch. i think the best matchup for the league in terms of buzz and ratings is obviously boston v detroit.
boston is the only team without that true star player up front. they have a bunch of pretty good players, but nobody that is widely known. they hang their hat on a good goaltender and obviously with chara, good defense.
but all the other teams? tons of players up front. could be some high scoring games in the finals.
tampa has lecavalier, stamkos, st louis, just on their top line. that's pretty damn good. there might be only 2 lines in the league better than that.
the sharks have thornton, heatley, pavelski, marleau, etc.. on paper they should dominate. but we all know the sharks.
vancouver has the sedin twins who generate interest going both ways. some enjoy it, some like myself are kinda creeped out at them. plus ryan kesler (former buckeye, and team usa star) who is establishing himself as one of the best players in the game. his play gets me excited for 2014 with that team usa group.
detroit? i think most hockey fans know zetterberg, and datsyuk (the best dangler in the league)
if you don't know datsuyk, check out this video. i think it's the sickest move i have ever seen at the nhl level.
if you weren't that impressed, because it was in a shootout, he's done it during play as well, i think it was marty turco a few years back, completely humiliated him.
Do you really believe ANYONE is playing better hockey than the Lightning right now? Because I don't.
Oh sorry, I wasn't ranking them as far as how good they were.....just how I liked them and/or wished who I'd like to win the whole thing.
I would put the Lightning and Bruins at the top of how well they're playing. Sharks, Nucks and Wings have been up and down a little too much to see them as favorites to win the Cup.
“...Iguodala to Curry, back to Iguodala, up for the layup! Oh! Blocked by James! LeBron James with the rejection!”
What a frickin' game! Losing Bertuzzi/Cleary and still damn near pull it out. This is why I love hockey. I'm pulling for McClellan and the Sharks now, but I'm afraid this series might have taken a lot out of them. They definitely can't have the breakdowns they did in this series.
And into the forest I go, to lose my mind and find my soul. - John Muir
the conference finals should be a pair of ding-dongers. They're bost tossups, but I will take Vancouver in six because they're well-rested. Although, Joe Thornton is starting to play better in big games (his no-look pass for the game-winner last night was a beautiful play).
I think Boston/TB is a toss-up as well, but I'll go with the Bruins because: 1. I like their goaltending better and; 2. I would rather see an Original Six team in the Stanley Cup final.
4-1 TB late in the third... they got three goals in less than two minutes in the 1st. The Boston powerplay let them down tonight, they had chances to get it to 3-2. TB looks for real.
) the Sharks finish off this series, I'm pulling for them. I like McClellan a lot. My kid went to the Red Wings summer camp 4 years ago and he was absolutely great with the kids. He's put together a great team and they are playing good, disciplined hockey. Maybe he's the man to stop the choking machine.
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