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

I don't think Boston is gonna keep up with Vancouver. I hope I am wrong and we get a great series, but I think Boston's lack of offense could make this thing ugly.

Timmy Thomas cannot have a mediocre series at all. He has to play like the Vezina winner. He has had clunkers in the entire playoffs, including 2 really bad ones in the conference finals. That can't happen if they want any chance of bringing home the cup.

I want the Bruins to win, for that organization, but on the other hand, you're going to hear from Boston fan now about how they're the only city to ever win all 4 major trophies in a 10 year span (Patriots '01, '03, '04 Red Sox '04, '07 Celtics '08)

LOL, yup it's crossed my mind about Boston sports fans... but they've waited a long time for a Cup (39 years) so I won't begrudge them if they win, because the best Bruins fans are great hockey fans.

There are a lot of Bruins fans on the east coast of Canada, & I know a bunch of 'em who are long-suffering diehards (although my being a Leafs' fan, they can cry me a river haha).

I actually am hoping for Boston, but like I said, my prediction is Canucks in 6.



*Edit... and BTW, it was announced today that Winnipeg is getting the Thrashers , so congrats to the 'Peg and hopefully they'll be renamed the Jets... if they don't they're crazy. When it was made official, I thought about the Browns and returning to Cleveland, but for Winnipeg it's been 15 years.

There's actually a guy on my team from Winnipeg, and he told me that they can't use the Jets, I can't remember the reasoning. Maybe the Coyotes orgnanization still own the rights?

Either way, it will be cool to see a true hockey city get a team. Hopefully they can hang onto this one.

Atlanta should have never gotten a team in the first place. Bettman damn near crashed the league with over-expansion, the league was fine before they added/shuffled all these teams. It was the rules that needed change. (Which I credit Bettman for getting right)

Yeah, I have Vancouver in 5.

Bettman dreamed of a huge U.S. TV contract when he filled the U.S. south/southwest. It didn't happen, not like he had hoped.
If the NHL cut four teams I'd be happy with that, 24-26 teams would be just about right.

Some of those franchises are viable, and some aren't. I am surprised Anaheim has lasted to be honest. the Panthers are slowly dying (gone in five years at most IMO) Phoenix won't be in Phoenix 16 months from now... Dallas seems solid, Nashville fans put in a good show in these playoffs but I wonder about them long-term... further north, New Jersey gets crappy fan support esp. for a team with three Cups since 1995... the Isles need a new building and I even read somewhere that Columbus is a wee bit shaky, or on the cusp of being so.... don't know if that is true though.

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... he told me that they can't use the Jets, I can't remember the reasoning. Maybe the Coyotes orgnanization still own the rights?

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I wondered about that... but I haven't heard one way or the other on if thre wouldbe something blocking that. It wasn't mentioned today during the formal announcement whether they would be re-named the Jets.

I think putting a team in Raleigh is a great idea. Great fans, great support. Winning the cup helped, but they had people tailgating on the last day of the year when they had to win to get in as an 8th seed. I think it's great there.

I think Nashville can survive, but I have my doubts. The organization has done a great job of creating a structured environment. Same coach throughout their existence. Strong defensive, selfless system. I really love the way Barry Trotz handles his team.

Carolina's been a pretty good hockey market, even though I don't like the Canes. Also agree on Trotz...

Just heard that Bettman said the Jets nickname is available to Winnipeg if they're interested.

Hrmmm.....I suppose the Jets name fits the best, unless they want to start anew. I know the local fans already have some of their gear and colors...but I'm sure they likely refresh the logo anyway.

Yeah, Jets hats and jerseys and such have never gone away in Winnipeg, still good sellers apparently.
They originated the White Noise - all the fans wore white in the playoffs, which Phoenix Coyotes "fans"... ahem... adopted after the Jets moved there.
They're pretty geeked out in Winnipeg right now.

the only problem is, they're getting the thrashers roster, which is horrible. dustin byfuglien is a nice player, but not when you don't have toews, kane, hossa, sharp, etc, to take away attention.

evander kane could be nice in given time, andrew ladd is grinder, pavlec is a decent goalie. That franchise has botched their roster over and over. Kovalchuk was a top 15-20 forward, they actually had Marian Hossa at one time, and they flipped Dany Heatley for him even before that. They screwed up the Braydon Coburn thing as well (I work with Chicago Wolves boosters who were the affiliate to Atlanta up until about 2 weeks ago)

That team needs a star though.

So what happens with the conferences? I heard one person say that the Jets/Thrashers go to the west and Columbus goes over to the East.

What they are gonna do (so I heard) is leave Winnipeg in the Southwest division for one season, then probably re-align, which might include Detroit moving to the east, which the Wings have wanted for years and years because of travel/costs.

i could see that, it makes sense.

I don't think the Detroit/Chicago rivalry is all that anyway. It seems like Wings fans could care less and the Hawk fans just chant Detroit sucks because everyone else does.

A lot of true hockey people around here tell me that the top ticket in this town back in the 60's, 70's, and 80's was the Montreal ticket. And that goes for all the sports, Bears/Packers, Cubs/Cards, etc.. That was actually the big game people got excited for.

I'd actually look forward to the Leafs-Wings rivalry getting renewed.

And I don't know how many remember this, but the Leafs and Blackhawks used to be fierce rivals when they played in the same division... they met each other in the playoffs a few times in the late 80s/90s. I used to dread it when the Leafs went into the old Chicago Stadium with those loud fans... we hardly ever won there and that damn foghorn would sound whenever Chicago scored (I recently read that Hawks owner Mr. Wirtz took the horn off his yacht and put in the Stadium).
Back then, I think only Chicago had a horn like that. Now lots of places have 'em.

i think every arena has their own horn now. Some sound like a fire truck, others sound like a train.

buffalo is my favorite

OT tonight in Vancouver, Canucks won on a goal 11 seconds in, Burrows scored again.
Damn.

It was really 9 seconds if you watch the clock....but who cares. The last 20 minutes and 11 seconds were simply amazing.

And Game 1 freaking rocked too!

Here's to a 7-game series.

I have had hockey every single night of the the finals, and for game 7 of the boston/tampa I was on the road. Sucks.

My team won our championship last night, it was unreal, it was the craziest playoff I have ever taken part in. Our first round game was Thursday and we literally won 12-1, although the scoreboard read 8-1 (they stop tallying so that it's not that humiliating)

Saturday night we played a team with a ton of speed and skill, they went up 3-0 in the first, and we got back into the game and hung around, we won with 2 seconds left in overtime. The scorekeeper said it was the most exciting game he's ever been a part of. I was literally out of breath after the game and that NEVER happens. We never led at any point in that game other than when the clock stopped in overtime because we had scored.

Last night we played the team that has continually kicked our ass for the last 2 years. They beat us 7-1 in the championship game last fall, twice this year, and many times before that. It was a close game the entire way, we pulled ahead in the third, they tied it up on a PP goal. Overtime came and went, and we beat them 2-1 in a 5 man shootout. This team not only kicked our asses in the past, but they always ran their mouth, and they clearly didn't belong in the league we were in. It was that much sweeter. They stuck their best player for the last shot, which I am still shaking my head at, and I suckered him into a shot right into my midsection. He punked out big time. I let him have it afterwards just before my teammates mobbed me. Now I know how Jordan felt when he finally beat the Pistons.

Unreal weekend. I'll never forget it.

I agree - first two games were great - so far this third game has been unreal - HUGE blindside hit in the first period and now 4 goals in the second period.... I don't watch a lot of hockey but have really enjoyed this series.

horrible hit, heard he got 4 games. Right call.

You just don't take a hit like that to the head when the puck isn't in the vicinity.

Would love to see Boston even this thing up and we start fresh again.

Glad that Boston got back in the series and that they didn't have to sweat out another late finish, hopefully they even it up tomorrow night. If Game 4 gets out of hand either way, expect some more extra-curriculars late.
Congrats on your win, sperg.

yeah - he's done... which was the right thing to do... still surprised the Canuck who bit the Bruins' finger got nothing... we'll see....

Burrows will never shake that "biter" tag. Not something you wanna be called ANYWHERE.

I don't keep up with the rules, so somebody who does explain to me why the Bruins' goalkeeper didn't get a penalty for cracking the Vancouver player in the side of the knee with his stick.

Not at all unusual. It's called the "Free Whack" rule.

::Nods head sagely::

Ha, gotcha

No comment.

If Boston can scratch out a win tonight, this series should be over in 6. They came close to stealing either of the first two games.

If I were a Nucks fan, I'd actually feel confident for tonights game. Luongo seems to have played like this for every series this postseason. Brilliant, then terrible, then brilliant again.

He gave up 10 goals against the Blackhawks in Games 4 and 5...only to play great in the 7th game.

He gave up 4 goals against the Preds in Game 5...only to play great in the 6th game (series clincher).

He gave up 7 goals against the Sharks in Games 2 & 3 (although they won game 2)...only to play well in the last two games.

So, 12 goals against in games 3 & 4 against the Bruins. Pffftt....he's trolling them. Dude will probably get a shutout tonight.

Not to mention Thomas has had at least one stinker in every series.
Ive been a fan since 87 when I lived there. I hope they can finally pull it out.
Gretzky isn't involved with the Canucks, is he?
Go Bruins!

The Canucks are turning into an absolute disgrace to the game. The crying, biting, diving, cheap shots. Seriously does anyone actually like these guys?

Thomas hasn't had a bad game. Could this be the Bruins year? I guess I gotta wait till Wednesday. 4 in the first, wow! Nice win!

Thomas: 8 goals allowed in 6 games. That's damn impressive. Also after Wednesday will hold the record for most saves in a playoff run. Problem is all the guys in that category lost.

...and we'll end up seeing Luongo with a shutout in Game 7. Has there ever been such a bad road versus brilliant home goalie in a series before?

i don't know if i have ever seen home ice matter so much in the nhl playoffs.

Yup. Normally, it means almost nothing.

I wouldn't be surprised if Luongo stops 50 shots for a shutout OR gets pulled 5 minutes into the game after giving up 4 goals. I just want to see a close game.....of course OT.

Agreed. Vancouver looks like they've basically relaxed when away from their home ice (and the results have shown it - Boston has crushed the Nucks on their ice). Very odd. I wonder if all the cross-country travel has hurt Vancouver more than Boston.

I think Vancouver's home streak will end tomorrow night. They've been living on the edge at home (while getting destroyed in Boston) and I think the Bruins will finish them off.