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Quote:
Patrick Kane is good.
+1
I'm not sure if I'm allowed to "+1" a quote from myself, but in this case, I should be. That game winning goal was disgusting ( LINK ).
#showtime
![[Linked Image]](http://www.dawgtalkers.net/uploads/Punchsmack/punch.gif) “...Iguodala to Curry, back to Iguodala, up for the layup! Oh! Blocked by James! LeBron James with the rejection!”
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Kaner has a dirty backhand shot
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Didn't get to see a ton of either Hawks games over the weekend, but saw some highlights and it looks like they pretty much took care of business. I do expect Minnesota to really come at the Hawks these next 2. It's pretty simple though, that the Hawks are just deeper and more seasoned than Minnesota.
I'm not really surprised at any of the other series' so far... I actually think losing may have been a good thing for Montreal. A few years ago they went up 2-0 in a series with Boston (leaving Boston as well) only to blow the next 3 games, and wind up losing in game 7 (in OT).
I think this time around, they're better, and should come in focused instead of maybe taking the foot off the pedal. I'm not saying losing is ever good, but maybe I should have said, it's not the end of the world that they lost on Saturday.
Boston, like the Hawks are with the Wild, are just deeper and more experienced... However, I think Carey Price can steal one game, and if he can do that, I think it's very possible Montreal wins the series. He has to absolutely rob Boston of a victory, and Montreal has to play like they did in game 1...
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Hall of Famer
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Retread coach in Nashville.
As bad as the NFL.
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Retread coach in Nashville.
As bad as the NFL.
lol
Lavy is a good coach. 2 Finals appearances with 2 teams is impressive...
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So I said Price needs to steal a game in order for Montreal to win this series, and he's played well, but hasn't stolen one yet... Looks like he's going to have to steal game 7 in Boston.
They said in the postgame last night that Price has 4 career playoff shutouts, all against Boston. So I think he's capable of pulling it off. Expect riots up north if that happens. They'll probably be riots either way, lol.
I think the Pens win tonight. I know Fleury has been taking it, but I've never been sold on Lundqvist. The only thing he has ever done is a gold medal in 2006... He's never been a good playoff goalie. I also think his style works against him in the playoffs.
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I think you're right about the Pens tonight, but I'll stick with my "NYR in 7" prediction. I'm just hoping for a good, close game. Hopefully they get to OT.
I want the Hawks to close out the Wild tonight, but the Wild are a different team at home. Very confident and energetic. I think the Hawks lose in a laugher tonight. If you would have told me Bryzgalov was only going to give up 2 goals in games 3&4 in Minnesota I would have laughed for a good 10 seconds. But he did. Crazy.
Shaw is STILL out too. They said he hasn't even skated with the team yet, though that might be soon. I don't think we'll see him until the conference finals, if they get that far.
I'm liking the Habs chances in game 7. I know you said Price isn't a great playoff goalie, and he might not be, but I don't know if they need him to be great to win. The Bruins are starting to grip it a bit. They get open looks and miss them wide or off the posts all the time it seems. They look like a team that is playing not to lose because they're the league favorite. On the Habs 2nd goal Chara had a chance to defend the break, even hook the guy, but seemed to just Olé it. Like he had a deer-in-the-headlights moment.
The Kings took one in the gut last night. That was sloppy. You can't count them out because of what they did against the Sharks, but man, I don't think this series gets to a 7th game.
Still very happy with the 2nd round series overall though. I don't think most NBA fans can say the same for their 2nd round (their 1st round was amazing).
“...Iguodala to Curry, back to Iguodala, up for the layup! Oh! Blocked by James! LeBron James with the rejection!”
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Actually I said Lundqvist is not a good playoff goalie. I still think Price (who's younger) has a bit to prove. They're not nearly as talented as Boston, yet here they are once again facing them in a game 7. I'd take Price over just about any goalie save for Jonathan Quick. He's in my top 5 for sure...
I think the Hawks can win tonight. I really think that first goal is huge. Minnesota is doing to the Hawks what Colorado did all year to them.. Taking away space. The Hawks live off of that. They can forecheck and do all that gritty stuff, but their bread and butter is turning mistakes into odd man rushes and feeding off the scramble. Only difference between Minnesota and Colorado is the scoring talent that the Avs have. Minnesota has been snakebitten in 3 of the 5 games. They just don't have a lot of options. Doesn't mean they can't win this series because I still think that's possible. I'm not a big Bryz fan though so I'm not wagering on it...
How about the youngblood for the Ducks though? Get a good look at that kid, because he'll be on team USA, second option behind JQ.
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Yup, I slipped the Lundqvist and Price comments. Sorry. Yes, it's been odd how powerful the first goal has been in the 2nd round. Isn't it like 18-1 or something near that (the Hawks winning game 5 was the only comeback that I know of). Gibson is playing well for sure, but it's verrrrry early. If that goes to a 7th game, that's a lot of pressure for a young kid. Heck, it's a lot of pressure in a close-out 6th game. Patrick Roy won a Conn Smythe and Stanley Cup his rookie year, but he played a lot in the regular season...this kid practically showed up last week. 
“...Iguodala to Curry, back to Iguodala, up for the layup! Oh! Blocked by James! LeBron James with the rejection!”
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It's a lot to put on the plate of a kid who was playing in the minors last week...
He's very very good, but I think part of the reason for the success is that the Kings have very little to go on as far as a book goes... It's just like pitching. Sometimes you see a young pitcher have early success before teams get a second or third look (Jeremey Sowers anyone?)
Once you get out of the first round, the first goal becomes more crucial. The first few playoff games in the opening round, teams are not in playoff mode, especially if they somewhat coast the last week because of spots clinched.
Soccer fans will always tell you to watch for an initial push after a team gives up a goal. It's not as evident in hockey, but you do see the losing team fire up the pressure a little more..
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Wow did Pittsburgh ever fail last night. Jeez. That team can drive you absolutely nuts. Their defense is horrible to begin with. They hang Fleury out to dry all the time..
They also do small things that would drive youth coaches crazy, they overskate the puck all the time, they're very sloppy at both ends.
They also aren't deep at all. Salary cap + 2 superstars will do that.
Lundqvist also stepped his game up. Just as I was banging on him...
Corey Crawford was exceptional last night in the Hawks/Minny game. I think people are finally coming around on him being a top 5 goalie. Nobody wanted to admit it, everyone thought he was just a product of the system, but the guy can play, and he held off a 5 minute scramble to open the overtime period.
His numbers in elimination games are incredible. Sub 2.0 GAA, he's like 6-1. The guy is money.
And Patrick Kane may be the most dangerous player in the NHL with the puck on his stick in OT. He has many OT goals, and 3 of them have ended series (one of them the cup final)
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And down goes Boston.
Rangers v. Canadians in the ECF
I like it.
Hoping the Kings can force a Game 7.
“...Iguodala to Curry, back to Iguodala, up for the layup! Oh! Blocked by James! LeBron James with the rejection!”
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Boston played the worst playoff game I have seen out of them in 3 or 4 years. Yikes that was horrible. What a dumb penalty to take at the end of the game too by Boychuk.
Thought they got too agressive on the penalty kill, trying to get the shorty instead of just kiling the penalty. Montreal is too good at that. It's one of the key rules of hockey to not give up odd man rushes on your own penalty kill. Yikes. Montreal earned it though. They have been very steady since that game 7 OT loss against Boston in 2011. No stupid signings, no blowing things up. They've maintained a pretty solid squad.
Pretty crazy but I would guess Bovada and some of the other gambling outlets have the Blackhawks as the odds on favorites to raise the cup. Not many Blackhawk fans saw that a few weeks ago..
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Quote:
2nd round predictions:
Boston vs. Montreal - BOS in 6
Pittsburgh vs New York - NYR in 7
Chicago vs Minnesota - CHI in 5
Anaheim vs Los Angeles - LA in 7
3 out of 4, not bad. I even got the length right on the NY and LA series too.
Now for the Conference Finals:
Montreal vs New York - NYR in 7
Los Angeles vs Chicago - CHI in 6
“...Iguodala to Curry, back to Iguodala, up for the layup! Oh! Blocked by James! LeBron James with the rejection!”
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Pretty cool that 3 of the 4 are original 6 teams. Not sure who to root for, I don't dislike any of them.
And into the forest I go, to lose my mind and find my soul.
- John Muir
#GMSTRONG
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New York's size showed the other day... Even after finishing off Boston, Montreal looked a bit shocked that the Rangers were using their size to control the puck in their own zone...
Hopefully Price is ok, otherwise that's going to be a dud series...
On the other side, the Kings just don't have the depth to keep up with Chicago. I really think this will be a lot like last year. They're a really good team and they have probably the best goalie in the world, but if you can't match at least 3 of the 4 lines the Blackhawks throw at you, it's going to be a short series...
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The first two games of the SC final were awesome, last nights was meh. I have a feeling game 4 will be just as meh.
Oh well, good season.
“...Iguodala to Curry, back to Iguodala, up for the layup! Oh! Blocked by James! LeBron James with the rejection!”
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I can't grasp the fact that LA won 3 straight playoff games without once having the lead in regulation.
And into the forest I go, to lose my mind and find my soul.
- John Muir
#GMSTRONG
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Might I suggest the Rangers begin playing some hockey?
SaintDawg™
Football, baseball, basketball, wine, women, walleye
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Wow was I wrong about the Kings. They really are an amazing team.
The Chicago/LA series is going down as one of the top 5 ever. At least in the modern day of the 4 round playoff. It really was the most enjoyable series we have seen in some time. Bummed at the outcome but the hockey fan in me loved everything about that series.
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“...Iguodala to Curry, back to Iguodala, up for the layup! Oh! Blocked by James! LeBron James with the rejection!”
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Quote:
The Chicago/LA series is going down as one of the top 5 ever. At least in the modern day of the 4 round playoff. It really was the most enjoyable series we have seen in some time. Bummed at the outcome but the hockey fan in me loved everything about that series.
+1
After that series, I simply tipped my cap and moved on. Great hockey to watch. It didn't hurt too bad after how the Hawks won last year.
“...Iguodala to Curry, back to Iguodala, up for the layup! Oh! Blocked by James! LeBron James with the rejection!”
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Quote:
+1
After that series, I simply tipped my cap and moved on. Great hockey to watch. It didn't hurt too bad after how the Hawks won last year.
+1 lol.
I saw how the Kings played against the Hawks, and I figured that they had to win the cup this year. They're just a very good team.
But there's always next year..... (I figure you and Spergeon are both Blackhawks fans, I'm still new to the city, but I love Chicago. And I've gotten into the Blackhawks pretty quickly over the past two years. They're a fun team to follow and playoff hockey is great. I don't really know if there's anything else like it).
I also sat next to Tony Esposito on a flight to Tampa about two months ago. He was a pretty cool guy, although I admit I didn't even know who he was. I quickly typed out a facebook status update saying "I think I'm sitting next to an ex-sports player. Some guy named Tony Esposito" Found out from hockey fan friends who he was. We didn't really talk hockey, although I knew he had to be a champion of something from the rings he was wearing and how many people seemed to shake his hand. He was like a celebrity on the flight
UCONN HUSKIES 2014 Champions of Basketball
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J/C
Jeff Carter won another cup. Please excuse me while I go puke. Neither him or Nash deserve a cup.
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Quote:
Quote:
+1
After that series, I simply tipped my cap and moved on. Great hockey to watch. It didn't hurt too bad after how the Hawks won last year.
+1 lol.
I saw how the Kings played against the Hawks, and I figured that they had to win the cup this year. They're just a very good team.
But there's always next year..... (I figure you and Spergeon are both Blackhawks fans, I'm still new to the city, but I love Chicago. And I've gotten into the Blackhawks pretty quickly over the past two years. They're a fun team to follow and playoff hockey is great. I don't really know if there's anything else like it).
I also sat next to Tony Esposito on a flight to Tampa about two months ago. He was a pretty cool guy, although I admit I didn't even know who he was. I quickly typed out a facebook status update saying "I think I'm sitting next to an ex-sports player. Some guy named Tony Esposito" Found out from hockey fan friends who he was. We didn't really talk hockey, although I knew he had to be a champion of something from the rings he was wearing and how many people seemed to shake his hand. He was like a celebrity on the flight
He was doing a signing down the street from my place some years back. Him and Patrick Kane. He flew in from Florida and stayed at the hotel nearby, which happened to be the same hotel my mom and sister were staying at. I met them for breakfast and he was sitting there by himself. We were the only other people eating at the time. I wanted to say something, but I don't think I could ever bother a famous person while they're eating. He ended up talking to my mom and sister when they were checking out the next day. Really nice man. They didn't know who he was until I told them.
The Blackhawks are really easy to get into. They are by far the top ticket around here. More than the Bears, and probably a hair more than the Bulls (the Bulls have an unbelievable following, even through the post Jordan awful years, everyone stuck around)
When I moved out here in 2004, NHL wasn't even on people's radars. The season following the lockout, we got tickets for 15 bucks. I think we went to 7 games in a year once. I don't even go any more because I can't even afford it, although I don't mind, since they're a perennial powerhouse.
They're also a bunch of really good dudes.
I'm not sure if it's tradition for every team or if this is just something they did, but both times they won the Stanley Cup they flew home with it (both times it was won on the road) and made it a point to keep the cup out and about for at least 24 hours. 2 guys would take it out to bars or simply just drive it around. When those guys were tired or had to get home, two more came and got it and took it around. Stopping at gas stations and other places and just letting people see it. I thought that was awesome. I have no idea if other teams have done that. It's the type of story that doesn't really make national headlines or even Deadspin.
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