Hockey 2011-2012

[smc]

Originally Posted by transjen

day one of the playoffs sucked big time
if game one was a foreshadow of things to come then hockey season will end very quickly this year
Penguins cheerleader Jen

Hockey season for YOU, Jen ... but not necessarily for any of the rest of us.

Perhaps the Penguins are experiencing that "karma is a bitch" phenomenon, as retribution for some of their escapades during the last week of the regular season?

Don't get me wrong: I hate the Flyers and I don't want to see them advance.

[smc]

Just for the fun of it, and to give my hockey-fan friends on this site something to make fun of me for later on, I am going to go out on a limb and make predictions about the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs.

Los Angeles will beat Vancouver in six games -- a big UPSET and a huge blow to my imaginary NHL in which Los Angeles doesn't even have a team.

St. Louis will beat San Jose in five games.

Phoenix will prevail over Chicago in six games, despite -- again -- that there shouldn't even be a hockey team in Arizona.

Detroit will beat Nashville in seven games.

Ottawa will make the New York Rangers work much harder than anyone expects, but the Rangers will advance after six games.

Florida (another place that shouldn't have a hockey team) will beat the New Jersey Devils in six games.

Pittsburgh will defeat Philadelphia. It will take seven games, and there will be several Penguin players who are physically unable to advance to Round 2.

The Boston Bruins will beat Washington in six games.

Okay, let's see how fucked up these prediction are ... in a couple of weeks!

[smc]

Brendan Shanahan announced a 25-game suspension for the Coyotes thug who goes by the name of Raffi Torres. I think Torres, a serial offender, is getting off easy, and I hope this sends a message to similar players throughout the NHL.

I think it's great that Shanahan has posted a detailed explanation of his decision. You can watch the video here:

http://video.nhl.com/videocenter/con...d=60&id=173753

[shadows]

Originally Posted by smc

Just for the fun of it, and to give my hockey-fan friends on this site something to make fun of me for later on, I am going to go out on a limb and make predictions about the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs.

Los Angeles will beat Vancouver in six games -- a big UPSET and a huge blow to my imaginary NHL in which Los Angeles doesn't even have a team.

St. Louis will beat San Jose in five games.

Phoenix will prevail over Chicago in six games, despite -- again -- that there shouldn't even be a hockey team in Arizona.

Detroit will beat Nashville in seven games.

Ottawa will make the New York Rangers work much harder than anyone expects, but the Rangers will advance after six games.

Florida (another place that shouldn't have a hockey team) will beat the New Jersey Devils in six games.

Pittsburgh will defeat Philadelphia. It will take seven games, and there will be several Penguin players who are physically unable to advance to Round 2.

The Boston Bruins will beat Washington in six games.

Okay, let's see how fucked up these prediction are ... in a couple of weeks!

The way the playoffs have been going so far(weirdest one I've seen in quite a few years!), there wouldn't be any reason to make fun of you! There are so many potential upsets already in motion, so it's really a crapshoot as to who will win!

I know that all the series (except one) are still ongoing, but I'm still going to weigh in with your predictions.

1. LA/Vancouver: You're close with this one. LA has a 3-1 lead, and with the way Quick as been playing, Vancouver will be hard pressed to win the last 3 games. That being said, nothing is impossible(Philly proved that in the 2010 playoffs) but it will be very difficult for Vancouver.

2. St. Louis/San Jose: San Jose has a 1-0 lead after 2 periods of tonight's game, but are still down 3-1 in games. Even if San Jose wins tonight, I agree with your prediction that St. Louis will win, just that it will take 6 games.

3. Phoenix/Chicago: Phoenix will win, especially now that Hossa has been taken out of the lineup. Torres received a 25 game suspension, but I don't think that will affect Phoenix. I think that Phoenix will finish the Hawks in 5. And I also agree with you 100% that Phoenix shouldn't have a team.

4. Detroit/Nashville: You were totally wrong with this one. Nashville beat Detroit 4-1, and the major reason for that was the spectacular play of Pekka Rinne! As with Phoenix, I don't want to see Nashville go very far(one of the reasons is that I don't believe they should have been allowed to have that player rejoin them for the playoffs...I can't recall his name at the moment). I also think that Shea Weber should have been suspended for a game for his bush-league stunt against Zetterburg.

5. Ottawa/New York: I agree that this will probably be the tightest contest of all. They are tied 2-2 in games, and Ottawa is currently ahead 1-0 with about 13 minutes left in the third period. I think that (unfortunately) Ottawa will win this in 6 games.

6. New Jersey/Florida: Much to the chagrin of dauls, I have to agree with your prediction. Florida just shutout New Jersey tonight, and now hold a 3-2 game lead. Florida (unfortunately) in 6 games.

7. Pittsburgh/Philadelphia: If you had told me after the first 3 games that it would be a 7-gamer with Pittsburgh winning, I'd look at you as if you'd lost your mind. However, the past two games have shown a drastic change in momentum. Philadelphia is no longer getting all the calls in their favour(and are getting more calls against them now), and Fleury is not quite the sieve he was, and Pittsburgh is playing with a lot more confidence. I do believe that if any team can come back in any of the first round series, it will be the Penguins. I agree with your prediction.

8. Boston/Washington: I can't honestly say who'll win this one. Neither team has totally blown the other out of the water. That being said, I'm going to pick Washington in 7 just because their goaltender has stolen a couple of games for them so far, and that reminds me of the "Halak run" for Montreal a couple of seasons ago.

One thing I will mention about the playoffs so far is that there have been some entertaining games, but there have also been far too many dirty plays. They need to put a stop to it, and hopefully the Torres suspension is a sign of things to come.

[smc]

With four of the eight first-round Stanley Cup Playoff series completed, I thought I'd review my earlier predictions ... just for fun.

Originally Posted by smc

Los Angeles will beat Vancouver in six games -- a big UPSET and a huge blow to my imaginary NHL in which Los Angeles doesn't even have a team.

I took a lot of heat from my local hockey friends for this prediction, and it turns out I was wrong. Los Angeles only needed 5 games!

Originally Posted by smc

St. Louis will beat San Jose in five games.

I called the Blues over the Sharks in exactly the right number of games.

Originally Posted by smc

Phoenix will prevail over Chicago in six games, despite -- again -- that there shouldn't even be a hockey team in Arizona.

If the Coyotes win tonight, I will have called this one exactly. Chicago has home-ice advantage for Game 6, though, and the Coyotes are 0-7 in their history in games to win a first-round series.

Originally Posted by smc

Detroit will beat Nashville in seven games.

The only thing that would have made me more wrong on this prediction would have been for Nashville to sweep the Red Wings, rather than losing one game.

Originally Posted by smc

Ottawa will make the New York Rangers work much harder than anyone expects, but the Rangers will advance after six games.

I was definitely right that the Senators would make the Rangers work, and New York is facing elimination. I have very serious doubts now as to whether this series will end up with the victor I predicted.

Originally Posted by smc

Florida (another place that shouldn't have a hockey team) will beat the New Jersey Devils in six games.

If Florida wins Game 6, I will have predicted this one correctly.

Originally Posted by smc

Pittsburgh will defeat Philadelphia. It will take seven games, and there will be several Penguin players who are physically unable to advance to Round 2.

The Flyers have prevailed, and I was wrong. I am not surprised, given the poor play of the Penguins.

Originally Posted by smc

The Boston Bruins will beat Washington in six games.

I am already wrong on my Bruins prediction, as far as number of games, but I am confident that with Tyler Seguin and Brad Marchand finally coming alive, the Caps will have a difficult time prevailing at the Garden on Wednesday. The story of this series though far, though, is the amazing play of Washington goalie Braden Holtby.

[shadows]

New Jersey and Florida are currently tied 2-2 in the 1st OT.

[smc]

Okay, the results are in. If I were playing baseball and batting .500, it would be impressive. In predicting hockey series outcomes, though, getting half of them correct doesn't seem like a very good record.

My predictions were:

Originally Posted by smc

Los Angeles will beat Vancouver in six games ...

I called the outcome correctly, although it took one fewer game.

Originally Posted by smc

St. Louis will beat San Jose in five games.

Another correct prediction, with the number of games exact.

Originally Posted by smc

Phoenix will prevail over Chicago in six games ...

Another exact prediction.

Originally Posted by smc

Detroit will beat Nashville in seven games.

It took Nashville only 5 games to prove me wrong.

Originally Posted by smc

Ottawa will make the New York Rangers work much harder than anyone expects, but the Rangers will advance after six games.

Ottawa gave the Rangers even more trouble than I expected, but the Rangers -- as I predicted -- finally prevailed.

Originally Posted by smc

Florida ... will beat the New Jersey Devils in six games.

I didn't want Florida to win, but my prediction was still incorrect. The Devils took the series in 7.

Originally Posted by smc

Pittsburgh will defeat Philadelphia. It will take seven games ...

Wrong!

Originally Posted by smc

The Boston Bruins will beat Washington in six games.

My heart is broken. Washington advances after 7 games.

Now for a stab at the next round. My predictions:

St. Louis will beat Los Angeles in 7 games.

Nashville will beat Phoenix in 6 games.

New York will beat Washington in 7 games.

Philadelphia will beat New Jersey in 7 games.

After the Bruins lost, I was really hoping the Ottawa Senators would win (even though it would have lowered my percentage of correct predictions). I would have rooted for a Canadian team to bring the Stanley Cup back to the country where hockey rules!

[smc]

Originally Posted by smc

Now for a stab at the next round. My predictions:

St. Louis will beat Los Angeles in 7 games.

Nashville will beat Phoenix in 6 games.

New York will beat Washington in 7 games.

Philadelphia will beat New Jersey in 7 games.

Well, I'll be the first to admit that my predictions are not going so well, so far. Both Los Angeles and Phoenix are up 2-0 in their series. Could this be the Kings' year?!

[shadows]

Originally Posted by smc

Well, I'll be the first to admit that my predictions are not going so well, so far. Both Los Angeles and Phoenix are up 2-0 in their series. Could this be the Kings' year?!

Well, since LA just swept St. Louis out of the playoffs, I am now rooting for New Jersey! Go Devils! They currently hold a 3-1 lead in the series.

Yippi-skippi. The Coyotes just beat Nashville 2-1 and *YAWN!* advance to face the Kings. Boy, what a snorefest series that was.

The Rangers beat Washington 3-2 in OT, so they hold a 3-2 series lead so far.

Honestly, if it wasn't for the play of Mike Smith(who?) for Phoenix, they would not have gotten as far as they have so far. Hopefully, they make it no further, as I do not want Buttman any happier than he already is.

[smc]

Where have all the hockey fans gone?

Since I've been so off with predictions after the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs, I won't try again. I am inclined to root for the Rangers, though, only because I like to see Original 6 teams doing well (although I don't think I could ever root for Montreal, being a Bruins fan). I don't think there should even be hockey teams in Los Angeles or Phoenix. Yes, I know it's about the players and not the location (as I was sternly reminded by a friend recently), but seriously ... hockey in the Southwest United States?!

[transjen]

Originally Posted by smc

Where have all the hockey fans gone?

To the ballpark to watch baseball

anyway of all the last teams standing there is non to get excitied about but my crystalball tells me the last two teams standing will be the Devils yuck and the Kings
like i said no exciting teams there so i hope the Kings win, why you ask well i have no real reason other then i can't stand the Devils and the Kings will be a first time cup winner }
now it's time for some baseball go Yankees
Penguins cheerleader Jen

[transjen]

Originally Posted by smc

Don't get me wrong: I hate the Flyers and I don't want to see them advance.

don't you mean the Flyers is the last time you'd want to face in round two
Penguins cheerleader Jen

[HORNYAL]

Over all, I still think that St. Louis has an excellent chance of making it to the last round.

Two great goaltenders such as Halak and Elliot, it's going to be an interesting series.

I still remember what Halak did for my team, the Montreal Canadiens, 2 years ago.

We're still chanting his name here

[smc]

Originally Posted by transjen

don't you mean the Flyers is the last time you'd want to face in round two
Penguins cheerleader Jen

No, I hate them regardless of anything else, including whether they are the team the Bruins would next face.

I made my prediction, though, based on an honest assessment of team chances, not personal "favorites" in each match-up. Had it been done that way, none of those southern teams would have been picked.

[HORNYAL]

Originally Posted by smc

No, I hate them regardless of anything else, including whether they are the team the Bruins would next face.

I made my prediction, though, based on an honest assessment of team chances, not personal "favorites" in each match-up. Had it been done that way, none of those southern teams would have been picked.

It's interesting that you say "favorites" especially when you are so sure that the Bruins will make it to the second round.

Remember, playoff hockey is vastly different than the regular season.
After all these years of watching hockey and especially since the last expansion, the only thing that I'm saying is, watch out for upsets.

[transjen]

Originally Posted by HORNYAL

I

Remember, playoff hockey is vastly different than the regular season.
After all these years of watching hockey and especially since the last expansion, the only thing that I'm saying is, watch out for upsets.

The big upset will be if the Penguins don't win the cup
but the most upsetting thing would be Nashvile vs FL for the cup
Penguins cheerleader Jen

[HORNYAL]

Originally Posted by transjen

The big upset will be if the Penguins don't win the cup
but the most upsetting thing would be Nashvile vs FL for the cup
Penguins cheerleader Jen

It is true that the Penguins function well as a team without Crosby, I worry about Fleury choking. The guy is good but, not always consistant in terms of play.

Crosby did play well yesterday and I see them going strong throughout this series but, the Flyers are brutal when it comes to anything physical.

Finesse vs. brawn. We'll see

[smc]

Originally Posted by HORNYAL

It is true that the Penguins function well as a team without Crosby, I worry about Fleury choking. The guy is good but, not always consistant in terms of play.

Crosby did play well yesterday and I see them going strong throughout this series but, the Flyers are brutal when it comes to anything physical.

Finesse vs. brawn. We'll see

"Brutal"? If only they could restrain themselves to be simply "brutal"!

[smc]

Originally Posted by transjen

The big upset will be if the Penguins don't win the cup
but the most upsetting thing would be Nashvile vs FL for the cup
Penguins cheerleader Jen

I agree with you about Nashville/Florida. If that happens, I will have to go to Brad Marchand's aunt's house in the neighborhood next to mine, ask her to bring him back from Nova Scotia, and ask him to execute me with a major slashing penalty.

[smc]

Originally Posted by HORNYAL

It's interesting that you say "favorites" especially when you are so sure that the Bruins will make it to the second round.

Sorry, but your statement above makes no sense to me. I used the word "favorites" to imply which team I would prefer to win in a matchup, and then stated that my predictions were based on my assessment of who is likely to win, regardless of whether that team is my "favorite" as so defined.

Are you implying that I picked the Bruins to beat the Capitals because they are my favorite? If so, you are wrong. I am a lifelong Bruins fan, but I would not predict their victory if I didn't think it was likely. Rather, I would have said that a Bruins victory was my desire.

Originally Posted by HORNYAL

Remember, playoff hockey is vastly different than the regular season.

It is? Really? Gee, I had no idea. I've only started following hockey ... well ... long before you were born (assuming your birth year on your registration is true).

Originally Posted by HORNYAL

After all these years of watching hockey and especially since the last expansion, the only thing that I'm saying is, watch out for upsets.

And I wrote of an upset in my predictions, even using that word.

[HORNYAL]

Originally Posted by smc

Sorry, but your statement above makes no sense to me. I used the word "favorites" to imply which team I would prefer to win in a matchup, and then stated that my predictions were based on my assessment of who is likely to win, regardless of whether that team is my "favorite" as so defined.

Are you implying that I picked the Bruins to beat the Capitals because they are my favorite? If so, you are wrong. I am a lifelong Bruins fan, but I would not predict their victory if I didn't think it was likely. Rather, I would have said that a Bruins victory was my desire.



It is? Really? Gee, I had no idea. I've only started following hockey ... well ... long before you were born (assuming your birth year on your registration is true).



And I wrote of an upset in my predictions, even using that word.

Well said kind sir. Fair enough. However, you don't need to get sore about it
Oh, age has nothing to do with any type of knowledge, but we'll stick to this matter at hand. I live in Montreal. In case you have forgotten, this is hockeytown. So, do not preach to me any age crap.
I did not imply, I only said that your comment was interesting. I am sorry if you took that as an implication on my part.
I'm also sorry if I completely offended you. That is not my intention.

[smc]

Originally Posted by HORNYAL

Well said kind sir. Fair enough. However, you don't need to get sore about it
Oh, age has nothing to do with any type of knowledge, but we'll stick to this matter at hand. I live in Montreal. In case you have forgotten, this is hockeytown. So, do not preach to me any age crap.
I did not imply, I only said that your comment was interesting. I am sorry if you took that as an implication on my part.
I'm also sorry if I completely offended you. That is not my intention.

I didn't say I knew more about hockey than you because of my age. I simply implied that given how long I have been following hockey, I might actually know (whether you or anyone else on earth also does) that playoff hockey is different than regular season hockey. But if it makes you feel better to call that preaching age crap, knock yourself out. Now that I know two things about you -- you're a Montrealer and a hockey fan -- it makes perfect sense that you would react in that manner.

I wasn't, by the way, offended by what you wrote about my use of the word "favorites." I truly did not, and still do not, understand your point.

As for the "hockeytown" bullshit, well, I'm from an Original 6 city, too, but if it makes you feel better to claim Montreal as the official, one-and-only "hockeytown," go ahead. I think the folks of Sarpsborg, Norway, may take issue with that (you can look it up).