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Canucks over Kings
Blues over Sharks (the blues usually wait til the second round to choke spectacularly)
Hawks over Coyotes (how the fuck did the Coyotes get 3rd place this year?)
Red Wings over Predators
Rangers over Senators
Bruins over Caps (every Caps game I've watched in the past month feels like they blew a 3-0 lead in the 3rd and baaaarreeelllyy held on)
Devils over Panthers
Penguins over Flyers
This is an absolutely fair statement, except that in some instances we couldn't even hold on, like against Winnipeg. However, they had the opportunity to repeat this unfortunate pattern in their last two games of the season, but were able to hold off: Florida was able to close the gap to 3-2 on Thursday, and I was sure they'd tie it up, but instead Semin nets an insurance goal in the last couple minutes; and then against New York we were up 4-0 when Brian Boyle breaks the goose egg about halfway through the second -- plenty of time to catch up, but we keep frustrating them, keeping shots to the outside, and hold off once again. The difference in these two games as opposed to the few weeks before? Has to be an increasingly healthy and game-ready Backstrom. We had been without a genuine top-line Center for months and it was killing us. And he's only just now starting to hint at his true peak form.Quote:
Originally Posted by Hated Milk Machine
Not that I'd guarantee post-season success for the Caps, but it will be interesting to see how they react to the adjusted expectations as opposed to years past. If they manage to make a deep run, they'll surprise everyone and suddenly Dale Hunter is probably back next year, if they bow out early, they'll surprise no one and it will be met with a shrug and Dale Hunter probably won't come back along with much of the team itself. But I'm inclined to think having to battle just to get into the playoffs, as opposed to years past where they've been set as early as January or February, should serve them better with their play now that they're in.
But let the chips fall where they may. Now the real season begins.
No need to apologize for that prediction. In a way it almost feels good to not have high expectations. Supposedly Carter should be back come game one and Daniel Sedin is expected to still be out, so that's one thing on the plus side. Also, when the Kings play well, they are pretty good and could definitely give the 'Nucks a good fight. The problem is that they're so inconsistent. I'm hoping for the energized version to show up so it's not all up to Quick to keep 'em in contention. (Although if he gets hot, he could definitely keep them alive as well.)Quote:
Originally Posted by Umlaut
Plus, the Kings need to watch out on account of how the Nucks coach has been known to leap off the bench and straight up tackle fools on a breakaway.
I'm crossing my fingers that the nasty that came out in LA in those last two games against the Sharks comes out against Vancouver.
Watch out NHL if the Kings keep playing like that. Great effort! :grin:
Rangers over Senators
Capitals over Bruins
Panthers over Devils
Flyers over Penguins
Kings over Canucks
Blues over Sharks
Coyotes over Blackhawks
Predators over Red Wings
The lack of a suspension for Weber's horrible end of game hit is probably the most bullshit thing I've experienced in the few years I've been following this sport. What a total crock of shit, and I like the Preds.
Terrible decision by the NHL.
Lewd Gesture (BJ): 2 games
Slamming someones head into the glass: $2,500
Not bothering to finish this meme adequately: Priceless.
It's in the rear-view mirror now, but along similar lines, what did you guys think about Ryane Clowe's poke check from the bench against the Kings last week? Some took a "he got away with it on the ice, so good for him" attitude, but to me it was such fundamental cheating, and in a potentially dangerous fashion (both physically dangerous and precedent-setting dangerous), it warranted a suspension. He got off with no repercussions at all.
Edit: In case you missed it... See :08 mark of this video:
<iframe width="640" height="360" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/OvBfc2phEV4" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
An NHL coach says naughty words about the Penguins including Greatest Man To Ever Hold A Hockey Stick (as decided by the NHL) Sidney Crosby = $20,000
A captain of a team, in the last seconds of a game, grabs another player BY THE HEAD and slams this head into the boards = $2,500 -- the equivalent of what he gets paid for 40 seconds of play time.
Edit: Oh yeah, that Ryan Clowe shit was the biggest blatant display of cheating in the entire regular season.
Ryan Clowe's stick work should have been a two minute penalty a best. It did not warrant a suspension. I am a Sharks fan though, so take that as you will.
The only people who should have been suspended in that game were the refs.
It was the dumbest thing I've ever seen in hockey, but I wouldn't call that a suspension, it's just a missed call.
I don't think he should have been suspended either, but it was blatantly obvious to everyone on the ice, in the arena, and watching at home, and yet nothing was called, which is just insanity.
http://i1131.photobucket.com/albums/...on04142012.gif
Aaaahhhh...
Also, all of this hockey is awesome. All of it. God, I just love playoff hockey.
If you want to see some of the worst playoff hockey, go rewatch that Pens/Flyers game. Awful.
Yeah, wow. What did I just watch?
The Pens are the sorest losers. When it was clear they were going to lose, they just took as many cheap shots as possible. Their defense is so thin and makes their team overrated when the Crosby/Malkin/Neal isn't dominant. Absolutely deserved ass-whupping on the scoreboard.
That Pens/Flyers game was HILARIOUS! I think I hate Pittsburgh even more...I had no idea that was possible.
Kings.