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Post by blny on Apr 22, 2015 11:01:24 GMT -5
Re that 1993 team, it was only a brutal slide at the end of the season that saw them dip to 3rd in the standings. Up to that point, they were on pace to win the division and likely have near as many points as the Pens. No doubt, the Sabres beating Boston and the Islanders beating the Pens helped, but to win it first you have to get there.
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Post by seventeen on Apr 22, 2015 11:44:21 GMT -5
I didn't think Winnipeg was a stretch to win the Cup. After the Kane trade (who barely played this year), they added Myers and Stafford, they had size, they have speed and they had a guy I thought was a pretty good coach, though given the lack of discipline, one has to wonder about that latter point. What was questionable was the goaltending and Pavelec added that later in the year. He's played fairly well in the 3 games as well. The Ducks just seem blessed at this point (to continue a cue from above). They have this habit of winning one goal games, often in the 3rd. That may come from the opposition tiring and eventually making fatigue errors and poor decisions late in the game. Give credit to Anaheim on that basis. What I wasn't impressed with was the overall talent level on the team. I may be underestimating them since I haven't seen them play much, but the names on their roster, ovreall, don't exactly strike fear into a person's heart. Nate Thompson, Chris Wagner, Maroon, Jackman, Fleischmann, Etem, and even Matt BElesky. They're not even a half point per game players. Perry and Getzlaf, yep, great players, but they don't play 60 minutes a game. Anyway, the point is that they're doing it with skating, effort, finishing checks, backchecking and wearing out people by the 3rd period. I haven't seen Andersson having to make a lot of great saves, either, so they're playing well defensively.
It will be interesting to see how things progress in the next round. What's fascinating is that every team has flaws. Which flaw will be the final straw? If I had my predictions to re-do, I'd put Minnesota much higher on my list. They're playing a very solid, speed game and have a lot of talent throughout the line-up. And then there's always injuries, huh? Burrows has been really effective against Calgary and he ends up breaking a rib in practice before game 4.
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Post by jkr on Apr 22, 2015 16:26:55 GMT -5
I gave Winnipeg a shot. Similarly matched teams, Jets have 3 players with cup rings, Pavelec has been good. What it boils down to though is discipline. The Ducks have been smarter and gotten more from their supporting cast. As far as Winnipeg goes - I can't believe the pass Byfuglien is getting. He was on the ice for 3 goals & his reaction is to lay a cheap shot sucker punch from behind on a vulnerable player. Jeff O'Neill actually praised him for it.  It's was worth at least a major but all he gets is 2 minutes. I'll give you 3 guesses what would have happened if Subban hit someone like that. The discipline in this league is a joke. |
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Post by 24in93 on Apr 22, 2015 16:35:57 GMT -5
O'Neill on the Leafs lunch radio show called it gutless. Was he singing a different tune on TV?
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Post by jkr on Apr 22, 2015 17:41:39 GMT -5
O'Neill on the Leafs lunch radio show called it gutless. Was he singing a different tune on TV? Sure was last night. To paraphrase he said "at least he's mad about losing, the rest of the team should be that angry". Don't these guys realize how many people watch them? |
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Post by Disp on Apr 23, 2015 6:25:43 GMT -5
Jets are done. They're a fun team to watch, but they just do too many dumb things to win consistently. Ducks put them down pretty quick.
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Post by blny on Apr 23, 2015 8:05:57 GMT -5
Jets are done. They're a fun team to watch, but they just do too many dumb things to win consistently. Ducks put them down pretty quick. Last night might have been the only dominant performance by them though. Jets need to work on discipline for sure. That's their Achilles heel. |
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Post by seventeen on Apr 23, 2015 10:37:00 GMT -5
I read something about 4 Jets players playing with serious injuries and 4 others suffering from lesser ones. Course, who knows how many players on the Ducks are suffering as well? Every team has guys playing with injuries (Patches for example). Some may indeed be more serious than others.
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Post by seventeen on Apr 23, 2015 19:46:28 GMT -5
Wings leading Lightning 2-0 after 2. We're complaining about scoring, but the Lightning have to be apoplectic after scoring as much as they have and now going 5 periods in Detroit with no goals. Tsk, tsk.
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Post by seventeen on Apr 23, 2015 20:39:09 GMT -5
Now 2-2. Tyler Johnson with goal and assist. Forget Stamkos. Stop Johnson and you stop TB.
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Post by Skilly on Apr 23, 2015 21:00:44 GMT -5
Tampa scores two goals in 1:17 with under 5 mins to play .... If Detroit goes on to lose this series, that 1:17 will be the reason
Detroit had two chances to get the third goal, both times Tatar cut in and had a shot but didn't take it
AND AS I SPEAK, Tatar tried the same thing again, and it's a three on one the other way and Johnson scores the winner
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Post by CentreHice on Apr 23, 2015 21:37:55 GMT -5
Babcock will experience many such outcomes if he decides to follow the money to Toronto.
Ouch Detroit!
So close to a probable first round upset.
If we end up playing Tampa…we'll have to neutralize JOHNSON! He's a combo Gallagher-St. Louis type. He struck like a shark tonight.
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Post by blny on Apr 23, 2015 21:43:58 GMT -5
Detroit definitely choked on it tonight. They had that game in the bag. Bolts were largely ineffective all night.
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Post by Disp on Apr 23, 2015 21:48:16 GMT -5
Tampa didn't have much going on and bang bang it's tied.
That's one of those games everyone will remember if TBay goes on to win the cup. It all could have ended without that 1:17 stretch.
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Post by CentreHice on Apr 23, 2015 23:19:30 GMT -5
To get it rolling, it was the usually dependable Helm who stopped skating hard on the backcheck….Johnson just pulled away from him.
Then Mrazek didn't play the angle very well. Roof, short-side.
Sometimes, that's all you need.
Detroit also went 0-4 on the PP, including the following sequence in the second period.
5-on-4 for 1:21
5-on-3 for 0:39
5-on-4 for 1:21
A straight 3:21 of PP time.
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Post by seventeen on Apr 24, 2015 1:40:30 GMT -5
To get it rolling, it was the usually dependable Helm who stopped skating hard on the backcheck….Johnson just pulled away from him. Then Mrazek didn't play the angle very well. Roof, short-side. Sometimes, that's all you need. Detroit also went 0-4 on the PP, including the following sequence in the second period. 5-on-4 for 1:21 5-on-3 for 0:39 5-on-4 for 1:21 A straight 3:21 of PP time. Are Therrien/Lacroix moonlighting? |
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Post by blny on Apr 25, 2015 19:47:39 GMT -5
Islanders force game 7. Nassau crowd was very loud the whole game.
Wings have learned from game 4 and are up 4-0 in game 5 with minute to go. Textbook road game. They weathered the early storm and then shut the Bolts down. Speed, intelligence, and discipline.
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Post by Disp on Apr 25, 2015 19:55:32 GMT -5
Tampa is lucky it isn't over.
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Post by seventeen on Apr 25, 2015 19:57:09 GMT -5
I'll echo that discipline part. Tampa have feasted on teams when they get them running around. Today when a Wing was checking a guy in the Wing zone and the puck squirted loose to a Lightning player who should be checked by someone else, the original Wing stayed with their man. Their discipline in their own end is a treat to watch and certainly reduces the overall chances against.
Another important part of the Wing game plan was Zetterberg neutralizing Johnson. He was either tasked with that role or chose to make it his personal mission. Johnson was not a factor in the game and showed frustration at various times. Textbook lesson from Babcock on how to tackle Tampa. And just think, he'll very likely be available this summer. The chances of being a Habs coach, though are zero.
Mrazek played decently, but the Wings really limited the dangerous chances against. Many shots on net were from a bad angle. A lot of shots were blocked. It was a true team shutout, not a steal. LIghtning one loss away from another first round exit. Sure hope so.
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Post by blny on Apr 25, 2015 20:04:07 GMT -5
Wings have very active sticks. Constantly deflecting passes. Those sticks forced passers to make bad passes a lot. Hedman couldn't get a clean pass to Stamkos. Even Stamkos was gun shy as the game wore on. Wings speed, and conditioning, allows for a persistent back check. They press hard on the Tampa puck carrier, and angle them at will.
Injury reports out of Winnipeg indicate that Ladd played the last 2 months with a sports hernia and Trouba was playing with an actual broken hand. Not sure if it happened in the series or not.
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Post by Gogie on Apr 25, 2015 20:18:54 GMT -5
Wings have very active sticks. Constantly deflecting passes. Those sticks forced passers to make bad passes a lot. Hedman couldn't get a clean pass to Stamkos. Even Stamkos was gun shy as the game wore on. Wings speed, and conditioning, allows for a persistent back check. They press hard on the Tampa puck carrier, and angle them at will. Injury reports out of Winnipeg indicate that Ladd played the last 2 months with a sports hernia and Trouba was playing with an actual broken hand. Not sure if it happened in the series or not. From what I've read Trouba broke it in game 2 of the series. Jets played through pain: " Trouba, who is set to undergo surgery, told reporters he could only use two fingers on his left hand after Game 2." |
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Post by jkr on Apr 25, 2015 20:56:31 GMT -5
Wings have very active sticks. Constantly deflecting passes. Those sticks forced passers to make bad passes a lot. Hedman couldn't get a clean pass to Stamkos. Even Stamkos was gun shy as the game wore on. Wings speed, and conditioning, allows for a persistent back check. They press hard on the Tampa puck carrier, and angle them at will. Injury reports out of Winnipeg indicate that Ladd played the last 2 months with a sports hernia and Trouba was playing with an actual broken hand. Not sure if it happened in the series or not. From what I've read Trouba broke it in game 2 of the series. Jets played through pain: " Trouba, who is set to undergo surgery, told reporters he could only use two fingers on his left hand after Game 2." forward that story to Ottawa so they know what a real fracture is. |
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Post by jkr on Apr 25, 2015 20:56:56 GMT -5
Wings have very active sticks. Constantly deflecting passes. Those sticks forced passers to make bad passes a lot. Hedman couldn't get a clean pass to Stamkos. Even Stamkos was gun shy as the game wore on. Wings speed, and conditioning, allows for a persistent back check. They press hard on the Tampa puck carrier, and angle them at will. Injury reports out of Winnipeg indicate that Ladd played the last 2 months with a sports hernia and Trouba was playing with an actual broken hand. Not sure if it happened in the series or not. Stamkos without a goal in the series. |
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Post by jkr on Apr 25, 2015 20:59:06 GMT -5
Babcock will experience many such outcomes if he decides to follow the money to Toronto. Will it be just about money if he goes? I imagine he will get big bucks anywhere he lands. Not sure about that Shanahan connection. I think it was BC that mentioned that they were only together one season. |
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Post by CentreHice on Apr 25, 2015 21:20:43 GMT -5
Canucks just choked away a 3-0 lead.
3-3 with about 13:00 to play in the second period.
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Post by blny on Apr 25, 2015 21:52:59 GMT -5
Hawks might be the most resilient team in the league. Experience paying dividends. Down 3-0 early, Darling comes out for Crawford. They storm back to tie. It's now 4-3 late in third on a nice goal from Keith. No lead is safe against them imo.
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Post by CentreHice on Apr 25, 2015 22:02:45 GMT -5
Series over.
With about 15 seconds left to play, Ribeiro was at the end boards in the Chicago zone...and just fired it back to the point. I don't even think he looked.
Nowhere near his dmen.
Killed any hopes of a last chance.
Sure wish we could find some of the sustained intensity other playoff top teams seem to be able to generate.
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Post by blny on Apr 25, 2015 22:06:40 GMT -5
Flames down 4-3 to start third. They've scored 115 of their 237 goals in the 3rd this year.
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Post by CentreHice on Apr 25, 2015 22:08:39 GMT -5
The Preds, understandably, really missed Shea Weber.
Thems the breaks.
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Post by blny on Apr 25, 2015 22:15:44 GMT -5
Hudler ties it on PP ...
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It's was worth at least a major but all he gets is 2 minutes. I'll give you 3 guesses what would have happened if Subban hit someone like that. The discipline in this league is a joke.
