Hockey Talk - 2007-2008 Season

[tomalak301]

Why couldn't Dallas play like that against the Sharks. It would have been a much better series.

Looking forward to the all PA series starting tomorrow night. Now that San Jose is out, I would love to see Sid the Kid against anyone out west. I think the NHL would love that too. Maybe they might prefer the Red Wings but I think the Stars will bounce back.

 

[Ovation]

Well, now that end of semester madness is done (I hate marking and end of term paperwork), time to comment on the Habs-Philly series and make a new round of predictions (I've been so busy that I don't even know who won last night--though judging from the post right above me, it was Detroit).

First, predictions:

Detroit in 6
Pittsburgh in 6

To the Flyers: Congratulations. While too many have failed to respect what the Flyers did, I'm not one of them. Luck certainly did play a role (10+ post shots that didn't go in for the Habs) but all teams with long playoff runs have luck on their side. No one can win the Cup without some luck (and Habs fans should know this--when does anyone think ANY team, EVER, will win TEN OT games IN A ROW in the same playoff season?). And while Price was weaker than anticipated, the Flyers would not have been able to capitalize on that if they weren't hustling. Umberger will likely never do anything like that again (John Druce, anyone?) but he should enjoy the run while it lasts. Richards and Carter were great (I'd take either on on the Habs in an instant--Richards ahead of Briere by quite a stretch) and Philly's "supporting cast" (Umberger, Upshall, and Hartnell) was better than Montreal's. I am disappointed the Habs lost but I'm not bitter--a young team that resembles, more than any previous Habs team, the 73-74 Habs; some good raw talent, a few capable veterans and a couple of missing pieces away from becoming a serious, long-term contender. The future looks good for the Habs (remember, the Pens were in the basement a very short time ago, as were the Flyers last year--the Habs are building from a better position).

As for the Flyers, I think Crosby, Malkin et al. represent a bigger challenge to Biron and company and Fleury is on fire. While I won't be stunned if the Flyers win, I think the run stops here.

And Detroit, I think, will be drinking from the Cup come June.

My 2 cents.

 

[Alidar Jarok]

Pittsburgh had The Deer Hunter, half of which was set in a desolate, violent warscape and the other half of which was set in Vietnam.

Philly's trying to call Pittsburgh violent!? What is this? The Mirror Universe? Philly's got one of the worst violent crime rates in the country!

Oh yeah, no doubt. But that wasn't serious, so don't take it seriously. The article honestly has the most praise I've seen coming from the Philly sports media ever. The only thing they did negative was complain about Pittsburgh fans complaining about Flyers fans.

I think this is going to be a good series. It'll certainly be a very passionate series and there will probably be some fights. I think one comment was that, in the last two series, it took half a game to show that the teams didn't like each other, in this series, it'll take half a minute. Either way, it should be fun.

 

[Wonderlust King]

Penguins looked mighty fine tonight. I think i need to get my broom out again.

 

[AdmiralGarak]

Pittsburgh had The Deer Hunter, half of which was set in a desolate, violent warscape and the other half of which was set in Vietnam.

Philly's trying to call Pittsburgh violent!? What is this? The Mirror Universe? Philly's got one of the worst violent crime rates in the country!

Oh yeah, no doubt. But that wasn't serious, so don't take it seriously. The article honestly has the most praise I've seen coming from the Philly sports media ever. The only thing they did negative was complain about Pittsburgh fans complaining about Flyers fans.

I'm not taking it seriously. I cracked up at the line saying that Pens fans are like Flyers fans, only more polite.

Enjoy the polite, brotherly love Pittsburgh fans have for their favorite NHL rivals. Feel the warmth. (NWS)

("We never shoot / We'd rather pass" 12 years later, and that's only just started to change.)

 

[AdmiralGarak]

10 down, 6 to go... {crosses fingers} The Flyers deserved to lose that one. Dirty, dirty hockey. One guy even wholloped Fleury as the play had already moved into the Flyer's zone.

Also, that Pens goal late in the 1st Period being ruled no-good is outrageous. There was no doubt that it had crossed the line.

 

[Alidar Jarok]

I didn't get to see the game because it was on a stupid channel, but, from what I understand, the puck was covered by the glove so it was impossible to see whether or not it had crossed (they reviewed the play to see if they could find any angle where it conclusively crossed but they didn't. Then again, they reviewed a play where the puck was sitting in the back of the Pens net before getting scooped out, so they review a lot of plays). Besides, that goal gets offset by the phantom penalty that led to a powerplay goal for the Pens.

The Flyers are missing their top two defensemen and probably their best goal scorer, so it's a tough battle, that's for sure.

 

[tomalak301]

In news that no one probably cares about other than me:

SAN JOSE, Calif. (AP)—The San Jose Sharks fired coach Ron Wilson on Monday after the team’s latest disappointing early ouster from the Stanley Cup playoffs.


Wilson, hired by the club in December 2002, is the Sharks’ leader in wins and winning percentage, but San Jose only advanced past the second round of the postseason once with him behind the bench.
The Sharks were the No. 2 seed in this year’s Western Conference playoffs, but were eliminated in six games in the second round by the Dallas Stars after falling into a 3-0 hole.


San Jose earned two Pacific Division titles, including this season when the Sharks went 49-23-10, under Wilson and reached the Western Conference finals in 2004 before falling to upstart Calgary.


In four-plus seasons, Wilson—the sixth coach in team history—went 206-134-45 in 385 regular-season games.



“Ron helped foster a new era in San Jose Sharks hockey with some record-setting, regular-season performances,” general manager Doug Wilson said in a statement. “However, ultimately we have decided that it is time for a different voice and a different approach to lead this team.


“We are proud of what we’ve accomplished as an organization, but we feel that this team is capable of achieving greater success.”
Wilson is the franchise leader in postseason games, posting a 28-24 mark in 52 games. In addition to the appearance in the conference finals, Wilson also led the Sharks to the second round in his final three seasons as coach.

http://sports.yahoo.com/nhl/news;_y...ug=ap-sharks-ronwilsonfired&prov=ap&type=lgns


I can't say I'm surprised. Still, after losing in 4 overtimes, this is a hell of a way to go out.

 

[AdmiralGarak]

I don't follow the Western Conference all that much, but it sounds it a bit ungreatful to me. The Sharks were no slouches in the playoff games I caught. Reaching the 2nd round of the Playoffs and lasting 6 games is no small accomplishment.

 

[tomalak301]

I don't follow the Western Conference all that much, but it sounds it a bit ungreatful to me. The Sharks were no slouches in the playoff games I caught. Reaching the 2nd round of the Playoffs and lasting 6 games is no small accomplishment.

It's past history though. This team has reached the playoffs every year in Wilson's tenure and the last few years they can't get out of the second round. If it was any other way the Sharks lost, I would have been greatly joyed over this decision. Since it happens right after a valiant effort taking 4 overtimes on the road, it's lost a bit of the luster.

 

[Ovation]

Perhaps now the Sharks can actually live up to the offensive potential on their roster. Wilson's approach to the game was not entirely suited to his roster--he'd have fit in more in the Devils' mode of play, I suspect. Should be interesting to see who steps up to be the next Sharks' bench boss.

 

[Delsaber]

http://sports.yahoo.com/nhl/news;_y...ug=ap-sharks-ronwilsonfired&prov=ap&type=lgns


I can't say I'm surprised. Still, after losing in 4 overtimes, this is a hell of a way to go out.

I wonder if the same thing will happen in Dallas if Detroit sweeps, which is looking pretty likely. Then again, I could've sworn the Stars just went through a house cleaning...

 

[Ovation]

The coach is still the same in Dallas--and as any coach NOT hired by current management knows, job security is rare.

 

[the 4th hanson bro]

earlier this season, Dallas changed GMs from Doug Armstrong to a co-GM situation with Brett Hull and some other guy.

As I heard Bill Guerin say about Hull, assessing his qualifications " you don't score that many goals in the NHL by being stupid"

 

[tomalak301]

Dallas is pulling a San Jose on Detroit. Good win for them on the road. Hopefully they can get it done at home and send it to game 7.

 

[Alidar Jarok]

Kimmo Timonen is going to play tomorrow night against the Penguins, inspite of the blood clot in his ankle. Hopefully he'll be OK (and hopefully it'll be worth it and the Flyers win).

 

[Ariadne]

Dallas is pulling a San Jose on Detroit. Good win for them on the road. Hopefully they can get it done at home and send it to game 7.

Yeah! That was exciting.

 

[Kolrad]

I find it interesting that only two teams in the history of the NHL have ever lost a best-of-seven series after having a 3-0 lead. Those teams are... the Pittsburgh Penguins and the Detroit Red Wings.

I'm hoping that, in the Penguins' case at least, history won't repeat itself! They've got a great winning streak at home, so I'm hopeful they'll end the Flyers' season tomorrow.

 

[AdmiralGarak]

I'm hoping that, in the Penguins' case at least, history won't repeat itself! They've got a great winning streak at home, so I'm hopeful they'll end the Flyers' season tomorrow.

You certainly got your wish!

With two minutes left as I post this, let's sing along with the fans in the Igloo--
Na, na, na, na
Na, na, na, na
Hey, hey, hey
Goodbye!

 

[Wonderlust King]

Here's hoping the Stars take the Red Wings 7 games, although I'm not sure it matters, the penguins have the momentum of a freight train.

BTW, Pittsburgh is going crazy right now. Every game day at least 50 percent of people i see on the street are wearing some sort of penguins gear. To think people made fun of me wearing my customized jersey a few years back. I see some of these people now fully decked out in hockey gear. FAIR WEATHER FANS!