NHL 2010/2011 season....

[AdmiralGarak]

According to NHL Live, Rafalski and Weight will retire.


[yt]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3gASnobVXOc[/yt]
Epic save!

I've got to say Smith played a good game, too. The first half of the season I considered Tampa's tandem of Smith and Ellis to be the worst in the league by no small margin. He's looked like an entirely different player these past few games.

 

[Darth Duck]

WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO! Canucks to the Stanley Cup Finals!

 

[BigFoot]

 

[Gil T.Azell]

I can fucking breathe now, what a tense game my heart is still beating a mile a second.
Way to go Bieksa and the rest of the Canucks.
Four More Wins

 

[tomalak301]

Well, that sucked. Congrats Bigfoot, Garak, and Gil. I think I'm rooting for you guys in the Finals, even though I hope Tampa Bay manages to beat Boston. Should be a fun series no matter what happens.

As for the Sharks, tough way to go out and I should be pissed like there's no tomorrow, but really, what's the point. Sharks have a tendency to lose big games in big moments and to lose site of the puck is inexcusable. Of course it looked like a Patrick Kane moment, so whatever. Sharks are still a laughing stock when it comes to the playoffs, and I'll still be a fan. Still, tough loss.

 

[Skywalker]

Congrats to the Canucks and to their fans. Is this Vancouver's first Stanley Cup Final? I know I could look it up myself, but meh, I'm lazy.

Hopefully Boston will be able to take Game 6.

 

[BigFoot]

^ This will be the Canucks' third trip to the finals. The first one was in '82 (4-0 loss to the Islanders) and the second in '94 (4-3 loss to the Rangers).

 

[Darth Duck]

^Third final for the Canucks. '82 and '94 were the other two.

EDIT:Beat to it. And with better info. Drats.

 

[Gil T.Azell]

Congrats to the Canucks and to their fans. Is this Vancouver's first Stanley Cup Final? I know I could look it up myself, but meh, I'm lazy.

Hopefully Boston will be able to take Game 6.

No its their 3rd appearance
they lost in 1982 to the power house NY Islanders in four straight. (It was the Islanders 3 straight Cup)

and the Lost to the NY Rangers in 1994 in 7 games.

Canuck fans like me are hoping this little bit of trivia brings the Cup home.
1977 Montreal host the Olympics, 1978 they win the Stanley Cup.
1988 Calgary host the Olympics, 1999 Calgary wins the Stanley Cup.
2010 Vancouver hosts the Olympics, 2011???
Believe Canuck fans Believe !!

 

[Skywalker]

Thanks for the info, guys. Good thing they won't be facing a New York team this time.

Interesting bit of trivia, Gil. So if the Canucks do win, does that mean Edmonton and Toronto are going to start pushing hard for an Olympics in the near future?

 

[Garak]

BigFoot, it's been a pleasure supporting the Nucks with you through these years we've been on the board together.

You know as well as I do that Kesler, despite the Sedins having 9 assists between them over the past 2 games, is the MVP so far over the playoffs. I nearly had a heart attack when he went off injured but he comes back to tie the game up with less than 15 seconds to go.

Even better than that is Luongo. I know you aren't here but he for some reason has been getting a hard time from the media and fans. Eff that, the only reason we are in the cup finals is because of him. He is the best goalie by far to play for the Nucks in their entire history.

BF, I've been guarded these entire playoffs but I do like our chances in the Final. And this coming from a guy that thought the sharks would beat us.

Hugs!!!

 

[Garak]

Tomalak31 , there's nothing to be ashamed about finishing as the 4th best team in the league.

If anything you should be proud because Thornton, who had always been described as a playoff choker, absolutely killed it with his 17 pts. Even when it was clear he was injured from the Torres hit he went all out and inspired his team. You wouldn't have seen that a couple of years ago. Couple that with Boyle, who IMO is the best PP qb in the league and Couture and Setoguchi you guys have a lot to look forward to.

Just get rid of Heatley and get some solid D.

As an aside, that is the first ever playoff series Niemi has ever lost.

 

[BigFoot]

BigFoot, it's been a pleasure supporting the Nucks with you through these years we've been on the board together.

You know as well as I do that Kesler, despite the Sedins having 9 assists between them over the past 2 games, is the MVP so far over the playoffs. I nearly had a heart attack when he went off injured but he comes back to tie the game up with less than 15 seconds to go.

Even better than that is Luongo. I know you aren't here but he for some reason has been getting a hard time from the media and fans. Eff that, the only reason we are in the cup finals is because of him. He is the best goalie by far to play for the Nucks in their entire history.

BF, I've been guarded these entire playoffs but I do like our chances in the Final. And this coming from a guy that thought the sharks would beat us.

Hugs!!!

Yeah I think you were the first fellow Canuck fan on this board I ever discussed the team with. So, it's amazing that this team finally made it to the finals.

Kesler has definitely been the MVP. That guy is just a beast. He shut down Toews in round one. Then he single-handedly tipped the scales in Vancouver's favour in the second round against the Preds. And while it's true that the twins finally started producing vs. the Sharks, the team wouldn't have made it this far without Kes.

While it's true that I don't live in Canada, I do read a lot of stuff about the Canucks online (Sportsnet, The Province, Pass It To Bulis, Kurtenblog, CBC, Canucks board...) so I know all about the heat Lu takes on a daily basis. So I'm super happy that he was finally able to shut up his critics, even if only for a few days.

And yeah, just like the team and the whole Canucks organization, I've tried to take it one game and one series at a time... to not get too excited. So I'll go into the finals the same way I went into every series this year, cautiously optimistic.

 

[Winterwind]

Very happy to see a Canadian team in the finals. And I'll be happier still if the Canucks win the cup.

 

[DeafPoet]

Congrats, Canuck fans! Someone in this damn country should be happy with their hockey team and it's good that it's you guys.

 

[Canadave]

Yeah, I'm glad to see the Canucks win. Should be a great series if they face Boston. I'm not sure who I'd call to win that matchup.

 

[BigFoot]

Some very good news for all fellow Canucks fans... Manny Malhotra has been cleared for full contact practice. So it's definitely a possibility he'll play in the finals.

 

[Danny99]

The only reason I want Boston to win tonight: Leafs get the conditional second round pick for Kaberle.

 

[Warped9]

I don't really care who wins the Cup...just as long as it's not Boston.

 

[TheSeeker]

So after two periods of play there's still no score. Looks like next goal could win it. No penalties yet either!