NHL Playoffs 2012

Blues v San Jose on Thursday! Gonna head up to the bars with some buds and catch the first game. Should be a good one this year. Couv, ny, pitt...some very talented teams and everyone gonna be puttin on their game face. Didn't really watch the regular season but my roomie has been followin it pretty well. Anyone else checkin out the playoffs?

i will be, but my kings are doomed, i'm afraid. they cannot beat vancouver in the playoffs.

NYR-OTT

Possible upset potential in this pairing. If Lundqvist falters this could get problematic for the Rags. Goes to 6 or 7 games.

BOS-WSH

Boston ought to make it through easily. The Caps have not been impressive this season. Ovechkin the only Cap that will show up.

BOS in 5-6 games

FLA-NJD

Devils will make quick work of the Panthers. Possibly sweep. NJ in 4-5 games

PIT-PHI

Should be a brutal series between two teams that don't like each other. Pens is a favourite and if they get off to a good start it will be over quickly, if Philly can get a couple of wins early on it will more than likely go to 7. I hope for a Flyer advancement, but Pens have the odd on their side. 6-7 games Pens, if 7 games anything goes.

VAN-LAK

Canucks ought to handle this, unless Quick goes a Halak and wins an entire series by himself. Low scoring affairs are to be expected. Either 5 games or maybe 6-7 if Kings make it a series by rattling Luongo and his team. Should be a fun series

STL-SJS

Blues the favourite, not convinced the Sharks can overcome their stifling defensive style. Sharks haven't been no good this season. Blues in 5-6 games

PHX-CHI

Chicago has a wider array of offensive weapons that will make them advance in maybe 6 or 7. Mike Smith could steal a couple of games, but he is still a largely unwritten leaf in the playoffs. But Phoenix still has a better than average chance to advance. I am obviously going to root for the Blackhawks.

NSH-DET

Most likely series to go 7 games. Predators are an annoying well-coached team to play against. Not convinced that the Wings can "turn it on" for the playoffs that easily as it before seemed. Nashville draws the longest straw.

Cant wait to get sedin back even though we can still hold our own.

And with Schneider if Lou gets rattled we have a solid replacement for him.

since the sabres are out (not that they would have gone far anyway) i'll be rooting mostly for western teams. nyr, pitt, philly boston and ottawa are all pretty hated here. this is like my first year really watching hockey so i'm a noob but i like chicago and detroit.

hoping the sabres ditch leino and boyes in the offseason, sounds like roy is on the way out too.

  On 4/11/2012 at 3:51 PM, essines said:

Cant wait to get sedin back even though we can still hold our own.

 

And with Schneider if Lou gets rattled we have a solid replacement for him.

What happens if Schneider takes over. Will they trade Luongo? Who would want him at that lifetime contract and unreliable playoff performer?

  On 4/11/2012 at 3:58 PM, theSun said:

since the sabres are out (not that they would have gone far anyway) i'll be rooting mostly for western teams. nyr, pitt, philly boston and ottawa are all pretty hated here. this is like my first year really watching hockey so i'm a noob but i like chicago and detroit.

 

hoping the sabres ditch leino and boyes in the offseason, sounds like roy is on the way out too.

Leino ain't going nowhere. They threw a lot of money at him (bad move) and with the money owed and years left he is not going to be easy to move. Boyes on the other hand is a free agent this July so he wont be back, unless the want him to.

  On 4/11/2012 at 3:58 PM, theSun said:

since the sabres are out (not that they would have gone far anyway) i'll be rooting mostly for western teams.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3UttQzF5C5I

Praying for a repeat of last year. Exactly the same.

  On 4/11/2012 at 8:48 PM, chenGOD said:

Praying for a repeat of last year. Exactly the same.

I don't want the same teams in the finals again. Anyone but the Bruins, Canucks , Wangs and Pens are welcome to the finals,

Flyers miss Pronger hard.

I want the Canucks to lose in game 7 (and play another lousy game 7), just so Vancouver fans can have their hearts stepped on once again.

Great start. All the right teams lost. Hope it continues.

Agreed. Good games tonight! Pitt and philly game was epic!

I was frankly disappointed by the Canucks. I hate that team with all the fibers in my body, but they are a good team. Not this time. Kings came hard and made these Vancouver mental midgets take dumb penalties like the petulant children they are. Richards hit on Burrows in the end was perfect and set the tone for the next game. I expect Richards to be a factor in this series, he had an excellent game.

That game was embarassing but I don't think it spells demise for the Canucks. The Kings are good but you can not deny that the Canucks are superior. I would kill for a Van/Bos final rematch.

  On 4/12/2012 at 5:04 PM, essines said:

That game was embarassing but I don't think it spells demise for the Canucks. The Kings are good but you can not deny that the Canucks are superior. I would kill for a Van/Bos final rematch.

agreed. i'm happy with the win but i'm not fooling myself about how the rest of the series is going to play out. i'm impressed with the way the kings played, but am wondering where that was the entire season (or at least the last couple of weeks, when they could have won the division and locked the 3 seed).

the canucks are definitely superior.

  On 4/12/2012 at 5:04 PM, essines said:

That game was embarassing but I don't think it spells demise for the Canucks. The Kings are good but you can not deny that the Canucks are superior. I would kill for a Van/Bos final rematch.

Usually the home team that got smacked in the first game comes back with a vengeance the next game. If they don't show signs of improvement and win the next game, then I might get worried if I were a Canuck fan. Kesler needs to quit being the prima ballerina on the ice and start playing hockey. His diving was embarrasing.

anyone but the Bruins please.

PHX-CHI game was pretty entertaining. Hawks need to stop being retards in their own zone and get that PP to work even somehow if they want to get out of this round. Phoenix played a well structured and organized game which were the keys to victory even if the Hawks managed to pepper Smith with shots, most of them low quality though. On to next game and hopefully with a better structure to the game, too much running around.

  On 4/12/2012 at 8:12 PM, azatoth said:

  On 4/12/2012 at 5:04 PM, essines said:

That game was embarassing but I don't think it spells demise for the Canucks. The Kings are good but you can not deny that the Canucks are superior. I would kill for a Van/Bos final rematch.

 

Usually the home team that got smacked in the first game comes back with a vengeance the next game. If they don't show signs of improvement and win the next game, then I might get worried if I were a Canuck fan. Kesler needs to quit being the prima ballerina on the ice and start playing hockey. His diving was embarrasing.

I won't comment on the diving comment, but Kesler has been far too hit and miss this season. I blame it partially on his injured start, but it is still no excuse. He's my favorite Canuck so I hope he pulls it together. He's a hell of a player.

Also all season Pheonix hasn't registered much on my radar. I think they can do quite well.

sj and stl last night was a great game. that sj goalie (niemi?) had some nice saves. will be watching that series whenever i can.

looks like phi-pit and det-nas in my area so will be watching the latter lol

niemi was a beast. stl NEEDS to game up on 5 man and pp's. last night was a

halak did a decent job tho.

this pit phi game is crazy. nice to see these teams beating the shit out of each other

hell yes!

kings special teams getting it done.

though for some reason, i feel like the canucks have them right where they want them.