***The Official NHL Thread Version 3.0***

Go Pens!!

 

Thanks for the suggestion for the whole "Other Sports" section, UT. Glad the NHL thread is up and running again. Thanks for that, too.

Unfortunately, my Stars are fading at the end. While I still think the trade for Richards will work out in the long run, in the short run, it seems like the Stars have lost some of their chemistry. Really, though, they've been month on/month off - so hopefully, they can hold out a little longer - get 2-points a few times and get back in the top four for home ice. And then, April can be an on-month!

Another first round knockout (or worse), and their support in Dallas is gonna fade big time. However, I think overall, the team has overachieved this year compared to some of the expectations at the beginning. Just don't like to see the same ol' same ol' again.

 

Go Blackhawks

 

Pens put another hurtin' on the Devils last night. 4 points ahead of them in the Atlantic, and only one point behind Montreal for the #1 seed in the East.

To the rest of the NHL....notice has been served by Crosby, Malkin, Hossa, Fleury, Gonchar, Malone, Sykora, Kennedy, Dupuis, and Letang....

 

Yea...that's what's been surprising me this year. Between Fleury and Conklin they've had the best goaltending I've seen on a Pens team since Barrasso.

 

Bye bye Devils!

Pens up by 6 points now.

 

Ugggh! The Stars choked off yet another one last night. Ahead (again!) going into the 3rd, and they lost in OT. Thornton is now officially a n-n-n-nemesissssssssss. Small consolation, but we did get a point. In our freefall, that is important. But the Stars have got to get out of this malaise.

 

Stars took it on the chin to the Ducks in a shootout, but they got the point that put them into the playoffs. A Stars/Ducks match-up in the first round of the playoffs is looking likely. Actually, while the Duks are pretty good, the Stars have been pretty credible against them this year. It's not as bad a match-up for us as say... the Red Wings.

Are you guys fans of the shoot-out? I know it's exciting and all, but it seems like a lousy way to end a hockey game to me.

 

Sometimes you wonder about how coaches think.

My Pens play the Rangers yesterday, and throughout the entire game the Rangers let the Pens fly through neutral ice without any pressure.

Man, you can't let a team as skilled and as fast as the Penguins just glide into your end without doing any hitting.

 

Pens are gunna spank ya in the home & home coming up.

 

Exactly...and no one's been able to do that with any consistency this year.

Even though they lost last night, AWESOME game with the Rangers! Fleury and Lundqvist were on FIRE last night.

Seems like playoff hockey has started a week early.

 

Give it up for the Atlantic Division Champs....

 

No thanks,consider it a loan.No matter how bad my Devils are playing.Don't forget about them.
But I will show you the respect if they win it all......

 

LOL...typical Devs fan.

 

Go Pens!!

 

Way to show your class last night Leaf fans.
Pretty disgraceful.

 

What happened?

 

GO

FLYERS

 

........................

 

Go check out the Mark Bell hit on Daniel Alfredsson on youtube. The hit itself wasn't that bad, it was a shot to the head that was maybe a touch late.
But it was the fans who were cheering LOUDLY as Alfredsson was down on the ice and bleeding and looked hurt pretty bad.
Then when he finally got up and skated off under his own power, the fans booed.

Just ignorant Torontonians being themselves.

 

It's gunna be fun knocking you guys out of the playoffs on Sunday.

Wow...that's messed up.

 

Gods I love hockey!

 

Rangers vs. Devils

That will be a great series.

 

Rangers vs. Devils: Devils in 7. If the Bruins were not in this would be the series I watch beginning to end. It will be physical and ugly at times.

The physical part I agree with,but if the Devils can't score it will be uglier(and over) before we know it.This matchup,IMO is not what the Devils need right now.

 

Here are my predictions:

East
Montreal vs. Boston: I'd love to see the Bruins pull the upset, but the Habs OWN the Bruins. And I don't trust Tim Thomas. Canadiens in 5.

Pittsburgh vs. Ottawa: I won't make a prediction in this series because my team (the Sens) are involved. And I know I can't be rational about it, so I won't even try......Sens in 7

New Jersey vs. NY Rangers: This is the worst possible first round matchup for the Devils IMO. Lundqvist is the one goalie in the East you can argue rivals Brodeur. The torch gets passed. Rangers in 6

Washington vs. Philadelphia: The Flyers will give the Caps some troubles, but how can you go against Ovechkin and the Caps right now? Capitals in 6

West
Detroit vs. Nashville: The Predators will be over-matched. They blew their wad just trying to get into the postseason. Red Wings in 5

San Jose vs. Calgary: The Flames will hang around and make things tough, because that's what they do. But the Sharks are rolling. This is the year Thornton finally has a big playoff. Sharks in 6

Minnesota vs. Colorado: The Avs will be a popular upset pick because of the trade deadline moves and because of their good play of late. But I like Minny here. I think goaltending will be the difference in a very close series. Wild in 7

Anaheim vs. Dallas: By far the toughest series to pick IMO. If you are betting man, bet the UNDERS. You're going to see a bunch of 1-0 and 2-1 games. The Ducks have had a hard times scoring goals all season. My gut is telling me it will cost them here. Or it could be indigestion. Stars in 7

 

Congrats bro. I was thinking of you upon seeing the Bruins clinch it.

Habs in 6, Pens in 5, Devils in 7, Flyers in 6.
Red Wings in 5, Sharks in 6, Avs in 5, Ducks in 5.

 

You have a chance if Mike Komisarek, the best kept secret in the NHL, isn't healthy enough to be Mike Komisarek. He leads the league in blocked shots, bodychecks, kills penalties, lets all-star Andrei Markov be who he is, and is very reliable in his own end. I have a hard time believing the Habs will be the same team without him. And no-one is talking about Carey Price, lest we forget, as good as he's looked, he's only 20. Who knows how he'll react to the bright lights ? Still, the Habs PP, an essential ingredient, is dynamite, and I think they've got some wily veterans that should push them to the next round.

The draft lottery was yesterday. My LEAFS are drafting 7th this year. I've been in love with Luke Schenn since seeing him at the Juniors, and he should be available in that range, although it's still a wee bit early. He's the real deal.