NHL Playoffs '09

[Azaroth]

Fuck, Osgood has played well.

[Azaroth]

PING!

Hal "The Thrill" Gill strikes again.

[Abagadro]

Heh. Didn't know that that many people could fit into a crease.

[Montague]

Give Scuderi some pads and put him in net.

[Abagadro]

Awwwww yeah. Game 7 for Lord Stanley's. Gotta love it.

[NiX]

Failed break away and Fleury's damn arm cut Detroit from tying it up in the last couple minutes.

Time to win it at home, I guess.

[Special J]

That was a great hockey game. Game 7 - wouldn't want it any other way.  I know it favours Detroit, but it's down to one game.  Anyone can win one game.

Respect the legends, I always say. Forcing Lange out to radio in favour of that hack Steigerwald was a damn shame and an awful move by Fox.

I was on the move tonight so I picked up Lange over XM between access to TVs.  He's solid.

[Azaroth]

Two late powerplays and I was shitting my drawers the entire time.

I was quite convinced that they were going to tie it up on the second powerplay. I was happy to escape the first.

Going to a seventh game is epic. I don't know what it is about home ice this series, though. I'm not entirely optimistic about Pittsburgh's chances.

[Paelos]

So I get my wish after all, and I was an empty netter away from getting the score right.

Detroit wins, 4-2 at home btw.

[Azaroth]

I can't find the CBC intro for tonight's game. I'll post the youtube link if I can find it later. Epic, though. Totally awesome.

Too bad the level of epicness was taken down about ten notches as soon as Jim Hughson started talking.

[naum]

Two late powerplays and I was shitting my drawers the entire time.

I was quite convinced that they were going to tie it up on the second powerplay. I was happy to escape the first.

Going to a seventh game is epic. I don't know what it is about home ice this series, though. I'm not entirely optimistic about Pittsburgh's chances.

The one on Guerin was a bullshit call — Detroit skater should have been whistled for a dive — watch the replay.

The call on Malkin too was questionable, not that it was not a legitimate penalty, just that I watch Kronwall commit the same act (or blatantly interfere with forward, or throw an elbow…) every single shift he's on the ice…

But Pens beat Wings at their own Brian Sutter bullshit clutch & grab game, even if Babcock is performing some kind of services for McCreary…

[Azaroth]

I think it's been known that Babcock has been babbing on McCreary's cock for some time. Not the point.

You can call any of the penalties last night bullshit if you want. Penguins adapted, Penguins won. No one in particular benefited from the powerplays (although I'd trade first period powerplays for third period powerplays anytime, and if the Penguins got third period powerplays people would be shitting their pants and screaming conspiracy,  but whatever).

[Slayerik]

Come on guys, please don't say that was called Detroit's way last night. Seriously, I'd lose some respect for y'all (not that you Pen's fans give a fuck but hey)

If anything, it was called pretty decent compared to the last 5.

Game 7 in Detroit....Fuckin' A! Should be awesome.

[Bunk]

I can't find the CBC intro for tonight's game. I'll post the youtube link if I can find it later. Epic, though. Totally awesome.

Too bad the level of epicness was taken down about ten notches as soon as Jim Hughson started talking.

Are you hating on Jim Hughson?! 

I know Cole was a classic, but come on. Did you really want to watch a final with: "And there goes Crosby, and he's got the puck, and... ... ... Lebda has the puck"

Shit, some of those games this year - there'd be a three shot flurry ending up with the puck sitting on the goal line before a miraculous save - and Cole would say "there's a shot". Unless of course it was the Leafs...

[naum]

If anything, it was called pretty decent compared to the last 5.

No.

Officiating was just as dreadful in game #6…

Penguins skaters (Orpik, Staal) have scars on their faces from being slashed/high sticked w/ no call yet Guerin gets whistled for a phantom high stick (+ Red Wing skater dive)…

Babcock is working the refs a lot more than Blysma, who's too soft spoken…

Not disputing the 3rd period Malkin penalty, but again, I see Kronwall do the same thing (or throw an elbow, or blatantly interfere) EVERY shift…

In game #6 I see the Penguins laying the body (yes, sometimes going in high) but I don't see them clutching, holding, grabbing, holding the stick, etc.… like the Red Wings…

On twitter, Wings fans think Scuderi should have been called for gloving the puck in the crease, but I watched that replay at least a half-dozen times and there's no definitive evidence of that…

Hopefully Friday night, Fleury brings his A game, Pens continue to play like game #6 and prevail despite the immense deviation of how the game has been called in the finals, compared to the 1st 3 rounds of the post-season…

[Slayerik]

We got called on a horrible interference call in the first, and saw some other questionable shit. I just don't focus so much on that side of the game and actually like watching the play. You guys need to stop your fuckin' crying. Detroit has had to deal with one sided officiating for the last two years. Go somewhere else with your bullshit, cause I ain't buying. :)

[Azaroth]

Bylsma doesn't work the refs, I'm assuming, because he thinks that it'll create mutual respect and the refs will appreciate it, etc. He wrote a couple books on hockey and coaching and such, so I'm assuming he's overthought the situation to that degree.

Problem is that the referees in the NHL are universally about as smart as a fucking lamp post and ARE manipulated QUITE effectively by post-game and media bitching. Screaming from the bench very often buys makeup calls, etc.

Also yes, I AM hating on Jim Hughson. His epic call at the end of the game last night sent shivers down your spine, did it?


"Pittsburgh wins.


...



Pittsburgh wins."


Oh, fuck, thanks Jim. Well, that's good I guess.

[Azaroth]

http://www.theonion.com/content/from_print/evil_red_wings_owner_wario

[Azaroth]

[naum]

All the Caps fans jumped on the Octopus wagon I see…

Either people are sick of Red Wings winning the Cup or Penguins have a lot of fans nationwide…

[Azaroth]

Hey. They have Maryland.

Don't you forget Maryland.

[Strazos]

Looks like a bunch of pissed WSH fans.

[Paelos]

I'm ok either way. I don't really like either team and they both piss me off. I'm probably leaning towards the Wings just because I think they are better.

[Azaroth]

All the Caps fans jumped on the Octopus wagon I see…

Either people are sick of Red Wings winning the Cup or Penguins have a lot of fans nationwide…

High flying offensive hockey with two of the three best players in the world and a cast of enthusiastic kids versus hook 'em, hold 'em, interference-as-a-system 1-2-2 trapping bullshit that was supposed to be abolished half a decade ago... I'd say you have a combination of both.

Funny how obvious it is that most of the Crosby hating comes from Canada. There are plenty of people up here on the Red Wings bandwagon for purely that reason.

I wonder if they'll be cheering when he puts on a Canadian jersey this winter.

Give him to the Swedes, I'm sure they'll say. 

[Special J]

Funny how obvious it is that most of the Crosby hating comes from Canada. There are plenty of people up here on the Red Wings bandwagon for purely that reason.

I wonder if they'll be cheering when he puts on a Canadian jersey this winter.

Give him to the Swedes, I'm sure they'll say. 

We eat our own for some reason I'll never understand.

[naum]

Funny how obvious it is that most of the Crosby hating comes from Canada. There are plenty of people up here on the Red Wings bandwagon for purely that reason.

I wonder if they'll be cheering when he puts on a Canadian jersey this winter.

Give him to the Swedes, I'm sure they'll say. 

We eat our own for some reason I'll never understand.

Is there any backlash because he played QMJHL?

Lots of guys I skated with, especially those from western Canada (though certainly Ontario too) incessantly bashed the French, often laced with racial epitaphs from "Pepsi" to "Frog". One of my ex-coaches (from rural BC) once smashed a bug and exclaimed "look, a Frenchman…" in a mocking voice…

I always assumed the "China Doll" Mario bashing was due in part to some of that factor… …where Gretzky is a TRUE Canadian…

And I didn't even mention the xenophobic Don Cherry ravings…

[Azaroth]

What you need to learn about Vancouver/BC is that the people there hate everyone else in Canada. Basically, their hate intensifies every time you cross a border, as far as I can understand.

I'm sure it has something to do with living in a place that could be called Seattle's rainy sister.

There's a little Quebec hate anywhere you go, though. It's certainly not why people hate on Crosby.

Want a secret?

Either the media intentionally set him up as the villian, or the media is stupid. Pretty easy to give them the benefit of the doubt and go with the latter.

If you watched the sports news up here (including internet stuff), you'll notice that while Sid started out as a huge media darling, headlines and general tone toward him soured significantly during his second season. He'd literally get headlines like "No Whining!" with a picture of him being bodychecked, etc. This was the point where the media set up camp outside their new darling's house (AO), and began to gently tonguewash his jockstrap in a loving fashion.

Of course, the mushheaded fans went along with the tone that the media was taking step for step. Most of them can't give you a valid reason as to why they hate Sid, they "just do" kind of thing. He's a whiner and I'm sure he smells funny, etc.

[Slayerik]

All the Caps fans jumped on the Octopus wagon I see…

Either people are sick of Red Wings winning the Cup or Penguins have a lot of fans nationwide…

High flying offensive hockey with two of the three best players in the world and a cast of enthusiastic kids versus hook 'em, hold 'em, interference-as-a-system 1-2-2 trapping bullshit that was supposed to be abolished half a decade ago... I'd say you have a combination of both.

Yeah, trolling again I see.

Not going to say much besides may the best TEAM win, and they will. This is, after all, hockey. Your two guys won't beat our 4 lines in the end. Can't wait to see it though.

[Azaroth]

Well, we've done it at a rate of 50% so far in this series.

Should be interesting, nonetheless.

I'd say I hope the reffing isn't awful and doesn't come into play, but it's the NHL and that's clearly too much to ask.

[Abagadro]

Pens draw first blood.  Detroit constantly tries to clear the puck from behind the goal line towards the middle for some reason I'll never understand.

[Azaroth]

Worst refereeing I've EVER seen.

Crosby out of the game on a blatant interference and knee on knee.

[Abagadro]

Talbot is everywhere and it pays off.

[Montague]

This is gonna be some 20 minutes of hockey.

[Abagadro]

GREAT last second save by Fleury.

[Strazos]

Even in the end, thought DET might pull it out. Fleury made the saves he had to make, even though DET dominated the 3rd and probably most of the game.


AND Hossa loses back-to-back finals.