NHL Playoffs '09

[Azaroth]

Honestly, I'd say Fleury/Varlamov but it's harder to list Varlamov after tonight and the fact that he let in a few pretty rankin' stinkers, even if he was pretty miraculous the rest of the time.

I suppose we can chalk it up to "Goalies" as the reason it went 7 games and leave it at that.

[Azaroth]

See? Fleury is a god damn train wreck.

[Abagadro]

That was a pretty brutal slash to the face on Crosby.

EDIT: Heh, sweet justice for Sid.

[Azaroth]

I want a picture of Ovechkin on his knees watching Crosby go for a breakaway.

Just sitting there, watching. Rofl.

[Azaroth]

thx.


np.

[Azaroth]

[Paelos]

I hope Detroit wins now. So we can have the exact same setup as last year with different results.

[Azaroth]

I've been hoping for a rematch of last year.

Pittsburgh is going to have a hard time with Boston, though. Hopefully the wings get a little banged up too, because there are some existing and future injuries for the Pens.

That's if they can beat Boston.

[Miguel]

I'm going to quote myself:

We'll see, it should be interesting either way, but I've been disappointed too many times in the past to get my hopes up too high.

Yup.  At least I wasn't surprised.

[Special J]

I think Pens will finish the job anyways.  Varlamov's magic is wearing off.

Ahem!

[Paelos]

I just don't see a way the Pens can win without giving Fleury a brain transplant. It's like trying to win the World Series with no pitching.

[Azaroth]

Just depends. 10-15% of the time, Fleury is Marc-Andre Le Jesus. You just sorta need to hope he pulls that out at the right times, and doesn't fuck up TOO badly when he inevitably does fuck up.

[Special J]

Give Fleury some credit.  If he doesn't stop Ovechkin's breakaway, this game could have looked a lot different.

[Azaroth]

Oh, hey, I agree completely. That's probably a close game if that puck hits the back of the net.

That's what I'm saying. SOMETIMES Fleury is GREAT.

SOMETIMES.

You just gotta hope he's great when you need it. He was in that game, and his fuckup came at a time when it didn't really matter (5-0). It worked out well.

[naum]

Oh, hey, I agree completely. That's probably a close game if that puck hits the back of the net.

That's what I'm saying. SOMETIMES Fleury is GREAT.

SOMETIMES.

You just gotta hope he's great when you need it. He was in that game, and his fuckup came at a time when it didn't really matter (5-0). It worked out well.

Before game #7 I was reading some of the Pittsburgh forum chatter and everyone was putting entirely all the blame on Fleury for losing the series (or at least it looked that way to posters, upset over game #6 and in general, how Pens outshooting, outplaying but even on the scoreboard) — while I am no Fleury fan, he not the reason it was 3-3 — can't single him out with a D-man corp the Pens have…

But he made big saves early on in game #7 (and that is a big redeeming trait he has, to make some really awesome saves) and even with the giveaway and the other soft one he let in — you know what? He let in less than the other guy(s). That's all that matters. If it's a 1-0, 2-1 game, he's got to be great. If the Pens net 5 or more, then he just has to be good enough to make the saves and handle the offensive blitzes down the stretch. Sure, it sounds duh common-sensical, but I guess I trying to make the point he has to be comfortable w/ way Pens play. Which means he will be presented with opp. scoring opportunity.

I like Bylsma philosophy - play same way up 4-0 as down 4-0. None of this Thierien crap that had the players always looking over their shoulders (other than Crosby/Malkin). Let 'em loose, just play smart with the puck and dump deep + change it up when in doubt.

Does anyone think Carolina has a chance tonight against Bruins?

I'd say the same about Anaheim but I'm simply astounded that it's actually going to a game 7 and while I expect Wings to prevail, it wouldn't shock me to see Ducks pull another rabbit out of the hat…

[naum]

I want a picture of Ovechkin on his knees watching Crosby go for a breakaway.

Just sitting there, watching. Rofl.

I was more egad at Theodore shriveling up, backing into the net, letting Sid just dance the puck past the crease…

…Good Gates, they play shootouts in the regular season, is that the way Theodore plays breakaways?

But, yeah, that was a big fsck you goal by Sid after AO ragged the puck up and down, and was in mid-dance himself when he coughed it up to Crosby… …think that sealed it for the few Caps skaters left that actually believed they still had a comeback prayer.

[El Gallo]

This is one of those unreal asswhompings that make you wonder how the hell it went to 7 games.

100% Varlamov imo. The overall play in this game (when it was competitive) was not different than most games in the series.  It's just that you'd look up and see that the Pens only scored 2 goals instead of 6.  He was that good.

As for the Pens chances now?  I don't see them being Fleury-centric.  If the offense clicks, they just need Fleury to be decent to win.  Unless they play Detroit.  If they play Detroit, the result will be dictated by how well Detroit decides to play.  If Detroit actually tries, they'll crush the Pens no matter how well Fleury plays. 

[Azaroth]

You know what?

That kind of shit is garbage. Physically pushing the goaltender into the net with your stick or whatever else should not be a goal.

Hiller played like a mofo these playoffs though. And overall, I wanted Detroit to win - because I want a Pens/Wings rematch.

But, fuck it. This game should be in OT. The puck is under Hiller's pad and you jam the pad into the net with your stick? Fuck, come on...

[Strazos]

PIT had a similar goal against Biron, when Biron actually had the puck frozen.

In Hiller's case, he didn't have the puck frozen. I didn't see him as being pushed in, either.

[Azaroth]

 

[Strazos]

Doesn't bother me; at least they were consistent, in this instance, with calls made in other playoff games.

[Azaroth]

Just as I thought "Man, I'd like three or four overtimes and about five injuires" Brind'amour gets smoked in the face with the puck. That shit was ugly, and I retract my desire for injuries.

[Azaroth]

But NOT for three or four overtimes. I'd got beer, I've got good food, and I'm ready to rock.

[Azaroth]

Holy shit.

Well, I feel bad for the Boston fans, to be honest. They were really into it.

[Paelos]

You know what?

That kind of shit is garbage. Physically pushing the goaltender into the net with your stick or whatever else should not be a goal.

Hiller played like a mofo these playoffs though. And overall, I wanted Detroit to win - because I want a Pens/Wings rematch.

But, fuck it. This game should be in OT. The puck is under Hiller's pad and you jam the pad into the net with your stick? Fuck, come on...

You're simply wrong. I don't know how to explain it better than that. He never ever ever ever ever ever ever ever had that puck. Ever.

[Azaroth]

As I saw it, the puck was under his pad. The pad was then pushed into the net.

Is that wrong?

[Paelos]

You saw it wrong. The puck is behind him sitting there. He gets pushed back to bump it in. The puck was never near him.

EDIT: The refs saw the same thing on review, this isn't contested.

[Azaroth]

Well, I'll keep an eye out for a replay.

[naum]

As I saw it, the puck was under his pad. The pad was then pushed into the net.

Is that wrong?

You're both right. He [Hiller] never had the puck AND he was pushed. But even if he wasn't pushed, puck would have probably ended up in the net. It's one of them calls had they initially called "no goal", that ruling would have stood, but OTOH, not enough conclusive (at least IMO from watching and rewatching replays) evidence to overturn goal call…

And I really was rooting for Anaheim, as they are my favorite western team after Coyotes and Kings (yeah, weird that I like 3 teams from the same division, but when I first moved to PHX, the Kings were the only NHL hockey I got to see on TV)…

…and I've grown to loathe the Red Wings to the point where I wish a Black Hawk would just take out Franzen and Hossa in game #1 (not advocating anything other than clean hits, but they'd be the two I'd target immediately, though Hossa probably can handle any of the Hawk skaters).

[Paelos]

I hate Detroit, I'm a Stars fan. But if that goal didn't count, the sport hasn't had a dirty crease goal in the last 10 years.

[naum]

I hate Detroit, I'm a Stars fan. But if that goal didn't count, the sport hasn't had a dirty crease goal in the last 10 years.

Uh, you still not allowed to push goalie… …unless one of your own D-men (or F) pushes opponent into him.

[Azaroth]

I don't know if I'd go that far. I just dislike goalies or any part of them being pushed in while in any semblance of control of the puck to result in a goal. Never have.

It's always counted in the NHL, though.

[Paelos]

Funny part is when you watch it, he's not pushed. He move his leg and just knocks the damn puck in. I mean just watch it.

He got bumped, but he's flailing.

[Azaroth]

Gonna need you to go ahead and calm down.

I totally disagree. I see the puck being partially under his pad/behind the pad. I then see Cleary pushing the pad with his stick, and the puck sliding in.

I mean, just watch it.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gvOO0snnQOY

[naum]

Gonna need you to go ahead and calm down.

I totally disagree. I see the puck being partially under his pad/behind the pad. I then see Cleary pushing the pad with his stick, and the puck sliding in.

I mean, just watch it.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gvOO0snnQOY

That replay doesn't show the backside angle where you can see that while Cleary pushed his pad with his stick, the puck was trickling in before he pushed the pad…