2013 NHL Thread

[It's Damn Real!]

Raffi Torres has been suspended 25 games for his ridiculous, predatory head shot on Marián Hossa.

All I can say is thank you, thank you, thank you, Brendan Shanahan! Thank you!

That ist he kind of message-sending the game needs to take that bullshit out of the game. Torres, period, is exactly the type of player that doesn't fit in the new NHL. He'd have made a career in the early 90's where that type of violence was revered, but the league has wizened up and is making a serious effort to protect their players better. Torres has no fucking respect for any of his peers.

The best part about all of this? The most possible games the Coyotes could play in the remainder of the playoffs is 24 games, so his suspension will carry over into next season regardless.

Here's hoping that the Bruins can win a big game tonight and take a 3-1 stranglehold in their first round series against the Capitals. It would be great if they can advance to the second round. Home ice advantage should be huge in their second round match against the Senators

So much for that idea.

 

[Trill Co$by]

Keeping in mind that I'm not too "up" on historical stats or anything, I must say that I was very ecstatic to see Rinne play so well in the games I've seen. Sure, it's his job to play this hard but there were a few times when the Red Wings would try to drag him out, and would do so, only for him to still just reach over and block the shots.

Admittedly, the Bruins and Capitols game for today has me anxious to watch after the Flyers-Penguins game, which is also exciting.

Ironically, I never thought of watching hockey in the past... but I'm glad I finally got into it.

 

[shooter_mcgavin]

Canucks are eliminated ... I think I need a hug? Anyone? ... even from that Rangers fanboy

Sucks to see their season end like this ... when it looked like everything was going well as the season close only to collapse like this.

 

[It's Damn Real!]

Do or die for the Blueshirts tonight. Win, and you force Game 7, just like the Bruins did, on the road, exactly as we need to do.

Lose and your regular season achievements are about as valuable as they were in Vancouver (go hug a riot, McGavin), and worse yet it'll set an NHL record for the first time in league history that both #1 seeded teams were bounced in the first round.

That said, the last time the Rangers were down in a best-of-seven series 3-2 and came back to win games 6 and 7 was in... you guessed it! 1994, where they beat the New Jersey Devils.

Never say never, my friends! LET'S GO RANGERS

 

[Lowdown]

Happy to finally see the Kings advance to the 2nd round after so many years. The media always talks about their mediocrity, but the just finished off the so-called best team in the league. Long road ahead but if the show what their made of, they could be the team to beat. Next up, St. Louis.

 

[It's Damn Real!]

LAK/STL series is going to be a goaltending clinic. Neither team is a high-scoring machine, and both clubs are tremendous defensively and in net. I honestly think it's gonna take 7 games to find a winner there.

 

[Lowdown]

I feel you IDR. Quick gets to me everytime he leaves a crease or the net. He's good but could be way better. I really don't know much about STL this year but heard they have been a force. I'm not getting ahead of myself though. I want the Kings to advance, but its gonna take one game at a time.

 

[It's Damn Real!]

The beautiful thing about tonight's Rangers/Sens game is that IMO the pressure is on Ottawa, not the Rangers, despite the series record and the implications of a NYR loss. The fourth win is always the hardest (just ask the Caps), and despite being at home, playing in front of their own fans, if the Sens lose they're putting themselves in a helluva spot having to win it all on the road in a Game 7 at the Garden.

I'm confident.

Fuck the Sens. Let's Go Rangers!

 

[hatehabsforever]

The beautiful thing about tonight's Rangers/Sens game is that IMO the pressure is on Ottawa, not the Rangers, despite the series record and the implications of a NYR loss. The fourth win is always the hardest (just ask the Caps), and despite being at home, playing in front of their own fans, if the Sens lose they're putting themselves in a helluva spot having to win it all on the road in a Game 7 at the Garden.

I'm confident.

Fuck the Sens. Let's Go Rangers!

You keep telling yourself that, big guy. Denial is a wonderful thing sometimes.

Having nearly had multiple heart attacks yesterday, I can assure you that if the players feel anything at all like the fans do, the pressure is squarely on the Rangers tonight. Ottawa has absolutely nothing to lose and everything to gain, as no one expects them to win. Whereas the Rangers have the weight of the Big Apple and their lofty expectations weighing heavily on their shoulders, not to mention the pressure of avoiding yet another early exit by a #1 seed. The pressure is clearly on the Rangers.

The Bruins were up to the challenge yesterday (barely). The question is, will New York be tonight? Then again, the Bruins had the luxury of Tim Thomas between the pipes, whereas the Rangers will have to do it with the playoff inexperienced Lundqvist.

Be confident. You should be. I think the Rangers will win tonight and will win the series in seven. But be nervous too, I sure as hell was yesterday. It's all on the line, and a bounce here or a bad call there could be the difference maker.

I'm sure we will chat later, either way. I'd wish you good luck, but that would be lying.

Go Sens!!

 

[tripolie atche]

Interesting Final 4 on the West side of the bracket as the Kings haven't been to the Stanley Cup in almost 20 years, Blues haven't been there in over 40 years, & the Preds & Coyotes have never played in the Stanley Cup Finals.

Also, can't forget about the starting goalies left in the West with Elliott, Quick, Rinne, & Mike Smith.

So even though a good portion of the 2nd round & West Final will be low scoring lol, I'm still looking forward to this

 

[It's Damn Real!]

...and the inconsistent NHL discipline continues.

http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/h...e-6-article-1.1066791?localLinksEnabled=false

Video review of the controversial third-period scrum in Henrik Lundqvist's crease in Game 6 on Monday revealed that Senators forward Milan Michalek had kicked Rangers defenseman Dan Girardi with his skate from the bottom of the pile.

Chris Neil’s goaltender interference, which wasn’t called, and his kicking attempt of the puck on Jason Spezza’s goal was what riled up Lundqvist in the first place. But Michalek could find himself fined or suspended for his unwise boot.

The NHL reviews all questionable plays, and in this instance the league obtained video of the Michalek-Girardi incident postgame. The precedent set for supplemental discipline of this infraction is a two-game suspension.

Last season, on April 15, 2011, former NHL disciplinary czar Colin Campbell suspended Ducks forward Bobby Ryan for two games after he stomped on the foot of Predators defenseman Jonathan Blum. Then one month ago, Campbell's replacement - senior VP of player safety Brendan Shanahan - upheld Campbell's precedent by suspending Hurricanes forward Jeff Skinner for two games for kicking Blues forward Scott Nichol on March 15.

--

VIDEO OF THE KICK IN THE LINK ABOVE.

--

For those keeping score at home:

Weber smashing Zetta's head into the boards = $2500
Rupp shoving Konopka = penalty
Michálek attempting to use his skate blade as a weapon against Girardi = "warning".
Neil kicking puck in net = goal.

Insert [your own] logic here!

 

[It's Damn Real!]

It all comes down to this for the Rangers. Game 7. Do or die. Win or go home.

I'm nervous as hell, but it's a confident nervousness, if that makes any sense. Very similar to the feeling I had before Game 6, and like I said then, the same applies here – there's a ton of pressure is on Ottawa here. Not all of it, since we're playing at home, but they just gave up a 3-2 series lead and let the road team tie the series to force Game 7, which gives the Rangers the series' momentum (if you believe in it).

LET'S GO RANGERS!

 

[It's Damn Real!]

...and they pulled through!

Next stop, Washington Capitals.

I think I actually had more fear of the Senators than I do of the Caps. Ovechkin looks like Ryan Callahan right now, Mike Green is a shell of his formers self, Holtby can be exploited on the weak side and that team just looks like they're teetering on the razor's edge. Dale Hunter may be squeaking wins out here and there, but I blame their first-round success more on the Bruins' failures than I do on the Caps' successes.

I doubt the Rangers run them over, but ultimately they take this series IMO. And what sweet, sweet revenge it'll be to oust the team that's ousted us the last two times we've met in the playoffs (2008, 2011).

 

[LSN80]

...and they pulled through!

Next stop, Washington Capitals.

I think I actually had more fear of the Senators than I do of the Caps. Ovechkin looks like Ryan Callahan right now, Mike Green is a shell of his formers self, Holtby can be exploited on the weak side and that team just looks like they're teetering on the razor's edge. Dale Hunter may be squeaking wins out here and there, but I blame their first-round success more on the Bruins' failures than I do on the Caps' successes.

I doubt the Rangers run them over, but ultimately they take this series IMO. And what sweet, sweet revenge it'll be to oust the team that's ousted us the last two times we've met in the playoffs (2008, 2011).

This will be one time Ill be openly rooting for the New York Rangers. I despise the Washington Capitals in every way, perhaps more then I do the Philadelphia Flyers.

It goes back to 2009, where these two met in the Eastern Conference SemiFinals. Ovechkin's intentional knee to knee hit on Sergei Gonchar drew only a two minute tripping penalty, and it almost turned the tide in the Caps favor as they rebounded to force Game 7 after Gonchar missed two games. Gonchar returned in Game 7, and was pivotal in their blowout victory, But couple that with David Steckel's blindside hit at the 2011 Winter Classic that started Crosby's concussion problems, and they've moved up there next to the....Flyers.....as public enemy #1. I know, talking about intent to injure from other teams seems hyocritical after the way Evgeni Malkin and James Neal, amongst others, played against Philly, but so be it.

All that being said I don't see the Caps being a major problem for the Rangers. Henrik Lunqvist vs Braden Holtby? I know Holtby played well, but the Rangers have been a much more consistent team all year then Boston. I'll take clutch players like Richards, Gaborik, and Callahan over streaky guys such as Ovechkin and Semin. Mike Green is a shell of his former self, and though Backstrom played decently well in Round 1, he's not the same player he used to be, either. I think the Senators were a wake-up call for the Rangers in Round 1, not that they were pushovers. They're a team that could score in bunches at times during the regular season, and the Caps weren't.

I think the Rangers will win this series fairly easily. Washington played really well in upsetting Boston, but I don't see lightning striking twice here. The only downside is possibly cheering for the Rangers against both the Caps and the Flyers.....and a name change for myself...

 

[It's Damn Real!]

I've been saying, I'm 100 times more confident in this series than I ever was in the Senators one. I actually think this Rangers' team is 100% capable of sweeping this Capitals team, which IMO is on borrowed time.

Alex Semin is already on the 4th line. They have a rookie goaltender who can be exploited and is prone to mental lapses (think the Anisimov goal), their best scorer/player looks like a third-line grinder and isn't getting minutes because he and half the club do not get along with the head coach.

With Semin, Green and Ovie as non-factors the Caps are putting all their eggs in the basket of guys like Brooks Laich who are not difference-makers. They're secondary/tertiary scorers/grinders who pot an occasional goal, but in the playoffs where that practice is even more difficult to accomplish, I just don't see how this becomes that long of a series at all.

I can smell Rangers/Flyers Eastern Conference Finals already.

But don't worry, LSN — we still need to WIN the East in order for that change to go into effect, and if/when it does yours will be much easier since you were the more modest of the competitors. Habs on the other hand... He's in for a treat.

 

[It's Damn Real!]

Gábs scores in triple OT to give the Rangers a 2-1 series lead? Yes please, and thank you.

Quite confident in their ability to go up 3-1 heading back to MSG in this series tomorrow afternoon, though I really hate these fuckin' afternoon playoff bouts, especially on Saturdays.

With a win tomorrow, the Conference Finals scent will be in the air like blood in the water.

 

[It's Damn Real!]

So this...

[YOUTUBE]900BMCheAmk[/YOUTUBE]

Isn't even worth a hearing, let a lone a fine or suspension despite the fact that:

1. The player is a repeat offender
2. The player leaves his feet.
3. The player makes principle contact with the victim's head.

But this...

[YOUTUBE]XiLVsiQzQ-E[/YOUTUBE]

Is worth a hearing and likely a suspension because... why, exactly?

...and here I thought the NHL actually wanted to take these types of hits out of the game?

 

[HoHo]

Giroux gets a suspension don't like it, but not shocked it happened.This playoffs season I've seen horrible hits like that, I guess the NHL wanted to nip it in the bud, not to give hits like that no more.My Flyers have enough problems scoring right now, and keeping up with the Devils, and it just became worse with no Giroux.

 

[hatehabsforever]

So the question is, is tonight the final game of the season in MSG?

 

[It's Damn Real!]

So the question is, is tonight the final game of the season in MSG?

I'll let Richards answer that for you:

[YOUTUBE]xIW4Bsp9ZqQ[/YOUTUBE]

Satisfactory answer, or do I need to find Marc Staal for you too?

 

[hatehabsforever]

Gotta give credit where credit is due. That was a true, gutsy display of heart. I cannot imagine the Capitals recovering from such a devastating loss. They had that game in their back pocket, then poof, it was gone.

 

[It's Damn Real!]

Yup. Holtby has been the X factor for them all series, and they had this game absolutely won despite being COMPLETELY out played for the majority of the game.

Incredible, incredible show of heart.

I smell the Conference Finals, and it smells en-fucking-ticing as hell!

 

[Lowdown]

Just read the Coyotes won last night, so its LA vs Phoenix in the Western Finals. So far the Kings have shown that they could handle the best in the division, esp after being robbed by officials against San Jose. If Quick holds up like he has, the Finals are in their sight. Don't know about another sweep, but they can get it.

 

[It's Damn Real!]

The Kings will not sweep the Coyotes, but if I had to take at a stab at a winner there, I'd say it's a 50/50 toss-up. I think it's going 7 games.

Dave Tippet will not be so badly out-coached that his team goes 0-4, even against a team as dominant right now as the Kings.

 

[Poop Master Flex]

So far I got to tip my hat to the Kings and Phoenix, not for a second 1 month ago did I think this was gonna be the Western Conference final but at the same time its refreshing to see new teams in the final 4. The Kings haven't been there since '93 and this is Phoenix's first trip to the conference finals. Don't think LA is gonna make it look as easy as they did against Vancouver and St. Louis but I'm taking them to win the conference.

Rangers should be taking their series now considering they absolutely shattered the Caps confidence last night with that victory. I'm sure IDR's favorite player is Richards after last night.

One more thing, fuck New Jersey, stop winning and lose to Philly like you should. I'll give them props for playing well but they have to be the only team in the playoffs still I vehemently hate.