Official NHL Thread

[BoSox21]

I don't remember the last time we gave up less than 40 shots in a game, how's that for futility?

[rician blast]

I don't remember the last time we gave up less than 40 shots in a game' date=' how's that for futility?[/quote']

 

That's pretty bad.

[BoSox21]

f*** the Habs, im sick of this team this year

 

how soon is Opening Day?

[rician blast]

Actually...at this point the best thing that could happen to the Bruins is that they play the Habs in Rd 1.

 

Nothing else seems to get these guys to play a focused 60 minutes, perhaps the rivalry would get them back on track.

[rician blast]

Anyone see the Rangers-Devils the other night? Avery was up to his usual stuff, although I must admit he did play a good overall game. Anyway, he's doing the usual...poking guys after the whistle and jabbering all game...but somehow ducking a fight. Then he hammers someone who was very vulnerable and the Devils took the number.

 

Later a Devil (Clarkson???) challenges him and Avery drops a glove but then won't fight..the Devil throws him down, picks him up, whips him down again, picks him up again, Avery is flying around like a rag doll, but won't fight...it was hilarious.

[TheKilo]

Predictions now that the playoffs are set?

[redsoxrules]

RED WINGS ALL THE WAY

[msubulldogs21]

Predictions now that the playoffs are set?

 

I know it's not too exciting to pick all the favorites but I'm going:

 

Bruins in 6

Caps in 5

Devils in 6

Penguins in 7

 

Sharks in 4

Red Wings in 5

Canucks in 6

Blackhawks in 7

[BoSox21]

Bruins over Habs in 5

Capitals over Rangers in 6

Devils over Hurricanes in 7

Penguins over Flyers in 7

 

Sharks over Ducks in 5

Red Wings over Blue Jackets in 6

Blues over Canucks in 7

Blackhawks over Flames in 6

[Dojji]

Bruins in 4 (homer pick but I think the B's will be absolutely focused and when they are focused no one really stops them)

Caps in 6 (Lundqvist will steal a game or two)

Canes in 5 (I'm calling a bad series for Brodeur)

Flyers in 5 (Flyers can score as well as the Pens and are much more physical and better defensively -- this one is an offensive series that will come down to Philly's vastly superior scoring depth)

 

Ducks in 7 (time for the Sharks to go to sleep for the year)

Wings in 6 (Mason steals a couple games)

Blues in 5 (St. Louis is a nice balanced squad)

Flames in 6 (Hawks are a streaky team, this will be a bad streak for them

[rician blast]

B's in 6

Caps in 5

Carolina in 7

Flyers in 6

 

Sharks in 6

Red Wings in 5

Canucks in 6

Flames in 6

[redsoxrules]

Bruins over Habs in 5

Capitals over Rangers in 6

Devils over Hurricanes in 6

Penguins over Flyers in 6

 

Sharks over Ducks in 6

Red Wings over Blue Jackets in 5

Canucks over Blues in 7

Flames over Blackhawks in 6

[stocker323]

Bruins Caps Canes Pens

Sharks Wings Canucks Hawks

[rician blast]

Over on HFBOARDS.com there are some very overconfident Bruins fans in the B's forum...and some equally overconfident Canadien fans in the Habs forum. It's actually pretty funny to read the Habs threads, a lot of them are about B's FANS...not the games to come.

[Ray10]

Bruins over Habs in 4

Rangers over Capitals in 7

Hurricanes over Devils in 7

Penguins over Flyers in 5

 

Sharks over Ducks in 4

Red Wings over Blue Jackets in 4

Blues over Canucks in 7

Blackhawks over Flames in 6

[TheKilo]

East:

 

Boston over Montreal (6)

Washington over New York (5)

New Jersey over Carolina (7)

Pittsburgh over Philadelphia (7)

 

2nd Round:

Boston over Pittsburgh (7)

New Jersey over Washington (6)

Conference Finals:

Boston over New Jersey (7)

 

West:

 

San Jose over Anaheim (5)

Detroit over Columbus (5)

St. Louis over Vancouver (7)

Chicago over Calgary (6)

2nd Round:

San Jose over St. Louis (5)

Detroit over Chicago (6)

Conference Finals:

San Jose over Detroit (7)

 

Stanley Cup Finals:

 

Boston over San Jose (6)

[User Name]

Over on HFBOARDS.com there are some very overconfident Bruins fans in the B's forum...and some equally overconfident Canadien fans in the Habs forum. It's actually pretty funny to read the Habs threads' date=' a lot of them are about B's FANS...not the games to come.[/quote']

 

?

 

I'm a Habs fan and I don't notice many of these on the boards...

[BoSox21]

I dont see how any Habs fan can be confident when the only thing we have on our side is history

[rician blast]

I dont see how any Habs fan can be confident when the only thing we have on our side is history

 

Don't sell them short. I think the Habs have a reasonable chance...I know I'm quite nervous about the series.

[BoSox21]

here's the thing when looking for a 1 vs. 8 or 2 vs. 7 upset. usually the lower-seeded team is a team with less talent who got into the playoffs by having a very solid work ethic, not a lights-out goaltender.

 

the Habs have vastly underachieved this season, Carey Price has been a disappointment and they have the heart and work ethic of a bag of Ruffles.

 

im expecting Bruins in 5, ill be mildly surprised if it goes 6, shocked if it goes 7 and absolutely flabbergasted if the Habs win the series

[TheKilo]

I like the B's in 6, they'll steal one in MTL.

[msubulldogs21]

Holy frick what an ending to the Blackhawks/Flames game. OT winner for Chicago barely 10 seconds in!

[redsoxrules]

Anaheim upsets the sharks WOW

 

f***ing sweet as a Red Wings fan

[Mr Crunchy]

Anyone see Joe Thorton in the last couple weeks?

Put the boy on a milkcarton, how does 1 do a houdini in the playoffs like this guy did?

amazing

[WhiskeyBreath]

Joe being Joe. While I wasn't thrilled with what we got in return for him, I was happy he was dealt.

[YanksHater213]

I'd rather have a guy like Stephane Yelle who scraps and fights in his time on the ice than Joe who hides when the pressure is on.

[Mr Crunchy]

I dont understand how they turn it on and off so easily, Thorton is embarrasing.

I do think that Detroit gets by Anaheim but would rather be playing Chicago.

[BoSox21]

both western conference semi-finals are gonna be OUTSTANDING series

[Mr Crunchy]

The West has made hockey fun for me again

That wings team is just a treat to watch, they remind me very much of the 70s canadiens.

of course with the B's being competetive its no longer miserable to be a home town fan anymore.

B's look balanced enuff to win the East but I dont think they can handle Detroit

[rician blast]

In my opinion it is Thornton's STYLE, more than a lack of effort, that is the problem come playoff time.

 

Regular season games are played much differently in the regular season than the playoffs from a defensive perspective. Thornton spends much of his offensive zone time behind the net, often with his back to the play, possessing the puck and looking to thread the needle.

 

In the regular season that seems to be an effective way to pile up points. In the playoffs there is a premium put on (1) packing it in around the goal (how many shots even make it through nowadays?) and pressuring the puck. Joe doesn't get the time and the space to operate in the playoffs like he can in the regular season.

 

In addition, teams do a much better job of matching D-men to the ket offensive players of their opponent. during playoff games.

 

I think these factors make it significantly more difficult for a player of Thornton's style to live up to the point totals he puts up in the regular season. In Thornton fans see a big strong guy who they think should be able to play whatever style of hockey is necessary to win...but that ain't Joe. He is no power forward...he succeeds with space and time...take it away and he's not nearly as effective.

 

My point? I think it's not so much that he isn't trying but that he isn't as good as his regular season numbers seem to say he is. I don't think he'll ever win one if he's the go-to guy