NHL Season 2011-2012

[gannable]

Kings were considered cup contenders this past summer so its not a surprise at all

[keiths31]

Kings were considered cup contenders this past summer so its not a surprise at all

Up 3-0 to the President Trophy winners in the first round is a surprise

[Baron Von PWN]

Sens won their second game! woo hoo! maybe they aren't fucked!

[Army of GOD]

Sens won their second game! woo hoo! maybe they aren't fucked!

The only way I'll be happy if the Penguins get swept by the Flyers is if the Rangers lose in the first round as well.

[keiths31]

Sens won their second game! woo hoo! maybe they aren't fucked!

The only way I'll be happy if the Penguins get swept by the Flyers is if the Rangers lose in the first round as well.

I to hope to see that happen...

[gannable]

seedings
presidents trophy is irrelevant

the Kings have the ability to make a cup run, that's the bottom line.

[Army of GOD]

Lundqvist saved the Rangers' ass (pun partially intended).

[Serbia]

seedings
presidents trophy is irrelevant

the Kings have the ability to make a cup run, that's the bottom line.

If you want to look at it like that, than all 16 teams have the ability to make Cup runs, and nothing will be a surprise, ever.

Seriously, that's asinine.

[whitestazn88]

Le sigh, caps. Didn't get to see the game though, we don't have NBC Sports network at my work... Glad ovie scored, and semin, and that we had a little fire (heard about backstrom's cross check at the end of the game), just need to win the damn games though.

[Serbia]

Le sigh, caps. Didn't get to see the game though, we don't have NBC Sports network at my work... Glad ovie scored, and semin, and that we had a little fire (heard about backstrom's cross check at the end of the game), just need to win the damn games though.

That "little fire" that Backstrom displayed should get him a suspension; he went partial Asham and crosschecked a guy in the head. Wasn't as ugly as Asham's hit, but was still a crosscheck to the head.

[keiths31]

Le sigh, caps. Didn't get to see the game though, we don't have NBC Sports network at my work... Glad ovie scored, and semin, and that we had a little fire (heard about backstrom's cross check at the end of the game), just need to win the damn games though.

That "little fire" that Backstrom displayed should get him a suspension; he went partial Asham and crosschecked a guy in the head. Wasn't as ugly as Asham's hit, but was still a crosscheck to the head.

But he is a star...so he will get $2,500 fine and that will be the end of it.

[Serbia]

Le sigh, caps. Didn't get to see the game though, we don't have NBC Sports network at my work... Glad ovie scored, and semin, and that we had a little fire (heard about backstrom's cross check at the end of the game), just need to win the damn games though.

That "little fire" that Backstrom displayed should get him a suspension; he went partial Asham and crosschecked a guy in the head. Wasn't as ugly as Asham's hit, but was still a crosscheck to the head.

But he is a star...so he will get $2,500 fine and that will be the end of it.

Yeah, just like with Weber. I mostly liked what Shanahan did during the regular season, but here in the playoffs it's been utterly ridiculous.

[TheProwler]

seedings
presidents trophy is irrelevant

the Kings have the ability to make a cup run, that's the bottom line.

If you want to look at it like that, than all 16 teams have the ability to make Cup runs, and nothing will be a surprise, ever.

Seriously, that's asinine.

Well, that's not really what he said or implied. He essentially just said that the regular season record is irrelevant. That does not mean nothing else is relevant.

Current health of the team, recent roster changes, etc. etc. Those things are relevant. A team's win/loss record from October and November can be irrelevant now, but it still affects their seeding.

I'm just trying to nip this in the bud because I could see things degenerating into nasty name-calling (there was no reason to call him an ass).

[Serbia]

(there was no reason to call him an ass).

Seriously, that's asinine.

Either you don't know what this word means, or you're trying to stir something up. I'll go with ignorance.
Also, he specifically said seeding is irrelevant in a discussion about whether the 8th seed being up on the President Trophy winning 1st seed 3 games to none, so I stand by my assertion that such a statement is a ridiculous.

[TheProwler]

I hope this kind of crap makes the "Anti-fight Brigade" happy.

Retribution in hockey is going to happen. It used to be that the first reaction was to drop the gloves (it still is for some guys). But for some guys, they are afraid to drop the gloves because of the "Crackdown on Fighting". Well, this is the other option. Cross-checks to the face.

In both the Asham and the Backstrom incidents, I agree with responding to what was done.

Asham: Big hits like that are effective tools to give your team an advantage for a number of reasons, and that's why Schenn did it. And he was quite aware that he might have to drop the gloves because of it. Asham has the tools to send Schenn a message. It's too bad he used his stick and not his fists. I 100% agree with responding to the hit - I don't agree with using your stick like that.

Backstrom: Usually a weak little trip doesn't deserve any response, but when it is against your star player, you should go say have a word with the guy (ie. threaten him that the next time he does it he'd better be ready to drop the gloves). If it continues to happen, one of your tough guys has to drop the gloves. Or else your star player is going to be rendered ineffective through a series.



Has there been some good hockey in the playoffs? I just YouTube what guys are talking about and most people are only taking about the rough stuff.

[TheProwler]

(there was no reason to call him an ass).

Seriously, that's asinine.

Either you don't know what this word means, or you're trying to stir something up. .I'll go with ignorance
Also, he specifically said seeding is irrelevant in a discussion about whether the 8th seed being up on the President Trophy winning 1st seed 3 games to none, so I stand by my assertion that such a statement is a ridiculous.

I have no idea why you would choose to be ignorant. (Who's the ass now?)

His statement wasn't ridiculous. It seems to be his opinion that the LA Kings are a strong team and that they have a legitimate shot at the Cup. It is how well a team will do right now, playing playoff hockey, that is important. How well they did in the past, playing regular season hockey, can be irrelevant.

Of course the regular season can give you indications of how a team will do in the playoffs. But their style of play, the injuries that they dealt with, the additions they may have made, etc. etc. are much more important that their win/loss record.

[TheProwler]

I just saw this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XVSIkLEhYHs

Unbelievable.

3:05 - 3:15 Great stuff, eh? Star players getting killed is always great to see.

I'll bet that nasty fight after really gave someone some brain damage. Way worse than the clean hit.



Seriously now, the NHL is completely fucked-up. It is too dangerous.

When I played competitive hockey, you were allowed to "run interference" to protect your teammates. It was always near the front of your mind - protecting your teammates. That kind of blind side hit is easy to make, unless you are obstructed. So a teammate of the intended target has to recognize that "the target" is going to get run over, and he has to slow the bodychecker down. As a teammate of the target, if you can't get over to obstruct the bodychecker, you would be yelling "Heads Up!" to let your teammate know to brace himself and prepare to be hammered. I didn't see any of that because "Obstruction Interference" has virtually eliminated that mindset for players. Not only don't they run interference, but they don't yell to warn their teammates anymore.

I saw Dave Schultz (enforcer for the Flyers in the 70's) on a Canadian sports show not too long ago, and he said he blames the lack of communication on mouth guards. I've never heard that before and it makes some sense because it's so hard to yell with a mouth guard in.

IMO, all this crap is happening in the playoffs because the NHL teams don't handle their enforcers properly. The rough stuff should happen in the regular season, and it should happen before star players are targeted. You send a message before something happens. You use the regular season to let teams know who on your team is to be respected - who they need to play soft on. There used to be very clear lines that other teams knew not to cross, or there would be trouble. And those lines were very rarely crossed. Now everything seems to be a free-for-all and the game is suffering for it.

[whitestazn88]

Didn't see the caps game or the replay of the Backstrom crosscheck, but I've read stuff online that he won't get suspended because his crosscheck never hit the head on the replay.

I don't know exactly how they dole out the penalties/fines/suspensions though. Does the committee watch them in real time and slo-mo or just make the judgements based on how the refs called it?

[gannable]

Prowler explained the meaning of my statement

Serbia is too stupid to understand the context of my statement

regarding the Kings - everyone knew they were all talented team before the season capable of winning the cup. This isnt an example of a group of average players outplaying a great team.

seedings
presidents trophy is irrelevant

the Kings have the ability to make a cup run, that's the bottom line.

If you want to look at it like that, than all 16 teams have the ability to make Cup runs, and nothing will be a surprise, ever.

Seriously, that's asinine.

Well, that's not really what he said or implied. He essentially just said that the regular season record is irrelevant. That does not mean nothing else is relevant.

Current health of the team, recent roster changes, etc. etc. Those things are relevant. A team's win/loss record from October and November can be irrelevant now, but it still affects their seeding.

I'm just trying to nip this in the bud because I could see things degenerating into nasty name-calling (there was no reason to call him an ass).

[Serbia]

Either you don't know what this word means, or you're trying to stir something up. I'll go with ignorance.

I have no idea why you would choose to be ignorant. (Who's the ass now?)

My sentence refers to you being ignorant. I am blaming your IGNORANCE on your failure to comprehend what I've written. However, I now know you not to be ignorant, just a simple troll. And to answer your question - that would be you, sir.

And gannable, I understand you fully. I just disagree with you fully. Doesn't make me stupid.

[gannable]

well, you called me assinine and ignorant after i made a statement that was based on fact

Fact - Kings are considered to have stanley cup talent. So it shouldnt be considered shocking that they're beating anyone in a league with complete parity.

When the Flyers made the finals in 2010 they were a low seed; however they had been considered stanley cup contenders prior to the season.

This happens all the time in the NHL

There is not a great difference anymore between 1 and 8

You have teams like Florida, ottawa, or new jersey who would "shock" people if they made the finals; however the Kings should not be considered one of these teams

[Army of GOD]

As per the new realignment plans (the players voted against it, right? so are they actually gonna happen?) why don't they just throw Columbus in the east and then Winnipeg in the West?

[keiths31]

well, you called me assinine and ignorant after i made a statement that was based on fact

Fact - Kings are considered to have stanley cup talent. So it shouldnt be considered shocking that they're beating anyone in a league with complete parity.

When the Flyers made the finals in 2010 they were a low seed; however they had been considered stanley cup contenders prior to the season.

This happens all the time in the NHL

There is not a great difference anymore between 1 and 8

You have teams like Florida, ottawa, or new jersey who would "shock" people if they made the finals; however the Kings should not be considered one of these teams

First he didn't call you asinine, but your post. Second considering how poorly the Kings played all year, and barely making the post season regardless of how the pundits predicted they would finish, them man-handling the Canucks the way they are is a surprise. The Canucks came into the playoffs on a roll with the season ending with them claiming the President's Trophy as the best team in the regular season. So for the first round you had a surging team and a team that barely made the playoffs. In that context it is shocking to see the Kings dominating the way they are. San Jose was a pre-season Cup favourite too, so if they would have swept the Blues in the first round it too would have been a shock based on how they actually played this season.

Anyway...back on topic. Flyers are making the Pens look like an AHL team. Didn't see that coming. Thought that series would have probably been the best battle of the first round. Instead it has been the worst.

[TheProwler]

Either you don't know what this word means, or you're trying to stir something up. I'll go with ignorance.

I have no idea why you would choose to be ignorant. (Who's the ass now?)

My sentence refers to you being ignorant. I am blaming your IGNORANCE on your failure to comprehend what I've written. However, I now know you not to be ignorant, just a simple troll. And to answer your question - that would be you, sir.

Oh Serbia, you silly silly man. You need to adjust your attitude if you strive for happiness in life.

Either you don't know what this word means, or you're trying to stir something up.

You missed the third option, bud. I was just making a lighthearted joke


You'd probably have figured this out if we had been properly introduced.

So what say we start over?

Hi! I'm TheProwler, SuperGenius with an incredible sense of humour. Pleased to meet you.

[TheProwler]

Regarding the whole "I can't believe this team is doing so well against that team" idea, I would just like to remind people that this is playoff hockey and it is quite different than regular season hockey. For starters, team toughness is a way bigger factor when you are in a 7 game series. Tough teams will play rougher because they know they are seeing the same guys the next game. During the regular season, there's no reason to rough up your opponents just so they'll be suffering against some other team in a few nights.