The NHL Today

[turnheadz]

it was in my tea leaves at lunch today --- the Canucks are gonna take the CUP and give the Bruins the boot
GO CANUCKS GO

[Cash]

Originally Posted by turnheadz

it was in my tea leaves at lunch today --- the Canucks are gonna take the CUP and give the Bruins the boot
GO CANUCKS GO

That's great news as I've never known your tea leaves to be wrong Sandy.
Did you happen to notice a Sedin hat trick in there? It's going to be a long 3 hours!

[gmac]

Met Sandy at a Timmies here tonite, Dale.. while the game was on. (posted some pics elsewhere). My wife kept us updated.... Tough way to lose.. Feel VERY bad for the Canucks after the brilliant season they had (the words stick on my keyboard as I am a Shames, er ... Flames fan)....
Said early on I was worried about Luongo, if you remember. Still think he is over rated especially for the $$$$, but the classless comments on the weekend couldn't have been more ill advised IMO, and maybe added fuel to the fire for the Bruins.....
Gotta hand it to Thomas though, he WAS brilliant.

G

[Cash]

Thanks Gary. I am hugely disappointed. At the end of the day we didn't deserve it though. Luongo definitely has had a tendancy to let his head get too involved with his natural talent. Until he figures out how to get past that he will continue to have problems. I fear he will be roasted pretty hard for this. It seems no other goalie draws the criticism he does considering the accomplishments but when it matters most he just can't seem to close the deal. I blame Luongo for more tonight than in some of the previous stuff in Boston where bad breaks usually started the mess and once the leads were there he got no help from his mates. The second goal he got caught out doing a "Thomas" and couldn't recover and the third he should have been able to block that out. In game 7 you can't do that. The first goal, I have no idea how we couldn't pick up a puck when you win the draw clean back to where your guys are supposed to be. That was brutal. At that point when it was 1-0 I figured it was "next goal wins". Luongo had to be perfect from there on and he wasn't.

[Flassh]

Luongo certainly wasn't at his best. But let's keep it in perspective - if he played a perfect game, we'd be in the fourth overtime by now, because the Canucks simply couldn't play the offence they are capable of, and never really came close to putting a puck in the net.


The other unfortunate thing is that Luongo's comment was taken totally out of context. The long version of it was a comparison of styles, with Luongo saying Thomas was making saves he likely wouldn't get, but that he could stop shots Thomas might miss because he stayed in his crease. Much was made of a very innocent comment.

[Krazy Ed]

BRUINS

90% of Canada wanted the Canucks to win nobody gave Bruins a chance. Well i told you not to under estimate the Bruins. Thomas was great but so were the other players. Things changed around after the Horton hit... the Bruins rallyed around that. It was a great series and you can only have 1 winner.
Lets hope the fans don't burn the city down, there is always next year.

Krazy Ed

[WindsuppreSSR]

Very entertaining series I thought for sure the Canucks would win. I figured the only way they would lose is if Luongo choked again. Turns out even though he didn't play that well he also didn't get much help.
The Sedin's 1 goal each for the series Kessler 0 points for the series
Tim Thomas was stellar for the Bruins and deserved the ConnSmyth!
He is a local boy from Flint Michigan about 25 miles from me.
CONGRATULATIONS BOSTON!

[Dicktator]

Originally Posted by Krazy Ed

BRUINS

90% of Canada wanted the Canucks to win nobody gave Bruins a chance. Well i told you not to under estimate the Bruins. Thomas was great but so were the other players. Things changed around after the Horton hit... the Bruins rallyed around that. It was a great series and you can only have 1 winner.
Lets hope the fans don't burn the city down, there is always next year.

Krazy Ed

I didn't have a problem with the Bruins winning, I watched them Win in 1972 while living in NE.

I did favor Vancouver, only because they have NEVER Won the Cup.

BUT BURNING YOUR OWN CITY!!

Vancouver should be ashamed and I can't believe they were Hockey Fans, Hockey Players shake hands after a game.

Just need to try harder NEXT year!

Dicktator

[gmac]

Originally Posted by Flassh

Luongo certainly wasn't at his best. But let's keep it in perspective - if he played a perfect game, we'd be in the fourth overtime by now, because the Canucks simply couldn't play the offence they are capable of, and never really came close to putting a puck in the net.


The other unfortunate thing is that Luongo's comment was taken totally out of context. The long version of it was a comparison of styles, with Luongo saying Thomas was making saves he likely wouldn't get, but that he could stop shots Thomas might miss because he stayed in his crease. Much was made of a very innocent comment.

You make a valid case Ray... unfortunately it is also the perception/reality thing though. As far as the scoring it seemed like a lot of Van's shots were cherry pickers going for the corners and missing the net. I think Thomas was in their head and they felt they needed the "perfect shot" partly because of the way he was playing and also partly because of the way Louie was playing as well. Saddest commentary though HAS to be the result in the streets later......

[Cash]

Originally Posted by Dicktator

I didn't have a problem with the Bruins winning, I watched them Win in 1972 while living in NE.

I did favor Vancouver, only because they have NEVER Won the Cup.

BUT BURNING YOUR OWN CITY!!

Vancouver should be ashamed and I can't believe they were Hockey Fans, Hockey Players shake hands after a game.

Just need to try harder NEXT year!

Dicktator

I was shocked (and very dismayed) this morning to see what happened in Vancouver. Understand what happened was no reflection on this beautiful city or 99.9% of the people in it.
Like an alcoholic, there is always a reason to drink, to celebrate a victory or to drown a sorrow. These same people would likely have done the same thing had Vancouver won the Stanley Cup. Unfortunately the SOB's are everywhere and no city is immune to such activity. They may profess to be hockey fans but in reality were taking the opportunity to be destructive and wreak general havoc, regardless the outcome. I understand there were very few responsible for the carnage and we can only hope they are on camera or already in custody and left to the courts to deal with them in their usual useless manner. Severe penalties to set a standard is the best way to prevent future tragedies such as this.

[Truckie]

I would venture a guess that there were a large group of Philadelphia fans visiting Vancouver and they are to blame to all the nonsense...

definitely not what I was expecting from the vancouver fans (I mean the few idiots that started the trouble) I met some very friendly and funny Vancouver fans when they were here in Nashville for our series

[turnheadz]

Originally Posted by Cash

That's great news as I've never known your tea leaves to be wrong Sandy.
Did you happen to notice a Sedin hat trick in there? It's going to be a long 3 hours!

it's all in the interpretation I guess the tea leaf that looked like a whale meant that they were sunk, it was in the bottom of the teacup after all. And I figured the leaf that looked like a bat meant I would celebrate with a Bacardi but it really meant that the hooligans would use a bat to smash things Ahhhhh..........I give up

[Cash]

Wow, do I ever hate losing Cody Hodgson! What a cool kid he is and Buffalo is so lucky to have him.
I followed him out of junior and he has major potential.
I have to admit Zack Cassiam (coming back) was another Junior I followed and will be a big asset for the Canucks. It makes the Pauhlsen aquisition make sense as he becomes our #3/#4 centre and for sure we gain the grit to punch that little fokker bruin pos out!
If we can get past the refs letting everything slide that they called during the season, we might make it this year.
A healthy Hamhuis and our Yank poster boy is all we need to get over the hump. Speaking of humps............

[gmac]

Just a bunch of habba habba to me... we don't have a team
Oops we do... sort of

[Cash]

Originally Posted by gmac

Just a bunch of habba habba to me... we don't have a team
Oops we do... sort of

Listening to the guys today I understand Calgary's dilemna.
My opinion is, dump and trade like hell and live to see another day.
Gotta tel ya, I love watching the Oilers!!
I am a year or so out of date but they will be Stanley Cup chamions again.
Eberle without a doubt always has been and is my favourite guy!
I should cap that and say in the past 5 years.

[gmac]

Oilers are fun to watch for sure...just a mental thing between Calgary and Edmonton to get over . Don't see Tambellini as the guy to get them to the next level though. Serious problems on defence (and I think) in goal. By the time they get that sorted out a lot of those great drafts could be up for $$$ that Edmonton can't afford. Will be interesting to watch.
Calgary has gone the dump and trade route forever. That is why there is a pretty empty cupboard for prospects in the farm system and our draft choices either are to low to do much good or they seem to piss away the choices. I think they will never be more than "middlin"... cannon fodder for the first round at best, until they get a different philosophy. Today's league demands more offence and speed. Calgary (if not for Kipprusoff) would be in line for some higher picks. Too bad Vezinas won't go where they really should. The guy has been a highlight reel all year....in a small market and on a poor team. The flames get badly outshot on most nights.

[Cash]

Jerome Iginla and Kiprosoff are the Flames.
It is almost too late to deal Iginla, as musch as he is the franchise, but for his sake and the teams, he should go to a team that is contending. Not sure if you can deal your goalie or not but I assume you can't - not sure who your backup is.

[Cash]

Phart! My keyboard must be slower than snails. So lets talk about the icing call that cost us (Canucks) the game the nother night. did I ever tell you I think the Canucks are victims of ****ty referreeing?
Sorry, just throwing this out there because I have triple posted!
I expect some numb nuts will remind me about the three golden rules of hockey.
When I got speared in the nuts I kinda figured there might be 4 golden rules, but who am I?

[Cash]

I had a problem with dual posting so I guess I will just wing this one. Did I ever tell you I really dislike the Boston Bruins?

[HotRodGirl]

While I know many of you don't care for him .....none the less he is a Hall of Famer and I had the chance to meet him yesterday

Grocery shopping for my dad, Mikey Redmond was at the Wal-mart signing autographs. Got two, one for each of my kids (who both played hockey most of their lives). I was lucky enough to shake his hand and converse

[blueroadster06]

Go Wings Go

[Cash]

Originally Posted by HotRodGirl

While I know many of you don't care for him .....none the less he is a Hall of Famer and I had the chance to meet him yesterday

Grocery shopping for my dad, Mikey Redmond was at the Wal-mart signing autographs. Got two, one for each of my kids (who both played hockey most of their lives). I was lucky enough to shake his hand and converse

That's pretty cool Deb. Redmond was an exciting player to watch.
He's just a pain to listen to but I suppose we tend forgive the bias in our own announcers.

[HotRodGirl]

Originally Posted by Cash

That's pretty cool Deb. Redmond was an exciting player to watch.
He's just a pain to listen to but I suppose we tend forgive the bias in our own announcers.

I know

Ya know what else is cool forgive me if I'm hi-jacking this thread

We had a family Ice Skate on Christmas Day. While I haven't been on ice skates in many years, I must say I had a blast and did very well My nephew manages the Ice Rink called the Onyx. We had the whole place to ourselves.

In hockey I swear the coolest thing is the Zamboni

Some photos :

My grandson learning the game well as he picked fights with everyone of my nephews including his grandma

Went to the Utica Ice Show and captured this great Ice Sculpture Placed in front of Hatchy's Bar & Grill owned by brother's one of whom is Darin Hatcher (Red Wings). They were both there that day but a snow storm kept me away from meeting them. Attended the Ice Show a day later.

[Cash]

On the plus side - as usual Round One is probably providing the most exciting hockey of the playoffs. The only series I am not having any fun at all watching is Vancouver/LA!
Hard to imagine but I think this series will be decided in the first few minutes of Game 1 on a stupid move by Kessler to give Quick a very moderate snow shower; or an idiot referee for calling the penalty, depending on who you are cheering for. Anyway, it lead to another penalty and the rest has gone down the crapper since.

I'm upset about a few of things.
The referees are doing a pathetic job, and I'm not referring just to our series. Firstly, I do not believe you can call everything really tight until the last week of the year and then suddenly let all hell break loose. Either you let it all go throughout the year or you call it the same through to the end. Compounding the problem is having different officials calling games in a different manner. It is mayhem!
I also am really pissed about how guys are being penalized or suspended. I will start with Daniel Sedin because he is our Canuck #1 scorer. He is still out, yet Duncan (a guy I really like, or at least used to) is happily playing in the CHI/PHX series. That is wrong! I need to go back to one of my favorite Canucks, and still a favorite with the Red Wings, Bertuzzi. He is great, always a bit volatile but usually with reason because he had someone hanging on him, but he had a total mental lapse and ended a guys career. Is it right that Bert is still playing? I'm not sure if total ban is fair but when you think about suspensions, 5 or so games does not equate to the loss of a young man's career. My point is, if a guy is knocked out "illegally" for a five days, or a month, the guy that does the dirty deed should not play within that time.
I love James Neal, but his hit on Lacoutier was way late and vicious (not really in his nature) and then he head hunts Giroux on the same shift. Both Giroux and Lacoutiere are good guys, Neal lost it! One game suspension?? Bull****! He was really trying to injure. Hitting hard is part of the game. Both checks were attempts at the head, one leaving his skates.
Tonight, Raffe Torres hit on Hossa was despicable, as was his hit on Seabrook (as a Canuck) last year. I am in the minority of people in BC that like the Blackhawks, but I can't help but cheer for them behind the Canucks. I have always been a CHI fan since the Mikita Hull days.
I argue (with myself) with Don Cherry often but sometimes I agree with him, one thing he said a couple years ago about the "hard" equipment.
My take on equipment: I believe equipment manufactures began developing equipment that mitigated the problems of separated shoulders and fractured elbows for the offensive player but what has happened is in the effort to protect the offensive player the defensive player has become defenseless.
I don't know what the answer is, but the players should not be wearing what is the equivalent of metal. Surely someone should be able to design shoulder and elbow pads that protect from injury to both.
Don't get me wrong. I love old time hockey, hit hard, fight, and regardless of what numbnuts says, bite the fockers fingers if he sticks them in your mouth, especially with freaking huge mitties protection! Hockey is a battle, but it shouldn't be played with armour!
Having said this, we are seeing some great hockey!!!

[Cash]

By the way:
I believe Brendan shanahan has the greatest intentions and is a respected NHL player by his peers. He took on his position because he felt he had the respect of all NHL players and had no idea he was going to be so overwhelmed. The players contract money is far too much to determine how it affects players in terms of penalties. A three man committee would take the pressure off one good guy. I don't believe the violence has escalated that much over the years, but the increased speed, size and physiques of the players combined with the evolution of the equipment has lead to a situation where the NHL is dealing with concussions and suspensions on an every game basis and we are regularly seeing the stars we want to watch, whether on our team or the adversary, being put out of the game. In the '80's I remember being very upset when Suter hit Getzky in the lower back and the fear was Gretz health might be jeopardized. I hated Suter for that, but that hit was so innocent compared to the **** we see today. What would the NHL be without Wayne Gretzkey, or Marian Hossa, or Claude Giroux, or Sidney Crosby or Daniel Sedin?
I also wonder about the hypocacy of the NHL. They discuss the "vulnerable" player, much like the NFL. Again, depending on your team, Dustin Penner's hit on Henrik Sedin was definitely on a "vulnerable player" who did not have the puck and delivered IMO by a coward. If you are going to hit a guy, and you should, do it while the guy is expecting it, not that way. Again, sorry, but I feel that way about every player, not just H Sedin.

[turnheadz]

well, let's see if the Canucks can at least bring this thing home. I hope they don't play Sedin if he's not ready.

[Cash]

Originally Posted by turnheadz

well, let's see if the Canucks can at least bring this thing home. I hope they don't play Sedin if he's not ready.

I agree. I hope he doesn't feel the need to jeopardize his health for this series because by the sound of his practise regime I don't think he is ready. Let the rest of the guys start any comeback and if they can't do it that's too bad.
I really don't think the Canucks have been able to put last years loss behind them, just as a lot of us fans haven't. For the past 2 years we have proven we are the best team in the league during the regular season, but not in the playoffs. I spend as much energy hoping for a Boston loss as I do for a Canuck win!

[turnheadz]

alrighty then

[turnheadz]

oops

[Cash]

Canucks were playing really tight all game - so many passes in the skates or out of reach in the neutral zone - turn overs like crazy. We had a couple really good chances to go out front 2-0 and that probably would have been enough. If we had won that game the pressure starts to go back on the Kings, but alas, tee times on the Lower Mainland will be harder to get! I really was hoping we would at least outlast the Bruins.
I guess we will see what happens with our goalies now. All I heard from anyone up until this last week was the possibility of Schneider going.
At the March trade deadline I was thinking Luongo for Rick Nash. Columbus wanted goalie help and a great power forward like Nash would have been a great fit on our team (any team for that matter). I'm not sure about the financial/contractual logistics but it seemed to me they both have huge contracts and a swap should have been feasible or still might be a consideration.