The Playoff Picture

[dhabums]

Are those apostrophe's better?

Did grammar fuck your wife in front of your parents?

[Meds]

Are those apostrophe's better?

Did grammar fuck your wife in front of your parents?

LMAO!

Apostrophe's have always given me headaches when it comes to things like a team name, where the team is a group but the players belong to the team etc.....even though you don't use an apostrophe for the plural of a name. Blah blah blah.....and sometimes it is just a pinky finger's habitual keystroke.

You also commented on it a while ago, so I decided to abuse it.

[rockalt]

The Blackhawks are going to get the 1st place team in the 2nd round.

That will be us if SJ finishes 8th.

Would you care to explain how the Shark's finishing 8'th would effect the Canuck's finishing in 1'st?

I might very well be wrong but I understood the comment to mean that the Sharks would upset the Blues in the first round, leaving us as the top seed in the 2nd round.

As poorly as the Sharks have played this season and of late, I still think they have enough talent to take out the Blues. The Blues no doubt have been dynamite this year but they're still a bit of a wildcard, so it wouldn't surprise me in the least if either the Kings or Sharks took them down in the 1st round (providing either finishes 8th).

The Blues along with the Canucks and Hawks depending on how things shake down would make quick work of the Stars, Coyotes, Avs, or Flames (LOL!).

If I'm the Canucks I am more than happy with the 2nd seed. I would be more concerned over who finishes 7th. Personally I am hoping the Kings win the Pacific, and by some miracle the Avs or Flames finish 7th. Unfortunately we've already done enough to minimize the chances of that first round matchup!

LA will be the determining factor here. They're definitely the toughest team in the Pacific. If they fail to win the division, then I think the Hawks are a lock to win their series, leaving us with the winner of the Red Wings/Predators series. Of course, that might also mean they finish 7th or 8th resulting in a potential upset.

I would say we're destined to play the 4/5 seed in the second round if not for LA. Either way, I like our chances finishing 2nd. It's really more about drawing favourable first round matchups than passing the Blues. I'm far more interested in the race between the Kings, Stars, Sharks, Coyotes, Avs, and Flames for that reason.

[Zamboni Driver]

Not with their goaltending, they just got smoked 8-4 by Ottawa....

LOL. I'm guessing this is sarcasm or you missed that it was Theissen between the pipes tonight.....the guy has 4 NHL games to his name.

So, what - you don't think he'll start in the SCF?

If there is a weakness to the Pens maybe it's goaltending, i don't think it is up in the "elite" range.
We just have to hope they get bounced before the finals

[rockalt]

Not with their goaltending, they just got smoked 8-4 by Ottawa....

LOL. I'm guessing this is sarcasm or you missed that it was Theissen between the pipes tonight.....the guy has 4 NHL games to his name.

So, what - you don't think he'll start in the SCF?

If there is a weakness to the Pens maybe it's goaltending, i don't think it is up in the "elite" range.
We just have to hope they get bounced before the finals

Theissen didn't exactly play well but in his defense the bulk of the Ottawa goals were pretty and the result of blown defensive coverage as opposed to simply being softies. If there's a glimmer of hope to take from that game is that even the Pens are capable of playing extremely sloppy! The score could have been 10-4! Check out Spezza's breakaway from his own blueline! Unbelievable!

[Island Nucklehead]

If there is a weakness to the Pens maybe it's goaltending, i don't think it is up in the "elite" range.
We just have to hope they get bounced before the finals

Fleury is a beast with a ring. Im hoping someone bounces the Penguins, because I think they're the best team in hockey right now...

[Fred]

I predicted Pitts for the Cup at the beginning of the season and then had my doubts when Crosby couldn't suit up. But with or without Crosby they've been a great team. I'm still cynical about how long he was out, but hey what ever works. If they have a long run in the Cup it will more than make up for Crosby's salary. IMO they're a well balanced team.

St L looks almost mechanical in their play. If you can crack the nut for a moment they may crumble...first time they've done this well but there no such sign as yet. Detroit....will they be healthy...no #2 in goal and Howard with a groin problem. SJ who'd of thunk it

[wafflecombine]

To be honest, I've been more preoccupied with the dog pile at the bottom of the conferences.
Phoenix at 87 pts
LA, SJ and the Av's at 86. LA and SJ have 2 games in hand vs. the Avs!
Calgary at 83 and fading.

I think we put final nail in coffins of the AVs and Calgary this week. Hoping to blunt the Kings some too.

Things are highly entertaining!

In the East
Buffalo and Washington duking it out like madmen at 84 pts.

Take a miracle for the Jets. I'd still love to see them make it in their first year!

[Blob Mckenzie]

I predicted Pitts for the Cup at the beginning of the season and then had my doubts when Crosby couldn't suit up. But with or without Crosby they've been a great team. I'm still cynical about how long he was out, but hey what ever works.

Did you study under Dr Recchi ?

[Puck]

One thing I wonder about the Blues is whether they will be as good in a best-of-seven as regular season play. As we saw against the Kings a couple years back, a series is long enough that adjustments come into play. In that series, once we contained their power-play, we took over. Any chance that a well-coached, well-prepared team will have more success against St. Louis when it's not a one-off regular season game?

[Fred]

I predicted Pitts for the Cup at the beginning of the season and then had my doubts when Crosby couldn't suit up. But with or without Crosby they've been a great team. I'm still cynical about how long he was out, but hey what ever works.

Did you study under Dr Recchi ?

No I depend on my powers of observation, just like I think the best crab curry in the lower mainland is served at the Astoria Hotel

[ESQ]

One thing I wonder about the Blues is whether they will be as good in a best-of-seven as regular season play. As we saw against the Kings a couple years back, a series is long enough that adjustments come into play. In that series, once we contained their power-play, we took over. Any chance that a well-coached, well-prepared team will have more success against St. Louis when it's not a one-off regular season game?

I looked back at Hitchcock's teams, and I believe he's shown a difficulty in adjusting in-series. He's only been in the playoffs twice since the lockout, going 2-4 with Philly in 06 and getting swept in 09 with CBJ. I think people expected the Flyers team to do better than it did, with Peter Forsberg feeding Gagne, and CBJ was probably expected to win at least a game.

When I watch Hitchcock teams, I feel as though they're playing way beyond their skill level, many many players have career years....and then it all falls apart and Hitchcock is fired. Its very tough to figure him out.

[Blaster86]

It's not just Hitch. Any team that is relying on a system and only a system (no horses that they can just let run) they will always get pummelled. Phoenix against Detroit last year is a good example. Nashville against us. Boston against Montreal.

[Zamboni Driver]

So, what - you don't think he'll start in the SCF?

If there is a weakness to the Pens maybe it's goaltending, i don't think it is up in the "elite" range.
We just have to hope they get bounced before the finals

Theissen didn't exactly play well but in his defense the bulk of the Ottawa goals were pretty and the result of blown defensive coverage as opposed to simply being softies. If there's a glimmer of hope to take from that game is that even the Pens are capable of playing extremely sloppy! The score could have been 10-4! Check out Spezza's breakaway from his own blueline! Unbelievable!

M-A-F out after 40 min today vs Isles - maybe injured.
Isles up 5 -3
And Fleury let in all 5 goals....

[Reefer2]

It will be interesting to see how Pittsburg play in the playoffs when whistles get put away and games slow down.

I am not sold on them being the best to come out of the east.