Hockey playoffs, Conference Finals

[gekkogecko]

OK, so I was completely wrong about Detroit/Calgary (I took Detroit in five games, Calgary won in six), completely right about San Jose/Colorado (SJ in six), half right about Toronto/Philadelphia (I took Toronto in six, Philly won in six), and half right about Montreal/Tampa Bay (I took Tampa Bay in seven, and they swept Montreal).

This leaves Calgary/San Jose for the Western Conference, and Tampa Bay/Philadelphia for the Eastern Conference.

Tampa Bay & San Jose both finished ahead of their opponents in the regular season. I'd *like* to see Tampa Bay take out Philly, but I don't think they're going to be able to.

My picks are Calgary in five games, and Philadelphia in six games. What are yours?

[cbass1976]

calgary in 6.......TB in 7

[Aqua]

*Looks for SS so we can console each other*

[Steph]

I can't consider you half right if you guessed the wrong team but got the amount of games right! :D

We're still mourning the Leafs here.

Slow that bandwagon down . . . Go Flames Go!

[Sugarsprinkles]

*Joins Aqua in our mutual misery over the lack of a Wings/Avs Conference Final*




Well, the only consolation in all this is that EVERY ONE of the teams who have won a Stanley for the past 10 years are all out of the playoffs. So, it's NOT just the Wings that couldn't get it done this year. What does sadden me is that the injury to Steve Yzerman's eye and orbital bones around his eye may have the last time we see him play. I really hope he's able to retire the way he wanted to, and not writhing in pain. With the possibility of no 2004-2005 season, a lot of veteran players my call it a career. But I just have to say, whether or not you like the Red Wings, Steve Yzerman is one of the most upstanding and classiest men to ever have played the game.

Now, we've got Flames/Sharks and Flyers/Lightning. Only one of these teams has won a Stanley Cup before. I'm sick to death of hearing the talking heads on ESPN blather about how freakin' amazing Iginla, Gelinas and Kiprusoff are. I don't like the Flyers because Primeau's poor play cost the Wings dearly a few years back. So, I think I'm going to root for the Sharks.

[aflyerfan]

I will take the Flyers in 6 and SanJose in 7.

[thedog]

Sorry about the Leafs, Steph ... but it was one helluva OT in game six. True playoff hockey.

Now ... the Flyers and the Bolts -- Phila was unable to win a single contest between the two during the regular season. Yeah, the playoffs are like starting over, the slate wiped clean, yada, yada, yada ...

I am a rabid Flyer fan but they are starting on a bit of a slippery slope -- the Bolts have home advantage plus the jinx of having beaten the Flyers in regular season play.

Sorry about Yzerman, Sugarsprinkles. Did you see the interview with Bobby Clark (of the famous 1974-1975 Flyers Clark-Leach-Barber, the LCB line -- most goals for a line in the NHL). Clark, now GM of the Flyers, said last night that every player should be wearing eye shields.

Hell, when Clark was playing, he didn't even wear a helmet.

Oh no Mr. Bill - not the Sharks!

GO FLYERS

[Sugarsprinkles]

I need to correct myself when I stated that only one of the Final Four teams had won a Stanley Cup before. TWO of them have won the Cup in the past, Calgary in '89 and I'm not sure when Philly last won the Cup. I think that perhaps, thedog or aflyersfan can enlighten us on that.

No, I didn't see Bobby Clarke's interview. But thanks for letting me know. I'm not sure how I feel about a change in rules about shields. I remember when the helmet rule came in. In some ways it seems like they're turning it into a "sissy" game with adding even more protective equipment. But then the players in the league are so much bigger and stronger now than when there were only 6 teams, and not even goalie's wore helmets or masks. The players really do need to protect themselves from career-ending, and maybe even life-threatening injuries.

[thedog]

Geeeeesh Sugar ... you really don't want me to talk about the Flyers, do you?

Okay, I will ... just a little.

The last time the Flyers won the cup was in 1975 (they won it in '74 as well). Those were the times during the great goalie matchups ... Bernie Parent for the Flyers (considered one of the six all time best goalies by some) versus the likes of Ken Dryden (Montreal). He (Dryden) was as big as the net. Getting a puck past him involved getting him down on the ice first. As long as he was standing, nobody scored. Montreal went on to win several consecutive cups (4).

The Flyer's style of play then was the quick passing game coupled with swarming the net.

Last night was, IMHO, one of the best passing games I've seen the Flyers play in a long time.

GO FLYERS !

[Steph]

Is it wrong to still be mourning Toronto?

I want this poor beleagured city to win the Cup. None of us can remember the last celebration!

[Sugarsprinkles]

I'm sure there are at least a few people in Toronto over the age of 37 that can remember it.

[Steph]

My diehard Leaf fans I know are in their 20s and early 30s. Devoted like no other hockey fan I've ever seen but had no Cup to celebrate.

Canada won today though! :D

[Sugarsprinkles]

Detroit waited 42 yrs between Cups.............not sure how long the wait was for the Rangers back in '94.


Just be glad you aren't a Chicago Cubs fan. They haven't won a World Series since 1908.

[thedog]

Hockey fans are devoted like no other because there is no other sport like it.

Hang in there Steph ... the Leafs have been, over time, one of the best teams in the NHL ... AND, one of the original six that played the game.

Yeah ... it's that damn Billy Goat.

Game two -- Tampa Bay. GO FLYERS !

[thedog]

Okay ... The Flyers - Lightning series is even 1-1 and the Flames put it to the Sharks the other night in OT (yea!!!!)

I am rooting for a Flyers - Flames Stanley Cup. What a killer series that would be (IMHO).

GO FLYERS !!

[Sugarsprinkles]

Personally, I hope the League gets what they seemed to be hoping for the way the zebras called the games.....most calls going against the "skilled" teams....I'm just waiting for a Tampa Bay - San Jose finals. The only ones watching that match up would be the fans from those cities and absolute die-hard watch-anything-on-a-hockey-rink fans.

[gekkogecko]

TB/SJ? *If* that happens, I'll be tracking it as closely as I can.

[thedog]

We should begin to get a feel for where this is all going tonight - moreso with the San Jose/Calgary series. If the Flames can put them down tonight I'm not sure if the Sharks have the depth to come back four straight.

And all the Flyers need to do is keep up that passing game.

GO FLYERS !!!

[Sugarsprinkles]

Hmmmmmm last night's games.


Tampa Bay 4
Philadelphia 1



San Jose 3
Calgary 0







Can't help but giggling :D

[thedog]

Waaaaaa !!!!!

[Steph]

Calgary's still up 2-1. Go Flames!

[Sugarsprinkles]

But for how long?



Go San Jose!!

[way22hot]

fans from those cities and absolute die-hard watch-anything-on-a-hockey-rink fans.


__________________

I don't really remember you saying you lived in San Jose SS?

[Sugarsprinkles]

And I don't...........and I'm not sure if I'll be watching the Finals. Only if I have someone to really root against......Like Calgary or Philadelphia. :D:D:D

[thedog]

The gauntlet is down, SS !!!

And did you see Primeau score that single handed goal on Saturday??? A rocket to the upper corner. Wow!!!

And the Flyers busted the Bolt's chops on Saturday by interrupting that "on the road" winning streak. Yee haa!

Teasing you about Primeau;)

GO FLYERS !

[gekkogecko]

With less than a minute to go, San Jose pulled their goalie, and proceeded to turn the pressure on in Calgary's zone. In the last few seconds, they tried to center the puck from behind Calgary's net, only to have it hop over their own player's stick, and then trickle down to just cross over the goal line into the empty net before time ran out.

Yes, the goal counted, and Calgary advances to the Cup finals on a 3-1 victory.

[Steph]

:hot: :hot: :hot:

GO FLAMES GO!!!!!!!!!!


Canadians are soooooooooooooooooooo happy to have one of our teams in the playoffs!!!!! WOOOOOOOOOOOOHOOOOOOO!

[Steph]

Originally posted by gekkogecko
Yes, the goal counted, and Calgary advances to the Cup finals on a 3-1 victory.

But who cares about that last goal?

Calgary still would have won!

WOOOOOOOOOHOOOOOOOOOOO!









The Calgary celebrations are sooooo tame compared to the insanity that would have happened if the Leafs won, tho'

[gekkogecko]

Originally posted by Steph
But who cares about that last goal?

Calgary still would have won!


Well, yes, that why teams pull their goalies. And yes, I know *you* know that, but there are potentially some that don't that might read this thread.



The Calgary celebrations are sooooo tame compared to the insanity that would have happened if the Leafs won, tho'

You could do something about that, you know. Like take off your shirt and go running down the middle of your neighborhood street in celebration.:D

[thedog]

Yo ... FLAMES !!! Yee -- haa !!!!!

Well, that's one half of my dream Stanley Cup playoffs this year.

Flyers at home tonight. Hope they put it to the Bolts.

GO FLYERS

[Steph]

I was just trash talkin' :D

Hey! There's a theme here. A co-worker's birthday was yesterday and he wanted me to flash him. Should I give in to peer pressure?

[gekkogecko]

Originally posted by Steph
Should I give in to peer pressure?

You have to ask? Of course you should.


BTW, tonight's game (or yesterday evening's by now, it's after midnight here):
5-4 Flyers, in overtime. Game 7 Saturday.

I'd *like* TB to win, but I still don't think they're going to.

[thedog]

I donno gecko ... that was a squeaker last night.

You may get your wish. Both teams seem to have their Industrial Strength goal scorers ... it's that one guy out there (on either team) that comes out of the blue to slip one by.

My personal opinion: If the Flyers can stop concentrating on setting up the perfect play and just hammer away when ever they send the puck in, they'll win.

Like the Gagne puck out of mid-air goal ast night. Outstanding!

Tampa seems to be able to take advantage of flukey passes.

Again, in my opinion, there won't be many penalties in the Saturday game. It might be a nail-biter.


GO FLYERS !!!

[skyler_m]

Hockey season is over for me once my beloved Blackhawks are eliminated from playoff contention. Lately, that's been in about week 2 of the regular season. LOL


I've been pulling for TB, though

[gekkogecko]

Tampa Bay gets to go to the Stanley Cup finals in a very exciting game 7. Score was 2-1.

And grats to cbass1976, who called the conference finals perfectly (Calgary in 6, Tampa Bay in 7).

[thedog]

Bah, humbug!

C'est la vie.

Flames and Lightning should be VERY interesting.

< ---- Rooting for Flames. I think I'm a closet Canadien?

[Steph]

Go Flames Go!

I'm hoping to see footage from yesterday's "Hockey Night in Canada" performed by almost 1000 saxes!

Go Flames Go!!!