Statistically, the winner of any game, one through seven, usually wins the series.

You could look it up.

I'm betting the winner of game 7s almost always win the series :)

I'm going to faint

I hear the numer is well over 85%.

bah! It's only 2 OTs. What are you a rookie? You can relax now, btw :)

Turco is just not a playoff goalie...yet. Which is a good thing, because the Stars defense is horrible. No way they would stand up in the next round, anyway.

Why did it have to be the Avs, though? Gawd!!


Oh, did I read Simon is out for the series? Boo fucking hoo. Dirty bastard deserves what he dishes out.

It would be interesting to have the actual numbers since 7-game series started. The only one I remember is that in the history of the NHL, when trailing 3 games to 1, the team behind in the series has come back to win 9% of the time.

I'm really funny that way. I follow other teams and other sports casually, and don't get all goofy when they are on. The Avs, though, I go crazy for - talking to the TV, throwing my hands in the air when they score (woke up my sick wife when Svatos scored), that kind of stuff. All of that is very much against my normal character.

I rearrange my work schedule so that I'm out in time to watch the bulk of the Avs games - I wouldn't even dream of doing that for any other sport/team, including the Super Bowl. Throw in that it's a playoff game, and in OT (thanks David "Patrick Who?" Aebischer), and you can imagine what a basket case I was last night.

Incidentally, a quick note to Leafs fans.

Sorry about last night. That was my fault. My wife spoke during the "tkachuks"*. The Leafs never really had a shot.

For years I didn't let her in the room with me during playoff games. Then she started to complain about being banished every second night for two months, so I started letting her watch the games. I thought she fully understood all the rules (no speaking, no eye contact, no touching the good luck bag of chips on top of the TV no matter how hungry you are, etc). But apparently it didn't really sink in.

It's the little things that win and lose playoff series, and last night she cost us the game. I take full responsibility. My apologies to everyone.

*For those who don't get Hockey Night in Canada, every CBC sports broadcast begins with a five-second animation announcing "the following is a presentation of CBC sports". The actual animation changes every year, but it always involves spotlights dramaticly being switched on one-at-a-time, each one making a "ka-chook" noise as it comes on. These are the "tkachuks". The sound isn't as noticable on this year's version, but it's still there. You never, never speak during the tkachuks. Never. Absolute silence is required. This is a hard and fast rule that all fans must observe. If you talk during the tkachuks, your team will lose.**

**Yes, I'm actually serious.

I hear you. We used to have a similar rule about the first Leo Racicot commercial. Everyone gathered to watch the game had to be there for Leo's commercial. It was an imperative. Considering it was usually one of the first of the night, no one could be late.

So what happens when they change the animation and there are no more "tkachuks"?

The Leafs may actually win the Cup?

I'm all for crazy superstitions and the like while watching important sporting events. I've had a ton of them, all of them hockey related. Though, it must be said, there must be some chatty Leafs fans out there during the playoffs.

Hmmm. I never talk during that segment, yet my team seems to lose anyway. Go figure.

(Stares at Butter with uncomprehending look on face.)

They won't do that. They just... won't.

(Shakes head.)

Actually, they're barely there any more. My wife tried to use that defence ("That wasn't even a real Tkachuk!"). But the spirit lives on.

Apology accepted...dont let it happen again...on another note....Bobe Cole jinxed us....right before Alfferdson the Moron scored....he said Belfours shutout streak will be at 158 minutes in a few seconds.....of course, 10 seconds later, they score :mad:

What happened to Simon?

One of the Canuckleheads hit him knee-on-knee against the boards. It didn't look remotely deliberate though but he came up lame right away.

He's now considered "questionable" as he made the trip to Vancouver. However Sutter has said he'll need to heal in a big hurry if he's going to get back in the series.

It was one of the Sedins.

Uhhh....Simon hurt by a Sedin????


I hope he feels shame.

4-1 boing!

Party has started in Calgary.Strong road win for them....they could wrap it up at home on Saturday.

Will Crawford get roasted for starting Auld?I think he played well...but with hockey fans you never know.


What's the word in Ottawa ML?

The Wings definitely did what they needed to do. Come out strong, score early, score often, and then coast to a victory. Datsyuk and Zetterberg finally showed up for the play-offs. We've been waiting for this since game one versus the Ducks last year. Datsyuk's assists were the type of mind-boggling plays we've come to expect and the Wings most desperately need. The "big guns" scored: Zetterberg, Shanhan (fluke), Hull, and Lidstrom. Yzerman played his best game of the series. CuJo played fine, one goal on twenty shots, though he was hardly tested at all. Hopefully the Wings can carry this over to tomorrow's game and put an end to this series once and for all. No one wants a Game 7. Anything can happen in a Game 7.

Vancouver sounds like they are in trouble. Switching between back-ups? That's never good for a team in the play-offs. There is no way that can be good. First they lose Bertuzzi and now Cloutier. Very tough.

St. Louis, well, sorry Mizou and Primer... There's always next year. $9.5 million is it for Tkahuck? ZERO play-off goals. Nice.

It was good to see Montreal storm back against Boston. I like to see that series go seven games. Been some good drama there. Also, I need some help on my picks, I'm getting screwed.

It doesn't take a strong player to destroy your knee. It was a knee-on-knee hit, while Simon was up against the boards.

Hockey season is officially over for me. Time for baseball... and a fresh new backgroud image!


Todd

Simon would know, wouldn't he? I mean, he almost was able to do the same to Zubov.

Fucker. I hope it hurts.

Congrats to Dallas for signing the Hobey Baker award winner Junior Lessard! You got yourself a sniper, loves to do the dirty work in front of the net and get goals. Excellent skater too.

Fairly optimistic. There were some nervous fans before game four, but the general consensus seems to be that the Sens are outplaying the Leafs and should win the series, especially if Joe or Mats miss any games.

There's still that lingering fear that the Leafs will pull out some more magic. After all, the Sens thought they had the Leafs beat in 2001 and 2002 and look what happened. So I doubt anyone up here will start the victory party until the Leafs are dead and buried, and even then they'll be keeping one eye on the grave site to see if a withered hand shoots through the dirt.

Still, the mood is reasonably good. Tonight's game is a big one.

CARDS!!!

How have you been? Did you enjoy the Frozen Four?

Damn....I thought the Blue notes would put up more of a fight.


Mat's and Newy are questionable for tonight.The way i see it is unless they get run over by the zamboni in pre-game...they are playing.

I guess we are'nt getting this theread stickied this year :(

Yea I have had about all I can take with Tkachuk and his disappearing act in the playoffs. Every damn year he does this. Demitra does the same damn thing. Certainly hindsight is 20-20, but the Blues should have just cleaned house at the trade deadline. Weight needs to go. He is a great player, but since the Blues refuse to get a real winger for him to play with it is stupid to have that much money tied up in him. If they can find someone to take Tkachuk's salary he needs to go as well. All his goals are great in the regular season, but he is useless in the playoffs and it is just time to move on.

They also should have traded Pronger at the deadline. Not that I don't love him, but the Blues have a very good young core of D men and the money it is going to take to hold onto Prongs would be much better speant on scoring and damned goalie. And finally Osgood is NOT the answer. Just because Osgood was the last average goalie to win a cup does not mean he will do it for you. Take the money you save from Pronger, Weight, and Tkachuk and get some damn speed and a goalie. PLEASE!

I felt good going into this series, but it was very obvious the Sharks were the better team. Without question they had the better goalie and most of the time that is all it takes in the playoffs. But the Sharks made the Blues look like they were skating in mud. Nothing like playing dump and chase and not being able to beat the other team to the puck. Wheeeee! Congrats to the Sharks they were the better team and deserved to roll us like they did. I don't know when they will play hockey again, but I really hope the Blues take the time to think about where they have gone wrong all these years. It seems pretty obvious to me. GET A DAMN GOALIE!

The Blues gotta get some scorers too. A different goalie would help, indeed (believe me, I know about Osgood). But, any goalie shouldn't be expected to win 1 goal games. Especially those like game 1.

Just wanted to start a mini-discussion on something I've been thinking about.

During the playoffs, you hear a lot about the importance of getting the first goal. We always see stats about what a team's record is when they score first, etc. The commentators go on and on about how you have to get that first goal, discate the pace, quiet the crowd, etc.

I'm not sure I believe it. I think the second goal is the most important. Think about it. When it's 1-0, the next goal is crucial. If the team that's ahead gets it, it's usually game over. If the trailing team gets it, they're back to square one but with the momentum. I'd be willing to bet that if you kept track, goal #2 is more important than goal #1.

As an example, I know that in the Leafs/Sens series the team that scores the second goal has won every game. The team that scores first is only 2-2. It also goes without saying that the team that scores second in the Isles/Lightning series in 4-0, although you could say the same for goals 1-3.

What about your series? What are the records like in terms of goal #1 vs goal #2?

I'll take Pronger.

I thought they were spent with that playoff push. If they had managed to end up in 8th, they would have been swept. Nashville was better prepared to put up a fight than the Blues were.

No argument here, but this has been a pattern for the Blues for several years now. Year after year they head into the playoffs with an inferior goalie and because of it have virtually no shot of winning a cup.

Granted they tried to get better by getting Turek and he just flopped. It seemed like the right idea because he was stellar in his first regual season with the Blues, but he is just does not play well under pressure. They let Dwayne Roloson go. They tried Johnson who is without question talented and has the perfect build for a goalie, but always had a very poor work ethic and always had lapses in his mechanics. Then they went to Osgood!

I realize top notch goalies aren't just floating around, but they could have tried harder to get Hasek the first time. They probably could have had them if they wouldn't have signed Weight and would have been willing to give him the 2 year deal he wanted. They could have tried to go after Khabibulin, Cechmanek, Belfour, Kiprusoff etc. Goalies have been available and they haven't made a serious play for any of them. Did I mention they had Dwayne Roloson and never even gave him a shot????

So there is no question that they need to add scoring. I think their first order of business needs to be to get a goalie though. Once that is taken care of they can start focusing on everything else, but unless you are going to be able to put a team together like the 97 and 98 Wings then you just aren't going to win a cup with Osgood in goal.

I don't know who wouldn't. :)

Don't get me wrong I am very happy with Pronger, but the Blues have so many holes to fill and their future on the blue line looks pretty good with Jackman, Backman, Walker, and Salvador. So I think the huge dollars it will take to get Pronger back after this season could be better spent else where.

Pronger is going to be a free agent next year, or the year after next?

He is a free agent after this season. Although he isn't an unrestricted free agent yet. I still don't know that the Blues will have enough to bring him back even though they may not have to go into a bidding war with other clubs. He already makes 10 mil a year as it is.

Right, so the Blues need to offer him that much again to retain his rights. If they don't, he becomes unrestricted, although the Blues could still resign him to a smaller deal.

Basically it's the Kariya-situation all over again, except we don't know yet if Pronger is the sort of guy to pull a suck, abandon his team, move in with his boyfriend and then play awful for the season.

lol

If the Blues manage to move Tkachuk or Weight (or hopefully both) then re-signing Prongs makes more sense. My fear (and HB's hope) is that if Pronger leaves he will at some point end up in a Dead Things jersey and I don't think the Blues want that. Still that money could be used to improve the team in other bigger need areas.

The problem, of course, is the CBA. Do you sign Pronger to a $10M deal and then find out there's a $30M salary cap? Or do you let him go as a FA, watch him sign with the Wings (or Leafs) and then find out there's no cap at all?

Tough spot.

What would happen with a salary cap? Would current salaries be grandfathered?

I didn't pay attention to the NBA's whole half-ass cap changeover.

In the past, Bettman has said no. Some teams seem to be preparing as if they wouldn't be. But realistically, I can't see how they wouldn't. There would have to be some sort of grandfathering in order to make it work, and I suspect the league is just posturing about not doing it.

The Wings with Hatcher, Lidstrom, and Pronger? What, do they think they are the Yankees?

If that happens, I quit. I swear to God.


:)

Well the ex-Blues rarely go directly to the Wings. They usually have a stop over in another NHL city or two, but they all seem to make their way there eventually. Why me?

It's totally logical.

Pronger is clearly next in line. Maybe he'll go to Hartford and then... No, wait that was Shanahan and besides, Pronger already did his time with that solid organization. Well, then maybe Dallas and then... No, Hull has already been there, done that. How about, a more round about way, say Edmonton, then Toronto and THEN... No, that was CuJo. Fuck it. I say we cut out the middle-man all together and have him come right over. Hatcher and Pronger aka "The Twin Towers." I like it already. Perfect for marketing, t-shirts, posters, Little Ceasers glasses, bobble-heads, all that. We could even go with the "Two Towers" and have some sort of LOTR tie-in. Best thing the Wings have had going since Probert and Kocur and the whole "Bruise Brothers" thing. Hell, McInnis is only what 39? 40? I don't think we go with the middle-man on that one either. So, Al, COME ON DOWN!

One day we may even let Osgood back in the fold.... NAH!

I saw whatever it takes to make that happen we should do it!

Tell ya what. We'll give you Osgood and Khavanov for a cheese sandwich and a bag of pucks.

Wasn't Khavanov supposed to be good a few seasons back? I seem to remember having him on one of my fantasy teams. Then again, I think that fantasy team was pretty bad.

I would sacrafice a Hatcher for a Pronger.

Even with Pronger you guys would have difficulty getting out of the first round :)

Do you know what's awesome? The Boston fans cheering for the Canadian Anthem. I hope the Montreal fans learn something. :)

What the heck is this thing I see about Danton from the Blues?!?! Something about a murder for hire?

I guess not everybody on the team is going to make the first tee time of the off season.

What a numbnuts.

Just heard about it on the radio.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nhl/news/story?id=1784155

I think that may just have been the worst playoff game I've seen the Leafs play, ever.

I'm thinking attempted murder will ruin one's career more than Danton's "promiscuity and use of alcohol".

SI

EDDIE, EDDIE, EDDIE, EDDIE

Joey N said he didnt feel great tonight, well, he sure played great, and that goal by Tie...HUGE

Get rid of Pronger? Primelord you are as crazy as the goofballs who call KFNS all day. :D

Keep the defense, let Osgood tutor Divas and get rid of Demitra, Weight (I love ya Weight but you take too many days off), and anyone else who is making big $$$ and doesn't do sheet. Although I like Tkachuck.


Todd

Keep Danton though. That guy has got spunk. :)

Funny thing, I thought Smolinksi didn't have the balls to go to the net and bag a rebound.

". According to the complaint, Danton broke down and sobbed, and explained that he ordered the killing because he "felt the acquaintance was going to leave him."

so, did Danton just out himself?
reading between the lines on this, doesn't this "acquaintance" sound like a pissed-off ex-lover who's threatening to spill the beans?

oh, and I finally get to watch an entire Leafs/Sens playoff game...and I get a snoozefest.

Mike Danton has a ton of problems in his life, stemming from an abusive relationship with his father. Nevermind if he has a sexual preference choice, as an adult, that would result in him losing his job and millions of people wishing he would burn in hell.

doesn't justify contracting a hitman, of course, but yes, I do feel bad for him.

OTOH (and this should start a nice debate)
are we really sure Danton would have been raked over the coals if he was outed? hockey is a pretty rough, gladiatorish sport, but it also may be the most "gentlemanly" if that makes sense (goons who wont fight another guy if he's hurt, etc). I mean, if teammates can play with dive artists like Barnaby, Tucker, and Kovalev, would they think it would be as much of a big deal to play with a gay player?

do Kariya and Selanne have wives?

Of course it doesn't. It's unfortunate that society in general is more forgiving of abusive parents than it is sexual preference. At least it seems that way in mainstream society. Ho hum. The guy is finished now, for sure. It wouldn't surprise me if he is dead before the end of this year.

Hahah. I don't know for sure about Kariya, but I know Selanne has a wife and kids.

I think Danton would have been finished off if he was outed in the public. I don't think society is to the point where they are willing to tolerate gay players in mainstream professional sports. With all the fire and brimstone thrown around this year so far, it is obvious that society still hates the idea of a 'homosexual' being entitled to full and equal rights.

lol, :D

That has been one crazy series. I'm glad I missed most of that game last night!

I've always assumed that the first "out" athelete would be in the NHL. Like you, I think it would be accepted in the NHL, although I'm not sure I can put my finger on why.

Let's face it, we already know there have been several big name gay NHLers, they just weren't out publicly. But it was reasonably common knowledge, and nobody ever seemed to really go after them.

and I'm the same way, and I don't think I explained very well my reasoning - I can't really explain why.


like who? I must have missed the memo, although I saw Bob Sweeny on TV the other night, and little red flags were going off in my mind...

That would be every person with a french accent right?

:D

Rumors about Claude Lemieux have been going around for years. There was a minor leaguer that was here with the Atlanta Knights back in the early 90s that my wife had been friends with. She's pretty certain he was gay, because they would both talk about cute hockey players together. ;) It was Martin Tanguay, for anyone that might care.

Nah, everyone knows there wouldn't be a gay french player. (Mike Reibeiro: "What? Why is everyone looking at me?")

You have to take all the "this player is gay" rumors with a grain of salt, since a lot of them were thrown at popular players from other teams as a generic insult. Wendel Clark was rumored for years, despite being married with kid. Stephane Richer was another one that you always heard about. Mike Peca rumors are pretty common these days.

Glenn Anderson is one I've heard so often that I think it's gone from "rumor" to "generally accepted fact", although that coudl of course be news to him.

Stephane Richer...hahah. There was something a little unusual about that guy, but that doesn't mean he was anything other than a little funny/strange/eccentric. We saw him after a game, and he was trying to hitch a ride rather than going to the team bus. My wife and I were the only people that knew who he was, so he was talking to us (mostly wisecracks about how nobody would pick him up). After about 15 minutes of this, he said something like, "Well, that's it, I'm just going to walk" and off he went into the distance. It was funny, but strange.

It seems like I've heard the Peca rumors as well. I'm sort of surprised that they don't whirl around for Ziggy Palffy. Everyone knows he kissed Travis Green on the lips after a goal several seasons ago, and never talked about it in the press/public as far as I ever saw. He always seemed like a pretty nice guy, though, and smart, so it would serve no purpose to try and use that to ridicule/hurt him.

has everyone forgotten Stephanie Richer? and Wendy Clark.

Anderson was at LEAST bi...if not gay.Dude used to prance around in a full length mink coat.Not that that makes him gay...but.......

Damn..beaten to the punch:(

time to retreat from this thread for the day (at least, until I get home from work, fire up the Tivo and the projector to watch the Avs tonight)

2 minutes in. 2-0 Wings. Nice way to start Game 6.

20 more minutes.

Stars are done in 5.. looks like rebuilding time.

Davidson said it best: The Red Wings have put on a clinic the last 2 games.

Congrats to the Wings.

Here come the Flames. Yikes. I don't know about those guys....scary.

Devils out. Stars out.

Now we need Detroit and Colorado to take a dive.

Yeah nothing like a couple of 7 seeds competeing for the cup. the favorites are winning...nothing more you could ask for.

Wings don't swim.

Then a dive will suit them just fine. I don't expect them to swim.

Kiprusoff is terrifying. Either way, Colorado or Calgary, it will be tough.

I will wait a coulpe more weeks before continuing a pissing match here. I am too busy strutting around...as proud as I am.

Yeah, beating Nashville...what an accomplishment! ;) :p

Hey now! :)

Here is the difference between what I am suggesting and what the guys who call KFNS like to suggest. They want to ship guys like Pronger off whern they go into 2 game slumps and they are in the middle of their contracts.

I am saying that since Pronger is a free agent we can't afford to pay him what we are paying him and field a competitive team. 10 million doolars a year is just too much money to be tied up in one player when you have a very strong defense even without him. They showed they can play just fine without him the year he was out.

I think Pronger is a great player and I love having on the team, bot not at the expense of doing ANYTHING in the playoffs. We need scoring and we need goal tending. And we can;t get that with all that money tied up in Pronger. Divis is an interesting option, but he struggled badly several times this year. He may develop into a good goalie, but I would rather they took the money and got a proven guy now.

Yeah I know, that's what happens when you are the number 1 seed in the league, you have to get excited about beating lesser teams.

Well, it's a bigger accomplishment than, say, ending up with fewer points than Nashville in the regular season and, therefore, missing the post-season entirely. :p

Ouch! Why you gotta make it hurt so much. :(

dola

Besides...I've been a Flames fan my whole life...uh...all that talk about the Oilers...that was...uh...just to throw everybody off the trail...Yeah, Flames...go Flames, that's it. They're going to...uh...kick the Wings Asses!

/quietly sobs

There, there, old friend. We welcome you with open arms into our fold. It's nice here. Warm and comforting. If the Flames win, we have a common enemy. It'll be all right.

Never! It won't be alright until next year. Then you'll see...you'll all see!!!

Damn...I sound like a Leaf fan :p

Yeah, and from us Hawks fans, just wait until next year. Or maybe after the lockout. Or maybe once we get new management in there. And maybe if the young guys keep developing and maybe... aw, crap. Well, at least you'll be in cap hell.

SI

life is GOOD. Marek Svatos for President.

Avs finally play 3 good periods. Not really sure what to say about the Stars - they really didn't look anything like the team they are capable of being.

I kind of have a feeling the Nucks are going to pull their series out and we'll have Avs/Wings - that will be a lot of fun, except for me being outnumbered 50-1 by Wings fan on this board. :)

Hater:D

This would actually be a good thing. I'd rather not see them go against each other in the Conference Finals. It would make it possible that neither one of them plays for the Cup, which is what I'm hoping for. A Cup Final that does not have Colorado, Detroit, Dallas (check), or New Jersey (check), would be a good Cup Final.

Holy Shit

WHat a game in Calgary.....Nucks were up 4-0 after 2 periods and way ahead in game play...BUT...The Flames storm back in the 3rd with 4 unaswered goals.

Best series by far.

I hope for triple OT.