The OFFICIAL Stanley Cup Playoffs Thread

[Maple Leafs]

Hey Devils fans, did the refs at least buy you dinner before they bent you over like that?

[Pumpy Tudors]

Originally Posted by Maple Leafs

Hey Devils fans, did the refs at least buy you dinner before they bent you over like that?

I only watched the third period, so I didn't get shit.

[kingfc22]

Sharks win! Only got to see the last 2 minutes, but it was enough for me. Hopefully we take game 4 and push the Wings to the brink.

[Hurst2112]

FU Todd Bertuzzi. FU and you idiocy. FU and your desire to put yourself ahead of your team.

Bench him. Better yet, scratch him. I'd rather lose because of him not on the roster than lose because of his attitude.

Maybe if this happens, Lang will get the hint as well.

[bob]

Originally Posted by Hurst2112

FU Todd Bertuzzi. FU and you idiocy. FU and your desire to put yourself ahead of your team.

Bench him. Better yet, scratch him. I'd rather lose because of him not on the roster than lose because of his attitude.

Maybe if this happens, Lang will get the hint as well.

I have missed most of the playoffs - what has he done?

[Hurst2112]

Originally Posted by bob

I have missed most of the playoffs - what has he done?

He has a goal and 3 assists in the playoffs. What chaps my ass is the stupid elbow he put on Clowe (I think).

He took another penalty late in the game too. Granted, the PP goal was scored on Draper's penalty but Todd showed his classic colors with that elbow to the head. Sucks.

Wings HAD that game.

[Pyser]

Originally Posted by Maple Leafs

Hey Devils fans, did the refs at least buy you dinner before they bent you over like that?

im liking the way the devils are reacting to this loss.

we played the exact game we wanted to, but ott blocks shots like a motherfucker.

we can obviously run with this team, just got to buckle down and get to it. no whining like ottawa did after brylin's goal.

[Hurst2112]

BTW, Lankow impressed me last night. He stepped up from last week.

Marleau came to life last night too.

[Pumpy Tudors]

About the Devils, I've noticed something this season that unsettles me. There's really not much in the way of setting up plays in the offensive zone. I mean, particularly in this series against Ottawa so far, the Devils get to the offensive zone, dump into the corner or take one shot, and then the puck goes back the other way. Centering passes are useless because there's never time for anybody to get in front of the net.

I guess this is how the Devils design their attack, but it only seems to work in the playoffs if Scott Gomez is the one leading the breakout. If anybody else brings the puck in, there's no sustained attack. I'm not sure what to make of this. For the most part, all of the forwards have had significant playing time together. Every single forward who's played in the playoffs (except for Clarkson and his cameo) appeared in 60+ games this year. There's got to be some level of cohesion there, and I'm not seeing it on the attack.

I hate to say it, but there are long stretches when the Devils look like they're not even trying on offense. There are other times where they put big flurries together, and Pyser's right about the way the Senators block shots, but it's really unnerving when the Devils seem to be completely uninterested in trying to get near Ottawa's net.

[Pyser]

i agree, pumpy. actually, the devils seem to have changed a couple things since the end of the regular season, but i cant tell if its a natural evolution, or things lou has changed since he took over as coach.

the pp, for instance, is quite different. they just start rushing up whenever they get the puck. during the regular season, they would set up shop behind their own goal, wait for gomez to come back and pick up the puck, and skate up 5 across. now its just half assed every rush.

that said, game 3 was a julien coached game if i ever saw one. if the devils never took a shot, it seemed fine by them.

[Pyser]

dola

ive never screamed "SHOOT THE PUCK" as much at the devils as i have this post season....and that is REALLY saying something.

[Pumpy Tudors]

Two out of two Devils fans agree: New Jersey needs to shoot the puck more.

[Young Drachma]

Originally Posted by Pumpy Tudors

About the Devils, I've noticed something this season that unsettles me. There's really not much in the way of setting up plays in the offensive zone. I mean, particularly in this series against Ottawa so far, the Devils get to the offensive zone, dump into the corner or take one shot, and then the puck goes back the other way. Centering passes are useless because there's never time for anybody to get in front of the net.

I guess this is how the Devils design their attack, but it only seems to work in the playoffs if Scott Gomez is the one leading the breakout. If anybody else brings the puck in, there's no sustained attack. I'm not sure what to make of this. For the most part, all of the forwards have had significant playing time together. Every single forward who's played in the playoffs (except for Clarkson and his cameo) appeared in 60+ games this year. There's got to be some level of cohesion there, and I'm not seeing it on the attack.

I hate to say it, but there are long stretches when the Devils look like they're not even trying on offense. There are other times where they put big flurries together, and Pyser's right about the way the Senators block shots, but it's really unnerving when the Devils seem to be completely uninterested in trying to get near Ottawa's net.

I felt from the start of the year that they were lacking the sort of player that would ignite that offense at the right times and it shows. Their experience is the only thing keeping them alive, but it's almost as if I watch games now and have the expectation that the run will be over before it starts.

[Logan]

1-0 Rangers as the 3rd period is about to begin. Great game so far. Buffalo is starting to fly and draw penalties, so I'm nervous...

[Dr. Sak]

Nice goal by Shanny...2-0

[Dr. Sak]

Buffalo answers quick...wow

[Logan]

Yeah, that was an exciting 33 seconds.

[Logan]

Potential tying goal under review with 13 seconds left.

Please be inconclusive.

And a major storm just started...I'm terrified of losing power.

[kingfc22]

I say goal, but it's not conclusive.

[Logan]

NO GOAL!!!!

Hold on boys!

[bhlloy]

Holy crap... that puck is over the line. Who cares? Go Rangers!

[Logan]

WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO.

All tied up.

[Logan]

I'm posting from my work laptop right now because my cable (and cable modem) went out roughly 4.7 seconds after this game ended. This is probably the happiest I've ever been with no TV.

[TazFTW]

At work so I can't see the game/replay but....

Go Rangers!

[Logan]

If I had to guess, I would say that puck was fully over the line. But luckily, that image was blinded by Henrik's pad. The frame just before wasn't enough.

[Draft Dodger]

I was expecting MUCH more of a meltdown from Ruff. I'm so disappointed.

I don't get the NHL sometimes. It is 2007. And yet, whenever there is a question on a goal, the referee goes over and talks on a 30-year old beige phone through a hole in the glass to some guy in Toronto invariably watching a replay of a terrible angle for the goal. Coaches have tablet PCs on the bench, but the NHL can't spring for a cordless headset for the refs? Maybe at least get McReery a chair to sit on so he doesn't have to stand all hunched over for 10 minutes listening to hold music?
All the cool terrorist shows can have little tiny camera that fit under doors: Wouldn't it be great to have one of those at the base of each goalpost, aimed along the crease, just for these types of goals? They'd do a heck of a lot more good than that dome thing in the back of the net.

It's just silly. So many disputed goals. It was pretty clear this was a goal, but there was no evidence to support it. They need a better system.

[msf518]

Got a Rangers Game 6 ticket (off Ticketmaster too), this just made my day!

[Hurst2112]

nice bonehead icings by the rangers. the whole goal review could have been avoided.

[st.cronin]

Originally Posted by Draft Dodger

I was expecting MUCH more of a meltdown from Ruff. I'm so disappointed.

I don't get the NHL sometimes. It is 2007. And yet, whenever there is a question on a goal, the referee goes over and talks on a 30-year old beige phone through a hole in the glass to some guy in Toronto invariably watching a replay of a terrible angle for the goal. Coaches have tablet PCs on the bench, but the NHL can't spring for a cordless headset for the refs? Maybe at least get McReery a chair to sit on so he doesn't have to stand all hunched over for 10 minutes listening to hold music?
All the cool terrorist shows can have little tiny camera that fit under doors: Wouldn't it be great to have one of those at the base of each goalpost, aimed along the crease, just for these types of goals? They'd do a heck of a lot more good than that dome thing in the back of the net.

It's just silly. So many disputed goals. It was pretty clear this was a goal, but there was no evidence to support it. They need a better system.

Or, better yet, put some sort of radio signal in the puck with a system that can locate its position accurately enough that you don't even need to SEE the puck.

[Logan]

Originally Posted by Hurst2112

nice bonehead icings by the rangers. the whole goal review could have been avoided.

Only Avery's shot at the empty net was stupid. The other icing came as a result of a guy (I forgot who it was already) using the boards to get the puck around a Sabre, but an odd bounce caused it to just take off and go all the way down.

While he was fantastic tonight, Henrik holds the blame for putting him in the situation where he needed to make that save. That was a terrible (and unnecessary) attempt at handling the puck behind the net.

[bbor]

The rim of the goalies pads which are black....which is fuckin brilliant.....blocked the replay.If that rim is the same colour of the rest of the pads it is a replay goal for sure.

Watch in the furtue for all the rims of goalie pad being black...then 2 months later the MHL outlawing black rims on goalie pads.

[Hurst2112]

Originally Posted by Logan

Only Avery's shot at the empty net was stupid. The other icing came as a result of a guy (I forgot who it was already) using the boards to get the puck around a Sabre, but an odd bounce caused it to just take off and go all the way down.

While he was fantastic tonight, Henrik holds the blame for putting him in the situation where he needed to make that save. That was a terrible (and unnecessary) attempt at handling the puck behind the net.

i don't care how the puck bounces. in the playoffs, you can't be doing that.

just my opinion.

[Logan]

Originally Posted by Hurst2112

i don't care how the puck bounces. in the playoffs, you can't be doing that.

just my opinion.

He chipped it away from the defenseman who was rushing in to make the play on the puck. Should he have just let him take it?

[Draft Dodger]

Originally Posted by st.cronin

Or, better yet, put some sort of radio signal in the puck with a system that can locate its position accurately enough that you don't even need to SEE the puck.

I agree completely. but if they can't figure out wireless phones, how could they take THIS technological leap?

[Maple Leafs]

Originally Posted by Draft Dodger

It's just silly. So many disputed goals. It was pretty clear this was a goal, but there was no evidence to support it. They need a better system.

But if they did that, the league wouldn't have the chance to make sure the close calls went against the small market teams.

Sorry, someone had to say it before the Sabres fans show up.

Edit: The whole "if you can't see the puck in the net, it's not a goal" rule is dumb. If the puck is under a pad and the whole pad is in the net, it's a goal. If you see the puck bounce out of the net at an angle that's impossible unless it was across the line, it's a goal. If the puck is in the goalie's glove which is inside the net... ah, forget it, I'm making too much sense for Bettman and his minions.

[Pumpy Tudors]

You know, FoxTrax would have solved all this.

[Ksyrup]

I don't see why the NHL should get so much grief for this when football is no better. Why are we still relying on camera angles on the goal line instead of putting tiny cameras in the pylons? Or dedicated sideline/back of endzone cameras? It seems like the technology is there, just no one wants to go through the expense/trouble in order to fully maximize replay reviews. This isn't solely an NHL problem.

[Draft Dodger]

Originally Posted by Ksyrup

I don't see why the NHL should get so much grief for this when football is no better. Why are we still relying on camera angles on the goal line instead of putting tiny cameras in the pylons? Or dedicated sideline/back of endzone cameras? It seems like the technology is there, just no one wants to go through the expense/trouble in order to fully maximize replay reviews. This isn't solely an NHL problem.

but, in general, a replay of a goal in hockey has significantly more consequence than a replay in football.

not that I'm disagreeing. the NFL could certainly improve it's replay too, but the NHL's is just using a laughably bad system, and it's affecting the outcome of games.

[Travis]

I do like how both the NHL and NFL are willing to shell out to get HD replays for the officials to watch, but like you said, not invest in (albeit more expensive) surefire ways to eliminate blown calls in instances where technology could do the trick for them.

[Ksyrup]

Originally Posted by Draft Dodger

but, in general, a replay of a goal in hockey has significantly more consequence than a replay in football.

not that I'm disagreeing. the NFL could certainly improve it's replay too, but the NHL's is just using a laughably bad system, and it's affecting the outcome of games.

While I realize that the number of scoring plays is far greater in football than hockey, both are similar in that whether they actually matter is dependent on the score of the game and the timing of the scoring play. And, in fact, since replay in football also encompasses more than just scoring plays - including plays which could lead to a scoring play that could change a game's outcome - I'd argue that you can't just limit the comparison to scoring plays only.

[Fidatelo]

Here's another thing about that replay: how come there was no camera angle from the front of the line looking in? If they can stick a camera way up high looking down and slightly from the back, why can't they have another one a couple feet over looking down and slightly from the front? Or at least a shot from one of the camera's on the sides looking towards the net? It seemed to me that almost any camera aiming in from the front would have been able to see the puck underneath the edge of his pad.

[Milton]

Originally Posted by Logan

Only Avery's shot at the empty net was stupid. The other icing came as a result of a guy (I forgot who it was already) using the boards to get the puck around a Sabre, but an odd bounce caused it to just take off and go all the way down.

While he was fantastic tonight, Henrik holds the blame for putting him in the situation where he needed to make that save. That was a terrible (and unnecessary) attempt at handling the puck behind the net.

As good as he is between the pipes, he's terrible at handling the puck. Something to work on in the off season. Which I hope doesn't come for many, many weeks.

[Young Drachma]

Dear Devils:

C'mon guys. Seriously.

[Young Drachma]

Woo! Power Play goal

[Young Drachma]

And just like that....down again.

Oh well.

[Pumpy Tudors]

Jeez, Brodeur was off tonight, but the offense has to do something. Again, do the Devils understand that if you're going to make centering passes, you need to have someone in front of the net to receive them? The one time they got people in front of the net, Pandolfo scored his goal. Gomez and Gionta had a lot of energy tonight, too, but they only managed the one Gionta goal. I was disappointed in Parise and Zajac tonight. Not much from them.

Terrific penalties on Colin White and Jim Dowd in the final 3 or 4 minutes. Really terrific. The Devils could have gained momentum, and then they had to kill off two minutes of 5-on-4 and one minute of 5-on-3. Great job, guys. Really. Great.

[canadiancreed]

Now that's damn nice to see. An evenly matched game, but in the end the better team winning Ottawa finally is turning it up when the chips are down, as evident by the third period shot total (too bad they let them get within one)

Let's Go Sens. Get that Cup back where it belongs

[Pumpy Tudors]

Originally Posted by canadiancreed

Let's Go Sens. Get that Cup back where it belongs

Anaheim?

[canadiancreed]

Originally Posted by Pumpy Tudors

Anaheim?

That'd be Bettman's response I'm sure.

[kingfc22]

33 seconds...Bah!