The NHL Thread (20 Viewers)

[Bjerknes]

My boys vs. the Pens once again. Back to back Stanley Cup Finalists.

Even despite not having Lidstrom, Datysuk and Ericsson, we were still able to get the job done. Lets just hope they'll be back by Saturday as the finals already fucking start. Seems strange they'll begin them so early after our series with the Hawks.

That will be the problem for us. Injuries. We need to overcome them.

The reason Carolina was such an easy target for Pittsburgh, is that they got beat up during two 7 game series.

That's just something they've got to deal with. They didn't really get beat up by the Pens, just rather were outclassed. The Hurricanes didn't have many injuries either, so I can't really use that as an excuse.

The blue line for Carolina is simply too weak. They made too many mistakes against the Pens, too many turnovers, and overall lost the battle BIG TIME against Crosby and Malkin. I mean, they looked like a college team playing against them, and I've seen those players get shut down by better defensemen all season long.

This time, Carolina couldn't handle any of the Pens players or lines, and that's not because they were tired. It's because they were outclassed. As a team, they are/were inept.

The reason Boston didn't get past Carolina, is because of inexperience - yes, but also because of injuries.

As I said earlier in the playoffs, Boston does lack experience. Sure, they had some injuries, but looking at this Carolina side and your record during the regular season, you should have done much better. You should have won the series.

I don't know. Maybe you got hard done by. But honestly, watching this Carolina team embarrass themselves and the conference, I don't know what else to say.

Best of luck next year. You better show us that the hype is indeed warranted, because I can't buy into it myself just yet.

 

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[Max]

Blegh...Wings beat the Pens to win the Stanley Cup...wash, rinse, repeat.

 

[Bjerknes]

Lets hope so, Max.

 

[ßöмßäяðîëя]

Let's not.

 

[Bjerknes]

Lets.

 

[ßöмßäяðîëя]

Nah, let's not.

 

[Rollie]

Huge win, Andy Your team is quality; Detroit has the best management in the league - great coach as well (the result is a fantastic, deep team).

This time, Carolina couldn't handle any of the Pens players or lines, and that's not because they were tired. It's because they were outclassed. As a team, they are/were inept.

There's no denying that they were outclassed by Pittsburgh, but the reason why this series ended the way it did, certainly had a lot to do with fatigue. Those games weren't even close. Boston and New Jersey are very, very physical, and my opinion is that this took it's toll... To take nothing away from Pittsburgh, who are teaming with star power - possibly more than 2 future hall of famers on that team.

As I said earlier in the playoffs, Boston does lack experience. Sure, they had some injuries, but looking at this Carolina side and your record during the regular season, you should have done much better. You should have won the series.

It's not so much that there isn't a decent amount of team experience, it's more the fact that the experience present is held by a lot of 3rd and 4th line players - not so much our skill guys. That was a bit of a problem.

No denying that we should have done better - not at all. I definitely admitted as much...

I don't know. Maybe you got hard done by. But honestly, watching this Carolina team embarrass themselves and the conference, I don't know what else to say.

Best of luck next year. You better show us that the hype is indeed warranted, because I can't buy into it myself just yet.

The injuries were just unfortunate, but they're part of the game; gotta live with it.
Just very unlucky this time around.

Fuck, I haven't even previously mentioned Marco Sturm here, who was our leading goal scorer and an assistant captain last season... and likely won't be back with Boston. He missed a huge chunk of the year due to injury, so I already think of him as gone. He could have definitely helped in the Carolina series.

Boston wasn't 'hard done by' - I consider that to be officiating mistakes, and shit of that nature. It just wasn't the Bruins year. Anyways - enough about Boston, already. Talking about my team right now is depressing...:biggrin:

Congrats, buddy.

 

[Mark]

I say Nashville will take it in 3.

 

[Bjerknes]

Huge win, Andy Your team is quality; Detroit has the best management in the league - great coach as well (the result is a fantastic, deep team).

Thanks, man. We'll see if we can continue coping without our two best players.

There's no denying that they were outclassed by Pittsburgh, but the reason why this series ended the way it did, certainly had a lot to do with fatigue. Those games weren't even close. Boston and New Jersey are very, very physical, and my opinion is that this took it's toll... To take nothing away from Pittsburgh, who are teaming with star power - possibly more than 2 future hall of famers on that team.

I still don't buy the fatigue argument, though. If you look at the goals the Pens scored, many of them were due to defensive errors and turnovers from horrendous passing. It would be one thing if the Canes were getting bogged down in their own zone for minutes on end, not winning physical battles, et cetera, but they were doing fine in that area of the game. Where they screwed up was playing defense as a team and making silly mistakes that better defensive players wouldn't make.

If I recall correctly, the winning goal for the series the other night was on a turnover at their own blue line. That's happened more than once for sure. IMO, we can't attribute that to fatigue, but it might have played a part as to why they didn't extend the series.

Cramped schedules are just part of the game, so they just had to tough it out, but I don't think they have the skill or team skill to do so.

I'll give your Bruins the benefit of the doubt. I'm much more open to injury qualms instead of fatigue, as it's incredibly unlucky to have your better players injured during this point in time. Lidstrom and Pavel come to mind. But I really do think you should have progressed past Carolina as they are poor, and I wish you did.

 

[Rollie]

\\]
I still don't buy the fatigue argument, though. If you look at the goals the Pens scored, many of them were due to defensive errors and turnovers from horrendous passing. It would be one thing if the Canes were getting bogged down in their own zone for minutes on end, not winning physical battles, et cetera, but they were doing fine in that area of the game. Where they screwed up was playing defense as a team and making silly mistakes that better defensive players wouldn't make

.

We'll just have to respectfully agree that we somewhat disagree here...

Throughout my life, my coaches have consistently told me that when you're overly tired, the first thing that happens is that you start to make mental mistakes. Turnovers are generally mental mistakes - bad passes, bad clears in your own zone, losing your mark - that type of thing.

I definitely don't think it was all fatigue, as the Penguins are an outstanding team - just like Detroit is. Of course, if you remove a Crosby, or a Malkin, from that Penguins team, there are definitely some holes to be exploited. Detroit has way more depth than Pittsburgh.

Oh, and you're right, Carolina doesn't have a very good defense - just a great goalie. He basically singlehandedly beat my team (and NJ), which is pretty sad.

I'll give your Bruins the benefit of the doubt. I'm much more open to injury qualms instead of fatigue, as it's incredibly unlucky to have your better players injured during this point in time. Lidstrom and Pavel come to mind. But I really do think you should have progressed past Carolina as they are poor, and I wish you did.

Exactly buddy. No time for excuses at this juncture of the season. Would have, could have, should have, means that you didn't. All my team can do is suck it up and work harder in preparation for next year.

Hopefully Pavel and Nick will be back for the final. I haven't seen a report on those guys - what's the word? Have they only missed tonight's game? Hopefully they were just being cautious (looking towards the finals a bit), because your team had a big lead and Chicago was clearly overwhelmed and overmatched.

 

[Rollie]

I say Nashville will take it in 3.

Nah, brother - 49ers in 7.

 

[swag]

So I run into this Panthers NHL fan from South Florida online. Sorry, but I can't help but think WTF.

May as well be in the Gobi desert following synchronized swimming...

 

[KB824]

Andy, I love you like a little brother, you know that.

But you know that as an Eastern Conference guy and Sidney Crosby fluffer, I have to root for the Penguins

 

[Bjerknes]

Fun fact: Before last year, the teams we beat in the Stanley Cup Finals since 1996 have been the Flyers, the Capitals, and the Hurricanes.

Who did the Pens beat on the way to these finals? The Flyers, the Capitals and the Hurricanes, in that order.

Great job today, boys. Well played by Zetterberg, the defense and the fourth line. MAJOR props to Abdelkader stepping up along with the other boys from line numero quatro. They played a ton of minutes for being the last line.

As long as Zetts can control Crosbeak and other guys can step up to do the scoring in Pavel's absence, so should do fine.

LETS GO WINGS!

 

[Bjerknes]

Andy, I love you like a little brother, you know that.

But you know that as an Eastern Conference guy and Sidney Crosby fluffer, I have to root for the Penguins

No worries. It's your conference afterall.

 

[blondu]

as sid said after the game..they created some opportunities, but didn't take advantage of them..and when you're playin detroit you must be letal. It was an even game with the lucky bounces for detroit...hope we can change the momentum and get home with an 1-1 overall on the table.

 

[Bjerknes]

We struggled in the first period but came back strong through the rest of the game, so well done boys. Two wins away from the Cup.


"the refs once again are controlling the game by cheating! and eddie oldick is bias because the pens fired him. detroit cannot win without the help of the refs and the bias telecasters!!!"

- Disgruntled Pens fan

 

[Mark]

OH BOY!!!

Jacques Martin new head coach of the Montreal Canadiens...possible assistant the return of Mario Tremblay and Jacques Lemaire as consultant.

WOW!!!

You'll never see a team Trap like HABS.

Now gimme Robinson/Lappy as D coach, Guy Boucher coach in Hamilton and François Allaire as Goalie coach.

 

[Bjerknes]

Oh God, not the trap. That shit pisses me off like none other. Nobody wants to see that crap.

 

[Mark]

Forza 2-1 WINS!