2012 Stanley Cup Playoffs

[Matt]

So far this first round has been one of the better ones I've seen in recent memory and I've been thoroughly entertained by the play going on. The Flyers/Pens series was a brutal series while the Kings/Canucks was clinical hockey as the Kings patiently took the Canucks apart and played their game.  Bruins/Caps is like watching two heavyweights trade blows in the middle of a ring all the way into game 7. I like seeing the Penguins, Red Wings and Canucks out in the first round with the Rangers possibly exiting as well.  That levels out the playing field a bit moving forward.

[geezerdonk]

I would love to see New York ousted by Ottawa but then you wouldn't have the possibility of a New York Philadelphia series which shapes up to be an all time blood bath.

[subnuclear]

I feel like the Caps missed their chance yesterday, but should be intense on Wednesday.

[Matt]

As a Flyers fan (I know) I would love to play NY but at the same time I would love to see them lose in the first round. Either way I'm happy. I agree about the Caps too, they have missed some opportunities and the Bruins don't look like the juggernaut they were in the playoffs last year.

[AstroFrog]

Go Preds.

[Matt]

Go Preds.

I like the Preds. They're playing some excellent hockey.

[MRaup]

I like the Preds. They're playing some excellent hockey.

The Wings didn't deserve to win that series in any way, shape, or form but how the fuck Shea Weber didn't get suspended for his WWE slamming of Zetterberg's head in to the glass at the end of Game One is beyond me. What a fucking goony asshole.

[Matt]

The Wings didn't deserve to win that series in any way, shape, or form but how the fuck Shea Weber didn't get suspended for his WWE slamming of Zetterberg's head in to the glass at the end of Game One is beyond me. What a fucking goony asshole.

"That's playoff hockey" -Brendan Shanahan

[MRaup]

"That's playoff hockey" -Brendan Shanahan

Brendan Shanahan can kiss the fattest part of my ass. He's suspended every other hit to the head that's happened in the playoffs, and Weber just gets a light slap on the wrist and a "Don't be a naughty boy again."

[geezerdonk]

Referee made sure that Ottawa didn't clinch last night. The bogus goalie interference call in the second period changed the entire tenor of the match. Referees deciding outcomes instead of players is not a formula for a successful playoff, unless of course it ensures that the New York team advances.

[MusicMan]

Brendan Shanahan can kiss the fattest part of my ass. He's suspended every other hit to the head that's happened in the playoffs, and Weber just gets a light slap on the wrist and a "Don't be a naughty boy again."

Shanny can't help it when the Wheel of Random Playoff Punishments comes up short.

[drew corleone]

Go B's!

[Matt]

Referee made sure that Ottawa dodn't clinch last night. The bogus goalie interference call in the second period changed the entire tenor of the match. Referees deciding outcomes instead of players is not a formula for a successful playoff, unless of course it ensures that the New York team advances.

Are they panicking because all the big boys are going home in the first round? How about an Ottawa/Phoenix final? haha

[austro]

Are they panicking because all the big boys are going home in the first round? How about an Ottawa/Phoenix final? haha

The Receivership Cup.

[Col. Sphinx Drummond]

I wish Houston had an NHL team.

[EasTexAstro]

I wish Houston had an NHL team.

If we did, they wouldn't show them on tv....

[MRaup]

If we did, they wouldn't show them on tv....

Sure they would. Right behind the Rockets, Dynamo, Spurs, Rangers, Hockey Rangers, and Aeros.

[MusicMan]

I wish Houston had an NHL team.

Blame Les Alexander.  He's the sole reason the Houston Oilers aren't an NHL team.

[BudGirl]

Blame Les Alexander.  He's the sole reason the Houston Oilers aren't an NHL team.

????

[MusicMan]

?

In the late 90s, a Houston group had an agreement to buy the Edmonton Oilers and move them to Houston (thus, the Houston Oilers).  Les blocked the sale by refusing to share the Summit/Compaq Center/Lakewood Church.

[Matt]

I wish Houston had an NHL team.

Me too. I wanted one since I was a kid and had no local team to root for.

[Matt]

In the late 90s, a Houston group had an agreement to buy the Edmonton Oilers and move them to Houston (thus, the Houston Oilers).  Les blocked the sale by refusing to share the Summit/Compaq Center/Lakewood Church.

The way Edmonton is going the past few years Houston may get another shot at them.

[Savage]

Huge win by the Caps tonight - on the backs of two guys who were healthy scratches down the stretch.  Knuble is one of the good guys in his swan song - glad to see him play the hero.

[drew corleone]

Props to the Caps. I hope they win now.

[Matt]

Huge win by the Caps tonight - on the backs of two guys who were healthy scratches down the stretch.  Knuble is one of the good guys in his swan song - glad to see him play the hero.

Wow! Another favorite heads to the links in the first round! This is why the Cup is so much fun to watch.

[AstroFrog]

The way Edmonton is going the past few years Houston may get another shot at them.

Call me a sucker, but I'd rather see Canada teams stay in Canada (and perhaps have see one more move back to give Quebec City a team - Islanders, perhaps?).  Even if it means Houston is out.

Now, poaching the Coyotes or Panthers? No problemo.

[BudGirl]

Call me a sucker, but I'd rather see Canada teams stay in Canada (and perhaps have see one more move back to give Quebec City a team - Islanders, perhaps?).  Even if it means Houston is out.

Now, poaching the Coyotes or Panthers? No problemo.

Sucker.

A team will go where a team will make money.

[Matt]

Call me a sucker, but I'd rather see Canada teams stay in Canada (and perhaps have see one more move back to give Quebec City a team - Islanders, perhaps?).  Even if it means Houston is out.

Now, poaching the Coyotes or Panthers? No problemo.

I'll take whatever we can get! If it were one of the original Canadian teams I would feel bad but Edmonton is a different deal.  I'm rooting against the Coyotes constantly in hopes they'll leave the desert for the Bayou City and establish a natural rivalry with the Dallas Stars. (Fuck you Bud!)

[Ty in Tampa]

Sucker.

A team will go where a team will make money.

-Reggie Dunlop

[subnuclear]

Sucker.

A team will go where a team will make money.

There is plenty of money for hockey in Canada and Edmonton in particular. They need better ownership.

[Savage]

Call me a sucker, but I'd rather see Canada teams stay in Canada (and perhaps have see one more move back to give Quebec City a team - Islanders, perhaps?).  Even if it means Houston is out.

Now, poaching the Coyotes or Panthers? No problemo.

I've read on some hockey boards that Phoenix is likely moving to Quebec - announcement post playoffs. 

[Matt]

I've read on some hockey boards that Phoenix is likely moving to Quebec - announcement post playoffs. 

Damn it!

[Matt]

My Flyers are out so I am picking the LA Kings to win the Cup this year. They're playing clinical, sound hockey and they have a hot goaltender.

[EasTexAstro]

they have a hot goaltender.

NTTAWWT

[Matt]

NTTAWWT

haha he's also playing well too

[Ty in Tampa]

My Flyers are out so I am picking the LA Kings to win the Cup this year. They're playing clinical, sound hockey and they have a hot goaltender.

I just can't root for a west team. I'd like to see Torts, Richards and Ruslan get another cup but the Debbils look really solid.

[subnuclear]

I just can't root for a west team. I'd like to see Torts, Richards and Ruslan get another cup but the Debbils look really solid.

Still have to beat the Caps.

[Matt]

I just can't root for a west team. I'd like to see Torts, Richards and Ruslan get another cup but the Debbils look really solid.

I'm going Devils/Kings in the finals. The Kings are my second team since I live in southern California and the Ducks are...well, the Ducks.

[Ty in Tampa]

Still have to beat the Caps.

Nothing I'd like to see more.

[MusicMan]

I'm going Devils/Kings in the finals. The Kings are my second team since I live in southern California and the Ducks are...well, the Ducks.

But... Ducks fly together!

[Matt]

But... Ducks fly together!

Ever since Bombay left as head coach they haven't had the same fire as a team.

[das]

Nothing I'd like to see more.

It would be fun.  DC is a surprisingly hockeyesque town the last decade.  Nothing like horrible Skins/Nats/Bullets teams for years on-end to drive a desperate fan base to another sport.

I had a "fan" ask me yesterday, "why can't the Caps just sweep a series for once instead of these frustrating 7 game series?".  Interesting how people expect a club that was little more than a .500 team all year long to be something other than a .500 club in the playoffs.

[subnuclear]

It would be fun.  DC is a surprisingly hockeyesque town the last decade.  Nothing like horrible Skins/Nats/Bullets teams for years on-end to drive a desperate fan base to another sport.

While this is true, having one of the most exciting players in the NHL over more than a few of those years probably helped as well.

I had a "fan" ask me yesterday, "why can't the Caps just sweep a series for once instead of these frustrating 7 game series?".  Interesting how people expect a club that was little more than a .500 team all year long to be something other than a .500 club in the playoffs.

Though expecting a sweep is pretty dopey, this not your typical .500 team. The Caps had a months-long, complete, utter, "will we ever win again?" implosion in the middle of the season that forced a much needed coach and playing-style change. They don't look anything like they did during most of the season or during previous seasons. They sure were playing well last night.

Also, I'll take bandwagon hockey fans over people endlessly discussing the Lakers and Knicks like they do in my office.

[Savage]

It would be fun.  DC is a surprisingly hockeyesque town the last decade.  Nothing like horrible Skins/Nats/Bullets teams for years on-end to drive a desperate fan base to another sport.

I had Caps season tickets for many years back in the dark days (post 1998 run, pre-Ovi).  Was in Baltimore for business Wed and stuck around to go to my first home game in 8 years.  I was really impressed with the crowd - energetic and knowledgeable.  Probably louder than the Blackhawks fans and I've been to a bunch of their playoff games over the last few years, including their cup run.  I really could care less if half those fans didn't know who Hunter was before he was named coach or don't recognize Adam Oates when the Devils come to town. Just glad to see them getting some love.

[Savage]

I just can't root for a west team. I'd like to see Torts, Richards and Ruslan get another cup but the Debbils look really solid.

Gross.  Torts is a douche.  And the Rangers fans are a bunch of entitled whiners.  I don't care who is on that team, I can't root for that.  I like the Kings as a team but talk about bandwagon fans. If Caps get knocked out, I could get behind the Devils.

[Matt]

Gross.  Torts is a douche.  And the Rangers fans are a bunch of entitled whiners.  I don't care who is on that team, I can't root for that.  I like the Kings as a team but talk about bandwagon fans. If Caps get knocked out, I could get behind the Devils.

There are some band wagoners in LA but I know a lot of die-hard Kings fans too. I do watch them and they're not my #1 team but I really like their chances at the Cup this year. Their work rate is amazing and they're beating teams by simply being near the puck at all times.