NHL Playoff Predictions..Round 1

OilersBrent · Senior Member

NHL Playoff Predictions..Round 1

VanIslander · Guru

OilersBrent wrote:

I'd like to see the Isle win 1 or 2 just to make the Sabre's remember that they haven't won the Cup yet. I don't want to see them get beating by a worse team down the road because mentally they aren't there.

Me too!

maybe Game 3 is best... in front of the home town crowd.

Even if they don't they will get a standing ovation at Nassau Coliseum after game 4 for the good season.

Nobody expected the Isles to be competitive this season, and yet at the trading deadline they had Bergeron and Smyth and many in the hockey world were even projecting a seed as high as fifth as possible. Then DP their MVP gets hurt, Simon who'd had 6 goals in his last 8 games is suspended and the team struggled with a very inept backup, until thier call-up backup to the backup stepped in and gave them solid goaltending.

The team didn't give up and that's a testament to coach Nolan in part. Everybody except poor backup Dunham played well, and eveb he was trying! Yashin, despite what some think off the Island, actually averaged a point per game down the stretch (though with his salary he should have some spectacular games rather than concistent assist here, assist there, goal here). The one player who fans thought was dogging it a bit was Satan, and he won't be back next season, bu-bye Miroslav.

A successful season worth cheering. Exceeded expectations, with effort and good work. *clap* *clap* That's more than what many teams can say.

PHO · Senior Member

LETS GO PENGUINS!

<CLAP><CLAP> <CLAPCLAPCLAP>

VanIslander · Guru

PHO wrote:

LETS GO PENGUINS!

<CLAP><CLAP> <CLAPCLAPCLAP>

They were OWNED through two periods of play but kuddos to Gary Roberts!!! his relentless veteran experience paid off as he came out hard int he third period and the youngums followed his lead... the cbc crew pegged it right: Roberts played a huge role in the third period comeback

-- Edited by VanIslander at 22:58, 2007-04-14

-- Edited by VanIslander at 23:00, 2007-04-14

Eric_Isles · BRHL2 Co-Commish

If there were owned, they would've atleast scored more than 1 PPG. Ottawa played like usual Ottawa tonight. Which was for a loss. Emery played to his ability, which is a shaky goaltender who can't handle a post season at any level. Which fits the organization PERFECTLY.

The Sens have offense, they have a blue-collar D, and they have the coach with the biggest vagina in the league. They're a good team, but they're still losing in the 1st round.

Phoenix and I are gonna throw back some drinks after this one is done.

VanIslander · Guru

Eric_Calgary wrote:

Ottawa played like usual Ottawa tonight. Which was for a loss. Emery played to his ability, which is a shaky goaltender who can't handle a post season at any level. Which fits the organization PERFECTLY.

The Sens have offense, they have a blue-collar D, and they have the coach with the biggest vagina in the league.

damn... that's the best rationale i've heard by a country mile for why pittsburgh might win the series... forget the pens goalie, defense and experience shortfalls... their opponents will shoot themselves in the foot!

i almost buy it ;)

but five out of six periods of play indicate otherwise

PHO · Senior Member

LOL!!! Eric, couldn't agree with you more. Murray DOES have the biggest vagina in the world. A few months ago he's crying because Sidney swore at him...THE HORROR!!!! An NHLer swearing...OH NO!!! And yesterday he was weeping over the "illegal" hit by Ouellet. You know, the one where that idiot Schubert skated right into him.

VanIsle, when a series is over, it's not remembered for who "dominated", it's who wins. And if they can't score on 18 power plays per game, that's their issue. The refs are doing their part to try and help them win.

VanIslander · Guru

PHO wrote:

VanIsle, when a series is over, it's not remembered for who "dominated", it's who wins.

Good point.

Applies as well to Forsberg trade thread. Nashville needs to win a series with the Forsberg rental, not just compete.

OilersBrent · Senior Member

Eric_Calgary wrote:

If there were owned, they would've atleast scored more than 1 PPG. Ottawa played like usual Ottawa tonight. Which was for a loss. Emery played to his ability, which is a shaky goaltender who can't handle a post season at any level. Which fits the organization PERFECTLY.

The Sens have offense, they have a blue-collar D, and they have the coach with the biggest vagina in the league. They're a good team, but they're still losing in the 1st round.

Phoenix and I are gonna throw back some drinks after this one is done.

Eric, I agree with you. I'm tired of Murray's constant bitching about "dirty" hits and the phyiscal aspect of the game. In game 1 his players were taking big time runs at all the Pens, many of which were illegal and extremely dirty. The biggest one was that knee on Malkin. Now in Game 2 the Pens respond physically and he is bitching the whole game. I wonder what his opinion was on the cross-check to Crosby's neck? It's sorta like Murray is OK with Fisher, Neil and Volchenkov laying out hits but once his guys are hit he cries bloody murder.

Anyways, this has been a good series so far. Ottawa has been handed both games via both stupid penalties on Pit part (Ruutu/Armstrong) and some awful calls by the refs. Both times they failed to put the game away with the man advantage. Heatley and Spezza have been no shows so far which is really no surprise. Emery has been average at best. Hasn't really been tested but when he has he hasnt been able to keep them in the game. Fleury was amazing yesterday and clearly stole them a win.

I think the Pens will win today at home. They have the confidence to win and it looks like Crosby has taken it to another level.

-- Edited by OilersBrent at 13:22, 2007-04-15

OilersBrent · Senior Member

What do you guys think about the Ottawa fans booing Crosby?

Personally, I think it is a bit classless just because there is really no reason to be booing him for no reason other than being the best. On the other hand I can understand it as being they are at home and they want to help out team anyway they can.

Eric_Isles · BRHL2 Co-Commish

OilersBrent wrote:

What do you guys think about the Ottawa fans booing Crosby?

Personally, I think it is a bit classless just because there is really no reason to be booing him for no reason other than being the best. On the other hand I can understand it as being they are at home and they want to help out team anyway they can.

I don't think they're booing him as a person, but booing him as a player who is dangerous when he has the puck. I think it's more of their attempt to affect his play. I don't think they hate him, maybe they do, I'm not canadian. But I'm sure it might stop after he helps lead them to more medals and trophies as a nation.

I don't think it's that classless, they're just trying to be a part of the game. The same way crowds chant the opposing goalies name. And the same way I sacrafice a pig and a Bryan Murray look-a-like before every game.

VanIslander · Guru

VanIslander wrote:

Sabres in 6
Lightning in 5
Thrashers in 7
Senators in a sweep

Wings in 5
Ducks in 6
Stars in 5
Sharks in 7

The playoffs are going pretty much as expected (close enough) except for the Thrashers-Rangers series, boy I pegged that one wrong. I thought the Thrashers would be competitive with the Rangers, push it to 7 games with the tools to win, but they have been outclassed, outhustled, outcoached and outgoaltended.

Kuddos for anyone who said the Rangers would take it in 4 or 5 .... oh... no one did.... but a few said in 6 games ... close enough.... congrats Luke, Bryce, Philippe.

VanIslander · Guru

Pittsburgh was outplayed in 12 of the 15 periods, won one period, and were competitive in two other periods.

Could very easily have been a sweep. Much more likely than they having a chance to extend the series to six games.

Lack of goaltending, lack of blueliners, too many inexperienced youngsters. They are the prototypical regular season kind of team, with a great powerplay and excellent up and coming players. Signing Gary Roberts was a step in the right direction playoffwise, but a baby step.

Then again, Who even expected Pittsburgh to make the playoffs when the season began? Kuddos to them as to the Islanders for having done so well. Losing in the first round is no slight on the season for the Penguins. They have been what they have been. And they will only get better.

OilersBrent · Senior Member

I think Fleury played extremely well and much better than Emery. He was left out to dry on some many occassions because of Pittsburgh's awful defense. It's too bad that Pittsburgh's depth players and even their key ones couldn't put in some goals. Ottawa's defense was fantastic and was the difference. Ottawa scored a lot of lucky goals, something they can't depend on in future series.