Author Topic: The NHL Thread (Read 597880 times)

Petadroli · « **Reply #9320 on:** May 23, 2017, 09:19:15 am »

And the Predators advance to their first ever Stanley Cup Final! What a series they played, brilliant hockey! They were badly outshot in Game 6 (41-18) but their MVP was again Pekka Rinne, who saved 38 shots. Compare that to the Ducks' backup goalie Bernier, who saved 12 out of 16 (2 were empty netters). The Ducks certainly defeated themselves a bit this series... Nashville wasn't neccessarily the better team, but they certainly had the best goalie of the series. The Ducks would have needed somebody like Eaves or Rakell in this series who can snipe one in, but those two players are exactly the ones who got hurt. The loss of Gibson in Game 5 was certainly pivotal too, as Bernier showed again that he is simply not a good goalie.

What next for the Predators? Either Ottawa or Pittsburgh in the Finals and I think everybody in Nashville is praying for Ottawa. If the final is Predators - Penguins, it could be over fast.

dalarr · « **Reply #9321 on:** May 23, 2017, 03:06:55 pm »

Sorry for that, Petadroli. Ducks looked like the real deal this year.
I'm not so sure that the Penguins are guaranteed victory against the Preds. They swept the Blackhawks in the first round. No Johansson is a blow, but here's hoping they and Laviolette can do it.

Petadroli · « **Reply #9322 on:** May 23, 2017, 03:22:58 pm »

Quote from: dalarr on May 23, 2017, 03:06:55 pm

Sorry for that, Petadroli. Ducks looked like the real deal this year.
I'm not so sure that the Penguins are guaranteed victory against the Preds. They swept the Blackhawks in the first round. No Johansson is a blow, but here's hoping they and Laviolette can do it.

The Preds have our number somehow, 3-0 now all time in series against us. But I am happy for them, it's about time they get to a final and I am especially happy for the two Swiss defenders they have, Josi and Weber. They played a brilliant series. It's unlucky for the Ducks to have those key injuries, but all teams have some during the playoffs. But as a Ducks fan, I can also say what Anaheim lacked against the Preds: snipers and a solid, no-nonsense goaltender. Pittsburgh has snipers on every line, plus with Murray a rookie goaltender who backstopped them to the cup last season. I've never seen him let in a soft goal in the playoffs... Add to that the experience of this Penguins team and you could imagine why this series might be short. But if Ottawa somehow manages to beat the Penguins, I see the Predators winning the cup.

Actually I am now rooting for Ottawa to win, just so Pittsburgh certainly can't win two in a row

skipper757 · « **Reply #9323 on:** May 26, 2017, 03:50:35 am »

Even as a neutral, can't handle this game 7 between the Pens and Sens.

Amazing drama and now headed to OT.

Number 7 · « **Reply #9324 on:** May 26, 2017, 05:08:17 am »

Pens win it in double overtime.

Gotta feel for Ottawa. What a playoffs they played and a really tough way to end. Would have been nice to see a Canadian team back in the Cup final but not meant be. The drought continues

Pens are worthy Champions.

dalarr · « **Reply #9325 on:** May 26, 2017, 11:42:07 am »

Pens are indeed worthy champions but I'm rooting for Nashvie here. I echo the sentiments about Ottawa: they had an amazing season and also deserved to be in the finals.
Why do the late rounds start at 8pm? 7pm is late, but doable. 8pm just doesn't work when you have kids and work.

rafathegaffa83 · « **Reply #9326 on:** May 26, 2017, 01:24:04 pm »

Quote from: Number 7 on May 26, 2017, 05:08:17 am

Gotta feel for Ottawa. What a playoffs they played and a really tough way to end. Would have been nice to see a Canadian team back in the Cup final but not meant be. The drought continues

Yep. Especially during Canada 150. They never looked like scoring during OT

Number 7 · « **Reply #9327 on:** June 12, 2017, 04:39:11 am »

Pens repeat as Stanley cup champions.

First back to back winners since 1998.

dalarr · « **Reply #9328 on:** June 12, 2017, 05:57:48 am »

Fully deserved. Was hoping for Nashville and when they tied the series it looked like we would get a game 7. But then the Pens decided that enough was enough.
The Maple Leafs was the most interesting story for me this season.

Is it October yet?

IanZG · « **Reply #9329 on:** June 12, 2017, 07:10:54 am »

Sullivan hit the jackpot with putting Murray in net after Fleury had a shocker against Ottawa, shutouts in games 5 and 6 of the Stanley Cup final are quite a decent accomplishment for someone who's officially still a rookie...

elsewhere · « **Reply #9330 on:** June 12, 2017, 08:06:33 am »

Well done, good play off's from Nashville too!

Sami · « **Reply #9331 on:** June 12, 2017, 08:15:08 am »

Booooooooooooooooooooo

LFC_1981 · « **Reply #9332 on:** June 12, 2017, 10:01:59 am »

Quote from: dalarr on June 12, 2017, 05:57:48 am

Fully deserved. Was hoping for Nashville and when they tied the series it looked like we would get a game 7. But then the Pens decided that enough was enough.
The Maple Leafs was the most interesting story for me this season.

Is it October yet?

Maple Leafs YES.

Petadroli · « **Reply #9333 on:** June 12, 2017, 11:16:52 am »

Congratulations to Pittsburgh, they were simply the best again. How on earth did they manage to have Kessel, Malkin and Crosby in one team? That's three franchise superstars that somehow ended up at one single team. Impressive.

LFC_1981 · « **Reply #9334 on:** June 25, 2017, 10:14:42 am »

Catching up on Fridays draft, some good picks for certain teams.

Linudden · « **Reply #9335 on:** June 25, 2017, 10:26:37 am »

Quote from: LFC_1981 on June 25, 2017, 10:14:42 am

Catching up on Fridays draft, some good picks for certain teams.

Even though I'm Swedish I'm not that into hockey except for watching who wins. Any McDavid likes in this years draft?

LFC_1981 · « **Reply #9336 on:** June 25, 2017, 11:52:25 am »

Not that I know of.

Petadroli · « **Reply #9337 on:** June 26, 2017, 08:15:45 am »

Nico Hischier becomes the first Swiss Icehockey player to be drafted as #1 overall. Why oh why did it have to be New Jersey... Can't stand that team.

IanZG · « **Reply #9338 on:** June 26, 2017, 04:56:35 pm »

Quote from: Petadroli on June 26, 2017, 08:15:45 am

Nico Hischier becomes the first Swiss Icehockey player to be drafted as #1 overall. Why oh why did it have to be New Jersey... Can't stand that team.

Do any other Liverpool supporters have that issue? I don't have any strong preferences in the NHL, but for some reason can't stand NJD. Could be the Devils - ManU connection or something...

Dim Glas · « **Reply #9339 on:** June 26, 2017, 05:02:50 pm »

Quote from: IanZG on June 26, 2017, 04:56:35 pm

Do any other Liverpool supporters have that issue? I don't have any strong preferences in the NHL, but for some reason can't stand NJD. Could be the Devils - ManU connection or something...

Being as I'm a New York Rangers fan, I do have that issue, but it has nothing to do with Liveprool

Horrible team, fan base, playing in a shit hole of a city, where the only games they sell out every season aret he ones against the Rangers, cos Rangers fans buy all the tickets.

I think a lot of people dislike them too cos when they where succesful, they gained that success playing the most dire style of hockey, trapping their way to the cup. So in that sense it's probably a bit of the Jose Mourinho's about them - they had lots of great players, but had no interset in playing good hockey.

They are easy to dislike.

Them getting the number 1 pick this season was farcical too.

Apart from that, yeah they are great

Petadroli · « **Reply #9340 on:** June 27, 2017, 08:11:48 am »

Quote from: IanZG on June 26, 2017, 04:56:35 pm

Do any other Liverpool supporters have that issue? I don't have any strong preferences in the NHL, but for some reason can't stand NJD. Could be the Devils - ManU connection or something...

As a Ducks fan, I remember the 2003 Stanley Cup Final as the beginning of my hate of New Jersey. It's Ducks vs Devils in the Final and the Devils are heavy favourites. The Ducks playoff run has been a huge cinderella story: as the number 7 seed, they swept the defending Stanley Cup Champions Detroit, then eliminated the number 1 seed Dallas who won in 1999 and swept the Minnesota Wild in the Conference Finals (anybody remember Brunette?). The Devils were known to play dirty hockey and they proved it in this series. One cheap shot followed the next and with every team winning their home games until Game 6, the Ducks had to win to keep the series alive. In that game, the two captains exemplified their teams: Scott Stevens of New Jersey hit Paul Kariya very, very late when Kariya entered the Devils' zone. He absolutely flattened him when Kariya was not expecting it, with nowadays rules, he would have been banned for half a season. Kariya was lying motionless for a few minutes, where he was then escorted to the locker room. Everybody expected his season to be over or worse, maybe even his next season (like it happened to Lindros). Kariya, however, unexpectedly returned to the bench minutes later. About 11 minutes after the hit, Kariya fired an absolute howitzer over the glove of Brodeur. It helped win the game and send it to Game 7, but the Ducks subsequently lost the series.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sj2URP8wJlU

Just to show how incredible that Cinderella story was, J-S Giguere, the Ducks' goaltender, was awarded the Conn Smythe Trophy as the most valuable player (MVP) of the playoffs. He became only the fifth player, and fourth goaltender, in NHL history to have won the trophy as a member of the losing team. Kariya's career was cut short by post-concussion syndrome. He was one of the sad examples of why the NHL had to change the rules to protect players better.

As of yesterday, Paul Kariya and Teemu Selanne were both inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame - First ballot choices.

Bend It Like Aurelio · « **Reply #9341 on:** June 27, 2017, 08:55:42 am »

Quote from: Die Nullfünfer on June 26, 2017, 05:02:50 pm

Being as I'm a New York Rangers fan, I do have that issue, but it has nothing to do with Liveprool

Horrible team, fan base, playing in a shit hole of a city, where the only games they sell out every season aret he ones against the Rangers, cos Rangers fans buy all the tickets.

I think a lot of people dislike them too cos when they where succesful, they gained that success playing the most dire style of hockey, trapping their way to the cup. So in that sense it's probably a bit of the Jose Mourinho's about them - they had lots of great players, but had no interset in playing good hockey.

They are easy to dislike.

Them getting the number 1 pick this season was farcical too.

Apart from that, yeah they are great

I think they will come to regret picking Hischier to be honest. He was nothing before the WJC this year, I think he doesn't have the pedigree to be a top tier star in the NHL IMO.

dalarr · « **Reply #9342 on:** July 21, 2017, 10:39:39 am »

Little Caesars Arena? I know that the NHL is a business like every other sports league on the planet but what the hell. You'd expect a proper original six franchise like the Red Wings going for history instead of money here. Wonder what Gordie Howe would have thought about this.

Dim Glas · « **Reply #9343 on:** July 21, 2017, 11:34:11 am »

Quote from: dalarr on July 21, 2017, 10:39:39 am

Little Caesars Arena? I know that the NHL is a business like every other sports league on the planet but what the hell. You'd expect a proper original six franchise like the Red Wings going for history instead of money here. Wonder what Gordie Howe would have thought about this.

It's a shit name, but they are a huge company out of Michigan!

Only the Rangers and Madison Square Garden, with an arena not using a corporate sponsors name. So all the other original 6 teams have gone that way too, not just the Wings.

I just await the day they have sponsorship on jerseys! It's bad enough having 9 tv timeouts per game

dalarr · « **Reply #9344 on:** July 21, 2017, 10:24:44 pm »

I get your point there, Herr Nullfünfer. Just wanted to have a rant.
The TV time outs are a killer, as I watch the games live and often fall asleep. Still the best league of the best sport on the planet, though.

I dread the day when my kids are grown up and Liverpool play their matches at BET365.com-Arena

dalarr · « **Reply #9345 on:** August 25, 2017, 11:41:26 am »

#isitoctoberyet?
I'm looking forward to following the Maple Leafs and the Oilers this season. McDavid has proven that he's not overhyped. Toronto has an exciting team but the pressure will be on them from day one. Let's see if they can cope with it.
I expect the Blackhawks and the Penguins to regress somewhat. They'll comfortably make the playoffs but the Blackhawks are not the force they once were and the Penguins have had two long seasons in a row.
Any thoughts?

quasimodo · « **Reply #9346 on:** August 25, 2017, 11:59:56 am »

Quote from: dalarr on August 25, 2017, 11:41:26 am

#isitoctoberyet?
I'm looking forward to following the Maple Leafs and the Oilers this season. McDavid has proven that he's not overhyped. Toronto has an exciting team but the pressure will be on them from day one. Let's see if they can cope with it.
I expect the Blackhawks and the Penguins to regress somewhat. They'll comfortably make the playoffs but the Blackhawks are not the force they once were and the Penguins have had two long seasons in a row.
Any thoughts?

Hoping for the three-peat!

dalarr · « **Reply #9347 on:** October 5, 2017, 06:26:14 am »

McDavid opens up with a hat trick. That kid is something else.

murphs316 · « **Reply #9348 on:** October 5, 2017, 02:26:29 pm »

Reminder to everyone who does not have Premier Sports.

Freesports will have 3 live games a week and by the looks of it daily NHL on the fly

Dim Glas · « **Reply #9349 on:** October 5, 2017, 03:09:37 pm »

that contract Buffalo are giving Jack Eichel is something else

He'll be one of the top 5 earners in the league. I can't say I've seen a ton of him, and sure, he's young and has a long way to go, but he is nowhere near the elite level of the likes of McDavid is he? Cos of what I have seen, he doesn't look like it. Yet he's going to be earning that level of money.

Saw a bit of the Blues - Penguins game last night, entertaining stuff, not overly ruined by the officious officiating the NHL forces upon the league every year.

dalarr · « **Reply #9350 on:** October 6, 2017, 08:59:27 pm »

Yeah, Eichel is a strange one. Like you said, he may become a world beater but to me it seems like a huge risk to give him a contract of that magnitude.

It was funny during pre-season when the refs tried to clamp down on slashing. It lasted for about two rounds.

dalarr · « **Reply #9351 on:** November 10, 2017, 08:22:47 pm »

So anyone watching this season? Vegas and New Jersey surely the big surprises so far. I have ridiculed Vegas but they look like a proper team. Even doing ok with their fourth string goalie.
Tampa Bay looking strong as well with Stamkos and Kucherov tearing it up.

Dim Glas · « **Reply #9352 on:** November 10, 2017, 08:30:11 pm »

Quote from: dalarr on November 10, 2017, 08:22:47 pm

So anyone watching this season? Vegas and New Jersey surely the big surprises so far. I have ridiculed Vegas but they look like a proper team. Even doing ok with their fourth string goalie.
Tampa Bay looking strong as well with Stamkos and Kucherov tearing it up.

I have watched every single Rangers game so far

They had a dreadful start to the season and everyone was panicking

Talk of firing AV and all sorts. But things have settled now with 5 wins on the bounce, and everyone is a bit more cheery. Been very impressed with Mika Zibanejad, whos season was ruined rather last year with a broken leg. And my current joint favourite Ranger - Pavel Buchnevich is having a good time of it too, really good young talent. And amazingly, the Rangers power play is now looking ok. Having Kevin Shattenkirk helps.

I saw some of the Oilers game at New Jersey last night, as a Rangers fan, I was cheering on the Oil

They won it in OT with a lovely goal set up by you know who.

LFC_1981 · « **Reply #9353 on:** November 14, 2017, 10:10:11 pm »

Yes I’ve watched all Maple Leafs games bar two so far. Good back to back wins against Boston over the weekend.

dalarr · « **Reply #9354 on:** December 31, 2017, 08:51:36 pm »

Golden Knights destroying the Maple Leafs at the start of this game here. They genuinely look like contenders for the Stanley Cup. Crazy!
I ridiculed them before the season started...

IanZG · « **Reply #9355 on:** January 1, 2018, 09:48:26 am »

Quote from: dalarr on December 31, 2017, 08:51:36 pm

Golden Knights destroying the Maple Leafs at the start of this game here. They genuinely look like contenders for the Stanley Cup. Crazy!
I ridiculed them before the season started...

Not without reason, their roster really doesn't look all that impressive. And with Fleury out most of the season so far, I would've expected them to be at the bottom...

Funny how the comments have changed from "what's the point of an expansion team if they aren't competitive for years" to "the expansion draft is broken"

dalarr · « **Reply #9356 on:** January 22, 2018, 04:19:01 pm »

The Vegas Golden Knights are atop the NHL standings. Yes, you read that correctly. Vegas. Golden. Knights. Amazing.

Dim Glas · « **Reply #9357 on:** January 22, 2018, 04:34:19 pm »

so long as they don't win the cup, they can stay there

i can't stand Bettman and his ridiculous expansion of the NHL, the league needs contraction, not expansion.

dalarr · « **Reply #9358 on:** January 22, 2018, 06:06:45 pm »

Your Rangers look a bit off the pace. Still have them as a contender though. They've been relatively quiet and might surprise in the playoffs.
I agree about the expansion. Any more teams should be relocated. But you have to admit that the Golden Knights fairytale is fun to watch. They play really good hockey as well!

Dim Glas · « **Reply #9359 on:** January 22, 2018, 06:13:22 pm »

Quote from: dalarr on January 22, 2018, 06:06:45 pm

Your Rangers look a bit off the pace. Still have them as a contender though. They've been relatively quiet and might surprise in the playoffs.
I agree about the expansion. Any more teams should be relocated. But you have to admit that the Golden Knights fairytale is fun to watch. They play really good hockey as well!

not seen 'em a lot to be honest, I don't really see many western teams apart from when they play the Rangers! What surprised me, and I would see as a warning sign for Vegas though, is when the Rangers played there, the arena was so full of Rangers fans - to the extent is sounded like a home game. That should set alarm bells going, although maybe their attitude is they don't care who buys the tickets so long as they fill the place. It's usually the teams that are doing shit where you expect to see their arenas filled with the fans of the ultra popular Original 6 teams, not the arena of a new team where it's still exciting and feels fresh, and they are actually at the top of the league.

Not sure if the Rangers will make the playoffs really, they aren't playing consistantly enough to be in contention even if they do scrape in. The team has some serious decisions to make in the summer, at least Nash' contract is up, so that is one big obstacle cleared off the roster. They could likely do with quite the overhaul.