Author Topic: The NHL Thread (Read 599272 times)

howes hound · « **Reply #10240 on:** May 25, 2022, 08:12:23 pm »

I saw Gretzky live, once, in a game against Vancouver. Never seen anything like it, in any sport. Every time he took the ice it was a case of man the pumps for Vancouver, we've got a minute and a half to survive and then we can breathe again. There'd be at least two clear scoring opportunities on every shift. McDavid's game is now at that level. He's got the whole Flames team back on its heels every time he's on the ice. Listening to Sutter talking about him is refreshing. No carping, no toadying either, just says it like it is: head and shoulders the best player in the NHL Maybe the best since Gretzky.

Dim Glas · « **Reply #10241 on:** May 25, 2022, 08:16:02 pm »

Yeah McDavid is insane. The stuff he attempts and often as not manages to pull off is off the scales.

Love his attitude too. He goes all out physically on both sides of the game. I could never take to Crosby at all, hated his whining and crying and what a snide player he can be and the protection he got from Bettman and the league. But McDavid I can really enjoy as a player.

I watched periods 1 and 2 of the 2nd game, and I was knackered just watching it

It was ridiculous chaotic hockey.

Garlicbread · « **Reply #10242 on:** May 25, 2022, 10:32:02 pm »

Still my favourite player of all time

For some reason I saw a lot of similarities between him and the other Stevie. Believe he's a Liverpool fan as well:

howes hound · « **Reply #10243 on:** May 26, 2022, 10:40:05 pm »

If you didn't see the third MacKinnon goal last night, do yourself a favour.
Salahesque.

Mimi · « **Reply #10244 on:** May 27, 2022, 04:40:20 pm »

I do love Connor, but Leon Draisaitl will always be my favourite player. He's checked along the boards, nearly horizontal, facing away from the goal and still manages to find Connor with a perfect pass. All this while clearly not 100%. I thought Calgary played well, particularly in the first period. In the end the series gave everybody what they wanted - we got the win, Calgary will get to bitch about the disallowed goal forever, and everybody else got entertained by the goal fest, partly because of pure skill and comical goal tending. We have now made it through 2 rounds with Mike Smith in net!

TipTopKop · « **Reply #10245 on:** May 29, 2022, 02:00:03 am »

Anyone else thankful the NHL is on to take their minds off $:-\$ ?

Garlicbread · « **Reply #10246 on:** May 29, 2022, 02:22:34 am »

Quote from: TipTopKop on May 29, 2022, 02:00:03 am

Anyone else thankful the NHL is on to take their minds off $:-\$ ?

Haha yup!

TipTopKop · « **Reply #10247 on:** May 29, 2022, 03:55:51 am »

So all to play for with a Game 7 in Carolina.

Still think the Bolts have stepped up to another level in the last series and they're going to take some beating, but who knows?

Every series has its matchups I guess.

TipTopKop · « **Reply #10248 on:** May 30, 2022, 11:40:47 pm »

About an hour to go to game 7. Looking forward to it, as good as the Canes have have been at home, this might still be close as a game 7 and their goalies have been getting tired.

Still fancy them to go through, but anything goes.

TipTopKop · « **Reply #10249 on:** May 31, 2022, 01:31:20 am »

Incredible. 2 Ranger PP's, 2 goals! Perfect start for them.

Dim Glas · « **Reply #10250 on:** May 31, 2022, 04:01:50 am »

How about dem Rangers.

I love my Broadway Blueshirts

dalarr · « **Reply #10251 on:** May 31, 2022, 06:12:53 am »

Never expected the Rangers to progress to the Conference Finals. I was sure that Carolina would win the thing, even had money on them. Shows you how much I know about the sport!
Tampa just looks on another level. Rangers have their work cut out for them.

Dim Glas · « **Reply #10252 on:** May 31, 2022, 01:03:49 pm »

Quote from: dalarr on May 31, 2022, 06:12:53 am

Never expected the Rangers to progress to the Conference Finals. I was sure that Carolina would win the thing, even had money on them. Shows you how much I know about the sport!
Tampa just looks on another level. Rangers have their work cut out for them.

Defo!

But it’s a hell of an achievement to get this far, not sure anyone expected it. Rangers got lucky in a sense with the goalies they faced, although Penguins also got lucky that Igor Shesterkin taking most of the series to find his playoff legs (and boy did he find them!).

To overcome a 3-1 and then 2-0 deficit in back to back series is simply amazing (and never done before). As Chris Kreider said they are like cockroaches, they won’t go away

Whatever happens now, it’s been an excellent season, the job Gerard Gallant has done has been sensational.

Garlicbread · « **Reply #10253 on:** May 31, 2022, 02:54:03 pm »

The easy pick would be a Tampa v Colorado finals but I hope the Rangers and Edmonton makes an upset and gives a bit of a surprise final.

TipTopKop · « **Reply #10254 on:** June 1, 2022, 03:58:00 am »

Insane game 1 between Avs/Oilers. 14 goals!

Mimi · « **Reply #10255 on:** June 1, 2022, 04:11:07 am »

I’ll take hope from that! One less goal conceded than first game with the Flames. Imagine what we could be with solid goal!

Hockey reporters are truly the worst.

Mimi · « **Reply #10256 on:** June 1, 2022, 04:28:24 am »

The play offs have been fun, but there is a sickening background to the fact that Hockey Canada has settled a $3.55 million lawsuit over an allegation of sexual assault (basically a gang rape) of a woman by 8 hockey players at a 2018 Hockey Canada gala. https://montrealgazette.com/sports/jack-todd-hockey-canada-should-publicly-address-issues-in-sexual-assault-case

Basically I’m focusing very narrowly on 2 games because looking at hockey as a whole is sickening right now. The way that Hockey Canada is handling it is gross. It just feels quite hopeless.

Garlicbread · « **Reply #10257 on:** June 1, 2022, 04:00:34 pm »

Quote from: Mimi on June 1, 2022, 04:28:24 am

The play offs have been fun, but there is a sickening background to the fact that Hockey Canada has settled a $3.55 million lawsuit over an allegation of sexual assault (basically a gang rape) of a woman by 8 hockey players at a 2018 Hockey Canada gala. https://montrealgazette.com/sports/jack-todd-hockey-canada-should-publicly-address-issues-in-sexual-assault-case

Basically I’m focusing very narrowly on 2 games because looking at hockey as a whole is sickening right now. The way that Hockey Canada is handling it is gross. It just feels quite hopeless.

Grim that.

TipTopKop · « **Reply #10258 on:** June 2, 2022, 04:03:18 am »

Huge showing by the Rangers to take Game 1 6-2.

Although, I always find Game 2 to be the key, as the opponent will now have studied things a bit (and perhaps in the case of the Bolts maybe woken up after 9 days off), so this will be the key game coming up.

But an impressive start so far for the Rangers.

Dim Glas · « **Reply #10259 on:** June 2, 2022, 01:37:39 pm »

I am sure Tampa will find their legs.

I am just glad it won’t be a sweep

1st period was actually ominous despite Rangers scoring first. Because they got pinned in their own end far too often, and I was concerned how it was going to go. But Igor did Igor things.

So massive credit for the 2nd and 3rd periods, fansatic response and hockey. The Kid Line put in about the best shift I’ve seen all season, about 2 mins 40 zone time I think that ended up in the first of Filip Chytil's 2 goals.

Garlicbread · « **Reply #10260 on:** June 2, 2022, 03:35:41 pm »

Can see it going to like 7 honestly. But Tampa edging it once they get going. They're unbelievable after losing a game and especially Vasy.

TipTopKop · « **Reply #10261 on:** June 3, 2022, 02:27:02 am »

Bloody hell that was quick. 2 goals in what 13 seconds? Avs up 2-0

TipTopKop · « **Reply #10262 on:** June 3, 2022, 02:29:48 am »

Make it 3 goals in 2 minutes 4 seconds... wow that got out of hand quickly.

Mimi · « **Reply #10263 on:** June 3, 2022, 10:52:57 pm »

This is nothing out of the ordinary to us supporting a Mike Smith team. The thing is we’re usually able to score to make up for the defensive and goal keeping mistakes. In hockey taking a 3 goal deficit into the third is not impossible but we somehow became even worse. Truly amateur yesterday. Thought the first period was okay especially killing off the 2 man advantage, and then the collapse happens in the second. We completely sucked, but the Avs are terrible divers. They remind me of Man City. If we don’t make it through then I hope whoever comes out of the East will smash them.

TipTopKop · « **Reply #10264 on:** June 4, 2022, 01:36:25 am »

I actually thought the Blues had a good chance against them until Kadri went into their goalie. Yes they started the playoffs impressively, but haven't really looked settled since, showing some weaknesses. I think the Oilers need to take take of business at home, and see what happens. Don't think it's over by any stretch.

Meanwhile, 1-1 in Game 2 in NY and the Rangers now have a PP. This game already looks eventful!

Dim Glas · « **Reply #10265 on:** June 4, 2022, 02:11:20 am »

awful call from the officials at the start of that game gifted Tampa Bay a power play (that they scored on). Calling Reaves for a phantom slash, rather than call both players for jousting. They messed up end of last game too, rather than let Reaves and Maroon go, the lino sandwiched himself between them, it was ridiculous.

Garlicbread · « **Reply #10266 on:** June 4, 2022, 12:27:31 pm »

Rangers by the looks of it has everything to go all the way. Only con I guess so far is that Panarin looks hurt imagine if he was firing on all cylinders too.

dalarr · « **Reply #10267 on:** June 4, 2022, 07:42:25 pm »

Yeah they’ve been impressive so far in this series. Still, it’s Tampa. They are going for a three peat and can never be written off! The game yesterday was great to watch.

Garlicbread · « **Reply #10268 on:** June 5, 2022, 09:34:12 pm »

Rangers are in the groove.

Dim Glas · « **Reply #10269 on:** June 5, 2022, 10:16:05 pm »

More awful officiating in this one, refs doing their best, with 2 BS calls on Trouba

TipTopKop · « **Reply #10270 on:** June 5, 2022, 10:59:13 pm »

At the death Tampa takes this, but the Rangers have been very, very game in this series.

Can't wait for Game 4. This is turning out to be quite a good 'un.

Mimi · « **Reply #10271 on:** June 7, 2022, 04:16:28 am »

What a fucking performance by Leon Draisaitl. It’s too bad we couldn’t get a win for him. Simply not good enough. Good luck to Rangers/Tampa. Be prepared for snide play and fucked up refereeing. Though if it’s Tampa, I wonder which team the refs will favour.

TipTopKop · « **Reply #10272 on:** June 8, 2022, 01:23:32 am »

Not an ideal start by the Rangers, down 1-0 in the 1st 3 minutes.

TipTopKop · « **Reply #10273 on:** June 8, 2022, 02:40:09 am »

2-0 in the 2nd and just when it looked like the Rangers had weathered the storm.

The stats (so far) are actually close, but it just feels like Tampa is upping the tempo.

TipTopKop · « **Reply #10274 on:** June 9, 2022, 11:34:05 pm »

Stating the obvious, but a really pivotal game 5 tonight. Looking forward to it.

howes hound · « **Reply #10275 on:** June 10, 2022, 08:38:48 pm »

Heartbreaker for Rangers. You give up a goal that late in the game against a team like Tampa, and youre done.
Oilers paid the price for poor management. $6 mill cap hit locked up in two weak goalies, one of them 40 years old. I feel for Draisaitl, Nugent-Hopkins and McDavid, all three with at least two years left on their contracts and no chance of competing for a Stanley Cup without a significant upgrade in net.

TipTopKop · « **Reply #10276 on:** June 13, 2022, 12:17:57 am »

Rangers produced a lot more resistance than I expected, but really the momentum the Bolts had once they woke up against the Leafs meant they're going to take some beating.

I'm not a fan of theirs nor some of the calls they get, but you can't deny 3 Finals appearances (1st time since the classic Oilers team did it) and their grit is very admirable.

They remind me of Djokovic, there's not one particular quality about them, they have good players though no real superstars, but they seem to hang in there and wait for the opponent to make a mistake and then pounce on it.

Credit to them, and if they go back to back to back (after winning the President's and then getting swept in the 1st round before that), well, yeah maybe dynasty is happening?

TipTopKop · « **Reply #10277 on:** June 18, 2022, 11:12:14 pm »

Game 2 tonight, always a key one for me as both teams have had an opportunity to work the other one out.

Still think the Bolts will take the series, but who knows, be interesting to see tonight whether the momentum sticks with the Avs or shifts to the Bolts.

TipTopKop · « **Reply #10278 on:** June 19, 2022, 01:58:25 am »

End of the 1st and the Avs have come to play. Bloody hell, who saw that scoreline coming?!! 3-0 and could have been 4-0 with that 1 on 1 at the end there as well.

dalarr · « **Reply #10279 on:** June 19, 2022, 11:00:10 am »

Holy mackerel. Avalanche on a mission here. It’s far from over, though. Tampa will probably take game 3.