Official NHL 13-14 Playoffs Thread

[philou21]

Yes of course!

[Primis]

Incredibly disappointed in Mike Babcock and his coaching staff after Game 3. I didn't mind the Game 2 loss with how it happened as much, but to see NO adjustments made and then get shut out... I don't know how completely blind you have to be. Instead of using speed through the neutral zone to penetrate deep into Boston's zone, DET is doing a lot of sit back, set up, and methodically go forward into the 4 defenders at the blue line. Then wonder why there's no room. This isn't freelancing, it's quite clearly what Babcock ordered them to do for Game 3. And failed spectacularly.

At no point did DET push and pressure BOS. They just gained the zone, did a drop-pass, and then ran out of anything else to do. At one point in the 3rd period Brendan Smith got the puck at the right point, skated with it over to the left point, then carried it into the corner, behind the net, into the other corner, and back out again, and did NOTHING with it, only to turn it over and lead to a Boston 3-on-1. It's astounding.

The "patience" Babcock has been preaching just means more Boston bodies able to block shots and get into passing lanes.

So for all of you wondering why I don't hold Babcock in the highest of esteem like some others do... it's games like this where you just shake your head absolutely dumbfounded at the complete fail of the plan. Compound that then with a Boston goal off a botched line change, and a Too Many Men penalty (both on the coaching staff in a game where they had last change) and there was really no hope for Detroit at any point. Terrible plan, terrible prep, terrible job adjusting.

And before anyone says so, no Boston didn't really play all that great in Game 3. Boston was much better and stronger in Game 2. They were kinda' sloppy and slacked off at times in Game 3. Even Rask was a bit shaky with his positioning and lateral movement.

[batdad]

Whether Boston played well or not...they have a pretty darned good coach, and pretty darn good team even when playing naff. So does Detroit.....they do. Really they do. But they are Not as good as they were, and have and had ZERO chance of beating Boston in a 7 game series with the rosters the way they are. Even Scotty Bowman in his prime or Herb Brooks from the 1980 Olympics would not have been able to get it done. Or for that matter, a combination of Brooks and Bowman. Detroit is good, but Boston is by far the best team in the EAst. Even when Boston plays horrible the only team in the East that might actually knock them off is Pittsburgh.

From what I have seen so far of all the series and games---I have seen some of all 8....

Boston is the only Eastern team that has a chance to win the Cup. And they will have to stay healthy to do so. The Western teams are that much better. Boston actually fits in the West as a team better than they do in the East.

[Primis]

Whether Boston played well or not...they have a pretty darned good coach, and pretty darn good team even when playing naff. So does Detroit.....they do. Really they do. But they are Not as good as they were, and have and had ZERO chance of beating Boston in a 7 game series with the rosters the way they are.

They beat them 3 out of 4 (were the team to end BOS's unbeaten streak) in the regular season and shut them out in Game 1. So no, you're wrong to say they have/had zero chance. It's just a very small window of error. DET did the right thing in Game 1 of pressing and using speed, eked out the road win... and then literally changed their gameplan. No idea why they have done that. Game 2 was probably a loss no matter what.

You're right BOS is a "western" team build. Been saying that for a few years now. Their salaries/cap distribution is more "western" as well. That's why I thought it was dumb when people have asked what DET might do against a "big, bad eastern team like Boston". Probably the same thing they did to teams like ANA, STL, CGY, and NAS in the past, teams that tried to "bully" them. You counter with what they *don't* have, in this case speed and pressure to question their skating/mobility. Make their d-men skate themselves sick, and Rask to be constantly moving.

People have pointed out DET fell down 1-2 to ANA last year and came back to win, but BOS is not ANA. Not unless BOS imports Perry and Getzlaf to implode the team and have temper tantrums...


Speaking of the Ducks... Boudreau is benching Teemu. Ouch. They're *UP* in their series 2-1, by the way.

[batdad]

Z....E....R....O. I do not care how they played them in reg season. Teams win Pres Trophies and get knocked out in first round. TOTALLY different ball game there. Bruins may not have been thinking about the Wings or anything.

Detroit is good, but Boston outclasses (did I just say that? funny word to use to describe the B's) every Eastern team come playoff time. Big strong, nasty, skate, hit, shoot, make pretty plays, goaltending......they have it all...at least in comparision to the other Eastern teams including Detroit. Playing 7 of 14 nights....No chance for Detroit to beat them....no way no how.


Boudreau is benching Teemu because he is 10000000 years old and he does not need to play every night. Too much on him to do so. He never played a back to back in regular season and needs his rest. Has to have dinner at 4PM at an IHOP and get to bed you know. But he does get 25% off all meals with his senior discount. So all is good, and he buys Bruce his dinner. Usually a DOUBLE DENNY's Grand Slam.

[jesterx7769]

I don't/didn't think the Wings had a chance. Boston is the best team in the East with goaltending, defense, offense, scorers, hitters, they are too much for most teams and especially a very young Wings team. Detroit seems to be playing the patience game like Chicago last year because Babcock knows if they play "normal" Boston will run all over them. Instead he is trying to play safe and rely on a few big plays, like the Datsyuk goal in game one. Unfortunately the Detroit D have not played well the last two games after playing well for a month. I think their plan is to play defensive then when the time comes counter attack with guys like Datsyuk/Nyquist instead of trying to push the pace with Boston as Babcock knows it wont work

[philou21]

Cooke is out 7 games. Hopefully the Avs will not see him back but IF the Wild beat Colorado he'll be back in the second round which sucks.

Dramatic win by Colombus. That serie is far more interesting then people thought it would be. Go Jackets!

[Primis]

I am speechless with what happened in Columbus, except that "Fleury Gonna' Fleury" I guess... both the GTG and GWG were baaaaaad to give up.

[YZG]

Dramatic win by Colombus. That serie is far more interesting then people thought it would be. Go Jackets!

Actually, a couple of RDS pundits predicted a pretty close series, with François Gagnon even predicting a Columbus upset. I really liked tonight's game. The Jackets just won't give up and you can feel that reaching the playoffs is not enough, even though that's quite an achievement in itself for the team. Meanwhile, Marc-André Fleury helped them a bit. He was great all game, then bad on the equalizing and winning goals - big, costly mistakes at critical times. Let's see how Fleury (and the Pens) responds to that now. I agree, go Jackets!

[Leafsdude]

If there was ever proof Pittsburgh misses Vokoun, it's that 3:13 of playing time. Just...wow.

[philou21]

I really liked tonight's game. The Jackets just won't give up and you can feel that reaching the playoffs is not enough, even though that's quite an achievement in itself for the team.

That's exactly what I think why Columbus have a chance to win this despite their poor offense. They really seem to work their asses off and sometimes that pays more than raw talent. Crosby and Malkin are nowhere to be found so far.

Meanwhile, Marc-André Fleury helped them a bit. He was great all game, then bad on the equalizing and winning goals - big, costly mistakes at critical times.

Fleury as always been like this. If the team in front of him were the Sabres or Florida he will suck. The guy can't handle pressure at all. I have absolutely no idea why he freaking skate off his net when the Columbus players were so close. Then he panicked and gave the easy goal. Don't talk about the one in OT, the shot might have surprised him but it wasn't a fast shot he could have easily made the save.


Funny enough all the games have finished 4-3 so far in the serie.

[YZG]

Funny enough all the games have finished 4-3 so far in the serie.

Also, the team that scored first always lost and the losing team always blew a 3-1 lead. That's crazy!

[batdad]

So jumping on the bugs bandwagon. Watched parts of game 1 and 2, and I really liked the way they were playing even if getting dominated at times. Love what I am seeing out of Ryan Johansen and Jenner. Have always liked Calvert all the way back to his days with Brandon Wheat Kings, and I am even liking Umberger and Dubinsky and the way they are playing. Two guys I have always thought were dorks.

[jesterx7769]

I'm not jumping on the Blue Jackets bandwagon, still think Penguins despite all their injuries and problems are better and Fleury won't screw up every game (better not). I still doubt Johansen can get the Blue Jackets 3/4 goals every night the rest of the series to pull out the win. Lot's of talk about Crosby not being healthy now that they're tied up.

[philou21]

I am even liking Umberger and Dubinsky and the way they are playing

Dubinsky is doing one hell of a job playing against Crosby. I'm really surprised. Calvert seems to have good moments as well and I never thought much of the guy.

[batdad]

Not saying Jackets will win by any means. I just like what I have seen in terms of play and it is something different than the normal so I am cheering for them. Of course my hockey brain says Pens will still get through the round.

Calvert is a slippery little bugger, who grinds and digs as well. Been doing it since junior, and apparently can step up his game during the playoffs (was hurt alot though last couple years I believe.) Not a great star or anything just a good player.

[Primis]

I have to say, as a Wings fan I have enjoyed this whole "All 7 - 8pm Start Times" thing. It's pretty rad. I suuuuuuuure don't miss staying up until 10:20 to watch the START of a playoff game for my team in the first round. I still find myself more interested in the Western series' though for the most part. Dunno' of that's just because they are better, or because they're familiar.

[rocker87]

Then what we in Europe could say? Just enjoy it, because you're lucky to have that opportunity and watch the game in normal time. I need to be awake after 1 am to watch my Pens.

[jesterx7769]

You don't live in Pittsburgh, you live in Europe It's like how I have to stay up late for F1 (a predominately Euro sport) for a long time people that lived in Detroit had to stay up late to watch half of their local teams playoff games due to Western conference and now they no longer have to stay up late which is what Primis is saying.

I live on the West coast now so I don't have to stay up late for any NHL games

[jesterx7769]

On a hockey note,

the red wings/bruins game was all sorts of ups and downs. The two wings goals look quite good from their top line players but the Bruins missed out on some main opportunities like Marchands now infamous miss. When you look at those things I don't think Gustaffson played well at all. Meanwhile on the other end Rask was fantastic, there was 2/3 times I cheered thinking there was a RW goal but Rask stopped it. It is easy to credit good defense for goalie success but Rask really has been playing good. As Ferrence said Rask is fundamentally sound and I think that allows him to be everywhere at once, he just also seems to get his pad up/down in time, or slide just those few inches to make the save

[rocker87]

You don't live in Pittsburgh, you live in Europe It's like how I have to stay up late for F1 (a predominately Euro sport) for a long time people that lived in Detroit had to stay up late to watch half of their local teams playoff games due to Western conference and now they no longer have to stay up late which is what Primis is saying.

I live on the West coast now so I don't have to stay up late for any NHL games

You're trying to equalise 2+- hours with 6-8+- hours? Really comparable, lol.

Well, yes, F1 have awful schedule for you guys, and if you want to change it, great, because I don't care about F1, so... give me that hockey for stupid F1.

[philou21]

Chicago is taking the lead in the serie! That team is amazing.

[philou21]

McPhee and Oates out in Washington. I think Oates seems to have done a decent job with the team he had. I guess Ovy had something to say in that.

[YZG]

McPhee and Oates out in Washington. I think Oates seems to have done a decent job with the team he had. I guess Ovy had something to say in that.

Ted Leonsis said this on the firings: "This is an important time for our organization, and I feel a change is needed in order to get us back to being a top echelon team that competes for the Stanley Cup."

He's right.... but the team needs more than a change behind the bench and in the management. The team needs a heart and a soul. And a captain with leadership skills and a better attitude. Let's see how/if the newcomers address that.

[philou21]

The team needs a heart and a soul. And a captain with leadership skills and a better attitude.

Yeah. Ovy shouldn't be captain. Not even an assistant. He should still be the #1 attacker and goal scorer on the team but leadership duties are beyond him. IMO he shouldn't even play on the PK. PP and even strenght that's it.