Official 2015 NHL Playoff Thread

[Peter_Doherty]

That wasn't clean, scary amount of blood there...

[philou21]

Yeah, lots of blood indeed!

[CJ]

Haha, this was awesome. How's it even possible.

[Satyr]

If Eller wore a black/gold shirt with #87, it would have been called 'diving'

[Peter_Doherty]

No, if he dove like Cindy it would have been called diving... Or whined, or played nasty then ran away, or anything else that a coward would do

[philou21]

Even though I'm not a huge fan of Crosby myself, getting hit like that and losing so much blood, only a idiot would jump on that occasion to go after him. Those kind of injuries are no joke.

Calgary taking a comfo lead on Vcr. Cinderella team right there?

[batdad]

Nah. Flames are having a good run against a team that appears old and injured and slow and immobile. The slow and immobile is in particular on the back end. I have been saying for years now that the top guys on Vancouver blue line are not fast enough, nor mobile enough. finally the idiot media is realizing that too. And hopefully for the Canucks so is their management team. Bieska (And yes that is on purpose) is irrelevant to the NHL now. Nux should have moved him 2 years ago, he is weak now and will get NOTHING for him. Sbisa is HORRIBLE. Edler is immobile, although is the best in this sad sack bunch as a player. Hamhuis is the only one who has any mobility and he is injured. Tanev, for as smart as he is does not have top end speed, and is only average in mobility.

So...hard forecheck on this team and they are done.

Ferkland (again on purpose) has been ridiculous in this series. Yeah there are alot of hits that he has laid out that have been borderline legal/illegal. But darn he has not gone WAY over the edge even once. Usually guys that go as insane as him....do go over the line somewhere (KENINS) ... but he has not. He has been an absolute wrecking crew.

Now...I do believe that there are several CAnucks nursing Booboos. Bieksa--groin or leg somewhere, Hamhuis has had a bad groin all year and this is very noticeable, Edler and his back, Tanev has something going on, Daniel has something going on, Richardson of course was out last night.

However--this is the be all and end all. The only 3 stud players on this team....ARE NOT PLAYING TOGETHER> And one of them has been invisible. Have a look at the stats (Advanced) for Daniel and Henrik...they lead the NHL in shots on ice for vs shots on ice against in the playoffs. They are true studs. And to not play Vrbata with them, and to not play them more than any other forwards (until last night) is insane.

Vrbata--INVISIBLE on 2nd line with that Bonino turd. Soft, lazy line with Higgins and Matthias was no better last night.

When your four best players in order are:

Henrik
Bo
Daniel
Derek

You are not going anywhere.

Calgary gets up against Anaheim or Nashville or Chicago or anyone in round 2 and they are done. Right now....just taking advantage of an old man team with no skating ability on the back end.

[philou21]

They seem to have alot of energy and really motivated, that's why I would pick them as my Cinderella team. I think if they go against the Ducks or Chicago, they better not underestimate the Flames. Their lack of experience will be their downfall probably.

[Peter_Doherty]

Ducks look insanely strong though, think they might steamroll West...

[batdad]

Flames are one and done. Playing a team that is not good enough to compete at the high level. It could not be more obvious. Calgary is barely handling the Canucks in spite of 3-1 series lead, and there is no way the Canucks could come close with any of the other teams advancing. Hence....neither will Calgary. Not enough there.

[CeeBee]

I think Vrbata is playing hurt as well. Was it the 2nd last or last game of the season where he took a knee on knee hit? He's usually a better skater and more involved than this..... and yes to the D.... Slow, small. immobile, giveaway machines etc.etc. Need about 13 more Horvat's for starters and 3 or 4 young d-men. Time for the changing of the guard which should or at least better be mostly complete by the time the Sedins retire which should also be sooner than it will be.

[philou21]

Ok I see. I didn't had the chance to see any games so I just based my facts on the 3-1 lead. If you say so then.

[batdad]

No Vrbata and Hudler are playing Czech hockey. Scared to get hit. Both are shying away big time. He is not hurt. He is just not capable of handling Calgary style of game. This is a KNOWN issue with him, and the main reason the Avs let him go. His skating when in open ice and no traffic is fine. He took off up the wall last night...then pulled up and let that slap shot go because well...someone dared to breathe on him (Believe it was Kris the midget Russell)

[CJ]

"Bergeron, Kopitar, Toews voted Selke finalists".

What a surprise..

[Peter_Doherty]

Selke is becoming so stupid, same 4-5 guys just cycling the nominations... How can Kopitar be nominated for this season? They are all great players but honestly, this is becoming a popularity award... I can name several players in the East that deserve that nomination just as much as Bergeron, and Kopitar just hasn't had a great season, add to that his team missed playoffs...

I just really hate how narrow minded those voting for Selke are being, it's stupid and the award is losing its status in my eyes and many with me.

[philou21]

Anderson did a good job yesterday but MTL's attack could have been more creative as well. If Anderson stays in shape and focused, this serie could go longer than it looks.

[CJ]

Selke is becoming so stupid, same 4-5 guys just cycling the nominations... How can Kopitar be nominated for this season? They are all great players but honestly, this is becoming a popularity award... I can name several players in the East that deserve that nomination just as much as Bergeron, and Kopitar just hasn't had a great season, add to that his team missed playoffs...

I just really hate how narrow minded those voting for Selke are being, it's stupid and the award is losing its status in my eyes and many with me.

Yeah. Bergeron and Kopitar didn't defend good enough as their team missed the playoffs.

[Peter_Doherty]

"add to that his team missed playoffs" - Didn't say it's the main thing but i do think it should weigh in... Selke is a reputation/popularity award and it's just stupid...

Edit: Fact is that both their teams missed playoffs by a small margin, and at least in Kopitars case he had just an OK season allround so he definitely had a part in them missing out, if he was the normal Kopitar he probably gets them those points they needed....

[batdad]

Bergy and Kopitar---well they had alot of help in not making the playoffs didn't they? This is not an MVP award...this is best D player award, and those two players are very deserving of it.

I do get that in some cases it seems like it is all reputation based, but remember it is not easy to judge who is best at this stuff and what constitutes the best defensive player. To me the best defensive players are the ones who never ever let the other team have the puck. So to me...the twins and their devastating 2 min cycle shifts that WRECK other teams and exhaust them should be in the running every season, but never are.

They are always on the ice against the other team top line (see what they do to Monahan line?, Crosby during the two games vs Pittsburgh? Ovenchicken line?) and quite often completely domminate the possession time. THat is great defense to me. But nary a mention.

Sorry just do not have an issue with Bergeron Kopitar Datsyuk. 3 ridiculous players at both ends of the rink.

[Peter_Doherty]

batdad - They sure did, and nowhere did i state otherwise... I just stated that they didn't make the playoffs and that it should be weighed in, which i really think it should... Should it be the main point? ofcourse not...

I agree that all 4 (the 3 nominated and Pavel) are great players, but some of them didn't have their best seasons and some other players had great two-way seasons and i just really hate how this is a reputation award that goes to the best two-way center, not the best defensive forward... Selke has just become an award that misses it's own brief...

If i was to pick a two-way center to build by team around for the next season these players would all be among the top of the list. However if i am to pick the best defensive forward of this season they wouldn't be, maybe Bergeron, certainly not Kopitar based off this season. Getzlaf, Palat, Datsyuk, Stepan, Bäckström, Hossa and Nash etc have all had better defensive seasons then Kopitar and Toews IMO... I probably missed a few, especially in the West since i don't catch the West teams as much because of time zones... I have however seen enough of Hawks and Kings to have a pretty accurate opinion on Toews and Kopitars seasons... These are my opinions, agree or disagree i stand by them

[batdad]

Was not directing the comment at you

[Peter_Doherty]

Aight.

[philou21]

Anyone seen how Lapierre acted like an Oscar winner when he got "hit" by Moore? Man, pathetic.

[Peter_Doherty]

Didn't see it, good thing the refs didn't buy it then

[batdad]

What makes me laugh is he is doing it to the coach who taught him how to do that. AV is famous for teaching guys to dive.