EHM The Blue Line

CatchUp wrote:well, clearly the league thinks the Flames are idiots. Mclennen suspended 5 games - Playfair fined 25 large - THE ORGANIZATION fined 100 large. darn.
As per TSN.

A hundred grand is peanuts for an organization. Just a symbolical fine for the team.

Missed the edit...bonehead is #44 on the Wings. Same bonehead who wore #44 in Vancouver and for 7 games in Florida. Sorry bout that...figured everyone would know who I call "Bonehead' from my previous posts.

Yeah...I'm sorry he didn't score that much for your 'Nucks last season.

Well the Wings move on after a 2-1 double OT win. This game wasn't bad at all as far as cheap stuff goes.

A picture that gave me a chuckle before:

http://www.ehmtheblueline.com/forums/al ... pic_id=690

I so thought the Flames were gonna win in OT because of the superior play by Kipper, I just starred at the screen for like 10 seconds before starting to cheer.

Congrats to the Wings on winning the first round battle.And see ya next year Calgary. Ya battled hard, at least on home ice. A new coach next season perhaps?

Now for the next battle royale...Van-Dal. Stars have everything going in their favour heading in. This is why I think....5 OT's later...Bah...who knows.

batdad wrote:A new coach next season perhaps?

Maybe Darryl will finally be able to lure Brent out of Red Deer.

Systemfel wrote:

batdad wrote:A new coach next season perhaps?

Maybe Darryl will finally be able to lure Brent out of Red Deer.

And draft Brandon

Brent working for Darryl? Now that would be funny...I doubt it. Sutters like to run their own shows. And Sutters really do not like being told wat to do by their brothers. So Brent in Calgary is highly unlikely. Especially since it is well known he wants his own team to run...like Darryl.

That being said...if Brian Burke could work with Mike Keenan for even a week...anything is possible.

I haven't seen what happened on DET-CGY game 5... Sounds like the Flames stopped to play hockey and looked ahead to Wrestlemania 23, right?

The way i've seen this series (that's to say only with nhl.com highlights ), the Wings clearly deserved their spot in the second round. The Flames were never close of being impressive all season long, and even needed some extra-help from the Preds to make the series. Pathetic. Where is the strong organisation of the last season? Where are the nights when they battle all night long, no matter the score? Where is the defensive wall built by Sutter? All gone. And nothing in. I must say i've been really disappointed all year long.

Final epic goalies battle tonight between Nucks and Stars... Nerves of steel needed. We'll see who has it and who don't.

I knew how that game was gonna go as soon as the puck dropped. I'm surprised it was 2-1 in OT. I didn't even get that excited when Iggy scored the first goal because I knew, based on their lazy play, what was going to happen. The Flames were shown to be a group of individuals rather than a team--you'd think the franchise that made it all the way to the end with nothing but teamwork would realize how to win.

Iginla is still one of the premier captains in the league but he didn't steal a game this series like he did last year against Anaheim. If he had some support from his teammates it might have been different and some guy who's apparently never watched a Flames game prior to now (including 2004, 2nd round) wouldn't be calling Iginla over-rated (why do I even care? First round exit blues I guess). I've said it before: 1 guy doesn't go out to play 5 others all on his own...even if there are five 'one guys' on the ice for a team at any given time.

Good luck to Vancouver (chuckle). Sorry to laugh batdad, but I thought the Canucks were a different team this year, not the same team that's so fond of choking away series (0-6 with a chance to close out). If they find a way to win, they might make some noise against Anaheim, though; especially if they fall behind 3-1 in the series early...

We shall see. And like I said when the series started, and when it was 3-1 it was not over. Noone can call this one a choke if Dallas wins tonight, which remains to be seen. I mean yeah, up 3-1...but man are Dallas and Vancouver as I have said before evenly matched. It should be a hell of a 2-1 game again tonight. ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ. darn Vancouver better come out with some forwards not taking a night off. The only night they all took off was Game 6...for the whole night. However, they admittedly have only played 1 complete game in the series(Game 5).

And T-cleese...Ummmm... Looks like the Flames looked more like the last version of the Canucks, than the Canucks do now...no matter what happens in Dal-Van tonight. Best of luck to the Flames on the golf course...of course I could be soon too, and the weather is very nice here right now....Hmmmm...GO DALLAS GO! DId I say that?

Flames at the golf? After such a poor season? They don't deserve such cool holidays! Sure, they don't deserve to go deeper in the playoffs (and they don't), but they'd better work harder for next season, as they have tons of things to (re-)learn, like 'how to defend', 'how to win on the road', and 'how to pass the first round' as the most importants.

The Flames and the Canucks have traded--one's a high-scoring team with talent but no teamwork, the other is a tight-checking team with a great team/work ethic but not an awful lot of scoring punch. I wish the Flames were still what the Canucks have become, boring hockey or not.

But what's to be done? I don't think Playfair will lose his job, based on Sutter's loyalty--another season like this one and maybe, but not yet. Personnel changes seem the way to go, but who? Hamrlik collapsed after having a strong start to the season, so he's probably out. Friesen, out (thank god). Amonte gets a hard time from Flames fans but he's one of the only guys who tries his hardest pretty much every shift; he'll be gone, too, I'm sure. Guys like Huselius and Tanguay seem largely responsible for the team's shift in identity but they also seem far too valuable as assets (either as trade bait or simply because of their offensive talent) to give up in an effort to restructure. Tanguay was the best Flame in the series, so he's not going anywhere. I expect some major changes to the line-up after this debacle. We didn't even deserve to be in (sigh).

Like I said to you before Thundercleese, Hamrlik is overrated. He cannot handle playing #1 or #2 minutes. And he proved it again. Amonte is always going hard you are correct on that. But his age says to me,...time to move on.
Friesen is brutally lazy, always has been. Huselius had a breakout year and could be a great player for you. Tanguay is not right for the Flames and he is the big wheel I caould see moving, regardless of how well he may have shown in the playoff series.

Again however..Calgary needs more mobility on the back end as well. Stuart played well last night, but he was at best average the rest of the time. Regehr although injured is too slow for this league now...he suffers badly with mobility, and Dion must mature beyond kiddom.

I would change the coach...but my focus for Calgary personnel would be on the blue line, and up the middle, and possibly some hard working PK forwards. I would be dangling Tanguay...he does not fit in there. I think the way he plays messes up guys like Langkow and Iginla..which is why for some parts of the year Alex was not playing with them. Moss looks like he could be a keeper...at least everytime the Flames play Vancouver.

Changes are needed for your Flames for sure.

Man, its hard to see a goalie loose a series with three shotouts!!!! Iam sorry for Marty!!!

Well, the Nucks made it to the second round....I guess there they will loose against the Ducks....hmmm, I say in four or five games maybe.

The Wings will have a hard one against the Sharks!!! Good luck to JT!! I say Sharks in six.

But hey, Iam never good in predictions, lol!!!

Systemfel wrote:A picture that gave me a chuckle before:

http://www.ehmtheblueline.com/forums/al ... pic_id=690

8 bucks a pack of cigs???? Hooooly cow!!!!

Like that I would really think about quit smoking!!!

Luongo to Marty in the handshake if I read lips well "The f****** press can lay off you now"

Canucks play 40 minutes the way they can play...get Dallas running around...and bing bang boom the power play works.

Lucky team. Get a team running around, and refs are looking at that team for penalties....cause they are running around like chickens with their heads cut off. That being said...they got it together, and played hard for 40 minutes.

Against Anaheim...40 minute games will lead to Anaheim winning in 4. Hopefully Vancouver has learned that. And hopefully Salo exists in that series. Nice one Nagy you jackass...same for the chicken Adam Oates hit on Morrison. Nagy only got away with that one, cause the refs were thinking..christ if we give Dallas one more penalty Flames, Oiler, Wild and Stars fans will say the reffing won the game for Vancouver.

Sopel scares me.

batdad wrote:Luongo to Marty in the handshake if I read lips well "The f****** press can lay off you now"

No kidding... he was awesome.

Vancouver did everything they could to give that one away but Luongo wasn't going to let that happen. Good to see Linden get the goal though I can't see this series vs Anaheim going well though... I was cheering for VAN though because I don't want to see San Jose vs Anaheim until next round to determine who takes on Ottawa for The Cup

Regehr is our best defenseman by a mile. His season was made difficult by the fact that he had three different partners at various times, but I think he's easily strong enough positionally to make up for what he lacks in speed. As a shutdown d-man I couldn't ask for an awful lot more. Phaneuf walks on water in Calgary but somebody's going to have to hold him accountable for his bad pinches and occasional puck-hogging/puck-aversion sooner or later. The love affair with Phaneuf might keep Hamrlik around, though--Phanuef is far more comfortable with him than without him, and when Hammer plays well, Dion plays GREAT.

I might have agreed with your Tanguay take earlier in the year, even after he was scoring/setting everyone else up, but towards the end of the season he's been their best and most consistent player. I saw him lay more serious hits in the series than I saw any other Flame forward....except Iginla.

The Canucks...darn. They sure had that one handed to 'em Seriously though, when one-handed hooks get called and vicious hits-from-behind-head-first-into-the-boards don't, there's a problem. I hate the people who say hits to the head and fighting should be taken out, but the NHL needs to get its priorities straight in that regard. Even the idea that, if that were called, it would've been equal in severity (ie number of PIM) to a limp-wristed 'hook' is deplorable. Naslund is going to have to get a lot better awful quick if they hope to go anywhere--a team only goes as far as their captain takes them. If you count Linden as a captain, it might be another story...

Heh..TREVOR!!!!

Haven't you heard though...Canucks captain is LUUU (you know the rest).

But yeah, Trevor showed em tonight...yet again. He played real hard, and even in the first was responsible for anything the Canucks got going.

Nazzy is the Captain, only in the letter on the jersey. The real leaders in the room are, and have been since the beginning: Mitchell, Luongo, Linden, Sedins. Nazzy is now a part. A part that needs to get going again though. 3 good games does not make a season. I saw a little energy from him again tonight. Hopefully a sign, but i dunno.

Let's see how I did:

Kekkonen wrote: Buffalo Sabres vs. New York Islanders
If DiPietro is out (as he apparently is), the only advantage the Islanders have is size. In every other department, they're way, way behind the Sabres. That will show. I'd give Nolan serious consideration for the Jack Adams, but I won't give him a play-off win.
Sabres sweep.

Got the winner. Believe it or not, but I was counting on DiPietro being out for the series, and I might have considered Sabres in 5 if I knew he'd be back.

New Jersey Devils vs. Tampa Bay Lightining
Just about all of the Devils' offensive weapons are in suspect health, and they don't have that much power in this department to begin with. Yes, Brodeur is miles ahead whoever the Lightning end up throwing in goal, but that will not be enough this time.
Lightning in 6

OK, so you never bet against Brodeur in the play-offs. I should've known.

Atlanta Thrashers vs. New York Rangers
Lundqvist will continue in fine form, and Avery drives the Thrashers nuts. It's Atlanta's first post-season, and it will be surprisingly short.
Rangers in 5

Got the winner and the key players right. Too bad the Thrashers decided not to show up.

Ottawa Senators vs. Pittsburgh Penguins
This will be a rollercoaster series, in which neither team appears well suited for the win. At some point, something -- a soft goal, a soft penalty, an undercooked egg at team breakfast, something -- will deflate the Senators once again, and they'll snatch defeat from the jaws of victory.
Penguins in 7

Blew it.

Detroit Red Wings vs. Calgary Flames
Detroit has an inflated record thanks to a weak division, and they're sorely missing a Stevie Y. sort of a forward icon. Datsyuk isn't it, and his most recent play-off goal will turn 6 years old next spring.
Flames in 5

Blew this one too. The Flames were a major disappointment for me. If it wasn't for Kipper, the series would've been 1-2 games shorter, with a couple of really ugly losses thrown in.

Anaheim Ducks vs. Minnesota Wild
Look for the real Nicklas Bäckström to emerge. The Wild does have a scary offensive line in Rolston - Demitra - Gaborik, but those guys will see a lot of Scott Niedermayer and especially Chris Pronger. As a result...
Ducks in 5

Nailed this one. Bäckström played better than I expected of him, though.

Vancouver Canucs vs. Dallas Stars
Neither team has much offensive firepower, so it will come down to defense and, unfortunately for the Stars, goaltending. Both Luongo and Turco are terrific in the regular season, but in his first play-off appearance, the post-season version of Luongo will prove to be everything the post-season version of Turco hasn't been and still isn't.
Canucks in 6

Got the winner, but it really could've gone either way. And Turks is officially a play-off goalie now. I'd like to give him a series win with an asterisk.

Nashville Predators vs. San Jose Sharks
This spring is Joe Thornton's chance to show that he isn't a Turco who plays center, and he will (finally) do it now. The Predators won't just lie down and keel over, but they'll be done after the series anyway.
Sharks in 6

Got the winner, but Joe wasn't too hot (for Joe, that is) and the Predators went otu easier than I thought.

5 out of 8 winners correct, 1 series with correct numbers.

My turn to analise my predictions...

Det-Cal: Hard to predict, for sure. Detroit has been more consistent over the regular season, but it doesn't win a playoff series... However wins it, they'll be donwed in the 2nd round.

Detroit had the keys. It was all about if they'll really play playoff games or not. They did, and so won the series. They even may have a chance in the second round, thanks to Hasek's play.

Ana-Min: Depends on Bäckstrom's playoffs play. If he's like in the regular season, Min in 5. Else, Anaheim may have a chance.

Oops... I've been absolutely wrong on this one

Van-Dal: Turco will fail once more in the playoffs. Vancouver in 5 or 6.

Turco didn't fail at all! Which lead to game 7. I have the winner though.

Nas-SJ: San Jose in 5. Nashville will benefit from the home advantage to avoid the sweep.

Perfect!

Buf-NYI: Buffalo in 4. I don't see how the Isles would win any game.

Sure, the Isles couldn't win a single game... but they cheated by benching Yashin, and so won a game

NJ-TB: New Jersey in 6. Annoying series.

I'm in

Atl-NYR: Atlanta in 5...maybe a sweep if they play great.

I've been miles away from the truth on this one

Ott-Pit: Baby Pens will learn what playoffs are. No pressure on them. Ottawa is used to do it bad, and Emery isn't the kind of goalie you can fall back on... I'd go for Pittshburg in 6, before being swept in round 2.

Like the Wings, the Sens woke up in this year's playoff. I really didn't expect that for both.

So i have only 4 winners out of 8, but with 2 correct scores...could have been 10 points in the prediction playoffs league

Now, for the second round predictions:

BUF-NYR: Seems like the Sabres aren't fed up to fight against the big apple The Rags will be a better opposition than the Isles, but i don't see them winning the series anyway. I'd go for Buffalo in 6.

NJ-OTT: Sure, the Sens were impressive during their first round, but it was against a team of newbies, mostly rookies to the playoffs series. It will be another story against the Devils! However, the Sens have their chances if they continue to play well. But Brodeur can win a series all alone... New Jersey in 7.

ANA-VAN: Sure, Luongo can make miracles. Sure, the Sedin twins are like poison. Sure, the Canucks have a strong defense. Sure, defense is very important in a playoff series. But Anaheim has too much firepower for the Nucks to endure, and they could easily endure the Nucks offense. Niedermayer-Pronger against the Sedin twins? I wouldn't bet on the twins... Anaheim in 5.

DET-SJ: Nabokov is not Kipper, but it remains a strong opposition for the Wings offense. Then, the Sharks offense is far better than the Flames one. Hasek will have to play his best hockey if the Wings want to pass the Sharks. They have the home advantage, but the Sharks can beat them anywhere. And if Thornton wakes up at his best level, it could be a total carnage. San Jose in 6 if Thornton sleeps, in 4 if he wakes up in time... i'd bet for the 6 games series.

I'm at work - bored and ready to analyze my first round picks as well.

Catchup wrote:Series A #1 Buffalo Sabres vs. #8 New York Islanders
Line for line, the Isles don't have anywhere near the depth that the Sabres have. The Isles will be overwhelmed by the all the offense coming at them from BUF - especially with no Dipietro.
Buffalo in 5.

Boom - I hit the nail right on the head here. 1 for 1.

Catchup wrote:Series B #2 New Jersey Devils vs. #7 Tampa Bay Lightning
Brodeur has something to prove this year. Also, it could be the last go around with the EGG line intact. Tampa doesn't have the goaltending to outlast Brodeur and the Devs in a 7-game series. Crazy Lou behind the bench gives the Devs a bit of a psychological edge as well, IMO.
Devils in 6.

Another exact prediction. Brodeur stepped up as expected. Was this the last go around the for Big 3 in Tampa? 2 for 2.

Catchup wrote:Series C #3 Atlanta Thrashers vs. #6 New York Rangers
This will be an interesting series. Hossa, Kovalchuk and Lehtonen will have to play like they are the stars of that team. The Rangers have the offense to compete - but I think their D is soft. Can Lundqvist handle the NHL playoff pressure?
Rangers in 7.

Got the team but not the # of games. I really thought the Thrash might fare a little better against the Rags. The Thrashers are in a real mess right now after trading away a good chunk of the future for Zhitnik and Tkachuk - neither of whom played up to expectations. How many years till Atlanta moves to KC? 3 for 3.

Catchup wrote:Series D #4 Ottawa Senators vs. #5 Pittsburgh Penguins
I think Ottawa will finally come to play in the post season. Heatley will light it up and Redden will show why he was worth keeping over Chara. Pitt is good - but too inexperienced to go deep. Good XP for the kids though - I agree that Malkin will learn a lot and crank his game to the next level in 07-08.
Ottawa in 5.

75% exactly right thus far. I loved Ottawa's play in the first round. Sure, they had a strong matchup against Pitt, but for once Ottawa looked like a team. The Sens have as much talent up and down the roster as anyone in the post season and I think this might be the year they go deep. 4 for 4.

Catchup wrote:Series E #1 Detroit Red Wings vs. #8 Calgary Flames
Calgary is going to hand it to the Wings. No doubt in my mind. Kipper vs Hasek? come on. Hasek is due to pull up lame any day now.
Calgary in 5.

After going nearly perfect in the East, I blew it here in the first Western series. Flames, Flames, Flames. What a sorry display that was. They honestly didn't deserve to win the 2 games they did. Kipper won them those games and that's the bottom line. At least Flames fans can take comfort in the fact that Sutter is likely widdled and heads will be rolling down the Red Mile. 4 for 5.

Catchup wrote:Series F #2 Anaheim Ducks vs. #7 Minnesota Wild
If I was the Ducks, I would be doing LOTS of homework on the Wild. Minnesota is under-rated by everyone. They've got depth and they've got goaltending - 2 key ingredients to a cup run. I like Pronger to turn it on - but I can't stand the Ducks goalies - who I think will choke and cost the Ducks the series.
Minnesota in 7.

Another one I got horribly wrong. Minny just didn't gel in the post season. Gaborik got shut down and the Ducks just took it to them physically. The Wild didn't put up much of a fight at all. 4 for 6.

Catchup wrote:Series G #3 Vancouver Canucks vs. #6 Dallas Stars
I don't think this series will be quite as boring as batdad is suggesting. I do agree that Vancouver will have to pull a LOT more offense out of their hats if they're going to have a chance. But Turco is Turco - and this will be his last chance in Dallas.
Canucks in 6.

It took 'em one more game than I thought - but they pulled it out. Turco proved his case that he's not a playoff choker - a good sign for him staying in Dallas long term. I think the series was actually quite entertaining despite what some were saying about the lack of offense. Speaking of which, the 'Nucks are going to be killed by Anaheim if they can't put way more pucks in the net. 5 for 7.

Catchup wrote:Series H #4 Nashville Predators vs. #5 San Jose Sharks
I'm actually really looking forward to this series. I think it'll be a real gong show. There could be a couple blow outs by either team.
Sharks in 7.

Wow - the Sharks look good. They man handled Forsberg and the Preds. Nashville should have had a good chance in this one with Forsberg, Arnott, Kariya, Dumont, et al. but none of them came to play. Nashville is in the same boat as Atlanta - they took a big gamble on older players and lost. What changes are in store there? 6 for 8.

Final First Round tally : 6 for 8 - 75% - 3 exact predictions.

Boo-ya. I'm happy with that.

Now for the 2nd Round.

Series A #1 Buffalo Sabers vs. #6 New York Rangers
I would love to play the Rangers right now. I think their first round pounding of Atlanta was a bit of a fluke. Avery does seem to have injected some cohesiveness into the room but I don't think it's enough to get by Ryan Miller and the extremely strong Sabres.
Sabres in 6.

Series B #2 New Jersey Devils vs. #4 Ottawa Senators
This is going to be a great matchup, IMO. Emery is not in Brodeur's league but the Sens offense is scary good - especially with Alfie stepping up his play. The Devils will need an offensive player to step up and match the intensity and leadership of Alfredsson or Brodeur could get overwhelmed. I also think Heately elevates his game.
Sens in 6.

Series C #1 Detroit Red Wings vs. #5 San Jose Sharks
The Wings got off easy against Calgary. They were expecting a battle and didn't get one, which could set them up to fail against a strong Sharks team that looked very polished against a decent Nashville team. In the end, I think this comes down to goaltending and I like Nabokov/Toskala over Hasek/Osgood.
Sharks in 5.

Series D #2 Anaheim Ducks vs. #3 Vancouver Canucks
Awww yeah. This is going to be a battle. Anaheim will beat up on Vancouver forwards - can they take it? Luongo isn't going to be fazed by the Ducks physical play but I don't think the Nucks will generate enough offense for him to steal the series.
Ducks in 6.

There it is. I think this is my longest post ever.

Cheers kids!

Second-round predictions:

East

#1 Buffalo Sabres vs. #6 New York Rangers

This will be a tough match-up. Miller and Lundqvist will both have a good series, but in the end there are two things that put the Sabres ahead: their scoring depth, and the fact that first-round hero Sean Avery crosses the line from annoying to criminal and costs his team a game.
Sabres in 6

#2 New Jersey Devils vs. #4 Ottawa Senators

I'm sorry but I still don't believe in the Sens, even though they won their first-round match-up convincingly. This time, they face a team who has a grown-up in goal and whose 1st-line center is old enough to buy his own beer. The series starts in East Rutherford; as much as I'd like to get rid of the Devils as early as possible, I expect them to take the first two home games with ease, and the Sens never recover.
Devils sweep


West

#1 Detroit Red Wings vs. #5 San Jose Sharks

Here's another team I still don't believe in: the Red Wings. They played pretty good hockey against the self-destructing Flames in the first round, but now pretty good isn't going to cut it. They will not get 40+ shots on goal night after night in this series.
Sharks in 6

#2 Anaheim Ducks vs. #3 Vancouver Canucks

The Canucks just barely squeaked by a team whose leading post-season scorer turned out to be Stu Barnes. They did that by scoring a grand total of 13 goals in 7 games. Of those 13, 11 came against a team with a goaltender; of those 11, 5 came in the highly anomalous game 1. So, in the last 6 games, they have, on average, managed to put the puck past a goalie once per game. The good news was that that was against the Stars, whose goaltending and defense is top notch. The bad news is, scoring doesn't get any easier in round 2; the disastrous news is that they now face a team who also has an offense. I say Luongo steals one at home, but the rest is all Ducks.
Ducks in 5

So, in the Conference finals, in the East the Sabres have to go to neighboring New Jersey after having dispatched both of their in-state rivals, while in the West it's an all-California final.