Official 2013 NHL Playoff Thread

[joehelmer]

All talk about the playoff here.

The first round matchups:

Eastern Conference

(1) Pittsburgh Penguins vs. (8) New York Islanders
(2) Montreal Canadiens vs. (7) Ottawa Senators
(3) Washington Capitals vs. (6) New York Rangers
(4) Boston Bruins vs. (5) Toronto Maple Leafs

Western Conference

(1) Chicago Blackhawks vs. (8) Minnesota Wild
(2) Anaheim Ducks vs. (7) Detroit Red Wings
(3) Vancouver Canucks vs. (6) San Jose Sharks
(4) St. Louis Blues vs. (5) Los Angeles Kings

[Manimal]

Predict the scores here:
http://www.ehmtheblueline.com/forums/vi ... 16&t=10921

[batdad]

Rumours around Vancouver that COry Schneider is not injured, but that he has been quite sick. Some saying MONO. I find that hard to believe since he has been hanging around the locker room and team for the last two weeks. But....he does look to some reporters like he has lost weight. Will we see Roberto in net come Wednesday?

Cory has also had fatigue and dehydration issues in the past...so that would not shock me either.

I just love that AV took everything a step further and saidL Cory is Day to day with a BODY injury. LOL.

Rangers are going to cause some damage this year. That is if they can get by washington. Laffs are Laffs. BYE BYE.

Pens IMHO are ripe for the picking again.

the man who should be NHL Regular season MVP-Jonathon Toews is going to lead his team to the final.

Stanley Cup 3rd round semi final

Boston-Pittsburgh (IGINLA in BOston wow...Ulfie-Cam, just awesome
Chicago-Vancouver (OH BABY what a battle)

I have the top one this way as remember I have Ottawa taking out MOntreal.

2nd round matchups should be some fun too.

Boston-Washington (Ovenchicken-Marchand will be funny.
Vancouver-Anaheim (Luongo to the bathroom please)
Chicago-St Louis (hate each other)
Pittsburgh-Ottawa (Karlsson-Cooke)

[philou21]

If the Rags play like the end of the season they have a chance to beat WSH. If they go back like they were playing before they will get destroyed by Ovie. If he stays on fire too.

[philou21]

Backstrom is injured for the Wild. That will just be easier for the Hawks. Harding can't do miracles with his health now.

Nice move by Quick.

[Loosie]

Crosby confirmed he is not playing tonight.

[batdad]

Radio in Vancouver..LOL..Guess who is starting tonight for the Nuckleheads? What a freaking circus this team is.

[philou21]

But Schneider is injured batdad!!!!

[batdad]

LOL....right...he has mono I bet. I bet the rumours about it were right. What I did not get was he was around the rink for alot of the early period...which would be contagious.

FYI--No game day skate for Kesler...LOL at this team. EVERYONE there ....except Kesler and they say it was optional. HAHAHAAHAA.

[philou21]

There's still two option. Kesler is injured and they're hiding it. Or they don't want him around.

[Primis]

LOL....right...he has mono I bet. I bet the rumours about it were right. What I did not get was he was around the rink for alot of the early period...which would be contagious.

Actually mono itself isn't contagious unless he's sharing a mouth guard or something ridiculous, because IIRC one variant of it is ONLY transmitted through saliva, and the other through any bodily fluids (TMI, I know). It makes you much more-susceptible to other things though because of what it does to your immune system.

That's bad news for Canucks fans. It's unlikely he'll be back for another week or so if it's mono. Could be another week or two at least.

[philou21]

Well some mono can be more severe but usually with athlete it doesn't last long.

[Primis]

I will say this: I bet Canuck fans now are reeaalllyy glad they kept Luongo. Otherwise who'd be in? Lack?

[batdad]

Nope. Lack injured and out for season. Joe Cannata is the guy backing up Roberto.

ROberto played extremely well last night. Rest of team left everything at home. Something is wrong with Kesler (Somewhere i heard or saw flu...)...his shifts were short and he was not involved at all. Not that I am surprised by that or anything. But LOL at the soap opera.

[Primis]

Nope. Lack injured and out for season. Joe Cannata is the guy backing up Roberto.

Ah so they kept Cannata up? I didn't know that, I thought he'd been sent back down to the Wolves already. Criminy, who is backing up Climie (I think?) in Chicago then if Lack's out?

Is it possible for Luongo to play his way back in, or is it all too far gone now?

[batdad]

Chicago missed AHL playoffs. Season is over. Climie was under contract to Chicago, Vancouver never signed him.

No Schneider on ice for practice...so I guess you can guess who starts game 2.

(Lack is also in Vancouver, but not practicing even with the Black Aces up from Chicago I believe)

[Primis]

Chicago missed AHL playoffs. Season is over. Climie was under contract to Chicago, Vancouver never signed him.

I knew Climie was Wolves property. I just assumed Chicago made the playoffs though. Wow. Man they've fallen on hard time lately.

It's been weird in DET. Grand Rapids is a good team this year for the first time in forever, and in the playoffs, so DET doesn't have anyone up. No Black Aces. Can't remember the last time that happened.

[Danny]

Le suck

[Primis]

Man, 6:30am sure came early today.

Nope, not going to miss the Western Conference in the least next year. SHAQ FU the West and its stupid timezone travel. Between the Tigers taking forever to dispatch the lowly Astros, and Red Wings OT in Anaheim last night, today is (un)officially Zombie Day in Michigan...

[batdad]

Waaaaaaah. Cry me a river Primis. And in the west...we have to get home from work at 200 to watch freaking Eastern games.

Easterners complain western teams use travel as an excuse, and now we have easterners complaining they have to stay up past bedtime to watch a game they want to see.

LOL

What is the latest in Soap Opera land? Oh yea, bet someone else has a body injury, the flu, or mono today.

[philou21]

After what I've seen yesterday I regret my prediction in 7 for the Habs in the prediction league. It's now Sens in 5 or 6. In my mind only two players could change everything or should I say 3. Karlsson, Anderson and Price. The three of them showed me that I was right. Anderson was freaking outstanding yesterday and with Karlsson in full recovery ohhh boy watch out. Habs played well in first and second but Price probably couldn't take the fact that the team was playing well.

Gryba as been suspended 2 games for his hit on Eller. I'm still not sure if he was deserving a suspension or not. The pass was dangerous, Eller had his head down but Gryba could've tried to avoid and I think he had the time to. Anyway what's done is done. Eller is out with a broken nose, concussion and some missing teeth.

Blues are leading 2-0, excellent news. Too bad Detroit won yesterday, the Ducks did a nice comeback.

[philou21]

Crosby will be back in the Pens line-up for next game. My prayers go to the Isles.

[Danny]

Ference gets one game for a blatant intentional head shot and Gryba gets two because some dumbass can't take a hit. WTG Shanaboob .

[philou21]

Dumbass can't take a hit. Wow that's one of the most stupid statement I ever read her, never heard of the word respect? Oh wait no, you're a Bruins fan. I know you hate the Habs but grow up man you're just stupid right now. Ference hit wasn't that hard and Grabovski was able to get up and be able to finish the game.


On a more mature side note Crosby already scored twice for the Pens tonight.

[Primis]

Waaaaaaah. Cry me a river Primis. And in the west...we have to get home from work at 200 to watch freaking Eastern games.

You must live in the middle of the Pacific Ocean then, because weekday playoff games don't generally start before 7pm Eastern as a rule, and Detroit does not believe in start times before 7pm local because apparently unlike people in NY, BOS, and WAS we actually work full days. And Pacific Time is only 3 hours off of Eastern. Even if the NHL had a team in Halifax, that'd only account for 4 hours, not 5.

Let me know when you've actually had any experience with 10:30pm local start times. Until you have actually done so, there really is no argument to be had because you just have no idea what you're talking about. Sorry, but truth is truth.