One thing I'm super happy to hear is that in the new contract, EVERY playoff game WILL be aired on one of the Comcast/Universal properties. We can only hope they find a way to pre-empt Monday Night RAW at least once, ah ha ha.
(Having said that, it's been really nice of NHL Network to pick up key games the past couple of days.)
That said, we shouldn't miss too much from now on...
2011 EASTERN CONFERENCE SEMIFINALS
SERIES I 1 WASHINGTON CAPITALS vs. 5 TAMPA BAY LIGHTNING Game 1: Fri. @WAS 7PM Game 2: Sun. @WAS 7PM Game 3: Tue. @TAM TBD Game 4: Wed. @TAM 7PM Game 5: 5/7 @WAS 12:30PM * Game 6: 5/9 @TAM TBD * Game 7: 5/11 @WAS TBD *
SERIES J 2 PHILADELPHIA FLYERS vs. 3 BOSTON BRUINS Game 1: Sat. @PHI 3PM Game 2: Mon. @PHI 7:30PM Game 3: Wed. @BOS 7PM Game 4: 5/6 @BOS 8PM (joined in progress) Game 5: 5/8 @PHI 3PM * Game 6: 5/10 @BOS TBD * Game 7: 5/12 @PHI TBD *
2011 WESTERN CONFERENCE SEMIFINALS
SERIES K 1 VANCOUVER CANUCKS vs. 5 NASHVILLE PREDATORS Game 1: Thu. @VAN 9PM Game 2: Sat. @VAN 9PM Game 3: Tue. @NAS TBD Game 4: 5/5 @NAS TBD Game 5: 5/7 @VAN 8PM * Game 6: 5/9 @NAS TBD * Game 7: 5/11 @VAN TBD *
SERIES L 2 SAN JOSE SHARKS vs. 3 DETROIT RED WINGS Game 1: Fri. @SJO 10PM Game 2: Sun. @SJO 3PM Game 3: Wed. @DET 8PM (joined in progress) Game 4: 5/6 @DET 7PM Game 5: 5/8 @SJO 8PM * Game 6: 5/10 @DET TBD * Game 7: 5/12 @SJO TBD *
No reason not to pick the 1s and 2s, even if the Red Wings always seem to win these - THIS year it'll be different! GOOOOOOO SHARKS!
EDIT: NHL Network is plugging the last hole by picking up Game 4 of the Capitals/Lightning series.
I want the Flyers out in 4, just I don't have to keep Verses for another month. Why did I marry a Philly Girl? Yet, I see that going 7 games with the Flyers winning. Caps will sweep the Lightening, I doubt they will go 1 for 40 on the Power Play. Red Wings in 5, they will lose game 1 do to rust. Vancouver in 6 in what I expect to be a tough fought game.
Originally posted by CRZNo reason not to pick the 1s and 2s, even if the Red Wings always seem to win these - THIS year it'll be different!
It was different last year too. Getting forgetful in your old age?
Anyways this has been a FANTASTIC playoff season already. Wings advance, Blackhawks have been shut up, no more Pens. The only thing left, besides more Wings victories, is for the Flyers to get bounced.
Washington over Tampa Bay Bruins over Flyers
Vancouver over Nashville Detroit over San Jose - I still have major worries about the shaky defense next to Lidstrom. They've really shown some horrible lapses and collapses, especially near the end of the season. Nick can't be on the ice all the time to save their bacon. And Jimmy Howard isn't going to be standing on his head to bail them out either.
Michigan against the SEC: 20-6-1 (7-4 in bowl games)
Ladies and gentlemen, the following public service message is brought to you by your friends from D-Generation X, who would like to remind each and every one of you that if you're not down with that, we've got two words for you... - Capitals in 7. They need someone to give them a fight, and the Lightning will give them everything they could ever want. Washington is the better team, though, so they'll hang in on the end. - Flyers in 6. I said that neither Boston nor Montreal would advance past here, and it won't happen. I mean... the Flyers chased Ryan Miller. Not only is that embarrassing (for me as a Sabres fan), but it's also a reflection of just how good the Philly offense is (even if I hate their guts now). - Canucks in 5. Now that they've gotten rid of the monkey on their backs, they'll start playing like the team that won the Presidents' Cup. Nashville is playing with house money at this point, so it's no big loss if they can't advance further. - Sharks in 6. Niemi won't fold like a house of cards like Bryzgalov did, and even if he does, the Sharks have the offense to play shootout with Detroit where the Coyotes did not.
smark/net attack Advisory System Status is: Elevated (Holds; June 18, 2006) While the switch from Cena to RVD should alleviate some complaints, the inevitability of the belt's return to Cena (note where Summerslam is this year) and the poor initial showing by the new ECW are enough to keep the indicator where it is for now. The pieces are in place, though, especially on RAW, for improvements to be made to the IWC's psyche in the near future.
"I mourn the loss of thousands of precious lives, but I will not rejoice in the death of one, not even an enemy."
Sharks' stigma of fanfare failure now belongs to Caps until further notice. LOL. LOL. Sharks are rolling the Red Wings two years running doing big Sharks things. At least Washington didn't lose a game 7 at home this time so that's progress.
Meanwhile, Flyers are clicking at 60% on playoff games in which they pulled their goalie.
Originally posted by JustinShapiroSchadenfreude post ahoy.
"I mourn the loss of thousands of precious lives, but I will not rejoice in the death of one, not even an enemy."
Sharks' stigma of fanfare failure now belongs to Caps until further notice. LOL. LOL. Sharks are rolling the Red Wings two years running doing big Sharks things. At least Washington didn't lose a game 7 at home this time so that's progress.
Meanwhile, Flyers are clicking at 60% on playoff games in which they pulled their goalie.
A WONDERFUL NIGHT
(edited by JustinShapiro on 4.5.11 2336)
And the Pens are....? You're right in that it was a wonderful night, though. This was, like, the 120th night in a row I didn't have to hear Cindy's name or see his mug.
Listen. You can't have schadenfreude off of my schadenfreude. I try not to be too team-ideological in these threads since we all see the world in different colors, but the embarrassing demises of my enemies is all I've got this year.
The Pens are exempt as an overachieving, undermanned team who made the best of inconceivable adversity. Obviously.
This was, like, the 120th night in a row I didn't have to hear Cindy's name or see his mug.
Just a thoroughly disgusting series. Goaltending's even, offense goes to the Wings, defense the Sharks. So a string of one goal games was to be expected. But I have never, not ever, seen a series where all the stupid, random, dirty bounces of the puck and all the bad breaks have gone so completely against one team.
Helmer and Cleary and Dats and Hank are getting the puck on the net and the stupidest little things will keep the puck from going in. Meanwhile, here's Devin Setoguchi getting hit in the groin with the puck - GOAL! Here's Devin Setoguchi whiffing on his shot - GOAL! The puck is not in the Red Wings favor, and neither is luck.
Also I'd like some explanation on what the hell keeps going on with these faceoffs. This Sharks series and the previous one, the Wings are getting consistently swapped out in the circle and then beaten. This doesn't happen to the Wings against any other team except the Sharks and during the playoffs. And for crying out loud refs, just drop the damn puck! It's like they're waiting for the John Williams score in their heads to hit the right crescendo before doing their friggin' job.
Michigan against the SEC: 20-6-1 (7-4 in bowl games)
Originally posted by BoromirMarkJust a thoroughly disgusting series. Goaltending's even, offense goes to the Wings, defense the Sharks. So a string of one goal games was to be expected. But I have never, not ever, seen a series where all the stupid, random, dirty bounces of the puck and all the bad breaks have gone so completely against one team.
Helmer and Cleary and Dats and Hank are getting the puck on the net and the stupidest little things will keep the puck from going in. Meanwhile, here's Devin Setoguchi getting hit in the groin with the puck - GOAL! Here's Devin Setoguchi whiffing on his shot - GOAL! The puck is not in the Red Wings favor, and neither is luck.
Also I'd like some explanation on what the hell keeps going on with these faceoffs. This Sharks series and the previous one, the Wings are getting consistently swapped out in the circle and then beaten. This doesn't happen to the Wings against any other team except the Sharks and during the playoffs. And for crying out loud refs, just drop the damn puck! It's like they're waiting for the John Williams score in their heads to hit the right crescendo before doing their friggin' job.
I don't know if it's on purpose or not, but please continue the negativity towards the Wings because it's working.
Thread ahead: Derek Boogaard 1982-2011 Next thread: 2010-11 PLAYOFFS: CONFERENCE FINALS & PREDICTIONS Previous thread: An American's question about Canada's Stanley Cup drought
To see some videos of hockey fights, go here if you're interested: http://www.wayney.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/ hockeyfights.htm I'm surprised they don't have Marty McSorley Vs. that Vancouver dude.