OT: NHL Playoff Picks 2010

[rccCrawler]

I'm a habs fan (I like Pittsburgh and Boston too, go figure), but let's face it - all the pens need to win is for Fleury to play at a level close to Halak. Their greater talent then will in the vast majority of games lead to a win. They also have to work as hard etc etc but they do that, or they wouldn't have been to the final two years running.

Last night Halak played great, pens so so but fleury equalled halak and hence the result. Habs had just as many chances as the pens, but they lost the game in the first period when they did not cash on their chances. To play the kind of game they are playing, you MUST cash on the other guys mistakes, because you are not going to generate many of your own chances. They did not cash when they had the chance, and then the rest of the game was just waiting for the inevitable pp goal to go against them. This strategy absolutely requires them to score first.

Habs have some bright spots to be happy about though. In addition to Halak, Subban, Camalleri, gionta, Gill, Gomez, Georges - they ahve a lot of players that are really stepping up and providing something to build on.

Pens will need to step up all through the lineup to win in the next round, though. The bruins and flyers are both bringing it, so either will be tough. However, the flyers give up way too many chances. The bruins look more solid, but lack scoring. The pens should be able to get by either one.

They will get by montreal as long as fleury continues to play up to near halak's level.

 

[mrp5150]

Funny thing about the Pens is that they've only scored the first goal of the game a few times so far in the playoffs. They're also playing better on the road than at home, which is extremely out of character for them. Their home record in the playoffs the last two years has been incredible.

 

[VH4_BigRig]

Here's to hoping that the Bruins win tonight, we need to sweep the Flyers and end this.. Carcillo has soccer tryouts to get to.

Fuck do I ever hate Carcillo

Yeah, five bucks says that his accusations of Savard biting his finger are about as valid as that "high stick" he took a few games ago. What a f-ing tool. I actually hate the flyers more than the Leafs now, which is saying something Biggest bunch of goons and douchebags in the league- the only guys I have any respect for on that team are Carter and Richards.

Common Bruins and Canucks Chicago will put up a fight, but Niemi is not Khabibulin playing for a contract and I doubt they will take the series- hopefully the last change will help Vancouver tonight!

Surprised at SJ having a 3-0 lead, what the hell? I was picking Det to take em out, but they got 'em covered....barring an even more massive choke job than past failures

 

[mixeduplydian]

Chicago will put up a fight, but Niemi is not Khabibulin playing for a contract and I doubt they will take the series- hopefully the last change will help Vancouver tonight!

Surprised at SJ having a 3-0 lead, what the hell? I was picking Det to take em out, but they got 'em covered....barring an even more massive choke job than past failures

You're right about Niemi, but he's doing alright for his first time in the playoffs. I'm glad they're using him and not "house league' Huey.
Vancouver is a good team, and I don't think Chicago has been playing Stanley Cup hockey, but they're always my team through the bad times...and the worse times! GO HAWKS

I'm really surprised at San Jose and Detroit. As much as the Hawks fan in me hates to say it, I thought for sure Detroit would dominate the series.

 

[mrp5150]

Daniel Carcillo is a moron. Everyone in the NHL knows that. There's a fine line between being one of those "pest" type players and just being a complete idiot. Sean Avery is another one that comes to mind.

 

[LedZep77]

Hawks

Watching the Pens/Habs game right now - should be an exciting 3rd period!

 

[mixeduplydian]

Hawks

Yep!

 

[mrp5150]

Fleury played like a joke. I'm sick of him giving up shit goals and putting up a 2.60 GAA and a .900 save percentage. He needs to step it up big time next year and Sidney Crosby needs an elite winger on his line. I can't believe he put up 109 points playing with guys like Kunitz (average scorer at best), Guerin (WAY past his prime), and Dupuis (third line player at best). Whoever wins the Eastern Conference is going to get swept by whatever Western team makes it. Fleury cost them that series. Pathetic is the only word to describe their performance against an 8th seeded team like Montreal with nowhere near the talent or depth.

 

[bstaley]

I blame Fleury. Giving up 4 goals on 14 shots put them in too deep a hole to climb out of. Montreal could just sit back and trap and it's almost impossible to score against.

 

[Atropos_Project]

Bruins are playing such utterly inept hockey in this (and the last game) it's almost embarrassing.

If this goes 7, which it certainly seems like it will, Boston is finished.

 

[Meathead]

Fleury played like a joke. I'm sick of him giving up shit goals and putting up a 2.60 GAA and a .900 save percentage. He needs to step it up big time next year and Sidney Crosby needs an elite winger on his line. I can't believe he put up 109 points playing with guys like Kunitz (average scorer at best), Guerin (WAY past his prime), and Dupuis (third line player at best). Whoever wins the Eastern Conference is going to get swept by whatever Western team makes it. Fleury cost them that series. Pathetic is the only word to describe their performance against an 8th seeded team like Montreal with nowhere near the talent or depth.

I don't think Pittsburgh has any salary cap left after paying $21 000 000 to just three players...and that's their Achilles heel. Shadow the top players and that ship will sink, Pittsburgh is not full of depth.


...and GO MONTREAL!!!!

 

[mrp5150]

Fleury played like a joke. I'm sick of him giving up shit goals and putting up a 2.60 GAA and a .900 save percentage. He needs to step it up big time next year and Sidney Crosby needs an elite winger on his line. I can't believe he put up 109 points playing with guys like Kunitz (average scorer at best), Guerin (WAY past his prime), and Dupuis (third line player at best). Whoever wins the Eastern Conference is going to get swept by whatever Western team makes it. Fleury cost them that series. Pathetic is the only word to describe their performance against an 8th seeded team like Montreal with nowhere near the talent or depth.

I don't think Pittsburgh has any salary cap left after paying $21 000 000 to just three players...and that's their Achilles heel. Shadow the top players and that ship will sink, Pittsburgh is not full of depth.


...and GO MONTREAL!!!!

As much as I hate him for leaving, if we still had Hossa, we would be unstoppable. He and Crosby only played together for a couple months when we had him and they were great. Also, losing Sykora to go with Malkin hurt big time as well. They actually do have a lot of depth, but they're just missing an elite scoring winger. Look at what Ovechkin gets to play alongside. Semin and Backstrom. Imagine Crosby paired with even one of those guys. Again, unstoppable.

 

[mrp5150]

Bruins are playing such utterly inept hockey in this (and the last game) it's almost embarrassing.

If this goes 7, which it certainly seems like it will, Boston is finished.

The Eastern Conference is just done now that the Pens are out. Boston, Philly and Montreal have zero chance against San Jose or Chicago.

 

[bstaley]

The Pens looked tired and some of the guys need to go. Gonchar's time (and salary) is up. He totally let the guy skate by on the 4th goal. Get rid of Gonch's salary and trim the fat (Ponikarovski, Fedotenko, etc..), sign a REAL scoring winger and a true shutdown defenseman and we'll be ok. We never replaced the loss of Gill and Scuderi.

 

[bravedude2]

can't wait till crosby comes out of the closet.

 

[rccCrawler]

Bruins are playing such utterly inept hockey in this (and the last game) it's almost embarrassing.

If this goes 7, which it certainly seems like it will, Boston is finished.

The Eastern Conference is just done now that the Pens are out. Boston, Philly and Montreal have zero chance against San Jose or Chicago.

I tend to agree. The only hope is that SJ/Chi goes 7 and the winner comes out beat to hell. OR the goalie caves on either Sj or Chi - that is the only potential weakness on either of those teams.

 

[VH4_BigRig]

Way to go Habs! Don Cherry's was rockin last night despite the Bruins losing Hope they can at least win game 7, kind of embarassing that they've given up a 3-0 series lead...I'm going to Montreal if they win! I wonder how bruised up the riot cops are this morning

I think who wins the Bos/Phi series is irrelevant the way the Habs are playing. I think they'll make it to the finals and then lose to whoever comes out of the west. Hard call there, but I'm going to go with San Jose since they actually made it past the second round for a change and they've been knocking on the door for a while...would prefer to see an original 6 final though, people in Chicago actually give a sh*t about hockey!

 

[mixeduplydian]

people in Chicago actually give a sh*t about hockey!

Sometimes we care too much!
I've even turned the wife into a yelling and cursing Hawks fan!

 

[mrp5150]

My money is on the Sharks. Chicago is cursed with having Marian Hossa. He's been on the losing end of 2 straight teams in the finals.

 

[mixeduplydian]

My money is on the Sharks. Chicago is cursed with having Marian Hossa. He's been on the losing end of 2 straight teams in the finals.

Don't remind me! Let me enjoy the dream before it's crushed once again!