The 2015 Stanley Cup Playoffs

wlu_lax6 · Post by **wlu_lax6** » Tue May 19, 2015 6:22 am

I did not know the story of Tampa's Coach.
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/ ... ning-bench" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

SportsDoc · Post by **SportsDoc** » Tue May 19, 2015 9:30 am

I, for one, enjoyed how last night's game was officiated. Instead of swallowing their whistles, the officials called the game like it was a regular season game. The result was more offensive opportunities and a very entertaining game.

It also allowed a small, skilled forward like Tyler Johnson to shine. Since most fans only know Steven Stamkos plays for Tampa Bay, it was interesting to see they do have another highly skilled sniper. Kind of a poor man's Patrick Kane.

Keep it up NHL!

mister d · Post by **mister d** » Tue May 19, 2015 9:43 am

The problem was it seemed like after the first, they got instructions (or took it upon themselves) to swallow the whistles again. It would be simple to say "oh, the players just adjusted" but if you watched, that clearly wasn't the case. In the first, they called everything, some good and some ticky-tack. In the second, there was a handful of infractions more obvious than half of the calls in the first that were just let go. I like games called to the rules, especially when you're stopping the perpetual off-puck obstruction that can neutralize a speed team like the Rangers, but last night wasn't a good example. There were a lot of calls, but if you find the 10 most blatant offenses and the ones that actually tilted the play, I'll bet 4-5 weren't called.

degenerasian · Post by **degenerasian** » Wed May 20, 2015 12:13 am

I just learned that diving headers are not allowed.

govmentchedda · Post by **govmentchedda** » Wed May 20, 2015 8:24 am

degenerasian wrote:I just learned that diving headers are not allowed.

In addition to soccer style headers?

sancarlos · Post by **sancarlos** » Wed May 20, 2015 10:54 am

Chicago seems better in OT than in normal time, in most games that go to OT.

BSF21 · Post by **BSF21** » Wed May 20, 2015 10:57 am

sancarlos wrote:Chicago seems better in OT than in normal time, in most games that go to OT.

You clearly missed the last 12 minutes of the 2nd OT. Crawford singlehandedly kept them in that game.

Nonlinear FC · Post by **Nonlinear FC** » Wed May 20, 2015 11:04 am

Kind of weird how (some) people seemed surprised by the fact that heading a puck into the net isn't allowed. How is that any different than kicking it in or slapping it in with your hand/arm? (Obviously a rhetorical question.)

sancarlos · Post by **sancarlos** » Wed May 20, 2015 11:07 am

BSF21 wrote:
sancarlos wrote:Chicago seems better in OT than in normal time, in most games that go to OT.
You clearly missed the last 12 minutes of the 2nd OT. Crawford singlehandedly kept them in that game.

Yeah, I did miss that. I was on a plane last night and went straight to bed when I got home. Just going by history and what I read about the game last night.

SportsDoc · Post by **SportsDoc** » Wed May 20, 2015 11:11 am

As a Chicago fan, they were outplayed last night, again. Anaheim is the class of the NHL this year, but I will continue to hope Chicago can win this series. Either way, I think the West winner will win the Cup. Anaheim is a perfect blend of physicality and Star power, sometimes in the same body (Getzlaf and Perry). Their perceived Achilles heel was in net and Andersen has been excellent. Chicago's lack of depth on the blue line is going to be their downfall, I fear.

But, Go Hawks!!!

BSF21 · Post by **BSF21** » Wed May 20, 2015 11:19 am

SportsDoc wrote:As a Chicago fan, they were outplayed last night, again. Anaheim is the class of the NHL this year, but I will continue to hope Chicago can win this series. Either way, I think the West winner will win the Cup. Anaheim is a perfect blend of physicality and Star power, sometimes in the same body (Getzlaf and Perry). Their perceived Achilles heel was in net and Andersen has been excellent. Chicago's lack of depth on the blue line is going to be their downfall, I fear.

But, Go Hawks!!!

The last 2 on the D side. Last night it was Cumisky and Timmonen, and they are a huge liability. And that's saying something given they are a HUGE improvement over Rundblad. I never thought I'd miss Rosival but here we are.

Was it just me or did it seem like the Teuvo/Sharp/Vermette line was out there A TON last night? Sharp and Bickell both look totally lost.

Chicago flat stole that game last night. Crow kept them in it which was even sweeter because the crowd decided to singsong him after one of the Ducks ran him over. He immediately let in a flukey goal and then was lights out the rest of the night.

Cup Finals are going to be a yawn. Whoever comes out of this series, barring major injury, is just going to annihilate whoever makes it out of the East.

howard · Post by **howard** » Wed May 20, 2015 4:45 pm

Nonlinear FC wrote:Kind of weird how (some) people seemed surprised by the fact that heading a puck into the net isn't allowed.

It's legal in baseball.

mister d · Post by **mister d** » Fri May 22, 2015 8:46 pm

If you inverted this score, Rangers would still be lucky.

howard · Post by **howard** » Fri May 22, 2015 9:13 pm

mister d wrote:If you inverted this score, Rangers would still be lucky.

Just efficient.

Tonight, the nash/st. louis dams break.

govmentchedda · Post by **govmentchedda** » Sat May 23, 2015 7:02 am

mister d · Post by **mister d** » Sat May 23, 2015 7:23 am

Weird series. You should be up 3-1 because your skaters have clearly outplayed ours 3-1, although there's an argument to be made than henrik was only the worst goalie once, and that once was only because of the OT horror.

govmentchedda · Post by **govmentchedda** » Sat May 23, 2015 8:37 am

It's been a very hard series to predict. That being said, I will make a prediction that the home teams win out from here.

mister d · Post by **mister d** » Sat May 23, 2015 11:14 am

Only thing I'm certain of right now is that if you swapped goalies, this would have been a sweep, probably one of the worst in conference finals history.

sancarlos · Post by **sancarlos** » Sat May 23, 2015 10:45 pm

Another good game tonight!

howard · Post by **howard** » Sat May 23, 2015 10:50 pm

ain't done yet.

govmentchedda · Post by **govmentchedda** » Sat May 23, 2015 11:17 pm

TighT angle on the winner.

BSF21 · Post by **BSF21** » Tue May 26, 2015 9:41 am

I'm still trying to figure out if the Ducks are this good or if the grind and injuries have worn Chicago down past the nub. 5 goals last night and at least 3, probably 4 weren't on Crawford. The defensive lapses. Timmonen is lost. Sharp is lost. Bickell can't find his own ass with 2 hands and a flashlight.

I don't see it happening this year. Something needs to change and now we've gotta beat them twice including G7 at the Honda Center.

degenerasian · Post by **degenerasian** » Tue May 26, 2015 9:53 am

I think the two teams are equal but the grind has taken over the Hawks who basically only play 4 defensemen.
Chicago have won all 4 multi overtime games that they have played in (a playoff record) but they are 0-4 in each of the following games.

sancarlos · Post by **sancarlos** » Tue May 26, 2015 3:01 pm

I agree that Chicago's top four defensemen are getting worn down. Particularly Hjalmarsson. His play is going downhill fast. They don't trust their 5th and 6th d-men, so it is catching up with them. Anaheim knows it and being a big team, they never miss a chance to pound those top four into the boards.

NBC must be bummed out over those last games in each series. They had to be salivating over tv ratings for a possible New York v. Chicago final. But, Tampa v. Anaheim - not so much...

mister d · Post by **mister d** » Tue May 26, 2015 8:02 pm

Stamkos is probably my favorite superstar in the league and I hope his wonderful career ends tonight.

howard · Post by **howard** » Tue May 26, 2015 8:08 pm

Brassard doing his Josh Smith impersonation.

Post by **brian** » Tue May 26, 2015 8:21 pm

mister d wrote:Stamkos is probably my favorite superstar in the league and I hope his wonderful career ends tonight.

Hoping he gets injured? (I assume you meant you hope his career ends Thursday.)

mister d · Post by **mister d** » Tue May 26, 2015 8:40 pm

Uncalled board on McDonagh, retaliation by Kreider caught, Tampa scores on the PP.

Rex · Post by **Rex** » Tue May 26, 2015 9:25 pm

can the Rangers just agree to play game 7 in Tampa?

Post by **brian** » Tue May 26, 2015 9:28 pm

mister d wrote:Uncalled board on McDonagh, retaliation by Kreider caught, Tampa scores on the PP.

Gotcha. Not watching the game. Without seeing it sounds like the same thing Kronwall got suspended Game 7 against Tampa for. That would be mild irony.

mister d · Post by **mister d** » Tue May 26, 2015 9:39 pm

Nah, it was a minor board. And I'm pretty sure Stamkos has immunity anyway.

(And he got wrecked in both zones on the third goal that opened this up. That made me feel better.)

govmentchedda · Post by **govmentchedda** » Tue May 26, 2015 10:51 pm

We were in it! Then we weren't. That was an unenjoyable way to spend $200.

mister d · Post by **mister d** » Wed May 27, 2015 6:47 am

Bishop finally had the game we've been waiting for him to have. Defense did him no favors, but the rebound control and overcommits were atrocious. I think he should do that again in Game 7.

govmentchedda · Post by **govmentchedda** » Wed May 27, 2015 9:11 am

Coburn puked all over the bench early in game 5, (only had 5:43 TOI) yet stayed there the whole game, in case he needed to play. Word is that more of the team is sick too. Hoping like fuck that they get over it before Friday.

mister d · Post by **mister d** » Wed May 27, 2015 7:43 pm

Maybe that's why Bishop puked all over the ice ohhhhhhh dammmmmmmn!!!!!!!

mister d · Post by **mister d** » Wed May 27, 2015 8:38 pm

Patrick Kane one on one is just ridiculous. So curious what kind of player he'd be as the clear best on an average roster.

MaxWebster · Post by **MaxWebster** » Wed May 27, 2015 8:41 pm

was just thinking that if there's a more pick you outta your seat player in the NHL, i don't know who it is. including Ovi.

mister d · Post by **mister d** » Wed May 27, 2015 9:07 pm

Yeah, Ovechkin's is more unmatched power, not crazy video game moves. Its gotta be Kane now, with Taresenko as the sleeper the Rangers could have drafted when they decided to pick fucking McIlrath instead.

SportsDoc · Post by **SportsDoc** » Thu May 28, 2015 8:21 am

Duncan Keith with an unbelievable amount of minutes and yet still the best D-man in the Playoffs by far this year. Extra day off before Game 7's will be most valuable to Chicago, playing 4 D. Anaheim would rather play tomorrow, I'm sure.

Nothing, as far as results go, will surprise me in these Conference Finals Games. Must watch TV for hockey nuts.

sancarlos · Post by **sancarlos** » Thu May 28, 2015 10:33 am

This round of the playoffs has been so back and forth, so unpredictable...