NHL Playoffs, Round 2!

[Tingkai]

One newspaper columnist's view on the Flames:

"VILLAIN NIEMINEN: Ville Nieminen's mindless mugging of Curtis Joseph at the end of Game 4 not only penalized his team harshly due to a suspension but also adds to the reputation the Flames have of being one of the league's sorest losers.

While cheered on by a home crowd equally as frustrated with the game's developments, the move with seconds remaining is exactly what hockey doesn't need.

That, and the (justified) beating of Kirk Maltby by Shean Donovan that followed, is just one of several examples of last-second goonery the Flames are becoming known for.

Although Jarome Iginla's decision to fight Derian Hatcher late in Game 2 (followed by Mike Commodore taking on Darren McCarty) was lauded at the time as sending a necessary message that the Flames didn't have too much respect for the Wings, it was nothing more than frustration.

In that vein, it wasn't much different than Darryl Sutter's suspension-inducing decision late in the season to have Robyn Regehr, Mike Commodore and Krzysztof Oliwa line up for a line brawl against Nashville in the dying seconds, harkening back to the record-setting slugfest two years ago against Anaheim.

Iginla's last-minute fight against Mattias Ohlund was different as he was responding to a vicious cheap shot the way every NHLer should.

Nieminen's indiscretion will almost certainly be a big blow to an already depleted lineup. The league was correct in handing down the one gamer.

Incidentally, the Wings are well aware of Nieminen's act as the agitator has now faced them 14 times this season, including six as a Blackhawk. "

[Asher]

Give me a ****ing break.

Just because your team can't cut it in the playoffs, don't bring down the Calgary team just because a notorious brat like Nieminen does something stupid.

You're a shining example of a sore loser -- your team is playing atrociously and on the way out of the playoffs, and you start attacking the single Canadian team with a chance of getting the cup with the lamest arguments I've heard from you in a long time.

Both you and Agathon are a prime example of why nobody likes people from Toronto, and why everyone else in Canada would not be sad to see Toronto go. The city is full of pompous condescending tw*ts with no respect for other teams.

Let's face it -- the Flames are playing excellently. They're a tight, hard-working team with young, rising stars. They don't have a team full of all-stars, which is why they work extra hard. And it's paying off for them.

Teams like Toronto and Detroit have comparitively monstrous budgets, so what Calgary is doing here is something to be respected. So why don't you drop the typical Toronto-fan crap and give respect where respect is due?

[Pekka]

so if columnist writes this, it must be true.. VOLLEY BALL VOLLEY BALL! There is no fact, only opinions on this matter. Tarnisher or not, Flames are still kicking Detroits butt, and tomorrow the Wings will join the summer vacation troopers. And no one remembers it after few weeks.

[Pekka]

less than 30 minutes and it starts.. but I think Nieminen will face aggression for sure.. and it's totally justified. He did broke the code, but it's not like its never been broken before. This kind of crap happens all the time, but the price you pay is to face the goon from the other team and let the beatings begin.

I hoped the refs wouldn't have protected Nieminen right after that, so it could have been settled right there and then. Now the whole thing is totally blown out of proportions. It was dirty, but that happens all the time. SO what makes this case so special?!?!?!

[MRT144]

Originally posted by Agathon
Just because the underdogs win doesn't mean they have the better team. Manchester United got beat by Wolves this year, would you say Wolves had the better team?

if 1 is > than 0 does that mean 0 is > than 1?

[Tingkai]

Originally posted by Pekka
There is no fact, only opinions on this matter.

The columnist is point out a trend about how Calgary behaves when they're loosing.

[Asher]

Originally posted by Tingkai
The columnist is point out a trend about how Calgary behaves when they're loosing.

Niemenen != Calgary.

Nice English -- it tells us exactly why you have all of those whacky hockey opinions.

[Tingkai]

Asher, you're mixed up again.

I said from the beginning that the Flames would go to the Cup (and lose to the Leafs )and gave due respect to Iginla and Kip.

You responded with a pathetic attempt to trash Belfour, one of the NHL's greatest goalies. You're the one constantly trashing the Leafs just because it's a Toronto team.

Time to put aside your anti-Eastern attitudes and it's time to start showing some respect for the Canadian team with the best chance of winning the Cup - the Maple Leafs!

[MRT144]

tingkai, if the best chance of canadians winning the cup is a loss tomorrow, then i feel bad for ya

[Pekka]

I don't see anyone complaining about other dirty moves, like what Hatcher did to Lombardi just now. While Detroit Free Press or what ever it was explained how Nieminen tried to take Cujo's head off (which is BS), I bet they don't give a mention to Hatcher who had much better try for decapitating Lombardi, who actually might be injured. Elbowed is face in purpose, whereas Nieminen just brushed Cujo. And didn't even recieve a penalty for that.

I'm not saying we shoud whine about that move, I'm saying we shouldn't whine about the other one either anymore. Nothing special. Just two dirty moves.

[Asher]

Tingkai's just trying to find something to distract everybody from the absolutely horrible minor-league hockey played by Toronto in the last game. What better way than to bash the Canadian team that's doing the best -- it's icing on the cake that it's an Albertan team.

[MRT144]

asher, you should be banned from using hyperbole, you bad boy you!

[Asher]

What hyperbole? Did you watch that Toronto game?

McCabe should be sent down to the minors on that performance alone.

[Tingkai]

Originally posted by MRT144
tingkai, if the best chance of canadians winning the cup is a loss tomorrow, then i feel bad for ya

It'll be a hard game tomorrow. The Flyers are great team, but the Leafs can win it if everything goes well.

As for the Flames-Wings, I'm hopping for a Flames shut-out with Iginla scoring the winning goal. That would be great for my hockey pool. I've got Iginla on my team and I'm fighting off guys who loaded on Detroit.

[Tingkai]

Originally posted by Asher
What hyperbole? Did you watch that Toronto game?

McCabe should be sent down to the minors on that performance alone.

Nah, Leetch will calm McCabe down and get him back on his game. That's the advantage of having experienced players.