NHL Playoff Thread-Mania...

[Ben Kenobi]

The Giguere-naut keeps rolling. He's building up an incredible record for consecutive shutout time in the playoffs.

30 mins to go before he sets the record

I'd never thought I'd be saying this but:

Go Anaheim!

[cinch]

Félicitations À Giguere Et Les Canards Puissants!

QUACK QUACK QUACK QUACK QUAAAAAAACK!

Ahem.

[Hot Mustard]

Eastern Conference Final:

New Jersey Devils vs. Ottawa Senators
New Jersey leads series tied 2-1

Game 1: Ottawa 3, New Jersey 2 (OT)
Game 2: New Jersey 4, Ottawa 1
Game 3: New Jersey 1, Ottawa 0
Game 4: Sat, May 17


Western Conference Final:

Anaheim Mighty Ducks vs. Minnesota Wild
Anaheim won series 4-0

Game 1: Anaheim 1, Minnesota 0 (2OT)
Game 2: Anaheim 2, Minnesota 0
Game 3: Anaheim 4, Minnesota 0
Game 4: Anaheim 2, Minnesota 1

--

The Wild scored a goal - hurrah! ...but they also lost and got swept. Anaheim now gets another nice rest while awaiting the Eastern Conference final winner.

[Imran Siddiqui]

Eastern Conference Final:

New Jersey Devils vs. Ottawa Senators
New Jersey leads series tied 2-1

Game 1: Ottawa 3, New Jersey 2 (OT)
Game 2: New Jersey 4, Ottawa 1
Game 3: New Jersey 1, Ottawa 0
Game 4: New Jersey 5, Ottawa 2
Game 5: Mon, May 19


Western Conference Final:

Anaheim Mighty Ducks vs. Minnesota Wild
Anaheim won series 4-0

Game 1: Anaheim 1, Minnesota 0 (2OT)
Game 2: Anaheim 2, Minnesota 0
Game 3: Anaheim 4, Minnesota 0
Game 4: Anaheim 2, Minnesota 1

--

You guys just underestimated the Devs! 3-1 up on the Sens. Looking good for my boys .

[Hot Mustard]

Originally posted by Imran Siddiqui
You guys just underestimated the Devs! 3-1 up on the Sens. Looking good for my boys .

Yes, I did.

If you check out the season series between these two teams, you'll see why.

[Captain Obvious]

Lets gooooooo Devils!!!!

Dun Dun Dun Dun Dun

Lets gooooooooo Devils!!!

Dun Dun Dun Dun Dun

[DarthVeda]

anybody but the ****s

[Imran Siddiqui]

If you check out the season series between these two teams, you'll see why.

That's the problem . The Devils are a team built for the playoffs. Full of toughness and grit, a great defense, a wonderful goalie, and forwards that will be able to score at least once or twice a game (and on oft nights a five goal blowout).

[Guynemer]

If the Ducks lose the finals, Giggy should win the Conn Smythe.

If the Ducks win the finals, not only should he win the Conn Smythe, it should be renamed after him. Has there ever been a playoff performance like this, in any sport?

[cinch]

Giguere definitely has been the rock for the other Ducks to stand on, but I don't think we should sell the rest of the team short in our search for words that will encapsulate the Glory of Jean-Sebastien.

Props must also be given to:

Carney's stone-solid defense and shot blocking.
Kariya's quiet-yet-explosive offensive style.
Niedermayer's 'everyman' approach to a two-way game.
Stumpy's & Oates' leadership and grit.
The youthful resilience of guys like Krog, Chistov, LeClerc, Pahlsson, Sauer, and Havelid.
Rucchin, for showing just how underrated he actually is.
Ozolinsh, for showing that even overrated guys can bring it when they have to.

Despite the (justified) hype, the Ducks have actually put forward quite a brilliant team effort, by my estimation.

I look forward to the finals.

[Imran Siddiqui]

If the Devils win, Guy, you KNOW Jiggy won't get the Conn Smythe. It will deservedly go to Marty Brodeur.

[Guynemer]

Imran, I don't have a dog in this fight. I look at Martin Brodeur, and I see a guy who could very possibly end his career being regarded as the best goalie of all-time. But I look at the team around him, and they're pretty damned good. Not a lot of offense, but certainly capable in that regard, and outstanding in defense and special teams.

I look at the Ducks, and I see a team that is nowhere--NOWHERE--without that Giguere. With all due respect to Cinch, the Ducks have played well, but do you really think they played well enough to beat the two most talented teams in the league, and then the hottest team in the playoffs? Not even close. Giguere has lead his team, single-handed, into the Finals. You can't say that about Brodeur.

Unless Giggy has a complete meltdown (i.e., letting in 3.5+ goals a game in the Finals), he is the MVP, regardless of who wins the Cup.

[Hot Mustard]

Eastern Conference Final:

New Jersey Devils vs. Ottawa Senators
New Jersey leads series 3-2

Game 1: Ottawa 3, New Jersey 2 (OT)
Game 2: New Jersey 4, Ottawa 1
Game 3: New Jersey 1, Ottawa 0
Game 4: New Jersey 5, Ottawa 2
Game 5: Ottawa 3, New Jersey 1
Game 6: Wed, May 21
Game 7: Fri, May 23

Western Conference Final:

Anaheim Mighty Ducks vs. Minnesota Wild
Anaheim won series 4-0

Game 1: Anaheim 1, Minnesota 0 (2OT)
Game 2: Anaheim 2, Minnesota 0
Game 3: Anaheim 4, Minnesota 0
Game 4: Anaheim 2, Minnesota 1

--

Ottawa dusts themselves off and gets back into it. Wednesday is New Jersey's last chance - I don't see the Devils winning a game 7 in Ottawa.

[Hot Mustard]

Eastern Conference Final:

New Jersey Devils vs. Ottawa Senators
Series tied 3-3

Game 1: Ottawa 3, New Jersey 2 (OT)
Game 2: New Jersey 4, Ottawa 1
Game 3: New Jersey 1, Ottawa 0
Game 4: New Jersey 5, Ottawa 2
Game 5: Ottawa 3, New Jersey 1
Game 6: Ottawa 2, New Jersey 1 (OT)
Game 7: Fri, May 23

Western Conference Final:

Anaheim Mighty Ducks vs. Minnesota Wild
Anaheim won series 4-0

--

Oh Canada! Back to Ottawa for the series finale!

[De Lorimier]

Hooray for the Sens! That was a weird goal (first time I se a goalie pushing a player away and getting scored on at the same time). I hope we have a Sens-Ducks final, I'm sick of the same old teams winning the Cup since 1995.