NHL Playoff Thread-Mania...

[Hot Mustard]

Originally posted by Sava
Here's what the NHL needs to do:
1. Get rid of the two-line pass
2. Restrict goalie pad sizes
3. Get rid of the instigator penalty
4. Stop calling goaltender interference outside of the crease (if he goes out IMO, he's fair game)
5. Contract the league to 24 or 28 teams
6. Remove the restrictions on stick curves
7. More divisional games

Aside from #5 ( ), all of these have been discussed over the last couple of years. I think the league, wisely, wants to make the minimum amount of changes necessary in order to restore the former scoring and excitement levels. If all of these were enacted, it would be too much.

[Imran Siddiqui]

Anaheim and Minny at going to finish the 3rd period at 0-0! OVERTIME!

What do you expect when you have a hot goalie verses a great defensive team?

[Hot Mustard]

1-0 win, and series lead for Anaheim.

We could be seeing many games like this in this series...

[Sava]

1-0 win... WHOOPY... it's like a fricking soccer score.

[Hot Mustard]

Eastern Conference Final:

New Jersey Devils vs. Ottawa Senators
Ottawa leads series 1-0

Game 1: Ottawa 3, New Jersey 2 (OT)
Game 2: Tonight
Game 3: Thu, May 15
Game 4: Sat, May 17


Western Conference Final:

Anaheim Mighty Ducks vs. Minnesota Wild
Anaheim leads series 2-0

Game 1: Anaheim 1, Minnesota 0 (2OT)
Game 2: Anaheim 2, Minnesota 0
Game 3: Wed, May 14
Game 4: Fri, May 16

[Tingkai]

Originally posted by Sava
Here's what the NHL needs to do:
1. Get rid of the two-line pass

Ya got my vote on that one. I never understood the need for it.

Originally posted by Sava
2. Restrict goalie pad sizes

I though there were some restrictions, but the problem is that it's not enough.

Originally posted by Sava
3. Get rid of the instigator penalty

Why?

Originally posted by Sava
4. Stop calling goaltender interference outside of the crease (if he goes out IMO, he's fair game)

No way. Goalies have a hard enough time as it is. Besides, if a goalie is clearing the puck behind the net, how will it help the game if players can smuck into him?

Originally posted by Sava
5. Contract the league to 24 or 28 teams

Why? It's great now. Only the top teams make it to the finals. The finals have enough levels to make the Stanley Cup the most difficult prize to win. Plus there's enough talent out there to supply all the teams.

Originally posted by Sava
6. Remove the restrictions on stick curves

Why? Are the shots not fast enough already?

Originally posted by Sava
7. More divisional games

Yup, and get more back-to-back games to build up rivalries.

Originally posted by Sava
If Minnesota or Anaheim win the Cup, I'm not watching Playoffs any more.

You mean this year?

The Wild and the Ducks deserve to be where they are, particularly the Wild. They've played great hockey. They've going against the odds. This is what I love about the playoffs. You can't really predict who is going to win unlike some sports where the winners can be picked before the season starts.

[optimus2861]

Originally posted by Tingkai
Why?

(channeling Don Cherry)
Let the players police themselves as opposed to having to depend on the refs to catch every hook, slash, and high-stick. The little chicken****s who run around doing this stuff don't ever have to drop their gloves any more.

No way. Goalies have a hard enough time as it is. Besides, if a goalie is clearing the puck behind the net, how will it help the game if players can smuck into him?

Exactly. Games would turn into a contest of who-can-run-the-goalie-first. It'll never happen.

Why? It's great now. Only the top teams make it to the finals.

What? Three of the final four teams can barely score 2.5 goals per game and have to rely on "All Defense, All The Time!" styles to win hockey games; these are the "top teams"?

Sorry, I don't buy this one. I don't know how to fix it, but this uber-defense style is killing the NHL brand of hockey. Most CHL/CIAU games are of higher entertainment value these days (though Halifax is getting their ass kicked tonight in game 7 of the QMJHL final )

EDIT to add: Make that "Got" their ass kicked. 7-2 on home ice . Playing three straight 7-game series finally caught up to them .

[cinch]

Sorry, I don't buy this one. I don't know how to fix it, but this uber-defense style is killing the NHL brand of hockey.

Oh, pish. The games are great to watch. There are still quality scoring chances (some games have very little if you're going by '80s standards, but hey... 11-8 games would get old fast, too; see Lacrosse), and, at least in my opinion, a solid, skilled defense can be a joy to watch.

The Best Teams (Yes, Anaheim & Minnesota in the West) are those who balance textbook defence with timely scoring. When the Ducks play their game to a tee, it is fantastic hockey.

[cinch]

Here's what the NHL needs to do:
1. Get rid of the two-line pass
2. Restrict goalie pad sizes
3. Get rid of the instigator penalty
4. Stop calling goaltender interference outside of the crease (if he goes out IMO, he's fair game)
5. Contract the league to 24 or 28 teams
6. Remove the restrictions on stick curves
7. More divisional games

My Silly Opinions:

1. Not really necessary. Cherrypicking serves no one.

2. No.

3. Why? You want to get a guy back, you get him back clean, or you face the music. Sometimes it's worth it, but it shouldn't be free.

4. I agree. If they're out of the crease, they are to be treated as a skater. In the crease, however: protect 'em like crazy.

5. Not necessary. It's a good pool of talent at the moment, I'd say. Not every team needs to be a super-team to succeed (see Minny & Anaheim).

6. Never! Ridiculous.

7. Yeah, that'd be good. I'm always up for a Flames/Oilers tilt.

[optimus2861]

Originally posted by cinch
Oh, pish. The games are great to watch. There are still quality scoring chances (some games have very little if you're going by '80s standards, but hey... 11-8 games would get old fast, too; see Lacrosse), and, at least in my opinion, a solid, skilled defense can be a joy to watch.

Can be, but I don't think the Ana/Min series has been anything other than sleep-inducing so far. Playing sound defensively in your own zone is one thing, but this is ridiculous. Each team is just sitting back waiting for the other to make the first mistake, as opposed to really attacking, from what little I've bothered to watch. Ott/NJ isn't a whole lot better, but then NJ's played this rope-a-dope style for 10 years. I'm scared to even imagine what the league would be like if all 30 teams were playing like this, and certainly this year's playoffs will inspire a lot of teams to copy-cat .

I'm starting to come around to the idea of increasing the net size by, say, 6 inches in width and 4 inches in height. If the shooters have a little more room to beat the goaltenders, the scores will start to edge up and these all-defensive teams will be less effective.

And I don't want 80's-style 8-4 romps every night, either. I'd happily take an average of 7 goals per game as opposed to the 5 and change we get now. It would drop these teams that can't muster a mere 3 goals per game back to the bottom of the heap.

[Imran Siddiqui]

Jeez, are some people sad that the Devs won?

No updates?

Ok, then:

New Jersey Devils vs. Ottawa Senators
Ottawa leads series 1-0

Game 1: Ottawa 3, New Jersey 2 (OT)
Game 2: New Jersey 4, Ottawa 1
Game 3: Thu, May 15
Game 4: Sat, May 17


Western Conference Final:

Anaheim Mighty Ducks vs. Minnesota Wild
Anaheim leads series 2-0

Game 1: Anaheim 1, Minnesota 0 (2OT)
Game 2: Anaheim 2, Minnesota 0
Game 3: Tonight
Game 4: Fri, May 16

--

How was Game 2 of the East for offense. Oh, btw, all you complaining the Devs play the trap... if you saw that game you'll notice at least 1 forechecker every time the Sens had the puck in their own end. By defintion that isn't a trap... oh, and some pretty goals by the Devs as well... especially that one by Madden .

[Hot Mustard]

Eastern Conference Final:

New Jersey Devils vs. Ottawa Senators
Series tied 1-1

Game 1: Ottawa 3, New Jersey 2 (OT)
Game 2: New Jersey 4, Ottawa 1
Game 3: Thu, May 15
Game 4: Sat, May 17


Western Conference Final:

Anaheim Mighty Ducks vs. Minnesota Wild
Anaheim leads series 3-0

Game 1: Anaheim 1, Minnesota 0 (2OT)
Game 2: Anaheim 2, Minnesota 0
Game 3: Anaheim 4, Minnesota 0
Game 4: Fri, May 16

--

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

[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 leads series 3-0

Game 1: Anaheim 1, Minnesota 0 (2OT)
Game 2: Anaheim 2, Minnesota 0
Game 3: Anaheim 4, Minnesota 0
Game 4: Fri, May 16

[optimus2861]

Originally posted by Imran Siddiqui
Oh, btw, all you complaining the Devs play the trap... if you saw that game you'll notice at least 1 forechecker every time the Sens had the puck in their own end. By defintion that isn't a trap...

Yeah, but look at the turnover that led to the Devils' only goal in game 3: all five Devils players were between the blue lines, waiting for the Senators to come out of their zone. Sens tried a pass, didn't work, turnover, into the Sens zone, and eventually goal. That's by definition the trap .

[Imran Siddiqui]

Um... I've seen Ottawa do the same thing in games. Once in a while, everyone gets behind the blue line. Does that mean Ottawa plays the trap?

About 80%+ the Devils have a forechecker, that cannot be a trap, unless we are now calling good defense a trap. Then again, it doesn't matter... Devils up 2 games to 1!! WOOOOO .