Stanley Cup Playoff Pick 'Em 2007

[Lord Avalon]

D'oh!

[Asher]

Are Vancouver games so boring that no one provides commentary, BTW? Just an idle observation.

[Asher]

Hey look, they finally called goaltender interference on Kipper.

[Asher]

Bertuzzi.

[notyoueither]

Originally posted by Asher
As I was saying, Tingkai...Calgary doesn't have a huge gap on defense. There are a ton of depth defensemen that can step it up in the organization. Giordano is one of 'em.

But when on the road the real them go to a different city?

Is this something like lost baggage?

[Asher]

Originally posted by notyoueither


But when on the road the real them go to a different city?

Is this something like lost baggage?

I'm just saying the problem isn't Calgary's players.

[Asher]

Where's that far superior team, Tingkai?

[notyoueither]

Sparrowhawk is shaping up to be the most level headed of us.

[Tingkai]

Originally posted by Asher
Where's that far superior team, Tingkai?

One win and you're already planning the Cup parade.

Don't you realize the Flames are the Islanders of the West.

[Asher]

Originally posted by Tingkai
One win and you're already planning the Cup parade.

Who is planning a parade? I'm just happy it's not a sweep.

But if the Wings were as good as you seem to think they are, why wasn't it a sweep?

And why do you refuse to describe Playfair's system?

Why don't you just own up and admit you don't know what it is.

[Ninot]

Originally posted by notyoueither
Sparrowhawk is shaping up to be the most level headed of us.

Are you talking about his pick'em? Its looking like he got 75% of the East wrong.

[Flubber]

Originally posted by notyoueither


But when on the road the real them go to a different city?

Is this something like lost baggage?

The local FAN radio stations do "bits" where the Flames are replaced by underperforming clones for the awat=y games

[Flubber]

WEll I at the Dome last night and the Flames were full value for the win. ON the night they slightly outperformed the Wings and competed hard throughout the lineup.

I had a sweet seat at centre ice and the crowd was fantastic . .. LOads of fun


Cleary was gthe best Wing-- I know Draper scored the goals but both were largely through Cleary's efforts.

I did like what I saw last night but as the coaches said after the game " WE can be better"-- There still were a number of times when Flames had the puck clearly in their possession and then failed to clear their own zone. Their high tempo of play and strong efforts nullified chances last night but it still is a worrisome point.

[Flubber]

Asher

Can you elaborate on the ways that you see PLayfair's system being different than Sutter's? Every time I have heard PLayfair speak since the beginning of the season I have heard him advocate strong team defense as the way to go. I saw the Flame's increased scoring this year as being the result of acquiring better offensive players AND the fact that the players didn't seem to be listening to his defensive message and neglected their defensive duties in favor of more scoring.

Since the Flames are so dominant at home and so weak on the road, I have a real tough time seeing that as a problem with a given "system" of play. If a system is bad it should be bad everywhere. If the opposition, rink size and "systems" all remain the same . . why the discrepancy?

My problems with PLayfair is that it has often seemed like the players weren't listening to him. They play hard sometimes and sometimes they don't and PLayfair seems ineffective as a motivator. I also sometimes question his choices of players to play or sit

NOw I will admit I have not seen as many of their games on TV as you but I have attended 16 home games (and I play hockey regularly to the extent that matters). Being in the stands you can see ALL ther players and not just what the camera shows and I haven't seen an appreciable diference in the flames backchecking, forechecking or penalty killing "systems" as compared to last year.

Yes the Flames gave up more goals this year but that was more a result of

1. Kipper was not as good all year this year as he was last year-- overall he was very good but KIpper was just on someunwordly level for most of last year.

2. Some of the Flames efforts have been woeful and more were woeful this year than last year. Neither the systems nor the skill level matter that much if no one is even trying to skate hard. I watched too many stinkers where the flames frankly just failed to show any appreciable spark

[Asher]

[QUOTE] Originally posted by Flubber
Asher

Can you elaborate on the ways that you see PLayfair's system being different than Sutter's? Every time I have heard PLayfair speak since the beginning of the season I have heard him advocate strong team defense as the way to go. I saw the Flame's increased scoring this year as being the result of acquiring better offensive players AND the fact that the players didn't seem to be listening to his defensive message and neglected their defensive duties in favor of more scoring.

Since the Flames are so dominant at home and so weak on the road, I have a real tough time seeing that as a problem with a given "system" of play. If a system is bad it should be bad everywhere. If the opposition, rink size and "systems" all remain the same . . why the discrepancy?

My problems with PLayfair is that it has often seemed like the players weren't listening to him. They play hard sometimes and sometimes they don't and PLayfair seems ineffective as a motivator. I also sometimes question his choices of players to play or sit

NOw I will admit I have not seen as many of their games on TV as you but I have attended 16 home games (and I play hockey regularly to the extent that matters). Being in the stands you can see ALL ther players and not just what the camera shows and I haven't seen an appreciable diference in the flames backchecking, forechecking or penalty killing "systems" as compared to last year.

Yes the Flames gave up more goals this year but that was more a result of

1. Kipper was not as good all year this year as he was last year-- overall he was very good but KIpper was just on someunwordly level for most of last year.

I really do not buy into this at all. Kipper has been great this year with the exception of a handful of games.

The problem is the amount of shots getting through. The defensive breakdowns. The excessive pinching Playfair encourages that develops in oddman breaks.

The Flames used to do safe plays almost all the time. They'd dump and crash. Playfair's system involves more playmaking than dumping and crashing, which results in more goals and prettier goals but gives up way too many chances against. Further, Playfair seems to emphasize hitting way less (until last night). Throughout the season, players would spin away from checks instead of dishing it out like they would last year. The lack of physical pressure is the #1 noticeable thing on their road games which is usually remedied at home.