Stanley Cup Playoff Pick 'Em 2008

[Asher]

Look at that second period's shot totals and tell me there's nothing to be upset about.

I went into the playoffs with low expectations but it's still a massive pissoff when the team self-destructs like that in the second period. I feel bad for Kipper.

[Cavalcadeus]

I was hoping for a better start in Montreal. Hopefully the bruins will play abit better on saturday and challenge Price occasionally. I had to kick one of my housemates out of the room at the start of the 3rd when he asked if we were seriously going to watch boston get beat up instead of watching the new office episode. Damned leafs fans have no concept of playoff hockey.

Stayed home to watch the flames game tonight since last night the sports bar i was at called last call in the second intermission since there were only about 8 of my friends and the staff in the bar at that point. Since we are both underdogs me and the Calgarians i know have been supporting each other's teams so far, but this series should be a great one. I'm looking forward to the games in the saddledome now.

I still think the bruins are going to get their **** together and take the next game in mtl. The habs are a much better team but the bruins were out worked tonight. If they can out work and out hit the habs it'll be an entertaining game at least. With that and actually testing Price it could still be a good series.

[KrazyHorse]

If Price hadn't played so ****ty Boston wouldn't even have gotten that first goal.

Price looked awful that entire first period. He was giving up big rebounds and was getting caught out of position, which is not usual for him.

He seems to have settled down in the final two. If he can play like himself then we might have a shot at this thing. MTL looked good. They move the puck like few other teams in the NHL right now. Even when it's even strength in the offensive zone they have some pretty complex plays which create 2-on-1 like opportunities directly in front of the net. They must be hell to play for opposing goalies because they create so much lateral motion in front of the net.

Boston is meat.



The crowd is insane in Montreal this year. The whole last half of the year they've been nuts every game. My only regret is that I haven't been able to watch a game in the Bell Centre this year. I watched them play the Caps at the Verizon Center, but it's not the same...

[Flubber]

Originally posted by Asher
Look at that second period's shot totals and tell me there's nothing to be upset about.

I went into the playoffs with low expectations but it's still a massive pissoff when the team self-destructs like that in the second period. I feel bad for Kipper.

WELL

The Flames played better in the first period of game 2 than they did in game one and actually Nabokov was the difference. I had a sinking feeling though.

Of that long parade of penalties-- the 6 in a row-- four of them were absolutely deserved. The Iggy hold call was bull and the Huselius hook seemed questionable with a dive thrown in

The Flames did get a strange sympathy call though-- taht interference call with the puck like 3 feet away-- Is a d-man supposed to just step aside when the puck is chipped 2 feet behind him??


The problem for the Flames were that

1. Nabby was amazing
2. took too many penalties
3. The Flames PP and generally the team, did not generate enough offence-- the PP needs to come up with a new plan it seems


Pluses for the Flames

Kipper was amazing
Cory Sarich actually played one of his better games
Primeau-Conroy-Nystrom were pretty effective
Tanguay was actually hitting??

Jarome? He had a decent first period but the penalty parade took him off the ice and in the third, the Flames PP was terrible

Bottom line?-- the Flames got a split in San Jose-- If asked Wednesday morning, pretty much any Flames fan would announce themself to be delighted with such a result-- So enjoy--

I just want to see more play from the Flames like the first period-- They showed there that they can play with San Jose-- heck the Flames were clearly the better team for a while.

[Asher]

Still not impressed.

[snoopy369]

Still on track to be SJ in 5

[Flubber]

Originally posted by Asher
Still not impressed.

I am not impressed either-- except with Kipper


BUt the result so far is far better than I expected/ feared

I am actually looking forward to attending the games (I'm now a Flames season ticket holder ) and holding out some hope that the Flames can win the series-- both for my homerism and because I think I was the ONLY person to pick Calgary to win this series -- heck I even put reason aside and picked them to win the conference!!

[Asher]

Congrats on the season tickets, I now know who to suck up to when I'm home at Christmas.

BTW, you're not the only person in Calgary to pick the Flames: http://battleofalberta.blogspot.com/...ng-flames.html

So I'm sitting at the kitchen table on Sunday night, doing a bit of work, and Mrs. Matt walks in and says, "You know what my gut tells me?"

I say, "No?" (I think, "Uh-oh, is this the continuation of some important conversation that I have totally forgotten?")

And she says, "I think the Flames are going to win the first round in 6, and then get swept in the next round."

That scenario falls well short of appealing, but seems pretty plausible to me.

******

1. The Sharks are not 18-0-2 good -- no team is. Or 18-2-2 good, for that matter. Lousy teams cannot run off a stretch like that, nor can mediocre teams, nor teams that are merely solid. There is no doubt the Sharks are very good. However, going 18-0-2 requires luck.

The Flames' W-L record in the 2004 playoffs, where they lost in Game 7 of the SCF, was 15-11. I bring this up because for the Flames to win this series, they don't have to be capable of dominating the Sharks for a week (which is good, 'cause they aren't). They have to be capable of giving the Sharks a good game most nights, and dominating them for brief stretches. Which they are.

2. Brian Campbell is not Nicklas Lidstrom. Clearly he was a terrific pick-up for the Sharks, but he's not God(strom). The big difference he made for the Sharks, based on results, was on the powerplay. According to my figures, the Sharks PP was clicking at 16.8% prior to his arrival; afterwards, it was 26.3%.

EV scoring stayed about the same; the PK stayed about the same. Their EV Goal prevention got better, though shot prevention stayed about the same; all close enough that, even if I were inclined to do so, I wouldn't want to say "Brian Campbell has improved the Sharks' team defense".

3. The Flames are at least as good a 5v5 team as the Sharks. Flames: +145/-135; Sharks: +131/-122. Worth noting: an average of about 75% of the game is played 5v5.

I heard Pierre McGuire talking to the XM Radio guys this morning, and had a line like, "if the Flames don't get their powerplay going they're going to be in big trouble, 'cause I think they'll have a lot of trouble scoring 5-on-5." Why? Why would he say such a thing, that is exactly opposite of what these teams' records tell us? The special teams look like a horrid mismatch, but 5-on-5, they're extremely similar.

4. The Flames' forward depth might not be outmatched. I never thought that would be the case with any playoff opponent, but I think it's true. It's nice that the Sharks can roll 4 lines and not have guys that look out of place, but the Sharks 5v5 scoring when Joe Thornton isn't on the ice (1.63GF/60) is even worse than the Flames' when Jarome Iginla isn't on the ice (1.81GF/60).

If Keenan made a bold move, the Flames might even have a distinct advantage here. And that bold move would be (wait for it): in the face of everyone talking about what a physical battle this series will be, and how the Sharks are now built to mix it up with anybody... scratch Eric Godard and dress a hockey player instead.

5. Matthew Lombardi has made a leap. Here's one that the sports radio chit-chatters have right, I think. He's not only using his speed effectively, he's using his body effectively: shielding the puck, and separating opponents from the puck. I have no trouble pronouncing that I'd rather have him on my team than Patrick Marleau, and that's before looking at their salaries.

6. Joe Thornton. This is a definite Your Mileage May Vary item. My present way of thinking is that he's Peyton Manning c. 2005: undeniable talent, but looks awful in losing (i.e. facial expression, body language, a couple crappy plays that really stand out). He will win a Stanley Cup some day, and at that point, anyone who has argued that he lacks a certain je ne sais quoi will feel a bit sheepish.

But on the other hand, he has had some playoff moments that are not merely undistinguished, but actually anti-distinguished.

7. So the Sharks are running on all cylinders heading into the playoffs, have found the perfect pieces to complement their already-sound roster, and have to be considered a favourite to win the whole shebang. Wait a second -- what year is this? 2006? 2004?

This is the 4th consecutive season that This time they're for real has been the story on the Sharks in early April. They may well show me, but this time, they're going to have to.

[Ninot]

Season tickets.

Price said after the game that the building was so loud, he couldn't hear himself think. That's atmosphere.

If the Habs make it to round 2, I'm going to game 2. I can't wait

[Asher]

Kevin Lowe strikes again...

Tom Gilbert signs with the Oilers, 6 years @ $4mil per season.

[Flubber]

Originally posted by Asher
Congrats on the season tickets, I now know who to suck up to when I'm home at Christmas.

Oh I misread that to involve a sex act ----- If the Flames make it a couple of rounds, I might be getting offers from cute girls for real


Not bad seats actually-- I am behind and to the left of Kipper to start the game in a good position to see the whole thing (I actually don't enjoy watching games from the first few rows of the lower bowl-- I prefer to be able to see plays develop)

Originally posted by Asher
you're not the only person in Calgary to pick the Flames: http://battleofalberta.blogspot.com/...ng-flames.html

I didn't click the link but I KNOW I would not be the only person picking Calgary-- But IIRC I might be the only person that picked them in the Apolyton pool

[Asher]

Two fantastic games going on tonight, been flipping back n' forth...

Ovechkin

Malone.
Malkin.
Crosby: Meh

[snoopy369]

Ovechkin

He took by far the worst team outside of himself and led them to win a division... few other hockey players could have done that.

[Asher]

Yikes...Thoreson took a shot to the..."groin"...

And...they may have to remove a testicle...it's not looking good. He went down in a heap and looked like major pain, and we now know why...

[Fake Boris]

Originally posted by Ninot
Season tickets.

Price said after the game that the building was so loud, he couldn't hear himself think. That's atmosphere.

If the Habs make it to round 2, I'm going to game 2. I can't wait

I was there at game 1. The crowd was so loud you couldn't even hear the goal horn.