Stanley Cup Playoff Pick'em 2010

[Fake Boris]

Also I was at the Bell Center tonight.

Best ambiance in a hockey stadium I have ever seen. Amazing.

[Asher]

Did the crowd cheer after every dive?

[Asher]

Have to say that I'm pretty impressed by the fans in Nashville, from what I hear watching the game. They get into it.

[The Emperor Fabulous]

LETS GO BRU-INS *clap clap clapclapclap*

**** Pittsburgh! **** Cooke!

[Ben Kenobi]

If the Habs pull off the unthinkable, they would get Philly as the home team.

And that will do it. Canucks/Hawks part deux!

[Asher]

Hawks vs Vancouver... Hawks in 6

[Ben Kenobi]

Canucks in 6. They are much better than last year.

This should be the west finals.

Forwards: Even.

Both teams are deep with plenty of secondary scoring.

Defense: Hawks.

The Canucks lacking Mitchell hurts them here.

Goalie: Canucks. Luongo is a better big-game goalie than Neimi.

Both these teams are great, better than the Sharks and the rest of the west.

[-Jrabbit]

Great game, very intense.

A couple questions:
1. In the 2nd, the Preds had too many men on the ice, Hawks in possession of the puck for several seconds. Then the whistle blew, Hawks still in possession -- stopping what looked like a developing 2-on-1.
Q: WTF?

2. In the 3rd, Byfuglien put a great hit on a guy as they came around behind the Hawks net. It was called interference. The announcers basically said 'sometimes they call that, sometimes they call it a good hit.' Don't know if anyone saw/remembers that one, but...
Q: Why was this a penalty, and was it a good call?

[Asher]

I didn't see the 2nd period, and in the 3rd I don't remember the specifics of the hit as I wasn't paying too much attention.

In general, interference calls can be flakey. The hit may've been good, but if the guy didn't touch the puck yet, it could be a good call.

[Ben Kenobi]

JR:

Sounds like offsides to me in the 2nd.

As for interference calls, it depends on the crew. During the playoffs they usually tolerate more clutch and grabbing than they do in the regular season.

[-Jrabbit]

Yeah, I figured the Hawks would have to kill penalties in the 3rd, with benefit of the doubt going to the home team, esp. after 10 minutes of unanswered Hawks PP in the 2nd.

But re the too-many-men call, isn't it true that play would normally continue until the Hawks lost possession?

[Ben Kenobi]

Not for too many men on the ice. They'll whistle that play as soon as they see it.

[Ben Kenobi]

Good luck to the Hawks fans. You're going to see the best hockey in the whole NHL. If you can you should get tickets to the game. Well worth an evening.

[-Jrabbit]

Not for too many men on the ice. They'll whistle that play as soon as they see it.

Seemed like several seconds passed between the announcers stating 'too many men' and the whistle -- with the puck in Hawks possession throughout. Coach Q was pretty animated in his dissent.

Obviously, the amount of fine points I don't know about hockey is legion. So pardon my stupid questions.

[notyoueither]

Great game, very intense.

A couple questions:
1. In the 2nd, the Preds had too many men on the ice, Hawks in possession of the puck for several seconds. Then the whistle blew, Hawks still in possession -- stopping what looked like a developing 2-on-1.
Q: WTF?

The refs don't always get it right. I think they should have allowed the advantage, but I am not solid on this.

2. In the 3rd, Byfuglien put a great hit on a guy as they came around behind the Hawks net. It was called interference. The announcers basically said 'sometimes they call that, sometimes they call it a good hit.' Don't know if anyone saw/remembers that one, but...
Q: Why was this a penalty, and was it a good call?

It was a good call. The contact was not incidental prior to the Preds player being in position to play the puck. Buffdude gave the Pred a solid body check with the puck a good distance away.

Note, the problem with this call is that it is by the rules and a good call, but many similar incidents do not get called. Buffdude basically got two minutes for being large. It happens to other large, powerful players from time to time.