NHL Playoffs

[Ben Kenobi]

Sure has.

[Guynemer]

The Sharks are just plain better than Wings. Maybe that goal will give a little momentum, but with the Mule and Datsyuk injured, I just can't see this happening.

[Guynemer]

Well ****. No way they're coming back down two goals in the third the way they're playing tonight. Best of luck to the Sharks next round.

[Guynemer]

I might have been wrong.

[Guynemer]

Holy ****, Homer!

[Guynemer]

Howard has been great. If they can escape these last 14 seconds, I still only give them a 10-15% chance of winning the series; the Sharks have carried the play for the vast majority of the series.

[Ben Kenobi]

I'm surprised that the Detroit fan is so pessimistic about their chances. I think they can take the Sharks in 7. Hilarious series so far.

[Flubber]

Howard has been great. If they can escape these last 14 seconds, I still only give them a 10-15% chance of winning the series; the Sharks have carried the play for the vast majority of the series.

Detroit is known for finding a way to win amd San Jose . . . well they are known for underperforming in the playoffs. With some of their gutsy wins against LA I thought I might have been right and it was the Shark's time. But a loss like this makes the doubts come to the forefront again-- Detroit at home is a tough proposition anytime

[Supr49er]

For Crissakes, the Wings have great heart. But I still think the Sharks win the series.

[Flubber]

Defense, as odd as that sounds. All the goals were either off of poor defensive play in the zone (Bieksa, Edler, Ehrhoff) or a fluke shot. Take away any one of those and the Preds go golfing.

And the preds will likely end up golfing soon since the Canucks are a far better squad than the Preds.

But Luongo's netminding has been an issue. Its disingenuous for you to talk about a puck shot from behind the net "hitting a skate" when it is freaking Luongos skate. Luongo's overall stats for the playoffs are reasonably good and he has had some good performances but thats not the big knock on him. The knock is the pattern of a game they lead in which he had played very well, and then he then lets in a freakishly bad goal fairly late.

Ben a couple of direct questions for you

1. Ben could you please cite some others from, say your list of the top 10 all time great goalies, who, in their absolute prime were pulled twice in a single playoff series or who did not start either a game 5,6 or 7 of a playoff series while uninjured.

2. Ben could you please cite some others from, say your list of the top 10 all time great goalies, who, in their absolute prime were having their clutch play widely questioned.Its not just Canucks haters that think this way

Luongo is tied for the playoff lead with two shutouts, but that hasn't been enough to quiet the critics who think "Bobby Luo" lacks the ability to come through in the clutch for Vancouver.

Thats from Dave Hodge at tsn

Or this response from an apparent Canuck fan

Louongo'? He is just a 'goalie of record' and has never stolen a game (unless I missed one) and still gives up soft ones. You watch the other goalies still in it, they are up on their feet as soon as possible and ready for the next shot. Luongo focus is just the bottom of the net. If the Canucks want to move forward they are going to need more shot blocking and better fore-checking. Roloson (I believe the hardest working goalie) and the main reason the Oilers made it to the is because he stole games, Rinne is doing the same now for the Preds but will not prevail if the Sudins wake up and start to hustle. With that said, Go Canucks!!

Ben did any all time great have this widespread a setinment against them?

[joncha]

Speaking of soft goals...

[Asher]

Rinne or Luongo?

[joncha]

The one Luongo let in from behind the net.

[Asher]

Another one of those?

[Ben Kenobi]

But Luongo's netminding has been an issue

Overall he's playing better than he did in the regular season. So I really don't see why his netminding is the issue here. The Twins are a combined -14, and they don't seem to be attracting any criticism.

It puzzles me.

1. Ben could you please cite some others from, say your list of the top 10 all time great goalies, who, in their absolute prime were pulled twice in a single playoff series or who did not start either a game 5,6 or 7 of a playoff series while uninjured.

Belfour in his absolute prime in '93 went 0-4, with a 3.13 GAA and a sv pct of .882. against the St. Louis Blues, who lost in the next round, to Toronto, who were defeated by the LA Kings, who lost to the cup champions.

'Nuff said.

Belfour was also 34 when he finally won a cup with the Stars.