NHL - Final Four - Who will win?

[Fialong]

FUCK YOU CAM WARD

I second that.

[aurik]

I wanted overtime shame that a good game ended with such a meh goal.

[Kross]

I wanted overtime shame that a good game ended with such a meh goal.

hell yeah, was an awesome game until Roloson got injured.

It's all over

[Norelco]

Seriously, can Carolina be any more lucky this postseason? They were getting spanked by Montreal until Justin Williams highsticks Koivu in the eye and puts him out for the playoffs...

Buffalo loses 4 of their top D-men to injury, and their best offensive player on the power play, Tim Connolly. That guy was a one man wrecking crew.

Now Roli is out...and they get a freak play to win the game in regulation with a few minutes left.

I hate Carolina. They hardly have any fans because no one gives a shit about hockey down there, so a talented and lucky team like them is being taken granted for, and the fans they do have are a bunch of fucking annoying yokels.

[Vedder]

Seriously, can Carolina be any more lucky this postseason? They were getting spanked by Montreal until Justin Williams highsticks Koivu in the eye and puts him out for the playoffs...

Buffalo loses 4 of their top D-men to injury, and their best offensive player on the power play, Tim Connolly. That guy was a one man wrecking crew.

Now Roli is out...and they get a freak play to win the game in regulation with a few minutes left.

What you say is mostly true... but most of the time the Stanley Cup champion has a fair amount of luck to get where they are. If it was all about skill, why isn't Detroit still playing?

I hate Carolina. They hardly have any fans because no one gives a shit about hockey down there, so a talented and lucky team like them is being taken granted for, and the fans they do have are a bunch of fucking annoying yokels.

Well... FYI, the home Cup Finals games sold out (save for standing room only) in less than 30 mins and I can't drive anywhere in town without seeing 'Canes flags and such all over the place. There are certainly yokels that follow the team, but you don't have to hate the 'Canes cause of that. Hate them cause they're good. :wink:

And if there is one reason not to hate them, it's Rod Brind'Amour. That guy is amazing... 17 years and he deserves his name on the Cup already.

[NynJa]

Seriously, can Carolina be any more lucky this postseason? They were getting spanked by Montreal until Justin Williams highsticks Koivu in the eye and puts him out for the playoffs...

Buffalo loses 4 of their top D-men to injury, and their best offensive player on the power play, Tim Connolly. That guy was a one man wrecking crew.

Now Roli is out...and they get a freak play to win the game in regulation with a few minutes left.

What you say is true... but most of the time the Stanley Cup champion has a fair amount of luck to get where they are. If it was all about skill, why isn't Detroit still playing?

Fixed -.-


Carolina is getting lucky, in fact the only series they won without the assistance of some bullshit was NJ. But I gotta give credit to the Canes where it's due: Brind'Amour is playing an excellent post season, and Cam Ward's playing like a 10 year vet, but Carolina have had an easy road to walk, freshly paved with bright neon signs pointing the way...you cant deny that.

[Norelco]

Okay, not all 'Canes fans are bad and I don't hate them because they are yokels. I just hate them because their team is there and mine isn't, but you have to admit the extreme luck they have encountered.

I completely agree that getting to, and winning the Stanley Cup, is a mix of skill, determination, and a little bit of luck. However, Carolina hasn't just had a little bit of luck, they have received it in giant amounts in the form of key injuries.

That's not to say that Brind'Amour and Staal and Cam Ward aren't amazing players, because they are, but damn, Rolo out in game 1 (yes yes, after they tied the game I realize)? And then the goal that followed? That's fucking bonkers.

I would like to disagree about the cup ticket sales in Raleigh. I heard as of Monday morning on our local sports station that they were able to purchase two 200 level seats the day of the game...but I'm also hearing that the team released more seats to the public of the day of the game so I don't know what to believe.

Whatever the case, I like the new NHL and it's alot more exciting to watch, and the best part is the really short off-season...training camp is in about 90 days!

[Kross]

Seriously, can Carolina be any more lucky this postseason? They were getting spanked by Montreal until Justin Williams highsticks Koivu in the eye and puts him out for the playoffs...

Buffalo loses 4 of their top D-men to injury, and their best offensive player on the power play, Tim Connolly. That guy was a one man wrecking crew.

Now Roli is out...and they get a freak play to win the game in regulation with a few minutes left.

I hate Carolina. They hardly have any fans because no one gives a shit about hockey down there, so a talented and lucky team like them is being taken granted for, and the fans they do have are a bunch of fucking annoying yokels.

Montreal gave Carolina a run for their money, it almost looked as if the habs would've taken the series with ease, but yeah, Koivu got hit pretty bad (no call, and ppl say it's not fixed) and it was downhill form there.

I don't think however that the habs could've went all the way, they lack a superstar center, Kovalev can't do it by himself.

As for Huet, prolly the most dynamic/consistent goalie in the league right now, although Ward is amazing in clutch times.

Now for Edmonton, I'm still optimisitc that they will pull through, they needed to make the best cinderella story the NHL has ever heard.

They have the offensive and defensive skill, but they way the Canes have been playing, it will take 200% to win it all.

The only thing I hate about hockey is the injuries... so many skilled players got marked by injury. ex: Kariya.

[aurik]

Holy shit @ 4-0 carolina...

[Kross]

Holy shit @ 4-0 carolina...

5-0 final lol...

oh well, Brind'Amour deserves a cup.

[NynJa]

I dunno...I wouldnt write Edmonton off yet.

The problem today wasnt the goaltending. The goals that Carolina did score, 3/5 were on the powerplay, and none of them were shitty goals: Ladds goal was a deflection off the defenceman, Stillman's goal was pretty fuckin nice (I honestly dont think any goalie woulda stopped it), Weights goal was a fluke (deflect off the skate to the heel of the stick and in)...


Edmonton was just flat as all hell.

[Kross]

You are right Nynja, they had so many turnovers and bad defensive plays, it wasn't the goalie's fault at all.

Mactavish is right however, they need to raise the puck on Ward.

Oh and about Detroit (too lazy to quote). The only reason they are 1st seed is because they played they shittest teams all season (conference rules). those shitty teams were Chicago, Columbus and another one i forget.

That and Edmonton had more heart.

[Epical]

You can't really put Edmonton's blame on anything other than their penalties. Really, really stupid penalties cost them the game (gee, where have we seen this before?).

And oh, Hemsky didn't shoot again when he had all day in the slot.

[Kross]

And oh, Hemsky didn't shoot again when he had all day in the slot.

lol

[NynJa]

Lets summarize game four:

And oh, Hemsky didn't shoot again when he had all day in the slot.

ok then.
Edmonton wont win in Carolina, its over.

[edgarfigaro]

How come no one mentions that Carolina has been without one of its best players(Eric Cole) the entire playoffs? I'm not downplaying Carolina's luck, but it's kinda harsh to bash a team that lost a key player on the most thuggish of hits from a last place team.

Anyways, Cam Ward gets Conn Smythe Trophy, Canes end it in Raleigh, and yet again, a Sunbelt team increases the Canadian suicide rate twofold. Not bad for an area that rates hockey below ACC basketball, NASCAR, NFL, NBA, and Atlanta Braves baseball.

sorry, couldn't resist

[Kross]

Edmonton have nothing to lose, they will win tomorrow.

[Vedder]

Canes in 5... maybe 6.

[Norelco]

How come no one mentions that Carolina has been without one of its best players(Eric Cole) the entire playoffs? I'm not downplaying Carolina's luck, but it's kinda harsh to bash a team that lost a key player on the most thuggish of hits from a last place team.

Anyways, Cam Ward gets Conn Smythe Trophy, Canes end it in Raleigh, and yet again, a Sunbelt team increases the Canadian suicide rate twofold. Not bad for an area that rates hockey below ACC basketball, NASCAR, NFL, NBA, and Atlanta Braves baseball.

sorry, couldn't resist

Because Carolina had ample time to replace Cole in the lineup with trades. Injuries such as Roloson and the Buffalo defensive line all happened in the playoffs.

And Ward won't get the Conn Smythe Trophy, Brind'Amour will.

[Kross]

if Carolina do win tomorrow, Ward wins the Trophy.

I'm willing to put 1mil gil on this