NHL Season 08-09

[Brill Weave]

I've actually been curious about the asian chicks but always neglected to ask you. They are all fucks by the way. Except the fat one.

[hockeyfight]

Quick question for the Montreal fans, if you guys riot and light police cars on fire when you win, what are your plans for tonight after the Bruins are done burying your season?

[Viq]

I'm not religious, but thank god the Bruins finally won a god damn playoff series. The fact that it was against Montreal makes it that much better.

[BadKarma]

Fuck Yeah Rangers, but seriously the game today WAS SOME OF THE WORST FUCKING OFFICIATING IVE EVER SEEN, fucking Betteman and his little whore friend chief of officiating really want Ovechkin in the next round but this man says NO FUCKING WAY:
http://img7.imageshack.us/img7/6701/lundqvist.jpg



Hail to the King Baby.

[Oxyminus]

LETS GO RANGERS!!!!!!!

From being there my honest opinion is the Rangers blew their wad after the 1st period, and let Henrik do the rest.

Glove save on Semin in the 2nd = SICK!!!

We can argue points of good wins, and bad losses all night, but anyone posting in this thread knows at this point of the year ALL that matters is wins and losses.

Rangers have 3 wins
Capitals have 1 win

LETS GO RANGERS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Brill Weave]

I'm hoping that New Jersey is able to come away with the series(no offense to Carolina fans.) It's strictly a self serving reason. I would much rather see New Jersey than Carolina skate into town.

[Absolutely Virtue]

Rangers have 4 wins
Capitals have 1 win

LETS GO PLAY GOLF!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Just getting the post out of the way for the Caps again this year. Maybe one day we will win a series that matters. But maybe another year of experience for the kids (especially Varlamov) is what we need.

Even I don't believe my own bullshit anymore.

[Brill Weave]

I am impressed with both of the rookie tenders in the playoffs right now. Both Mason and Varlamov have done a commendable job. And let's be honest, Mason is practically a lock for the Calder trophy. But they definitely have been impressive.

[Absolutely Virtue]

The knock on Varly (aside from the fact that he doesn't turn 21 til next week) is that he's not the most fundamentally sound goalie. But he's ballsy, and calm even by goaltender standards. I wonder what the series looks like if Theodore doesn't giftwrap Game 1 for the Rangers. But even though we were all terrified of going into the playoffs with Jose, there really wasn't anything else we could do. The good thing is that even though we're going to get bounced (can't see how we come back against The King), Varly has to enter camp next year as the number one.

Maybe Green actually shows up next season in the playoffs. Maybe Ovie stops hitting the post. Maybe the team stops pussyfooting on the power play. Maybe a host of other miracles happen as well.

[Brill Weave]

I'm not convinced they will hand the job to Varlamov though. He's only played in three playoff games(or four?) So they have no idea how he will handle the wear and tear of a full season in the NHL. My guess is Theodore will start as the number one with Varlamov backing him up. Varlamov will take over for good if he gets on a hot streak. I also didn't think Mike Green would completely vanish like he has. It's alarming how irrelevent he has become in this series.

[Sepukku]

Sykora out, Satan in tonight.
Letang is a gametime call, Boucher is ready to go if he isn't.

[Brill Weave]

I had a feeling they were going to scratch Sykora. This serves two purposes at least I think. First off is shows Sykora he needs to pick it up in order to continue playing. And second it gets Satan's legs back under him considering he hasn't been in an NHL game since the trade deadline. Let's hope he comes in feeling he has something to prove. But right now the Pens wingers aren't cutting it.

[Saphirea]

AV, I watched last nights game and it just seems they played very "lethargic" yesterday. Like eh we'll win a face off if we have too. You know know who cares about that last offsides, icing; oh well we'll be in our own zone.

I don't know the shots they did have were quality but posts killed them this series.

[BadKarma]

The knock on Varly (aside from the fact that he doesn't turn 21 til next week) is that he's not the most fundamentally sound goalie. But he's ballsy, and calm even by goaltender standards. I wonder what the series looks like if Theodore doesn't giftwrap Game 1 for the Rangers. But even though we were all terrified of going into the playoffs with Jose, there really wasn't anything else we could do. The good thing is that even though we're going to get bounced (can't see how we come back against The King), Varly has to enter camp next year as the number one.

You do Realize that the likely Vezina winner Tim Thomas plays with absolutely no form or finesse at all right? Fundamentals means shit as long as you stop the puck.Hell by todays standards Brodeur has no form either and hes the greatest goalie of all time.And Saphirea, Lundqvist has stood on his head doing quadruple backflips naked through flaming hoops this series, theres nothing more the caps could have done in terms of shots.

[Brill Weave]

To be blunt regarding Tim Thomas, I don't think he's that great of a goalie. Maybe because I'm outside of Boston and I don't see him on a nightly basis. But I'm just not sold on him yet and my apologies to any Bruins fans it may upset. It almost seems like he's living the old saying "better lucky than good."

[Absolutely Virtue]

I'm not convinced they will hand the job to Varlamov though. He's only played in three playoff games(or four?) So they have no idea how he will handle the wear and tear of a full season in the NHL. My guess is Theodore will start as the number one with Varlamov backing him up. Varlamov will take over for good if he gets on a hot streak. I also didn't think Mike Green would completely vanish like he has. It's alarming how irrelevent he has become in this series.

The Caps goal situation is definitely a clusterfuck. Theodore is owed 4.5m or something ridiculous, but next year is the last in his contract. Brent Johnson is supposed to be the backup, but he can't stay healthy. Varly is obviously ready, and we've got another kid (Nuyvirth) who's just about ready, too.

I see your point the wear and tear, but for what it's worth the kid has seen A LOT of action. His Russian team, the world championships, and playing in Hershey this year. Not the same, I know. But playing on a team with an offense like this, I feel like he's at least got to have a 50/50 chance to win the job. Plus Gabby obviously likes him, and so does the team. Can't say the same about Theodore, lol. And Varly has started 2-4 this series, and will start 5 (and 6 and 7 when we win! haha).

The Green thing is a fucking enigma. Theories down here are either that a) he's hurt, b) he's getting a bit too big for his britches, or c) Avery/NYR are in his head. I'd say that's probably that's probably the correct order in terms of probability. Something is going on.

In my wildest dreams he shows up and scores a goal, Ovechkin gets two, and we pull this shit out. I was watching the game last night waiting for Ovie to do the MVP thing and save the day. But even he isn't playing well, and 28 minutes of ice time doesn't help. All of my mancrushes are letting me down.

Wizards tie franchise record for fewest wins, Nationals lose 100 last year and are threatening to do the same again this year, Redskins start 6-2 and miss the playoffs, and the Caps are gonna get bounced in the first round again. I should probably just kill myself.

[Arnwulf]

Watching Tim Thomas on the limited basis I have just re-enforces for me the notion that he's going to be good for 1-2 more years tops. Once his reflexes slow down even the slightest bit, he's going to be in a lot of trouble. He flops all over the place and is often out of position.

[Saphirea]

You do Realize that the likely Vezina winner Tim Thomas plays with absolutely no form or finesse at all right? Fundamentals means shit as long as you stop the puck.Hell by todays standards Brodeur has no form either and hes the greatest goalie of all time.And Saphirea, Lundqvist has stood on his head doing quadruple backflips naked through flaming hoops this series, theres nothing more the caps could have done in terms of shots.

Dominik Hassek had zero form either...

I haven't watched much outside of the Pen's / Flyers series. What I saw lastnight was Lundqvist is amazing.

[Brill Weave]

I honestly feel that Hasek was an anomaly. But look what happened to him at the tail end of his career after years of flopping. Multiple pulled groins and other various lower body injuries. I think for the last five years of his NHL career he had his playing time cut short because of nagging injuries. And he was much better than Thomas. So take a guy who's already a step below Hasek but plays the same style and it doesn't paint a pretty picture.

But before you say I'm just bashing Thomas, I do actually like him. You can't help but root for the underdog. So when he starting playing as well as he has it was a nice sight to see. I hope he can continue doing it, but realistically I just don't see it happening.

[Absolutely Virtue]

Hell, with the offense the Caps have, we don't need a dominating goalie, we just need a consistent one. I don't care if he's fundamentally sound or has happy feet. As long as he isn't a liability, I think we'll be okay. Cups have been won with goalies who weren't exactly hall of famers.

Agree with the Caps tough luck this series, as well as Henrik just killing it. But I also think you make your own luck, and the Caps aren't doing themselves any favors there. More than anything, though, I think we're just not mentally prepared. Just gotta hope that all this disappointment makes the team hungry, and they kick the shit out of whoever we play in the first round next year. Gotta pin my hopes on something.