NHL Season 08-09

[KoalaTrap]

How dare you guys call the Canes not exciting when Canucks/Hawks game has 24(Chi) shots vs 14 (Van). Need to spread out the hate!

Canes at least had 40 shots last night. Jussi Jokinen with another huge goal. Crazy how one of the best shootout goal scorers was put on waivers this year by a bad team. Jim Rutherford pulls some snarky moves a lot of the time. Tuomo Ruuto from the hawks finally showed some of his promise, Jokinen has scored so many clutch goals, Cole contributed to the blazing end to the reg. season (although quiet in the playoffs) and getting Samsonov last year seemingly got him going again as well.

p.s. Love the Canes love in this thread. Isn't it cool how a southern team (besides the Caps) has a ton of support... loudest building in the playoffs baby.

Looking forward to VAN/CHI OT. GO HAWKS! Wow the ducks scored already too.

[Selamis]

Hawks/Canucks low shots I blame on Vancouver using the old neutral zone trap system lol. Aaand here we go with OT.

[Selamis]

LADD!

[KoalaTrap]

I was shocked to hear on a pre-game show that Ward has yet to lose a playoff series, and even more shocked that I didn't know that already. But this begs another question, the last three Cup champions are still alive, and people generally believe Detroit is the strongest of the group. But if Anaheim or Carolina wins it all again this year, do you think people will consider them a "great team" like the Detroits and New Jerseys of recent memory?

Funny thing about the Ducks and Canes is besides their cup wins they both have final loses as well. Against "great teams" Detroit and New Jersey. I don't think Carolina will ever be in that group because aside from their winning year they'll be underdogs and most people couldn't name more than 3 players from their roster even when they won. They've also missed the playoffs twice after the win.

The Ducks had a fantastic future hall of famer line up when they won the cup and a different roster when they were underdogs against the Devils. They have a better shot at being a well remembered great team just because of Chris Pronger, Scott/Rob Neidermeyer, Teemu, Getzlaf etc. They've also been fairly competitive since their cup win with this past reg. season being iffy but they've obviously hit the on switch.

Edit: Gadritan, just so you know the Anaheim team is the Ducks (Florida are the Panthers) and while the Ducks were Expansion in the early 90s the Hurricanes have been around for quite a while starting off in the WHA and moving into the NHL as the New England/Hartford Whalers where thier only really successful season in the NHL was in 1986. They left Hartford, sadly in 1997 for Carolina.


Ladd in OT for Hawks (former Cane!)

[Selamis]

Thank you Carolina for trading us Ladd lol, and glad that Ruutu is showing up for you guys too finally. He was mostly a bum here, showed signs of potential every now and then, but mostly was useless to us.

[xerodok]

Fuck yeah Hossa.

If he scores one more time I get free KFC and Arby's.

Fuck yeah Hossa.

[Gadritan]

Edit: Gadritan, just so you know the Anaheim team is the Ducks (Florida are the Panthers) and while the Ducks were Expansion in the early 90s the Hurricanes have been around for quite a while starting off in the WHA and moving into the NHL as the New England/Hartford Whalers where thier only really successful season in the NHL was in 1986. They left Hartford, sadly in 1997 for Carolina.(former Cane!)

lol. Yeah. That's why I said "new," because the they were new to the area too, not just the league. And I meant the CAR Panthers, lol.

[Sepukku]

Benedict Hossa? There's a lot of Pittsburghers who would like to say what they think/wish of him, but due to recent circumstances involving Ovechkin and a high school kid's comments on an internet forum, you're apparently not allowed to voice your frustration/anger at an opposing player in an obviously-not-serious violent verbal fashion.

[Ivaden]

There's a difference between "Hope he dies in a fire" and "I'm going to kill him."

I just want to see Hossa lose this series, only because of events and what he said. Not really bitter about it, just think it would be some sweet irony.

[KoalaTrap]

I really want Chicago to make it to the finals in the West but it's probably the biggest long shot out of all 4 teams. Detroit looks in control after tonight, all depends on how Hiller plays in game 5.

[Ishido]

Detroit shows up for a full game and wins 6-3. Thank you, Wings.

[Brill Weave]

Well, he was still 18 too. He went from about 5'10" to 6'4"...

Check the stats on all of the Staal brothers. Marc, Eric, and Jordan are all 6'3" - 6'4" I'm not sure how big the youngest Staal is, he's still in the minors right now.

[Abraxas]

even with 11 shots in the game, the canucks/hawks game was more entertaining than any canes game i could watch.

you forgot to mention that, along with the low number of shots, there were 30 hits in the 1st period.

SOG does not = excitement

[Gadritan]

Check the stats on all of the Staal brothers. Marc, Eric, and Jordan are all 6'3" - 6'4" I'm not sure how big the youngest Staal is, he's still in the minors right now.

Jesus. lol. I just thought it was crazy how he sprouted up so late too.

And the Canes are exciting in their own way. They love taking it down to the wire and pulling out a win from sheer emotion and determination. You're almost always guaranteed an exciting finish. But the rest of the game tends to be so-so.

As much as I love the Canes, I have to agree with you on the hits. I'd rather see 30hits and 1 shot in a period than 40shots and 10hits.

[Izzy]

Do they plan on calling anything against Pittsburgh this series or are we just gonna call some bullshit penalty every time Crosby or Malkin fall down?

[Ivaden]

Do they plan on calling anything against Pittsburgh this series or are we just gonna call some bullshit penalty every time Crosby or Malkin fall down?

Lol, really? There was two non-calls on Bradley that led to a goal. Boudreau's bitching about penalties needs to be addressed to his players, not the Penguins or the officiating. I'm going to hurt myself laughing if Ovechkin gets suspended for that knee to Gonchar. No one can try to tell me that wasn't intentional, it was grossly intentional. Ovechkin's going to get himself hurt after bullshit like that one of these days.

[Izzy]

That's what my brother said. Why would Ovechkin do that shit to himself? That's a HUGE fucking risk to yourself, especially when you take into consideration what he means to the team.

There was a lot of shitty officiating in that game for both sides. The refs are so inconsistent it's disgusting.

[Selamis]

Ovechkin is a moron, plain and simple. He was on camera, on ESPN 360 and said he's driven his car over 100 mph on the streets and highways of DC for fun.

In non Ovechkin news, holy crap at that Carolina-Boston game tonight! Didn't expect to see that at all, figured it would get tied up. Canes arena was so loud too, that's pretty damn impressive for me, who really only watched the Hurricanes play when they are playing Chicago. Exciting game from what VS showed in the third period after the Pens game ended, to add to previous posts talking about watching them play.

[KoalaTrap]

Missed the games tonight due to work but I'm surprised Canes are up 3-1 on Boston who I thought would fight back tonight. Loving that the Jussi Jokinen / Sergei Samsonov line is on fire. Staal 2 goals (tied with Crosby for NHL lead now) and Ward huge breakaway save at the start of the game. Sad I missed a game when your team has all its pieces working so nicely.

[Brill Weave]

I will bet dollars to doughnuts Ovechkin doesn't even get a disciplinary hearing. If it was anyone not named Ovechkin, Crosby, or Malkin that hit would be almost an automatic suspension. But the bottom line is that this is the playoffs and Ovechkin is one of the league's most marketable stars. So despite the fact he pulled off one of the dirtiest hits I've seen in years, which resulted in the injury to one of the best offensive defensemen in the league, he will be suited up for game 5. Bryan Marchment used to do that shit once a year when he played for the Sharks back in the day. He was always trying to take someone out. Ovechkin isn't a headhunter, but he will take runs at players who aren't in good position to handle a hit.

This was a clear intent to injure in my opinion. When a player has position on you and you throw out your knee right into his path, there is only one outcome from it. A player writhing in agony on the ice. This is how careers end. This was a cheap shot in the purest sense of the word. Pathetic. Completely and total pathetic.

And it gets worse for Washington now. Pittsburgh has all the momentum right now. And on top of that, now they are fucking pissed. I hope Ovechkin keeps his head on a swivel tomorrow because someone is going to take a run at him. I'm looking at you Orpik.