NHL: The Playoffs

[Yeticus Rex]

Originally Posted by Locrian

A little bit more this year, but I think it's due to close rival matchups.
.
.
.
Even out here in LA with the Kings/Canucks, the Canucks are closer rivals to the Kings than Anaheim or even San Jose is this year.

To me, Vancouver is a "meh" team. Love the city though....World's Fair in 1986....had part of our Honeymoon up there (Washington, BC and Alberta is just fucking beautiful in August).

Actually, IF the Kings do meet up with San Jose, I bet it will be far worse than anything we've seen so far with the Kings and Canucks. The NoCal-SoCal rivalry is at least a century old. The next closest rivalry would be east coast vs. west coast.....the further east the opposing team, the greater the rivalry (Boston, New York, et. al), and then, just maybe the next rivalry would be the cross-town rivalry. To me at least, I would rather see the Ducks (which many of you saw me back in 2007, root for the Ducks) win the Cup before the Sharks or any Eastern team. That's what a true SoCal does. However, I do not encourage stupidity like last years Dodger fans beating up the Giant fan......that's not rivalry....that's thuggery.

Any team in SoCal is my team.....but in head to head competition, I will root for the Kings over the Ducks by virtue that the Kings have been here longer....Dodgers over Angels, Lakers over Clippers, Raiders over......wait....that's a little more complicated......Naw, screw Al Davis!.....Chargers.

[Yeticus Rex]

....and I just realized that I made it about the fan's viewpoint rather than the player's viewpoint, but I think the players know what's going on here.

[Harborwolf]

Originally Posted by Mixolydian

That's the play, but what you can't see is that Howard is still sliding rapidly away from the crease at this point, and has no prayer of stopping the shot after the pass back in front.

Yeah. That's what the defense is for.

Howard has always played like that. Always. Might not be smart, and it drives me up the wall when I see it, but that's his style. The defense should adjust to it, but then the defense should be covering the net anyways. The first two goals that Nashville scored were open men right in front of the net. Detroit had the same problem during the regular season, last years playoffs, last years regular season, and so on. For all this talk about Nashville being bigger or learning from their mistakes, the biggest difference between Detroit and Nashville is that the Wings are not covering their net defensively and Nashville is.

Having three guys chase after one puck carrier is simply the biggest and most glaring example yet. Was Howie too far out? Yep, but with that many men out of position, he doesn't get all the blame.

[Guinastasia]

Oh fuck this bullshit. You've had a hard on for the Pens since Day One -- I don't see you calling out anyone else for their goons. You act like I CONDONE dirty hits -- which I don't. But I'll be damned if I'm going to stop BEING a fan of my team. I may have been embarassed by their actions on Sunday, but I am proud to be a Pens fan. I'm not "My team, right or wrong."


I didn't say the Pens were innocent here, but you seem to have a bug up your ass about them for some reason. And you can insult Mario all you want, but that doesn't change the fact that he's one of the greatest players in the history of the game, and has done a hell of a lot for the sport, for the Penguins, and for the city of Pittsburgh. He doesn't owe anyone jackshit.


(And I didn't even bring UP Claude Lemieux this time -- you did.)

[Hbns]

Originally Posted by Guinastasia

I may have been embarassed by their actions on Sunday, but I am proud to be a Pens fan.

Guin don't be embarrassed for what they did, be embarrassed for what they didn't this series.
They tried to open it up offensively and got outscored by Philly at their own game.
They tried to goon it up and be intimidating and got beat by Philly as that is their game.

If the Pens want to have any chance to get back in this thing they have to play disciplined, defense first hockey, and make the most out of offensive chances when they come. In other words play that boring, hoo-hum, trap crap that makes me want to give up on the NHL forever.

I love this years playoffs! Keep the intensity coming!

[Hbns]

Originally Posted by Guinastasia

(And I didn't even bring UP Claude Lemieux this time -- you did.)

Saw a signed print of this pic at a recent beer league tourney. Couldn't believe Claude would sign that, but then again, he was the type of player that would be proud of that.

[ZenBeam]

If you could get Darren McCarty to sign it too, that would be an awesome gift for a Red Wings fan.

[Guinastasia]

Originally Posted by Hbns

Saw a signed print of this pic at a recent beer league tourney. Couldn't believe Claude would sign that, but then again, he was the type of player that would be proud of that.

At least it wasn't the Kris Draper hit.

Seriously, you're right, but I still don't want to see my team become the Flyers. We're better than that! And we've been playing so good all year, and then bang, we fall apart at the play-offs?

Malkin's got the Art Ross, he's almost a lock for the Hart, and now we choke in the first round? We're not the Caps, dammit.

Dicks is giving out free yard signs, and I think I'll leave mine up throughout the playoffs, even if we lose. (I have two) The fairweather fans calling for people to fire Bylsma, or trade the entire team are seriously pissing me off.

[Harborwolf]

Originally Posted by Guinastasia

And you can insult Mario all you want, but that doesn't change the fact that he's one of the greatest players in the history of the game, and has done a hell of a lot for the sport, for the Penguins, and for the city of Pittsburgh. He doesn't owe anyone jackshit.

Not true. Mario called out the entire league including himself (we as a league...) and then got real quiet when it was his team misbehaving. He's not living up to the standard set by his own words and calling him out on it is fair game.

I should add that I remember the quote in question being from at least a year ago if not two. Maybe he's since changed his opinion.

[soulmurk]

Originally Posted by Guinastasia

Oh fuck this bullshit. You've had a hard on for the Pens since Day One -- I don't see you calling out anyone else for their goons.

That's your confirmation bias. In the past month or two I've made several comments about, off the top of my head, Zac Rinaldo and Todd Bertuzzi. I'm pretty sure I also expressed some outrage about Shea Weber getting away with his assault on Zetterberg, but that may have been on another site. Going back even further I'm positive I've gone off about Chris Pronger and Mike Richards, and I'm on record as saying I think the Flyers are the dirtiest team in the League. If I searched the history I'm sure I could find more, but you never see those because they don't involve a Penguin. You only notice when they do, and let's be frank, with such a dirty team they're bound to come up with some frequency.

You act like I CONDONE dirty hits -- which I don't.

You defend the players who make them, provided they wear a skating penguin on the front of their jersey. It's the same thing. You've constantly made excuses for them and even went so far as to hold up Matt freaking Cooke as some kind of shining example of sainthood because he chose to stop trying to kill people this year.

But I'll be damned if I'm going to stop BEING a fan of my team. I may have been embarassed by their actions on Sunday, but I am proud to be a Pens fan. I'm not "My team, right or wrong."

I'd expect no less, but now you have to accept that the team you root for is dirty. That every time I or someone else has said something to that effect around here and you blindly came flying to their aid, you were wrong.

I didn't say the Pens were innocent here, but you seem to have a bug up your ass about them for some reason.

Not at all, you just feel slighted any time someone dares to disparage the team you love. As I've said before, Pittsburgh isn't even in the top 5 teams I hate most, but I do have to admit that I dislike Pittsburgh fans perhaps more than any other fanbase as they are, in my experiences at least, the least knowledgeable and most entitled group I've ever had cause to interact with.

And you can insult Mario all you want, but that doesn't change the fact that he's one of the greatest players in the history of the game, and has done a hell of a lot for the sport, for the Penguins, and for the city of Pittsburgh.

Nothing he does or says takes away those facts, but neither do those facts change that he's a whiny hypocrite.

He doesn't owe anyone jackshit.

Harborwolf said it better than I could.

It's the same discussion we had when he said what he said after the Islanders game... if you're going to open your mouth to cry foul when a team crosses the line, you'd better expect people to wonder why you're not saying anything when your team crosses that same line.

[pulykamell]

Just checked Yahoo Sports. What in the hell is going on in the Penguins-Flyers game? Dammit, this is not the week to be without a TV.

[Locrian]

Hoooo-boy.

I've heard my team from Philadelphia is calling Ron Hextall and The Beezer for net minding duty.

[Harborwolf]

Originally Posted by pulykamell

Just checked Yahoo Sports. What in the hell is going on in the Penguins-Flyers game? Dammit, this is not the week to be without a TV.

I'm wondering what the hell is going on in the series. Apparently the defensemen and goalies just check out as soon as the puck hits the ice.

[Raygun99]

This series is a little bit what it was like to watch hockey in the 80s.

I hate both teams, but damn if it isn't ridiculously entertaining hockey.

[Tazmanian Devil]

Well, Pittsburgh avoids getting swept. Now I hope the Flyers emulate the 2004 Yankees and choke the next three games away.

[tim-n-va]

Originally Posted by Guinastasia

At least it wasn't the Kris Draper hit.

Seriously, you're right, but I still don't want to see my team become the Flyers. We're better than that! And we've been playing so good all year, and then bang, we fall apart at the play-offs?

Malkin's got the Art Ross, he's almost a lock for the Hart, and now we choke in the first round? We're not the Caps, dammit.

Dicks is giving out free yard signs, and I think I'll leave mine up throughout the playoffs, even if we lose. (I have two) The fairweather fans calling for people to fire Bylsma, or trade the entire team are seriously pissing me off.

That is just unfair. Sometimes the Caps don't choke until the second round!

[Harborwolf]

Originally Posted by Tazmanian Devil

Well, Pittsburgh avoids getting swept. Now I hope the Flyers emulate the 2004 Yankees and choke the next three games away.

I'll admit to rooting for the Flyers simply because of Penguin/Crosby overload, but I also have to admit that watching the Flyers choke after stomping to a 3-0 series lead would be pretty damn enjoyable too.

[Guinastasia]

Well, as Mike Lange would say, I am smilin' like a butcher's dog!

Originally Posted by Tazmanian Devil

Well, Pittsburgh avoids getting swept. Now I hope the Flyers emulate the 2004 Yankees and choke the next three games away.

Don't we all? I haven't seen a comeback like that in a long time. By the third quarter, the crowd was dwindling (something that's always pissed me off -- I HATE fairweather fans!) Now we just have to keep it up through the next four games. I'm so happy tomorrow's is in the CEC.

soulmurk, I never said Cooke was an angel. However, I do believe he deserves credit for the way he's turned his game around. Nobody believed he could do it, people were skeptical, and yet he accomplished it. He's no saint, but he's made an attempt, and he succeeded. (BTW, Stan Mikita had the same issues.)

I don't believe that the Penguins are dirtier than any other team. If that's bias, so be it. I don't feel they're persecuted. I don't feel that I've ever defended any of their dirty tactics -- I said I fully supported any suspensions that were given, and that's the last thing I'm going to say about that.

I WILL, however, continue to defend Mario Lemieux. I do NOT believe he's a hypocrite. Notice at the Islanders game he didn't name any names, and both sides were equally at fault. (If you'll recall his own side was fined, and Eric Godard was banned for ten games for leaving the bench to fight Micheal Haley.)


I'm through with this bullshit. You don't like Mario Lemieux. Fine. But he's done a lot more good for the league than bad.



(Speaking of Matt Cooke, anyone know why he was tossed out of the game last night? He didn't do anything -- in fact, he's the one who got hit in the first place!)

[mnemosyne]

Ten minutes for being Matt Cooke.

[pulykamell]

And Yotes-Hawks go into yet another OT, with Phoenix blowing the lead this time with just under a minute and a half left in the game. So, counting last year's Vancouver series, that makes five straight playoff OTs for the Hawks.

[Tom Tildrum]

Holt-bee! Holt-bee! Holt-bee!

[Locrian]

Originally Posted by Tom Tildrum

Holt-bee! Holt-bee! Holt-bee!

That guy is INSANE! Stopping the Bruins scorers is not easy. He knows how to read them.

[garygnu]

As was clear since December, the Sharks just aren't all that good this year.

[cutman74]

Later than everyone. yay! Haven't watched much hockey since Sunday night. I get the impression that most people here are eastern conference. What I've seen, being admittedly a homer, is that the East in general, seem like dump trucks, while the west seem more like sports cars. If you can stay out of the way, a sports car is optimal. If not, well...Sunday was a disgrace. I couldn't help watching both games on NBC thinking "any western Con team could skate circles around these guys." Granted, hockey might not be the most civilized sport, but the display Sunday between Pitt and Philly was sad. In the past few years, I was starting to feel like a Cubs fan. I hope that coach cock can change this "always a bridesmaid, never a bride"(make all of the sexist jokes you like) culture change. I am happy that once again, after a long drought, the Blues are here and ready to be a force in the NHL. I have to say that the only team in the west that I'm even mildly worried about is the Preds. I really don't think that there's an Eastern team that can beat us four of seven. Hull was in the crease(which was against the rules) in game 7 when Dallas won, by the way.

[cutman74]

Just had to add that last bit because the Blues had two or three goals disallowed in that same year because of that rule, one of which may have cost them the series against the wings. I always thought it was a stupid rule as Hull said, but it shouldn't have cost the sabres the cup.

[mnemosyne]

Originally Posted by garygnu

As was clear since December, the Sharks just aren't all that good this year.

"since December"?

"this year"?

[Guinastasia]

Originally Posted by mnemosyne

Ten minutes for being Matt Cooke.

Heh, I saw a teeshirt that said "Two Minutes for Being Matt Cooke" -- I really want to get it.

[RickJay]

Originally Posted by cutman74

Later than everyone. yay! Haven't watched much hockey since Sunday night. I get the impression that most people here are eastern conference. What I've seen, being admittedly a homer, is that the East in general, seem like dump trucks, while the west seem more like sports cars. If you can stay out of the way, a sports car is optimal. If not, well...Sunday was a disgrace. I couldn't help watching both games on NBC thinking "any western Con team could skate circles around these guys." Granted, hockey might not be the most civilized sport, but the display Sunday between Pitt and Philly was sad. In the past few years, I was starting to feel like a Cubs fan. I hope that coach cock can change this "always a bridesmaid, never a bride"(make all of the sexist jokes you like) culture change. I am happy that once again, after a long drought, the Blues are here and ready to be a force in the NHL. I have to say that the only team in the west that I'm even mildly worried about is the Preds. I really don't think that there's an Eastern team that can beat us four of seven. Hull was in the crease(which was against the rules) in game 7 when Dallas won, by the way.

That happened in Game 6, not Game 7.

I don't really see how the Western teams are better, though, and in fact I'd argue that this is probably the first year in a long, long time when I think the overall quality of the Eastern teams is equal to that of the Western conferences. At least... I dunno, a decade or more. The weirdness of the Philly-Pittsburgh games isn't really indicative of anything; it's a bizarre series.

[pulykamell]

Originally Posted by pulykamell

And Yotes-Hawks go into yet another OT, with Phoenix blowing the lead this time with just under a minute and a half left in the game. So, counting last year's Vancouver series, that makes five straight playoff OTs for the Hawks.

Just wanted to correct myself. I just realized the Vancouver series last year ended with two games that went into OT, so it's actually six straight OT playoff games for the Blackhawks. Wonder if that's approaching some sort of record.

[Harborwolf]

And the Preds take it in five as I predicted. It wasn't the size of the Predators or the "age" of the Wings. It was simply poor defensive play from the Wings. Two goals scored tonight and both of the scorers were never even challenged by the Wings. Nobody was near them.

Said it before. I'll say it again. The problems with the Wings have nothing to do with size, grit, age, or mix of players. It's consistent defensive errors and to me that means it's a coaching problem. Doesn't matter though. The Wings have the talent to make the playoffs and that means Babcock keeps his job.

Congrats to the Preds on the win. Good luck in the next round of the playoffs.

[mnemosyne]

Dammit. Fire Babcock. Ensure he speaks French (have Rosetta Stone as part of the severance pay...).... Please?

Alternatively, if the Pens would fire Bylsma...same deal.

Trotts?


Bueller?



Anyone?

[drm]

This was the third game this series where Jordan Staal was the best player on the ice. He deserves to play huge minutes the next game. He's been really great.

If I were a Pens fan, I'd be at least a little annoyed that they can play so well the last two days but were a disaster for most of the first three games.

Sure is an interesting series...

[Guinastasia]

Originally Posted by drm

This was the third game this series where Jordan Staal was the best player on the ice. He deserves to play huge minutes the next game. He's been really great.

If I were a Pens fan, I'd be at least a little annoyed that they can play so well the last two days but were a disaster for most of the first three games.

Sure is an interesting series...

You don't think Marc-Andre Fleury deserves a nod?

[Jman]

It is a very interesting (and nervewracking) series. As a Pens fan, they're giving me high blood pressure. Ugh. I really wish that at the end of the game with a lead there would be a bit more of a forecheck rather than just trying to chip the puck out and play D. It worked tonight, but it was a shooting gallery as a result. Keep the pressure on, please! (I'm not saying the D needs to pinch or anything, but at least try and hold the blue line).

Anyway, this series has had three massive blowouts and two close games. Remember that game 1 went to OT and were it not for a blatantly missed offside call, the Pens would be up 3-2. But that's how the puck bounces... Both teams have been playing possessed hockey. I'd imagine it's amazingly entertaining if you aren't a fan of either team, but for those of us invested, it's just torture.

[drm]

Originally Posted by Guinastasia

You don't think Marc-Andre Fleury deserves a nod?

As the best player on the ice? I'm still not that crazy about the rebounds he gives up but he has been pretty solid the last two games, sure. Staal seems to completely dominate the ice when he plays.

Comparing goalies to skaters is tough though. It's why they have their own trophies.

[Danja]

Originally Posted by Harborwolf

And the Preds take it in five as I predicted. It wasn't the size of the Predators or the "age" of the Wings. It was simply poor defensive play from the Wings. Two goals scored tonight and both of the scorers were never even challenged by the Wings. Nobody was near them.

Said it before. I'll say it again. The problems with the Wings have nothing to do with size, grit, age, or mix of players. It's consistent defensive errors and to me that means it's a coaching problem. Doesn't matter though. The Wings have the talent to make the playoffs and that means Babcock keeps his job.

Congrats to the Preds on the win. Good luck in the next round of the playoffs.

I respectfully disagree with your assessment. The Wings lack the offensive talent to win big. The objective of hockey is to score more goals than the other team, and you can't do that when you don't have good forwards. Our team didn't have a single 30 goal scorer this year. The highest goal total went to Franzen, who is the streakiest player in the world can't can't be relied upon in the playoffs. After him, our second-highest goal scorer is Hudler FFS. You can't win a championship when your goal scoring is spearheaded by Hudler and Franzen.

The Wings need to re-tool a lot, but I think these playoffs actually closed a lot of doors. I don't see Suter wanting to sign with us after beating us so thoroughly and seeing what a stagnant team the Wings have become over the course of the last three years. I think that door is closed, and Holland will need to find some other way of plugging the defensive holes. I think the best remaining option for us is Semin. He's got a great shot and a ton of offensive talent. I don't care what his attitude problems are, or how his work ethic is. He can shoot, and we need that desperately. For that reason, I'm rooting strongly against the caps the rest of the way through so that he doesn't see signing with the Wings as a downward transition.

No matter what, we need to plug holes on offense. When you have the Preds, Blues, and Coyotes in your conference, you aren't going to win by throwing a bunch of ten goal scorers at the net.

[Tazmanian Devil]

C'mon, Flyers! You're halfway there to completing the choke job! Keep up the good work!

[Tazmanian Devil]

Phoenix Coyote Raffi Torres has been suspended 25 games by the NHL for his hit on Hossa in Game 3.

[mnemosyne]

While I'm fine with that decision, it just kind of reinforces how utterly random Shanahan's decisions are.


I didn't follow the Wings much this season, but I think it's interesting that they didn't have a single 30-goal scorer this year, yet made the playoffs. The Habs had two (Cole and Pacioretty), and yet were last in the conference.

Just goes to show how you really need an entire team to come together and win - you can't win with just goal scorers, you can't win with just defence, you can't win with just goaltending. Having a great PK doesn't mean much if your PP is anemic. Winning games by a ton of goals doesn't mean much if you lose more by only one goal, etc.



Also, I laughed when Malkin took out Crosby last night. I really hope Crosby doesn't suffer from it, but it was a rather bizarre thing to see (the beer may have contributed to the laughing). It prompted a pub debate over who is most likely to be shipped out of town one day - Malkin, Crosby or Staal. I don't think we reached any conclusion, other than to agree that Staal would look damn good wearing the CH. But then again, so would the other two.

[RickJay]

Originally Posted by Tazmanian Devil

Phoenix Coyote Raffi Torres has been suspended 25 games by the NHL for his hit on Hossa in Game 3.

This is a fine decision on its own, but the problem with these decisions is that they're utterly random. If going forward they get serious about it, great. If on the other hand a variety of elbows, head-slams and one-sided-punchfests go unpunished, then it's purely a PR stunt.

[Harborwolf]

Originally Posted by Danja

I respectfully disagree with your assessment. The Wings lack the offensive talent to win big. The objective of hockey is to score more goals than the other team, and you can't do that when you don't have good forwards. Our team didn't have a single 30 goal scorer this year. The highest goal total went to Franzen, who is the streakiest player in the world can't can't be relied upon in the playoffs. After him, our second-highest goal scorer is Hudler FFS. You can't win a championship when your goal scoring is spearheaded by Hudler and Franzen.

The Wings need to re-tool a lot, but I think these playoffs actually closed a lot of doors. I don't see Suter wanting to sign with us after beating us so thoroughly and seeing what a stagnant team the Wings have become over the course of the last three years. I think that door is closed, and Holland will need to find some other way of plugging the defensive holes. I think the best remaining option for us is Semin. He's got a great shot and a ton of offensive talent. I don't care what his attitude problems are, or how his work ethic is. He can shoot, and we need that desperately. For that reason, I'm rooting strongly against the caps the rest of the way through so that he doesn't see signing with the Wings as a downward transition.

No matter what, we need to plug holes on offense. When you have the Preds, Blues, and Coyotes in your conference, you aren't going to win by throwing a bunch of ten goal scorers at the net.

That the Wings lost because they didn't score more goals than the other team is so obvious that it doesn't need to be said. The questions are how are they going to either score more goals or keep the other team from scoring.

You aren't going to win by simply throwing tons of shots on net. The Wings did that this series and nearly every other playoff series prior. Remarkable pattern that. Wings outshoot opponents eleventy bajillion to four and still lose the game 3-1. Clearly not a solution.

If the opponent can walk up to your net and pop in a free one because your forwards are out of position, coasting back into position, or waiting at the blue line for a hail mary pass, you aren't going to score more goals. You may score goals, but not more. You may not even score goals at all. Spot the other team a goal or two and they can just strangle you with defense, keeping you from getting any quality scoring chances. Yeah you may fire a ton of low percentage shots on goal, but as we saw they don't amount to much.

Detroit couldn't score more goals than Nashville because they defended better than Detroit did. Simple as that. This was made easy by Detroit's rather stagnant offense (big guy in front and shots from predictable angles). That's not a problem you address by signing a player. Defense or offense. It won't matter. Suter won't solve anything if the rest of the team believes defense is optional. Semin won't solve anything if he refuses to backcheck and is simply shooting from the blue line or the face off circles time after time.

Even firing Babcock might not be enough, but it's easier than firing a team. Easier than attempting to trade Franzen, whose streaky production will make it difficult to get a quality player even given his favorable top heavy contract.

[Ike Witt]

Originally Posted by RickJay

This is a fine decision on its own, but the problem with these decisions is that they're utterly random. If going forward they get serious about it, great. If on the other hand a variety of elbows, head-slams and one-sided-punchfests go unpunished, then it's purely a PR stunt.

Yeah. It is easy to suspend a guy like Torres for 25 games but as long as there is a double standard Shanahan will come across as a joke.

And for a minute, just look at other lengthy suspensions. Dale Hunter got 21 games for his really late, really cheap hit on Turgeon. Chris Simon got 30 games for stomping on Rutuus' ankle. While Torres did leave his feet, I don't think his hit was anywhere in the same category as those two incidents. Then there is the whole Shea Weber debacle. If crushing a head into the boards so hard it cracks a helmet is only worth a $2500 fine....well I don't know what to think anymore. I just know that the optimism I had when Shanahan first started has waned significantly.

[Danja]

Originally Posted by Harborwolf

That the Wings lost because they didn't score more goals than the other team is so obvious that it doesn't need to be said. The questions are how are they going to either score more goals or keep the other team from scoring.

You aren't going to win by simply throwing tons of shots on net. The Wings did that this series and nearly every other playoff series prior. Remarkable pattern that. Wings outshoot opponents eleventy bajillion to four and still lose the game 3-1. Clearly not a solution.

If the opponent can walk up to your net and pop in a free one because your forwards are out of position, coasting back into position, or waiting at the blue line for a hail mary pass, you aren't going to score more goals. You may score goals, but not more. You may not even score goals at all. Spot the other team a goal or two and they can just strangle you with defense, keeping you from getting any quality scoring chances. Yeah you may fire a ton of low percentage shots on goal, but as we saw they don't amount to much.

Detroit couldn't score more goals than Nashville because they defended better than Detroit did. Simple as that. This was made easy by Detroit's rather stagnant offense (big guy in front and shots from predictable angles). That's not a problem you address by signing a player. Defense or offense. It won't matter. Suter won't solve anything if the rest of the team believes defense is optional. Semin won't solve anything if he refuses to backcheck and is simply shooting from the blue line or the face off circles time after time.

Even firing Babcock might not be enough, but it's easier than firing a team. Easier than attempting to trade Franzen, whose streaky production will make it difficult to get a quality player even given his favorable top heavy contract.

Typing from my phone, so this will be short. Defense is something you can teach a team. It's something that can be coached and doesn't rely on talent. Just look at Phoenix as an example of a team that plays good defense without much top end talent. Goal scoring is different. To beat a modern goalie you need a good shooter. Detroit forwards simply don't have that talent. I watch them try and flub, try again and miss the net, etc. That's why a personnel upgrade on offense is mandatory. A system of play won't teach the forwards to shoot better.

[tim-n-va]

Another one goal difference in the Caps-Bruins series. The only two goal lead in the series lasted less than three minutes.

I told my son that the first task when we get there tomorrow is to find the nearest AED to our section.

[zamboniracer]

Originally Posted by tim-n-va

Another one goal difference in the Caps-Bruins series. The only two goal lead in the series lasted less than three minutes.

I told my son that the first task when we get there tomorrow is to find the nearest AED to our section.

I'd ask what the heck an AED is but a quick google search showed it to be a defibrillator of some sort.

Please speak in English not acronyms.

[tim-n-va]

Ok. Wilco.

[Harborwolf]

Originally Posted by Ike Witt

Yeah. It is easy to suspend a guy like Torres for 25 games but as long as there is a double standard Shanahan will come across as a joke.

And for a minute, just look at other lengthy suspensions. Dale Hunter got 21 games for his really late, really cheap hit on Turgeon. Chris Simon got 30 games for stomping on Rutuus' ankle. While Torres did leave his feet, I don't think his hit was anywhere in the same category as those two incidents. Then there is the whole Shea Weber debacle. If crushing a head into the boards so hard it cracks a helmet is only worth a $2500 fine....well I don't know what to think anymore. I just know that the optimism I had when Shanahan first started has waned significantly.

I think it's totally fair. The Hawks lose one of their top forwards for likely the playoffs, and the Coyotes lose an easily replaceable fourth line bench warmer for 25 games. Way to go NHL. The playoffs have become an exercise in blatant hostility.

Maybe they should start suspending coaches for 25 games or fining the owners.

Originally Posted by Danja

Typing from my phone, so this will be short. Defense is something you can teach a team. It's something that can be coached and doesn't rely on talent. Just look at Phoenix as an example of a team that plays good defense without much top end talent. Goal scoring is different. To beat a modern goalie you need a good shooter. Detroit forwards simply don't have that talent. I watch them try and flub, try again and miss the net, etc. That's why a personnel upgrade on offense is mandatory. A system of play won't teach the forwards to shoot better.

If a good coach can teach defense, why are the Wings having such consistent problems unless it proves my point that Babcock should get bounced? Also Nashville just proved that you can beat a modern goaltender with enough time and space to place your shot properly. Nothing to do with being a good shooter.

[RickJay]

Originally Posted by Ike Witt

Yeah. It is easy to suspend a guy like Torres for 25 games but as long as there is a double standard Shanahan will come across as a joke.

And for a minute, just look at other lengthy suspensions. Dale Hunter got 21 games for his really late, really cheap hit on Turgeon. Chris Simon got 30 games for stomping on Rutuus' ankle. While Torres did leave his feet, I don't think his hit was anywhere in the same category as those two incidents.

While I agree,

1. Torres is an extreme repeat offender, which justifiably meant a longer suspension and
2. The NHL is ostensibly more serious about head shots than it used to be.

So fine. If from this point on suspensions are proportional to this one, I'll be happy. But as you point out, it's difficult to believe that's going to be the case when just a week ago, Shea Weber was okay pulling as cheap a stunt as you'll ever see. Should Weber have gotten 25 games? Absolutely not, but a suspension was warranted.

[Rysto]

Good lord. Ottawa took an early 1-0 lead and just barely hung on the rest of the game. Nice pass by Mark Stone to set up the goal. A week ago he was playing in juniors.

Anderson was fantastic tonight. 41 save shutout.

One win away from the second round. I'm blown away by this team. I never in a million years would have expected anything from this group coming into the season.

[Crawlspace]

Originally Posted by Rysto

Good lord. Ottawa took an early 1-0 lead and just barely hung on the rest of the game. Nice pass by Mark Stone to set up the goal. A week ago he was playing in juniors.

Anderson was fantastic tonight. 41 save shutout.

One win away from the second round. I'm blown away by this team. I never in a million years would have expected anything from this group coming into the season.

Anderson played 6'x4' tonight. But if the Sens are going to continue to blow you away, they damn well better do it with Neil out for the remainder.