# 2017 Stanley Cup Playoffs thread **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [April 11, 2017, 11:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2017-stanley-cup-playoffs-thread/784278 "2017-04-11T23:57:04Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 7
**Author:** ![Ike\_Witt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ike_witt/32/283_2.png) [@Ike\_Witt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ike_Witt)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2017, 2:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2017-stanley-cup-playoffs-thread/784278/122 "2017-04-30T14:35:44Z")
Bad news: Clarke MacArthur is out with the dreaded “upper body injury”. Good news: Stars jump from 8th place to 3rd in the lottery for the draft. ---
**Author:** ![Guest-starring\_Id](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guest-starring_id/32/21736_2.png) [@Guest-starring\_Id](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guest-starring_Id)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2017, 4:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2017-stanley-cup-playoffs-thread/784278/123 "2017-04-30T16:18:22Z")
Normally I’m infuriated if the schedule deviates, _even once_, from every alternate day to two days between games, however in Karlsson’s case I’m glad he’s getting that extra day to recover from the two hairline fractures in his foot. With the series going back to NYC, I’m hoping the Rangers’ mediocre home performance over the regular season will continue into the second round. Sure, the play-offs are a completely different animal from the regular season (and they were ok at home against the Habs in the first round) but I’m still holding out for the infamous MSG boo-birds’ chorus in the third period this Tuesday if the Rangers find themselves down a couple goals by that point. ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2017, 5:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2017-stanley-cup-playoffs-thread/784278/124 "2017-04-30T17:51:12Z")
> [@kayT](#): > > Yes, and yes. > > And dammit Caps you’re not helping. I AM going to have to watch Crosby waltzing around with the Cup again this year, aren’t I? One can only hope! Goddammit, why do I always get migraines on game nights? I ended up having to go to bed early and missed the entire game. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![Raygun99](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/6f9a4e/32.png) [@Raygun99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Raygun99)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2017, 9:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2017-stanley-cup-playoffs-thread/784278/125 "2017-04-30T21:32:21Z")
Mike Milbury is the only sports “analyst” that makes Skip Bayless look like has a point. How he can continue to be employed in the sport in any fashion after failing at basically everything past his playing career is a certifiable mystery. ---
**Author:** ![Guest-starring\_Id](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guest-starring_id/32/21736_2.png) [@Guest-starring\_Id](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guest-starring_Id)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2017, 10:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2017-stanley-cup-playoffs-thread/784278/126 "2017-04-30T22:18:03Z")
> [@Raygun99](#): > > Mike Milbury is the only sports “analyst” that makes Skip Bayless look like has a point. How he can continue to be employed in the sport in any fashion after failing at basically everything past his playing career is a certifiable mystery. There was also blabbering bumblefuck Howie Meeker back in the day - he was obnoxiously gross. I’d say he gives Milbury a good run for the money. Speaking of annoying “Millsies”, chucklehead Greg Millen (colour guy with doddering, worn-around-the-edges-20-years-ago Bob Cole), could use the nail-barrell treatment (from _Two Thousand Maniacs_). But then there’s Vic Rauter. ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2017, 10:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2017-stanley-cup-playoffs-thread/784278/127 "2017-04-30T22:33:47Z")
Milbury has incriminating photos of somebody. That’s the only explanation I think of. ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2017, 10:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2017-stanley-cup-playoffs-thread/784278/128 "2017-04-30T22:39:22Z")
> [@Eddie The Horrible](#): > > There was also blabbering bumblefuck Howie Meeker back in the day - he was obnoxiously gross. I’d say he gives Milbury a good run for the money. Speaking of annoying “Millsies”, chucklehead Greg Millen (colour guy with doddering, worn-around-the-edges-20-years-ago Bob Cole), could use the nail-barrell treatment (from _Two Thousand Maniacs_). > > But then there’s Vic Rauter. I have absolutely no idea what this means. As far as I recall Howie Meeker was a good colour commentator, and respected. “Millsies?” What are you on about? Sent from my XT1635-02 using Tapatalk ETA: And Bob Cole is a national treasure, as far as I’m concerned. Some day you might even grow old. What a shitty post full of shitty, baseless, unfounded accusations. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2017, 12:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2017-stanley-cup-playoffs-thread/784278/129 "2017-05-01T00:50:02Z")
The open racism directed towards PK Subban is really quite astonishing. Wayne Simmonds should count himself lucky he’s underrated and on a cruddy team or he’d get it, too. ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2017, 1:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2017-stanley-cup-playoffs-thread/784278/130 "2017-05-01T01:07:37Z")
You keep mentioning racism, Rick. Maybe I’m too idealistic, but I sure hope that’s not the underlying reason for comments thrown at Subban. Sure, hockey has been predominantly a white man’s sport, for a number of reasons, mainly the demographics where the sport is popular. I’d like to think racism isn’t the cause of negative comments. Perhaps I’m being naïve, but I’m not buying it. The diversity is too high in other sports for me to think that this one particular sport is different. Decades ago there were no issues with Fuhr or McKegney. Sent from my XT1635-02 using Tapatalk ---
**Author:** ![suranyi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e36b37/32.png) [@suranyi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/suranyi)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2017, 3:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2017-stanley-cup-playoffs-thread/784278/131 "2017-05-01T03:41:18Z")
> [@Leaffan](#): > > You keep mentioning racism, Rick. Maybe I’m too idealistic, but I sure hope that’s not the underlying reason for comments thrown at Subban. > Sure, hockey has been predominantly a white man’s sport, for a number of reasons, mainly the demographics where the sport is popular. > I’d like to think racism isn’t the cause of negative comments. > Perhaps I’m being naïve, but I’m not buying it. > The diversity is too high in other sports for me to think that this one particular sport is different. > Decades ago there were no issues with Fuhr or McKegney. > > Sent from my XT1635-02 using Tapatalk Joel Ward is a very good player for the Sharks. The fact that he is black is hardly ever mentioned. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2017, 1:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2017-stanley-cup-playoffs-thread/784278/132 "2017-05-01T13:43:47Z")
> [@Leaffan](#): > > You keep mentioning racism, Rick. Maybe I’m too idealistic, but I sure hope that’s not the underlying reason for comments thrown at Subban. I wish it weren’t so but it is. White players who are precise contemporaries of PK Subban do the same things and don’t get the same crap. Over and over. For God’s sake, you had Darren Pang saying Subban should “play the white way.” That actually happened. It was a slip of the tongue, but do you think he’d have made that slip of the tongue if he was talking about Brad Marchand? Subban celebrates an overtime winner and the Senators are all butthurt sucky babies: [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/-7hIs7_ozb0/maxresdefault.jpg "P.K. Subban celebrates after OT winner") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-7hIs7_ozb0) I see white players celebrating OT goals just as happily multiple times a year and you don’t have 20 talking heads criticizing them for “not respecting the game” > [@](#): > > Perhaps I’m being naïve, but I’m not buying it. > The diversity is too high in other sports for me to think that this one particular sport is different. But other sports have exactly the same problem, I’m sorry to say. This isn’t unique to hockey. ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2017, 1:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2017-stanley-cup-playoffs-thread/784278/133 "2017-05-01T13:55:10Z")
> [@RickJay](#): > > I wish it weren’t so but it is. White players who are precise contemporaries of PK Subban do the same things and don’t get the same crap. Over and over. > > For God’s sake, you had Darren Pang saying Subban should “play the white way.” That actually happened. It was a slip of the tongue, but do you think he’d have made that slip of the tongue if he was talking about Brad Marchand? > But other sports have exactly the same problem, I’m sorry to say. This isn’t unique to hockey. I just listened to Pang on YouTube, and it was a slip of the tongue, but you’re right it could well have been a Freudian slip. ---
**Author:** ![R.P.McMurphy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/7993a0/32.png) [@R.P.McMurphy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/R.P.McMurphy)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2017, 2:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2017-stanley-cup-playoffs-thread/784278/134 "2017-05-01T14:09:24Z")
So I’m traveling recently on a flight from the East Coast to Phoenix, AZ. Looking for a movie I happened across a recently released documentary called “Soul on Ice”. It’s about the history of Blacks in hockey. There’s a lot more history there than you might think. In the early part of the 20th century there was a successful professional black league in Canada. Whooda thunk? The first black player in the NHL was Willie McRee. I go to a Phoenix Coyotes game and before the game who do they introduce. None other than Willie McRee. I was floored. Check out the documentary. As for Subban, how else can you explain the trade? Not on the part of the Montreal fans, the vast majority loved him. It was management. Apparently, they didn’t like his “attitude”. If I’m running a team I want some of that “attitude” bolstering my defense. On a side note, I have to give props to the Oilers fans for getting through the Stars Spangled Banner. Don’t think a U.S crowd could get through O Canada. ---
**Author:** ![Guest-starring\_Id](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guest-starring_id/32/21736_2.png) [@Guest-starring\_Id](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guest-starring_Id)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2017, 2:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2017-stanley-cup-playoffs-thread/784278/135 "2017-05-01T14:29:18Z")
> [@Leaffan](#): > > I have absolutely no idea what this means. As far as I recall Howie Meeker was a good colour commentator, and respected. It means that from what I recall Meeker was roundly, and justifiably, lambasted for his blustery palaver by the media, stand-up comics, and half the kids at my school. I guess you moved in different circles back then. > [@Leaffan](#): > > “Millsies?” > > What are you on about? A contraction as means of nicknaming someone? You’re kidding me, right? > [@Leaffan](#): > > And Bob Cole is a national treasure, as far as I’m concerned. Some day you might even grow old. What a shitty post full of shitty, baseless, unfounded accusations. Yeah I was expecting this sanctimonious line to get toed. Is it possible that, yeah, growing old is possibly one of the reasons he should be on his way, then? Atrociously behind the play quite often, he’ll then try to fudge some usually off-the-mark afterthought to make up for his _fucking glaring_ paucity of coverage. And gee doesn’t everyone just love his homepsun “oh what a dandy!”-isms, huh? Groan-age. Spare me the national treasure feel-good-ery - his droning, _plodding_, time has most definitely come. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2017, 2:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2017-stanley-cup-playoffs-thread/784278/136 "2017-05-01T14:44:49Z")
> [@Eddie The Horrible](#): > > It means that from what I recall Meeker was roundly, and justifiably, lambasted for his blustery palaver by the media, stand-up comics, and half the kids at my school. I guess you moved in different circles back then. Do you have some evidence or references for this? I am sure Meeker was lampooned **but all famous people are,** even the beloved and respected. Where’s the evidence Meeker was seen as a “bumblefuck” or was as widely despised as Mike Milbury, who of course isn’t 1/50th as prominent as Meeker was in the media universe? On a quick examination, it would appear to me Meeker was generally admired as an extremely skilled broadcaster and analyst. I found multiple sources for the notion that it was Meeker who made the phrase “Keep your stick on the ice” popular, which I did not know and am a little amazed by, actually. He had a funny voice people liked to make fun of - which is of course also true of Christopher Walken, Barack Obama, Bruce Springsteen, and a thousand other people who are regarded as highly skilled luminaries in their field. I mean, you might have your own opinion about him and that’s fine. Can’t argue that. But if in fact Meeker was poorly received in his time, that is something that can be supported with objective evidence, just as I can provide quite substantial objective evidence Ted Williams was hated by the fans in his time, and that Charles Lindbergh was once the most famous man in America if not the world, and that Pierre Trudeau was far less admired when he was Prime Minister than he is now that he’s dead. ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2017, 2:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2017-stanley-cup-playoffs-thread/784278/137 "2017-05-01T14:45:56Z")
> [@Eddie The Horrible](#): > > It means that from what I recall Meeker was roundly, and justifiably, lambasted for his blustery palaver by the media, stand-up comics, and half the kids at my school. I guess you moved in different circles back then. > > A contraction as means of nicknaming someone? You’re kidding me, right? > > Yeah I was expecting this sanctimonious line to get toed. Is it possible that, yeah, growing old is possibly one of the reasons he should be on his way, then? Atrociously behind the play quite often, he’ll then try to fudge some usually off-the-mark afterthought to make up for his _fucking glaring_ paucity of coverage. And gee doesn’t everyone just love his homepsun “oh what a dandy!”-isms, huh? Groan-age. Spare me the national treasure feel-good-ery - his droning, _plodding_, time has most definitely come. Jeez. Have a nice day, **Eddie**. ---
**Author:** ![tim-n-va](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tim-n-va/32/3001_2.png) [@tim-n-va](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tim-n-va)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2017, 4:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2017-stanley-cup-playoffs-thread/784278/138 "2017-05-01T16:13:46Z")
> [@suranyi](#): > > Joel Ward is a very good player for the Sharks. The fact that he is black is hardly ever mentioned. Google comments after Ward’s OT goal versus Boston a few years ago when he was with the Caps. 2012 I think. ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2017, 4:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2017-stanley-cup-playoffs-thread/784278/139 "2017-05-01T16:20:13Z")
> [@tim-n-va](#): > > Google comments after Ward’s OT goal versus Boston a few years ago when he was with the Caps. 2012 I think. Wow. ---
**Author:** ![suranyi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e36b37/32.png) [@suranyi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/suranyi)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2017, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2017-stanley-cup-playoffs-thread/784278/140 "2017-05-01T16:53:25Z")
> [@tim-n-va](#): > > Google comments after Ward’s OT goal versus Boston a few years ago when he was with the Caps. 2012 I think. Wow indeed. I read a fair bit of Sharks commentary, and I don’t see much of that kind of stuff directed at Ward. ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2017, 10:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2017-stanley-cup-playoffs-thread/784278/141 "2017-05-01T22:47:47Z")
> [@tim-n-va](#): > > Google comments after Ward’s OT goal versus Boston a few years ago when he was with the Caps. 2012 I think. And then there was the banana incident against Simmonds. I left a Pens fan group after people started defending that kind of shit. ☹ (And mind you, I loathe the Flyers, so it’s not like I’m a fan of Simmonds) > [@R.P.McMurphy](#): > > So I’m traveling recently on a flight from the East Coast to Phoenix, AZ. Looking for a movie I happened across a recently released documentary called “Soul on Ice”. It’s about the history of Blacks in hockey. There’s a lot more history there than you might think. In the early part of the 20th century there was a successful professional black league in Canada. Whooda thunk? > > The first black player in the NHL was Willie McRee. I go to a Phoenix Coyotes game and before the game who do they introduce. None other than Willie McRee. I was floored. > > Check out the documentary. Willie \*\*O’\*\*Ree. 😉 I still find it seriously badass that he played while blind in one eye. (But you’re right, it’s a great documentary) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2017-stanley-cup-playoffs-thread/784278.md?page=6) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2017-stanley-cup-playoffs-thread/784278.md?page=8)