# Hockey! How's your team doin'? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [April 16, 2006, 12:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hockey-hows-your-team-doin/352874 "2006-04-16T12:44:37Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 13
**Author:** ![Aguecheek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a9adbd/32.png) [@Aguecheek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aguecheek)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2006, 2:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hockey-hows-your-team-doin/352874/241 "2006-05-14T02:01:37Z")
Fuck. I don’t see why I bother getting excited when Ottawa makes the playoffs. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2006, 2:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hockey-hows-your-team-doin/352874/242 "2006-05-14T02:12:48Z")
[QUOTE=Aguecheek] Fuck. I don’t see why I bother getting excited when Ottawa makes the playoffs. [/QUOTE] Another year, another let down. It does make you start to wonder if it’s worth it. ---
**Author:** ![Grey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b782af/32.png) [@Grey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grey)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2006, 2:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hockey-hows-your-team-doin/352874/243 "2006-05-14T02:14:25Z")
Oh bloody hell. ---
**Author:** ![Rysto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ecccb3/32.png) [@Rysto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rysto)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2006, 2:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hockey-hows-your-team-doin/352874/244 "2006-05-14T02:41:37Z")
Jesus Alfie, your terrible defensive play lead to two goals tonight. ---
**Author:** ![Spezza](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a698b9/32.png) [@Spezza](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spezza)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2006, 2:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hockey-hows-your-team-doin/352874/245 "2006-05-14T02:44:18Z")
[QUOTE=Palooka] Ottawa needs more Havlat - Spezza - Heatley on the same line. [/QUOTE] Ottawa’s forwards aren’t to blame; look towards the net for that. Emery made too few “game stealing” saves and let in too many “game losing” goals. Emery is a poor goalie behind a great team. Too bad for Ottawa this year, having to sign so many key players over the off-season could very well result in the team being dismantled. The Edmonton series is GREAT! The decider will be tomorrow night, whoever wins that… ---
**Author:** ![Harborwolf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c89c15/32.png) [@Harborwolf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harborwolf)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2006, 3:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hockey-hows-your-team-doin/352874/246 "2006-05-14T03:48:59Z")
[QUOTE=Aguecheek] Fuck. I don’t see why I bother getting excited when Ottawa makes the playoffs. [/QUOTE] Heh. Red Wings fan here. Kwitcher bitchin. 😉 Can’t believe two players let him get past for the game winner. He should never have gotten that close to Emery in the first place. That’s some shit play in your own zone. And congratulations to Buffalo. Great series. ---
**Author:** ![Rysto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ecccb3/32.png) [@Rysto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rysto)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2006, 4:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hockey-hows-your-team-doin/352874/247 "2006-05-14T04:01:38Z")
[QUOTE=Spezza] Ottawa’s forwards aren’t to blame; look towards the net for that. Emery made too few “game stealing” saves and let in too many “game losing” goals. Emery is a poor goalie behind a great team. Too bad for Ottawa this year, having to sign so many key players over the off-season could very well result in the team being dismantled. [/QUOTE] That’s ridiculous. Emery was awesome in games 4 and 5, and certainly wasn’t the reason we lost 1, 2 or 3. We gave up way too many great opportunities. ---
**Author:** ![Not\_A\_Tame\_Lion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/e36b37/32.png) [@Not\_A\_Tame\_Lion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Not_A_Tame_Lion)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2006, 5:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hockey-hows-your-team-doin/352874/248 "2006-05-15T17:57:24Z")
"Paging the San Jose defense…San Jose defense…paging San Jose defense…paging San Jose defense…San Jose defense, please report to the men in the blue and white jerseys who are _BEATING YOUR GOALIE LIKE A FUCKING DRUM!"_ I don’t want to disparage Edmonton too much, because they made the adjustments and came out to play like they meant it, but the Sharks’ defense has been awful. They’ve been consistently out of position and unable to clear pucks since early in game 3, and I’m afraid it’s going to cost San Jose this series. Actually, the whole team looks like it suddenly can’t handle the puck. I thought for a moment, when Cheechoo tied the game, that the Sharks might finally take control of things, but then the immediate stupid play put an end to it. I know it’s not over, but I’m really down on SJ’s chances. Oh well. At least I have the comfort of knowing the Devils got sent home. There’s always solace in that fact. ---
**Author:** ![Harborwolf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c89c15/32.png) [@Harborwolf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harborwolf)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2006, 1:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hockey-hows-your-team-doin/352874/249 "2006-05-18T01:00:45Z")
I’d be surprised if San Jose wins tonight. They’re flailing pretty badly. Toskala looks jumpy and he’s nearly gotten caught out of position. There is going to have to be more rules on goalie interference. Everyone is getting run into cause players just ain’t slowing down. Slashing is going to have to get looked at as well. I noticed it more on Edmonton, but I’m sure both teams are just as slash happy. Anyways, barring a miracle Edmonton is going to move on to face Anaheim. ---
**Author:** ![Harborwolf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c89c15/32.png) [@Harborwolf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harborwolf)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2006, 2:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hockey-hows-your-team-doin/352874/250 "2006-05-18T02:58:53Z")
Look at that. I was actually right for once. I gotta say it. San Jose looked like a big pile o’ stupid out there. It takes a huge lack of brain power to get the puck on the backhand in front of the opposite goal and try to spin around for the forehand shot. San Jose did it time after time. Congrats to Edmonton. Here’s to some good conference finals. ---
**Author:** ![Sam\_Stone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Sam\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sam_Stone)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2006, 7:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hockey-hows-your-team-doin/352874/251 "2006-05-18T07:08:31Z")
Way to go Oilers! I thought the series would be a little tougher, though. San Jose really folded after the third game. The Oilers have pretty much dominated the series after the OT win in game 3. But now they’ve got to play Anaheim, who have had a week to rest. The Oilers have to fly tomorrow, then play Friday. We’ll have to see how much gas they have left in the tank. ---
**Author:** ![BobLibDem](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boblibdem/32/3149_2.png) [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2006, 10:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hockey-hows-your-team-doin/352874/252 "2006-05-18T10:17:44Z")
What impressed me about the Oilers in both rounds so far is the play of Shawn Horcoff. I can’t recall anyone playing with more dogged determination to make things happen, and the burst of speed that he put on at the end of a shift to get a breakaway was amazing. To those in the know- if the Oilers fail in the semis, are we screwed for the finals not being on CBC? The pattern thus far has been the Canadian teams are on CBC, the US teams on TSN/OLN. I can’t imagine watching the finals on anything but CBC, but might this be the case? ---
**Author:** ![meek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ce73a5/32.png) [@meek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/meek)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2006, 12:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hockey-hows-your-team-doin/352874/253 "2006-05-18T12:27:45Z")
[sub]Here we go Oilers - Here we go…[/sub] It’s been fourteen years since my beloved Oilers have made it to the conference finals. Wow. I’m still amazed. The fans cheering the American anthem was a class act. Rolosen was unbelievable. He’s an early Conn Smythe trophy candidate for MVP. Even if we lose to the Ducks, it’s been a great ride. GO OILERS! . ---
**Author:** ![Rysto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ecccb3/32.png) [@Rysto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rysto)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2006, 1:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hockey-hows-your-team-doin/352874/254 "2006-05-18T13:20:03Z")
The finals will be on CBC no matter who is in it. ---
**Author:** ![Not\_A\_Tame\_Lion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/e36b37/32.png) [@Not\_A\_Tame\_Lion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Not_A_Tame_Lion)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2006, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hockey-hows-your-team-doin/352874/255 "2006-05-18T16:17:55Z")
I don’t want to take anything away from Edmonton…no, wait, actually I do. San Jose played like a pack of sissies the last four games. The Oilers took it to them from the moment Torres laid out Michalek, and the Sharks just floated away like guppies. On the bright side, as the announcers pointed out last night, SJ is the youngest team in the league; this series may serve as a valuable lesson for the future. So I’ve got Carolina over Buffalo, and Anaheim over Edmonton. Carolina takes the Cup. Now go watch me be wrong. ---
**Author:** ![Rysto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ecccb3/32.png) [@Rysto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rysto)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2006, 4:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hockey-hows-your-team-doin/352874/256 "2006-05-18T16:51:15Z")
[QUOTE=Rysto] Second Round Predictions: Eastern Conference 1. **Ottawa** vs 4. Buffalo (6 games) 2. Carolina vs 3. **New Jersey** (6 games) Western Conference 1. **San Jose** vs. 8. Edmonton (6 games) 2. Anaheim vs. 7. **Colorado** (7 games) [/QUOTE] :smack: 0-for-4. And I was **certain** about every one of these picks, too. That’ll teach me to brag about my first-round picks. ---
**Author:** ![Yeticus\_Rex](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/a698b9/32.png) [@Yeticus\_Rex](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yeticus_Rex)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2006, 9:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hockey-hows-your-team-doin/352874/257 "2006-05-18T21:23:44Z")
Ahhhh…the Conference finals, this is the best part of the playoffs, since we can just focus on one game per day, alternating between East and West. I like Anaheim’s chances since they have 4 solid lines in case an overtime games (very likely) are played. But Edmonton is definitely on a momentum high and they will be tougher than the Avs for sure. Our PK is in the stratosphere, our speed will match up with any of the remaining teams, and our goaltending is strong. Our passes rarely miss their mark and our faceoff % is better than 50%. The hitting and checking will be hard and furious and Edmonton might have an edge, but barely. These games are gonna be nail-biters, each and every one of them. I’M SOOOOOOO EXCITED!!! On the other side, my heart says Buffalo, but my head says Carolina, and the tiebreaker comes down to my gut…GO BUFFALO!!! ---
**Author:** ![Rysto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ecccb3/32.png) [@Rysto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rysto)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2006, 3:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hockey-hows-your-team-doin/352874/258 "2006-05-19T03:55:47Z")
[QUOTE=Not A Tame Lion] On the bright side, as the announcers pointed out last night, SJ is the youngest team in the league; this series may serve as a valuable lesson for the future. [/QUOTE] They’ve been saying that for 7 years about Ottawa. Things haven’t really improved here. ---
**Author:** ![Not\_A\_Tame\_Lion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/e36b37/32.png) [@Not\_A\_Tame\_Lion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Not_A_Tame_Lion)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2006, 4:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hockey-hows-your-team-doin/352874/259 "2006-05-19T16:31:06Z")
[QUOTE=Rysto] They’ve been saying that for 7 years about Ottawa. Things haven’t really improved here. [/QUOTE] A good point. Why did you have to make it and kill my buzz? You’re right, though: there are no guarantees. ---
**Author:** ![Harborwolf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c89c15/32.png) [@Harborwolf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harborwolf)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2006, 11:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hockey-hows-your-team-doin/352874/260 "2006-05-20T11:32:21Z")
No surprise Edmonton won. They’ve been playing great hockey while Anaheim has been gathering rust. It’s going to be interesting to see if the Oilers can keep it up. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hockey-hows-your-team-doin/352874.md?page=12) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hockey-hows-your-team-doin/352874.md?page=14)