I’m not up for a Detroit/Flyers rematch, uh uh. Detroit might be old, but they’re wily. They scare me a bit. I’m still hoping they get knocked off.
I loved how Esche got a penalty (justly so) for smacking a Leaf (with his pad) who was in his crease, while Belfour did not receive a penalty when he left the crease and punched Brashear twice after Brashear scored. Ridiculous.
Question. Several times during the broadcast it was mentioned that Nieuwendyk had “not left Toronto” and wasn’t playing in Game 2. Only he was in Game 1 in Philly. What were they talking about? Why would he have been in Toronto?
Sounds like they simply made a mistake. If he played in game one but wouldn’t play in game two, they likely sent him back to Toronto in advance.
As for Belfour, it was after the play had ended. That sort of thing tends to be ignored during the playoffs unless things get really out of hand. Brashear had also scored on the play. I’m not saying that it isn’t crap, but they don’t usually call that sort of thing unless they see blood or it goes on too long.
Then they made that same mistake over and over again - I heard this probably a half-dozen times. Still, this wasn’t ESPN’s “A” team, not by a long shot.
Can’t agree about Belfour, though. The fact that he did so after a play makes it more noticeable, of course, and referees generally will call penalties then more often than during a play (i.e., they let the players play through the infraction).
Since Brashear had just scored and was being congratulated by his teammates, the goalie jumping his ass from behind and throwing two rabbit punches is contemptible. He may wind up in the Hall someday, but he’s a complete chickenshit.
If Belfour had merely jumped up and gotten in Brashear’s face, I would agree with you. Instead, he rushed over to him and punched him. Even the more jaded ref should call that.
As I said, it’s a crappy reason but they tend to let things like that go after the play and especially after a goal. For what it’s worth, he’ll likely be a marked man for the refs in tonights game. It also means that Philly is getting to him.
I’m getting a bit tired of Gary Thorne and Bill Clement, espn’s two talking monkeys for most of the “big games.” Last night they spent 10 minutes bitching about a goaltender interference call against Forsberg, even though Forsberg clearly aimed his stick and left skate at Nabokovs right pad as the puck was shot. And this after he tries to hand pass the puck into the net the game before…
Well San Jose has proven that they can out score and out grind the Avalanche. Nabokov has proven he can stand up to the best the Avs can throw at him. Good show sharks. Wrap it up and take some time off
IMO they were right to question it. Forsberg was pushed into the goalie by the defenseman. For some reason, the refs rarely consider that when assessing goaltender interference penalties.
But I’m glad they lost, because if the Flyers do make it to the finals I think they might have an easier time against the Sharks. Or not.
I bet this has to do with the fact that those pansy Leafs ran home to Toronto between games 1 and 2 rather than stay in Philly. Niequwendyk went back to Toronto with the team, but had not returned with them for the Game 2 trip, hence he had “not left Toronto”.
So let me get this straight. They played a tough seven-game series against Ottawa, then have one off day before beginning the series against the Flyers on the 22nd. They then have two off days between Games 1 and 2 (April 23 and 24), so they go back to Toronto? Only to come back on the 25th for Game 3?
That’s insane. That’s pathetic management, if that’s what happened. What the hell are they doing, roaming from country to country like that? Jeebus, sit down and rest, you twits! It’s not like Philly and Toronto are down the street from each other.
The Bolts steal one from the Canadiens on their home ice, with Brad Richards, who played his junior hockey in the area sealing the win, two great goals. And that goal to send the game into overtime with 16 seconds left from LeCavalier was just incredible!!
Khabibulin took everything the Canadiens could dish out, making lots of great point blank saves. Even though he let in three they were very tough shots. The 3rd goal was a total screen and great shot. I was sure then that they were sunk but they displayed great tenacity in coming back for the win.
Just hope that they can get one more in Montreal on Thursday night to complete the sweep.
:D:D:D
He’d get my vote for playoffs MVP, I think. Considering how many shots and scoring chances Montreal had, they should have walked away with the game.
I was hoping the 'Nads would win, because (always thinking ahead) I think the Flyers would have a better time with them than with the 'Ning. But while they did play some gutsy hockey, they let the Lightning steal that game from them.
(Did anyone else think both teams seemed pretty slow? Or maybe it was the grade-Z broadcast team of whatshisface and Brian Engblom; they seemed to be about five minutes behind the play.)
I saw it here on Sunshine Network, but I only saw bits of the first and second periods, since I had to go out for dinner with my family, listened to the rest of the second on local radio, then caught the third and very brief OT at the local Sports bar. I didn’t think it was slow, at least the bits I saw seemed like a full-court press the whole time. If anything the Canadiens seemed a bit rushed and maybe would have benefited from slowing the play and setting up better. But I’m a rank amateur in hockey analysis so what do I know?
It’s tough to slow down the lightning. They play an up tempo game and have the players to play it well. Montreal plays a similar style and has players that are nearly as good as the lightning, so they would suffer just as much as Tampa under a more conservative system.
As for Philly having an easier time against the bolts, I’m not so sure. Philly is big and they play a tough game, but they aren’t tremendously speedy. The bolts are certainly not a group of heavy hitters, but they are tremendously skilled and likely the fastest team in the NHL. I’m not going to make a guess on the outcome of that series, but I do think it is going to be really interesting.
It was good to see the Wings back to playing stupid hockey again. Who leaves Iginla open in front of a net? That had to have been the dumbest play of the night. If the wings are going to win one in Calgary (and they need to), they have to calm down and get back to playing tight, controlled hockey. No more arguing every call. No more stupid penalties. No more arguing every non call.
Well, we’ll see. I think the deciding factor in such a series wouldn’t be speed vs. strength but rather which goalie does the proverbial headstand. Both are white hot right now and flourish when they get a lot of shots (as most goalies do).
The Flyers play physical hockey, but they’re not slow. Amonte, Kapinen, Markov, Malakov… these are fast dudes. Recchi too, come to think of it.
Well, well… Avs win again, series 3-2 in favor of the Sharks. Sakic scores his second consecutive OT game-winner…dare I dream of a huge comeback by Colorado?
Not quite yet. Right now every extra game the Avs can give me is a gift, as far as I’m concerned. I still don’t think they have much of a chance to win the series, but considering how they’ve played the last two games, a spark of hope remains…
And how about them Flames, eh? Regardless of whether Colorado makes it past this round, I’ll be happy to see someone send the Wings packing…
[QUOTE=<snip> And how about them Flames, eh? Regardless of whether Colorado makes it past this round, I’ll be happy to see someone send the Wings packing…[/QUOTE]
What, no one, all day long, has been responsible or sober enough to congratulate the 6th seeded Flames on ousting the not-so-beloved and 1 seeded Red Wings from the playoffs? For shame!
Cheers to Calgary! (Which used to be my boyhood team in Atlanta lo these many years ago)
May they reach the Cup, but lose to the Lightning!
I’ll be pulling for the Leafs tonight, if anyone cares.
