# The 2008 NHL Hockey Playoffs - Steppin' It Up for the Stanley Cup **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [April 7, 2008, 6:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-2008-nhl-hockey-playoffs-steppin-it-up-for-the-stanley-cup/444362 "2008-04-07T18:50:29Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 8
**Author:** ![garygnu](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/garygnu/32/2924_2.png) [@garygnu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/garygnu)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2008, 7:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-2008-nhl-hockey-playoffs-steppin-it-up-for-the-stanley-cup/444362/141 "2008-05-03T19:31:00Z")
How about we call it even? In game 3, ref Don Van Massenhoven fucked up and robbed a goal from Thornton; if that goal counted the game wouldn’t have even gone to overtime. ---
**Author:** ![Harborwolf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c89c15/32.png) [@Harborwolf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harborwolf)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2008, 8:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-2008-nhl-hockey-playoffs-steppin-it-up-for-the-stanley-cup/444362/142 "2008-05-03T20:15:50Z")
[QUOTE=borschevsky] Well, all the TSN guys were shocked that the goal was disallowed, and I certainly thought it was a good goal. He didn’t make a kicking motion with his leg, so the goal should count. [/QUOTE] I watched the replay on youtube and while he didn’t make a kicking motion, his foot kind of dragged it into the net. In cases like that where things are unclear, more often than not they’ll let the ruling on the ice stand. The shaft/glove goal was even less clear. No way you can let that goal stand. ---
**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:** [May 4, 2008, 2:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-2008-nhl-hockey-playoffs-steppin-it-up-for-the-stanley-cup/444362/143 "2008-05-04T14:41:34Z")
[QUOTE=Harborwolf] his foot kind of dragged it into the net. In cases like that where things are unclear, more often than not they’ll let the ruling on the ice stand. [/QUOTE] His foot was dragging because he was stopping. The fact of the matter is that the rule as it is worded currently, sucks. It doesn’t matter now anyway, that game is over. And tonight the series will be over. ---
**Author:** ![Rysto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ecccb3/32.png) [@Rysto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rysto)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2008, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-2008-nhl-hockey-playoffs-steppin-it-up-for-the-stanley-cup/444362/144 "2008-05-04T17:16:26Z")
[QUOTE=adam yax] The fact of the matter is that the rule as it is worded currently, sucks. [/QUOTE] I disagree. The last thing that the NHL wants to do is have to judge intent when deciding whether a goal is good or not. That would be a never-ending source of controversy. Better a clear, unambiguous rule that’s overzealous than one that’s dependent on a subjective determination of intent. ---
**Author:** ![Darth\_Sensitive](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/58956e/32.png) [@Darth\_Sensitive](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darth_Sensitive)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2008, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-2008-nhl-hockey-playoffs-steppin-it-up-for-the-stanley-cup/444362/145 "2008-05-04T17:38:16Z")
But there was no distinct kicking motion by any stretch of this Dallasite’s imagination. They’ll close it out at home. And I won’t get to go grumbebitchwhinemoan. ---
**Author:** ![Rysto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ecccb3/32.png) [@Rysto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rysto)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2008, 5:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-2008-nhl-hockey-playoffs-steppin-it-up-for-the-stanley-cup/444362/146 "2008-05-04T17:44:35Z")
Morrow swept his foot towards the goal line, and the puck deflected off of it and in. That’s all that’s necessary to disallow the goal\*. - Actually, it’s slightly more complicated than that in weird situations where the puck is kicked and then deflects off of something into the net, but for most cases what I just said suffices. ---
**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:** [May 4, 2008, 10:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-2008-nhl-hockey-playoffs-steppin-it-up-for-the-stanley-cup/444362/147 "2008-05-04T22:10:04Z")
[QUOTE=Rysto] Morrow swept his foot towards the goal line, and the puck deflected off of it and in. That’s all that’s necessary to disallow the goal\*. - Actually, it’s slightly more complicated than that in weird situations where the puck is kicked and then deflects off of something into the net, but for most cases what I just said suffices. [/QUOTE] The rule as it is says ‘distinct kicking motion’. No chance in hell that was a kicking motion. ---
**Author:** ![Rysto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ecccb3/32.png) [@Rysto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rysto)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2008, 10:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-2008-nhl-hockey-playoffs-steppin-it-up-for-the-stanley-cup/444362/148 "2008-05-04T22:39:23Z")
Well, the NHL, the guys who wrote and interpret that rule, disagree. ---
**Author:** ![garygnu](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/garygnu/32/2924_2.png) [@garygnu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/garygnu)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2008, 5:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-2008-nhl-hockey-playoffs-steppin-it-up-for-the-stanley-cup/444362/149 "2008-05-05T05:59:40Z")
Well, I was watching Game 6 on a delay off my DVR, and even though I added an hour at the end of the scheduled time, it stopped after the first overtime. I missed all of the second and almost all the third. Epic saves by both Nabby and Turco in OT1. Epic all around. ---
**Author:** ![Darth\_Sensitive](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/58956e/32.png) [@Darth\_Sensitive](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darth_Sensitive)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2008, 6:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-2008-nhl-hockey-playoffs-steppin-it-up-for-the-stanley-cup/444362/150 "2008-05-05T06:06:27Z")
I’m staying up to finish this game. Amazing play by the guys in both nets. ---
**Author:** ![as\_u\_wish](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/6f9a4e/32.png) [@as\_u\_wish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/as_u_wish)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2008, 6:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-2008-nhl-hockey-playoffs-steppin-it-up-for-the-stanley-cup/444362/151 "2008-05-05T06:08:22Z")
My son and are are still up. Tomorrow will be a long day. We’re thinking, though, that the refs should award the win to the goalies. Nabokov and Turco will move on to the conference finals and face the Detroit Redwings. ---
**Author:** ![Darth\_Sensitive](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/58956e/32.png) [@Darth\_Sensitive](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darth_Sensitive)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2008, 6:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-2008-nhl-hockey-playoffs-steppin-it-up-for-the-stanley-cup/444362/152 "2008-05-05T06:26:00Z")
SUCK IT SHARKS! My stars: 1 - Turco 2 - Morrow 3 - Nabby ---
**Author:** ![as\_u\_wish](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/6f9a4e/32.png) [@as\_u\_wish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/as_u_wish)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2008, 6:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-2008-nhl-hockey-playoffs-steppin-it-up-for-the-stanley-cup/444362/153 "2008-05-05T06:29:10Z")
Eighth longest game…and you were there. What a game. Can we go to bed now? ---
**Author:** ![Darth\_Sensitive](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/58956e/32.png) [@Darth\_Sensitive](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darth_Sensitive)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2008, 6:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-2008-nhl-hockey-playoffs-steppin-it-up-for-the-stanley-cup/444362/154 "2008-05-05T06:33:46Z")
If only I was there. The family almost got tickets. Grumblebitchschoolandtestsforthesiblingsancmomtomorrowwhinemoan. But I’m too hyped to go to bed yet. ---
**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:** [May 5, 2008, 10:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-2008-nhl-hockey-playoffs-steppin-it-up-for-the-stanley-cup/444362/155 "2008-05-05T10:35:21Z")
I just woke up to the good news. I went to bed after the 3rd OT. FTR, I was at the 4th longest game in NHL history when the Stars lost to the Ducks in 2003, I think it was. ---
**Author:** ![Harborwolf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c89c15/32.png) [@Harborwolf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harborwolf)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2008, 2:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-2008-nhl-hockey-playoffs-steppin-it-up-for-the-stanley-cup/444362/156 "2008-05-06T02:06:09Z")
Allright. We’ve made it to the conference finals. Pittsburgh Penguins vs. Philadelphia Flyers: The matchup Pennsylvania was waiting for. The Penguins picked apart the Rangers defense. Will the Flyers fare much better? Maybe. They are more physical than the Pens have faced this round. The Penguins seem like a team on a mission. Biron will stand on his head enough to make things interesting, but Pittsburgh takes the series. **Penguins in five**. Detroit Red Wings vs. Dallas Stars: This was the matchup I wanted, because I can’t stay up for those pesky ten o’clock games. I’ll start with the requisite record dismissal. Detroit beat a Nashville team that was never a match for them and a Colorado team that was more bandages than pads. Dallas took on the Ducks who were more interested in the golf course and a Sharks team who rode their goalie to death. Now that we’ve got that out of the way, Dallas has never played well against Detroit and they’re stumbling into the series when they should’ve swept in on four straight. Osgood has been steady behind one of the best defensive corps in the league and a lineup with two of the top defensive forwards. The forwards are deep as well. Zetterberg, Franzen, and Datsyuk have been tearing things up and the bottom two lines can make a mess. Detroit _should_ win this. They have to put the pressure on Turco from the outset. He’s never played well against them with no wins career in the Joe and only two wins otherwise. The longer he goes without being scored on, the more confident he and his team will get. I’m not concrete, but I’ll take Detroit. **Red Wings in six**. ---
**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 9, 2008, 3:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-2008-nhl-hockey-playoffs-steppin-it-up-for-the-stanley-cup/444362/157 "2008-05-09T03:49:33Z")
Is there any stopping the Wings? I don’t know what’s in the water of the St. Clair River but Detroit sure seems to keep putting out great caliber teams. With all the Canadian teams out, I say, Go Wings! ---
**Author:** ![5-HT](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/5/f19dbf/32.png) [@5-HT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/5-HT)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2008, 5:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-2008-nhl-hockey-playoffs-steppin-it-up-for-the-stanley-cup/444362/158 "2008-05-09T05:54:25Z")
[QUOTE=Leaffan] Is there any stopping the Wings? I don’t know what’s in the water of the St. Clair River but Detroit sure seems to keep putting out great caliber teams. With all the Canadian teams out, I say, Go Wings! [/QUOTE] The St. Clair river isn’t really that close to detroit. ---
**Author:** ![Kid\_A\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ed8c4c/32.png) [@Kid\_A\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kid_A_1)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2008, 12:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-2008-nhl-hockey-playoffs-steppin-it-up-for-the-stanley-cup/444362/159 "2008-05-09T12:21:13Z")
Though the Detroit River is surprisingly close. ---
**Author:** ![St.Urho](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/8e7dd6/32.png) [@St.Urho](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/St.Urho)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2008, 8:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-2008-nhl-hockey-playoffs-steppin-it-up-for-the-stanley-cup/444362/160 "2008-05-09T20:53:07Z")
[QUOTE=Leaffan] Is there any stopping the Wings? [/QUOTE] No. No, there is not. Go Wings! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-2008-nhl-hockey-playoffs-steppin-it-up-for-the-stanley-cup/444362.md?page=7) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-2008-nhl-hockey-playoffs-steppin-it-up-for-the-stanley-cup/444362.md?page=9)