JamesNorthern
Active member
I find both conference finals are what playoff hockey is all about, with a slight preference for the Ducks Hawks series, as those get the nod for seat of your pants entertainment. Those two teams as so close...
The Playoffs Thread
- Thread starter andyt
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HeyKurtz
Well-known member
Two thoughts...
1. What the hell is the NHL thinking having this game start at 9PM East Coast time at the end of a long holiday weekend? A 5PM PDT start would have made a lot more sense. I'm usually pretty willing to stay up late for playoff hockey, but I was wiped out last night and packed it in when the Ducks were up 3-1. Bad missed opportunity to showcase a wildly entertaining game.
2. I hate to ever say that Mike Milbury was right about something, but he clearly bested Keith Jones during the first intermission. Jones had already declared the Hawks dead after Anaheim crushed them in the first and was calling for Quennville to pull Crawford and rest him for game six. Milbury adamantly disagreed, saying essentially that Chicago couldn't and shouldn't throw in the towel after one period. All Milbury would concede was that if Chicago went down by four or were still trailing by three after the second period, then he would consider pulling Crawford. Mad Mike was right...for once!
1. What the hell is the NHL thinking having this game start at 9PM East Coast time at the end of a long holiday weekend? A 5PM PDT start would have made a lot more sense. I'm usually pretty willing to stay up late for playoff hockey, but I was wiped out last night and packed it in when the Ducks were up 3-1. Bad missed opportunity to showcase a wildly entertaining game.
2. I hate to ever say that Mike Milbury was right about something, but he clearly bested Keith Jones during the first intermission. Jones had already declared the Hawks dead after Anaheim crushed them in the first and was calling for Quennville to pull Crawford and rest him for game six. Milbury adamantly disagreed, saying essentially that Chicago couldn't and shouldn't throw in the towel after one period. All Milbury would concede was that if Chicago went down by four or were still trailing by three after the second period, then he would consider pulling Crawford. Mad Mike was right...for once!
To his credit, Jones ate a healthy serving of crow at the 2nd intermission.
HurryCanes
Well-known member
Reading about Hitch's one year reprieve with the blues. Interesting that a few local pundits are thinking that his assistant, Captain Kirk Muller, might be the next coach.
bagopux
Well-known member
Ranking of coaches by career record with the Canes:
1. Lavi (167-122-6-28)
2. Muller (80-80-27)
3. Maurice (384-391-99-46)
4. Peters (30-41-11)
SlapShots
Well-known member
Have to wonder if JR's philosophy versus Armstrong's philosophy is different. JR hamstrung Muller in some player management decisions.
Ding, ding, ding.
I believe that Muller was too soft as a head coach in general and thus struggled to get his concepts through to even the more willing players, but it's clear that he labored under some mandates from Jimmy that we counter-productive as well. EVERYbody messed up that tenure.
JamesNorthern
Active member
Where's Jack Evans when you need him?
CanadaCanes
Well-known member
And best of all...no NBA playoffs or anything else big in the world of sports for the NHL to compete with this weekend. Friday and Saturday night Game 7's with some of the largest markets in New York, Chicago, Southern California and Florida represented. Bettman must have wet himself with excitement.
Whadda you mean nothing to compete? The FA Cup final is this weekend and my beloved Aston Villa is playing.
OK ... that effects maybe two of us.
Seriously, I've been VERY pleased to watch all the games in both series and I'm more than happy to have 2 game 7s on tap for the weekend. You really couldn't ask for more.
Pucking Lamplighter
Well-known member
Bettman probably wears Depends.
There's definitely gonna be some great hockey coming up. Wouldn't it be fun if our team actually contended and was still in the mix? Damn you JR.
Jim
There's definitely gonna be some great hockey coming up. Wouldn't it be fun if our team actually contended and was still in the mix? Damn you JR.
Jim
My Gunners are going to hammer your Villans. But the match will be over by 2:30, 3 if they go to extra time. :couch
HeyKurtz
Well-known member
Go Villa! (Even if Tim Sherwood is their manager.)
GlenwoodAvenueHooligans
New member
As much as I like to see 2 non traditional hockey markets in the SCF purely for the utter dismay and horror it causes to the so-called "hockey purists" both North and (a few hundred miles) South of the border, this year I am all for the Original 6 final. Oh, and Rangers are my 2nd favorite team, so there's that.
And FA Cup is the oldest and biggest (based on the # of teams competing) soccer competition in the world, and its final is played on one of the most iconic and storied stadiums in the world, and it's always fun to watch. Even if you don't particularly care either way for either team playing (which is the case w/ me this year), it's still well worth watching. But for the soccer fans, the real icing on the cake is next Saturday when Barcelona and Juventus play in the Champions League final.
And FA Cup is the oldest and biggest (based on the # of teams competing) soccer competition in the world, and its final is played on one of the most iconic and storied stadiums in the world, and it's always fun to watch. Even if you don't particularly care either way for either team playing (which is the case w/ me this year), it's still well worth watching. But for the soccer fans, the real icing on the cake is next Saturday when Barcelona and Juventus play in the Champions League final.
Yeah, probably. But you have no chance if you don't show up, and Benteke on form and Delph in midfield give us a puncher's chance if nothing else.