NHL Playoffs (1 Viewer)

[Warrior]

The Caps played so tight I thought Ovechkin's head was going to explode. They should deal him to some team out west while he still has trade value. The Ovi Caps are clearly not a Cup contender no matter how well they play in the regular season. They have been given enough opportunities. And he is not getting any younger. Time to spend the remainder of his career scoring meaningless goals for Arizona. I would throw in Shattenkirk for free. That guy really stinks. To think they played up the Caps getting him like they had traded for Wayne Gretzky is laughable now. St. Louis actually improved after they unloaded him. It is also frustrating that the top two NHL teams meet in the second round while Ottawa gets the NY Rangers. The NHL playoff format is bizarre. But onward. I'm pulling for Nashville now. If they play the Pens in the finals, it will be difficult to tell who is who on the ice.

As a fan of a team, I know it's monumentally frustrating to lose year after year in the playoffs when your team plays so well in the regular season. Some players rise to the occasion, others shrink in the spotlight.

Hockey is a funny game; I knew after the LET'S GO PENS!!! scored that first goal and Fleury was standing on his head that is was just not the Caps night.

As a Red Sox fan, year after year after year after year after year they'd lose to the MFY's, whether it was during the Civil War after they bought Babe Ruth from the REd Sox, during WWII, 1978, 1999, 2003 or any other year, they had our number, we finally broke through in 2004.

Same with the Bruins and the Canadiens; back in the stone age when there were 6 teams, all the best players in Canada got signed by Montreal, when I started following hockey in the 1970's, the Canadiens owned the Bruins, beating them in the playoffs in 1971, 1977, 1978 and 1979, they finally broke through in 1988, but recently things have reverted back to the old days, specifically in 2014 when the Bruins were absolutely loaded, they won the presidents trophy that year, but got knocked out by the Canadiens in the second round, that one will always leave a mark, that team should have won a Stanley Cup, just like the 1971, 1977, 1978 and 1979 teams.

When one team has your number, it's infuriating.

And yes, for a sport whos playoffs are so exciting, their playoff format is moronic, how the two best teams in the conference met in the second round is beyond me.

I'm pulling for the Senators if for no other reason than if they win the series, maybe that Bond villain of a coach will actually smile; I think they'll get rolled by the LET'S GO PENS!!!, but who knows.

It will be confusing though as we'll keep hearing LET'S GO PENS!! and think it's LET'S GO SENS!!....................................

 

[lancer]

It is ironic isn't it? Especially after the hubbub of the Bullets! Seriously, you just have to wonder at some people. I am still ultimately miffed over the Ole Miss Rebels, look at that one. They swapped out Colonel Reb for a "Black Bear" which is quite goofy and offensive if you think about it. It is just incredible. And look at the evolution of the Tennessee Volunteer, just boggles the mind. He now looks like a backwoods Davy Crockett.

TD

Tom, that symbol and name for a DC team just kills me. It is hilarious in it's stupidity. Can no one else in town see this? What a perfect combo for the nation's capitol, a KKK Wizard in the form of a swastika. Just incredible. :rolleyes2: -- Al

 

[Combat]

As a fan of a team, I know it's monumentally frustrating to lose year after year in the playoffs when your team plays so well in the regular season. Some players rise to the occasion, others shrink in the spotlight.

Hockey is a funny game; I knew after the LET'S GO PENS!!! scored that first goal and Fleury was standing on his head that is was just not the Caps night.

As a Red Sox fan, year after year after year after year after year they'd lose to the MFY's, whether it was during the Civil War after they bought Babe Ruth from the REd Sox, during WWII, 1978, 1999, 2003 or any other year, they had our number, we finally broke through in 2004.

Same with the Bruins and the Canadiens; back in the stone age when there were 6 teams, all the best players in Canada got signed by Montreal, when I started following hockey in the 1970's, the Canadiens owned the Bruins, beating them in the playoffs in 1971, 1977, 1978 and 1979, they finally broke through in 1988, but recently things have reverted back to the old days, specifically in 2014 when the Bruins were absolutely loaded, they won the presidents trophy that year, but got knocked out by the Canadiens in the second round, that one will always leave a mark, that team should have won a Stanley Cup, just like the 1971, 1977, 1978 and 1979 teams.

When one team has your number, it's infuriating.

And yes, for a sport whos playoffs are so exciting, their playoff format is moronic, how the two best teams in the conference met in the second round is beyond me.

I'm pulling for the Senators if for no other reason than if they win the series, maybe that Bond villain of a coach will actually smile; I think they'll get rolled by the LET'S GO PENS!!!, but who knows.

It will be confusing though as we'll keep hearing LET'S GO PENS!! and think it's LET'S GO SENS!!....................................

I'm not even a Caps fan and I'm frustrated on their behalf. I'm a Kings fan. I see a lot of the guys who play for the Caps at the AHL level with the Hershey Bears. So by default I pull for them in the East. Ottawa is like the Washington Generals to the Pens Harlem Globetrotters. That series maybe goes five. I don't think the Pens are as good as last year but they beat Ottawa.

 

[Panzer ace]

I still refer to them as the Bullets.

And I am in no way making excuses for the Capitals, but it is not like the Pens are some beer league team. They are really good and they are the defending Cup Champions. The history between the teams makes the loss seem worse than it is. It is also worth noting that Pittsburgh has won 9 of 10 playoff series against Washington and four of those times they went on to win the Cup.

Yup, the Capitals lose to the Penguins a lot in the playoffs and part of that is owed to their effort etc. However the Pens deserve some credit for being a great hockey team.

 

[lancer]

I still refer to them as the Bullets.

And I am in no way making excuses for the Capitals, but it is not like the Pens are some beer league team. They are really good and they are the defending Cup Champions. The history between the teams makes the loss seem worse than it is. It is also worth noting that Pittsburgh has won 9 of 10 playoff series against Washington and four of those times they went on to win the Cup.

Yup, the Capitals lose to the Penguins a lot in the playoffs and part of that is owed to their effort etc. However the Pens deserve some credit for being a great hockey team.

Yep, Bullets it is. Great teams with the likes of Unseld, Monroe, Chenier, and Marin. Long ago memories. -- Al

 

[Combat]

Yep, Bullets it is. Great teams with the likes of Unseld, Monroe, Chenier, and Marin. Long ago memories. -- Al

You forgot the Big E - Elvin Hayes. I caught a couple of Bullet games in the late 70s at the old Capital Centre in Landover. Abe Pollin was so cheap that the mascot was a wiener dog that pulled a miniature wagon. They were often not a pretty site but they did win one NBA championship. I read somewhere that Adrian Dantley is now a crossing guard at some school in DC. He apparently does it because he likes it.

 

[Panzer ace]

You forgot the Big E - Elvin Hayes. I caught a couple of Bullet games in the late 70s at the old Capital Centre in Landover. Abe Pollin was so cheap that the mascot was a wiener dog that pulled a miniature wagon. They were often not a pretty site but they did win one NBA championship. I read somewhere that Adrian Dantley is now a crossing guard at some school in DC. He apparently does it because he likes it.

I guess Pollin isn't the only cheap guy in sports (from Wikipedia):

During his career, Dantley was considered frugal. During his days with the Pistons, he was given a new Chevy truck to drive by the local dealer. Upon hearing about his trade to Dallas, he drove the truck to his new city, thus avoiding the plane fare, but causing the dealer to have to send a recovery team for their truck. After his brief coaching career, Dantley started work as a school crossing guard in Maryland. Dantley took the job for the health benefits since the NBA does not offer health insurance to retired players.

 

[Panzer ace]

I don't think they can't be considered expansion teams anymore but it is interesting to note that 3 of the 4 teams in the conference finals all joined the NHL after 1991 season.

 

[lancer]

I guess Pollin isn't the only cheap guy in sports (from Wikipedia):

During his career, Dantley was considered frugal. During his days with the Pistons, he was given a new Chevy truck to drive by the local dealer. Upon hearing about his trade to Dallas, he drove the truck to his new city, thus avoiding the plane fare, but causing the dealer to have to send a recovery team for their truck. After his brief coaching career, Dantley started work as a school crossing guard in Maryland. Dantley took the job for the health benefits since the NBA does not offer health insurance to retired players.

Dantley is a legendary cheapskate, but he managed to hang onto his money where many others have not. -- Al

 

[Combat]

Dantley is a legendary cheapskate, but he managed to hang onto his money where many others have not. -- Al

My favorite Bullet/Wizard might be Manute Bol. He was truly something to behold at 7'7 and thin as a stick. He somehow ended his career as a three-point specialist. Interesting how many of these athletes die at a young age.

 

[lancer]

My favorite Bullet/Wizard might be Manute Bol. He was truly something to behold at 7'7 and thin as a stick. He somehow ended his career as a three-point specialist. Interesting how many of these athletes die at a young age.

All this Bullets/Wizard stuff should be in the NBA section, I guess. But one last favorite of mine was Kevin Grevey. Manute picked up that 3-point stuff out west. Washington wouldn't let him shoot from out there.:tongue: -- Al

 

[Panzer ace]

All this Bullets/Wizard stuff should be in the NBA section, I guess. But one last favorite of mine was Kevin Grevey. Manute picked up that 3-point stuff out west. Washington wouldn't let him shoot from out there.:tongue: -- Al

Funny tie in for me, Manute Bol is one of my favorite Wizards and he ended up playing for the Warriors, and Al Iafrate is my favorite Cap and he ended up playing for the Sharks.

 

[LTC PaulN]

all this bullets/wizard stuff should be in the nba section, i guess. But one last favorite of mine was kevin grevey. Manute picked up that 3-point stuff out west. Washington wouldn't let him shoot from out there.:tongue: -- al

....please....

 

[Combat]

Huge win for the Preds last night. They caught the Ducks after a seven game series. You have to take advantage and get that road win in Anaheim which they did in OT. The Preds are tough to beat at home. So the table is now set for them. The Pens-Ottawa series will either be a cure for insomnia or maybe the Sens can make it interesting. The Pens don't look nearly as good as they did last year. The Caps outplayed them 5 out of 7 but are snake bit. The Pens seemed charmed in the playoffs. I'm predicting a 4-2 Pens series.

 

[tdubel]

Huge win for the Preds last night. They caught the Ducks after a seven game series. You have to take advantage and get that road win in Anaheim which they did in OT. The Preds are tough to beat at home. So the table is now set for them. The Pens-Ottawa series will either be a cure for insomnia or maybe the Sens can make it interesting. The Pens don't look nearly as good as they did last year. The Caps outplayed them 5 out of 7 but are snake bit. The Pens seemed charmed in the playoffs. I'm predicting a 4-2 Pens series.

Doug,

Say what you want about the PENS, they still field a terrific team and bottom line they beat the Caps.......wait for it..........again. Paper don't mean jack, it is how it plays out on the ice and the Pens over the years are consistently good if not great. Honestly, I get tired of the bent rant against the Pens. There is not any "charmed", they are just consistently one of the best teams in hockey and that comes from good players and play and yes being able to put it together during the playoffs.

As to the upcoming series, who knows? It will depend on their consistency and play on the ice, if they get by the Senators, then again, it will be about putting together a solid game plan, getting a little luck and winning the Cup. Same formula it is for every team at this point, they are all good or they would not still be in it. Injuries are not helping the Pens, last year they were 100% healthy for the most part, this year not so much. But, they still field a great team, just a matter of having enough gas in the tank to finish.

Again, this is not meant to be an argumentative post, I just think more credit should be given to the play of the Pens.

TD

 

[Combat]

Doug,

Say what you want about the PENS, they still field a terrific team and bottom line they beat the Caps.......wait for it..........again. Paper don't mean jack, it is how it plays out on the ice and the Pens over the years are consistently good if not great. Honestly, I get tired of the bent rant against the Pens. There is not any "charmed", they are just consistently one of the best teams in hockey and that comes from good players and play and yes being able to put it together during the playoffs.

As to the upcoming series, who knows? It will depend on their consistency and play on the ice, if they get by the Senators, then again, it will be about putting together a solid game plan, getting a little luck and winning the Cup. Same formula it is for every team at this point, they are all good or they would not still be in it. Injuries are not helping the Pens, last year they were 100% healthy for the most part, this year not so much. But, they still field a great team, just a matter of having enough gas in the tank to finish.

Again, this is not meant to be an argumentative post, I just think more credit should be given to the play of the Pens.

TD

They are a great team. You can't win the Cup without being good. I just said they did not appear to be as good as last year. They are still the favorite among the remaining four teams even playing at a lower level because they are so good. Ottawa, Nashville or Anaheim should be easy pickings. Nashville is the only team playing at a high level but their lack of playoff experience might hurt them on the big stage like it did with San Jose last year.

 

[Warrior]

Who's the moron at NBC who scheduled two live sporting events back to back, not factoring in time overlaps.........................what an idiot.

 

[LTC PaulN]

Who's the moron at NBC who scheduled two live sporting events back to back, not factoring in time overlaps.........................what an idiot.

...Some producer who didn't want any 'dead air' and isn't a hockey fan

 

[Warrior]

...Some producer who didn't want any 'dead air' and isn't a hockey fan

It was worth the wait, another great playoff hockey game, Sens win in OT, up 1 zip in the series........................

 

[Combat]

It was worth the wait, another great playoff hockey game, Sens win in OT, up 1 zip in the series........................

Ottawa looked like the fresher team. Very similar to the Preds-Ducks with the home team coming off a tough seven game series. That is one that the visiting team has to steal and both got it done in OT.