2009 Stanley Cup Playoffs Thread

[kane9321]

go wings

 

[Shifty]

NHL Playoff Pool Standings:
1. JRPJCDJC - 98 Points
2. Immortalfire - 84 Points (Predicted the entire DET/ANA series correctly)+6
3. Themanofbat - 82 Points
3. NewYorkSpider - 82 Points
5. Shifty - 78 Points (Picked CAR in 7)+4
6. kane9321 - 74 Points
7. ih8nyy - 64 Points

I also didn't recieve Shifty's picks. I think he's on vaction if I'm not mistaken.

Toronto/Montreal vacation. That Carolina in seven could've helped my finish with some dignity. Went to the Hockey Hall of Fame and got my pic with Lord Stanley's Cup. Every hockey fan has to make a trip.

 

[NewYorkSpider]

Toronto/Montreal vacation. That Carolina in seven could've helped my finish with some dignity. Went to the Hockey Hall of Fame and got my pic with Lord Stanley's Cup. Every hockey fan has to make a trip.

That's pretty awesome.

 

[Immortalfire]

This is one great game tonight

 

[Immortalfire]

Malkin with a hat trick!

 

[NewYorkSpider]

NHL Playoff Pool Standings:
1. JRPJCDJC - 102 Points
2. Immortalfire - 90 Points
3. Themanofbat - 86 Points
3. NewYorkSpider - 86 Points
5. kane9321 - 78 Points
6. ih8nyy - 72 Points

 

[kane9321]

hey canes...put a body on malkin please

 

[NewYorkSpider]

NHL Playoff Pool Standings:
1. JRPJCDJC - 102 Points
2. Immortalfire - 90 Points
3. Themanofbat - 88 Points
3. NewYorkSpider - 88 Points
5. kane9321 - 78 Points
6. ih8nyy - 74 Points

 

[Immortalfire]

Penguins beat that ass...Malkin with 2 goals. Sidney who?

 

[Yurka]

Love me my Pens, what a spanking....again.

 

[NewYorkSpider]

NHL Playoff Pool Standings:
1. JRPJCDJC - 102 Points
2. Immortalfire - 90 Points
2. NewYorkSpider - 90 Points
3. Themanofbat - 88 Points
5. kane9321 - 78 Points
6. ih8nyy - 74 Points

 

[Kargo Warrior]

I cannot be more proud of the Wings...after losing a heartbreaker last game,playing without their 2 best players (Lidstrom and Dats) they're demolishing Chicago.

We're a victory away from a rematch from last years cup...and deservedly so,by far the 2 best teams in the league at the moment.

 

[NewYorkSpider]

NHL Playoff Pool Standings:
1. JRPJCDJC - 102 Points
2. Immortalfire - 90 Points
2. NewYorkSpider - 90 Points
3. Themanofbat - 88 Points
5. kane9321 - 78 Points
6. ih8nyy - 74 Points

Nothing changed

 

[The Incredible Hulk]

so the NHL just decided that on a Monday that's a national holiday when everyone is home on a long weekend, to have a day off for both of the Conference Finals?

 

[kane9321]

I know boston feels sick to their stomachs now. The pens are manhandling the canes..but bruins couldnt?

 

[Eric Draven]

Bruins didn't have Crosby and Malkin shooting on all cylinders

 

[Shifty]

so the NHL just decided that on a Monday that's a national holiday when everyone is home on a long weekend, to have a day off for both of the Conference Finals?

The NHL is dragging out the Conference Finals and Stanley Cup Finals since NBC will be airing the first few games of the SCF in primetime. But NBC didn't want a hockey game to create a lower audience for Conan O'Brien's first few nights on The Tonight Show (June 1).

2009 Stanley Cup Finals Schedule May Need to Move Up
May 26, 2009 by
Robert Dougherty

Chicago BlackhawksThe 2009 Stanley Cup Finals schedule may include the Red Wings and Penguins soon enough. But the 2009 Stanley Cup Finals schedule may give them a long wait if nothing is changed. Nowadays, the Stanley Cup Finals schedule doesn't start until June, due to TV. Yet the 2009 Stanley Cup Finals schedule thus far is pushing it, which is making the NHL re-examine if they want to give the Red Wings and Penguins a possible 8-day break until the Stanley Cup Finals.

As it looks now, the Red Wings and Penguins could both wrap up berths in the 2009 Stanley Cup Finals within two days. The Penguins can finish a sweep of the Carolina Hurricanes tonight, with the Red Wings set to close out the Chicago Blackhawks in five tomorrow.

The start date of the 2009 Stanley Cup Finals schedule was set for Friday, June 5, since both the Eastern and Western Conference Finals would not end in a sweep. But if nothing changes in the Stanley Cup Finals schedule, and both the Red Wings and Penguins win their next game, they will not play each other for over a week.

Very often, major sports run the risk of having a long break before their final series. One or both teams in the World Series, NBA Finals and Stanley Cup Finals risk going over a week before playing again, if they win their previous series quick enough.

For teams that have a long rest going into the championship series, they face constant, incessant questions about being off too long. The Phillies got this question before the World Series last year, but still handled the Tampa Bay Rays in five.

Both the Red Wings and Penguins could face those questions when they finally start the 2009 Stanley Cup Finals schedule. As usual, the needs of television would get the blame, as NBC and Versus need to set the Stanley Cup Finals dates on specific nights. TV needs are also the reason that the first two games of the 2009 Stanley Cup Finals will take place on back-to-back nights.

But in this case, a week plus layoff for the Red Wings and Penguins may be pushing it. So the NHL and NBC are set to save face, assuming the Red Wings and Penguins do win their next games.

Hockey should be on every night until there are two teams left. Have a max two days off between rounds.

 

[Alex The Great]

God I hope Detroit wins, I don't want to see that smug little bastard Crosby holding up that beautiful trophy

 

[Microchip]

Oh there's no way that Pittsburgh will win. The Pens may have the more glamorous stars, but Detroits got way more talent and depth, plus defense that should be able to shut the Crosby/Malkin threat down without too much trouble. A healthy Lidstrom means Detroit gets the cup.

 

[kane9321]

go wings go

 

[ih8nyy]

Zezel dies after battling blood disorder
Associated Press

TORONTO -- Peter Zezel, a center who played 15 NHL seasons after breaking into the league with the Philadelphia Flyers as a teenager, has died. He was 44.

Zezel struggled with the rare blood disease hemolytic anemia for the past 10 years and died on Tuesday. Zezel suffered from the ailment off and on, but had rebounded after being in critical condition in 2001.

He was admitted to the hospital last week for scheduled surgery, but complications developed and his conditioned worsened.

"Peter will forever be remembered as a great teammate and a wonderful individual who touched the lives of many both on and off the ice," Zezel's family said in a statement released by the National Hockey League Players' Association. "In his typical character of generosity, Peter donated his organs through the Trillium Gift of Life Network."

The gritty center was known on the ice for his strong two-way game. In 873 NHL games with Philadelphia, St. Louis, Washington, Toronto, Dallas, New Jersey and Vancouver, Zezel had 219 goals and 389 assists.

His matinee idol looks also earned him a small role in the 1986 hockey-based movie "Youngblood" that starred Rob Lowe and Patrick Swayze.

Zezel was born in Toronto and played junior hockey with the Toronto Marlies before the Flyers chose him with the 41st pick in the 1983 draft. He made his NHL debut in 1984 when he was 19.

He scored a career-best 33 goals in the 1986-87 season for the Flyers and recorded a combined 49 assists for Philadelphia and St. Louis in the 1988-89 campaign.

"Peter was the ultimate caring friend and teammate," Maple Leafs alumni board member Mark Osborne said. "He was so dedicated to his family and friends and he would always freely give of his time and energies to help someone else.

"He was truly a passionate and loyal friend both on and off the ice. Our hockey family is devastated."

Zezel helped the Maple Leafs to a pair of conference final runs in 1993 and '94 and later spent a couple of seasons with the Canucks.

"He was the consummate professional and he always carried himself with great class as a human being," Maple Leafs general manager Brian Burke said. "Peter will be greatly missed."

Following his NHL career, Zezel remained active in the hockey community, running a successful hockey school and coaching in the Greater Toronto Hockey League with the Don Mills Hockey Association.

"Peter was a dedicated professional and a valued member of our organization during his time in Vancouver," the Canucks said in a statement. "He will be deeply missed by his family and friends."

Zezel was also an active member of the NHL Alumni Association and completed countless hours of charitable work during and following his hockey career.

Instead of flowers, Zezel's family asked that donations be made in his name to the James Birrell Fund at the Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto.

"The hockey community has suffered a great loss," said Glenn Healy, a former goalie who is now the NHLPA director of player affairs. "Peter was a friend and a great family man who was well liked by everyone he crossed paths with in our game."

Plans for a memorial service weren't immediately announced.

From ESPN.com

 

[Immortalfire]

How sad...only 44. RIP.

 

[SolarTiger]

oilers hire quinn as head coach and tom renney as associate coach.

 

[Immortalfire]

Bye bye Hurricanes.

 

[DChero]

God I hope Detroit wins, I don't want to see that smug little bastard Crosby holding up that beautiful trophy

If it doesn't happen this year it will happen soon. I think the debate is pretty much over for this year who the best player is when their team needs to win.

Crosby is actually a really nice guy, it's just a matter of jealous fans of other teams hating being beat by the poster-boy for the NHL. Since he was 18 he had to represent the entire league. Who else gets scrutinized as much as he does? I think he handles it really well.

We are fortunate enough to see the three best players in the league since Gretzky and Lemieux. It's a shame that mostly people believe they should only support one or two.