2011 Stanley Cup Playoffs: Showdown!

[Pink Ranger]

Forced to play on back to back nights because of....Lady Gaga

LOL NHL

She'd probably make a better NHL commissioner than Bettman.

 

[Shifty]

Those banners from the 70's will not mean a thing when one day the Islanders are forced to leave New York to another city. How does Winnipeg sound? or Seattle?

Atlanta was the first team Truth North Sport and Entertainment (Winnipeg owners which includes 17th richest person in the world) had their sights on, even two years ago TNSE didn't get involved with the Coyotes mess when they were up for auction.
They patiently waited for Atlanta Spirit Group's 7 year no-movement clause to expire and then the Coyotes situation carried on and the NHL needed some leverage over the City of Glendale with the threat of relocation. With Winnipeg getting Atlanta there would be no real threat. Kansas City still sits empty but no owners are willing to pay full price right now for a team. So with the NHL trying to work out a deal that ultimately will likely have them leave in 5-7 years, Atlanta will get some more attention.

MAYOR DOUBTS COYOTES WILL RETURN, BUT WILL THE THRASHERS?
TSN.ca

While speculation grows over the possibility of the NHL moving back to Winnipeg, the city's mayor is not convinced that it will be the Phoenix Coyotes returning.

"Do I believe the Coyotes are coming to Winnipeg - my answer would be no," mayor Sam Katz said on Wednesday. "I don't believe that. I believe the Coyotes will stay in Phoenix and they will do everything they can, because I happen to know some of the commitments that were made when they went there. And there were commitments that - if they were not fulfilled - there could easily be a lawsuit. So I think you have to start looking at some of the other potential franchises."

While the NHL, the City of Glendale and Matt Hulsizer's focus remains on keeping the Coyotes in Arizona, the future of the Atlanta Thrashers also hangs in the balance and sources say Atlanta is waiting for the league to determine the fate of the Coyotes.

According to sources, if a deal is made to keep the Coyotes in Glendale, there's a chance the Thrashers will move quickly into negotiations with True North to move the team to Winnipeg. A source close to the situation added that when it comes to relocation, there simply isn't anywhere else to go.

There are also questions as to whether Thrashers ownership and True North could work out an agreement, but the possibility is not being ruled out.

If the NHL is unsuccessful in closing the deal and the Hulsizer sale crumbles, the Coyotes become the likely target for Winnipeg while the league's attention will shift to the Thrashers and an effort to keep the team in Atlanta.

League sources say the negotiations to close the sale in Glendale are ongoing and that no decision has been reached yet, while all involved are hopeful a resolution can be reached no later than next week.

The NHL would prefer this since it would likely move Detroit or Nashville or Columbus into the Eastern Conference with Atlanta going to Winnipeg. Columbus makes the most sense going into the Southeast but Detroit has more pull with the league but that would upset more divisions.

Winnipeg > Northwest
Colorado > Pacific
Dallas > Central
Columbus > Southeast

• Columbus is the Eastern time zone and would have less travel.
• Dallas would prefer having less away games against the Pacific Division, less travel, fewer late TV games.
• Colorado has less Canadian teams visiting and less travel.
• Winnipeg is back with their old Smythe Division rivals and MIN is the nearest team.

 

[Pink Ranger]

Ah, I miss the days when the divisions had names instead of geographic designations.

I wonder what the two additional divisions would have been called if the NHL retained the named divisions.

 

[TheZink]

Ugh, why does the Penguins game have to be the 2nd one this evening? I've only been able to watch one entire game this series and that was the game Tampa Bay decided to hand Pittsburgh their own ass.

Also, I'm hoping if Nashville gets further in the playoffs Fox Sports South gets with the act and plays the games live. Last year Versus was blacked out for our area and to watch the game I had to record it at 3:00AM the next morning

 

[kane9321]

wings in 6

sharks in 6

 

[Assassin]

There shouldn't even be a Hockey team where you don't get snow

 

[kane9321]

There shouldn't even be a Hockey team where you don't get snow

Oh snaps..its on now son

 

[Hush]

Would you guys like a change back to the 5 games for the first round? I personally would.

 

[Poeman]

I really do feel Seattle or Portland and Winnipeg need teams in the NHL.

Would be great for the game as those cities would have diehard fans.

 

[Pink Ranger]

Seattle and Portland would be great, just to cut down on my Canucks' travel time.

 

[Yurka]

The Penguins power play this series makes me sick.

 

[Poeman]

How does Recchi not score there? lol

 

[Pink Ranger]

OMG, that was a sick, sick, sick slapshot from Subban.

 

[Immortalfire]

Bruins!

 

[Poeman]

ugh i hate the city of Boston...**** town

 

[Matt]

Ugh, Pens....perfect opportunity at the end of the game and you just couldn't get one in. I know that this is an unpopular opinion, but its time to trade Fleury.

He's only ever been a decent goal tender with an exceptional supporting cast. Games with a lot of shots on him, he lets a lot in. Its that simple. When the offense can keep pressure on the other side, he's fine. When they can't, he breaks down. Its time to trade him while he still has value based on his hype (which won't go anywhere as the sports media loves him). Get a few young prospects including a goalie for the trade. It will also open up some cap room which the Pens desperately need as if this season showed anything, its that they fall apart without Malkin and Sid.

 

[Microchip]

It will also open up some cap room which the Pens desperately need as if this season showed anything, its that they fall apart without Malkin and Sid.

Lol ok, but I don't agree with this at all. Malkin and Crosby are their two best players by far, and you act as though they're supposed to just soldier on when they lose top scorers. Which they did, actually. They played quite a few successful games without them, and then dragged out a series against a team missing nobody of importance from their roster.

Going seven games while missing those guys like Malkin and Crosby is nothing to be ashamed of, and although it hurts being out in the first round, they did quite well with what they had. I don't think anyone expected nor should expect that they would be missing both their stars.

And don't worry about Fleury. Goalies can go hot and cold and back again, just look at Ryan Miller and Tim Thomas.

 

[Matt]

Lol ok, but I don't agree with this at all. Malkin and Crosby are their two best players by far, and you act as though they're supposed to just soldier on when they lose top scorers. Which they did, actually. They played quite a few successful games without them, and then dragged out a series against a team missing nobody of importance from their roster.

Going seven games while missing those guys like Malkin and Crosby is nothing to be ashamed of, and although it hurts being out in the first round, they did quite well with what they had. I don't think anyone expected nor should expect that they would be missing both their stars.

And don't worry about Fleury. Goalies can go hot and cold and back again, just look at Ryan Miller and Tim Thomas.

Fleury isn't a matter of simply being on a cold streak. He is a matter of being inconsistent on a regular basis. Like I said, the second pressure gets turned up on him, he breaks.

 

[Microchip]

He was great tonight. Rolly was just better. Or maybe his defense was just better. Fleury posted a 957 average, nothing wrong with that. Plus he's got a cup and a cup final to his name, unlike my team's goalie

 

[Matt]

He was great tonight. Rolly was just better. Or maybe his defense was just better. Fleury posted a 957 average, nothing wrong with that. Plus he's got a cup and a cup final to his name, unlike my team's goalie

People put too much stock into that cup. Loyalty loses in sports. He has the cup because Crosby and Malkin's constant attacks assured that very few shots were taken on Fleury. When the pressure is on Fleury, he will break. The Pens should use the massive hype that surrounds their average goalie to trade him for a few great prospects.

 

[Pink Ranger]

Boston vs. Philly! t: The survivors will envy the dead.

 

[Shifty]

Ouch. Add on top of that Jobing.com Arena only has 8 arena dates from now until October. 8!

NHL sends Glendale $25 million bill for Coyotes' losses
- Apr. 28, 2011 12:00 AMThe Arizona Republic

Glendale has until Monday to pay $25 million to the National Hockey League to cover this season's Phoenix Coyotes losses, according to a bill sent to the city Tuesday.

The documents, sent a week after the team finished its season in the playoffs, show that actual losses for eight months ending in March totaled $36.6 million.

Glendale promised the NHL last year that it would set aside $25 million from a utilities-repair account to pay team losses in exchange for more time to land a team owner. For months, the money sat untouched.

Glendale officials promised taxpayers at the time that the city would not have to pay the money if it found a buyer. Later, officials said the buyer would cover the expense.

But so far, Glendale's deal with team buyer Matthew Hulsizer remains incomplete as the city seeks financing.

Glendale spokeswoman Julie Frisoni said the city would audit the figures. She said negotiations continue and the city hopes to close a deal soon.

- Rebekah L. Sanders

Read more: http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarep...-coyotes-bill-for-glendale.html#ixzz1KpaESa1F

 

[ih8nyy]

The Penguins power play this series makes me sick.

Not nearly as bad as the Bruins was. 0-21.

Bruins!

ugh i hate the city of Boston...**** town

And I am pretty sure the city of Boston hates you right back.

 

[Pink Ranger]

And I am pretty sure the city of Boston hates you right back.

I don't think that's true. From what I can tell from watching TV, everybody from Boston is a post-ironic comedic actor, so they won't hate anybody.

 

[ih8nyy]

I don't think that's true. From what I can tell from watching TV, everybody from Boston is a post-ironic comedic actor, so they won't hate anybody.

You mean post-iroenic cahmedic ahcta.