NHL 2011-2012 Thread

[technomancer]

Originally Posted by Pav

Lundqvist was unreal. The Caps had no chance trying to ride Braden Holtby alone.

The Ranger D was pretty unreal as well... the Caps just couldn't maintain control of the puck in the offensive zone

[Hemi-Powered Drone]

Damn, I was really pulling for the Caps. Looks like the East will be fun to watch, though.


The West, however, even though I like the teams, will be a tad boring. They're both defensive teams so it'll pretty much be Smith v. Quick. I expect many OTs and many 0-1 and 2-1 games.

[Pav]

Yeah, I'll watch the WCF just to see whether it's Mike Smith or Jonathan Quick to be pegged as the next elite-level goaltender, but that series is going to be very defensive.

On the other hand, the Devils and Rangers in the ECF is going to be a freakin' warzone. I'm still trying to wrap my mind around how the shot-blocking defensive-minded New York Rangers are about to host the offensive guns of the New Jersey Devils. Epic roll reversal.

[Hemi-Powered Drone]

Originally Posted by Pav

Yeah, I'll watch the WCF just to see whether it's Mike Smith or Jonathan Quick to be pegged as the next elite-level goaltender, but that series is going to be very defensive.

On the other hand, the Devils and Rangers in the ECF is going to be a freakin' warzone. I'm still trying to wrap my mind around how the shot-blocking defensive-minded New York Rangers are about to host the offensive guns of the New Jersey Devils. Epic roll reversal.

I'm expecting huge amounts of SOG from them, this series will probably be very taxing on Brodeur so I think he may sit out at least one game.

[Pav]

Originally Posted by dragonblade629

I'm expecting huge amounts of SOG from them, this series will probably be very taxing on Brodeur so I think he may sit out at least one game.

It occurred to me earlier tonight that if the Devils end up winning the Cup this year, I'm SURE Brodeur will retire. FINALLY.

[Hemi-Powered Drone]

Originally Posted by Pav

It occurred to me earlier tonight that if the Devils end up winning the Cup this year, I'm SURE Brodeur will retire. FINALLY.

I don't know, I feel like he may try and stay for five more seasons so he can beat Howe's record for most seasons played. Even if the Devils don't want him someone will take him, heck I bet even if he were 45 he wouldn't be a bad goalie and could benefit teams like Tampa who have abysmal goal-tending.

[Pav]

I'm not so sure of that. The past two seasons, this last one especially, he's becoming noticeably fragile on the ice, missing time throughout the season with random strains and muscle injuries. I wouldn't doubt that a goalie-desperate team like Tampa would throw him money (after all...Roloson...), but it's getting to the point where Marty himself has to be feeling it after every game. A Cup sooner rather than later would be the perfect opportunity for him to bow out on the highest note possible and save himself later damage.

[Hemi-Powered Drone]

Hey, Roli is 42 and he was never half the goalie Marty is, he could go in for the long haul, even if he starts to play less games. But yeah, he definitely has been showing signs of age recently, but when he's on his game, he's still a fantastic goalie.

[Pav]

Yeah, and when Marc-Andre Fleury is on his game, Pittsburgh is almost undeniably the most dangerous team in the NHL.

GOD ....ING DAMMIT.

[technomancer]

Originally Posted by Pav

Yeah, and when Marc-Andre Fleury is on his game, Pittsburgh is almost undeniably the most dangerous team in the NHL.

GOD ....ING DAMMIT.

Said it before, I'll say it again, the Rangers should be sending the Flyers thank you cards as their odds of making it to the Stanley Cup Finals went up by about 90% when Pittsburgh went out

[Hemi-Powered Drone]

Damn, I lost a Gentleman's wager on that game. I mean, 4-2, who saw that coming?

[Pav]

Originally Posted by technomancer

Said it before, I'll say it again, the Rangers should be sending the Flyers thank you cards as their odds of making it to the Stanley Cup Finals went up by about 90% when Pittsburgh went out

Yep. Pens and Flyers in round one was a huge break for the rest of the eastern conference.

Anyone read about Dale Hunter bowing out in Washington? That dude's coaching style made NO sense. He gave his $6+ million scorers less ice time than his most average checkers. And benching Mike Knuble for not scoring enough goals? Retarded. Knuble has been one of the few Caps signings in recent years that almost tricked me into believing George McPhee actually knows how to win a Cup...and then they bench him, while Alex Ovechkin is continuing to produce at a more and more mediocre rate. I'm becoming less and less surprised that Varlamov wanted to be traded out of there, although I have to imagine there were other circumstances surrounding that situation.

[Unknown Doodl3.2]

^ Couldn't disagree more. I thought Hunter did an awesome job with the team. It took a while, but when you can get a guy like Semin to block shots and play a team game (and it's not like it really affected his offensive upside), you're a winner in my books.

[Pav]

His style of coaching could turn out to be just what their formerly, casual-minded core needed. He turned an offensive-minded team into a responsible defensive unit, that's for sure. The problem is, look at the Caps' roster. They aren't constructed to play a defensive game. A huge portion of their cap space is taken up by high-priced scorers. He instituted his system regardless.

If the experience gained by the core of their team translates into the future, I'll gladly shut the hell up. But Hunter had a defensive style that he tried to apply to an offensive roster, and his inability to adapt to it just...doesn't make sense. You can't spend close to $10mil per season on a player that puts up 60-something points, playing under 15 minutes per game, but he tried to force it.

[Unknown Doodl3.2]

I think that was a decision that was taken within context as far as the treatment of Ovie. If he played the entire playoffs, or hell, the entire regular season the way he did the final 2-3 games against NYR then I don't think he would have been playing sub 15 minutes per game.

I certainly get your point though. As a Habs fan we've had to deal with similar crap over the last couple of years trying to make quick and nimble forwards play tough defense.

[Pav]

Yeah. Plus you guys have Scott Gomez.

[technomancer]

So what is it with the Rangers and game twos?

[Hemi-Powered Drone]

I wouldn't say the whole Rangers, mostly Lundqvist.

[technomancer]

Originally Posted by dragonblade629

I wouldn't say the whole Rangers, mostly Lundqvist.

I don't know, the whole team looked pretty flat last night

[technomancer]

AWESOME! Just looked and the later rounds of the IIHF are being televised

[C2Aye]

The LA Kings have only lost one game so far and are 3-0 up in the WCF. Pretty amazing how well they've been playing.

[technomancer]

Yeah I've been watching the games this round, the Kings look fantastic.

As a bonus the IIHF game they decided to air tonight is the rebroadcast of Russia / Finland and Geno has a hat trick.

Tomorrow should be a good hockey day, Kings Coyotes at 3 and then Russia Slovakia for the IIHF gold medal at 9

[Pav]

So do you guys think the Rangers can actually go all the way? Dan Girardi and Ryan McDonough will be covered with bullet holes by the time the playoffs are over, playing 30 minutes a game and blocking such an insane amount of shots.

[Psyy]

I can't help but think the Devils are going to the finals over the Rangers. There hasn't been a single period where the Devils have looked like the worse of the two (rather that they're just being slightly outplayed) but the Rangers have looked like they don't even belong in the Conference Finals in more than a few of the periods they've played. Right now the Rangers are riding Girardi and Macdonaugh's shot blocking and Lundqvist's spectacular goaltending. Even if the Rangers somehow make it past the Devils I can't see them overcoming a LA team that, in my opinion, has almost as strong defense, a much better offense, and an equally spectacular goaltender in Jonathan Quick.

[Demiurge]

Originally Posted by Psyy

I can't help but think the Devils are going to the finals over the Rangers. There hasn't been a single period where the Devils have looked like the worse of the two (rather that they're just being slightly outplayed) but the Rangers have looked like they don't even belong in the Conference Finals in more than a few of the periods they've played. Right now the Rangers are riding Girardi and Macdonaugh's shot blocking and Lundqvist's spectacular goaltending. Even if the Rangers somehow make it past the Devils I can't see them overcoming a LA team that, in my opinion, has almost as strong defense, a much better offense, and an equally spectacular goaltender in Jonathan Quick.

I think the Rangers will win this series in 7, but if I'm a Rangers fan, I can't feel that good about their chances in the Finals. It has been way too hard for them to win each of their series, between all the overtime and additional games, and they'll go to the finals with way more miles on their odometer than the Kings. The Kings have played 14 playoff games and the Rangers will have played at least 20 official games (plus at least the equivalent of 2 more with all the overtime periods).