STANLEY CUP PLAYOFFS ARE HERE BABY WHO YOU GOT???

[Merlin]

Love Sid Crosby's maturity. He was a bit of a cry baby early, took his lumps and now, he takes all the opposing bullcrap, the fan bullcrap, the jealousy, all of it, and then just goes out and wins the F'N Stanley Cup.

Yeah I still dislike the dude from his early days. But in terms of the greatest players in this league, there's him then everyone else. Greatness man, no denying it.

What's most interesting to me right now is the scoring disparity that shows in this year's playoffs. The East has always scored more goals it seems, but in the West you have a lot of teams that are defensively playing extremely well. I think the difference in round one has been well over one goal per game difference (nearly two last I counted it up) in the East series vs the West series. That is a seriously crazy disparity.

And it's what I alluded to above a bit wrt the Knights--IF they can win--and how their success might lead to some changes in the west. The last decade the West basically built itself around being able to stand toe to toe with the Kings in the playoffs, but as the game continues to change to one of speed and skill I think we're going to eventually see that shift out west.

Oh and btw absolutely re: how nice it would be to see Fleury get a cup. Dude never really was appreciated in Pittsburgh outside of very good fan base support. Great guy man. Did you know that the VERY DAY he flew to Vegas he jumped in on a community relations gig in the city where they were teaching kids how to play the game with free sticks and stuff and was immediately involved? So being able to witness this whole chapter of his career has been a joy. Love seeing good people get rewarded man, hope it happens.

 

[Ramlock]

And it's what I alluded to above a bit wrt the Knights--IF they can win--and how their success might lead to some changes in the west. The last decade the West basically built itself around being able to stand toe to toe with the Kings in the playoffs, but as the game continues to change to one of speed and skill I think we're going to eventually see that shift out west.

Oh and btw absolutely re: how nice it would be to see Fleury get a cup. Dude never really was appreciated in Pittsburgh outside of very good fan base support. Great guy man. Did you know that the VERY DAY he flew to Vegas he jumped in on a community relations gig in the city where they were teaching kids how to play the game with free sticks and stuff and was immediately involved? So being able to witness this whole chapter of his career has been a joy. Love seeing good people get rewarded man, hope it happens.

Like the speed and skill game

Flower seems like an awesome dude...great story

 

[dieterbrock]

@Boston Ram with the friggin jinx AGAIN.....
Cmon Bruins!!

 

[Merlin]

Yeah gonna tune in to the Bruins/Leafs right after work, can't wait. I love watching a matchup like that when I have nothing on the line. Nothing like a game 7 in the NHL playoffs man.

Got a sixer of Old Chubb chillin in the fridge... Any of you ever try it? Stuff is off the chain man. So good.

 

[HeiseNBerg]

Oh and btw absolutely re: how nice it would be to see Fleury get a cup. Dude never really was appreciated in Pittsburgh outside of very good fan base support. Great guy man. Did you know that the VERY DAY he flew to Vegas he jumped in on a community relations gig in the city where they were teaching kids how to play the game with free sticks and stuff and was immediately involved? So being able to witness this whole chapter of his career has been a joy. Love seeing good people get rewarded man, hope it happens.

I wouldn't say Fleury was unappreciated in Pittsburgh - he had a very public life with community involvement while he was there. He was truly beloved by the city and its fans - all the proof you need is when VGK came to Pittsburgh and they gave Fleury a video tribute. The crowd went absolutely nuts, chanting "Fleury, Fleury" as if he had just stonewalled a sniper on a breakaway.

The sad truth is the business side of the game left the Pens FO with a tough decision regarding Fleury and Matt Murray - they chose to invest in the future. I would've loved to see Fleury play his entire career as a Penguin (they could have left Letang and his overinflated salary unprotected for the expansion draft last year instead....I would've been cool with that).

But yeah, I'd be happy to see him win a cup with VGK to go with the 3 he won with the Pens (don't forget about 2009, when he was the main guy between the pipes).

Here's the vid:

 

[Merlin]

I wouldn't say Fleury was unappreciated in Pittsburgh - he had a very public life with community involvement while he was there. He was truly beloved by the city and its fans - all the proof you need is when VGK came to Pittsburgh and they gave Fleury a video tribute. The crowd went absolutely nuts, chanting "Fleury, Fleury" as if he had just stonewalled a sniper on a breakaway.

Yeah that's why I specifically mentioned the fans. He's definitely well-loved by them. My comment was re: the Pens' front office and staff, where through some of his early years and even later when they exposed him in the expansion draft you could see that they didn't value him as an elite guy.

But he is elite IMO. That's the disparity at least so far as I can see it, and I suspect that Pittsburgh realizes that now.

 

[HeiseNBerg]

Yeah that's why I specifically mentioned the fans. He's definitely well-loved by them. My comment was re: the Pens' front office and staff, where through some of his early years and even later when they exposed him in the expansion draft you could see that they didn't value him as an elite guy.

But he is elite IMO. That's the disparity at least so far as I can see it, and I suspect that Pittsburgh realizes that now.

The FO sometimes has a short memory when there's money involved.

Lest they forget that during LAST year's playoffs, it was Fleury who stepped in when Murray got injured (during pre-game warmups) and got the Pens to the Eastern Conference Finals (capped off by shutting out the Caps in Game 7 in their own barn).

 

[Boston Ram]

@Boston Ram with the friggin jinx AGAIN.....
Cmon Bruins!!

See I was right lol. Toronto was losing early more than Boston was winning. Andersen is in the Bruins head. They need to crash the net, shoot more and get in front of him. They need to stop passing so much and getting cute. Bruins are the better team which makes this so frustrating. If Boston dominates the 1st and are not winning Toronto will win. It will also be the end of Tuukka. If he loses he will be the first and only goalie to lose 3 separate game 7s when his team was up 3-0, 3-1 and 3-2. Talk about the ultimate choke.

Let’s go B’s!!!!

 

[RhodyRams]

Leafs and B's trading goals in game 7 2-2 in the 1st

 

[dieterbrock]

3-2 good guys after 1...

 

[Ramlock]

Like you, I'm hoping CBJ-WSH goes the full 7 games...and hopefully they'll beat the crap out of each other along the way

Malkin's ankle buckled during Game 5 Friday night (I only saw the 3rd period, but I don't remember him NOT being on the ice with his line).

Other thoughts on yesterday's game: I think Riley Sheahan proved that he's being wasted on the 4th line -- he did a hell of a job centering the Malkin line in Gm 6. Brassard still looks shaky trying to move the puck. With a fully healthy roster, I'd put Sheahan on the 3rd line, let Rowney center the 4th line, and healthy-scratch Brassard.

Well, you’re getting one of your wishes; Sheahan skated with Kessel and Dominik Simon on the 2nd line in Malkin’s place.

Brassard with Sheary and Rust
Aston-Reese-Rowney-Kunhackl

Hamelin didn’t travel. Concussion?

Malkin travelled with the team.

Both skated on their own this morning, so that’s good.

 

[Ramlock]

4-3 Leafs in the 2nd

 

[RhodyRams]

Bruins can't control the puck tonight

 

[RhodyRams]

What a 3rd period for the Bruins.. scoring 4 to win 7-4

 

[dieterbrock]

Just want to apologize to @Boston Ram for all the mean things I was saying about you when the B’s were down 4-3. Haha

 

[Boston Ram]

Just want to apologize to @Boston Ram for all the mean things I was saying about you when the B’s were down 4-3. Haha

I understand lol. It’s the heat of the moment. But boy was that a bad series for them. Reminds me of their 2 recent cup runs. Really bad first round, now we just need to see them turn it up a notch. Hard to believe how young this team is. I’m ready for Tampa now lol.

 

[Ramlock]

3 goals in the 3rd and now, a power play

 

[HeiseNBerg]

3 goals in the 3rd and now, a power play

Pens are perfect on the road this postseason, which is surprising given their road record during the regular season.

Meanwhile, VGK is curb-stomping San Jose. They just went up 4-0, and it's still in the first period. Damn! Martin Jones will probably get the hook at the intermission.

 

[Ramlock]

Pens are perfect on the road this postseason, which is surprising given their road record during the regular season.

Meanwhile, VGK is curb-stomping San Jose. They just went up 4-0, and it's still in the first period. Damn! Martin Jones will probably get the hook at the intermission.

Marc Andre is sitting in a lawn chair with an umbrella drink!

Murray was absolutely brilliant tonight against that lineup...brilliant.

The stops he made in the 2nd and 3rd periods are Cup winning stops.

Beware of the Penguins

In round 1, I thought they came out like the 3 days off had revitalized the Penguins and it led to the 7-0 thrashing of the Flyers.

In the Capitals house, this was as impressive...without Malkin and Hagelin too.

The defending champs sent a message.

 

[Ramlock]