Nhl Playoffs Start Tonite.

[Tim]

Great games by all teams. I must say I was highly impressed by the Penguins come back from a 3 - 0 game in the second period to take game #1 with a score of 5 - 4. Game 2 is today at 2:00 PM EST.

The Philadelphia/ Montreal last night was also a great game to watch. Lots of action as hockey should be.

Best of luck to all NHL teams in their quest to win the Stanley Cup.

Tremolo - How's everything been with you? I have not sen you on the Fret Net lately. I hope all is well with you. I was good to see you in the photograph that Robert posted.

[tremoloman***]

Great Philly vs. Montreal game last night!

I'm torn who to cheer for. Montreal is Boston's arch enemy and knocked us out of the playoffs more times than any team has in professional sports. There is plenty of bad blood between both teams over the years.

Philly has taken several cheap shots at Boston this year and were assessed 3 game suspensions in games vs. the Bruins early in the season. The worst one was the Randy Jones hit from behind that knocked out our best player Patrice Bergeron for the season with this boarding penalty.

I was surprised by the lack of discipline the Flyers showed by taking another 5 minute major last night it. It put Montreal right back in the game and almost wound up costing them. Very exciting matchup nonetheless!

Marnold: I don't know if San Jose and Detroit will get a chance to meet again based on San Jose's poor play. They have been absolutely DREADFUL once they gain a lead. If they don't win tonight they're tuna!

[Tim]

Yep, I watched that one. Great game indeed.

GO PENS!!

We may be playing Philadelphia. 3rd round being played in the same state. That would be wild.

Enough said.

[marnold***]

Marnold: I don't know if San Jose and Detroit will get a chance to meet again based on San Jose's poor play. They have been absolutely DREADFUL once they gain a lead. If they don't win tonight they're tuna!

Nope. The fat lady isn't singing just yet, but she's warming up.

[ZMAN]

Hey Marnold: My brother lived in Detroit, and I got him to get me a Jersey from Joe Louis. I wear it everytime I play on the red team. I grew up in Hamitlon Ontario and our Junior A team was the Red Wings. I got to see a lot of the current brass play when they were kids.
I really love the way they control the puck and it is a pleasure to watch.
Go Wing Go.

[marnold***]

Hey Marnold: My brother lived in Detroit, and I got him to get me a Jersey from Joe Louis. I wear it everytime I play on the red team. I grew up in Hamitlon Ontario and our Junior A team was the Red Wings. I got to see a lot of the current brass play when they were kids.
I really love the way they control the puck and it is a pleasure to watch.
Go Wing Go.

Very cool! I grew up just north of you (if my geography is correct) in Bay City, MI. Believe it or not, a former girlfriend got me hooked on the Red Wings. She was a huge hockey fan, especially of the local AHL affiliate in Saginaw. I saw, among others, Eddie the Eagle before he moved to the big club in Chicago.

[Tim]

Nope. The fat lady isn't singing just yet, but she's warming up.

She is still singing!!

Great game 4 for the San Jose Sharks. Sharks 2 / Dallas 1. Thanks to Marleau, the Sharks scored a second night with a 4 on 5 Dallas Power play. No sweep for Dallas this time. It’s back to San Jose.

Awesome game Philadelphia!! Philadelphia 4 / Montreal 2. Briere's goal gives Flyers 3-1 series lead over Montreal. Briere scored on a rebound with 3:38 left to lift Philadelphia to a 4-2 win over the Canadians on Wednesday night and a 3-1 lead in the Eastern Conference semifinals. R.J. Umberger scored into an empty net in the final seconds, his second goal of the game. Can the Flyers eliminate the top-seeded Canadians in Game 5 on Saturday night in Montreal?

[marnold***]

She is still singing!!

Great game 4 for the San Jose Sharks. Sharks 2 / Dallas 1. Thanks to Marleau, the Sharks scored a second night with a 4 on 5 Dallas Power play. No sweep for Dallas this time. It’s back to San Jose.

Has Marleau been forgiven now that he's had back-to-back shorties? He was pretty much the goat for jumping out of the way of the game-winning goal the other night.

[Tim]

Nice game last night from the Rangers. It's back to Pittsburgh for their death. Yager should go to Hollywood after last night's performance on the ice.

Let's go PENS

[marnold***]

Well, evidently the Wings learned from the Nashville series. They didn't give the Avs any air to breathe and chased Jose for the third time. I don't know how keen I am on them having a bunch of time off, but as Mike Babcock said, ending a series means no more games where someone can be hurt. The Stanley Cup playoffs are a war of attrition.

[Tim]

The Stanley Cup playoffs are a war of attrition.

Injuring the spleen is not a healthy thing for the body. I hope Avery has full recovery.

[Tim]

Nice game last night from the Rangers. It's back to Pittsburgh for their death. Yager should go to Hollywood after last night's performance on the ice.

Let's go PENS

Nice try Rangers, but you did not try hard enough. It is now off the the Turnpike Playoffs with the Philadelphia Flyer's.

Yager really should go play for the Russia team. He would not be booed in Pittsburgh any more.


Let's go PENS

[Tim]

Not to many Fretters active on this post.

We are down to the final four. Dallas and Detroit for the Western Division and Pittsburgh and Philadelphia for the Eastern Division.

Injuries, injuries, injuries, and more injuries. I love a good hard hitting game. (banging on the backboards)

Good luck to all teams. : :


GO PENS!!!

[birv2]

Although I live closer to Philly, I'm pulling for the Pens now that my beloved Sens are playing golf.

I think the Pens have too much speed and firepower for the Flyers, and if Fleury stays strong, they should win this series. Against Detroit? I'll have to think about that.

[R_of_G]

The Flyers have a lot of work to do if they are going to make a series out of this. For starters, they need to control the puck in their own end a LOT better or this will be over in another two games. Injuries haven't helped the Flyers, but I will make no excuses for them. They are simply being out-played by the Pens right now. Things could change, but I don't see it happening.

Out West, I hate to say this, but Detroit is just too good for Dallas to stand a chance. Their ability to create scoring chances is phenomenal, and the guys that they have know how to finish. Most of their good chances end up in the net. I think Dallas may win a game in Dallas, but I don't think this series will be going 7 games [Dallas will be lucky to get it to 5].

I think Detroit is too strong for Pittsburgh too, but a team with Crosby and Malkin always stands a chance, so we'll see what happens.

At least Tim is happy, his team is winning.

[Tim]

At least Tim is happy, his team is winning.

OH YEA!!!!!!!!

Actually, I have been enjoying all games played by all the teams. It's just that some games are a bit more enjoyable than others. If you know what I mean? :

[R_of_G]

OH YEA!!!!!!!!

Actually, I have been enjoying all games played by all the teams. It's just that some games are a bit more enjoyable than others. If you know what I mean? :

I know exactly what you mean. If the Flyers were up 2-0 instead of down 2-0 it'd be a lot more enjoyable. That said, I think they did a bit better in game 2, but still not enough to get a win out of it. Playing with 5 defensemen after Coburn got hurt definitely hurt their chances, but they still need a greater team effort.

[R_of_G]

So both Dallas and Philly still have life in them. It's an uphill task for both of these teams for sure having to beat Detroit and Pittsbugh respectively in four straight games, but it is not impossible, just highly unlikely. We shall see how it plays out.

Some observations on Pitt/Phi Game #4

The Flyers finally showed up for game 4, but only for the first two periods. The third period they were not trying to win but trying to not lose, and they came within a goal of doing just that. They still don't show that killer instinct. They had their foot on the Penguins neck but refused to press down. Martin Biron's goaltending won that game for them. The team defense fell apart in the third. They will need 60 minutes of solid hockey to win game 5 in Pittsburgh.

Also, Sydney Crosby may have all the talent in the world, but he is a crybaby. I have never seen anyone in the NHL whine to the referees after every single play about penalties he thinks should have been called. He's got more talent than anyone since Mario, but he needs to quit the griping and just play the game. At least he didn't take a dive in game 4 like he has in almost every game so far these playoffs.

[Tim]

Sorry, there was no game #4 for the Penguins. They just ice skated around the Wachovia area to pass time.

Where would you want the Prince of Wales trophy to be present to them. In Philadelphia with an arena full of boos or back home where everyone stayed after the game to cheer on their winning team?

We are on to the Stanley Cup. May the best team win.

GO PENS