2012 NHL Playoffs (LA Kings: Stanley Cup Champs)

[El-Producto]

Looks like Bitz is getting the Shanhammer.  http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=627505

Too bad, he's a good guy who made a dumb play.  I'm guessing no more than a game being playoffs, first time offender.

Hey Byron - Next time pull up before your hit, grab his head and slam it into the glass.  Then you can just give Shanny some pizza money.

[kronovan]

Pretty craptastic effort by the Canucks - looks like they're back to playing the way they were before Daniel got injured. Giving up two 3 -on- 5's in the 1st is just foolish. If they don't put Scheider in net to save them from their follies, they're out.

Ironically enough, goaltending wasn't the issue.

Correct.  Without LALONGO that game is like 8-2 Kings.

I'm not saying Luongo wasn't good, but that Scheider would have let in less. Compare their records for the regular season. I'm betting Coach V comes back with Luongo next game, and with his psychological composure he'll probably play poorly.

Seriously?  Luongo could only be blamed for the Richards 5 on 3 goal.  The other two he had ZERO shot on.  And he prevented at least 5 clear cut goals with some great saves.  That one goal aside, I don't think he could have played any better.

Yes seriously, Schneider is just that much better; albeit it's a small margin. Not that Schneid can't have a bad game, but you can always be confident if he does, or if the team manages to lose, he'll come back next game confident and as cool as a cucumber.

[Kagath]

I believe Weber thought he was hit high and from behind (which I think he was) so he took things into his own hands.

And, of course, it takes a non-Red Wings fan to point out that, just maybe, Zetterberg did something wrong, too. 

That's OK Theo, we can't wait to read your comments on here about the Sharks . 

You'll be screaming bloody murder if someone gets knocked down.

[Isgrimnur]

I plan on watching the Blues game tonight just so I can be issues my Official theohall Poking Stick.

[gellar]

AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH.  HAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAH.  From HFBoards:

[leo8877]

I was wondering why you hadn't mentioned his crashing into Quick yet. 

[gellar]

I was wondering why you hadn't mentioned his crashing into Quick yet. 

TBH, I didn't really catch the hilarity of the dive the first few times I saw it.  It definitely looked like interference, but a marginal one (understandably missed by the refs).

However, looking at the replays I'm seeing two things:

1) It was clear interference, Quick is in the crease.
2) LOL DIVE LOL.

I'd be a lot more upset if the Kings didn't you know, win the damn game.

[gellar]

In more trolololing of the Canucks antics from the game, Burrows immediately after getting destroyed by Mr Richards:



Let me play the conversation out for you.

Burrows: HEY THAT WAS MEAN.
Mr. Richards: What?
Burrows: OMG I FALL DOWN NOW.

[JayDee]

The LA Kings will be my team to root for this year since my Leafs suck.

Two reasons:

1) The jerseys. My god, the jerseys rule.

2) They allow their Twitter guy to post this to their official twitter page:

LA Kings ‏ @LAKings
To everyone in Canada outside of BC, you're welcome.

Go Kings!

[Devil]

I know it will be fun to watch Vancouver go home, but it will be a little sad not to see these pics/videos anymore.

[kronovan]

2) They allow their Twitter guy to post this to their official twitter page:

LA Kings ‏ @LAKings
To everyone in Canada outside of BC, you're welcome.

Go Kings!

While the Canucks may be the whipping team in this thread they're far from that in Canada. According to this Macleans Magazine and Angus Reid poll the Leafs hold that dubious honor by a good margin.

The Canucks as Canada’s most hated team? Think again. A new Angus Reid Public Opinion poll conducted in partnership with Maclean’s has found that Toronto—not Vancouver—is the country’s most hated hockey team. It turns out Vancouver, which has worn the “hated” label since last spring’s failed Stanley Cup run, is actually one of the country’s most popular teams. Montreal, meanwhile, is the country’s favourite club.

Leafs are the most hated team by 20% of those in Ontario.   Anyhow good to see you back in a hockey thread here making posts again. BTW, do you still think Burkie is the great rebuilder of the Leafs? 

[gellar]

It's been a few years since I've had an avatar, but I think this one warrants it.

[pr0ner]

It's been a few years since I've had an avatar, but I think this one warrants it.

That avatar is win, sir.

[gellar]

Bitz suspended two games and Clifford will be out for Game 2 at least.  Kevin Westgarth or Andrei Loktionov will be in to replace.  My guess is Westgarth given that this is a fourth line role.  Westgarth will be looking for revenge for his buddy.

[gellar]

LOL.  From a Vancouver Province blog:

Also, it might not have made it to TV, but at one point during a stoppage in play, Alex Burrows put a pile of ice on his stick and lifted it up for Mike Richards to snort. You know it’s playoff time when the cocaine taunts start rolling in.

LOL.  OK Alex, you win that one.  WELL DONE.

Though if it's what sparked Richards RAWRSMASH performance perhaps that was not quite the person to anger.

[gellar]

For Leo:

http://www.battleofcali.com/2012/4/12/2934966/sharks-gameday-fighting-saints

[leo8877]

For Leo:

http://www.battleofcali.com/2012/4/12/2934966/sharks-gameday-fighting-saints

Woo, eat it Frenchie! 

[Devil]

Stupid Rangers

[JayDee]

@kronovan

I'm not surprised that the Leafs are the most hated team in Canada. They are everywhere on TSN and CBC. Even I get annoyed sometimes and I'm a fan. But they aren't in the playoffs and it's between Vancouver and Ottawa to be "Canada's Team" and it definitely isn't Vancouver.

Anyways, the point wasn't to sling mud, I just found the twitter post funny, especially coming from an official team account.

And yes, I'm back and will try to post more often. Hopefully insightful stuff from time to time too. My previous job blocked this site from work but I was laid off a couple of weeks ago so no longer have that problem.  

And I think Burke has been a disaster. But I won't de-rail this thread with Leafs talk. This is a place for people with good teams to enjoy the playoffs. I'll have plenty to say about the Leafs in an off-season thread.  

[leo8877]

Sharks really shitting the bed here in the 3rd.

[leo8877]

Whaddyaknow. OT.

[Koz]

Bruins/Caps at 0-0 heading to OT. For a playoff game it's been a real snoozer so far.

[kronovan]

Whaddyaknow. OT.

Lovin the game so far and I liked how it really heated up in the 3rd. I'm not going to be able to continue watching OT unless it's multiple periods, but I'll be tuning in next game.

[Koz]

Yay, Bruins win! Boring game but I'll take it.

[leo8877]

What the F, double OT in game 1.

[Clanwolfer]

Yay, Bruins win! Boring game but I'll take it.

Whargarbl. Holtby played about as well as we possibly could have hoped for. A shame that a single goal of support was too much to ask - and Wideman sealed it with his traditional late reaction and getting caught out of position to give Kelly that rocket. Sure Holtby wants it back, but man, that one should have been winnable for the Caps, and hurts a lot to drop.

[leo8877]

Sharks baby!!!!!

[Kagath]

Theohall, incoming 3 ...2 ....1!

[gellar]

VRWC.

[leo8877]

Wow hawks just scored with 14.2 to go

[El-Producto]

VRWC

[Devil]

Yay, Bruins win! Boring game but I'll take it.

Whargarbl. Holtby played about as well as we possibly could have hoped for. A shame that a single goal of support was too much to ask - and Wideman sealed it with his traditional late reaction and getting caught out of position to give Kelly that rocket. Sure Holtby wants it back, but man, that one should have been winnable for the Caps, and hurts a lot to drop.

So close!! Come back strong next game and score some friggin goals!!!

[El-Producto]

http://hfboards.hockeysfuture.com/showthread.php?t=1163885

Amazing

[leo8877]

Man poor Devil. The NHL really doesn't care about your series. (Just starting today)

[Devil]

Yep - Left out!

Pulling for a Nashville vs The Winner of Devils/Panthers Stanley Cup!

NHL be damned!!!

[gellar]

And they will call it... The Cup That Never Happened.

[Blackjack]

Yay, Bruins win! Boring game but I'll take it.

Whargarbl. Holtby played about as well as we possibly could have hoped for. A shame that a single goal of support was too much to ask - and Wideman sealed it with his traditional late reaction and getting caught out of position to give Kelly that rocket. Sure Holtby wants it back, but man, that one should have been winnable for the Caps, and hurts a lot to drop.

Yeah it's heartbreaking. We gotta make Thomas break a sweat.   Was proud of Holtby and the PK but 6 straight minutes of penalty killing was a bear. I'm used to the Caps getting outshot by ridiculous numbers in some periods but 26-7 over 2 periods is a bit much. Thomas said some nice things about Holtby to reporters after the game, which I thought was classy.

I like Wideman generally speaking but he seems to be a "goalie killer" at least once a game. I just haven't understood why Hunter will bench other D-men for one key mistake in a game (see young Orlov at the moment) but Wides seems to get a free pass. I know he was our All-Star D-man, but if we're morphing into a team specializing in 1-0, 2-1, 3-2 games...

In case anyone missed it, the best check of the night was by the end glass and over- enthusiastic Bruins fans after OT (thank God Krejci wasn't seriously hurt, all kidding aside; I think the board glass has more "give" than it used to)  

Bruins Center David Krejci hit by Collapsing End Glass during OT Celebration
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/capitals-insider/post/david-krejci-absent-from-bruins-practice-after-being-hit-by-glass/2012/04/13/gIQAX5dFFT_blog.html

I've got Scrabble Night plans with some pals Saturday so I won't be able to catch game 2. This bodes well since I'm a bad luck charm.  

[El-Producto]

[gellar]

Some notes for tonight's Game 2:

Andrei Loktionov (not Kevin Westgarth) will be in for Kyle Clifford.  Loktionov is a much better hockey player than either of those two, but he is also very small.  We'll see how that goes.  I'm predicting not well.

For the Canucks:  Daniel Sedin did some skating before the Vancouver Canucks’ morning skate today, but he isn’t expected to play tonight, and coach Alain Vigneault declined to comment on whether Sedin would travel with the team to Los Angeles for Games 3 and 4. Vigneault said only that there was “nothing to report on Daniel.” The Canucks are expected to make two lineup changes tonight, with Keith Ballard replacing Aaron Rome on defense and with Andrew Ebbett replacing the suspended Byron Bitz, on line with Manny Malhotra and Zack Kassian.

[El-Producto]

I'm glad Ballard is in.  Bring some speed to that line.
As long as Alberts is never in again, I will be happy.

Ebbett is decent too, 6 points in 18 games for the season.

Unfortunately Chris Lee is officiating.