Official NHL playoffs thread.

[SP33Demon]

Crosby not there on the mental level? Shirley, you jest

Nope, he's not there mentally and the way he played against Montreal proved it.

Proof: http://sports.espn.go.com/oly/olyhockey/news/story?id=5186690
Crosby says no to Team Canada

<<PITTSBURGH -- Olympic star Sidney Crosby won't be joining Canada's team in the world hockey championships in Germany.>>>

Malkin and Gonchar are joining Ovi and Semin, that team has to be the favorite since Stamkos got hurt for Canada.

Meanwhile, Team Canada is down 1-0 to Norway. Ruh-roh.
Edit: Canada just tied it up.

 

[Dominato3r]

Im betting most of them dont give a hoot, because they just won an olympic gold. Otherwise Iginla/weber/broduer etc wouldve gone.

 

[meltdown75]

you make some wild sweeping generalizations. i like your style.

kid's played a lot of hockey in the past 2-3 years. likely more than any other pro player out there. he's won some things too (a few minor things). personally i think he deserves a rest. i don't think anyone expected him to go join the Canadians at the WHCs.

 

[SP33Demon]

you make some wild sweeping generalizations. i like your style.

kid's played a lot of hockey in the past 2-3 years. likely more than any other pro player out there. he's won some things too (a few minor things). personally i think he deserves a rest. i don't think anyone expected him to go join the Canadians at the WHCs.

What makes him more special than Malkin and Gonchar who played just as much? After all, THEY won the Cup for Crosby in Detroit. What makes Crosby more special than the players on Team Canada who also won the gold and are still competing even though their team isn't in the playoffs?

The only thing that separates them is passion for the game and attitude. Like I said, Crosby plays when he wants to just like ARod in 2006: <<The AL MVP told Yankees general manager Brian Cashman on Dec. 15 that he wouldn't play in the tournament but then said Jan. 18 he would be on the U.S. team.>> Don't be surprised if Cindy does the same thing.

 

[meltdown75]

What makes him more special than Malkin and Gonchar who played just as much? After all, THEY won the Cup for Crosby in Detroit. What makes Crosby more special than the players on Team Canada who won the gold? The only thing that separates them is passion for the game and attitude. Like I said, Crosby plays when he wants to just like ARod in 2006: <<The AL MVP told Yankees general manager Brian Cashman on Dec. 15 that he wouldn't play in the tournament but then said Jan. 18 he would be on the U.S. team.>> Don't be surprised if Cindy does the same thing.

it's Friday and sunny. i'm happy today and I want to leave work early and golf. If i get into this again, it's going to wreck my day and make me want to strangle you. i think you know where i stand on this debate.

 

[KK]

Mike Cammalleri, ever heard of em? you gotta score too...

That is true, but you can't tell me that if the caps had halak, instead of varlamov that montreal would have won. And same with the pens. Montreal is relying on him performing well and so far he's getting the job done.

 

[SP33Demon]

it's Friday and sunny. i'm happy today and I want to leave work early and golf. If i get into this again, it's going to wreck my day and make me want to strangle you. i think you know where i stand on this debate.

So you don't find it strange that other superstars on the Pens are playing the Worlds and Crosby isn't? Some players just have more drive I suppose and maybe it's a cultural thing that Eastern European players just have more drive than Westerners. You can bet that if Malkin/Gonchar had won the gold they'd still be in the IIHF.

 

[meltdown75]

So you don't find it strange that other superstars on the Pens are playing the Worlds and Crosby isn't? Some players just have more drive I suppose and maybe it's a cultural thing that Eastern European players just have more drive than Westerners. You can bet that if Malkin/Gonchar had won the gold they'd still be in the IIHF.

i don't find it strange in the slightest. my reasons are noted above, ie. the guy needs a rest.
the Russians need to win SOMETHING this year, therefore all their stars went to play there.

 

[meltdown75]

That is true, but you can't tell me that if the caps had halak, instead of varlamov that montreal would have won. And same with the pens. Montreal is relying on him performing well and so far he's getting the job done.

agreed

 

[oogabooga]

What makes him more special than Malkin and Gonchar who played just as much? After all, THEY won the Cup for Crosby in Detroit. What makes Crosby more special than the players on Team Canada who also won the gold and are still competing even though their team isn't in the playoffs?

The only thing that separates them is passion for the game and attitude. Like I said, Crosby plays when he wants to just like ARod in 2006: <<The AL MVP told Yankees general manager Brian Cashman on Dec. 15 that he wouldn't play in the tournament but then said Jan. 18 he would be on the U.S. team.>> Don't be surprised if Cindy does the same thing.

You're hating on Crosby for not going to the Worlds, a tournament most people consider second rate because of when it's played... really?

He's played a ton of hockey, three regular seasons (one with a compressed schedule to accomodate..), the olympics, two four-round playoffs, and one two round playoff.

It's an individual decision in this case - and I can respect that he wants to rest/recovery/not play/whatever.

I don't even like Crosby, but this is a dumb reason to hate on him.

Also : Gonchar probably has a lot of energy still to play even after tough defensive engagements like this one: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PHN4E9u9Jc8

 

[SP33Demon]

That is true, but you can't tell me that if the caps had halak, instead of varlamov that montreal would have won. And same with the pens. Montreal is relying on him performing well and so far he's getting the job done.

Yup, varly let in some soft goals vs Habs. Halak is beast.

 

[SP33Demon]

You're hating on Crosby for not going to the Worlds, a tournament most people consider second rate because of when it's played... really?

He's played a ton of hockey, three regular seasons (one with a compressed schedule to accomodate..), the olympics, two four-round playoffs, and one two round playoff.

It's an individual decision in this case - and I can respect that he wants to rest/recovery/not play/whatever.

I don't even like Crosby, but this is a dumb reason to hate on him.

Also : Gonchar probably has a lot of energy still to play even after tough defensive engagements like this one: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PHN4E9u9Jc8

The ton of hockey excuse doesn't fly in my book but I can understand if a player just needs a rest.

RE: Gonchar vid, are you saying he sucks? You could easily link a video from Malkin or Crosby from that series where they didn't play well either. 404

 

[Dominato3r]

In the end, he plays if he wants to play. He's happy with the gold he has, and if he's happy, why do we care?

 

[MotF Bane]

Damn, Flyers goalie is getting inundated.

 

[sandorski]

Yup, looks like the Bruins got this game already. > 40 minutes to go though.

 

[Dominato3r]

tie game

 

[sandorski]

Damn, tied game.

 

[Fingolfin269]

Yup, looks like the Bruins got this game already. > 40 minutes to go though.

ha you said it!

 

[sandorski]

ha you said it!

Disclaimers are awesome!

 

[FallenHero]

Best series this entire playoffs easily so far.

 

[n7]

Crazy game thus far.

3-3, Boston looked good initially, but wow, they've got a lot of work ahead of them...

 

[Blackjack200]

Announcers mentioned that the score of this game has mirrored the score of the series. If this ends 4-3, either way, that would be crazy.

If Philly wins, the only series in the East so far to go to the higher seed would be Pitts beating Ottawa.

Damn.

 

[sjwaste]

The last replay was a goal. Too bad they blew the call on the ice and the NHL is in the stone age with video.

The CSN (Philly) feed showed it pretty clearly in the net.

 

[FallenHero]

The last replay was a goal. Too bad they blew the call on the ice and the NHL is in the stone age with video.

The CSN (Philly) feed showed it pretty clearly in the net.

Every angle i Saw on VS didn't show it one way or another. I'd be interested to see the angle they (you) saw though.

 

[Blackjack200]

The last replay was a goal. Too bad they blew the call on the ice and the NHL is in the stone age with video.

The CSN (Philly) feed showed it pretty clearly in the net.

Every angle i Saw on VS didn't show it one way or another. I'd be interested to see the angle they (you) saw though.

If true we should see screen caps of it all over the place like we did with that Calgary/Tampa goal.