NHL playoffs FINALLY

[Tikker]

He's now got a 1-5 playoff record, gave up 5 goals tonight, including what looked to be a soft one in OT.

ps, that's his playoff record against colorado

not that the rest of his record is impressive, he's 7-11 or something

[Arlos]

Was impressed with the Sharks tonight. They got a bit overly aggressive on a power play and gave up a shorthanded goal, but after that they locked the game down completely, pretty much. Preds got a few good chances, sure, but the Sharks only allowed 17 shots for the game, and took 40. Joe Thornton didn't make the scoresheet, but he was a force on the ice, and drew a ton of penalties. Also, Marleau and other people took advantage of the pace created by Nashville concentrating so much on Thornton, and had a great game. Oh, and the Preds still have yet to score a single 5 on 5 goal in the entire series. They only have 5 goals over 3 games, 4 in one game on the power play, and 1 shorthanded one tonight.

In the other series, I've been really surprised by the Oilers. I really expected them to get completely blown out by Detroit, taking maybe 1 game all series, and they could easily be up 3-0 right now if not for the lucky deflection in game 1. Another team that's surprised me has been Buffalo. Admittedly, I didn't know much abtou them, but I did NOT expect them to drop an 8-2 woodshedding on the Flyers, and be up 2-0.

ANother odd coincidence is that in 1 section of the playoffs, all 4 series started tonight 1-1, and the other section, all 4 series are 2-0.

-Arlos

[Tuggan]

wings are done already.

oh well, theres always basketball haha

[Narrock]

You ever go to see the Sharks live, Arlos? How much are tix not in the nosebleed section?

[Arlos]

I've seen 'em a few times, it's a good arena. Sightlines are good, chairs are reasonably comfortable, and it gets loud as hell when the team's doing well and the fans are into it. Definitely a good time, at least when the Sharks win. If I was working these days, I would've looked seriously at getting one of those 10-game packs, cause they also give you priority for playoff tickets. One word of advice if you want to go: Don't park at the arena itself, they charge an arm and a leg. Best bet is to take the train down, the SJ station is literally right across the street from the Tank. Alternately, downtown SJ is like 8-10 blocks away, and the public parking garages are free after 6pm.

Ticket prices aren't awful. If you want to be right up on the glass, you're gonna pay $115 a ticket, if you can find one for sale (unlikely). Most common of what you're going to find available is in the upper section of seats, where you're going to pay $40 a ticket towards the middle of the rink, a bit over 30 if you're at one of the ends.

Unless you're up in complete nosebleed (the $17 tickets), you've got a pretty good view, the seating rises pretty sharply. Even in those super-cheap seats, the view isn't utterly awful, they did a good job when they built the place.

-Arlos

[Tikker]

In the other series, I've been really surprised by the Oilers. I really expected them to get completely blown out by Detroit, taking maybe 1 game all series, and they could easily be up 3-0 right now if not for the lucky deflection in game 1.

The oilers are as good as any team in the western conference. their problem all year was weak goaltending


now that Roloson is picking it up, they'll be tough to beat

[Snero]

The oilers are as good as any team in the western conference

thats a bit of a stretch but they're a good team, the defense is still slow, and theres not a whole lot of scoring depth, but ya if roloson can pick things up, the biggest hole in the oilers' roster has been plugged

[Tikker]

their defense is slow? have you actually seen the oilers skate?

Bergeron is probably top5 in the league for defensemen, Staios and Spacek skate well too


Pronger is a bit of a lead foot, but positionally he's very good, and has a 12 foot stick

[Snero]

woa woa woa, bergeron is top 5? thats nuts, he's not even top 5 within the province of alberta

staios is solid but not spectacular, spacek is good, but tarnstrom is a pylon, and pronger has lost more then a step over the years

Don't get me wrong, they're a good team, but they're not on par with the top teams of the west

[Tikker]

woa woa woa, bergeron is top 5? thats nuts, he's not even top 5 within the province of alberta

skater~ I didn't mean top 5 defenseman

ps, when edmonton is the conference finals we can talk again about how they're not as good as the top teams

[Snero]

even that, he's not top 5

and i hope edmonton makes it to the conferance finals, it won't change my mind about them not being on the same level though.

If Dallas loses, and Edmonton wins, a Calgary/Edmonton 2nd round would be nuts although i would rather then meet in the conferance finals

[Tikker]

even that, he's not top 5

have you actually seen Bergeron skate? He's the best skater on the Oilers, and they're one of the best skating teams in the league

[Snero]

they are one of the best skating teams in the league, yes

but from there to say that he's one of the top 5 individual skaters, even if you're talking about skating defensemen, in the league is a massive leap. You've got guys in bad skating teams that can blaze

[Tikker]

Name the top 5 skating defensemen then~


Niedermeyer
Hedican
Zubov
Bergeron
Lidstrom

[Snero]

boyle can skate, ohlund, markov, boumeister, ryan suter. Most teams have a good skating defenseman, and i don't see Bergeron being better then most.

He's quick but not top 5 quick

[Tikker]

Ohlund isn't even the best skating defenseman on his team

Boumeister is a great skater
suter's not bad, but not in the same league

[ClakarEQ]

That wings games last night made me sick. The refs called some god awefull shit that was just plain wrong.

I feel asleep between the 1st and 2nd OT, I hate west coast games!

[Tikker]

That wings games last night made me sick. The refs called some god awefull shit that was just plain wrong.

the part the bothered me was that is was so inconsistent

Smyth got penalized for grazing the goalie (technically it's a penalty) but Lelja got away with an elbow to the head of Peca, and Chelios got away with boarding Hemsky

it was ridiculously inconsistent refereeing last ngiht

[Snero]

suter's not bad, but not in the same league

my thoughts on bergeron (not about suter of course, but he's still a good young defenseman who can skate)

[Tikker]

yeah, but I'm right, and you're wrong

[Snero]

course you are tikker, that or you're being a homer who thinks his team can do no wrong and is the best thing out there

which do you think is more likely?

[Zanchief]

I heard Tikker had a wrist-shot that could have got him in the NHL.

[Jay]

There was some really bad referring going on last night. I know this because I'm totally into hockey and stuff and I'm an insider.

[Durothil Skyreaver]

My first round predictions:

West:
Detroit over Edmonton in 6
Dallas over Colorado in 6
Anaheim over Calgary in 7
San Jose over Nashville in 6

East:
Ottawa over Tampa in 5
Carolina over Montreal in 6
Devils over Rangers in 7
Flyers over Sabres in 7


I think it's going to be Ottawa or Carolina in the Finals from the East (unless Brodeur continues playing insanely, in which case they have a shot)

From the west, I think it's going to be Detroit or San Jose.

-Arlos

From the games so far I'd say not alot of these predictions are going to hold up.

[Arlos]

Heh, probably not. Good thing I didn't put any money on it.

One minor note about 1 prediction, devils/rangers, that was made before Jagr got his arm destroyed.

-Arlos