12/21/24
May 04, 2004
OK, I'll post it.: So.....how about them Pistons?
I'm as shocked as the next guy by the outcome, but it was indeed deserved (from what I saw). The Flames ain't no joke. Too bad the game ended so late last night.
posted by 86 at 08:39 AM on May 04, 2004
I just hope they can get by the Sharks. Sharks - Flames. Now who besides the true fans will watch that series?
posted by Bernreuther at 08:39 AM on May 04, 2004
Not so fast there...the Sharks still have to finish off the Avs...and since Colorado has the momentum, and is playing game 6 at home, there's still a chance it could be Flames/Avs...
posted by MeatSaber at 08:50 AM on May 04, 2004
Smart hockey fans will watch that series....if and when....because that series is the future of the NHL. Iginla vs. Cheechoo. Nabby vs. Kipper (ex-teammates as well). Both teams play with speed and grit. Could be a hellish 7 gamer. Saber, my condolences. I would've picked the Wings to take back home-ice and eventually prevail, but without Yzerman and Cujo in net, I lost confidence. Not that its Cujo's fault, but he isn't going to win many 1-0 games for ya.
posted by garfield at 08:53 AM on May 04, 2004
Sharks - Flames. Now who besides the true fans will watch that series? umm, the casual bandwagon jumpers in San Jose and Calgary? But true, an as yet unconfirmed SJ v Calgary series is not a matchup made in the marketing office but there'd be nothing much to sell in a Calgary-San Jose series, except for the hockey, which figures to be hard-pitched, a battle between two teams that are mirror images of one another.
posted by gspm at 09:01 AM on May 04, 2004
Count me among those who stayed up to watch the conclusion. So worth it. Calgary has to be the most relentless team I've ever seen. Detroit didn't know how to match their intensity at all, even when Calgary wasn't doing anything much with the puck. They'd steal the puck and just throw it to nobody in the corner, and then go steal it again. It's hard to compete against a team that has no game plan but to get the puck by any means necessary and then toss it around a bit. I feel bad for Joseph. He played just as well as Kipper. What's he gotta do to win a Cup? As for the league, they're probably grateful that one big hockey market will reach the conference finals (TOR or PHI), unlike last year.
posted by Succa at 09:32 AM on May 04, 2004
Succa, NJ is not a big hockey market? Is that why they have three teams in the metropolitan area? As for the Wings, how can you point the finger at Cujo when the skaters didn't score for the last 140 minutes of the series? IMO if a goalie gives up one goal or less per game, any losses are not his fault. Other matchup to watch in a Sharks/Flames WCF is that Sutter was fired by SJ after last season.
posted by billsaysthis at 09:43 AM on May 04, 2004
Not that its Cujo's fault, but he isn't going to win many 1-0 games for ya. Nobody, including the second-coming of Terry Sawchuk, is going to win a 1-0 game for you, if your team can't score that one goal. The Wings biggest problem is that they try too hard for the pretty play...quit passing the puck around the perimeter looking for any open guy. Calgary played like there were 8 of them out there...there *is* no "open guy." Just shoot the damn puck, get some traffic in front of Kipper, and quit trying to be future HOFers...ugh... And speaking of bandwagon jumping, who the hell do I root for? The 2 teams I want to root for are on the brink of elimination, and I can't stand Philly. I wanna root for the Flames, but I have a hard time rooting for any team that has Niemenin *and* Oliwa on the roster. San Jose has Mike (GET A HAIRCUT!!!!!) Ricci, so they're out. That leaves me with Tampa. They're owned by the same guy that owns the Pistons...maybe Bill Davidson can get a 2-sport sweep?
posted by MeatSaber at 09:43 AM on May 04, 2004
Root for a Lightning (they got Elvis's TCB lightning bolt on their sweater!) v. Flames (they still use a team name inspired from when Sherman burned Atlanta to ashes) SCF. That would be cool. Besides, Tampa has a great team, never been to the SCF before and Calgary has Marty Gelinas (he was one of my favorite players down here in Raleigh). /rambling
posted by NoMich at 10:06 AM on May 04, 2004
Nobody, including the second-coming of Terry Sawchuk.... I agree. This series loss is not on Cujo's shoulders, as last year shouldn't have been either. I've just suffered through losing alot of games with Cujo between the pipes. He's great in 3-2, 2-1, 4-3 games....where he has a chance to let one in and then shut the door. He played great last night, and I think Draper should've got one a few times. (if this is posted like 6 times, i was getting an error)
posted by garfield at 10:08 AM on May 04, 2004
Succa, NJ is not a big hockey market? Is that why they have three teams in the metropolitan area? NJ is ranked 23rd in attendance, and doesn't sell out playoff games. They had their Cup parade in a parking lot and nobody came. And you don't need me to tell you that nobody watches them on TV. It's not a big hockey market. It COULD be one, if they played in an arena close to civilization. But as it stands I don't think the league counts its lucky stars when the Devils make the finals. The Rangers, on the other hand... As for the bandwagon, my formula is simple. Canadian teams first, except Toronto. Then, teams whose fans have suffered longest, yet remained die-hard. Again, except Toronto. So in this case, I'm rooting for a Calgary-Philly final. In the case that neither of the above criteria can be met, cheer for the team whose players you like best. And should a layer of ice coat the surface of Hell, and only then, cheer for Toronto. ;-)
posted by Succa at 10:30 AM on May 04, 2004
That photo of Ville Niemenen is hilarious. WIth a mouth like that, he should play for the Sharks.
posted by rcade at 10:31 AM on May 04, 2004
Maybe that is not his real mouth, maybe it is a freaky mouth guard.
posted by gspm at 09:50 AM on May 05, 2004
My bandwagon formula is very similar to succa's. Of course when your home team is still in the playoffs you don't have to worry about such things. The Flames game was just awsome to watch. Joseph played very well and desreves better, but someone had to lose. Lost in the Flames win was the brutal elbow that Hatcher threw. If there was a 7th game I figure he should have been watching from the press box. Whether the NHL 'powers-that-be' would have had the balls to make the right call is something we will never know. The Leafs lose... again. I think that the Leafs managment should seriously look at blowing this team up. Keep some key guys and build around them. I know the the Leafs don't have a many good young (under 30) players, but this core group hasn't gotten them very far. It's time to try something new.
posted by camcanuck at 10:29 AM on May 05, 2004
Congrats to the Flames and their fans. I could make up a million and one excuses on why the Wings lost, but I won't. The Flames flat outplayed the Wings in every aspect. Give'm hell in the conference Finals...