11/05/24
April 27, 2006
The Flyers win a good one: being physical early, with some hard checks and minor scuffles. Even Forsberg was overly aggressive, getting 2 minutes for charging that only fired up the Philly faithful. Much Yuengling was drunk...
Who'd have thought that the Avs would be up 3-0 with Theodore in net!? I did. Don't get me wrong, I love my Stars, and I love Marty Turco. But, once playoff times comes around, he disapears. I just hope that we win at least ONE game.
posted by Lissa at 02:56 AM on April 27, 2006
I certainly didn't. I thought Turco would sley a personal demon or two this second season against a relatively weak Avs side compared to the Avs of recent memory. But who needs a Svatos when you have a Wolski?
posted by garfield at 08:27 AM on April 27, 2006
Yes, another good rookie. But I don't think he's proved he's in that class, yet. Still don't think the Flyers are going to pull this one out. I called the Dallas upset, too. That team was way too artificially bouyed by their shootout success. They are no better than the Avs. And any team that still dresses and plays Bill Guerin deserves their fate.
posted by WeedyMcSmokey at 08:32 AM on April 27, 2006
Dallas was my pick to go all the way, boy do I look stoopid, stoopider than usual. Colorado loves those Montreal goal tenders eh? The Flyers stole one last night, Forsberg was on a mission. Their PK is still shakey and of course no bona fide #1 goalie. Watching Phillie in the playoffs is a lot like having sex, it always ends the same way with a big old mess and whole lot of crying.
posted by HATER 187 at 08:32 AM on April 27, 2006
I agree the Flyers aren't going to pull it out, but i wonder what Esche has to do to get respect. It isn't his fault Hatcher and Rathje are in front of him. I've seen garbage cans with more talent. Aren't many goalies who'll stop Buffalo's odd-man rushes.
posted by SummersEve at 09:47 AM on April 27, 2006
Ahhh, the old adage speed kills is once again rearing it's ugly head. Could you imaging how much more fluid the game could be with olympic size rinks? I agree with Summers, Hatcher, Rathje? Pylons! While I like Hitchcock, I am Dee-lighted the Flailers are getting their upcomence! Let's Go Buffalo! Now just if those Wings can apply some breaks to those speedy lil Oilers! Go Wings! Go Overtime, (Canadians & Carolina, 2-1 beaut eh?), (Go Carolina, yes, the forever grudge holding Strike still hasn't forgiven those Canadian fans for the Weekes episode!).
posted by RedStrike at 10:08 AM on April 27, 2006
Well, thank god for allah* that the Canes avoided the sweep. * - +23 literacy points if you get this reference.
posted by NoMich at 10:20 AM on April 27, 2006
Actually, they have done more than avoid the sweep. The Canes have a goalie now, and Koivu is most likely out for the rest of the series. What a heartbreaking game. I haven't been able to see any Dallas-Colorado game. What does it look like? Who's to blame, who's to praise? I really thought the Stars could at least make it past Colorado.
posted by qbert72 at 10:55 AM on April 27, 2006
NoMich, this link is for you, if you haven't seen it yet.
posted by garfield at 10:55 AM on April 27, 2006
I haven't watched an entire game, but from what I have seen the Stars can't hold a lead, or clear out in front of Turco, and haven't played consistently at a level necessary in the playoffs. When they turn it on, they look really good, but they can't seem to sustain that level of play.
posted by garfield at 11:04 AM on April 27, 2006
I sure have garfield, and there goes my big surprise post of the day. waaaaaaaaaa!!!!!! And qbert: Cam has been looking good, but remember, the kid is barely old enough to drink and is a rookie. I'm still very nervous about this series. I feel really bad for Saku. I hope his eye gets better for the rest of this series. He's a joy to watch and I hope he's back on the ice soon.
posted by NoMich at 11:23 AM on April 27, 2006
Also, the Avalanche certainly aren't the Avalanche of old, but they have enough vets from the golden era that they can generate solid playoff offence. The four Avalanche goals from last night's game:
- A messy scramble in front of the net; the puck gets poked under Turco and barely trickles over the line.
- Point shot put on net; it deflects off some part of a screening Hejduk's body and into the net.
- Another goalmouth scramble. The second or third rebound is picked up. Prettiest COL goal of the night, and still pretty ugly.
- Centering pass off a defenseman's skate.
posted by DrJohnEvans at 11:28 AM on April 27, 2006
Also, NoMich, Cam Ward has been old enough to drink in Québec for over three years now.
posted by DrJohnEvans at 11:32 AM on April 27, 2006
sorry, bro.
posted by garfield at 11:35 AM on April 27, 2006
Cam Ward has been old enough to drink in Québec for over three years now. Make that four. He's 22.
posted by qbert72 at 12:38 PM on April 27, 2006
You don't have to be 18 to drink in Quebec - you just have to be able to see over the bar.
posted by WeedyMcSmokey at 01:11 PM on April 27, 2006
I'm a little worried that the Habs couldn't put that one away last night. I mean when the Canes and Habs met in 2002 the Habs were up 2-1 in games heading into the fourth game at home... lead 3-0 going into the third period, gave up the tying goal in the final minute and lost it in OT (thus tying the series at 2 before losing in 6 games). All that with a 3-1 series lead in their sights. So with a 3-0 series lead in their sights this time they couldn't do it. And they lost in OT, and lost Koivu. Egads. But they still have Huet. And his initials totally match the team logo, I just noticed last night. That's gotta be good mojo.
posted by gspm at 01:32 PM on April 27, 2006
The Flyers have Mike Rathje on D. If I was a Flyer fan I would not want to have to depend on him in any type of clutch situation. I was glad when he left the Sharks. BrownDuck
posted by BrownDuck at 01:50 PM on April 27, 2006
gypsum: that would be the Miracle at Molson, which was followed up by the Massacre at Molson. One thing you forget in this whole equation, though, is that the Canes are still minus the ultimate Hab killer himself, Erik Cole. I was not glad when he got hurt. NoMich
posted by NoMich at 02:05 PM on April 27, 2006
Wait, who posted that last comment? I can't tell.
posted by DrJohnEvans at 02:26 PM on April 27, 2006
As a general rule, often the team that stays the healthiest has the best chance to play for the cup (look at TB last time). Canadiens' chances are kind of screwed now that Koivu is gone. Similarly, if Yzerman doesn't play tonight, you have to wonder about their chances. Granted, the Wings without Yzerman are a FAR deeper team than the Canadiens without Koivu, but he's been their best player so far. I'm starting to think that I should have just picked the EDM upset instead of wafting on it and just giving DET a marginal 7th game win.
posted by mkn at 02:51 PM on April 27, 2006
Wait, who posted that last comment? I can't tell. Yeah, I'm a jerk.
posted by NoMich at 02:54 PM on April 27, 2006
Now i don't mean to start problems here but I ABSOLUTLY HATE PHILLY. Why? Let's see, J.P. Dumont gets basically stabbed in the stomach then when he gets up, the fans boo him. BOO HIM! Also the fact that the team showed how cheap it can be in game two after we had the game in the bag. I just think this is ridiculous and i cant wait for this series to end so we can get on with our Stanley Cup year. Sabres in 5
posted by buffalo will never win at 03:26 PM on April 27, 2006
You don't have to be 18 to drink in Quebec - you just have to be able to see over the bar. So true.
posted by qbert72 at 04:24 PM on April 27, 2006
I know we're not supposed to do this here, but i can't stand stupidity, ignorance and hypocrisy and blind homers... Buff, dude, you need to stop beleiving every word out of Lindy's mouth. Every team is gonna goon when they're getting pounded in a 7-game series. Credit Buffalo, they handled game two perfectly by scoring more. As for Being "stabbed", even Dumont says it wasn't how Gauthier hit him, it was just bad luck where he hit him... previous surgery. Lindy has a different take, but like i said, that's Lindy being Lindy. He's a saint, never would have a dirty player on his team, blah, blah, blah. And as for the crowd, go back to game one, remember Campbell's hit on Umberger? Gorgeous hit... Deserves a cheer, but remember how the crowd cheered and cheered and kept cheering even while Umberger sat on the ice doing a Howdy Doody impersonation? Nope, you probably don't. But i bet you remember a skate in the crease. Sabres in 5.
posted by SummersEve at 06:07 PM on April 27, 2006
...Deserves a cheer, but remember how the crowd cheered and cheered and kept cheering even while Umberger sat on the ice doing a Howdy Doody impersonation? To be fair, SummersEve, they kept cheering because a brawl started at the other end immediately afterward, and just because Umberger didn't get up immediately didn't mean he was actually hurt. Remember, this is Buffalo we're talking about. They remember Clint Malarchuk. Once they realized Umberger was actually hurt, they got behind him and gave him a good hand as he was helped off. Buffalo fans are not that kind of vulture. (If the jerseys and cities were switched, you know things would be different.)
posted by chicobangs at 07:08 PM on April 27, 2006
To be fair, SummersEve, they kept cheering because a brawl started at the other end immediately afterward, and just because Umberger didn't get up immediately didn't mean he was actually hurt. Chico, i don't mean to say [all] Buffalo fans are vultures.... Or at least any more than the rest of us... And even Campbell said the replay and the re-replay and the re-re-replay were classless. And fans were cheering while it was pretty obvious he was in another dimension. I would have cheered that hit too, but i can't stand fanboy pounding his virtuous chest touting his wonderful classy fans and his wonderful classy coach and his pure team who would never play dirty (Barnaby) or cheer like idiots unlike those nasty Philadelphians. It's playoff hockey. We're all idiots.
posted by SummersEve at 08:00 PM on April 27, 2006
How are we supposed to know he was hurt right away? If we knew that we wouldn't have cheered. But there are two differences, the Philly fans cheer on cheap shots when sabres fans cheer on good clean hits. Thats a big difference right there. And I don't agree with Lindy on everything hes wrong most of the time and does overreact this is my own opinion on a rival most in Buffalo have hated over the years not just me. At least here in Buffalo we have 4 lines of players that can score not 1. Hey at least Buffalo has won something in the last what 30 years? There is no website all about why Philly sucks. Oh and we're not all idiots. The fans that cheer injuries on like Philly, those are you're idiots of playoff hockey. Like I said Sabres in 5.
posted by buffalo will never win at 10:21 PM on April 27, 2006
my link didnt post right so the link for the website i described is below. http://www.phillysucks.com/
posted by buffalo will never win at 10:21 PM on April 27, 2006
Holy homer, dude. Relax. Saying "at least my team has four good lines" is not really much of a counterargument.
posted by DrJohnEvans at 01:03 AM on April 28, 2006
There is no website all about why Philly sucks. Uh... Of course. The fans that cheer injuries on like Philly, those are you're idiots of playoff hockey. Oh, yeah... Right. How silly of me. this is my own opinion on a rival most in Buffalo have hated over the years not just me. Absolutely brilliant. I'm speechless.
posted by SummersEve at 03:20 AM on April 28, 2006
I hate the Flyers too, but dammit Buffaloians (Buffaloans?) get a big head quick. Be honest - you're as surprised by this team's success as the rest of us. Better wait and see if they're not an aberration before you start gloating. And how can they beat a New Jersey or Ottawa? I think you're a one round wonder. (thankfully, I also hate the Flyers.)
posted by WeedyMcSmokey at 07:41 AM on April 28, 2006
...get a big head quick... and people say Cherry doesn't know what he is talking about.
posted by garfield at 07:47 AM on April 28, 2006
Thursday night's favorite rookie - Ryan Getzlaf. Holy crap, can this guy play! I didn't watch the whole game, but Getzlaf was impressive.
posted by garfield at 09:14 AM on April 28, 2006
Getzlaf did look impressive. He has some definite speed and beat the Kipper clean. Not a lot of guys can say that.
posted by WeedyMcSmokey at 09:53 AM on April 28, 2006
Well, the cat's out of the bag for next year's fantasy league. I had him lined up as a sleeper pick.
posted by qbert72 at 10:57 AM on April 28, 2006
"My friends better be cheering for me," said Getzlaf, unaware of the whereabouts of the puck commemorating his milestone moment. Yeah, because if he had any friends on the team, they would have got that puck for him. (joking) It is a shame he doesn't have that puck though.
posted by njsk8r20 at 12:47 PM on April 28, 2006
This is not the first story I've seen where a rookie's playoff first puck hasn't been saved for posterity, apparently for reasons of keeping the focus on the team. Which I can understand, but is still kind of a bummer. Let the kid have his puck.
posted by garfield at 01:15 PM on April 28, 2006
After all, you can only score your first playoff goal once. Scott Gomez wasted no time grabbing the puck for Zach Parise on Wednesday. Yeah Zack! Speaking of the Devils, the ever so pessimistic Stan Fischler reminds us it takes four wins to win a series.
posted by njsk8r20 at 03:02 PM on April 28, 2006
Buffalo just started off way too lethargic in that game. Once they got going, they started skating cicles around the Flyers defenders -- but by then it was too little too late. All those late penalties kind of took the momentum out a bit. What's more impressive is that Colorado managed to steal another one in the dieing minutes of the game. Who'd have thought that the Avs would be up 3-0 with Theodore in net!?