11/05/24
May 12, 2006
Fear the flying V: Anaheim Ducks sweep the Colorado Avalanche. Jaw dropping goal tending, 4 big, fast lines, and a greater desire win propelle the Ducks into the Western Conference Finals.
It's someone new every night for the Ducks, you gotta love depth like that. I don't think the Sens can filibuster their way out of this one.
posted by HATER 187 at 08:53 AM on May 12, 2006
I still can't get over Bryzgalov's play in net thus far in the playoffs. The guy is just too freakin' good right now. That save on Hinote in the second period of last night's game was just unreal.
posted by NoMich at 08:59 AM on May 12, 2006
My distaste for "intangibles" is legendary, so I'll have to take issue with your "desire to win" reasoning. I think Anaheim just had more speed and depth. Brian Burke (my vote for GM of the year) saw which way the wind was blowing and loaded up his team with speedy, skilled forwards, and quick puck-moving defencemen. YES THAT INCLUDES JEFF FRIESEN
posted by DrJohnEvans at 09:43 AM on May 12, 2006
Pierre Lacroix, meet José Théodore. Good for one round. Not Patrick Roy.
posted by qbert72 at 10:00 AM on May 12, 2006
q: I thought of you and your Habfan bretheren after Breeze-by turned over the eventual game-winning puck in OT a couple of nights ago. I'm sure you guys were not missing him and Theodore right about then.
posted by NoMich at 10:10 AM on May 12, 2006
Nobody in Montreal is ever going to miss Brisebois. The Habs had been trying to deal him away for four years. He now gets booed in Denver, just like he did here. I was one of the very few people who wanted the Canadiens to deal Théodore straight after his 2002 season. Habs fans and management do not understand the concept of buying low and selling high. Tangentially, am I the only thinking that the success of young and/or backup goalies this year will greatly diminish the market value for goaltenders? Where do you think the Avs would have ended up with Budaj in net? Pretty much at the same spot, methinks. Google Ads say "Jesus Christ loves me." If that isn't the final argument for the separation of Church and SportsFilter, I don't know what is.
posted by qbert72 at 10:39 AM on May 12, 2006
I totally agree with you q. I scoffed, scoffed I say at the Blackhawks/Khabibulin deal. The only goalie I could see throwing that kind of money is Roberto Luongo. You hear me Bobby Clarke!
posted by HATER 187 at 11:11 AM on May 12, 2006
I agree. Goalies are being devalued on a regular basis this playoffs. I say Leafs go sign Huet for two years. But don't spend more than a couple million to do it. Luongo is one of, what, five exceptions to this rule?
posted by WeedyMcSmokey at 11:26 AM on May 12, 2006
Canadiens will resign Huet. There will be an uprising in Montreal if they don't. I'll be glad if they trade him to the Leafs though. He's Théodore all over again, if you ask me. I'll take Wellwood and Steen, thank you very much. My list of exceptions has only one name on it, and he won't be a free agent for a long time.
posted by qbert72 at 11:53 AM on May 12, 2006
My only hope is Detroit resigns Manny Legace it will be a mistake to let him go and sign another goalie to a big deal if they do end up not resigning Manny they should just bring up Jimmy Howard from GR Griffins.But my all time hope for next year is They resign Manny and also bring Jimmy Howard to be his back up,but what to do with Osgood if they can get him for less then what they can get Manny Then they will go with Osgood and bring Howard up o be the backup
posted by sirtt22 at 12:47 PM on May 12, 2006
Pierre McGuire still likes Breeze-by! I think the Avs have a long rebuilding process to undertake. And I think Sakic isn't going to be there any more the next time they're really good. Theodore is no more than a caretaker goalie, so if they expect him there for a while, it might be a while before they can come back to prominence. I'm kind of astonished at the love for the Ducks I've seen in the media. Bryzgalin or whatever you call him is great, sure, and it's nice that Teemu is back and all that - but the best team in the West by far in these playoffs has been San Jose, and they are underperforming, to date. In the East I think Buffalo is still at risk. I'm not an Ottawa fan though I live here now, but if anyone has the wherewithal to overcome a three-0 deficit it's them. I wonder if Pothier's goal demonstrates a potential weakness on the part of Miller? I guess we'll see on Saturday. IMO if the Sens don't blow them out, that means Buffalo will catch a break and win the series.
posted by mikelbyl at 12:57 PM on May 12, 2006
Pierre McGuire needs to spend more time thinking and less time frothing at the mouth. And I agree about San Jose. They should be able to beat the Ducks, unless Bryzgalov can't be beaten.
posted by fabulon7 at 01:28 PM on May 12, 2006
Dudes it's 3-1 wow you won a game, once loss and your done, the odds are against the Sens completely and if you wanted game 2 Miller had what 42 or 43 saves but yeah he's out weakness right. Give me a break if they rally and win this thats fantastic and they deserve it but I think the Sabres have just been in the shadow all year and if they don't sweep the Sens everyone will still bitch and say they arent' good enough. It's stupid why aren't people asking the same thing about Emery? He gave up garbage goals in OT in games 1 and 3 and put Ottawa in this hole, but Ryan Miller is not as good? I disagree.
posted by buffalo will never win at 02:16 PM on May 12, 2006
Calm down man, I never said Miller wasn't as good as Emery or that he was a weak spot on the team. I just wonder if the long shot from Pothier wasn't a hint at how to beat a clearly excellent goalie.
posted by mikelbyl at 02:49 PM on May 12, 2006
And I agree about San Jose. They should be able to beat the Ducks, unless Bryzgalov can't be beaten. They have to beat the Oilers first before they can start thinking about that match-up.
posted by mkn at 12:40 AM on May 13, 2006
it's duck season i tell you!
posted by tommybiden at 08:26 PM on May 13, 2006
Yep - I think they're going to the Cup and I think they're going to win it. Easily playing the best hockey right now out of all the teams. And Ottawa is coming back! They're coming back!!