June 21, 2006

Our Top 10 moments from the NHL playoffs: ESPN.com's Scott Burnside lists his top ten(plus two) moments of the 2006 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs.

posted by wingnut4life to hockey at 03:25 PM - 19 comments

A bit of a lousy list since most of the "moments" aren't actually from any gameplay. If you're talking in game moments, I'd add: * The crazy finish to Game 1 of OTT vs BUF, including the major gaffe that led to the OT goal. * Campbell's hit on Umberger. * Roloson to Peca breakaway. * Elias' 6 point game against the Rangers. * Ward coming in to Game 3 against the Canadiens, losing, and then winning the game... (and then six/seven straight? * Hemsky's late goal against Detroit * Brizgalov's three straight shutouts * That one Dallas goal, which was the only nice thing they did during their implosion.

posted by mkn at 04:13 PM on June 21, 2006

Globe & Mail's 'In Their Own Words'

posted by garfield at 05:00 PM on June 21, 2006

i agree with those, the hit on umberger awesome ! i would add these also cole's return in game six and 7 juice's play in games 2-7 especially in game 6 ! the play of chelios and yzerman in the wings ist round series they looked like they were 24 again!!

posted by DADSQUEST at 09:09 PM on June 21, 2006

I just cant get into hockey. I need to go see a live game at the staples center or long beach arena

posted by frankg_87 at 09:50 PM on June 21, 2006

In my part of the world, ESPN televised horse racing, poker, reruns instead of hockey...and they have a top 10?

posted by jama at 01:11 AM on June 22, 2006

mkn: Ward helped Carolina win games 3-6 against Montreal in the first round; and then the first 3 games against New Jersey in the second round before struggling and getting pulled in game 4. Ward's stellar play, IMHO, had to be the turning point for the 'Canes. If Gerber had stayed in goal and Ward hadn't played as well as he did, then Carolina not only wouldn't have won the Cup but probably would've been swept by the Habs. Burnside's list is pretty well on point--especially about the veterans hoisting the Cup for Carolina and about the Oilers fans' passion during BOTH national anthems (and might I add during the playoff games as well.) (All this praise I've typed for the Oil Slicks recently makes me sick as a Canucks fan. Excuse me while I choke like Cloutier in the playoffs.)

posted by curtangle at 02:55 AM on June 22, 2006

How 'bout Pisani's short-handed OT goal in game five?

posted by SummersEve at 07:15 AM on June 22, 2006

Was the Umberger hit better because he was hurt? Don't think a hit is worthy of a top ten nomination, could be wrong just my opinion. Fernando Pisani is my new favorite NHL player, just behind Peter Forsberg. ESPN sucks, even though I just bought their new phone. ESPN will carry hockey next year, right?, please say they will. God I hate groveling to stupid cable companies.

posted by GoBirds at 07:46 AM on June 22, 2006

Sorry GoBirds but NHL is on Versus (OLN's new name) next season. The Umberger hit was just plain nasty regardless of injury, you gotta love big open ice hits.

posted by HATER 187 at 08:18 AM on June 22, 2006

Am i the only one to fear Pisani is this year's John Druce, or Chris Kontos?

posted by qbert72 at 08:21 AM on June 22, 2006

Wow, John Druce. Who'd have thought his name would come up in a Top Ten moments list? The Umberger hit was awesome. Even better because he wasn't seriously hurt. Must be something in the Pittsburgh water that makes heads hard as rocks.

posted by SummersEve at 08:58 AM on June 22, 2006

I don't disagree that big open ice hits are sweet, I just don't think that it is an "all year top play" the guy is a rookie for chrissakes. The fact he came back a game or two later and scored a huge goal says a lot for the kid too. He does have a hard head unlike other (former) Flyers forwards who shall remain nameless. I am aware, thank you Hater, that OLN carries a couple games a week. What gives? Why not have an NHL only channel that comes free with basic cable and has games nightly? The NHL is trying to sell the game without showing us games!! OLN has made a valiant effort for the most part but they can't do it alone. p.s. we Philly kids have hard heads too lol

posted by GoBirds at 09:21 AM on June 22, 2006

Any short-handed, game-winning goal in OT jumps to the top of the list for me. I think there were two in these playoffs (Buf vs. Ott, and then an Edmonton game) but I could certainly be wrong.

posted by diastematic at 11:24 AM on June 22, 2006

Tonight is the NHL awards ceremony show. For those of you that get OLN, they'll be showing it.

posted by NoMich at 12:28 PM on June 22, 2006

I have to nominate the Cam Ward glove save from game 1. I would have sworn that puck was going in, and ward got it blind, with the glove, falling backward. Freakin' amazing.

posted by LostInDaJungle at 02:13 PM on June 22, 2006

You know what I think. I think midgets should be kept as pets. I also think Pisani's shorthanded OT winner was pretty fucking cool. But the coolest thing was probably the look on Brind'amour's face when he got the Cup. It just doesn't get any better than that. Just a mess of tired, bloody and triumphant - always sends chills down the spine and dirt in the eye.

posted by WeedyMcSmokey at 03:30 PM on June 22, 2006

Staal's goal with 3 second's left int he game to tie the devils. Worst play? Stillman's amazing give away to Pisani in game 5 OT. Best Ref? - Yeah, right. Worst ref? McGoo - who else? Worst fans - Buffalo.

posted by storagepro at 03:38 PM on June 22, 2006

Am i the only one to fear Pisani is this year's John Druce, or Chris Kontos? Oh, I'd almost bet on a "return to reality" for Pisani. He's a good player, but I don't think he's THAT good. I fully expect someone in next year's hockey pools to draft him 4 rounds too early. It just won't be me. I don't disagree that big open ice hits are sweet, I just don't think that it is an "all year top play" the guy is a rookie for chrissakes. The fact he came back a game or two later and scored a huge goal says a lot for the kid too. I think it was a "all-playoff" moment because it seemed to be a big rally moment for Buffalo. It also sent a message to Philly (the physically bigger team) that Buffalo wan't going to be pushed around. Worst play? Stillman's amazing give away to Pisani in game 5 OT. No, that's still going to be the fumble behind the net between J.Smith and Conklin that led to the winning goal by Brind'Amour in game 1.

posted by grum@work at 11:50 AM on June 23, 2006

Worst fans - Buffalo. I think that distinction should go to San Jose. What grum said RE:Umburger hit. It was also the best CLEAN hit of the year and the guy wasn't injured badly, so you can put that guilty conscience away. mkn: Ward helped Carolina win games 3-6 against Montreal in the first round; I know, what I meant was that the Canes were losing game 3 when Ward stepped in (which they later won) not that Ward lost it. Me write bad.

posted by mkn at 09:06 PM on June 23, 2006

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