Re: The NHL Thread
 

Yeah, once he shook off a weeks worth of rust (and likely nerves) he looked amazing last night. Bonino's game winner was a perfect storm for Pittsburgh - a complete fluke that none of will see again anytime soon. One Shark lost his stick, another Shark in front of the goal had his stick in the air rather than on the ice to block that pass and it appeared that Jones sort of lost a grip on his stick and Bonino cashed in. Not taking anything at all away from the Penguins, they played a great game by weathering the heat in the second and a full on onslaught in the third. I think this series goes the distance because SJ has a much deeper defensive corps and cycles through all four lines extremely well, not to mention their PP is rock solid.

Saw all that on expansion, olympics and the World Cup of Hockey. I think the US may have the top scoring line in the tournament if they choose to put Pavelski and Kane on the first line, would be pretty amazing to watch those two work together with Kane feeding Pavelski in front of the net for tip in's and deflections. That said I do not believe they have a great shot at winning largely due to their lack of depth on defense.

Re: The NHL Thread
 

While Jones did look comfortable after the 1st, he still didnt impress me as much, nor seem as under control as Vasilevskiy did in the last round. Clearly it was one game and he still has room to improve, but I thought it was worth noting.

Re: The NHL Thread
 

Yeah I don't know what they'll do. I wonder what those players would have been saying in 94 and before? NHL players didn't go, so would Ovie or anyone like him say "I am going no matter what!" or would they just accept it wasn't a tourney for them? The players like him need to realize that this wasn't a guarantee in their contract, this was something they were doing while they could and it made sense. I understand you want to go but you signed an NHL contract. I wouldn't be able to just abandon my job for 2.5 weeks...

Re: The NHL Thread
 

Hitch back for one more...final...year.

Re: The NHL Thread
 

you can definitely abandon your job, it's called vacation.

Re: The NHL Thread
 

Yeah, I agree - that said Murray looked shaky in the second but bounced back. That is to be expected though for both of them considering that before this postseason started Jones and Murray had a combined 58 minutes of postseason experience.

Re: The NHL Thread
 

I think the word abandon constitutes unapproved time away and there are times I can't take vacation. So if my boss said no, I don't just say I'm going anyways please still give me my salary and let me keep my job. Also pretty sure the NHL's vacation policy is when your season is done you get to go. I get if he wants to play but his contract is with the Caps and I can all but guarantee nowhere in there does it say the Olympics are a guarantee.

Re: The NHL Thread
 

I agree.

however, if I'm a big name star, the only way they're keeping me on US soil is the "outside NHL game" injury clause.

Re: The NHL Thread
 

But 94 and prior, nhl players had never played in Olympics and it wasn't expected. You are right, it's not guaranteed contractually, but again, there's a certain precedent that's been in place now for 18 years, so it's not unreasonable for players to have some level of expectation that they'll be able to participate. Again, the NHL is "right" in this instance and can do what they want, but I guess depending on how much star power there really is behind the pro olympic movement, they run the risk of looking really bad (not out of the ordinary for the nhl, of course).

Basically, if the nhl and the IOC wanna partner together and ban any nhl participation, they absolutely can, but I think it's gonna end up looking bad for them if they do. You can't let it fly for two decades and then suddenly pull the plug because South Korea isn't convenient, and assume everyone's just gonna be fine with it.

It's the old having your cake/eating it thing.

#garageleague

Re: The NHL Thread
 

did I miss the memo where we hate South Korea?
USA and SK are flexing the military muscles together out on the beach 24/7
we're like frat bros on spring break

Re: The NHL Thread
 

this is truly a terrible read: http://espn.go.com/espn/feature/stor...er-stanley-cup

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Wow. Game day and nothing?

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That's what happens when a team everyone hates plays a team no one cares about

It's a ghost town in here :lol

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To be clear, if Game 1 was any indication, this will be one of my favorite Finals in years. I just don't have anything else to say about it right now.

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I was kidding of course. I did not watch game one but I'm sure it was most enjoyable

Re: The NHL Thread
 

yea this

i'm talkin shop with people in town 24/7 but no one in this thread is happy about the matchup so i'll just stay away unless things pick up.

not in the mood for hate during the SCF

Re: The NHL Thread
 

I'm happy to chat about the matchup and think it's one of the better ones in recent history. Strength against strength, very unclear who will come out on top. I'm loving it.

Re: The NHL Thread
 

Yup, this. It was a great game but I have zero interest in getting into conversation about this series.

I wish both could lose.

Re: The NHL Thread
 

common theme from the Pens' standpoint is the power play

if they get the PP going, the series is going to the Pens

although i still think the Penguins are slightly better even at 5-on-5...still anything can happen. Game 1 was highly entertaining and Crosby was amazing

Re: The NHL Thread
 

Want the Sharks to win. Game one was fun.

My wife thinks Burns is gross.

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Y'know how you know someone is a good friend when you can go for extended periods of time without talking to each other, but then just randomly pick up where you left off later?

Maybe that's us right now. :lol

Re: The NHL Thread
 

I agree about the Pens PP, but I'm still very reluctant to give the series to them even based on that. The Sharks PP is also damn good.

If I were to dumb it down to one distinct characteristic per team, it would be speed versus discipline (as in, discipline within playing a system). I just love watching teams that excel at two different things go head to head. Just a lot of fun to watch.

Re: The NHL Thread
 

Burns spitting in his beard Game 1 was probably the grossest thing I've seen.

Re: The NHL Thread
 

It does get a little more quiet during the SCF in here when most everyone's teams are out. :lol

That said, Go Pens! Fend off the inevitable desperate storm by the very talented Sharks and keep scoring goals like you've been doing for months. Expect Malkin to go into beast mode after the birth of his child. He's so good at scoring, he helped produce a son with the same body weight as his uniform number. :lol

#BoninoBoninoBonino #InRustWeTrust

Okay, I'm done.

^That was definitely gross. But I love Burns and the zero fucks that he gives.

Re: The NHL Thread
 

Fucking sucks Nick Bonino is a Penguin. I really enjoyed watching him during the Caps series. I wanna like him so bad.

That youtube video that was linked a couple weeks ago still gets stuck in my head all the time :lol

Re: The NHL Thread
 

I think this is a lot of it. I only watched a little of game 1 so can't really comment on it.

My mind is going to the offseason and wanting to see what the Wings do.

Re: The NHL Thread
 

I know it's Eklund, but apparently he thinks Tampa is going to trade Bishop in order to keep Stamkos.

If Stamkos had been key components in both playoff runs in the past two years, or at least one year, I'd say I would agree. But with the way Tampa has shaken out in terms of offense and not skipping a beat with Stamkos, I really think they need to consider just not signing Stamkos and keeping Bishop. You need that good/great goaltender.

Re: The NHL Thread
 

:lol yep. This is exactly why I havent been chatty in here.

Re: The NHL Thread
 

Agreed. Elite level goaltending is harder to find and more important. Tampa's fine without Stamkos, they'll still get their goals. Trading Bishop would be very dumb.

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I think the only real, vitriolic, seemingly serious hater is Brohan, and he's pretty easy to ignore.

Re: The NHL Thread
 

He was bad all season for the most part. Been fantastic the last 2+ months. Just has a knack for scoring big goals.


Also, I really think this series is going to come down to what team can impose their style of play on the other more often. Pens won 2/3 periods monday, and therefore the game as well. They did a fantastic job on the forecheck, and I think thats going to play a major key in this series.

Re: The NHL Thread
 

I agree that the Penns had the slight upper hand in Game 1.

One thing about Pete DeBoer is he's been good all year at making slight adjustments to his overall system to adapt to an opponents style of play. It became very apparent how good he is at that during both the Nashville and St. Louis series. Not so much in-game, but between games.

Thus, Game 2 will say a lot. It will be interesting to see what kind of adjustments the Sharks make, and if they are effective. That said, it's not like the Sharks played poorly and I think regardless the series will be tight.

Re: The NHL Thread
 

i love us

yea it's a titanic matchup on the ice

who?

Re: The NHL Thread
 

I think they'll both be gone within a year. Bishop is a UFA next summer and you've got a young goalie who I think proved he could play with the big boys in the ECF's. Add to it that you can only protect one goalie, they sure won't sign him before the expansion draft next year. I could see him getting traded if they find the right deal this summer, but keeping him won't hurt because you can have two damn good goalies for the price of one. The amount of money TBL can save by trading or not signing Bishop and letting Stammer walk is great for all the guys who they'll need to sign the next couple of years.

Re: The NHL Thread
 

Here ya go - http://bfy.tw/1kvW

Re: The NHL Thread
 

And my work is done here. Thank you.

Edit: Congrats to Barbs for having us hit 40,000 posts in dis here thread. Another solid regular season milestone.

Re: The NHL Thread
 

He can hang that banner next to the President's Trophy one.

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:lol Ruthless

Still bold words from a Flyers fan

#1975

Re: The NHL Thread
 

Ouch!

Still, #1975 >>> #NothingButPresidentsTrophies

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I get an extra big banner because I got us to 40k during the SCF right?

You guys know any excuse to raise a banner is good in my book

Re: The NHL Thread
 

Why isn't the 2nd game on the regular NBC channel? Fuck AMERICAN NINJA WARRIOR! Is it on a national radio station?

Re: The NHL Thread
 

actual NBC only typically shows weekend games or elimination games

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Don't just come walking in here and get all snippy, mister.

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Who the fuck is this guy?

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I always knew the Skywalker family were a bunch of assholes.

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American Ninja Warrior >>> Penns hockey

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HBK all the way!!

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I hate going here, I really do, but the Pens should've had about 4 or 5 more power plays than they've been granted so far


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

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Conor Fucking Sheary and Sidney Fucking Crosby! Should've been more goals by both teams thanks to the goal posts, but the Pens carried the play most of the game!

Re: The NHL Thread
 

Sharks seem pretty F'ed in this series. Pens are making me feel a lot better about the Rangers this year.

Re: The NHL Thread
 

Sharks seem pretty F'ed in this series. Pens are making me feel a lot better about the Rangers this year.

Re: The NHL Thread
 

Sharks seem pretty F'ed in this series. Pens are making me feel a lot better about the Rangers this year.

Re: The NHL Thread
 

Classic ants

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Yes! Yes!

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Pens are so fast

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So so fast! The HBK line is killing them so far.

Re: The NHL Thread
 

I hate going here, I really do, but the Pens should've had about 4 or 5 more power plays than they've been granted so far


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Re: The NHL Thread
 

Conor Sheary Tha God

Re: The NHL Thread
 

Missed 2 too many men on the ice calls.

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Another great game. Looking forward to game 3!

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All i want, is to feel this way, to be this close...

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:thumbsup good tune

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This would be true if Jamie Benn were actually a fresking center idiot

Re: The NHL Thread
 

to be fair, the lots of missed calls both ways

Re: The NHL Thread
 

Sharks seem pretty F'ed in this series. Pens are making me feel a lot better about the Rangers this year.

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Penguins have been phenomenal so far, obviously a lot can change in games 3/4, but they don't look like the Sharks will be able to stop them.

Re: The NHL Thread
 

Yeah. The Sharks haven't looked terrible, the Penns just look REALLY good.

Watching their forwards work in their own zone has been a thing of beauty.

Re: The NHL Thread
 

I really do like the Sharks as a team and organization. They have a good mix of grizzled veterans and youthful electricity. They could still make some noise in this series. But come on, Logan Couture, really? Would you like some tasty Brie to go with this whine?

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2...ng-in-faceoffs

Re: The NHL Thread
 

"he times them"

that's not cheating. that's fucking good anticipation. what a ponce

Re: The NHL Thread
 

i don't think so, not last night

2 too many men, 1 high stick and 2 interferences all by the Sharks went uncalled

Pens still won though. and i hate complaining about officiating but it was glaringly bad last night.

Re: The NHL Thread
 

yea Logan Couture in full melt down mode after the game

so awesome

Re: The NHL Thread
 

pens had a high sticking that went uncalled.
the too many men to end the period was glaring

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It was a makeup call for when the Pens got away with the same thing in the 2009 SCF. :lol

Re: The NHL Thread
 

Go Wings......nothing?....ok.

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both interferences, the high stick and the too many men were all glaring

not even judgement calls, just obvious penalties. all of them.

Re: The NHL Thread
 

:lol Oh, Logan.

Crosby has been so good this series. Leading by example. All over the ice.
C'mon buddy, this doesn't look good on you. As the objective watcher without a horse in the race, I feel I've gotta check you here :hug. There could have been calls both ways. There always are.

But really, there's so much that's good going on with this series that we could be talking about instead. How about how the Penns forwards absolutely smother the Sharks d-men in the Penns zone? How at least two guys are going down to block every shot? How Crosby is dishing pucks out of the corners like a guy on a checking line? How Patrick Hornqvist is like freaking Tomas Holmstrom out there? How Phil Kessel all of a sudden looks like Patrick Kane? NICK BONINO? How the Pens move through the neutral zone like a choreographed dance? The emergence of Ben Lovejoy as maybe the most steady, reliable defenseman on the team? RUST?

And I mean, that's just on the Penns side of things.

Some really great inspiring hockey right now. And yeah, while sometimes officiating calls are missed or whatever, it hasn't affected the quality of play at all IMO. As an objective watcher and lover of hockey, these Finals so far have been a joy to watch.

Re: The NHL Thread
 

i just can't think of a must-call like high sticking and 6 men on the ice for 20 seconds like the Sharks had...its inexcusable to me.

and obviously the Pens overcame it so it's a moot point. and you know, i rarely complain about officiating because i know hoe hard their job is. but this is the SCF. this should be the best crew in the NHL and they're missing calls like that? terrible look for the League but what else is new?

Re: The NHL Thread
 

:lol I just mentioned a dozen things to prompt conversation that the Penns are doing that's awesome and you still went with the missed calls. :lol I guess you feel pretty strongly about it. I still love you. Eternally.

Re: The NHL Thread
 

Missed High sticks on both sides which cancel eachother out. Dont remember anything else that was missed besides the too many men calls, interference call in the 3rd period against Rust I believe, oh and the whole Thornton ripping Crosby's helmet off and crosschecking him.

Sharks are frustrated beyond belief right now. Those comments from Couture :lol :lol Butthurt much?

Re: The NHL Thread
 

I saw a clip where thornton smacked sid in the head once or twice. Sid of years ago would have retailiated. Last night he skated away with a smile on his face. Didnt say a thing to refs or anything.

Re: The NHL Thread
 

Anyone in here familiar with Frozen? I am (through my daughter). I noticed last night during the post game that Hornqvist looks and sounds like Wandering Oaken.

Hornqvist:

https://nhl.bamcontent.com/images/ph...24x576/cut.jpg

Wandering Oaken:

http://lovelace-media.imgix.net/uplo...e5eefacd9.jpg?

Re: The NHL Thread
 

i only have 1 thing to say about how the Pens are playing...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QI6OtfdXe3I

yea...although saturday will be the first SCF game in San Jose's history so the crowd will be amped. i heard the price range for tickets was between $1500-$7500 for game 3

if the Sharks take game 3 it's a series again and buttholes will clench all around the greater pittsburgh area

Re: The NHL Thread
 

:thumbsup leading by example...maybe if he gets hit in the head enough times the refs will finally make a call :lol

Re: The NHL Thread
 

Love this. The only knock I've ever had against Sidney Crosby is his reactions when he feels a call doesn't go his way. His all-in style of play has always been nothing short of inspiring. When I'm trying to show my kids how a model hockey player plays, he's the one I want them watching.

Unless it was between whistles. ;)

Re: The NHL Thread
 

:lol :lol :thumbsup

Yeah. The Sharks have a great fanbase to begin with and their arena is always rocking. Saturday night should definitely be crazy.
To be fair to Sid, I bet he gets whacked 2x more than the average player.

But again, to be fair, I think guys do it partly because they know they'll get a negative response out of him and get under his skin. Cool to see him getting past that.

Also, I couldn't believe it when Doc mentioned that Crosby is in his 11th season. Wow. I'm getting old.

Re: The NHL Thread
 

ugh yea the Shark Tank will be pulsating...would be HUGE if the Pens can score first and quell the noise a bit

and to the bolded: that seriously hasn't happened in years....lots of years...Malkin and Letang have been the volatile players in the last 5-6 seasons...Sid hasn't really done that much since winning the Cup

Re: The NHL Thread
 

So is Ovie. Thank goodness we've got all those Presidents Trophys to show for it

Re: The NHL Thread
 

The worst part about the Crosby suck fest that happens in here daily now is that it's fully deserved. I finally watched a little bit of highlight and recap stuff this morning, and it really seems like the guy is just flying right now. My only hope is this is frustrating Ovechkin, MacLellan and co. as much as it's frustrating me.

Re: The NHL Thread
 

Crosby has been amazing in the series so far...another level

Re: The NHL Thread
 

I think he's definitely gotten better, but I still see a bit that makes me go, "c'mon Sid, quiet down." Of course, I see that from guys like Toews once in a while too. Like I was saying, Sid's overall play drastically makes up for it. If my kids approach the game the way Crosby does, I'll be a proud guy.

And yes, totally agree that Letang is the most volatile.

Re: The NHL Thread
 

but according to Logan Couture he cheats :rolleyes

Re: The NHL Thread
 

The sad thing is, I love the way Couture plays the game as well. That sucka is gritty as hell.

I guess the overall theme of my comments this morning are, "just shut up and play."

Re: The NHL Thread
 

Crosby's just in God-mode right now. He's dictating play and having a blast doing it. Drawing up the faceoff play then executing to perfection was a thing of beauty. He may not have great heaping gobs of points (though he still has a good amount), but he's been playing out of his mind pretty much all playoffs.

Re: The NHL Thread
 

Not sure if he or Kessel is in the lead for the Conn Smythe.


But hey, lets just win the cup before we worry about that.

Re: The NHL Thread
 

leading candidates right now (assuming their team wins):

1. Kessel
2. Pavelski
3. Crosby
4. Murray
5. Thornton

Re: The NHL Thread
 

I would list Burns above Thornton

Re: The NHL Thread
 

yea that's fair

Re: The NHL Thread
 

6. Gostisbehere

Re: The NHL Thread
 

http://www.phillyphaithful.com/asset...tight-500x.jpg

Re: The NHL Thread
 

Best shirt ever