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Timonen is out..sorry Flyers fans.

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Injury or scratch?

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Looks like a scratch.

Also DeBoer hired in San Jose. Good coach but that team is past it's window for winning I think.

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If so, it was time. I appreciate the player Kimmo has been, but he's unfortunately been more of a liability than anything else. And you all know how much I love giving d-men the benefit of the doubt, so yeah. It's bad.

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I think after Toews scored those two to tie it the other night (before blowing it in OT) my circa early 1990's Roenick jersey has run out of luck. I just went out and bought an embroidered replica Duncan Keith one for tonight. :lol

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Shoulda clarified, didn't really meant bad like it's a bad thing per se but that Rangers fans are excessively reactionary based on the most recently-played game. Obviously a very passionate fanbase which I consider myself proud to be a part of, but I'd like to think I'm on the level-headed side, or at least not as live-or-die as some of the callers on WFAN. That's all I meant :lol

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Can't wait for tonight!

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I am well aware absolutely nothing I can do will impact the outcome but I am wearing the same shorts, different jersey because they lost last game, the same flip flops, sitting in the same chair, having the same grape propel, taking a xaxax and yelling at my TV, not shaving, etc, etc - basically doing all the same stuff I have done while they were winning and changing up things I did when they lost. Call it superstition or whatever but I don't care it has worked in the past! :lol

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Doing similar things....I get it.

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He started out solid, he's just been such a liability lately.

Problem is, his replacement Rundblad, has been a liability also. He was directly at fault for the first 2 goals in the only game he played.

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hoping the hawks win tonight.
want the hawks over the ducks if the rangers win.

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Keith is good. He created those last two goals.

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duncan keith, man.

unreal.

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Anybody know why doc refuses to call it a crease? Always saying "blue paint". Like, I don't think I've heard him say crease yet this post season. Is it like the Super Bowl for some reason where he can't? what the fuck.

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Stressful end....hope Chicago does what LA did to the Ducks last year in game 7.

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YES YES YES YES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Bring it home Saturday Hawks. Amazing night for Keith too, seemed like he was involved in everything tonight!

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God, I love Duncan Keith.

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Fuck yeah Hawks!!!!

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My Conn Smythe front runner from each team -

Rangers - Hank or Brassard, but I think if push came to shove, it'd have to be Hank. I mean, if they win game 7, that means Hank is 7-1 all time in game 7s, and the stats this guy puts up when the money is on the table are absolutely absurd. Best between the pipes in the world.
Lightning - Tyler Johnson. I mean, seriously, dude has been no question their MVP. Kucherov and Stamkos have been great as well, but Johnson wins this one.
Hawks - Duncan Keith. I know how rare it is for a defensemen to win this trophy, and I think Keith has been all that and then some. Since 1995, only Lindstrom, Niedermayer, and Stevens have won the trophy as defensemen...I think Keith is the front runner to join those ranks if the Hawks pull this off.
Ducks - No one. Fuck them.

Overall - Duncan Keith. Dude has been absolutely unreal. The best stretch of hockey of his career, and considering this guy has two Norris Trophies, that's kinda saying something.

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Which means Patrick Kane will win it because of course he will.

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Tough one for the Rangers. Could go with either of them.

TBL, no question. Without Johnson, Lightning lose in 5 to the Wings, if not get swept.

Hawks, would like to see a guy like Keith get it. Stevens and Lidstrom ones surprised me back in the day, so maybe we see it. Lidstrom I think got it cause there were so many choices with Hasek, Hull and Yzerman too. Not that he didn't deserve it but.. It's always easy for people to vote for the goalie or the leading scorer, takes balls to do vote for a d-man.

in all seriousness with the Ducks, I don't know who you go with. Probably Perry but Getzlaf has been good and so has Silfverberg and Andersen has proven a lot of people wrong.

I'd like Bruce to win it and say "See? It wasn't me. It was the freaking Caps team."

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Hawks-Rags was my pick at the beginning of the year and I'm sticking with it! Plus, I'll be in New York next Wednesday-Saturday so I'd be going to a road Finals game! let's go!

Dude...I had no idea you were rich! Wish I had $1,000 to drop on a finals game! No doubt if the Rangers win game 7 those tickets will be out of control. Especially with games 1 and 2 being in NY. Last year ticket prices were down slightly because we came home down 0-2 in the series. They were still like $700 a pop though.

Either way, first things first. Tampa can still easily win this series (as can the Ducks). Radio consensus here is split. Half the radio personalities think the Rangers can't lose now, and the other half feel that the Rangers are over due for a game 7 let down at home.

I don't know what I think. I could see it going either way. I hate the two days off because I feel like it gives Tampa enough time to regroup. Will be completely heart broken if NY comes up short, but as long as they leave it all on the ice I can't ask for much more at this point.

Today will be a long day thinking about tomorrow night.

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My cousin, who has a partial Rangers plan, I think, has had several playoff seats this year. He is not really a hockey fan (is actually an Islanders fan) and has them for family, clients, or even to flip them, it seems.

He had a pair of tickets for Game 7, 7 rows from the ice and sold them last night for...................$3,750. Unreal.

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Seems reasonable :rolleyes

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could be the last game there for the year, makes sense

:rolleyes

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looks like the sabres are going with Bylsma

some interesting facts on bylsma vs. babcock

Pts per game
Babcock (DET) - 1.29
Bylsma - 1.33

Postseason win%
Babcock - .547
Bylsma - .551

1st rd exits
Babcock - 4
Bylsma 2

and they've each won a cup

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nice break down
always appreciate your dilligence.

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:lol stole it from tweeter

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Tough comparison cause Babcock was there 10 years compared to Bylsma's 5.5. I think Bylsma will do better in Buffalo than Babcock will in TO. We can talk about how badly they tanked but that's over and they have 0 cap issues, a butt load of talent, potential talent and draft picks. I'd rather just start building something than wait for it to be blown up and then build it.

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:lol :lol

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Agreed on Babs, and I think that's the big difference, that he's been coaching twice as long.

Also agree that Bylsma's really not coming into all that bad of a situation. There are a lot of really solid pieces on Buffalo's roster. A pretty good mix of veteran and young talent. With the right direction, they will do well.

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Agree on a lot of that:

For me Keith would be a no brainer for the Hawks, dude has been upping his game every night. Last night he put on a clinic for any defenseman to watch. 3 assists, saved a certain goal when that puck was literally an inch away from crossing the line and he swiped it away and that one play where he held on to the puck for a while, made 3 or 4 bluff passes then whipped one through all the players to Hossa who was wide open on the opposite side to smash it past Anderson.

Rangers - yup, Hank or Brassard have carried them.

Bolts - definitely Johnson is the frontrunner but if Kucherov has a big game in 7 he may get the nod.

Ducks - think you'd have to go with Perry or Kessler.

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Speaking of the crease; not that it matters now but the ducks second goal should have been called back because of interference. That was clear from every angle of replay, while the shot was in the air that duck clipped Crawford.

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Nice! Here's mine, but I'll also add an "underdog" selection, just 'cuz I love those guys that get their job done without getting a ton of credit.

Hawks - Yeah, Keith easily.
Underdog: Seabrook. He'd be the MVP on any other team, but playing with Keith somehow makes him the underdog on the Hawks. Kruger's also had a good series.

Rangers - Brassard for overall consistency.
Underdog: Carl Hagelin. Tends to disappear from the scoresheet for stretches, but I like his 3-zone game and hustle.

Lightning - Johnson
Underdog - Brian Effing Boyle. I love everything about his game. One of my top 10 favorite NHL-ers. If I were to buy a Lightning sweater, I would get his.

Ducks - Perry
Underdog - Clayton Stoner. He was a decent 5-6 guy in Minny, but has grown leaps and bounds this year. IMO, the steadiest of the Ducks defensemen.

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I'll play. And I'll play with Matty's underdog selections addition.

Ducks: I'd go with Perry. He's been a force pretty much from the jump.
Underdog: Cam Fowler -Pretty much what Matty said about Stoner, could be said about Fowler.

Hawks: Keith. Duh.
Underdog: If he could be called that: Kane. Dude's the best. He doesn't hustle 100% of the time. But makes up for it with everything he does both on offense with his skating ability and his little board plays on offense and defense to spring someone or himself.

Lightning: Tyler Johnson. Little dude's been awesome.
Underdog: Boyle. Agree with Matty here. Boyle's not on the scoresheet a ton, but he's done everything right for his team and for his role. He's been maybe the best PK in all of the playoffs for any team. Sans goalies and Keith...

Rangers: Lundqvist. Yeah, he wasn't great a few games in this series but you can't argue against how much he means in getting the team to this point. Inclduing his bending but not breaking to come back, down 3-1 last series.
Underdog: Stepan. Love his game and what he brings.

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Some fun trivia: After going to the Wiki page for Conn Smythe Trophy. 8 past winners are still active in the NHL. Can you name them? NO CHEATING! Give your best guesses a try on the fly!

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crosby, toews, tim thomas, kopitar

that's all i have off the top of my head

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I really hope Quenville keeps the Toews/Kane/Saad line together for game seven. They looked unstoppable last night especially when Keith and/orSeabrook was on the ice backing them up and creating chances.

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Only Toews of those guesses is correct.

Edit: Thomas won but not active. Other two didn't win.

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:lol shit.

jonathan quick?
Malkin? either he or crosby had to have won
who won for the kings last year?

edit: oh, zetterberg is another one.

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If memory serves Kane got one too.

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Yeah, I think Quick got one too

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Kane, Malkin, Quick and Zetterberg are all correct.

So that's 5.

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Oh man... I'm positive I can get the teams right, but MVPs will not be my strong suit. I'll go back 10 seasons:

LA - Kopitar
CHI - Toews
LA - Quick
BOS - Thomas
CHI - Niemi
PIT - Crosby
DET - Osgood
ANA - Pronger
CAR - Ward
TB - Richards

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Welp. Let's see here. Active as in active players. So no on Pronger and Osgood and Thomas. Niemi didn't win. Nor Kopitar.

Richards and Ward are right.

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:lol i thought Kopitar won the last one too matty.

he should have, at least.

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Yeah, I was just trying to go back and name them all.

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:lol at still not getting last year's. The only one we're missing here.

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Right? Totally should have!

EDIT: Of course, I was handing out MVPs, we all know what position they'd play.

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oh!

it was that guy who scored all the OT winners. what was his name??!!

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Justin Williams won last year. Tim Thomas definitely won in 2011

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Yay. Justin Williams ftw. Thus ends the game.

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oh yeah, justin williams.

great game.

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Who says superstitions and luck don't factor into watching sports. I am taking some credits for that game last night! :lol

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What is Tim Thomas active in? :lol:lol:lol

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he just said 8 past winners are active. not THE pas 8 winners.

i read it the wrong way at first too which is why i guessed tim thomas.

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How could you guys forget Mr. Game 7, Justin Williams?!

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Sorry for failing at asking the question. I didn't read it that way.

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What the hell? The Rangers game isn't until tomorrow?

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yeah, Friday ratings

and Billy Joel

I am happy because I would have missed game 7 if it was tonight. Tomorrow night I will be glued to the TV!

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Keith was pretty amazing that game too, so good choice.

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NHL is praying for Rangers/Hawks. Would possibly be the highest rated Stanley Cup ever. However, dreams never come true so likely matchup is Cali vs Florida lmao

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How could people forget Justin Williams, he's the reason the Flyers aren't 7-time defending champs because they got rid of him

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:lol:lol

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Yeah, it was an easy choice too. I love Keith's style of play and he is just plain smart. I got lucky too, only paid $29.99 for a brand new with tags official handstiched reabok ones complete with the A and all that jazz(it had a couple drips of coffee or something on the back number that I can get out with a quick spray, bleach pen of just a good wash - funny thing is if you are not holding it you'd never even notice the 3 drips because they are so tiny!) Heck it is such a great jersey it even has the clips and snaps to grasp it to the padding - basically it is almost the exact same one he wears.

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Without doing research, I believe this is the first season Ovechkin hasn't scored a hat trick

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Including or excluding Gordie Howe Hat Tricks?

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That is how I read your post :lol

Either way, he had a great season. Should be proud of it. Will be great agin next year I suspect.

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I was thinking about it with like 2 weeks left in the season and thought it was odd. And then just thinking back to past seasons I'm pretty sure he's had at least one.

Ovechkin only had 2 ENG this year. Only one or two were on tip in's. Over half were one timers.

Overall he had a great fucking season. How it ended was rough.

Should be interesting to see how the vote gets split for the Hart between him and Price

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Normal. Predictable. Common.

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In terms of ratings, yeah they want that but in terms of hockey, I think all possible 4 possible match-ups could be fun. I've said it before, the NHL is in this weird position when it comes to teams like Tampa. They want them to succeed and go deep in the playoffs for their markets cause it gains you fans. But when they do, no one watches on tv.

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Quick, Toews, Kane, Malkin, Zetterberg, Jagr, Cam Ward, St. Louis.

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whoops, forgot Williams and St. Louis.

Surprised that Jagr didn't win one.

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St Louis didn't either.

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I know, I was merely commenting I messed up on the Jagr and St. Louis picks.

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Gotcha. Jagr should get an award, for winning a Stanley Cup before some of these other guys were born.

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Jagr is unbelievable

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Jagr also won a Cup before two of the remaining franchises were even in the league.

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Jagr has been in the league longer than the team he is currently playing for

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Jaromir Jagr so old his social security number is 0

http://i.ytimg.com/vi/HxJpvBOFPMA/hqdefault.jpg

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Jagr is older than the combined age of his FLA linemates, Gaudreau and Barkov.

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Johnny got traded from Calgary? :lol

Huburdeau maybe.

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Jagr is older than Sal even probably. Think about that?

I have no way of knowing that, but I liked it.

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I give the Lightning a 25% chance tonight only because they have some ex-Rangers who won't be scared tonight and the road team has been better this series.

The Rag$ have the x-factor and he is in nets and his numbers are ridiculous in game 7's, especially at home. He will likely be the difference but he has to come up small at some point in this situation. Tonight would be nice.

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:lol:lol He is actually. Wiseass. Less than a year, though. :cool

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the nerves for tonight are starting to kick in

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Jagr is older than when man created the wheel.

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All those dreaus are just the same. (Thanks for the catch)
:lol

Good lord Sal, less than a year? How are you not retired and in a home by now?!

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imagine how the players feel!

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Forgot there was another game 7 going on.

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How do you know I'm not?

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I will stay awake for this game. I will stay awake for this game.

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can't stay up past 10pm on a friday?
yikes Timmy.

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I wake up between 5-5:30 (although alarm is for 5:45) for work right now so I'm whooped at the end of the day. Plus the kid likes to wake up early on the weekend. Have to wake his ass up during the week but Saturday without fail he'll be up at 6 or sometimes earlier. God I'm old.

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that's about my schedule too, minus kids. though i'm also 28.

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Side parent question: About when did the Griff start "sleeping in" on the weekdays? My dude still insists on waking up at like 6:15 every morning.

To add to the hockey conversation: I will no doubt be able to stay up and watch all of both game 7s. (He says now.)

Jagr sent back his AARP magazine claiming he wasn't THAT old yet and that it was addressed to a salrx95. Had no idea what it meant when I first saw the story. I got it now.

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You're only a few years younger but the kid thing is more of it. I'd force myself to stay awake if I wasn't going to be up at 6 again on Saturday. I am going out after work and have time to kill between when I'm done and that so maybe grab a latte to keep me going.

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Sleep in? Sleep in is relative. Usually it's 6:30-7:00 if I were to leave him I think. We have to be out of the house by 7:00 so don't get much of a chance to leave him. A lot of months 3-12 of his life he was up around 5:30 so when it got past 6:00, it was great. Have to say, although it's all psychological, waking up that early this time of year is much easier than in November-April