Re: The NHL Thread
 

Yeah, I agree. I really don't think the Caps are that far away. They're thin defensively and the goaltending is questionable, but I'm still a Holtby believer. Though I think ever since Olie Kolzig took over as goalie coach he's regressed substantially. But there's good pieces, and with proper participation from Ovie they're easily a playoff team at the very least

Re: The NHL Thread
 

One thing we can agree on: Habs hate. Very little I actually like from them right now, aside from the play and attitude of Dustin Tokarski.

Re: The NHL Thread
 

First off, even if the linseman was in the wrong, it doesn't give players the right to put their hands on them. I hate when officials are the aggressors or escalate situations as much as anyone, but even when they do, you can't -- as a professional athlete -- put your hands (or elbows) on them.

That said, I don't even think that's what happened there. Nor do I think Carcillo was just standing and watching. He was clearly trying to get involved, which would have made him the third man into a fight. If you still think he was just standing and watching, maybe you don't have good footage of the altercation. There's a link below that shows that the linesman didn't just skate up out of nowhere and grab an innocent Carcillo and slam him into the wall. Not really how I saw it unfold at all.

http://ftw.usatoday.com/2014/05/bran...aniel-carcillo

But again, even if the linesman did bully/target Carcillo and use excessive force on him, Carcillo needs to take the high road and not start throwing elbows at an official. I'm in no way defending what Prust did to Stepan, but I think it's kind of silly to defend or try to make excuses for what either player did.

Re: The NHL Thread
 

My team and yours could potentially be in a race for some d-men.

Not a ton available on the market, but I really don't want the Avs to get too crazy. Maybe a couple pieces here and there.

OEM is still top of my list, but if I were to think reasonably, I like the idea of:
- Dan Boyle on like a 2 year deal. Great vet presence who can still help, but probably not on the top pairing.
- Adam McQuaid. Bruins might be looking to offload a d-man or two, and I would love his grit and toughness. Underrated stay at home d-man who is still maturing.

Re: The NHL Thread
 

Good footage.

I don't see the linesman doing much wrong there. In regards to him heading for Carcillo, I don't blame him one bit and don't think he did anything out of the ordinary. When I'm reffing, you know I'm keeping an extra eye on guys who I know have a history of causin problems. No question I look for where they are first when an altercation occurs.

In fact, I love how the official made sure Carcillo was in the box and out of the picture, then raced back into the the thick of it :lol

Re: The NHL Thread
 

That video kind of sucks compared to the one I saw. I think if you look at the pic in the article, you see hes skating away from the fight and you see the linesmen skating towards him. (I attached the image since I cant figure out how to embed it.) I dont see any evidence where he was going to be the third man in and escalate the situation any more.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QbK89ipmbUk At about the 9 second mark you see him just standing around and the linesmen skate up to him and shove him to the boards.
I agree with everything you said about how hes the athlete. He shouldnt have reacted the way he did. I just think 10 games is a little excessive when you look at the situation as a whole. I always hate when there is a standard punishment for something and all the circumstances around it mean dick. In that article Kerry Frasier even says the linesman was overly aggressive with him. Im not defending Carcillo in anyways. I said he was wrong from the start and that I think hes hockey garbage in the grand scheme of the game.

To me it looked like carcillo was trying to just get away from the ref and shrug him off rather than trying to throw an elbow, but idk.

Re: The NHL Thread
 

That's really what it comes down to -- Carcillo is a garbage player, who has a history of bad behavior and who crossed the line here. With or without a history though, you just don't touch an official. As I've mentioned, even IF the referee was completely in the wrong (still don't think he was), Carcillo would still deserve 10 games for trying to elbow him. Not to mention, Carcillo gave that official more than just one jab with his elbows.

I'm surprised even Rangers fans aren't happy that he got 10 games, just so that Vigneault isn't forced to decide whether or not to even put him out on the ice each night.

Re: The NHL Thread
 

I think he was trying to shrug him off at first, but the second and third tries were a bit excessive.

Re: The NHL Thread
 

Pre gaming at a Mexican restaurant! Go Kings!

Re: The NHL Thread
 

Eh, bottom line is that Carcillo's made his bed over the course of his career.

What a screen by Carter. Crawford didn't even know it was coming towards him. Horrific D by the Hawks there to allow that to happen

Re: The NHL Thread
 

Craaaawford

Re: The NHL Thread
 

So goooooood

Re: The NHL Thread
 

I can't get behind nyr/kings

Re: The NHL Thread
 

This is not good for the Hawks fans in here.

Re: The NHL Thread
 

Yikes, Hawks

NY vs LA would be interesting due to the major-ness of both cities, if nothing else

Re: The NHL Thread
 

Hawks were down 3-1 to Detroit last year and looked awful...not over til its over

Re: The NHL Thread
 

Of course not, like I said after there last loss, when you have their leadership and talent they are never out of it. Hell they can still come back in this game

Re: The NHL Thread
 

Gotta yank Craw at some point here.

Re: The NHL Thread
 

Hawks looked very flat tonight. Not sure what's going on with Crawford but he has let in 14 goals this series. 13 of those in the last 3 games. He's needs to turn it around like Quick did in the Sharks series.

This series is not going as I expected. Feels nice to be leading a series for once though. But I know that it's not over until it's over, Kings proved that more than once this playoffs. Big game Wednesday.

Re: The NHL Thread
 

As bad as Crawford has looked, he really doesn't deserve much of the blame. The Hawks defensemen, even their top pair, were letting the Kings just sit on the doorstep all night without any fight whatsoever. On Muzzin's goal, Carter stood right in front of Crawford untouched for what seemed like an eternity, all the while Seabrook just watched him. On Doughty's goal, there were not one but TWO Kings players between the puck and Crawford, neither of whom were being cleared out or fighting much resistance.

Crawford has been far from brilliant, but he's received absolutely zero help. I think that's a big reason why he didn't get pulled last night -- Quenneville knew it wouldn't change anything.

Re: The NHL Thread
 

Hawks played reasonably well in LA just didn't come away with a win. The PP/PK is the difference in this series and that's really end of story. Kinda unfortunate that special teams is failing them right now because at even-strength the Hawks have been playing well.

Kings are just a really solid team. Hard to imagine NY or Montreal having much chance against them.

Re: The NHL Thread
 

With The King in net, I wouldn't bet against the Rangers. Not saying they win, but I expect it to be a close series. If that is the series we get.

Re: The NHL Thread
 

I would really look forward to a SCF like this. The recent Cup-winning experience is always a factor, but I think all in all it would be a pretty solid series.

Of course, with me saying that, both the Hawks and Habs will mount momentous comebacks and go on to the SCF :lol

Re: The NHL Thread
 

Agree about the experience. But Henrik has impressed me a lot this playoffs. He's good, we know it, but he's been the difference maker imo. If the Rangers had average goaltending, they are not one win from the SCF.

HA yeah, guess we shouldn't get ahead of ourselves. Hawks are good enough to do it, not sure about the Habs. In saying that, the Habs have been closer in the last few games to the Rangers than the Hawks have been to the Kings. I think they both go 6 and Kings and Rangers win it and Sarah has a meltdown.

I can't see any way a streaky team like the Kings could lose 3 in a row.

Re: The NHL Thread
 

Stupid reason why I don't want the Hawks to win: Keeps the Wings as the last team to win back to back. lol

Re: The NHL Thread
 

I don't think that is stupid at all. I think that is a solid reason.

Re: The NHL Thread
 

Even if they don't win, in this day and age to do what they (and the Kings) have done the last few years is impressive.