The Neutral Zone

by **swerb** » Sat Apr 09, 2011 5:31 pm

Rangers get a big win today. Hurricanes need to win tonight to secure the final spot in the East and knock out the Rangers.

Blackhawks and Stars battling for the final spot in the West tomorrow.

A lot of the seedings still up in the air heading into the seasons final weekend though.

Can't wait for things to get started Wedns night.

by **skatingtripods** » Sat Apr 09, 2011 6:37 pm

Plenty of interesting games over the next two days. Philly clinches the Atlantic at home tonight with a win over the Islanders. Montreal and Buffalo each in action tonight to see who plays Boston or Philly. Personally, despite Philly's sick depth, I'd rather play them because of their questions in net. Buffalo wants retribution at Boston from last season.

Crucial game for SJ tonight. They want home ice against Detroit in the probable second round matchup, though none of the West teams are easy outs. Chicago can lock up the final spot by beating Detroit, and could hypothetically move up to 6 I believe. I don't know the head-to-head records, but there's a three-way tie in regulation/OT wins.

Crazy tiebreaker scenarios.

by **swerb** » Sat Apr 09, 2011 6:50 pm

Want to see that Boston/Montreal series badly. Be cheering for the Lightning tonight as well ... as much as it flies in the face of my usual take on big market and NY teams, I wanna see the Rangers get in to play the Caps. Flyers/Sabres would be my a matchup between my favorite and least favorite teams on the East side ... so I wanna see that as well. F Philly.

Ducks and Blackhawks (if they get in) are two dangerous low seeds in the West that could go all the way, and present dangerous 1st rd series for Van/Det/SJ. Don't think the Kings have enough offense. Yotes/Preds would be an interesting series between teams of contrasting styles.

Can't wait to see how it plays out.

by **skatingtripods** » Sat Apr 09, 2011 6:56 pm

swerb wrote:Want to see that Boston/Montreal series badly. Be cheering for the Lightning tonight as well ... as much as it flies in the face of my usual take on big market and NY teams, I wanna see the Rangers get in to play the Caps. Flyers/Sabres would be my a matchup between my favorite and least favorite teams on the East side ... so I wanna see that as well. F Philly.

Yep, no problems with that. I'd like Buffalo's chances against PHI over against BOS.

Ducks and Blackhawks (if they get in) are two dangerous low seeds in the West that could go all the way, and present dangerous 1st rd series for Van/Det/SJ. Don't think the Kings have enough offense. Yotes/Preds would be an interesting series between teams of contrasting styles.

Can't wait to see how it plays out.

Nobody wants to play either team. Kopitar's injury cripples what the Kings can do. Still a good team, a team that will give you a long series, but they won't win one I don't think.

Yotes/Preds, bet the under. Every game. Would be a real grind it out series. I think NSH has more skill, and Rinne has been unbelievable this year. I'd take NSH in a long, hard fought, seven game series with maybe 30 goals combined over the 7 games.

by **swerb** » Sat Apr 09, 2011 9:01 pm

Lightning come out and absolutely blitz the Canes in the 1st period. Lead 3-0. Canes on life support. Rangers fans loving life.

by **skatingtripods** » Sat Apr 09, 2011 9:51 pm

Bobrovsky pulled tonight for PHI. They're in serious need of a goaltender.

Shocked at the awful start by CAR. Great arena for hockey, one of the top goaltenders in the conference. Can't believe it.

by **swerb** » Mon Apr 11, 2011 2:00 pm

Anyone have access to the playoff 1st rd series odds and the odds to win the Cup? Can't get on any sites that show em here at work ...

by **Spin** » Mon Apr 11, 2011 2:57 pm

Does anyone know if Crosby will be back for the playoffs?

Last I heard his family wanted him to retire, then a couple weeks later he was gonna try to make the playoffs.

by **skatingtripods** » Mon Apr 11, 2011 3:49 pm

swerb wrote:Anyone have access to the playoff 1st rd series odds and the odds to win the Cup? Can't get on any sites that show em here at work ...

From Bodog:
VAN: 3/1
WSH: 11/2
SJ: 7/1
PHI: 8/1
BOS: 17/2 (love the value here)
DET: 10/1 (love the value here)
PIT: 10/1
ANA, TB: 20/1
CHI: 22/1
BUF: 25/1
LA: 28/1
MTL, NSH, PHX: 30/1
NYR: 35/1

Series from BetUS

TB +135
PIT -165

PHX +165
DET -210

NYR +190
WSH -240

CHI +180
VAN -230

NSH +125
ANA -155

MTL +165
BOS -210

BUF +130
PHI -160

LA +200
SJ -260

by **swerb** » Mon Apr 11, 2011 5:05 pm

Thanks Adam. Love the Habs and Sabres as dogs in those series. Think the Caps cruise. Pit/TB is a tough one.

Like the chalk in the West. Nucks, Sharks, and Ducks. Still up in the air on Wings/Yotes.

by **Cerebral_DownTime** » Mon Apr 11, 2011 5:21 pm

I guess go which ever team causes the most injuries to the ShitHawks.

by **Spin** » Tue Apr 12, 2011 12:08 pm

Guess I'm the only Sid fan on this board...

by **skatingtripods** » Tue Apr 12, 2011 12:18 pm

Spin wrote:Guess I'm the only Sid fan on this board...

Can't stand him.

FWIW, since you asked, saw on Twitter today that he still has not been cleared for contact.

by **Cerebral_DownTime** » Tue Apr 12, 2011 6:05 pm

Sindey Crosby is a wenis.

All these teams suck and I hope they all lose.

by **swerb** » Thu Apr 14, 2011 8:22 am

Great opening night.

Mike Fisher has a big night after disappointing since coming over to Nashville in the trade. Rinne and Suter and Weber were awesome.

Alex Semin with a howitzer in OT to give the Caps a 1-0 lead.

Fleury, Luongo pitch shutouts for the Pens and Nucks. And the defensive play in front of them, my god. First 10 min of the game, Vancouver looked scary good. Hit after hit, a quick 2-0 lead. Gonna take a Herculean effort to beat them four times in a series.

Vancouver/Montreal is my Cup prediction.

Philly/Buffalo and Boston/Montreal tonight at 7 ... can't wait. Go Sabres, go Habs.

by **swerb** » Thu Apr 14, 2011 12:20 pm

http://theclevelandfan.com/misc/general ... off-primer

Good read Adam ...

by **skatingtripods** » Thu Apr 14, 2011 2:21 pm

swerb wrote:http://theclevelandfan.com/misc/general/7-general-archive/7977-tcf-nhl-playoff-primer

Good read Adam ...

Thank you, sir. I had it done yesterday before the first games, but I think Peeks thought I just had it done early for my weekly Thursday piece. No biggie.

Semin's shot was unreal. Across his body, fading away from the net. Jason Arnott + Marc Staal's fatigue made that play.

The NHL playoffs are about depth. Saw that last night. Everybody but three guys had a shot on goal for the Wings last night, and two were strictly defensive defensemen. The Rangers didn't play all 6 D evenly like the Caps did, Staal makes a fatigue-induced turnover to lead to the GWG. Nashville's depth showed last night. Corey Perry with the -3.

I'm shocked that Anaheim went with Ellis. That won't happen again in Game 2.

by **swerb** » Thu Apr 14, 2011 9:55 pm

Good goaltending so far tonight in the early games. Price is getting peppered. 26 shots through two periods. 26 saves.

Nothing makes me happier than seeing the Bruins lose. Hang on Habs.

by **swerb** » Thu Apr 14, 2011 10:41 pm

Manly effort from Carey Price. Great job by Montreal shutting down Boston's top line and to their D for getting in front of a lot of shots. Boston controlled the puck and the tempo, and got shut the F out. Complete with a Chara cheap shot at the end. Wanted to see someone light him up when he got outta the box w 45 seconds left.

Habs are taking this series and making a serious run.

And the Sabres lead 1-0. Opening game losses for my two least favorite hockey teams would make for a helluva night 2 of the playoffs.

by **skatingtripods** » Thu Apr 14, 2011 11:10 pm

Huge win for Buffalo. Love it. Ryan Miller plays like that all series and they're moving on.

Montreal played well. Took home ice advantage away. Boston's top line was pretty unmotivated for it being the playoffs.

by **peeker643** » Thu Apr 14, 2011 11:13 pm

Jeez- Heatley scores for Sharks 28 seconds into 1st period. The GD lights in San Jose ain't even all the way hot after pre-game.

by **Cerebral_DownTime** » Thu Apr 14, 2011 11:44 pm

skatingtripods wrote:Huge win for Buffalo. Love it. Ryan Miller plays like that all series and they're moving on.

Montreal played well. Took home ice advantage away. Boston's top line was pretty unmotivated for it being the playoffs.

I've never seen a team look so disinterested going into game 1........ in a heated rivalry to boot. That was sad and they owe Tim Thomas more than that shit effort.

Heatley

He killed a guy.

by **skatingtripods** » Thu Apr 14, 2011 11:51 pm

Good ending to that period, sans the blown call on the Stoll hit. Gives the series a little bit of bad blood. I like it.

by **peeker643** » Thu Apr 14, 2011 11:54 pm

Nice 15 second throw down there. Like when teams are matched up in playoffs and have that 'too familiar' thing going on.

Heatley didn't mean it.

It was $1 Draft Night dude. How 'bout cutting him a break?

Cache Creek Casino Power Play? Nice. I was at that place. It's in the middle of effing nowhere somewhere between San Fran and wine country.

Fine poker action though. 4/8 w/full kill and three full tables at 11am. Those were the days.

by **swerb** » Sat Apr 16, 2011 9:58 pm

Great games today. Wings hang on for dear life to hold off the Coyotes to take a 2-0 lead. Caught most of the Flyers/Sabres games on a stream ... best game of the playoffs so far.

And the Canadiens continue to wipe their ass with Tim Thomas and the Bruins.

by **skatingtripods** » Sat Apr 16, 2011 11:32 pm

Sabres have one of the most passionate fan bases in hockey. HSBC will be rocking on Monday.

Can't say I'm too shocked with MTL, I knew Price would be stellar.

Phoenix is done as a franchise at the end of this series. They should at least go balls out in front of their fans. They're moving back to Winnipeg.

by **swerb** » Sun Apr 17, 2011 10:09 pm

Rangers stay alive. Rangers get a crazy goal with 1:30 left to break a 2-2 tie. I think Dubinsky's 'stache willed that thing in. Both Neuvirth and Lundqvist have been great in this series, as has the defensive play. Neuvirth keeps playing like this, Caps are gonna be a really, really tough out. Rangers now with a chance to make this a series Tues night in game 4.

Mike Fisher strikes again. Preds take a huge 2-1 series lead over the Ducks. Brutal break for the Ducks losing Ryan for two games. He coulda been the difference today.

Blackhawks had a chance to net 2-3 goals with all the Canuck penalties in the 1st. Only were able to light it once. See if they can step up, finish this game, and stay alive. All those must win games down the stretch, they didn't look too inspired. See what they got here ...

by **Cerebral_DownTime** » Mon Apr 18, 2011 2:58 am

I love me some Raffi Torres hits. Fuck the Blackhawks. Canucks just beating them all over the ice.

by **skatingtripods** » Mon Apr 18, 2011 12:19 pm

Cerebral_DownTime wrote:I love me some Raffi Torres hits. Fuck the Blackhawks. Canucks just beating them all over the ice.

I'd give him 10 games for that. At least. Blatant lack of respect for a fellow player. Completely pre-meditated. Should have gotten 5 + game for charging to begin with. His first game back off a suspension, where he said he wouldn't change his game, and we saw who he really is tonight. He was a hack with the Jackets and he's a hack with the Canucks.

10 at least. Shoulder straight to head, reckless play, repeat offender.

Somebody has to protect these players from blindside hits. That somebody is Colin Campbell. Too many concussions. I think they'll launch an investigation in to the Blackhawks because Seabrook shouldn't have come back in the game, but he had to because Chicago's season ended with a loss last night.

by **swerb** » Mon Apr 18, 2011 1:00 pm

skatingtripods wrote:
Cerebral_DownTime wrote:I love me some Raffi Torres hits. Fuck the Blackhawks. Canucks just beating them all over the ice.

I'd give him 10 games for that. At least. Blatant lack of respect for a fellow player. Completely pre-meditated. Should have gotten 5 + game for charging to begin with. His first game back off a suspension, where he said he wouldn't change his game, and we saw who he really is tonight. He was a hack with the Jackets and he's a hack with the Canucks.

10 at least. Shoulder straight to head, reckless play, repeat offender.

Somebody has to protect these players from blindside hits. That somebody is Colin Campbell. Too many concussions. I think they'll launch an investigation in to the Blackhawks because Seabrook shouldn't have come back in the game, but he had to because Chicago's season ended with a loss last night.

Heard Quenneville's post game presser on the way in this morning ... he was pissed.

Like him or not, Torres had an impact last night. As did Samuelson, both the guys they were missing in games 1 and 2.

Vancouver is a really good team.

by **skatingtripods** » Mon Apr 18, 2011 2:36 pm

swerb wrote:Heard Quenneville's post game presser on the way in this morning ... he was pissed.

Like him or not, Torres had an impact last night. As did Samuelson, both the guys they were missing in games 1 and 2.

Vancouver is a really good team.

Torres should have had a very negative impact. Chicago scored on the Torres penalty's powerplay. If that's a 5 min major like it should have been, IMO, who knows what happens.

Samuelsson was big. Never underestimate the power of fresh legs to a series.

I cannot believe Torres didn't get suspended for that hit. Absolutely shocked.

With Chicago down 3-0, somebody's taking liberties on that guy in game 4.

by **skatingtripods** » Mon Apr 18, 2011 2:51 pm

Watching it for about the 20th time, 5 for charging would be wrong. Torres never took more than two strides to make the check.

Here's the thing. The NHL wants to eliminate "blindside hits", which this clearly was. There was a DVD sent out in March of last year about how players needed to be more responsible for themselves behind the net. Clearly, the NHL determined this to be a hockey play.

My issue is that it's a blindside hit on a player without the puck. Seabrook was turned, looking for the puck, and therefore prone to the hit. It was not like he had the puck, released it, and watched his pass a la the Paul Kariya hit back in 2003.

I just don't want to see supplemental discipline for whichever Hawk player takes liberties with Torres in Game 4. Because, the message that the NHL sent with this hit is for the teams to police it themselves.

If they want to eliminate these blindside shots to the head, it has to start with plays like that.

It's only a matter of time until we get one of these:

For what it's worth, Fanelli had a fractured skull.

by **swerb** » Tue Apr 19, 2011 12:18 am

Red Wings are looking scary good against a really nice Phoenix team.

Jimmy Howard is playing strong.

Hard to envision anything other than a Nucks/Wings WCF.

by **peeker643** » Wed Apr 20, 2011 2:14 pm

Watched the 1st period of Kings/Sharks last night. Kings score late in 1st for a 3-0 lead, could have probably scored 5 with any luck.

Then they score to make it 4-0 a minute into the 2nd.

I wake up to see they lost 6-5 in OT after SJ scored 5 in 2nd? In LA? In a pivotal Game 3?

Holy shit. Talk about a kick to the junk.

by **Cerebral_DownTime** » Wed Apr 20, 2011 2:43 pm

peeker643 wrote:Watched the 1st period of Kings/Sharks last night. Kings score late in 1st for a 3-0 lead, could have probably scored 5 with any luck.

Then they score to make it 4-0 a minute into the 2nd.

I wake up to see they lost 6-5 in OT after SJ scored 5 in 2nd? In LA? In a pivotal Game 3?

Holy shit. Talk about a kick to the junk.

That was incredible.

I'm not sure what to compare it to. Coming back from 28 down in an NFL game? 25+ in an NBA game?

I saw the Suckhawks rout the Canucks..... big deal. Ain't nobody beating that Vancouver team 4 in a row. Nobody.

by **skatingtripods** » Wed Apr 20, 2011 2:52 pm

peeker643 wrote:Watched the 1st period of Kings/Sharks last night. Kings score late in 1st for a 3-0 lead, could have probably scored 5 with any luck.

Then they score to make it 4-0 a minute into the 2nd.

I wake up to see they lost 6-5 in OT after SJ scored 5 in 2nd? In LA? In a pivotal Game 3?

Holy shit. Talk about a kick to the junk.

All I saw of that game was the box score and then the OT game winner. What a pass by Marleau.

One thing that the Kings lack is veteran leadership. They only have maybe one or two guys who can really talk in the locker room. There was nobody to stop that slide yesterday. Vets are big at this stage.

Doesn't help that Drew Doughty was a team worst -3. Faceoffs, too. Sharks won 39 of 64. Won't win many games that way.

by **Cerebral_DownTime** » Wed Apr 20, 2011 2:57 pm

Honestly....... the only team I could even consider somewhat rooting for is Buffablow. All because of Ryan Miller at the Olympics. And they're a Blue collar city.

by **swerb** » Sat Apr 23, 2011 7:54 pm

Impressive performance from Tampa today. Get to go back home for game six and try to force a game seven.

Caps finish off the Rangers. Neuvirth has looked great, as has the Caps D in front of him. They are the clear favorites in the East to me.

Lets go Habs. Lets go Habs.

by **skatingtripods** » Sat Apr 23, 2011 9:25 pm

swerb wrote:Caps finish off the Rangers. Neuvirth has looked great, as has the Caps D in front of him. They are the clear favorites in the East to me.

Mike Green is an enormous loss if he has another concussion. They'll take supreme caution with him and he won't play again this year. Without him, they're very limited on puck movers on D. If they run in to a very good forechecking team, it's a bad matchup.

by **swerb** » Sat Apr 23, 2011 9:31 pm

This Bruins/Canadiens game has been great. Price and Thomas have both been excellent. Game starting to get real chippy. Who's gonna break through and get the first goal here?

by **skatingtripods** » Sat Apr 23, 2011 9:37 pm

Gotta go with Montreal. Thomas is overplaying everything and his angle play is poor. Boston uses their defensemen in the offensive zone more than any other team I've seen. At some point, that's going to lead to an odd man rush that MTL cashes in.

by **swerb** » Sat Apr 23, 2011 9:39 pm

I hope you're right ... thus far Boston has been much crisper and has controlled the tempo. All it takes is one though.

by **skatingtripods** » Sat Apr 23, 2011 9:43 pm

swerb wrote:I hope you're right ... thus far Boston has been much crisper and has controlled the tempo. All it takes is one though.

They have, yet MTL has had the better scoring chances, at least in my opinion, because Carey Price looks locked in and Thomas isn't squaring his shoulders to shooters.

Boston's getting a lot of low percentage shots and MTL is clearing the front of the net.

It's a really good game. There's so much going on despite it being a 0-0 game.

by **skatingtripods** » Sat Apr 23, 2011 9:46 pm

43 year old Mark Recchi slapping away at Hal Gill during that scrum was hysterical.

by **swerb** » Sat Apr 23, 2011 9:54 pm

Goalies have been amazing. Hard to put together two better periods than what we just saw from Carey Price. Second period was intense.

by **skatingtripods** » Sat Apr 23, 2011 10:20 pm

Best player on the ice for the Bruins gets rewarded. Marchand's been terrific tonight.

by **swerb** » Sat Apr 23, 2011 10:32 pm

He has. Habs have just been off tonight. The passing, the puck control, the angles ... Boston is winning all of those battles.

by **swerb** » Sat Apr 23, 2011 10:34 pm

Halpern! Tie game. :thumb up:

by **swerb** » Sat Apr 23, 2011 10:51 pm

What a hockey game.

Both goalies have been outstanding. Subban has logged an insane amount of ice time (and lots of boos from the Boston crowd) for Montreal, Eller has been very productive in his minutes. Gill and Hamrlik have been solid. Seidenberg and Marchand have been great for Boston. Off to OT ...

by **peeker643** » Sat Apr 23, 2011 11:58 pm

swerb wrote:What a hockey game.

Both goalies have been outstanding. Subban has logged an insane amount of ice time (and lots of boos from the Boston crowd) for Montreal, Eller has been very productive in his minutes. Gill and Hamrlik have been solid. Seidenberg and Marchand have been great for Boston. Off to OT ...

I know fatigue plays a part but I wonder if the ice is effed up in Boston. Guys are having a tough time controlling the puck and there have been a lot of giveaways.

Jeezus- SJ down 3-0 in the 1st again?

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