NHL General Discussion

[Eli26]

Yeah.... it would be an interesting Cup Final if we got McDavid (Crosby lite ) vs. Crosby.

 

[Eli26]

One of my Cap buddies has already forfeited this round. Gave in after Game 2 and said the Pens should be worried about the Sens next round. Love the faith some of these fans have in their teams. lol

 

[Eli26]

2-1 Oilers over the Ducks. C'mon Ducks! Yes I know what I said earlier and no I am not a fan of Edmonton. I said it would be neat to see a Oil/Pen Final, but doesn't mean I want to see Edmonton get to the Final.

 

[SilverStar17]

C'mon Oilers. F the Ducks.

 

[Eli26]

I am still going for a Nash/Pitts Final. My original prediction was a lame duck one.

 

[SilverStar17]

That's my finals prediction as well.

 

[Eli26]

Mike Fisher is one lucky man. Eh closest enough smiley.

 

[Deeznutz6]

I almost smashed my TV... Hope he is ok

 

[Eli26]

Ditto. This could be what elevates the Caps.

 

[SilverStar17]

Well, that series just got interesting.

Hope Sid is ok though. He's taken a lot of rough blows to the head and it would be unfortunate if he, or anyone, ever had to end his or their career prematurely due to sustaining one too many concussions.

 

[DinoDB1975]

Casual viewer here. Was that cross check on Crosby a "dirty" play? Watching the replays, it looked to me like a "perfect storm" of bad luck that led to Sidney Crosby getting hurt, him going to the ice, the Caps player coming around at Crosby, etc. Obviously, I can tell in football or basketball what a dirty play/flagrant foul is, but again, as I'm not a hockey fan, I'm not so sure.

Serious question, not trolling. Just wanted to get perspective from hockey fans.

Also, what's the NHL's concussion policy?

 

[Deeznutz6]

The Niskanen hit wasn't dirty, just bad timing, if he wanted to drive him into the ice he could have. The dirty play was the Ovechkin slash to the upper body that ricocheted off his arm and then his head. Ovi should have been suspended just like Crosby should have been won he slashed Methot earlier in the year.

As for the concussion policy, during the game they have to be evaluated, if they can't do some simple tasks they cannot return. After the game th club doctors dictate when he can come back.

Sucks as th Pens would have really had a shot at back to back, now I think the Caps come back

 

[SilverStar17]

I think it could go either way. It looks like just a case of a bad combination of many things (timing, angle, etc), however, I do question him putting up his stick in a cross check position. It occurs to me that normally when you see someone is going to collide with you like that from a low profile, your reaction would be to get a lower center of gravity yourself and sort of hug them as they crash into you to sort of brace them and yourself and absorb the unintended collision, not put your stick up in a cross check position to clothesline them.

Having played myself growing up, I'm aware to how bad things can look to a mere spectator and you're certain that the person intended to do what they did, but at that speed and having to make a split second decision to react to something, many things that a spectator would claim were intentional really were actually indeed unintentional.

If Crosby doesn't return this series (or the playoff season), I'm going with Nashville as the cup winner. They seem to be on fire right now and really remind me a lot of the 2012 Kings, where they just mowed through the competition from the 8th seed.

 

[Eli26]

Ovechkin plays at times a style that is reckless. Both Crosby and Hainsey cases could have been preventable injuries. Alex came in with his stick way too high (don't tell me he wasn't aware), or when he shot the puck into Hainsey's head, splitting his ear open. He looks to see where he's shooting and Ron is 4 and half feet away... that puck is not going past him... no way you should take that shot. You have a big dman (6'3" and 210 lbs worth) in your way... you know that shot isn't going through. And two hits to the head with a stick up and then Niskanen where he was to clip Crosby the other way. That's a lot of bad coincidences wouldn't you say? A little too convenient to chalk it up to bad luck. But again, that's my opinion. And don't get me wrong, Crosby has had a history of bad judgement calls... doing stuff, like jabbing guys with his stick to the nuts (not cool by the way), and that Methot slash. Granted it was more-so a hockey play gone bad, because let's face it, slashes are common ground in hockey games. But there was still enough force behind that move that could cause that much damage to Methot's finger.

Ovie has a history of doing knee-on-knees and other stuff like this, for it to be all boiled down to unfortunate circumstances. Or I say Crosby's stick to the nuts was "purely accidental." So was Lucic's spear to the groin of DeKeyser.

So no being a homer. I am also putting my guy under the bus... heck even Malkin laid into a hit to Wheeler's head.... but to say Alex is constantly unaware of all these acts... That they are just innocent mistakes... Bullsheeit.

With all that said, the game moves so fast, it's sometimes hard to separate from what is motive/intent to injure to what can be summed up as a dumb careless play based on quick reactionary responses.

 

[Eli26]

Okay, it's starting to look like a Conn Smyth post season for Marc-Andre Fleury. He's the major reason why the Pens are where they are today. It's nice to have all that rigorous hard work supporting a player, finally be rewarded. It was so tough. Actually, it was. No seriously. I sometimes felt like it was me and Flower against the world.

But seriously, or am I? Can the Penguins keep this up? Every game the Caps skaters have outplayed the Pens. If Crosby's out for an extended time, there is only so much that Fleury can go in beastmode and hold down the fort, until all hell breaks loose. Losing a generational superstar and arguably best NHLer in the past decade, a No. 1 superstar defenseman and a top-six forward, it's not like these are featherweight loses. If this was an NBA team, you're done. The Pens have been getting lots of luck go their way. They need Crosby back to seal the deal. At this point, even with a 3-1 series lead, I am not confident we can get this done, unless we start playing better by getting more scoring chances on our end, and limiting chances on their's.. Hey the fan is every bit a part of this as the players are. Without us there is no NHL. Therefore I can say "we" and "us." Half of us Pen fans had a heart attack last night... so I would say that counts for something.

 

[Deeznutz6]

Battle if the awful goalies in the Ottawa series...

And yep Eli, flower is playing done if the best hockey he's ever played

Crosby playing tonight, need to close the craps out

 

[KitFisto]

To.d you Pens in 5 if they win game 1. I'm right again.

 

[SilverStar17]

Doesn't take a psychic with a crystal ball to know the Capitals will flounder in the playoffs. It's almost axiomatic at this point.

 

[BurningRage]

Rangers choked again

 

[Deeznutz6]

Pens are going to look back at tonight and regret not closing it out