underdog

Funny, I'm kinda fond of it

Yumcha

I want the Caps to force a Game 6 but...I don't think they have the fortitude.

Yumcha

Nice...did not see this at all...

Gotta love playoff hockey. Here's hoping the Caps/Pens go to 7!

e30cabrio

iTrader: (6)

QFT & same for Rangers Sens

e30cabrio

iTrader: (6)

Congrats Preds!

e30cabrio

iTrader: (6)

Doubt Talbot is going to give up 6.

Yumcha

@ Ducks...

Yumcha

Yup, Ducks and elimination games are like bees and honey.

e30cabrio

iTrader: (6)

7-1

lol

CCColtsicehockey

How the Oilers can go to two extremes is amazing. I hope they can pull off the game 7 win but so far neither team has won on home ice which is so weird and crazy.

Yumcha

Pretty easy to attribute to a young and talented team.

It was amusing to watch the slaughter but I do hope Game 7 lives up to the billing: I want triple OT and a 2-1 winner!

TacoBello

What do you mean? They would've handily won 3-2 the last game, if the officials weren't working Bettman's needs to strengthen hockey that no one cares about in California.

Also, Anaheim won at home (game 5). So did Edmonton (game 6). Only the first 4 games didn't have a home win.

is300eater

Ducks won game 5 at home, and Oilers won last night at home

TacoBello

That's a long and boring game for just 3 goals. At least make it a 5-4 win, if it's going into 3OT

97BlackAckCL

iTrader: (6)

The same thing happened the other night against the Caps, the league started showing just how bad they wanted to extend this series and not have them get swept in 4 or 5 games. The officiating inconsistencies have been absolutely mind boggling

TacoBello

I'm surprised the team owners don't have more say in this bullshit... like why would the penguins owner even want to risk not making it to the next round, when they can pretty much sweep the caps?

Sure, 7 game rounds make both owners happy, but if the penguins then lose in game 7 when they otherwise could have destroyed the caps, I'd be one pissed off owner, because there is no next round earnings.

TacoBello

Also, it's not overly exciting if the league has to bend it's own rules to keep another team in the mix.

Though the league had no issues with the ducks sweeping the flames in 4 games. Funny how that works.

Yumcha

The GM who is never wrong is potentially joining the Flyers.

Report: Flyers contact ex-Kings GM Lombardi - Article - TSN


Once that happens, Deano will of course, be the GM who is always wrong. And Flyers will be in Cap Hell.


Blake becomes the NEW GM who is never wrong. Kings are never in cap hell. Everyone else is.

Yumcha

I dunno...if we are playing conspiracy theorists here, why the eff then are the Oilers doing with McDavid? He should be a Leaf or something.

Or maybe on a team that actually has attendance issues and needs savings in the box office.




I think...we can all just agree that reffing in the NHL is like what constitutes as a "catch" in the NFL...WTFBBQ at times. Welcome to the playoffs, guys. Look at baseball...umps and strikes in the playoffs.
Where there is human judgement, expect very big swings for and against your team's favor. But, I don't think there is a conspiracy.

TacoBello

I don't think it's a big conspiracy at all. It's not a stretch to think bettman wants every round to go to game 7. It gets people- and not just the regular fans- excited. It makes big money for both teams. It draws attention.

This isn't just an oilers thing. This happens in other series with other teams also (as pointed out- Pengs/Caps, or 2014 Rangers/LA, or...) You can't even use the mcdavid excuse. It's a draw done by a 3rd party. There's only so much the nhl can manipulate, before they can potentially find themselves in some serious hot water for being caught. It doesn't even make sense to send mcdavid to Toronto. That's another die hard, huge market city. That place sells out whether they win or lose. It would make more sense to have mcdavid somewhere else where people don't care about hockey. At least that's bettmans stance. But he really can't dictate the standings in the regular season that much.

But when it comes to on ice shenanigans, it fully comes down to the nhl's discretion. And that discretion can swing which ever way they like. No one can question them. They're decision is final.

Yumcha

The goalie interference challenge that came to light in THESE playoffs is IMO, a familiar theme every playoff. Just well, more pronounced because we actually have a participant for a change in you.

I mean, look at what Brett Hull did that affected the outcome. The GMs voted and instituted rules and yeah, I do agree, the rulings so far I've seen all are terrible. This even includes the one that pretty much was a critical moment for the Hawks when I felt Crawford was interfered with and could not make a save on the goal that tied it up in Game 3 against Nashville. I do NOT get what something that appears to be common sense is such a struggle but I also wager that the situation room may not have all the camera angles maybe the TVs do? I dunno. And yes, no argument on series going 7...it means more money. More exposure. More drama. Of course everyone wants it (except maybe the fans living it, haha). Katz is laughing all the way to the bank right now and with good reason. Every owner is. BUT...for every series that drags out, the owners may also be worried about the health of their investments (i.e. Crosby, McDavid).

I tend not to overthink these things because again, I just don't think Leagues play too much "god" and interfere with games...

97BlackAckCL

iTrader: (6)

Game 7 here we come... My god these refs

TacoBello

I hope someone throws an empty beer bottle at one of them. Sacrifice for everyone else well being

e30cabrio

iTrader: (6)

Can't believe the Caps forced a 7th game.

TacoBello

Bettman is dancing amongst the hundred dollars bills falling from the sky

97BlackAckCL

iTrader: (6)

Yeah, Caps played great, but I don't think it's a coincidence that the 2 best teams are playing in a game 7

TacoBello

That hit on Crosby, and of course, he has to slam his head into the boards

97BlackAckCL

iTrader: (6)

TacoBello

There's no way he didn't suffer another concussion. Helmets are essentially useless at full speed collisions like that.

97BlackAckCL

iTrader: (6)

I'm not sure he was over his first concussion, and having had repeats, I'd say you're right. The talkshows this morning were all questioning how come he didn't come out and go into protocol...

TacoBello

I hate to say it, but because playoffs.

That totally should have required a look... but you know... high stakes game... need the leader and captain out there... he doesn't want to go... he wouldn't go even if he couldn't play... shiiiiet let's pretend that didn't happen and go on

I foresee lawsuits in about 10 years from now. I cringed when I saw that crash in the boards.

97BlackAckCL

iTrader: (6)

Me too, it was nasty

Yumcha

I'm stunned the Caps forced a Game 7.

97BlackAckCL

iTrader: (6)

Yeah, they sure didn't have much coming into this series...

TacoBello

Maybe Ovenchicken will get his first cup raise this year? Ah, who am I kidding.

97BlackAckCL

iTrader: (6)

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Yumcha

Yumcha

FWIW, for entertainment purposes, I'm happy the Caps forced a game 7...because, as a hockey fan, there's nothing that beats that drama. BUT, again, just for Pens fans like Rounder and Ack, sorry about the ulcer. I do hope Sid can suit up to make this as competitive of a game as possible.

I still think the Cup winner is whoever comes out of the fray between these 2 squads. Then again, those Preds are looking pretty good. And if Edmonton continues to shock and awe...who knows. I'm not sure about the Sens/Rangers teams...I admit to not watching any games in that series so far.

TacoBello

I hope the oilers bitch slap the ducks tomorrow. And I hope that everyone at nhl headquarters, especially bettman, and all the ice level officials feel the follow through of that bitch slap.

97BlackAckCL

iTrader: (6)