with San Jose and Edmonton going into their 2nd overtime... I have to ask this question...
When was the last time that there were all four teams leading the conference semifinals up 3-0 and looking to sweep? Has this ever happened?

Edmonton is the one factor that would ruin this oddity at this point in time...
Anaheim over Colorado 3-0
Buffalo over Ottawa 3-0
Carolina over New Jersey 3-0

I have never seen this... or don't recall this happening before...
if SJ wins... they'll lead their series 3-0... just waiting to see how Game 3 turns out...

Penalties plz kthx.

This game would probably be over by now if the refs hadn't swallowed their whistles.

I mean, I love xtuple overtimes, but the idea was calling penalties when they happen, no matter when.

(Get what you ask for...Edmonton penalty...)

True. Assuming the Oilers finish killing this off, I'm sure that the refs will give them a PP during the 3rd OT. They'll even it out. Its the same in most sport overtimes in the postseason -- put the whistles away and let the players play UNLESS there is a significant penalty that has to be called no matter the situation. That said, the refs have let alot go thus far, and I'm sure that'll continue through the 3rd OT.

Well, if they do, you'll be seeing less of these particular refs, if Bettman's pledge comes true.

Besides, this game is going to end in the 3OT anyway...why not put some power plays in the mix and get things moving that way?

I agree with you completely. I'd rather be done with this so I can go to bed. I just want to see how this ends. I'm pulling for the underdog personally, so I hope the Oilers pull it out. At any rate, we should start seeing the penalties being called more and more.

Horcoff ends it!

Now that is more like it. Sens win it in regulation 2 - 1, all we gotta do is make it happen 3 more times...only better :/

Mighty Ducks sweep the Avalanche out of the playoffs.

(Teemu's not so pretty without a few of his teeth. That's hockey for you...)

I hate to be the pessamist... but when was the last time a team came back from being down 3-0 in a series to win four straight? Ottawa is a great team... and I wish the best for them, but sadly the odds are against them. Can they beat those odds?


And in other news... WOOHOO!!!! My team is the first to advance to the conference finals!!! The Mighty Ducks (the Ducks after this season) of Anaheim are now getting the rest that they deserve while some of us await the outcome of the San Jose/Edmonton series. ^_^

Toronto did it sometime back in the 50s or something, and the Islanders did it to the Pens in the 70s. It's only happened once in baseball...:)

about 35 years ago by the Islanders and 33 years before that by the Maple Leafs. It's only been done twice and I don't know if we can do it either, but we're sure as hell gonna give it our all (I'm looking at you Volchenkov :poke: )

I think that the Sens will more than likely win game five, but falter and lose in game 6. Ottawa should take a second victory on home ice on Saturday, but I don't see how they'll go back into Buffalo and take home a win on the Sabres home ice IMO. But, as always, I'm sure their being told the same cliche (which really is the only mantra to take in this situation) of just taking it one game at a time. "Just win one guys." Win one, then move on from there. Should be interesting to see.

Looks like Edmonton ties up the series 2-2 with the Sharks.

That was an awesome game. Down 3-1 and they come back to win it 6-3 :rock:

Devils up 5-0 midway through the 2nd. pwnt.

[22:00] <NYRSkate> Buffalo advances?
[22:00] <Wojo> yup
[22:00] <Wojo> i can hear Fire on Ice from here

lol for truth

Sens need to stop with all the pose.

Wow, that's a really suprising series!

that game was exactly how the series went, we play OK, but not specatcularily on forward, our defence was shaky and unpredictable and we let them WALK IN and score two easy goals the our farm team would never allow. We didn't deserve to win. Go Oilers.

You should also give credit to the Sabres for owning your guys asses.

Canes finish off the Devils 4-1. It'll be Canes-Sabres and Ducks-EDM/SJ.

Kind of an unexciting final forecast, but if anything the chance that a team that has never won a Stanley Cup will win one this year is currently 75%, and those teams are in markets that have been hurting or are non-traditional. Which Gary Bettman will be happy about.

BTW, wonder if he'll be booed at the Cup presentation ceremony.

Well it's exciting to some of us.

Can't wait to see SABRESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS vs Canes, although Cory Stillman took a bad spill in our game tonight and may be hurt. That will hurt us, but at least there's some time before the series starts.

Also go Oilers~

You make me embarassed to be a Senators fan, you fairweather faggot.

I think I may end up rooting for the Sharks, simply because I want to see the Bruin regret giving away Joe Thornton (though he's shown again that he's a playoff dud).

But I think it'll be Carolina winning the Cup.

I have a Sabres bias, I'll admit. (I'm a Buffalonian.)

What I'd like to point out is that more than traditional offense tactics or goaltending, the factor that's driving a lot of teams through the playoffs is heart.

This isn't anything new or profound, but as Dopefish pointed out, three of the remaining teams have never won a Stanley Cup. If I'm not mistaken, San Jose also has yet to experience total victory. To these teams, the playoffs just business as usual. The Sens, the Avalanche, the Rangers - they've all held the Cup before; losing now does nothing to truly tarnish their past. For Buffalo/Carolina/Anaheim, losing only embellishes past failures.

I can't speak of other teams but I know what's driving Buffalo. Three years ago, the owners of the Sabres were indicted for embezzling millions of dollars from their primary company, Adelphia Cable. When they were found guilty, the ownership of the Sabres was in the air and morale sunk like a stone.

Three years later, we've been rescued from the depths by joint efforts between the NHL itself and a local millionaire. We have a strong roster and we're fast on the ice for a change. We're also still stinging from the horrible, horrible "No Goal" call in Dallas back in 1999. (Even ESPN has recognized it amongst sporting's Top 5 worst calls ever.)

Basically, we deserve the Cup as much as any other team does and Buffalo may not be good for much, but dammit, we're a sporting town. All the anti-Sabres sentiment I hear around here hurts. After all the shit Buffalo sports teams have gone through, we deserve our moment.

It's sad how nobody outside of Buffalo is willing to take us seriously.