05-06 NHL Discussion Thread

Its kinda hard for me to talk about hockey after that beating the Lightning took the other night...good lord. 7-0 against the Panthers.

Jam it back in, in the dark.

Holy shit, the Lightning are looking better each game. Could it be that their actually FINALLY back in playoff form!?

There's nowhere I can't reach.

Marty St.Louis! 10 seconds left in OT gives the Lightning the extra point. Now we just need one more point.

This thing is sticky, and I don't like it. I don't appreciate it.

I was hoping we'd get Carolina in the playoffs, but unfortunatley we get a team we haven't beaten in 2 seasons. Sadly, I agree that the Lightning will be out in probably 5 games, unless a miracle occurs.

I think the best series this round will be the Devils and Rangers. I'm interested to see if the Devils can remain hot in the playoffs, and if Yagr can continue to get it done in the 2nd season.

How ya doing, buddy?

Wow. That was funny tonight watching the Bolts. Jesus, lets play retarded hockey and turn the puck over. Looked good for 2 1/3 periods, until the lapse defense took over in the 3rd.

I was speaking idiomatically.

You gotta have the classic hockey 20 minute overtime in the playoffs. It makes for some of the greatest struggles in hockey. Some of the greatest games in sports I've seen have been double, triple overtime battles that have so many close calls.

What kind of toxic man-thing is happening now?

Originally Posted by Zork

'Hockey Bay', my ass.

Haha. Whats the problem with the bay area embracing the team? I've been a fan since 1996, and I can't recall seeing a this area more behind a team over the past 3 years since the Bucs in the late 1990's. Considering the fact that the St.Pete Times forum has been packed each game of the season, its a testament that this is definately a hockey market just as much as it is a NFL market.

Horrible game, most definately. I couldn't help but laugh at all the completely dumbass passes in our zone all night. Like they never learned that the Sens just put a player in front of our outlet players near the blueline. Fucking amazing. Grahame did a good job, but was beaten by the fact our defense decided to just be a bunch of idiots, such as the reason our team as been inconsistant all year. Oh well, all we can hope to do is regroup for game 4 on Thursday. Hopefully I get some tickets for it. To put it simply, this team is lacking in motivation and heart right now. I question whether or not the have the drive to be the team they were a season ago.

FELIPE NO

Originally Posted by Zork

I'm sure the fact that the vast-majority of the fanbase (read: 99.9% of it) are 'bandwagon-ers' doesn't exactly hurt, either. So, despite what you might choose to believe, Tampa isn't a genuine hockey-market. Sorry.

But there's also those lovable-loser D-Rays... oops. My bad. XD

I agree, a vast majority is at the moment. However, I'm sure a good amount will stick around when the team goes through the dark ages. The Bucs have sold out 8 straight years, and will make it 9 straight this year in very good likelyhood, so loyality does grow when a franchise goes through a period of consistant good play. During and after, fans that have grown loyal do typically stick to that team. Its not a genuine hockey market yet, yes. But, its on its way to being one. Fucking on that same point, it sucks that its become increasingly harder (for both football and hockey) to get tickets in this town. I used to be able to just walk to the ticket office on site, not anymore. Lame...

:lolsign: I'm a Drays fan. We seem to have everything in line except for a good pitching rotation. With a new owner and a new mantality approaching the franchise (and god-willing we'll get out of that division and move to the NL East), I have faith that in a few years, we could actually have a better team to field. Obviously, the franchise has been a shitstorm since it started. Of course thats not to say everything has gone wrong. We do have alot of good, young talent it town. I just hope it stays that way long enough to get proper pitchers in here.

What, you don't want my bikini-clad body?

Congrats Sens. Good luck throughout the remainder of the playoffs.

Jam it back in, in the dark.

Originally Posted by nabhan

I can't believe I stayed up until 1AM to watch that shit. What a boring game. So much for an Albertan showdown ;_;

Yeah, I was really looking forward to that in the second round. Oh well, I still can root for the Devils in the East and the Oilers in the West. I've been glued to the TV this postseason for every game. Its been great so far, and I'm looking forward to the remainder.

There's nowhere I can't reach.

Originally Posted by The Dopefish

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.

This thing is sticky, and I don't like it. I don't appreciate it.

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.

I am a dolphin, do you want me on your body?

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.

I was speaking idiomatically.

The Sens have become the Eagles of the NHL as of late. Always a great regular season, but the playoffs seem to leave something to be desired each year. Too bad, because if they had a more experienced goaltender (though Emery came along very well) they would have done a whole lot better, not to mention a defense that doesn't let a skater walk in and score on their most important game of the year, facing elimination. My brother and I sat there and watched that play a few times, just king of baffled that 3 guys stood back and let the Buffalo player (I forgot whole scored on the play) skate in and score.

Good luck next season to the Sens, hopefully the Lightning will actually get a regular season win against them.

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I'm taking the same as Score -- Sabres vs. Oilers (although, thats more wishful thinking then what I think will happen). Either way, I'll be rooting for the Western Champ in the finals. Always root for the underdog.

FELIPE NO

Good luck to the Oilers, I'll be rooting for them.

What, you don't want my bikini-clad body?

Game 7 Thursday. Who wins the series?

Jam it back in, in the dark.

I say Oilers in six personally. Looks to be a long, good series.

There's nowhere I can't reach.

Game one later today. Who takes the first game of the series?

I say Oilers 3 Canes 2

This thing is sticky, and I don't like it. I don't appreciate it.

Great game all around. The Oilers came out roaring, and the most definately had to. Looks like we will be in for a much more competitive series than I thought after game 2. Of course, they need to even the series up on Monday. That said, who thinks it'll end up a best of 3?

How ya doing, buddy?

I say the Oilers take it tonight in thrilling fashion. I don't believe in jinx's, for the record. If I did, I'd never attend any sports game ever.

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Woohoo! Luongo is gone from the Southeast division. I'd much rather face Todd Bertuzzi than Roberto any day. Now, if the Lightning could only land a good goaltender to properly replace Havi from 2 seasons ago. We'll be losing Kubina to free agency July 1st, so thats another good defenseman gone.

Sonne - Actually planning to go to the Forum here for Bolts games? Let me know when, I try to go to as many as I can.

What kind of toxic man-thing is happening now?

Originally Posted by Ronz

Sens sign Martin Gerber.

You're WELCOME Fire + Ice

Enjoy John Grahame, I know I didn't.

FELIPE NO