NHL Playoff Thread

If the talk about shrinking the equipment happens, goalies are going to have to be quicker and better at fundamentals. That means relying on them even less. But, yeah, if your teammates can''t stop attackers or clear out rebounds, you''re toast.

For the same reason, I really wish it had been Philly to get through. Khabibulin''s looked way better than Esche.

I doubt Kipper''s a one-year wonder. He seems the type of goalie who''ll just stand in there and do the job. You''d think if he had something to prove, he''d be more animated, but he acts the same way after giving up four goals as he does after a shutout.

True, he''s the model of subdued. I''m sure in some ways San Jose is saying ""d''oh!"" after trading him, although Nabokov isn''t a goalie to sneeze at either.

Of course, I chose Khabibulin in a hockey pool LAST year where he didn''t play as well. Wish I had picked him this year.

I will say this, this final matchup is a far cry from what i predicted in the other playoff thread. (Montreal vs. Detroit). Philly vs. Tampa was simply great hockey, and I am looking forward to more of the same from Tampa and Calgary.

The funny thing with Kipper is that this is a contract year for him, so if he somehow manages to win a cup, he will probably price himself out of the Flames budget. Hopefully not, but agents today exploit stuff like this, and one year wonders get killer contracts on one good season.

Not to mention the fact that usually the year following a contract year the player doesn''t do as well. D''oh!

A good thing about Tampa is that most of the team is pretty young. So (after the lock out) we can look forward to some good years hopefully!

Yeah, Calgary will have a hard time paying for both Iginla and Kipper. Hey, maybe with that cap and shared revenue in place, it''ll all come true!

And, yes, I''ve missed a couple doses of my meds. So what?

There''s always hope. And if not, maybe Don King can work something out.

4-1 Flames!

If the series can put up that kind of fun, i''m going to have a great time watching this one.

As a funny aside, the local sports radio station had a contest today.

How many words could be made out of ''Tampa Bay Lighting""

Somebody wrote a program and got almost 2200 words! hehe

He definitely won!

Wow, Tampa gave it back last night. I expected as such, as the Flames caught the Lighting offguard the first game.

Heres my totally non expert prediction..

Tampa in 6 games.

Exellent

I''m hoping for Calgary in 7. Not because I think Tampa Bay will give them 7 games of fun neccessarily, but because I really want to see 7 games.

Game three will be an interesting one -- will Calgary pull back from the beating in Game 2 recognizing Game 1''s win was only because Tampa Bay was surprised (but obviously not for the 2nd)? Its shaping up to be a good series, better than I thought it would be.

Albeit, maybe not as good as ESPN''s hyping it up to be (""SERIES OF THE CENTURY!"").

Could be the last series for awhile...

I''m thinking that the flames will take it in 7. Maybe 6. They let their gaurd down in game 2, but they''ll recover like they have been. And they won''t make the same mistakes they did in game 2 again. They are a pretty good match tampa and calgary, so I''m hoping for a game 7. No better hockey game than a game 7 stanley cup game.

It will probably be 7..but remember the Bolts have home advantage in that game...

I''m not sure who will take it... Tampa has more overall offensive talent, Calgary plays a stronger defense. I only got to see the first period of last night''s game and the tail end of the third. The first period was, well, not very exciting. The end of the third, if representative of the rest of the game, was a lot better.

I''d say Calgary in 6. They''ll get beat up again Monday, then take the last two... again.

"Vailerth" wrote:

No better hockey game than a game 7 stanley cup game.

Now there''s a bet I''ll take. I''ve been a Flames fan since around ''86 and the last two games have been pretty painful to watch. The first two Calgary series were great hockey to watch (once they cut back on the chintzy penalty calls), but it''s really starting to drag now.

Hopefully, cutting 10 games out of the season will help a bit... assuming there is another season.

I''m hoping for Calgary in six. I want to see them win it at home. The flames fans deserve it.

First overtime game of the series, some of the best stuff to watch. Turning out to be a really great series. I guess I was wrong.

EDIT: Saprykin wins it! 3-2 Calgary.

One win away from Calgary holding it over us in Edmonton. Go Calgary!

Man, I''ve never had the pleasure of seeing hockey in HD until these last couple games on ABC. Sweet Terrence and Phillip it''s awesome.

They are almost there. One more win. One more win.

I think they''ll take the next one. With the determination they''ve shown, I don''t see how the flames couldn''t win it at home, I mean its perfect. Go Flames!

This has been exciting and tense so far. 9:15 left in the third, tied at 2. Calgary is showing amazing motivation this third period, in comparison to Tampa''s energy of the first two.

Go Flames Go!

Score! Back to Tampa Bay for Game 7!

Ha, ha!

Woot!