NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs

Anyone watching the NHL this year? Penguins-Flyers series has been amazing to watch so far!

I have - pens-flyers has been pretty epic but I think the biggest surprise has to be the kings leading vancouver 3-0. As a bit of a red wings fan i'm slightly disappointed to be 2-1 down but hopefully that will change in our favour come later in the series.
I think I saw an nhl thread on here a while ago too, maybe have to have a look and see if someone can dig that up at some point and brush the dust off .

I'm a Capital's fan, so been pulling my hair out watching the Bruins-Caps series, its been so close, I wish Chara wasn't so good at shutting players down, don't think Ovechkin has had much time without that monster chasing him!

I'm surprised the Penguins are looking to be going out so early, a lot of people were saying it was their year again and they were going to go the distance. Vancouver are massively choking which is another big surprise, hopefully there won't be riots again when they get kicked out the playoffs by the kings!

Despite my team not making it for the third year in a row (not that I'm counting)... I've been riveted by the games this year. Yesterday was epic - for the first time I remember, 4 games were played and none of them overlapped all day - I so ended up watching 13 hours of hockey (not continuously, and not constantly!) and it was pretty awesome.

I think the only series that isn't very interesting is the NJ-FLA game - it just didn't serve them well to not play their first matchup until Day 3 of the playoffs. All the rest of the series were underway by that point and are absolutely crazy wild.

Been really enjoying the NSH-DET series, that's some quality hockey being played there and it's really good to see a perennial basement team finally putting out a real squad with 4 actual solid lines and real depth.

The PHI-PIT series is like reality TV - you know it's not good for you and lots of terrible things are going on, but you JUST CAN'T LOOK AWAY. The real story there is how terrible both goaltenders are playing, with Fleury in the lead in that department. For some reason, I'm starting to like all of Crosby's bitchy little antics and I can't explain why, other than his interview after Game 3 was genius. "Why did you push Vorachek's glove away with your stick?" "Because I don't like him. I don't like any of them." "Why didn't you just skate away?" And the look on Crosby's face was priceless. "Well, I didn't do that this time, did I?" Non-apologetic and sincerely so. Bad-ass.

OTT-NYR is almost as vitriolic as PHI-PIT, and the Sens losing Alfredsson gives the underdog supporters even more reason to galvanize behind them.

LAK-VAN - well, the LA Kings' official twitter feed said it all. It's pretty disturbing to hear that Daniel Sedin is making the trip down to LA for Game 4 when it's pretty clear he should not be playing. Hopefully this is just to bring him together with his team to provide leadership in the dressing room and to be there for their possible last game of the 2011-2012 season, and they won't risk his long-term health by putting him in this also very vicious series.

PNX-CHI is another great underdog story, and if you follow hockey and social media you have to be rooting for the Coyotes and for BizNasty to get in the line-up (#4thlineproblems) and for a team that has been absolutely drowned in ownership uncertainty, the fact they're even in the playoffs is amazing.

STL-SJ - not really caring much about this one, other than the Sharks being perennial playoff under performers who won't be reversing their fortunes just because they finally had a regular season that more accurately reflects the true state of their team (=meh).

BOS-WAS - Lucic is mean, Thomas is great and Ovechkin is struggling. Same story for those teams as last year.

I'm terrible at picking winners so instead, I'll just say who I'm cheering for because that's more fun than picking teams I don't like.

(1) NYR - (8) OTT
(2) BOS - (7) WSH
(3) FLA - (6) NJ (but not that I really care. Neither team will make it out of the next round.)
(4) PIT - (5) PHI

(1) VAN - (8) LAK
(2) STL - (7) SJS
(3) PHO - (6) CHI
(4) NSH - (5) DET

Is it obvious that I'm Canadian?

(Edit: I just noticed that the only upsets I picked are both 8th seeds. I'm clearly an idiot.)

MON DEVS!!! darkhorse of the cup, just need to get rolling.

as long as NYR, WSH, PIT, VAN, DET or SJS don't win i'm happy

Maybe just a little Keely
I reckon the wings can tie it tonight (i hope), should set up a pretty good end to the series.
For games today/tonight i reckon:

DET to beat NSH (i hope)
PHO to beat CHI
NJ to beat FLA

Just seen that NJ have scored after 31 seconds - lets see if they can keep it for the rest of the game and give me a correct guess .

EDIT: 2 now, only 3 mins in - could be a good night for you Dave

EDIT No.2: And then there were 3 (still only 6 mins), can see this being a bad night for Theodore....

I was kind of hoping for FLA to win this series, it's been way too long for them! Do love Brodeur though, what a hero.

I agree with your DET prediction, they just have so much skill on their roster. I haven't been paying much attention to the Phoenix/Chicago series, I'm a sucker for an underdog so I'd like PHO to win it.

Looking forward to the next (last) game in the Pittsburg series, going to stay up late to catch all of that boxing match!

yeah, next match in PIT-PHI should be amazing based on the first 3 and penguins needing to win to stay in, and i reckon LAK-VAN game 4 will be pretty good, i would laugh so much if they get swept by the kings after winning the league as well .
Looks like florida have got a couple back on NJ now, no score in DET-NSH but good early pressure from the wings - and i kind of need to get some sleep now will be looking at results and highlights first thing in the morning though .

Searle, you're in the Uk aren't you (?), do you have ESPN or something to watch the matches live, i just have to make do with the ice tracker thingy on the NHL website

When I'm traveling in the UK I use ESPN Europe to watch games... I can't remember how much it costs but if you're a real fan it's a terrific service.

yeah I am, I use internet streams which is a bit naughty but can't afford to watch it any other way....

Well, so much for my predictions, 1/3 isn't brilliant lets hope i can do a bit better tonight. I think:
NYR to beat OTT
PHI to beat PIT and sweep it
and i would quite like LAK to beat VAN to win that one in four too, don't know how realistic that is but i think it will be a very close game.

Seems to be a lot of poor goaltending besides Thomas, Holtby and Lundqvist, can't believe both Brodeur and Theodore had to be pulled in the FLA-NJD game!
I think PHI will sweep unless PIT seriously sort out their discipline, they just can't afford to keep going with a game this physical against a team like the Flyers, they need Malkin and Crosby to pipe up with some points not fights.
I think Vancouver may pull a game back but LAK are definitely winning this series though, very controversial that both Pittsburg and Vancouver are looking to go out in the first round when they were everyone's favourites.
NYR will probably win as well as you said, Lundqvist is just unreal these days, and Brad Richards and Marian Gaborik are looking dangerous.

Have you seen footage of the hit on Hossa?? looks pretty savage I hope he's ok.

searle, you missed Smith, Rinne and Quick, who are all playing outstanding in net as well and are the biggest reasons their teams are up in their respective series.

Torres will be facing supplementary (I guess "initial" since the refs failed to call a penalty on the play in the first place) discipline today and given he's a many-time repeat offender, it could be for the rest of the playoffs. He's one of the worst goons out there.

Yeah that was a horrendous hit, not surprised he's been suspended indefinitely for that one.
And yes, i agree with you Keely, Rinne and Quick have been epic in net, don't know about Quick but Rinne has made something like 130 saves on about 135-140 shots - absolutely amazing stats. And Holtby has been what has kept the Caps in it imo, they really need to buck up their defence if they're going to get anywhere against the Bruins.
And i was as surprised as everyone when Brodeur and Theodore were pulled, 6:16 mins for Theo is just about as quick as i have ever seen a keeper be pulled!

you're right I did forget about a few, Quick in particular as he's been insane, saving 111 of 115 shots is ridiculous (.965 save percentage!)

I have a feeling Pittsburg's coaches will tell them to rein in all the physicality in tonight's game and maybe try and get a few penalties out of the flyers while staying out of the box themselves. I kind of hope this doesn't happen though!

My Caps need to start scoring some goals, Holtby is definitely carrying the team right now.

0/3 this time, i'm really not good at this predictions lark am i . Massive win for PIT there, looked like an epic game from the highlights there, still think PHI and LAK will take the series though.
For tonight i think (i really am a glutton for punishment here ) but:
NJ to beat FLA (this time)
BOS to beat WSH
CHI to beat PHX
STL to beat SJS

Boston all the way!!!!!

I knew the intelligent ice hockey discussion couldn't last without interruption. (sigh) Anyway.

Very interesting how the tone of the games has changed. The night after the Torres hit there were zero incidents for Shanahan to review the next day. Last night was relatively quiet too. Undoubtedly the referees have changed their tack as evidenced by the PIT-PHI game where literally EVERYTHING was called that could have been. It's a bit similar to how I've learned is best to call field hockey games in terms of cards; if you let things go early, you're screwed later as things will get out of hand - and that's exactly what was happening in the first few games of all the series.

Descartes, good pick on STL and if you have your druthers about you, you'll take them on Sat. (I think that's when they play next). The SJS players sound very down and out in their comments to the media and they don't seem to believe in themselves at all.

For tonight, PIT-PHI will be fascinating. The series goes back to PIT and the fans there are almost as mental as the Phillies are, but the Flyers are making comments in their interviews about how much they dislike the fans so they'll be in even finer form than usual. However, the game will come down to which Marc-Andre Fleury shows up, and how psycho is Bryzgalov tonight. With those two embodiments of chaos in net it's impossible to call - so I won't. Can't wait to see the train wreck though!

Later, NSH will finish off DET on home ice. If you've never watched a game played in Nashville, it's worth the effort. Those fans are hilarious, they've got all these great chants for different situations, all led by The Cellblock which is becoming known as one of the loudest sections of hockey fans in any arena. Between Howard's shakiness and the relentless forecheck of the Preds, this series will be over tonight.

Yeah, I noticed that on the refereeing, couldn't see much on highlights but they sertainly seemed to be letting less go and the match reports seemed to agree with that.
I think you're right there that the blues will wrap it up on sat, as will phoenix. I reckon that kings will as well on sunday, and even if they don't I still think they'll take the series.
For tonight I reckon PHI will take it, imo Bryzgalov has much more consistency than Fleury which should be the deciding factor. In terms of NSH-DET, as much as I hate to say it, I think you're right, I don't think the wings have a chance in taking it to a game 7, which is disappointing after the less than brilliant showing the last couple of years