NHL 2012 Playoffs Thread

[Fire Lindy Ruff NOW]

PHOENIXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX just like i said from the beginning. LA definately has their hands full. mike smith is on par with quick easily.

[JJFIVEOH]

This 2nd round sucks. No hitting, no scoring, no wide open offense. I blame the inconsistency of the officiating.......... rather the level of enforcement Bettman tells them to adhere to. The majority of the goals in the playoffs are lucky bounces off scrums in front of the net. Talent is being wasted on rugby type hockey. 66 games so far in the playoffs times 2 teams=132. Out of 132, 27 teams have scored 3 goals or more and 7 of those were in the Pens-Flyers series. 7 others needed OT to more than 3. It's turned into who has the most luck with the bounces over who has the most talent and desire. If changes aren't made during the offseason to open the game up it's going to be a boring season next year.

[TrueBlueGED]

Hard to believe the Kings were the 8th seed. They've been the most dominant team thus far, taking out the #1 and #2 seeds in the West with relative ease. The Johnson for Carter trade is looking really good for them so far.

 

Beware regression to the mean with the Kings. I'll probably end up picking them to get to the Finals, but losing 1 game against the 1 and 2 seeds? That's a pretty unsustainable level of play. I think Phoenix gives them a serious run.

[Fire Lindy Ruff NOW]

This 2nd round sucks. No hitting, no scoring, no wide open offense. I blame the inconsistency of the officiating.......... rather the level of enforcement Bettman tells them to adhere to. The majority of the goals in the playoffs are lucky bounces off scrums in front of the net. Talent is being wasted on rugby type hockey. 66 games so far in the playoffs times 2 teams=132. Out of 132, 27 teams have scored 3 goals or more and 7 of those were in the Pens-Flyers series. 7 others needed OT to more than 3. It's turned into who has the most luck with the bounces over who has the most talent and desire. If changes aren't made during the offseason to open the game up it's going to be a boring season next year.

have you watched the west? i think that spit was awesome. and maybe talent translates into luck? i dont get your arguement. goalies are palying outta their minds. funnest effin playoffs ive seen since the swords were in it in 05 06.

[darksabre]

 

 

Beware regression to the mean with the Kings. I'll probably end up picking them to get to the Finals, but losing 1 game against the 1 and 2 seeds? That's a pretty unsustainable level of play. I think Phoenix gives them a serious run.

 

It could wind up being the best series of the playoffs.

[Fire Lindy Ruff NOW]

Beware regression to the mean with the Kings. I'll probably end up picking them to get to the Finals, but losing 1 game against the 1 and 2 seeds? That's a pretty unsustainable level of play. I think Phoenix gives them a serious run.

phoenix in 7, boys! AAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

[Iron Crotch]

This 2nd round sucks. No hitting, no scoring, no wide open offense. I blame the inconsistency of the officiating.......... rather the level of enforcement Bettman tells them to adhere to. The majority of the goals in the playoffs are lucky bounces off scrums in front of the net. Talent is being wasted on rugby type hockey. 66 games so far in the playoffs times 2 teams=132. Out of 132, 27 teams have scored 3 goals or more and 7 of those were in the Pens-Flyers series. 7 others needed OT to more than 3. It's turned into who has the most luck with the bounces over who has the most talent and desire. If changes aren't made during the offseason to open the game up it's going to be a boring season next year.

 

Welcome to the new old NHL! I do agree that skill is being trumped by size and defensive tactics just as it was pre-lockout. Interference is rarely called, which bothers me the most. Plus with 6'6 220 lb. goaltenders wearing massive over-sized pads it doesn't leave a whole lot of room to shoot at.

[TrueBlueGED]

Great!

 

Maybe they'll let Callahan and Richards walk for nothing next year!

 

Or maybe they'll go on to get stomped out in the Conference Finals :P

[darksabre]

Apparently the Coyotes DJ has played this at every game of the playoffs.

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5NeG2p6F5KU

 

:D

[Ghost of Dwight Drane]

Beware regression to the mean with the Kings. I'll probably end up picking them to get to the Finals, but losing 1 game against the 1 and 2 seeds? That's a pretty unsustainable level of play. I think Phoenix gives them a serious run.

 

How would that look on a chart? :P

[dEnnis the Menace]

It could wind up being the best series of the playoffs.

 

Without a doubt. I'm excited for it!

[That Aud Smell]

Apparently the Coyotes DJ has played this at every game of the playoffs.

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5NeG2p6F5KU

 

:D

 

Fook. You.

 

I thought it was agreed that we would never post that video around here again.

[darksabre]

 

 

Fook. You.

 

I thought it was agreed that we would never post that video around here again.

 

I would never agree to that.

[That Aud Smell]

I would never agree to that.

 

Ye bastage.

[apuszczalowski]

Welcome to the new old NHL! I do agree that skill is being trumped by size and defensive tactics just as it was pre-lockout. Interference is rarely called, which bothers me the most. Plus with 6'6 220 lb. goaltenders wearing massive over-sized pads it doesn't leave a whole lot of room to shoot at.

The equipment they are wearing now is not massively oversized. The league has already shrunk the equipment they were wearing because guys like Gigeure were adding extra bulk. The goalies have to wear some bulky padding to protect themselve, they are being shot at with frozen black pieces of rubber at 80-100mph. The problem isn't the equipment getting bigger, its the goalies themselves getting bigger these days

[shrader]

The equipment they are wearing now is not massively oversized. The league has already shrunk the equipment they were wearing because guys like Gigeure were adding extra bulk. The goalies have to wear some bulky padding to protect themselve, they are being shot at with frozen black pieces of rubber at 80-100mph. The problem isn't the equipment getting bigger, its the goalies themselves getting bigger these days

 

There are a few giants, but it really doesn't seem like too many of them are that big (very unscientific observation). Look at Ryan Miller with and without his pads and you'll see just how much the pads add. But yes, you're right, with all the advances in the stick technology, these guys need that to protect themselves.

 

The one thing that is undeniable when looking back at older clips is just how much bigger the goalies have become and how much more net they cover. They've hit the point where making the net slighly larger should be seriously discussed. People can talk all they want about not changing the game, but the game has changed already. Give the players a little more net to shoot at and goal scoring will increase.

[darksabre]

 

 

There are a few giants, but it really doesn't seem like too many of them are that big (very unscientific observation). Look at Ryan Miller with and without his pads and you'll see just how much the pads add. But yes, you're right, with all the advances in the stick technology, these guys need that to protect themselves.

 

The one thing that is undeniable when looking back at older clips is just how much bigger the goalies have become and how much more net they cover. They've hit the point where making the net slighly larger should be seriously discussed. People can talk all they want about not changing the game, but the game has changed already. Give the players a little more net to shoot at and goal scoring will increase.

 

The one thing you have to consider is that if the NHL changes the net size, then everyone has to. From minor leagues down to kids leagues. Because no one will want to play with a net that isn't NHL size.

[TrueBlueGED]

There are a few giants, but it really doesn't seem like too many of them are that big (very unscientific observation). Look at Ryan Miller with and without his pads and you'll see just how much the pads add. But yes, you're right, with all the advances in the stick technology, these guys need that to protect themselves.

 

The one thing that is undeniable when looking back at older clips is just how much bigger the goalies have become and how much more net they cover. They've hit the point where making the net slighly larger should be seriously discussed. People can talk all they want about not changing the game, but the game has changed already. Give the players a little more net to shoot at and goal scoring will increase.

 

To me that's putting a bandaid on the problem and may not make things any more entertaining to watch. The problem, to me, isn't that goal scoring is down...it's that everything which typically leads to goal scoring is down. I don't think a slow, grinding style with a couple more goals going in the net each game is really any more entertaining than the current product. The game has to be opened up again so that there's more offensive flow and skill players can more freely operate, if this is done then more goals will be scored and the game will be more entertaining to boot (for those of us who enjoy watching skilled offense, anyway). Goal scoring in and of itself is a huge red herring to me.

 

How would that look on a chart? :P

 

Probably something like the last week of the Sabres season :cry:

[JJFIVEOH]

Welcome to the new old NHL! I do agree that skill is being trumped by size and defensive tactics just as it was pre-lockout. Interference is rarely called, which bothers me the most. Plus with 6'6 220 lb. goaltenders wearing massive over-sized pads it doesn't leave a whole lot of room to shoot at.

 

Exactly. And I don't like the direction it's heading.

[shrader]

The one thing you have to consider is that if the NHL changes the net size, then everyone has to. From minor leagues down to kids leagues. Because no one will want to play with a net that isn't NHL size.

 

Well, the goalies will. ;)

 

To me that's putting a bandaid on the problem and may not make things any more entertaining to watch. The problem, to me, isn't that goal scoring is down...it's that everything which typically leads to goal scoring is down. I don't think a slow, grinding style with a couple more goals going in the net each game is really any more entertaining than the current product. The game has to be opened up again so that there's more offensive flow and skill players can more freely operate, if this is done then more goals will be scored and the game will be more entertaining to boot (for those of us who enjoy watching skilled offense, anyway). Goal scoring in and of itself is a huge red herring to me.

 

It's probably the easiest solution though. No matter what changes they make to open the game, the defense is always going to adapt. They'll think up new ways to shut things down. They always do. There's no real way to adapt to a bigger net.

 

And I understand where you're coming from with the slow game pace, I'm right there with you. A higher goal scoring rate does increase the entertainment value to the masses though. Those are the people who it will always come down to.

[spndnchz]

Hockey News had an article a while back on how the NHL looks at goalie equipment. Basically they were looking at keeping a certain goals/game steady from year to year. I think it was something like 2.6/game. Anyway, it started to get too high and that's why they changed the equipment for the start of 2011-12 season.

 

As for big goalies, while it changes the look a bit, I don't think any kid knows at age 10 or so when they start playing goalie whether or not they'll be 5-8 or 6-6. They still have to be good.

[TrueBlueGED]

It's probably the easiest solution though. No matter what changes they make to open the game, the defense is always going to adapt. They'll think up new ways to shut things down. They always do. There's no real way to adapt to a bigger net.

 

And I understand where you're coming from with the slow game pace, I'm right there with you. A higher goal scoring rate does increase the entertainment value to the masses though. Those are the people who it will always come down to.

 

You're definitely right that it comes down to the masses, and if the game continues to grow, I don't expect any substantial changes. I still think it comes down to the officials actually calling the penalties though. I know that defenses adapt to rule changes, but I feel I watch enough hockey to reasonably judge that interference/obstruction penalties going uncalled are just as much of a reason for the sluggishness in the game (relative to the first couple of years after the lockout). Unless the league goes radical and institutes illegal defense rules, or goes to an international size rink, there's always going to be defensive schemes which slow things down. But if the existing rules were simply better enforced, I honestly believe the game would be in a better place than increasing the size of the nets.

 

Edit: Short version--I doubt we're going to see a return to the fire wagon style seen immediately after the lockout, but I think the league can get a better product than we're currently seeing without increasing net size.

[Iron Crotch]

Average save percentage in the NHL (all goalies across an entire season) has been increasing steadily since the mid-80's. It is now up to .914 (highest ever) for the 2011-2012 regular season. At the same time, as expected, average shooting % has been decreasing and is now at its lowest level since the early-80's (now at 8.94%). So, it does seem that our perception of the games tightening up is reality. Score first, then play a boring defensive style the rest of the way seems to be the winning formula in the playoffs for most teams (Philly is maybe the exception).

 

Source: www.quanthockey.com

[Fire Lindy Ruff NOW]

Hockey News had an article a while back on how the NHL looks at goalie equipment. Basically they were looking at keeping a certain goals/game steady from year to year. I think it was something like 2.6/game. Anyway, it started to get too high and that's why they changed the equipment for the start of 2011-12 season.

 

As for big goalies, while it changes the look a bit, I don't think any kid knows at age 10 or so when they start playing goalie whether or not they'll be 5-8 or 6-6. They still have to be good.

some goalies are short though, some arent even 6 feet. i dont get why everyone says goalies are hulks now, cause they really aint.

[Iron Crotch]

some goalies are short though, some arent even 6 feet. i dont get why everyone says goalies are hulks now, cause they really aint.

 

Round 2 goalies:

Pekka Rinne 6'5 209

Mike Smith 6'3 211

Jonathan Quick 6'1 223

Brian Elliott 6'2 202

Martin Brodeur 6'2 215

Henrik Lundqvist 6'1 195

Braden Holtby 6'2 203

Ilya Bryzgalov 6'3 209

 

The NHL allows taller goalies to wear longer pads, so I do think it is an advantage to be taller. Of course, some guys (like Tim Thomas) play very well despite being less than 6 feet.