NHL 2012 Playoffs Thread

[TrueBlueGED]

Two periods down and I find River Monsters more exciting during the commercials and intermission then watching the game. Rangers style, while effective, won't grow this sport in the states.

 

Picking up since the goal.

 

From an entertainment perspective, it's awful hockey to me. If the Devils want to score this series, they have to stop shooting it into Lundqvist's chest. High glove all day.

[OverPowerYou]

I wonder if these games would be more exciting if they reduced the game from 60 to 20 minutes... Seems like the Rangers/Devils don't start playing till the 3rd period

[Ghost of Dwight Drane]

Two periods down and I find River Monsters more exciting during the commercials and intermission then watching the game. Rangers style, while effective, won't grow this sport in the states.

 

Picking up since the goal.

 

I love the Rangers style. Just because they don't score 5 a night doesn't mean they aren't entertaining. It's fun watching Richards and Hagelin work, and there is a pretty close to all-world goalie. To me, they play the way the game should be played. When the pressure is on, they puff out their chests.

 

The best part about the Sabres not being in is you have more energy to pay attention to other games and players and styles. I think the Rangers jockey threw a few crosses tonight and they are about to start galloping away from the pack. If this goes 7, I will be surprised.

[TrueBlueGED]

I love the Rangers style. Just because they don't score 5 a night doesn't mean they aren't entertaining. It's fun watching Richards and Hagelin work, and there is a pretty close to all-world goalie. To me, they play the way the game should be played. When the pressure is on, they puff out their chests.

 

The best part about the Sabres not being in is you have more energy to pay attention to other games and players and styles. I think the Rangers jockey threw a few crosses tonight and they are about to start galloping away from the pack. If this goes 7, I will be surprised.

 

I guess. But they were out played for two periods, played a good third, and got the win. Yea yea, just win....but winning 1 period out of 3 is not a recipe for galloping away from the pack.

[Ghost of Dwight Drane]

I guess. But they were out played for two periods, played a good third, and got the win. Yea yea, just win....but winning 1 period out of 3 is not a recipe for galloping away from the pack.

 

Interesting take. I see them outshooting NJ the entire game, winning 60% faceoffs, and outhitting and blocking 70% more shots than NJ. They also called 2 late penalties on NY to give NJ a shot.

[PromoTheRobot]

Forgive me if this point was made already but do you think the NHL is drooling over a possible L.A. vs. N.Y. cup final?

 

PTR

[TrueBlueGED]

Interesting take. I see them outshooting NJ the entire game, winning 60% faceoffs, and outhitting and blocking 70% more shots than NJ. They also called 2 late penalties on NY to give NJ a shot.

 

Did you watch the game, or read a box score? The Devils carried play for 2 periods, then the Rangers owned the 3rd. And just about every reputable hockey commentator agrees with this.

[Ghost of Dwight Drane]

Did you watch the game, or read a box score? The Devils carried play for 2 periods, then the Rangers owned the 3rd. And just about every reputable hockey commentator agrees with this.

 

I must have gotten confused with all those shots getting blocked.

 

Devils +79 Corsi !!!!

[TrueBlueGED]

I must have gotten confused with all those shots getting blocked.

 

Devils +79 Corsi !!!!

 

6 goalie system baby, that's some entertaining hockey! Watching the Rangers play makes me rethink my stance on increasing net size.

[Ghost of Dwight Drane]

6 goalie system baby, that's some entertaining hockey! Watching the Rangers play makes me rethink my stance on increasing net size.

 

If the Sabres tried their style, there'd be more Flamingos than on the front lawns of Cheektowaga.

 

That's why it's good hockey.

[drnkirishone]

I've always wondered why a team facing forwards that go down to block the shots alot doesn't just take a game or 2 to destroy the other teams ankles. couple 95mph slappers to the ankle should take out most anyone.

[RazielSabre]

6 goalie system baby, that's some entertaining hockey! Watching the Rangers play makes me rethink my stance on increasing net size.

I'm all for increasing net size by a bit.

[TrueBlueGED]

I've always wondered why a team facing forwards that go down to block the shots alot doesn't just take a game or 2 to destroy the other teams ankles. couple 95mph slappers to the ankle should take out most anyone.

 

I actually had a conversation about that with a friend last night. If all the Rangers are doing in their own end is laying down to block shots...why not just start firing at their faces? I'd much prefer if a coach came up with a strategy to get around the 6 goalie system, and I'd never advocate for trying to injure a team...but it would probably work.

[That Aud Smell]

6 goalie system baby, that's some entertaining hockey! Watching the Rangers play makes me rethink my stance on increasing net size.

If the Sabres tried their style, there'd be more Flamingos than on the front lawns of Cheektowaga.

 

That's why it's good hockey.

 

is this being debated in another thread? i saw a piece on the hockey news (by a fella named ken campbell) who insists that what the rangers are doing is bad for hockey.

 

http://www.thehockeynews.com/articles/47283-Rangers-shotblocking-mentality-bad-for-NHL.html

 

it appears that there's a lively debate on the subject -- kevin snow (who's affiliated with the sabres somehow?) tweeted this rejoinder:

 

I thought guys who blocked shots were considered "warriors." Now they're doing something wrong?

 

https://twitter.com/...218327253331968

 

i dunno. i watched most of the second and a chunk of the third before falling asleep. the devils owned the second and were an entertaining team to watch. the rangers are not fun to watch.

 

also, as ghost intimated, i'm not sure that every team in the league (specifically our team) is capable of replicating the rangers' style of play. and i'm glad for that, frankly.

[X. Benedict]

I was excited about watching the game, and even I can appreciate a tight checking game, but.....

 

For a game one, minus a few great saves, I have to say it was a bit of a snoozefest.

 

The Devils probably had about 10 real shots 5x5. Most of the first period was a buzzkill.

 

3 out of 4 teams left are plodding back-end out teams.

 

If the Sabres tried their style, there'd be more Flamingos than on the front lawns of Cheektowaga.

 

That's why it's good hockey.

 

Smart hockey, sure.

 

I'm not sure it is all that entertaining though. I'm missing the first round.

[shrader]

3 out of 4 teams left are plodding back-end out teams.

 

And the other is New Jersey. I never thought I'd see that day.

[X. Benedict]

And the other is New Jersey. I never thought I'd see that day.

:lol: Those run and gun Devils.

[Huckleberry]

i watched first two periods then went to bed at 04.00 am :D

boring as hell.

[Trettioåtta]

If there is an LA vs NY final, LA will have beaten the 1st, 2nd and 3rd seeds and NY will have beaten the 8th, 7th and 6th seeds :P

[BuffaloSoldier2010]

I love the Rangers style. Just because they don't score 5 a night doesn't mean they aren't entertaining. It's fun watching Richards and Hagelin work, and there is a pretty close to all-world goalie. To me, they play the way the game should be played. When the pressure is on, they puff out their chests.

 

The best part about the Sabres not being in is you have more energy to pay attention to other games and players and styles. I think the Rangers jockey threw a few crosses tonight and they are about to start galloping away from the pack. If this goes 7, I will be surprised.

I agree with ghost on this one, just because they aren't lighting the lamp every five minutes doesn't make it boring. The physical play and goal-tending last night were phenomenal. This is a great matchup inside a pretty intense rivalry. No complaints here.

[That Aud Smell]

just because they aren't lighting the lamp every five minutes doesn't make it boring.

 

QFT. what does make their brand of play boring, however, is how their defensive zone play is based on collapsing four or even five guys to the shooting lanes from the point once a shot is expected to come in and how their offensive play is based on grinding out a goal with chip and chase (no beef there from me) and then sitting back in a neutral zone trap taken straight from the the pre-lockout devils playbook.

[Ghost of Dwight Drane]

I agree with ghost on this one, just because they aren't lighting the lamp every five minutes doesn't make it boring. The physical play and goal-tending last night were phenomenal. This is a great matchup inside a pretty intense rivalry. No complaints here.

 

I guess society has become flash and dash. The way the Rangers play, their attitude and commitment....I just love it.

 

My favorite baseball team is the Atlanta Braves and my favorite Pitcher was Greg Maddux. He was about as flashy as a Buick Century.

[qwksndmonster]

Unless NHL.com has the numbers wrong, Howard has a better career gaa (.917 to .915) and save% (2.41 - 2.57).

They'll have Miller back just because of how well he did in 2010, I'd think.

[carpandean]

If there is an LA vs NY final, LA will have beaten the 1st, 2nd and 3rd seeds and NY will have beaten the 8th, 7th and 6th seeds :P

 

Nice! If LA were to win that match-up, then they would also have beaten the teams with the three best regular season records in the league ... and Phoenix.

[TrueBlueGED]

I agree with ghost on this one, just because they aren't lighting the lamp every five minutes doesn't make it boring. The physical play and goal-tending last night were phenomenal. This is a great matchup inside a pretty intense rivalry. No complaints here.

 

I agree, a low scoring game in and of itself is not necessarily boring. The method the Rangers take to get it low scoring, however, I find exceptionally bland.

 

I guess society has become flash and dash. The way the Rangers play, their attitude and commitment....I just love it.

 

My favorite baseball team is the Atlanta Braves and my favorite Pitcher was Greg Maddux. He was about as flashy as a Buick Century.

 

To play contrarian....does playing with attitude and commitment necessarily have to involve this:

QFT. what does make their brand of play boring, however, is how their defensive zone play is based on collapsing four or even five guys to the shooting lanes from the point once a shot is expected to come in and how their offensive play is based on grinding out a goal with chip and chase (no beef there from me) and then sitting back in a neutral zone trap taken straight from the the pre-lockout devils playbook.