Stanley Cup 2006

[Fiirks]

Its that time again! We have ourselves a major matchup this year, and last night's game was a good taste of whats to come, no not rookie goalie screw ups that cost the whole game but, great play. Finally after a year of no hockey, and a delayed season, we have that glorious time when two times kick the crap out of each other. The playoffs are exciting, I was glad to see my devils kill the rangers, but then sadly got crushed by the Hurricanes :(

I'm rooting for the Oilers, but have some doubt as to whether or not they can do it, especially after thier goalie was wrecked last night. What do you guys think? Can Canada win the cup or is it going to the freakin' Hurricanes...

If nothing else, this gives me a chance to spring my favorite Canadian joke:
Why do Canadiens do it doggy style?
---So they can both watch the hockey game!

We need a Canadien smile, this will have to do, :buddies:

[Hellscream]

LOL @ Oilers, LOL @ Oilers bandwagon jumping fans

All i can say is that watching hockey in HD is so frickin sweet. Game 1 was a very entertaining game, the 2nd period not included. Now, if CBC can get different announcers, good ones, well.... ones that dont miss call plays, even when they are obvious.

[IcecreamLtDan]

With the Oilers loosing their goalie for the entire series it's going to be tough for them. I lived in Raleigh when the Hurricanes showed up and always felt that they could work out there due to the variety and diversity of people who live there due to the Research Triangle Park. I live near Charlotte now and as it turns out OLN is not available to our cable provider here and, with me being unemployed, getting the satellite package that has it is out of the question at the moment. The end result is that I get to watch very little hockey and haven't seen any of the playoffs.

I've been able to attend a couple of Hurricane games and, while I'm still learning the sport, they are enjoyable to watch. I'm pulling for the Hurricanes on this one.

[snrjefe]

Where were you guys when I started my Quest for Lord Stanley's Cup thread? Grrrr.

With Rolosson out, I'd say stick a fork in Edmonton. Of course, as a Sharks fan I said stick a fork in 'em when they went down 2 games to none in SJ. How wrong I was...how wrong I was.

[BrettMan]

Who knows? Maybe Edmonton's replacement will do an incredable job and help the Oilers to victory. Like something out of a Disney flick.... sorry Anaheim.

[snrjefe]

A previously unseen goalie could indeed prove troublesome for Carolina. If they don't know his weaknesses, they might have trouble putting puck to twine for a game or two and get totally demoralized. That's why you gotta love this game, anything can happen.

[Hellscream]

I think you guys are putting too much faith into Conklin/Marrkenen (sp?). These 2 goalies are basically rookies, in terms of the playoffs. During the regular season, the coach basically stated that neither of these 2 can stop that 1 shot when the team needs it the most, whether it was the first or the 30th. That is why they went out and got Roloson (who is a whining fool, yet solid in the net).

The only way the Oilers can win now, is if they play a solid defensive trap system. They can't allow their goaltenders to "win" the game for them. Roloson could do that, these 2 can't. And in the "New" NHL, speed kills the trap, which the 'Canes have.

[Water]

The game winning goal that Brind'Amour scored on Monday was classic. I seriously laughed for a good five minutes. In my eyes, Cam Ward is the new Aturs Irbe; he is a damn wall (as proven by the assault Edmonton tried when they pulled out their goalie in the last 30 seconds of the game).

It's also good to see that we knocked out Rolosson for the entire series.

The only things I worry about for Carolina are their puck control (it's been rather poor lately) and the fact that they score most of their goals on a power play. They also don't seem to do to well on the road, but then again, we beat the Canadiens at every one of their home games.

[gimpy2toes]

People seemed to forget that Ty Conklin has played in many a big game is his life. But this asside i do think that the injury to Roloson is going to be to much for the oilers to overcome, but hey who knows maybe Conklin or Maarkenen might pull a rabbit out of there goalie mask. My prediction if Maarkenen in net is the Canes in 6, Conklin Oilers in 7. Lastly GO Oilers as i have always hated the canes and i myself am a big devils fan.

[Sir Plasma]

Hmm, maybe the oilers should have given these two goalies more time earlier in the playoffs, just in case... too late for that now. Too bad, Canada needs some cup wins.

[Fiirks]

It's also good to see that we knocked out Rolosson for the entire series.

Thats intent to injur, game misconduct....
I was laughing/crying when he scored, I saw it comign too after the botched the pass there. The Canes do have some speed, hopefully not enough though.

GO CANADA

[Water]

Heh, too bad it was the Oilers' defenseman that pushed Ladd into him.

[snrjefe]

With the way they were handing out Goaltender Interference penalties in the last series, I'm surprised Carolina didn't get a penalty anyway.

[Water]

That did surprise me, after what happened with the Devils, I recall hearing how the referees would call goalie interference if anyone stepped into the crease. Apparently that only lasted until the end of that series.

[Fiirks]

Holy shit. 5-0 victory for Carolina. Thats painful. Three of those came from the powerplay though, if Canada could stay outta the damn sin bin, they might have a shot at this still. Not since 1971 has a team come back from a 2-0 deficit on the road though, so we'll see how Edmonton does. Looks like carolina is going to win it though, the oilers just arn't playing with the right amount of discipline that they need to win this.

[snrjefe]

Yeah, the Sharks powerplay crashed and burned horribly. Even a 10% conversion rate might have won them the series. Bad, just bad.

[Water]

The next two games are at Edmonton, Fiirks. They have pulled out of such a deficit before.

[gimpy2toes]

All is not lost for edmonton as they certainly did not look like a team that "Gave up" with the loss of roloson. They came at carolina agressively and never let down. "Jus" ( Goalie Jussi Maarkenen) played extremely well despite letting up 5 goals ( 4 of them he had no chance on, Kaberles Goal was the only " I wish i had that one back" goal). He showed calmness needed to be a backup goalie coming into a difficult situation. Lastly all edmonton has to do to win this series is Score first and dont let up in the next game, improve their powerplay, lay a few big hits on carolina early, and lastly Dont give as many odd man rushes to carolina as they did.

[Hellscream]

They need to STOP taking penalties, laying a few big hits will cause them more grief than they need. Last thing you need to do is piss off the Carolina D-men. They need to get to Cam Ward, that's all.

Oh, IF Jussi stopped that goal by Kaberle. THat is the problem with the 2 remaining goaltenders for the Oilers, they CANT stop that one shot when the team needs it the most. This is where Roloson is missed.

Trust me on this, Canucks have the same damed problem >.<

[gimpy2toes]

They need to STOP taking penalties, laying a few big hits will cause them more grief than they need. Last thing you need to do is piss off the Carolina D-men. They need to get to Cam Ward, that's all.

Hellscream big hits arent illegal there are times when they can be but they arent. There is a Difference between a big hit and an illegal hit.

[Hellscream]

*sigh* you missed my point. Sure legal hits are great, but it also gets the Carolina guys going, these guys arent the Sharks (too young) or the Red Wings (too old) or the Ducks (too weak). They will hit back and hit hard.

Oilers have had a problem throughout the playoffs, where their BIG hits gets them into penalty trouble. Basically, Oilers gets riled up, by themselves, and do something stupid. Their penalty kill is nowhere nears as good as it was with Roloson out.

Get to Cam Ward, play SMART hockey. Take away the Carolina speed by keeping your sticks in their passing lanes. Take advantage of the giveaways. Where did the vaunting shot blocking team go?

At this moment in time, Carolina just wants it more.

[Fiirks]

Whoa. Edmonton comes out strong in the first period with a goal right away. Held at 1-0 until the last period when Brind'Amour scored a tying goal. Finally, We put one away and won it!



GO EDMONTON!

[Water]

Yeah, Edmonton put one away WHILE STANDING IN THE CREASE! You are not allowed to force in a goal while standing in the damn crease, which is exactly what Smyth did.

[Dimension]

first thing i thought when i saw "stanley's cup" was "oooooooh, sail boats!"

[Fiirks]

Yeah, Edmonton put one away WHILE STANDING IN THE CREASE! You are not allowed to force in a goal while standing in the damn crease, which is exactly what Smyth did.

The puck was in the crease before he was. The officials reviewed it, the top box reviewed it. It was a goal, shut up and stop whining.

[Hellscream]

BAH, what a boring ass game. Carolina came out flat again, gave up the first goal, and the Oilers went into Minnesota Wild mode. Jussi made the saves he was supposed to save, and a few that he wasnt. They didnt take stupid penalties, they actually had more powerplays than Carolina. They clogged up the passing lanes.

Now we get to see what the Canes have in store for the Oiler trap system, lol.