1) We'd have to say that on a scale of 0-10, 10 being the most exciting Semi-Finals ever, and 0 being a good sleep aid, we'd have to say that thus far through 2 games a piece the NHL Conference Finals have been a snooze fest! Both series are now 2-0, and barring a miracle we now know who will be playing in the Finals in about a weeks time.
2) In Detroit the Stars forgot to show up for game 1 and were thoroughly outplayed. The score could probably have been far worse than 4-1 final score indicated. Disappointingly, no 'message' was sent at the end of the game to let us know Dallas would be back. To their credit though Dallas played much better in game 2, although they were still outplayed by the Wings and Turco kept them from a similar fate/score as game 1. There was little real intensity in this series. Sure things got interesting towards the ends of both games with Steve Ott trying to lure a Wing into dropping their gloves but none obliged. The Osgood/Ribeiro silliness does not connote 'intensity as it was a Billy Smith-esque reaction by Osgood, butt ending the Star forward and the subsequent reaction by Ribeiro, but it probably won't lead to anything as far as suspensions and a reaction in Game 3. Two games, 2 Detroit wins, NO major penalties, and very little reason to believe that Dallas can come back. Lets see what they can do at home. They better come out and be ready else this series may be over before this weekend!
3) Meanwhile in Pittsburgh, its slightly better, but not by much. The anticipated blood bath never materialized with both teams trying to goad the other into taking bad penalties but other than a Scottie Upshall- Tyler Kennedy scrap early in Game 2, there have been no fisticuffs. Even the level of play in both games could best be described as 'sloppy'. Neither of the games looked like these were the 2 best East teams playing for a chance to play for the Cup. They easily could have been pre-season or October matchups. The Flyers potentially may have lost their top 2 offensive defensemen in Timonen (bloodclot) and Coburn (eye injury). If both are lost for the series you can forget about any comeback. We hold out hope that game 3 in Philadelphia will bring what we expected in the first 2 games, intense/high quality hockey. Like the West, we don't expect a comeback as it appears the Pens are playing as well a they have to to win (that won't work next round) but we hope that the Flyers don't go out meekly and fight (literally) to the end. Else, we'll all go back to sleep until the Finals.
6 comments:
Just because there weren't any fights doesn't mean it hasn't been good hockey. I have to also defend my goalie here. Ozzy was slashed pretty visciously by that jerk on dalls. He was booed out of montreal not because he couldn't play but because he was a dick. We see a good demonstartion of that here. He deserved to be suspended! If McCarty does that to Turco I bet they'd be sitting for a few games!
ok mr vlad. it obvious you and i agree on little here. i give your team credit for winning 2 game, but we are not done yet. I tink we can go home and beat you guys 2 time and make this a series. I think the nhl got the call right on the ribs osgood thing. osgod did good act job by loooking like he got shot or sumthing. No suspention just fine for both guy.
I agree with faux here about these games being boring as all get out so far. I hate the redwings so i guess that might be making the games bore the crap outta me. Anyways, I aint geting involved with that bitch slapping at the end of the last game. Its overblown by both teams. Lets see some real men fight it out and not each teams pussys.
1) It looks like the Osgood-Ribiero incident has evoked some well needed emotion. Something in our opinion its lacked. However we doubt it will change the dynamic too much. The league as we expected, didn't suspend either player. We doubt the Wings will try to go after Ribiero tonight.
2) Sorry Vlad, as our fellow blogger Tom Benjamin wrote (http://www.canuckscorner.com/weblog/nhllog/) Its more of the manner in which Detroit plays that leads us to see this as boring hockey. Of course that doesn't explain away the other series.
3) It appears that Chad agrees with our assessment as well. It looks more and more like the NHL is becoming too 'Europeanized'. Being that Detroit is almost 50% Euro that we see it there more than any other place. Is this the future? If so, we won't be watching NHL hockey down the road! Sad, if true.
Lemme comment on your last statement, Faux... The Europeanization/Feminization of the NHL has hit Hockeytown pretty hard... Just ask the NON-sellout crowds at the Joe... Imagine that! A President's Trophy team, perennially at the top, with a plethora of superstars, and they cannot sell out a Final Four playoff home game... Surely, this incident with Ribeiro and Osgood NEEDS to fire up both sides... In contrast to what BUTTman wishes, we need more Reg Dunlaps and Charlestown Chief hockey in this NHL...
BTW, while it is evident that the four idiots in stripes ON the ice are beyond incompetent, how is it that the buffoons OFF the ice in Toronto are equally as clueless? Ya know, I wouldn't be surprised if there isn't a war room in Toronto reviewing these goals... Its probably just BUTTman and Campbell watching the replays on TV and calling the arenas pushing their own agendas...
Sidney Crosby scored a second goal last evening - it was OBVIOUS that the puck was IN the net... It wasn't inconclusive! These assholes get it WRONG most of the time... If the NHL continues to compromise its own integrity NOBODY will be watching... The officiating is clearly the worst of any of the major or minor sports... Even the linesman are pitiful - they have missed more offsides calls in these playoffs than any in recent memory... Our great game is being brought down by BUTTMan and his henchmen zebras - DAMMIT!!!!!!!!!!!
Post a Comment