Stanley Cup Finals

[darius]

Any hockey fans here? Thoughts on Calgary/Tampa?

Personally, I think it could be the best matchup since 2001's Avs/Devils series. You've got two teams that have awesome speed, the scoring tandems of Iginla/Gelinas and St Louis/Lecavalier. There aren't any superstar defensemen, but both teams have selfless shot-blocking and hard hitting.

I'm rooting for Tampa Bay -- it's nearly time for Canada to get their Cup back, but Dave Andreychuk deserves it more.

darius

[Dan H]

Well, if the Pens couldn't make it, Bolts-Flames is about the next best thing. I'll be pulling for the Bolts as well, since I grew up in the Tampa Bay area, and had about half their team on my fantasy hockey team this season.
I'm glad it's not Flyers-Wings or something. Too many sports championship series end up with teams that are there every other year (Wings, Devils, Yankees...) or teams that I am required to dislike due to my geographic location (Flyers).

[J.Harris]

I want to see Calgary win just because I think the cup belongs up in canada not down in Tampa where there is no ice.

[darius]

Well, if the Pens couldn't make it, Bolts-Flames is about the next best thing.

I loved 'burgh back in the day with Super Mario, Jagr, Ronnie Francis, etc...what an awesome team that was!

Too many sports championship series end up with teams that are there every other year (Wings, Devils, Yankees...) or teams that I am required to dislike due to my geographic location (Flyers).

Without the big money teams to hate, the accomplishments of the small market teams aren't nearly as interesting. I mean, look at the NFL, where it seems like one of the teams in the Super Bowl every year is just coming off a 1-15 season. Calgary got through Vancouver, Detroit, and San Jose to get where they are, all of whom have something like double their payroll.

Of course, I'm an Avs fan, so clearly I have no problems with deep-pocketed owners.

I want to see Calgary win just because I think the cup belongs up in canada not down in Tampa where there is no ice.

There's ice in Tampa...and they actually make use of it, unlike the boring trap-meisters in Minnesota and New Jersey, or the goon squads of Vancouver and Toronto. (That statement should do a number on my reputation...)

darius

[whtouche]

Originally Posted by J.Harris

I want to see Calgary win just because I think the cup belongs up in canada not down in Tampa where there is no ice.

While I agree with the point about tampa having no ice, I still want them to win(coming from someone who watched no hockey this year and is very disinterested) on principle that I just don't want canada to win.

[Dan H]

Originally Posted by J.Harris

I want to see Calgary win just because I think the cup belongs up in canada not down in Tampa where there is no ice.

I've never understood this sort of regional snobbery. You can cheer for whomever you wish, but before you denigrate the hockey-playing skills of people from Tampa, I'd like to see you try to skate the puck in on me one-on-one without me dumping you rudely on your rear end. :P

[frenzl]

calgary should win because of the canada thing and ampa had a tough run with the flyers, so they should be more used up than calg.

"I'd like to see you try to skate the puck in on me one-on-one without me dumping you rudely on your rear end. :P"

i'd like to see anyone come in on a breakaway on me. I dare you to try to score, especially glove side, i dare ya!

[darius]

calgary should win because of the canada thing and ampa had a tough run with the flyers, so they should be more used up than calg.

Did you see Game 7? The Bolts had energy to spare, and the Flyers got away from their typical goonery by midway through the series. There's nary a cut lip on their top line.

Meanwhile, the Flames are going to have somebody besides Gelinas and Iginla score. Tall order.

Or, they have to shut down St Louis/Fedotenko/Lecavalier completely, which is also going to be difficult. Calgary's willingness to sacrifice bodies is amazing (so is Tampa's...the only Philly goal in game 7 came off a defensive shot block that he should have let the goalie handle), but against forwards as fast as that top line, there won't necessarily be defenders there. You can't convince me that Calgary's defensive corps can do that without taking penalties...and if they do go to the sin bin, Tampa's PP is extremely potent. (47% against Philly, something like 30% throughout the playoffs)

If it becomes a goalie duel, I like Khabibulin over Kiprusoff. It seems like you can ride a hot unknown goalie to the finals, but he can't save your ***.

Also, the Bolts are playing to win one for Andreychuk. That's a pretty big intangible.

i'd like to see anyone come in on a breakaway on me. I dare you to try to score, especially glove side, i dare ya!

No big deal, I'll just take the shot from your crease. I hear you Buffalo people don't like that much.

darius

[Dan H]

Originally Posted by frenzl

i'd like to see anyone come in on a breakaway on me. I dare you to try to score, especially glove side, i dare ya!

Oh, you're a goalie. That explains a lot... *duck*

[SJB]

Let me tell you, of all my years living in Calgary I have *never* seen people so happy here.

And that's including the win in '89.

So, in closing:

Go Flames Go!

[telkanuru]

BRUINS!!! ...oh, wait... *sob* heartbreaking bastards...

[Moonitic]

It don't mean a thing if it ain't got dem Wings!

Can I have a tissue, telkanuru?

[HilandDoug]

Calgary did a great job against Detroit, and I said then that if they got past the Wings (who won the President's Trophy for the best record), they'd make it to the finals and beat up whoever their opponent was to win the Cup. Sure, Tampa is a great team this season or they wouldn't have made it this far, but I think the Flames have a little more talent, and more importantly, better coaching. My prediction: Flames in 7.

[frenzl]

Originally Posted by darius

No big deal, I'll just take the shot from your crease. I hear you Buffalo people don't like that much.

darius

touche darius

i would much rather just cheer for the buff. sabers but they are a professional buffalo sports team and we'll just leave it at that.

[darius]

BRUINS!!! ...oh, wait... *sob* heartbreaking bastards...

Original Six or not, if you blow a 2-0 lead to the Canadiens, your team needs to be the first on the chopping block the next time they talk about contraction.

It don't mean a thing if it ain't got dem Wings!

Why haven't the Joe Louis announcers exploited the experience angle of the Wings during player introductions? "And now...with over TWWOOOO MILLENNNIA of combined pro hockey experience, YOUR DETROIT RED WINGS!!!!"

I think the Flames have a little more talent, and more importantly, better coaching. My prediction: Flames in 7.

I like Darryl Sutter; but Tortorella is his doppelganger, and if it goes to 7, he'll have the last change. Neither coach tweaks much, they just make sure the right line is on the ice, and both are known for not making mistakes. I think the coaching is pretty much even.

Do you really think the Flames have more talent? I haven't had that much opportunity to watch them, only single games here and there during the playoffs.

i would much rather just cheer for the buff. sabers but they are a professional buffalo sports team and we'll just leave it at that.

Does Buffalo have amateur sports teams? Or would that just be too heartbreaking?

darius

[J.Harris]

no its not really regional snobbery ive never even been to the continent in question but if i had to choose between the two id choose the place which has a history in the sport over, well, tampa. did i say anything about people in tampa's hockey playing skills? no.

[Moonitic]

Actually, I do believe Mickey Redmond has made MANY comments about how much experience the Red Wings have while on tv. As far as who says what at the games themselves, one only has to look up to see how many banners fly, touting the Wings' exceptional record. I've been to a few games, & I vaguely remember hearing them make remarks about just how much experience is on that ice, however.

And let's not forget Karen Newman & her amazing set of pipes...whew! The National Anthem never sounded so good.

[darius]

One word: Awesome.

As predicted, Tampa Bay had more jump at the end, but damn, what a series!

darius

[DJ Apostrophe]

It was a great series... Game 5 was unbelievable, 2nd period in game 6 was outstanding... and game 7 was .... game 7.

Kubina and Sydor did a marvelous job of holding Iginla to nothing. Torterella made excellent use of the last change to strangle Iginla's line. Suter tried changing the line combos, but Tortorella was so focused on stopping Iginla that it didn't matter who Suter trotted out there with them.

The only time Calgary looked like they had any energy to match Tampa was about a 10 minute stretch in the third period. Other than that, they were out skated, out worked, and just physically beaten.

I miss hockey already...

PLEASE NO LABOR STOPPAGE!!!

-w

[darius]

Marty St Louis took some huge hits and still managed to get a bunch of quality chances. Brad Richards really impressed the heck out of me with his hockey sense, but did you see the look on his face when St Louis got put into the boards face-first? He looked ready to tear the offenders apart bare-handed, and game misconduct be damned.

The selflessness of the shot-blocking reminded me of the 2001 Avs. To look at the statistics, you'd think game 7 was a bore, but there was a ton of action, very few of the shots made it on net.

Khabibulin's 3 saves with 5 mins left in the 3rd were amazing; denying a point-blank chance and then the rebound, on opposite sides of the goal, then getting back in position to make a 3rd save 5 seconds later.

Iginla had some great moves too, even in game 7. He almost got one, where he deked out four players between him and the goal, but once you've done that much work, the goalie knows what to look for.

darius