Official NHL Hockey Thread interim version

[RWG]

On 5/4/2022 at 10:35 PM, Mysteriosa said:

It will take some focus to fix, but at one point the Flames had a gazillion no trade clauses.  At least Benning is gone.  I wonder if they'll give Boudreau more money?

 

 

I'm not even sure Boudreau will be back. Jim Rutherford said they will have Boudreau back on the option year of his contract, but he also criticized the way the team plays and said they rely too much on goaltending and would need to work with Bruce on some things if he comes back. Tough crowd. I think the crux of it is that Boudreau is a laissez-faire coach and they want someone more detail-oriented and analytical. Rutherford is quite the presence, I'll give him that.

 

He also talked about how the scouting department now has to have reports filed on time and such. And today they fired four scouts, including Benning's son.

 

On 5/4/2022 at 10:35 PM, Mysteriosa said:

 

Thanks!  The luck must have worked as Flames won vs Stars 1-0.  I'm not super thrilled about a tiny score, but we did win.  Took way too many penalties, I think, including a game misconduct.  Players way too excited!

 

Edmonton lost their first game and won the second (come on Battle of Alberta) (or lose horribly, it's a win-win ).  Avalanche beat Nashville 7-2.  Leafs and Lightning have a game each.   I can't believe Penguins vs Rangers went to triple overtime.  Save some for later!  

 

 

 

The Dallas/Calgary series is a great melatonin trigger. It goes great with my peppermint tea before bed. Just 3 goals in the 2 games? Even with 10 minutes left when Dallas was up 1-0 you could tell Calgary wasn't going to tie it. LA looks to have come undone so I think Edmonton will advance.

 

The playoffs have been weird so far in most of the games have not been that close or exciting, but the series are kind of close. Only Colorado/Nashville seems decided right now.

 

Gary Bettman went to Edmonton and Calgary and said Edmonton's Ice District and new arena area awesome but that Calgary's facilities suck and they're not hosting all-star games or drafts until they build a new one. If that won't motivate the mayor I don't know what will.

[Mysteriosa]

18 hours ago, RWG said:

I'm not even sure Boudreau will be back. Jim Rutherford said they will have Boudreau back on the option year of his contract, but he also criticized the way the team plays and said they rely too much on goaltending and would need to work with Bruce on some things if he comes back. Tough crowd. I think the crux of it is that Boudreau is a laissez-faire coach and they want someone more detail-oriented and analytical. Rutherford is quite the presence, I'll give him that.

 

He also talked about how the scouting department now has to have reports filed on time and such. And today they fired four scouts, including Benning's son

I thought Boudreau was doing well with them.  Now they are getting picky.  I can't imagine who will satisfy them.

Blame the scouting department, LOL.  Be interesting to see if the scouts get better or worse, with all this new oversight.

 

18 hours ago, RWG said:

The Dallas/Calgary series is a great melatonin trigger. It goes great with my peppermint tea before bed. Just 3 goals in the 2 games? Even with 10 minutes left when Dallas was up 1-0 you could tell Calgary wasn't going to tie it. LA looks to have come undone so I think Edmonton will advance.

  

Sutter did say he wasn't surprised by the low scores, but frankly it is beginning to feel a little too familiar.  Like, we score, then we just sit on that and wait to see how it goes.  I agree that low scoring is not amazingly entertaining.  Nor is the missing the net!

 

Looks like Nashville is about to fold.  

18 hours ago, RWG said:

Gary Bettman went to Edmonton and Calgary and said Edmonton's Ice District and new arena area awesome but that Calgary's facilities suck and they're not hosting all-star games or drafts until they build a new one. If that won't motivate the mayor I don't know what will.

There is a committee looking at the arena situation.  But really Bettman has a nerve, since it was the Flames organization that pulled the plug on the whole thing.  The proposed arena was super ugly and all the community stuff got cut, so I wasn't sorry at all that it fell through.  Maybe we should build an events centre and skip the whole hockey part. 

[RWG]

On 5/7/2022 at 5:17 PM, Mysteriosa said:

I thought Boudreau was doing well with them.  Now they are getting picky.  I can't imagine who will satisfy them.

Blame the scouting department, LOL.  Be interesting to see if the scouts get better or worse, with all this new oversight.

 

  

Sutter did say he wasn't surprised by the low scores, but frankly it is beginning to feel a little too familiar.  Like, we score, then we just sit on that and wait to see how it goes.  I agree that low scoring is not amazingly entertaining.  Nor is the missing the net!

 

Looks like Nashville is about to fold.  

There is a committee looking at the arena situation.  But really Bettman has a nerve, since it was the Flames organization that pulled the plug on the whole thing.  The proposed arena was super ugly and all the community stuff got cut, so I wasn't sorry at all that it fell through.  Maybe we should build an events centre and skip the whole hockey part. 

 

Game 3 was pretty good. Calgary finally looked closer to what they were in the regular season in Game 4. The series sort of reminds me of the 2007 Dallas-Vancouver series. Very low scoring, had a 4OT game and went to 7 games.

 

What happened to Nashville is a good retort to "anything can happen if we just get in!" Edmonton is on the ropes suddenly now. They came back to tie the Game 5 4-4 to OT and the building looked electric. Then LA scored early in OT and deflated it. The Leafs also won their Game 5. I am praying Tampa comes back in that series because I won't be able to handle a second round of Sportsnet acting like the Leafs are our national team.

 

The other weird thing about the Sportsnet broadcasts is the constant barrage of sports betting ads. Not just commercials, but spots worked into the game and broadcasts. I don't care if people bet but it feels completely over the top for family programming.

 

Yeah, I don't know what Bettman is crowing about. I think people are getting tired of this racket of the richest people in society intimdating underfunded cities into building stadiums for them. Calgary feels like the first city to sort  of put its foot down.

[Mysteriosa]

17 hours ago, RWG said:

Game 3 was pretty good. Calgary finally looked closer to what they were in the regular season in Game 4. The series sort of reminds me of the 2007 Dallas-Vancouver series. Very low scoring, had a 4OT game and went to 7 games.

 

After they lost game 3 I was beginning to feel like it was the Avalanche series all over again.  Flames fans were losing hope, especially towards the end of that game when it looked like a fire drill and two Flames collided.  But game 4 was much better.  Gaudreau even scored on a penalty shot.  No one really thought it should have been called as a penalty, but it makes up for all the ones not called.  

 

17 hours ago, RWG said:

What happened to Nashville is a good retort to "anything can happen if we just get in!" Edmonton is on the ropes suddenly now. They came back to tie the Game 5 4-4 to OT and the building looked electric. Then LA scored early in OT and deflated it. The Leafs also won their Game 5. I am praying Tampa comes back in that series because I won't be able to handle a second round of Sportsnet acting like the Leafs are our national team.

Poor Nashville.  Flames were swept by Avs once in 5 games, and that was pretty bad.   It is interesting how the Kings and St. Louis are bouncing back.  Carolina may knock out Boston.  The other day Boston's fans pushed out a piece of glass and almost squished the penalty box guy. 

 

Penguins are a beast.  You mean the Leafs are not our national team?   

 

The best is when CBC shows your non Leaf team playing some other non Leaf team and they spend the entire intermission talking about the Leaf situation instead.  

 

Dallas's goalie Oettinger has been playing really well and he's only 23?  I figured out that his nickname is Otter.   I had spent some time wondering if his goalie mask featured a weasel.    

https://www.flickr.com/photos/daveartmaskgallery/51674856841/in/photostream/

 

17 hours ago, RWG said:

The other weird thing about the Sportsnet broadcasts is the constant barrage of sports betting ads. Not just commercials, but spots worked into the game and broadcasts. I don't care if people bet but it feels completely over the top for family programming.

 

I saw some people online complaining about that, because addicts can't escape the temptation and some people give up watching the games.  People should tell Sportsnet.  I think it is wrong to push it that hard, especially as some people could care less about it, and I actually think making it bigger is a bad idea.  We already have players betting on games.

 

Flames are playing Dallas today.    But I'm not betting on anything!  Bad luck.

 

Hey Vancouver.  If you don't like Boudreau, I hear Tortorella is available!  

 

 

Edited May 11, 2022 by Mysteriosa

[ShortstopVM]

Wooooooowwww... I can't believe that we're getting washed by the Penguins...  Whatever happened to #NoQuitInNY? 

[RWG]

On 5/11/2022 at 4:09 PM, Mysteriosa said:

After they lost game 3 I was beginning to feel like it was the Avalanche series all over again.  Flames fans were losing hope, especially towards the end of that game when it looked like a fire drill and two Flames collided.  But game 4 was much better.  Gaudreau even scored on a penalty shot.  No one really thought it should have been called as a penalty, but it makes up for all the ones not called.  

 

Penguins are a beast.  You mean the Leafs are not our national team?   

 

The best is when CBC shows your non Leaf team playing some other non Leaf team and they spend the entire intermission talking about the Leaf situation instead.  

 

I was surprised how many people the Flames had watching their game outside the arena in Game 5. Probably wouldn't be my ideal way to watch a game, but that's a huge crowd for the first round.

 

The Canucks games on Sportsnet used to have a post-game show. Now the horn sounds and within 10 seconds, the announcer says goodnight from Vancouver and they throw back to the Death Star in Toronto and go straight into the Leafs highlights.

 

Leafs have to play Game 7 against Tampa. This shot from after Tampa scored in OT.

 

 

On 5/11/2022 at 4:09 PM, Mysteriosa said:

I saw some people online complaining about that, because addicts can't escape the temptation and some people give up watching the games.  People should tell Sportsnet.  I think it is wrong to push it that hard, especially as some people could care less about it, and I actually think making it bigger is a bad idea.  We already have players betting on games.

 

Flames are playing Dallas today.    But I'm not betting on anything!  Bad luck.

 

Hey Vancouver.  If you don't like Boudreau, I hear Tortorella is available!  

 

Gary has talked about betting as an important revenue stream for the league, so I don't think the ads are going anywhere until the regulations catch up. They have the one Bet365 ad between whistles where the guy says he doesn't have a job and just bets  on sports for a living. They are going to hook a lot of kids watching. There's also the Wayne Gretzky hologram where he is holding a phone with the Bet MGM app. I don't know if Wayne is a great spokesperson for this given that his assistant coaches and wife were subjects of a federal investigation into an illegal gambling ring.

 

I like the otter a lot better than Markstrom's ears. Both those goalies have been very good in the series.

 

I think the Flames are probably going to wrap up Dallas tomorrow, and Edmonton has forced a Game 7 for which they will be favored. A Battle of Alberta seems more likely now. I wonder who Sportsnet would have call it. Rick Ball has been doing the Calgary and Harnarayan Singh has been doing the Edmonton series and both have been massive homers for their respective teams.

 

Bruce now says he wants to come back and thinks it should be "settled" soon once they talk about a couple more things. I don't know. It's an odd situation. Usually they just say the coach is back and that's it. Rutherford's made the point that he and Boudreau have been friends for 40 years, but you could fool me. I don't think I have to worry about Torts coming back. The names we've heard as hypothetical replacements for Boudreau are Rikard Grönborg, Mike Vellucci, and Paul Maurice. But now Barry Trotz is available too.

 

Edit: Canucks announced Bruce is coming back. But they also fired more people from the training/athletic/medical staff.  Some who had been there a really long time.

Edited May 13, 2022 by RWG

[Mysteriosa]

Flames had a great comeback effort in the 3rd period of game 5 to win 3-1.  No scoring in the 1st, zzzz.   1 goal against us in the 2nd (oh no! everyone thought that was it) and then suddenly a flurry of activity in the 3rd that pulled off a win.  Mangiapane and Backlund score, then an empty net goal by Lewis because Gaudreau missed.

 

15 hours ago, RWG said:

I was surprised how many people the Flames had watching their game outside the arena in Game 5. Probably wouldn't be my ideal way to watch a game, but that's a huge crowd for the first round.

A sudden surge of optimism!  It's because we don't get to do that a lot. 

 

16 hours ago, RWG said:

Leafs have to play Game 7 against Tampa. This shot from after Tampa scored in OT.

 

Wow.  That's a lot of unhappy people!  

And yet I feel no sympathy.  Weird.  

 

Hmm.  Minnesota is out.  I didn't even realize that.

16 hours ago, RWG said:

There's also the Wayne Gretzky hologram where he is holding a phone with the Bet MGM app. I don't know if Wayne is a great spokesperson for this given that his assistant coaches and wife were subjects of a federal investigation into an illegal gambling ring.

Oh I totally forgot about that!  Awkward!

 

16 hours ago, RWG said:

I like the otter a lot better than Markstrom's ears. Both those goalies have been very good in the series.

Markstrom's masks are not very interesting.  I miss the screaming skulls Kipper had.  People on sports radio are always comparing the two goalies.  Everyone always sounds like Kipper wasn't as good, but he had to work really hard because the team wasn't as skilled as the one today.  It was a completely different style of hockey as well.

 

16 hours ago, RWG said:

I think the Flames are probably going to wrap up Dallas tomorrow, and Edmonton has forced a Game 7 for which they will be favored. A Battle of Alberta seems more likely now. I wonder who Sportsnet would have call it.

Ooo, I hope they wrap them.  Battle of Alberta would be kind of awesome.  Knowing my luck, it will be an Oilers fan commentating.  

 

16 hours ago, RWG said:

Canucks announced Bruce is coming back. But they also fired more people from the training/athletic/medical staff.  Some who had been there a really long time.

It does make you wonder what is going on behind the scenes.

 

Random:  Mark Giordano is selling his house now he plays for the Kraken.  Includes a wine cellar with room for 700 bottles?  

 

https://dailyhive.com/calgary/1948-49-avenue-sw-home-for-sale-mark-giordano-calgary-flames

 

On 5/11/2022 at 6:22 PM, ShortstopVM said:

Wooooooowwww... I can't believe that we're getting washed by the Penguins...  Whatever happened to #NoQuitInNY? 

  I can't believe the Penguins can still play that well.  They have lost Crosby though.  If Rangers can even it up, then anything might happen.

[RWG]

We have five Game 7s this weekend! I feel like most years we're lucky to have 2 or 3 in the first. Given that we've had crappy weather all May, I guess it's just as well I stay in and watch hockey all weekend.

 

7 hours ago, Mysteriosa said:

Flames had a great comeback effort in the 3rd period of game 5 to win 3-1.  No scoring in the 1st, zzzz.   1 goal against us in the 2nd (oh no! everyone thought that was it) and then suddenly a flurry of activity in the 3rd that pulled off a win.  Mangiapane and Backlund score, then an empty net goal by Lewis because Gaudreau missed.

 

A sudden surge of optimism!  It's because we don't get to do that a lot. 

 

Wow.  That's a lot of unhappy people!  

And yet I feel no sympathy.  Weird.  

 

Hmm.  Minnesota is out.  I didn't even realize that.

Oh I totally forgot about that!  Awkward!

 

Markstrom's masks are not very interesting.  I miss the screaming skulls Kipper had.  People on sports radio are always comparing the two goalies.  Everyone always sounds like Kipper wasn't as good, but he had to work really hard because the team wasn't as skilled as the one today.  It was a completely different style of hockey as well.

 

Well, not too much optimism, since there will be a Game 7. I only caught the 2nd half of Game 6, but it was Dallas's best game of the series, so maybe that's a bit concerning for the Flames. I did not think the Stars would be able to last this long with Calgary. Stars fans really love to stand up during play.

 

I think Markstrom and Kiprusoff are pretty equal. Markstrom may be on a better Flames team now, but his stats from Vancouver all from playing behind teams that were never sound defensively. The main difference is I always find Kiprusoff seemed pretty cool whereas Markstrom can get emotional.

 

7 hours ago, Mysteriosa said:

 

 

Ooo, I hope they wrap them.  Battle of Alberta would be kind of awesome.  Knowing my luck, it will be an Oilers fan commentating.  

 

It does make you wonder what is going on behind the scenes.

 

Random:  Mark Giordano is selling his house now he plays for the Kraken.  Includes a wine cellar with room for 700 bottles?  

 

https://dailyhive.com/calgary/1948-49-avenue-sw-home-for-sale-mark-giordano-calgary-flames

 

  I can't believe the Penguins can still play that well.  They have lost Crosby though.  If Rangers can even it up, then anything might happen.

 

The Canucks are usually one of the most injured teams in the league. People usually chalk it up to the fact they have to fly more miles than most of the other teams, but maybe the new management thinks it's something to do with trainers. Look at how often Tanev was injured over a decade in Vancouver, and then he goes to Calgary and suddenly never gets hurt. He oddly got injured in Game 6 today though.

 

Giordano's house is actually pretty modest for an NHL player. Street parking, no driveway or garage, and just about a meter in the alley separating his house and his neighbour's. Is Gio down with new urbanism? Someone noticed Jim Benning had listed his condo in Olympic Village in Vancouver a few years ago, and noted it was the only time one of his acquisitions had appreciated in value from when he bought it.

 

Louis Domingue is a fun story but truthfully I think it's going to be hard for Pittsburgh to win another game with him in net. Some of those goals he's letting in are bad. Crosby having a concussion doesn't help either.  I wonder if we should be worried about how many concussions he's had now.

 

 

Edited May 14, 2022 by RWG

[Mysteriosa]

On 5/14/2022 at 12:01 AM, RWG said:

Well, not too much optimism, since there will be a Game 7. I only caught the 2nd half of Game 6, but it was Dallas's best game of the series, so maybe that's a bit concerning for the Flames. I did not think the Stars would be able to last this long with Calgary. Stars fans really love to stand up during play.

Oh Calgary, what are you doing?  They kind of throw away the first period, it feels like they don't really get into their stride until much later. They hardly ever win a face off.  They're not looking after the details either.  Some of the passing is brutal.  Gaudreau lost his temper on the bench, and then the big players started fighting people.  Dallas has been getting stellar goal tending too.  That Stars crowd was singing and having a great time.  Calgary is unpredictable, so it depends which version of them is going to be playing.  They drive me crazy!

On 5/14/2022 at 12:01 AM, RWG said:

I think Markstrom and Kiprusoff are pretty equal. Markstrom may be on a better Flames team now, but his stats from Vancouver all from playing behind teams that were never sound defensively. The main difference is I always find Kiprusoff seemed pretty cool whereas Markstrom can get emotional.

I loved the way Kipper in the playoffs would take a drink of water and look like he just wandered in and wanted to know what the fuss was about.  

 

On 5/14/2022 at 12:01 AM, RWG said:

The Canucks are usually one of the most injured teams in the league. People usually chalk it up to the fact they have to fly more miles than most of the other teams, but maybe the new management thinks it's something to do with trainers. Look at how often Tanev was injured over a decade in Vancouver, and then he goes to Calgary and suddenly never gets hurt. He oddly got injured in Game 6 today though.

Possible.  They obviously think there's something there they do not like?  Or someone has been complaining.

 

On 5/14/2022 at 12:01 AM, RWG said:

Giordano's house is actually pretty modest for an NHL player. Street parking, no driveway or garage, and just about a meter in the alley separating his house and his neighbour's. Is Gio down with new urbanism? Someone noticed Jim Benning had listed his condo in Olympic Village in Vancouver a few years ago, and noted it was the only time one of his acquisitions had appreciated in value from when he bought it.

 

It is surprisingly low key.  Apparently it's close to a dog park and a sports facility.  I was kind of surprised it's just right there on the street.  But then, he has a really down to earth kind of personality.  LOL at Benning.  Unlucky in hockey, lucky in real estate.

 

On 5/14/2022 at 12:01 AM, RWG said:

Louis Domingue is a fun story but truthfully I think it's going to be hard for Pittsburgh to win another game with him in net. Some of those goals he's letting in are bad. Crosby having a concussion doesn't help either.  I wonder if we should be worried about how many concussions he's had now.

I remember that outdoor game where Crosby just got mowed down.  I think the answer is probably yes.  

 

Ooooo.  Toronto lost!  What?  I thought they might be able to win that one.  I saw the last few minutes and they looked really casual.   Meanwhile Edmonton is in.  Boo!

Edited May 15, 2022 by Mysteriosa

[ShortstopVM]

On 5/13/2022 at 6:32 PM, Mysteriosa said:

  I can't believe the Penguins can still play that well.  They have lost Crosby though.  If Rangers can even it up, then anything might happen.

 

Well, my post aged well lol...  The Rangers REALLY woke up in Games 5 and 6...  Let's see what Game 7 brings in front of a rockin' Garden crowd... 

[ShortstopVM]

BREADMAN!!!!!  I can't believe that happened!  Down 2-0 in TWO elimination games, and the Rangers rallied to win this series.  

 

I guess #NoQuitInNY is alive and well 

[Mysteriosa]

3 hours ago, ShortstopVM said:

BREADMAN!!!!!  I can't believe that happened!  Down 2-0 in TWO elimination games, and the Rangers rallied to win this series.  

 

I guess #NoQuitInNY is alive and well 

Woo!  My post looks psychic now!

 

Meanwhile...

 

    

 

 

 

OMG.  FLAMES WON IN OT!

 

Hellooooo Battle of Alberta. 

 

 

[RWG]

On 5/15/2022 at 12:38 PM, Mysteriosa said:

Ooooo.  Toronto lost!  What?  I thought they might be able to win that one.  I saw the last few minutes and they looked really casual.   Meanwhile Edmonton is in.  Boo!

 

It's kind of funny how every year, they say "nothing the Leafs do in the regular season matters -- they will be  judged only on whether  they can get out of the 1st round." And then they lose in the 1st round and say no changes because the regular season was so good. Their fans and media make it sound like there was nothing they could have done -- the Lightning are just too good and it was an unlucky draw. The Lightning were very beatable -- they spotted the Leafs the first game, Vasilevsky was human for  much of the series, and the effort in Game 4 from the Leafs was a joke.

 

Excited for the Battle of Alberta. My only prediction is that it will  go 6 or 7 games. Calgary has the deeper roster, but McDavid is McDavid, and he looked absolutely possessed in the last two games of the LA series. Most people are giving the Flames a major edge in net, but if you by most models, Smith was actually better than Markstrom in round 1.

[Mysteriosa]

On 5/18/2022 at 12:13 PM, RWG said:

the effort in Game 4 from the Leafs was a joke.

I saw the last few minutes of their last game and they weren't trying very hard to get shots in.  They'd given up.

 

On 5/18/2022 at 12:13 PM, RWG said:

Excited for the Battle of Alberta. My only prediction is that it will  go 6 or 7 games. Calgary has the deeper roster, but McDavid is McDavid, and he looked absolutely possessed in the last two games of the LA series. Most people are giving the Flames a major edge in net, but if you by most models, Smith was actually better than Markstrom in round 1.

First game:  crazy nuts!  Flames win 9-6.  Tkachuk chirping Kane in the penalty box.  Supposedly he said "do you need some money?" and Kane offered to fight him after the box, but T. said "I don't fight poor people".    Then T. went and scored on them.  That whole game was a lot of fun to watch.

 

Second game:  Flames lost 5-3.  Too many penalties taken.  The officiating sucked.  Edmonton had a goal waved off because the ref was going to blow the whistle, then the exact same thing happened to the Flames later. (not reviewed, unlike the first one)  Maybe he should move CLOSER so he can see the puck?   We did win a goalie interference challenge.  Somehow icing was not icing.  Lots of iffy calls.  Call on Lindholm but not the guy who cross checked him.

 

Favourite comment seen on a different board: "We need to slow down McDavid with some honest checks, he is a hockey player not a Mona Lisa. Hit him."  That's what I was thinking.  (Lucic gave him a shock in game 1)   Flames mostly gave up on hitting.  Or effective checking.   And blew a two goal lead.  Ew.  Instead of anticipating McDavid and co, they just react in a panic too late to stop them as they rush by.  Backlund was good though.

 

Meanwhile, why did we have to play that game at home at 8:30 pm?  Too late for pretty much everyone.  Supposedly a combo of the other game not starting till 6 and the PGA being on? 

 

CBC in love with McDavid.  The wedding will be Tuesday. 

 

Heck of a lot of ads for betting.  Someone on the other site "is NHL a casino now?"   I'm counting the minutes until we find a referee out there with a secret gambling problem.

 

Now I realize how great Otter was in net for Dallas.  It was spooky.

 

[RWG]

23 hours ago, Mysteriosa said:

I saw the last few minutes of their last game and they weren't trying very hard to get shots in.  They'd given up.

 

First game:  crazy nuts!  Flames win 9-6.  Tkachuk chirping Kane in the penalty box.  Supposedly he said "do you need some money?" and Kane offered to fight him after the box, but T. said "I don't fight poor people".    Then T. went and scored on them.  That whole game was a lot of fun to watch.

 

Second game:  Flames lost 5-3.  Too many penalties taken.  The officiating sucked.  Edmonton had a goal waved off because the ref was going to blow the whistle, then the exact same thing happened to the Flames later. (not reviewed, unlike the first one)  Maybe he should move CLOSER so he can see the puck?   We did win a goalie interference challenge.  Somehow icing was not icing.  Lots of iffy calls.  Call on Lindholm but not the guy who cross checked him.

 

Favourite comment seen on a different board: "We need to slow down McDavid with some honest checks, he is a hockey player not a Mona Lisa. Hit him."  That's what I was thinking.  (Lucic gave him a shock in game 1)   Flames mostly gave up on hitting.  Or effective checking.   And blew a two goal lead.  Ew.  Instead of anticipating McDavid and co, they just react in a panic too late to stop them as they rush by.  Backlund was good though.

 

Meanwhile, why did we have to play that game at home at 8:30 pm?  Too late for pretty much everyone.  Supposedly a combo of the other game not starting till 6 and the PGA being on? 

 

CBC in love with McDavid.  The wedding will be Tuesday. 

 

 

I thought the series was probably over when Calgary went up 3-1 in Game 2. Then the Oilers came back with four unanswered and the Flames just looked stunned. The Flames look like the better team 5-on-5, but they're making a lot of mistakes and leaving Markstrom out to dry. I don't think Game 2 was Markstrom's fault, but he wasn't good in Game 1. The 9-6 score certainly is bizarre for the second round of the playoffs. Is defense illegal in Alberta or something?

 

Seeing Lucic hulk around the ice kind of makes me chuckle. He is so slow compared to the rest of the players on both teams. I'm honestly surprised any team has still been able to find a role for him in 2022.

 

Sportsnet definitely loves McDavid. They also love showing us the Tkachuks in the stands every time Matthew touches the puck, to even it out. It was funny seeing him chirp Kane over his bankruptcy. I saw videos of Flames fans dropping $5 bills over the glass onto the Oilers bench for Evander.

 

I'm really enjoying the Battle of Alberta. You can feel how much the rivalry between the teams and fans is heating up. I see so many car flags for both teams around Victoria.

 

23 hours ago, Mysteriosa said:

Heck of a lot of ads for betting.  Someone on the other site "is NHL a casino now?"   I'm counting the minutes until we find a referee out there with a secret gambling problem.

 

 

I feel like all the advertising they are doing for the betting is going to be cancelled out by the officiating. Why would anyone bet on the outcome or how many goals will be scored or who is going to score in a game where two goals have been called back only because the ref couldn't get in position? Gary can say the officiating is amazing like always, but performances like Chris Lee's on Friday actually has the potential to cost the league money now.

 

Hockey is a terrible sport to bet money on -- way too random and bouncy.

 

In the other series, Nazem Kadri took Binnington out of the game after a collision at the net and then Binnington threw a water bottle at Kadri while he was doing an interview after the game.  

Edited May 22, 2022 by RWG

[Mysteriosa]

On 5/21/2022 at 11:54 PM, RWG said:

The Flames look like the better team 5-on-5, but they're making a lot of mistakes and leaving Markstrom out to dry. I don't think Game 2 was Markstrom's fault, but he wasn't good in Game 1. The 9-6 score certainly is bizarre for the second round of the playoffs. Is defense illegal in Alberta or something?

 

Seeing Lucic hulk around the ice kind of makes me chuckle. He is so slow compared to the rest of the players on both teams. I'm honestly surprised any team has still been able to find a role for him in 2022.

Oh, game 3 was evil.  So many penalties!  And they've forgotten how to pass again.  Lost 4-0?  Yes, it is illegal.  That's why we are so bad at it.

 

Lucic is one of my favs though because he really does work hard.  Sometimes he actually scores too.  And when he hit McDavid, that was really satisfying.  

 

On 5/21/2022 at 11:54 PM, RWG said:

Sportsnet definitely loves McDavid. They also love showing us the Tkachuks in the stands every time Matthew touches the puck, to even it out. It was funny seeing him chirp Kane over his bankruptcy. I saw videos of Flames fans dropping $5 bills over the glass onto the Oilers bench for Evander.

 

True about the Tkachuks on TV all game (s).  Father refused to throw his hat even when son scores hat trick!  Evander is lucky to be playing.  And how great does that look, broke NHL player because of gambling debts!  Hmmm.  

On 5/21/2022 at 11:54 PM, RWG said:

Gary can say the officiating is amazing like always, but performances like Chris Lee's on Friday actually has the potential to cost the league money now.

It's true.  Imagine betting big money and the goals keep being recalled.  And all the penalties that should have been called that weren't, and the iffy ones that were.  

 

On 5/21/2022 at 11:54 PM, RWG said:

Hockey is a terrible sport to bet money on -- way too random and bouncy.

 

And what IS goalie interference?  

 

On 5/21/2022 at 11:54 PM, RWG said:

In the other series, Nazem Kadri took Binnington out of the game after a collision at the net and then Binnington threw a water bottle at Kadri while he was doing an interview after the game.  

  Totally deserves that.  He never learns.

 

Flames be playing hockey tonight.  Which version of the team will show up?  

[RWG]

On 5/24/2022 at 5:01 PM, Mysteriosa said:

Oh, game 3 was evil.  So many penalties!  And they've forgotten how to pass again.  Lost 4-0?  Yes, it is illegal.  That's why we are so bad at it.

 

Lucic is one of my favs though because he really does work hard.  Sometimes he actually scores too.  And when he hit McDavid, that was really satisfying.  

 

True about the Tkachuks on TV all game (s).  Father refused to throw his hat even when son scores hat trick!  Evander is lucky to be playing.  And how great does that look, broke NHL player because of gambling debts!  Hmmm.  

It's true.  Imagine betting big money and the goals keep being recalled.  And all the penalties that should have been called that weren't, and the iffy ones that were.  

 

And what IS goalie interference?  

 

  Totally deserves that.  He never learns.

 

Flames be playing hockey tonight.  Which version of the team will show up?  

 

A better one? But not good enough. They looked more organized with Tanev back, but he's nowhere close to 100%.

 

Markstom maybe shouldn't give the puck to Nugent-Hopkins three feet away from the net in the first minute of the game. You can't really say Markstrom hasn't been a probelm for Calgary at this point. I'm not saying he won't rebound, but he doesn't look good. The goaltending guy on the Vancouver Sportsnet station says he looks to like he did when he first got to Vancouver. "Too stretchy," sprawling all over for pucks and opening up too many holes. Which he thinks is a symptom of Markstrom being tired and overplayed. Everyone said all year that Sutter was overplaying him.

 

Gaudreau and Tkachuk need to do stuff too. Edmonton's best players are. It does suck seeing Kane have so much success. He didn't earn the situation he's fallen into, and the Oilers don't deserve to be rewarded for giving him a contract. But that's life sometimes.

 

Hopefully Calgary wins tomorrow. It would kind of be a bummer if this only went five games.

 

Goodbye to the Florida Panthers. I didn't think they'd get swept. They didn't even look interested in the series. Apparently a bunch of the team went to an adult entertainment establishment the night before Game 3. So there's that.

[RWG]

Wow, that's a brutal ending for Calgary. That their 5-4 goal was overturned was very surprising. The "distinct kicking motion" rule is ultimately semantic and subjective, but with a play that close, I'm shocked they'd overturn the call on the ice.

Edited May 27, 2022 by RWG

[Mysteriosa]

18 hours ago, RWG said:

Wow, that's a brutal ending for Calgary. That their 5-4 goal was overturned was very surprising. The "distinct kicking motion" rule is ultimately semantic and subjective, but with a play that close, I'm shocked they'd overturn the call on the ice.

 

    I could not believe they called that back.  Not that Calgary was playing spectacularly well, but it altered the outcome of the game.  And then we got to hear Bieksa's take on it,  "he kicked it and pretended he didn't."  I was already tired of Hrudey, who only likes Edmonton and LA.  It looked like the puck would have gone in anyway.  No one challenged it.

 

The NHL is convinced it was right.  I want to know, if it wasn't Coleman falling into the net, if it was McDavid instead, would they really disallow his goal, if it meant he wouldn't get to the next round?  Really?  If it isn't definitive, how can you rule like that.  Of course the people who made the decision said it was definitive, according to whatever standard they are following this week.

 

Today we have people making excuses for the Flames.  The Oilers were better than we thought, it was close, (those are both Sutter),  the team had high emotion in game 7 and then couldn't get back to that (how does that explain second round game 1? this on the radio).   No, you threw away Sunday's game and thought you could make it up later.  The top line barely scored after game 1.  Some of the people that were fine at the end of the regular season declined rapidly.  Backlund was trying to do it all, and he isn't our top line. Our defence sucks.

 

On 5/25/2022 at 11:13 PM, RWG said:

Markstom maybe shouldn't give the puck to Nugent-Hopkins three feet away from the net in the first minute of the game.

 

That was next level bad.  Only matched by Smith getting scored on from the other end of the rink (classic).  I wish they would play Vladar more, as he is never going to improve while he gathers rust on the bench, and Markstrom obviously has a problem playing the Oilers.

 

On 5/25/2022 at 11:13 PM, RWG said:

Goodbye to the Florida Panthers. I didn't think they'd get swept. They didn't even look interested in the series. Apparently a bunch of the team went to an adult entertainment establishment the night before Game 3. So there's that.

 

In Calgary I think you would only be ostracized if you went to the museum...?

 

 

 

Edited May 27, 2022 by Mysteriosa

[ShortstopVM]

LOL! 

 

 

Game 7 is tomorrow night. I predict only a drizzle in Raleigh...  #BlueMonday

[RWG]

14 hours ago, ShortstopVM said:

LOL! 

 

 

Game 7 is tomorrow night. I predict only a drizzle in Raleigh...  #BlueMonday

 

It's crazy how Carolina still hasn't won a road game in the playoffs. Though I guess they haven't lost at home either.

 

On 5/27/2022 at 4:42 PM, Mysteriosa said:

 

    I could not believe they called that back.  Not that Calgary was playing spectacularly well, but it altered the outcome of the game.  And then we got to hear Bieksa's take on it,  "he kicked it and pretended he didn't."  I was already tired of Hrudey, who only likes Edmonton and LA.  It looked like the puck would have gone in anyway.  No one challenged it.

 

The NHL is convinced it was right.  I want to know, if it wasn't Coleman falling into the net, if it was McDavid instead, would they really disallow his goal, if it meant he wouldn't get to the next round?  Really?  If it isn't definitive, how can you rule like that.  Of course the people who made the decision said it was definitive, according to whatever standard they are following this week.

 

Today we have people making excuses for the Flames.  The Oilers were better than we thought, it was close, (those are both Sutter),  the team had high emotion in game 7 and then couldn't get back to that (how does that explain second round game 1? this on the radio).   No, you threw away Sunday's game and thought you could make it up later.  The top line barely scored after game 1.  Some of the people that were fine at the end of the regular season declined rapidly.  Backlund was trying to do it all, and he isn't our top line. Our defence sucks.

 

It was weird listening to the Sportsnet panel debate the call after the period. It was like a philosophical discussion about what it means to kick something, and what it means for the motion to be distinct. That's the problem with the rule. Everyone seems to interpret it to mean it's not a distinct kicking motion if the player didn't mean to kick it, and now we're getting into what's inside Coleman's head. Only he knows whether he meant to kick it, and after the heat of the moment he probably doesn't even know. I didn't think they'd overturn the call  on the ice. The evidence has to be overwhelming for that to happen, and the fact it took them a long time to review it means it probably wasn't.

 

Some people said it was the universe evening out Calgary's karma from the 1989 Game 7 overtime against Vancouver, becuase Joel Otto's goal was definitely kicked in.

 

We don't know how allowing the goal would've affected the time-space continuum, but I don't think the Flames can point to one call and say it's why they lost a series in 5. They just had too many things go wrong at the same time. No team is winning in the 2nd round with a goalie getting .852 goaltending.

 

Apparently Tanev played with a torn labrum, separated shoulder, and a sprained neck. It's insane to play in that condition imo. Felt very desperate although the Flames did look more organized when he came back.

 

It will be interesting to see how Calgary sorts out their cap crunch now. Their fans are delusional if they're re-signing Gaudreau for less than $10million per.

 

 

On 5/27/2022 at 4:42 PM, Mysteriosa said:

That was next level bad.  Only matched by Smith getting scored on from the other end of the rink (classic).  I wish they would play Vladar more, as he is never going to improve while he gathers rust on the bench, and Markstrom obviously has a problem playing the Oilers.

 

 

It reminded me of the goal Cloutier let in from centre ice against Detroit in the 2002 playoffs. Of course the broadcast immediately showed that.

 

Every time I see Dan Vladar's name spelled out I see Darth Vader.

 

[Mysteriosa]

On 5/29/2022 at 9:51 AM, ShortstopVM said:

LOL! 

 

 

Game 7 is tomorrow night. I predict only a drizzle in Raleigh...  #BlueMonday

Well done on game 7!

I listened to game 1 Rangers vs Lightning.  I get the Lightning feed.  They were sad!  Their commentary was basically "what is my team DOING out there?"

 

On 5/30/2022 at 12:29 AM, RWG said:

It was weird listening to the Sportsnet panel debate the call after the period. It was like a philosophical discussion about what it means to kick something, and what it means for the motion to be distinct. That's the problem with the rule. Everyone seems to interpret it to mean it's not a distinct kicking motion if the player didn't mean to kick it, and now we're getting into what's inside Coleman's head. Only he knows whether he meant to kick it, and after the heat of the moment he probably doesn't even know. I didn't think they'd overturn the call  on the ice. The evidence has to be overwhelming for that to happen, and the fact it took them a long time to review it means it probably wasn't.

That's what makes it stupid.  Because no one has any idea what it means, but it could change the whole outcome of a series.  The NHL said it was 'clear'.  If it was 'clear' you wouldn't have to review it!

 

On 5/30/2022 at 12:29 AM, RWG said:

Some people said it was the universe evening out Calgary's karma from the 1989 Game 7 overtime against Vancouver, becuase Joel Otto's goal was definitely kicked in.

  The universe took its sweet time then!  No rush...

 

On 5/30/2022 at 12:29 AM, RWG said:

No team is winning in the 2nd round with a goalie getting .852 goaltending.

 

Apparently Tanev played with a torn labrum, separated shoulder, and a sprained neck. It's insane to play in that condition imo. Felt very desperate although the Flames did look more organized when he came back.

I know he was great in the regular season, and part of the playoffs, but pretending Markstrom was fine to play vs Oilers with those stats was not good.

 

Poor Tanev.  I know he wanted to play, but at some point someone should have said you are risking permanent injury.  As it is the surgery takes 4-6 months to recover from.  They often do that with Monahan, letting him play when he's barely contributing.  It's simply not worth it.  Yes, our defence apparently consists of one guy!  I think part of it is that most of the defence are young, and can not be unsupervised, apparently,  but still.  

 

On 5/30/2022 at 12:29 AM, RWG said:

It will be interesting to see how Calgary sorts out their cap crunch now. Their fans are delusional if they're re-signing Gaudreau for less than $10million per.

 

It will cost the Earth.  The only question is how much will be left for everyone else.

 

On 5/30/2022 at 12:29 AM, RWG said:

Every time I see Dan Vladar's name spelled out I see Darth Vader.

It does seem a lot like that!  I have seen him called Vladdy, which is more vampire like.  He's a decent goaltender.  He's Czech.

 

So.  Watched Oilers vs Colorado game 1.  Oh, what's that?  Oilers challenged an offside ruling and it went against them?  Bad officiating?  Fancy that.  Scandalous.  It made me feel a lot better.  Colorado scored on the resulting power play.

 

It was interesting to see how they handle the Oilers speed.  Colorado is not as easy to get past, and still have a frightening amount of speed.  Some of their goals are brilliant.  Calgary would not be fast enough to keep up with them.  We tried it once.  McDavid looked frustrated.  I was shamelessly cheering Colorado which won 8-6.  Now I have to see if it was a one off, or if it might be a pattern.

[RWG]

On 6/2/2022 at 2:02 PM, Mysteriosa said:

Well done on game 7!

I listened to game 1 Rangers vs Lightning.  I get the Lightning feed.  They were sad!  Their commentary was basically "what is my team DOING out there?"

 

That's what makes it stupid.  Because no one has any idea what it means, but it could change the whole outcome of a series.  The NHL said it was 'clear'.  If it was 'clear' you wouldn't have to review it!

 

  The universe took its sweet time then!  No rush...

 

I know he was great in the regular season, and part of the playoffs, but pretending Markstrom was fine to play vs Oilers with those stats was not good.

 

Poor Tanev.  I know he wanted to play, but at some point someone should have said you are risking permanent injury.  As it is the surgery takes 4-6 months to recover from.  They often do that with Monahan, letting him play when he's barely contributing.  It's simply not worth it.  Yes, our defence apparently consists of one guy!  I think part of it is that most of the defence are young, and can not be unsupervised, apparently,  but still.  

 

It will cost the Earth.  The only question is how much will be left for everyone else.

 

It does seem a lot like that!  I have seen him called Vladdy, which is more vampire like.  He's a decent goaltender.  He's Czech.

 

So.  Watched Oilers vs Colorado game 1.  Oh, what's that?  Oilers challenged an offside ruling and it went against them?  Bad officiating?  Fancy that.  Scandalous.  It made me feel a lot better.  Colorado scored on the resulting power play.

 

It was interesting to see how they handle the Oilers speed.  Colorado is not as easy to get past, and still have a frightening amount of speed.  Some of their goals are brilliant.  Calgary would not be fast enough to keep up with them.  We tried it once.  McDavid looked frustrated.  I was shamelessly cheering Colorado which won 8-6.  Now I have to see if it was a one off, or if it might be a pattern.

 

At this point I think teams just don't say No anymore if an injured player wants to play in the playoffs. Alec Martinez played for Vegas with a broken foot and then described the team doctors as "awesome." Their careers are not very long and I get how hard it is to sit out the playoffs.

 

This is the year of the backup goaltender. So many teams are relying on them to win series. And then there's Mike Smith who is kind of backupish quality anyways. It is cool that the East has come down to Vasilevskiy vs Shesterkin though.

 

Edmonton against Colorado is what I thought Edmonton vs Calgary would look like. Oilers finally thoroughly overmatched and McDavid on his own can't change that. It feels like the Oilers just to take as many penalties as the game is ending so they can wrack up the minutes and their coach can complain about "the discrepancy" after.

 

Evander Kane got suspended a game for hitting Nazem Kadri from behind into boads, and ending his series (likely playoffs). Not that is is really related to the hit, but I can't stand Kane. I would be so embarrassed if it was my team that was so desperate for scoring that it was willing to revive that guy's career. I hope the Oilers lock him up for 7 years so he can immediately go back to his normal behaviour and the headache he has been for every team that's had him.

 

It is getting harder to watch with the games starting no later than 5 my time and it being so nice out around that time. I wish they moved the season up so the playoffs wrapped up in May or something.

[Mysteriosa]

17 hours ago, RWG said:

This is the year of the backup goaltender. So many teams are relying on them to win series. And then there's Mike Smith who is kind of backupish quality anyways. It is cool that the East has come down to Vasilevskiy vs Shesterkin though.

Mike Smith, backupish goalie!  He's doing better than I expected he would. He does tend to do well under pressure, but he can be streaky.   I like goalie Francouz, who has a teeny snowman on his face mask.

 

17 hours ago, RWG said:

Edmonton against Colorado is what I thought Edmonton vs Calgary would look like. Oilers finally thoroughly overmatched and McDavid on his own can't change that. It feels like the Oilers just to take as many penalties as the game is ending so they can wrack up the minutes and their coach can complain about "the discrepancy" after.

A commentator said that the Oilers rely on scoring on the powerplay, which is where Calgary went wrong, as they kept taking penalties like they were Smarties.

 

McDavid looked like he was going to implode at the end of game 3!  I can't say I mind Oilers losing 3 in a row.  It felt therapeutic.   And bonus, no one could talk non stop about how awesome McDavid is, when he wasn't really being awesome. 

 

Before I switched to the tv, I heard an Oilers radio guy saying the slew foot on Draisaitl by Mackinnon was terrible because Mackinnon has never been an MVP (so how dare he).  I remembered then why I hate the Oilers so much!  And really, they've profited from sucking for years and getting great draft picks.

 

17 hours ago, RWG said:

Evander Kane got suspended a game for hitting Nazem Kadri from behind into boads, and ending his series (likely playoffs). Not that is is really related to the hit, but I can't stand Kane. I would be so embarrassed if it was my team that was so desperate for scoring that it was willing to revive that guy's career. I hope the Oilers lock him up for 7 years so he can immediately go back to his normal behaviour and the headache he has been for every team that's had him.

I have to admit that Kadri seems to have reformed, and stopped doing impulsive things, and that hit was horrible.   I was surprised at the Oilers being so keen to take Kane.  I would want people on the team that I actually could admire and not have to apologize for.  I'd be worried about what he's going to do next.

 

17 hours ago, RWG said:

It is getting harder to watch with the games starting no later than 5 my time and it being so nice out around that time. I wish they moved the season up so the playoffs wrapped up in May or something.

I haven't liked the schedule.  Most games are either too late, or they start at dinner time.  And yesterday I missed a game because it was in the afternoon.  

 

It's hard to focus on hockey when it's warm.  In November there's going to be World Cup Soccer to go with hockey.

[RWG]

And then there were 3... farewell to the 2021-2022 Edmonton Oilers. They were entertaining, I'll give them that. They're also a team that had McDavid and Draisaitl, 2 of the best players alive, playing historical point totals on the same team at the same time, and they still got swept. I know Oilers fans don't like hearing this but the rest of the roster is not great.

 

Interested to see the end of the Lightning/Rangers series. Every time the Lightning look like they're out of gas, they seem to claw their way back into the series.

 

On 6/6/2022 at 4:41 PM, Mysteriosa said:

Mike Smith, backupish goalie!  He's doing better than I expected he would. He does tend to do well under pressure, but he can be streaky.   I like goalie Francouz, who has a teeny snowman on his face mask.

 

A commentator said that the Oilers rely on scoring on the powerplay, which is where Calgary went wrong, as they kept taking penalties like they were Smarties.

 

McDavid looked like he was going to implode at the end of game 3!  I can't say I mind Oilers losing 3 in a row.  It felt therapeutic.   And bonus, no one could talk non stop about how awesome McDavid is, when he wasn't really being awesome. 

 

Before I switched to the tv, I heard an Oilers radio guy saying the slew foot on Draisaitl by Mackinnon was terrible because Mackinnon has never been an MVP (so how dare he).  I remembered then why I hate the Oilers so much!  And really, they've profited from sucking for years and getting great draft picks.

 

I have to admit that Kadri seems to have reformed, and stopped doing impulsive things, and that hit was horrible.   I was surprised at the Oilers being so keen to take Kane.  I would want people on the team that I actually could admire and not have to apologize for.  I'd be worried about what he's going to do next.

 

I haven't liked the schedule.  Most games are either too late, or they start at dinner time.  And yesterday I missed a game because it was in the afternoon.  

 

It's hard to focus on hockey when it's warm.  In November there's going to be World Cup Soccer to go with hockey.

 

I love how for literally every goal Smith lets  in, he immediately raises his arms and looks around like it's not his fault or shouldn't count. Like he let in 20 goals in the last 4 games. Even the one he let in from centre ice against Calgary it was like his instinctual reaction was to blame someone.

 

Kadri is kind of a dirty player but seems kind of likeable sometimes. Like you can buy that he doesn't necessarily  mean harm but makes dumb decisions. Whereas Kane is just a bad person.

 

I know every NHL city has biased people in the media but Edmonton's media are basically just glorified fans. Especially the guys left over from the 80s runs. Like Brazilian soccer reporter level of cheering from the press box. 

 

The Canada World Cup team was supposed to play two friendlies in Vancouver and they both got cancelled. The first they scheduled against our pals Iran without checking with the federal government (oops), so that one had to be cancelled, and then to make up for it they were selling $30 tickets to a replacement game against Panama and that got cancelled because of a labour dispute between the players and organization. Very stupid given that they didn't even cancel it until 90 minutes before it was supposed to start. I know people who took the ferry from Victoria and others who drove from the interior and had hotels.

Edited June 9, 2022 by RWG