J0e Th0rnton

Yep. Softie of softies. A routine 50ft 5 hole shot cost them the game. The blues looked really good up front too

Goddammit it. Shades of Ulf Samuelsson there. As a repeat offender, taking out one of their best intentionally, I gotta think it will be 20+ games.

@Hockey Junkie

 

 For Lundquist to prove he's in Millers league doesn't he have to lose to the Flyers?

10/10

Instead of my usual synopsis, I would like to share my predictions for tonight in the form of a photograph I took 2 minutes whipping up

Hockey Junkie, I think you will appreciate the accuracy of this photograph!

Everyone else, enjoy

Oh yeah, and Richards Speared Couture in the last 5 minutes and got a 4 minute?

From 1 point to 8 points in 1 day in the fantasy pool Iginla had a good game. Shame Krejci didn't. Pavelski had a really good game, and Boyle had 2 points(but gave me fits in his own zone). Talk is the Kings may start Jones in game 3 at home after Quick let in 12 goals. Hope so Would be a huge mistake. Quick is too good not to bounce back, and 5 of those goals were not really his fault.

Poor Quick got his own player smashed into him 2 games in a row.

Unfortunately, talk is also that the Sharks may ice Pavs as 3c since they do not control the matchups so his output may drop. May or may not be good for his stats. Depends on if him and Hertl can find some chem.

Demers for some reason gets more points in road games than away games. Not sure why. They usually come from his sweet stretch passes. Lucky that charging elbow did not land, or you could be suspended. Where do tose brain farts come from? You play so much better clean.

Let' see how Brown and Sheppard do when we do not control the matchup's........I suspect I am going to have fits. If Pavelski is moving to 3c, I would not be opposed to sitting Sheppard for Havlat. Both are bad in their own end, but Havlat bring some streaky offensive upside and would be another thing for Sutter to worry about in his matchup's, while Sheppard will merely have him licking his chops trying to get Kopitar out. Havlat did have a hat trick in the 2nd last game of the season when we smashed the Avs 5-1. Not willing to break up the marleau/Couture/Nieto line though. Nieto has earned that spot and him and Marleau's speed work too well together. The Marleau/Couture/Havlat line did embarass Landskog, Mackinnon and Stastny that game though. Havlat's other multi point games did seem to come with Wingels and Sheppard. Pavelski and Wingels + Havlat could be good. Hertl to the top line with Jumbo Joe and Burns?

Could not be happier with the 4th line. Torres, so long as he does not cross the line and get ejected, has been HUGE, and Brown, well, he is the one that smashed a Dman into Quick both games and shook him up. Play on the edge guys, just don't jump it.

And for the love of god Chicago, start winning. I need the goalie points. Seabrook for 3, but does anyone know if Backes is ok? Hopefully he bounces back like Stamkos from that scary knee to the head did and plays.

I am the dunce on this one. Glad I did not take Quick as my goalie. 

In fairness, it was a decent pick on your part. The sharks only scored 10 goals in 7 games last year. Even I did not expect 12 in the first two. The kings looked geriatric.

Bring on game 2! The crappy thing about being a Sharks fan for me is being an East Coast man and a father of twins. Why oh why can't we get these intense rivalry games in the afternoon on Sunday NHL????

Chicago and the Blues game 1 went 5 Periods + and only had 69 hits. The Sharks and Kings game 1 beat that with 121 hits in 3 periods. No other game yet has even gotten to 90 hits! Hell, most of them barely make 60.

Predictions. The kings are going to come out charging this game, and we will meet them. Tighter game than last time. 3-2 Sharks, with goals from Boyle, Pavelski and Couture! We will outshoot them and Quick will keep this from being a rout. Both teams will hit the post twice at least

This game could get nasty. Real nasty.

Lineups are staying the same according to sources. Ugh, Sheppard as third line center.........At least Hertl and Wingels are there. Torres, don't get suspended for your third straight series vs the kings(unless it is to KO Brown for intentionally blowing out rookie of the year Hertl's knee). But please, do smash into Doughty's injured shoulder every chance you get. Voynov, please feel free to pick a fight with Jumbo Joe again and don't run away this time. I love seeing Angry Joe. He is a wrecking ball when he is mad.

Realistically, banged up or not, I want the sharks to play vs as many teams as they can who beat them in the past few years. The ducks, the Hawks, the Blues. I know I can't have all of you, but I want as many of you as I can get.

I used to pray for the less taxing matchup's, or the matches that were easier on paper. This year, I WANT the best, hardest matches vs the Sharks. I want to see them crush their enemies, see them driven before you, and hear the lamentations of their women!

Even though I was only six at the time, it has to be the '93 Leafs-Kings series. Because **** me.

 

Totally kidding.

 

It's like the pinnacle of modern Leaf hockey, ending in tragedy, that so many Leaf fans still bellyache about. How sad is that?

 

In (not so) recent history, I'd have to say the 2002 Leafs vs. Islanders series with all the violence. I can't believe how much they let slide in that series, but it was intense hockey.

I enjoyed the Leafs vs Wings first round that year a lot as a kid. Man, Coffey could still skate, Gilmour was unreal and him and Konstantinov were laying into each other a lot. Gilmour lined up against Yzerman a lot in that series too. Rangers vs Devils and Canucks in 94 were both sweet. Messier's hat trick in the third period after guaranteeing a win was an incredible feat of will.

When Yzerman and the wings finally won the cup was incredible. Same with Colorado vs the Devils when Bourque won the cup. When Sakic took the cup and skated it right to Bourque, it was an incredible moment.

Ahhhhhhhhhh-Miller, Ahhhhhhhhh?

Junkie please do not share your private nighttime sounds with the rest of us in the forum. TMI!

The bush comments from Keith after the hit were just that! Bush league!

Wakey Wakey Backes

And your name is old school Hockey?

Your comments seem to be very new school

I disagree rux, this looks like a headshot and it looks as if Seabrook left his feet to deliver the hit.  

 

http://youtu.be/mSNtMDkRjBA

Still had one foot on the ice. It only counts as leaving your feet if both feet leave the ice before contact right?

I think Backes had his head down and it was a clean hit 5 years ago.

I'm sorry, I disagree with Millbury and his hand puppet again.

I liked the Seabrook hit. I realize the puck was gone, but I don't think Seabrook knew it and Backes acted like he still had it.

Principle point was the head, but he was low, there was no launch, and Backes turned into it.

I hate that we're taking THAT hit out of the game. No call until after the fact. I don't like the call and I don't like any supplemental here.

Personally, I think just a few years ago, this hit would be considered clean clean clean.

I already posted about it in the blues vs Hawks thread.

But headshots being no no's today.....

oohhhhhhh boy. Seabrook just killed Backes. He did not leave his feet, and he did not lead with the elbow, but I think he will be suspended a game or two.

Miller let in 3 straight goals after the blues were dominating the hawks all day with a score of 2-0 suddenly being 2-3, then with 45 seconds left on a PP, Seabrook smashes Backes. Backes looked like he wanted to fight, and like he was drunk stumbling, so it ain't good. But with the Major penalty, they scored to tie it and send it into OT again.

Bruins Sweep????? uh...nope

Montreal has Bostons number...always have....always will

Back when it was the 70's and earlier maybe.

Nah my arse.  There were meltdown's and one in OT was a breakaway and Miller stopped it.  He also stopped some screen shots that do not look spectacular but they are not easy.  He grabbed a few blasts that could have gone in.  You simply do not want to give him any credit.  But that is fine.  He gets enough from those that really matter in hockey circles and in the national media.  You must be a big Mike Milbury fan.  Mr Know it all Milbury

Nah. I hate Milbury.

But Miller is still merely an above average goaltender, but not top 5. Terrible first period, letting in 3 goals on 7 shots on one of the best defensive teams in the league, and most were on him. The team started playing better to protect him then. They saw him looking like a deer in the headlights saying "OMG, i'm in the playoffs again!"

You are blaming Miller for defensive breakdown's is what you are doing.  Not all of those goals were on him.  IN the end he rose to the occasion and slammed the barn door on maybe the best offensive team in hockey

Nah. Defense tightened up after he let in a few softies and protected Miller

What are you smoking?  You honestly think if they go far in these playoffs they are going to just pass on Miller?  Ha As for Mr Thornton above, an answer of "whatever" means, I am correct

Nah. An answer of "Whatever" indicates I just don't care enough to argue. Miller's first period was horrendous and the team battled back and covered for him. One breakway save does not make him an animal. That's like saying Paul Coffey was amazing defensively because of the defensive play he made with his speed once in an 84 Canada cup.

Just such a crazy take.  Are you kiddiing me?  The St Louis Blues have by far "earned" the Cup more than the Sharks.  Do you know how many finals they lost in the late 60's and early 70's?  Have you ever heard of the Plaguer bros or Red Berenson?  Or Jacque Plante?  Even my Sabres are more deserving than the Sharks.  Our fan base is far better, and we have been to the finals unlike the Sharks.  St Louis deserves a Cup for sure.  And I like their chances to get it. Beating Chicago will be far more difficult than beating whoever awaits them in the next round

You are crazy. What a team did or did not do in the 60's or 70's is irrelevant to if they deserve a cup now. The team on the ice now has to show they deserve a cup now. it is just as meaningless as Any fans of Montreal or Toronto bragging about all the cups they have back when it was only 6 teams and they had a monopoly on the player pool.

The Sabres had good teams in the past, but are an embarassment on par with the Oilers the past few years and in no way deserve a cup.

I take it you have not been to a Socal game. The sharks have a HUGE fanbase and sell out every game, and while yeah, Buffalo has been around longer, they are not exactly top 10 in fanbases or loyalty any more than the Sharks are.

Buffalo has made the finals twice in a little over 40 years, and the last time was 15 years ago due to an amazing Hasek. Currently, you have a franchise that players want to get out of, not join up with. Attracting free agents is going to be tough unless you overpay. You'll have to straighten up the ship a bit before you deserve a cup.

As for the Blues, who cares if they made finals back in the 60's when they were playing only other expansion teams to get to the finals. Once in the finals they were swept every time by real teams. Those expansion teams were about the equal of the Sharks and Sens in 1993. Since those almost don't count finals appearances, they have made the conference finals exactly 2 times in almost 50 years. wow, how deserving

And for the record, I agree that the Sharks have not yet earned the cup. I am liking what I am seeing with that 121 hit first game and tenacious approach, and I hope to see them keep it up. This could be the year they earn the cup.

I am not going to give up on the Kings in this series over one bad game.  Yes it was a shocker  Quick's worst game in ages.  I wonder if they should have pulled him after it was 4-0?  Or did they?  I was suffering through the Blues OT and then watching the Wild's collapse.  

The kings are down a peg from last year. Their top scorers outside of Kopitar have struggled to find their game and the addition of Gaborik is merely a stop gap. Doughty is playing injured. Quick is really the only thing worry about in tis matchup. That or Brown getting liberal with his knee on knees again.

And last year, as a better team,  they had home ice advantage(Which matters in this matchup) and it was still a 1 goal game 7 deciding.

The Sharks have improved over last year with several young guns coming into their own. Wingels, Nieto and especially Hertl, the "would have been" calder winner if not for Brown's  dirty knee on knee. Demers has improved quite a bit in all 3 zones. With Torres and Hertl back, the team looks different, better and way more dangerous.

Keys to winning. Limit Hannan's TOI, Sheppard's TOI lol. I scratch my head a little when I see Braun/Stuart's pairing out with Thornton's line instead of Boyle/Hannan or Demers/Vlasic. Yes Thornton tilts the ice into the offensive zone, but if you gave him more reasonable offensive D options to pass to.....

I know Sheppard scored 2 points last night, but I am just not a fan. He suffers from breakdowns. Bad ones. He was on the ice for all 3 Kings goals last night and just looked lost and overwhelmed. Which is bad when you have a 5 goal lead. Come to Think of it, Brown scares me too. Kennedy has not lived up to his contract, and is a turnover machine

We are currently scratching 8.5 million in Salary with Havlat, Kennedy and Irwin riding the press box. Havlat actually looked good and like he was getting into a groove in the last 8 games of the season. Maybe it is because he is made of glass and this is a rough series(121 hits in game 1 lol), but Hertl is a natural center playing LW.......Might not hurt to move him to his Natural position, centering Havlat and Wingels instead of being LW with Sheppard/Wingels. Pavelski can always easily move down as well as he spent most of the year as 3rd line center, but I like the look of Pavelski/Thornton/Burns. 90% of the time is spent attacking and capitalizing on turnovers in the neutral zone(They also backcheck like mad).

Pavelski/Thornton/Burns

Marleau/Couture/Nieto

Havlat/Hertl/Wingels

Torres/Desjardins/Sheppard?

Vlasic/Demers

Stuart/Braun

Hannan/Boyle

Niemi

But Hey, I am not coach. I am just voicing my concerns.

The other Major concern is if Havlat gets injured again, we can't buy him out AGAIN lol. He might suck nowdays, but I still think he would put up more points than Sheppard and bring no worse other things to the table.

A breakaway  is never a routine save and neither is a save in a pressure packed Stanley Cup OT

Whatever

The consensus on the blues websites and their fans is not to resign him unless it is for 4.5 million a year or less. They were blasting him to no end about the horrible first period.

Just wait until they get Berglund and Oshie back.  Miller will slam the door on them like he did in the OT.  Did you see him stone them on that breakaway?   Without Miller they do not win that game.   Nice to see Steve Ott greet Miller after the game.  Sabres West is what I call them.  Miller, Ott, Roy, Leopold.  I do think Hitchcock is playing with fire having Leopold out there at critical times.   Shattenkurk is the wiser choice.  Leopold is an offensive minded defenseman that is very good at protecting his own net.   But I guess he figures since he has Miller he can gamble.

Pfft. What I saw was miller letting in 3 goals in like 8 shots. The blues tightened up defense, allowing only the easiest shots through for routine saves. The AHL backup could have done as much

Kings in 6. Sharks just haven't solved the Kings' physically or talent wise.

They seemed to have been molesting the kings for the first 2 periods of the game yesterday in every department. Score was 5-0 going into the third. Then of course they took their foot off the gas pedal.

Raffi Torres was throwing clean hits all game. I hate Raffi Torres. At least I did when he was on another team. He took out a few sharks with dirty hits in his time, and served long suspensions. But his clean aggresive play last night was a pleasant surprise and I laughed every time he slammed into Doughty's injured shoulder.

Balanced scoring from every line. Hertl looked great in his return! Still rookie of the year IMO. Mackinnon got lucky that Brown blew Hertl's knee this season. Vlasic actually turned on his jets and did a "Look, I'm Dan Boyle!" coast to coast which resulted in a goal. GOD I wish he did that more often. He is such a smooth skater

I think this will go 7, but the sharks are hungry!

I'd like to see Hertl get his game back.

Wish granted

I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but.......Montreal in 5

Welcome to the forum

Regarding the game itself, I was very impressed with #18 for Tampa even though he did not score a point. Tenacious play and no quit attitude.

Still going to go with Leino as the worst. I think Clarkson will be okay over time (the amount will still be ridiculous but he'll be better than this year).

Clarkson is at least capable of bringing other things. Leino brings absolutely nothing and I think 90% of us said that when he was signed.

Just a mind numbing contact that can get people fired.

But he has not brought those others things either