NHL Playoffs

[Dodge]

Surprisingly entertaining & none of the usual stoppages that other american sports have. Seems to be good atmosphere at games too. Is that just a canadian thing?

Went to a Rangers game whilst in New York a couple of years ago. Great craic. Highly recommend it to anyone wishing to get their sporting fix in USA

(Oh and I'm an American sports junkie BTW - www.sportsline.com is by far the best website IMO)

[Na Chlairsigh]

Great game last night as Edmonton came back from being 2-0 down, tied it at two, but then scored 2 more goals all in the final period to wrap up the series. That's the first time in years that a number 8 seed has knocked off a number 1 seed.

Very interesting out west considering the top two seeds, Detroit and Dallas have both been knocked out. Should be interesting.

[superfrank]

I watched a bit of the first last night between Colorado and Anaheim.

I couldn't believe the result between Carolina and NJ. 1-1 with 20 seconds to go, NJ score and then with 4 seconds left Carolina equalise and win it in Overtime!!

Saku Koivu underwent surgeruy on a tear to his retina last Saturday. He'll be in hospital for a few weeks yet.

[CollegeTillIDie]

I watched a bit of the first last night between Colorado and Anaheim.

I couldn't believe the result between Carolina and NJ. 1-1 with 20 seconds to go, NJ score and then with 4 seconds left Carolina equalise and win it in Overtime!!

Saku Koivu underwent surgeruy on a tear to his retina last Saturday. He'll be in hospital for a few weeks yet.

According to the Canadiens website he is progressing nicely with his recovery and his hopeful of being 100% before the new season begins.

[superfrank]

Retina tear is pretty bad though. Everytime I see the accident again it'd really stomach churning.

In my round-up I forgot to mention Ilya Brzygalov's shutout run came to an end after 3 games. I think it was around 248 mins by the time Colorado had scored last night.

[pete]

Who do ye support? Is it like picking english football teams?

I've only seen few games on Setanta (when they not showing boring baseball) but running out of Canadians to support over the yanks.

I believe hockey well down the pecking order in US sports & big money loser?

[Dodge]

I believe hockey well down the pecking order in US sports & big money loser?

It definitely is the 4th sport in most US cities but in the northern cities (Chicago, Detroit, Buffalo etc) it'd be very popular. Its also seen as a "white" sport by most. The rangers game I went to was sold out and they already had no chance of a playoffs spot.

Chicago calls itself a hockey town...

[superfrank]

Who do ye support? Is it like picking english football teams?

I support the Toronto Maple Leafs. I always ahd a passing interest in ice hockey when they'd show it on Eurosport and now that I can watch it on Setanta, it's been rekindled.

I support Toronto because Toronto was the first place in North America that I went to and I was staying in a hotel where I could see Maple Leaf Gardens from my room.

I believe hockey well down the pecking order in US sports & big money loser?

Big money loser. They was no season in 2004/5 because of the Lockout. Apparently all NHL francises had lost a combined c.$248m on players wages.

[pete]

Its a surprise they lose money with 82 regular season games in 15-20k areans. Must be paying the players far too much then?

[superfrank]

Here's the only explanation of the lockout I could find.

God bless Wikipedia.

[Na Chlairsigh]

Thought some might like an update:

Western Conference:

Anaheim swept Colorado 4-0

San Jose lead Edmonton 2-1

Eastern Conference

Carolina lead New Jersey 3-0

Buffalo lead Ottawa 3-1

[superfrank]

No surprise about Anaheim really theyd beaten Colorado 5-0 and 3-0 in the first two games.

Glad to see Ottawa and Edmonton won.

[superfrank]

Just checked the updates Buffalo won 4-1 against Ottawa so they'll face the winner of NJ and Carolina.

Edmonton tied their series with SJ at 2-2.

[pete]

Ottowa v Buffalo was good game but i couldn't last the pace into overtime. Lot of power plays & seemed fairly physical game. Buffalo goalie too good, Buffalo more attacking ideas.

[Dodge]

Should say I look up the results of the Rangers having seen them play and Toronto Maple Leafs after finding out their previous name

[pete]

Good Fight

Need more of this.

[superfrank]

Edmonton through. 2-0 in the game against SJ. 4-2 in the series.

I had taped the game but it ran out a few minutes into the third period when it was still 1-0 so I missed the second goal.

Conference Finals will be:

East
Buffalo vs. Carolina

West
Anaheim vs. Edmonton

[superfrank]

Haven't been around here lately. For those interested: It's Buffalo 2 Carolina 1 in the East and Edmonton 3 Anaheim 1 in the West.

Buffalo and Carolina play tonight.

[superfrank]

Ok, well the Stanley Cup Final will start next Monday on June 5.

Edmonton will be away to either Buffalo or Carolina for the first two games. They'll be at home for the next two, away for Games 5 and 7 and then home again for Game 6.

The Buffalo-Carolina series is 3-3 so it goes down to the last game at Carolina (I think) on Thursday night. The winner of that game wins the series and the Eastern Conference and they'll go onto the Stnaley Cup Final against Edmonton.

[CollegeTillIDie]

Western Conference teams from South of the US border have tended to do better in the Stanley Cup Final than Eastern Conference teams.
And Eastern Conference teams from South of the US border have tended to do better than Western Conference teams from North of the US Border.

It's time some team from Canada got the Cup back... Go Oilers!