Originally Posted By Labuda SO glad the 'hawks swept the Sharks. SO glad. Can't wait to see my friend Timmy and torture him about it. Now, though, I say: GO PHILLY!
Originally Posted By SingleParkPassholder Duncan Keith lost four teeth during the game when the puck hit him in the mouth, and he still played half the game.
Originally Posted By TINK-MOBILE Take a lot more than that to keep that player off his skates, what a player.. tough as nails and a heart to match , he wanted no part of the Campbell Conference Trophy , like all the Hawks, they want the Stanley...Cup..
Originally Posted By vbdad55 this is one focused team right now -- stayed in hotel here instead of home to focus on games only...like being on the road... they also know with salary cap issues, not everyone will be back next year...enjoy the ride now, and finish it !
Originally Posted By Labuda WTG, Flyers! Now, bring on the Stanley Cup! I'm actually ok with either team winning, but would prefer the Flyers since I don't want a West team other than the Wings to win it. But, I will admit I kind of feel for you vbdad - 49 years since your team last won the Cup, meaning I suspect you may not remember that.
Originally Posted By brotherdave If I recall correctly, the last time the Hawks were in the Cup final was back in 1993. They were swept by the Penguins that year for their second straight Cup victory! Actually, I wouldn't mind seeing the Hawks win this year. It's been too long coming for them. That, and I just can't stand Hartnell of the Flyers. Penguins fans hate the Flyers (and vice verse, I suppose). Makes for a great cross-state rivalry!
Originally Posted By TINK-MOBILE Hawks have a number of BC Boys playing for them , however the disgruntled Vancouver Fans won't be lighting up any torches for this team..thus the rivalary shall still continue to burn on . Hockey will have a new Stanley Cup Winner , will they be a team of notice in the years to come, probally not . I myself , don't see Philly winning, they just seem not to have the Tanzmanian mentality that the Hawks have ..Having said that, maybe they will in this round, the Final Chapter of a very long drawn out season of the NHL.
Originally Posted By vbdad55 But, I will admit I kind of feel for you vbdad - 49 years since your team last won the Cup, meaning I suspect you may not remember that sadly I do remember - I remember my uncle who was a season ticket holder for years being overjoyed
Originally Posted By Labuda Ah, well, in that case, I'm 100% behind the Flyers since you CAN remember that moment 49 years ago. hehe Nah, not really. I will forever be happy that the Hawks shafted the Sharks this season, and if someone other than the Wings have to win it from the west, well, thank God it's not the Sharks!
Originally Posted By Fe Maiden <<I myself , don't see Philly winning, they just seem not to have the Tanzmanian mentality that the Hawks have.>> I'm not sure what Tanzmanian mentality means, but did you see the Boston series? Going through 7 goaltenders, win a shootout to get in the playoffs and then comeback from 3 games to none and 3-0 in Game 7 on the road, I'm pretty confident that they're mentally tough enough to face the Blackhawks. That being said, on paper, the Hawks should win in 5 games. They had 112 regular season points to Philly's paltry 88 and they swept the #1 seed in the conf. finals. Everything is in Chicago's favor, they are the clear favorite. Now let's see them do it.
Originally Posted By TINK-MOBILE Hi there Fe Maiden..nice to meet you on lp . Tanzmanian attitude is a good way to put it, in order to take care of business with the Hawks , the Flyers must Flying all the time , they can't let up in their own end at all , go, go, go, GO, GO , GO, there is no rest allowed.... When you face a Team like Chicago you can not afford them the time to operate, if you give them the time to operate they will find away to punish you.. Now the Flyers came back against Boston , how ever Boston is not Chicago, Vancouver, San Jose , or Detroit . The Flyers had 88 points, same as Boston, it is not about the reg season..that means really nothing now, it is about reaching a peak at the right time, believing you can go all the way. Philly right now must look at the Hawks like Montreal looked at the Capitals and Penquins there is no other way, if they work harder , stay out of dumb penalities, they could be the winners. Chicago just may have reached their peak, if the flyers can force them to slide down the other side and claim the peak they will win, right now the flyers haven't reached their potential, the first two games will tell who wants it more . I tell you the Truth , the hawks don't want their nest on top of the mountain disturbed, if the Flyers do, they had better be prepared to get busier, the hawks got there from all the ingredients of the game . They'll need them all again...unless the flyers fold under pressure... We are under no pressure at all, what we say to each other are just wishful observations, no one could have predicted that these two teams would meet up, Detroit was the pick from most , a few Canucks, a Few Hawks...Wash or Pitts from the east ...Detroit just reached their peak a lil too early, Chicago's peak was reached really after they defeated Vancouver, the sharks although played well, did not have that finish, heatley was playing with a very bad groin, just were weak where they should have been strong, tanzmanian work rate when they had the hawks beat, same as the Canucks , the hawks could have lost all of their series if the opposing teams stepped it up, they didn;t and the hawks did and these teams lost... Too hard to predict , Chicago has been very poor at home, for most of the games. Very good on the road....First two games will give someone a message..If Pronger plays tough...look out...he could spark em,
Originally Posted By Fe Maiden Is it Saturday night yet? It's seems like it's been forever since the Cup Finals were set. Good analysis TINK-MOBILE but don't forget about goaltending. Who's going to stand on their head more and which one is going to let in that soft goal which can turn a game and even a series around.
Originally Posted By TINK-MOBILE So important , the goalie , Chicago is going to face a team that clears players from the front of the net .Philly is going to be their biggest challenge in the play offs . Philly beat the habs by going upstairs , they will do the same with Chicago and have an easier time because their keeper Nem goes down too early too often , most of the low shots he doesn;t see , they just hit him , if those shots get up , could see some goals that may be the difference....Chicago must continue to prevent the high shot in close , they have been masterful so far, how ever Philly have some skilled snipers that can adjust quickly... Philly , up in the air , Philly has to not let Chicago set up, has to not ring the puck around the boards, giving up possession in their own end to the chicago snipers will hurt them.. Leighton was lucky too, a better placement of the puck , he was toast...he was flukey in alot of shot saving. He has not played a team with the fire power of Chicago,,, Now , Boucher may be back...he is a top keeper....but leighton you must go with to start... I like Chicago in Goal right now , because no team has really solved their Keeper..he plays bad, builds on it and then is unbeatable...Philly must win game one....if they lose ...ouch.... The lay off is tough, we just have to sit back and watch to see if the same teams that got to this final, will be the same teams that show up..Philly has nothing to lose , Chicago has everything to lose , they are the team of choice right now , everyone is expecting them to win it all easily, the players don't know what to think, they are told what to say to the media ,if it was me , would say to them if I was asked, what do you guys think....Chicago is just waiting for the puck to drop, I think the officials are going to call early penalties on aggressive play, but we will see.. yes drop the puck fellas , lets go...
Originally Posted By Labuda 26 hours from now, I'll be at a cookout being hosted by some Flyers fans. WOO HOO!
Originally Posted By SingleParkPassholder "Isn't hockey over!?! Go Magic!!!" Yeah, well................
Originally Posted By Labuda The Magic are going on vacation, yep yep. Oh, and no, hockey is not over. First game of the Stanley Cup is tonight, dontchaknow! Btw...
