Originally Posted By Labuda Oh, and by the way, while I'm nowhere near the hardcore hockey fan of some others on here, as a fan who's big enough to have traveled to see a game, I gotta say - I agree with Passholder on how Chicago's been playing this postseason. And they weren't ranked #2 going into it "just cuz."
Originally Posted By TINK-MOBILE Detroit , do they have a team there. ha ha ha, yes they do a fine one at that .
Originally Posted By Fe Maiden <<Ohhhhhhhhhhh, I always wondered who watched hockey other than people in Detroit and me. >> Apparently other people are watching too: "The fans continue to watch here and nationally, entering tonight's Game 4. The first two games of the series on NBC drew an average of 5.16 million viewers, the highest for the first two games on U.S. broadcast television since 1997 and a 7 percent increase over last year. Game 2 attracted 5.89 million viewers, the most for the NHL since records have been kept (since at least 1975). For Game 3, Versus was the top-rated network overall - broadcast and cable - in both Chicago and Philadelphia and delivered the best local market ratings ever for a Blackhawks or Flyers game on a cable network." <a href="http://www.philly.com/philly/sports/flyers/20100604_Will_stellar_Stanley_Cup_final_signal_NHL_s_rebirth_.html#axzz0pulExXqt" target="_blank">http://www.philly.com/philly/s...pulExXqt</a> Hmm, the best ratings for a Stanley Cup since 1997. I wonder what team played Detroit in the Cup finals that year?
Originally Posted By SingleParkPassholder "In every series the Hawks won games they had no business winning, why , because the opposition could not get the puck up over top a low positioned goal keeper..." That's ridiculous. And your reasoning defeats your point. "I also know the game inside and out...." Try it from the outside in, because your way isn't working.
Originally Posted By SingleParkPassholder Case in point- I haven't made a single excuse for the Hawks losing the other night. I got worked up over the stupid rule. Whenever they win, all I see from some people here is excuses, one after the other.
Originally Posted By TINK-MOBILE What do you mean, ridiculous , I see a little tunnel vision here . Knowing the game from the outside and in, your play on words makes no sense what so ever . You said you expected the Flyers to win "ONE" game , so why would you offer an excuse..now that they have lost two games, I will give you , not the excuse but the reason , in fact all things I have said are reasons not excuses . Hawks could not solve Pronger or Leighton .... this is the reason for the loss to-night .
Originally Posted By Labuda Iron - wow, thanks for that news - glad to see hockey viewership is up. And hoping that maybe Austin would eventually get an NHL team (yeah, I know that's a pipe dream that won't come true in this lifetime for me) so the red Wings would come to me on occasion instead of me going to them. But, more coverage of the sport on tv would be nice.
Originally Posted By TINK-MOBILE Hawks play their best period of Hockey in the entire play offs to date. Leighton was sharp early but faded fast giving up 3 sloppy goals , from the relentless Hawk pressure...
Originally Posted By vbdad55 Every game that Chicago has played the announcer has said, if they would only have shot the puck higher , it was a goal...time and time again, I would expect no less from the east coast bias of the announcers for hockey.. - the Hawks have missed a large number of opportunities also- Leighton is not Ken Dryden- it's just we aren't cryin' about missing open nets..
Originally Posted By vbdad55 The Chicago team you saw tonight Tink- is the team that placed 1 point behind the Sharks - a little' How do you like me know" ? for Philly -- If the Hawks play with that energy again the series will be over- if they do not Philly will be in it. I relly have never heard anyone say a team shouldn't be where they are after they swept the Sharks and won the other series handily enough -- you want to say the Hawks weren't finishing - okay, were a little to cute for their own good - especially at home- OK- but seriously they have not been outclassed or outplayed. And for those putting Pronger up on a pedestal- how does a record -5 sound ? He is human lke everyone else - except tonite the refs did not let him get away with as much crap in front of the net. He still pulled off a few quick trips - and a stray cross check of two- but not the absolute manhandling he has been allowed to keep this series closer than it should have been. If he was allowed the same against Boston I understand how they came back. Philly is a gutty team, with some high skill players...but they didn't finish 7th in the East because they were the dominant team. Also last night was the first night I saw the extra jump in the 7 Black Hawk Olympians - just like Mike Richards- too many games in on season and it shows.
Originally Posted By TINK-MOBILE Sorry but the reg season doesn't mean much in the play offs..bragging rights maybe, that is about it... You guys just have Chicago on the brain ,which is fair enough, We all know they had a banner year , second behind the sharks, just ahead of the Canucks.They are on the premier teams in the leaque , there play in the play offs have only indicated that on a short term basis ...Perhaps if the zebras put the whistle away for the next two games..We can watch the teams decide something for a change instead of the officials ...speaking of crying, good old chicagy phoned up the Comissioner and complained that they were getting too much attention played on the big guy, well i guess the squeaky wheel got the grease cause he was allowed to hit from behind all game long with out a penalty called... Only in the Winy City.... The play offs for the hawks have been a much different story , they almost were bounced by nashville , they enjoyed break after break against the Canucks , before finally beating an injury riddled team. They swept the sharks in a series that could have went seven had the sharks found the net... Against the flyers they won game one on a non call by the officials... They won game two , when they were out played...They lost game three as they were dominated, they lost game four as they were dominated , even with the help of a soft call giving them a two man advantage a call that both teams did all night long and wasn;t called... Last game even though the hawks stormed the flyers for the first 13 minutes, a poor showing by the net minder really put the flyers behind the 8 ball . Then the officials took over a non penalty shot that could have turned the game around for the flyers was missed...The big boy was allowed to cross check at will players in the back three four times, once with two-3 minutes to go or so setting up the 6th goal....................... The Hawks played a Great 1st period, but fell back to playing a much lesser two periods, both teams scored three goals, not counting the empty netter... I call it like it is, the Flyers got to the final on peaking at the right time , the hawks got to the final by finishing opportunities presented to them, then by lousy officiating , topped off with a BIG BAG OF HORSESHOES...for Luck....because they had a lot of going, which is a good good thing, sometimes you are lucky to be good and good to be lucky... Take away the freebies from the officials one been a victory in game one ,the series could be 3-2 Flyers ... Hey if I wasn't here to keep you guys going , who would you talk to .... Hey even though your team has had more than their share of breaks , they are a Heck of a Hockey Team...would love to see a game seven...am sure the fans would love to see one in chicago too...
Originally Posted By vbdad55 no- as a Cub fan I have learned my lessons well- do not want to see a game 7-- more than happy with a parade after they skate around those adoring fans in Philly with Lord Stanley's cup.. as for all the woulda- coulda shoulda's you have for every other team we played- if those counted for everything the Cubs would have a few World Series rings also.. it just doesn't work that way. Good teams make their breaks the series will end tomorrow
Originally Posted By vbdad55 I do not as the pressure would be entirely on the Hawks at that point -- as they are supposed to win the series. Many of our 'stars' are very young players Kane-Toews and our goalie is basically a rookie... Toews has already been very honest and said yes he feels the pressure..even though he is the leading scorer for the playoffs, he has not lit it up against Philly as they have targeted him, and rightly so. I want it to end tonite-- then have a parade/rally to go to this weekend !
Originally Posted By SingleParkPassholder "They swept the sharks in a series that could have went seven had the sharks found the net..." This is just one example of the inanity you're espousing. The Sharks found the net. Niemi just happened to be in front of it. And if I was a foot taller, I'd need new clothes. If I was clairvoyant, all the fun and mystery would be gone out of life. You're not analyzing anything, you're making lame excuses as to why a team you don't like wins.
Originally Posted By Labuda Hey, all - here's a nice little article that was in The Daily Texan today about hockey and how the NBA could learn a few lessons from the NHL: <a href="http://www.dailytexanonline.com/content/nba-could-take-lessons-ice" target="_blank">http://www.dailytexanonline.co...sons-ice</a>
Originally Posted By SingleParkPassholder Pronger is literaly mugging guys from behind all period and then whines when he gets called on it. That's not playoff hockey, that just plain dirty play and poor sportsmanship.
