NHL 2011 STANLEY CUP PLAYOFFS - LIVE THREAD

NHL website ^ | 4/10/11 | various

[xp38]

Don’t be so sure. There is a history of the top team in the regular season folding in the playoffs. The Presidents Trophy for the top regular season team was instituted in the 1985/86 season. Since then the top team in the regular season has won the Stanley Cup 7 times out of 24. Those are not good odds if history is a guide.

[Varda]

Yes they're getting some bodies back. That's good and they've had an amazing season without the big three centers who only played 1/2 a season each. Now I hope to find Goligoski was traded away for a good reason. James Neal has to step up and I hope he does but this is his first postseason. The Dallas Stars aren't exactly a good training ground for learning how to win.

The defense is wonderful. Michalek has turned into a real fan favorite as he should. Martin, Brooksie, and Tanger are veteran enough to know how to turn it up a notch in the postseason. With them and Fluery playing well, they should be able to put up a decent fight for awhile.

Sid is clearly trying to get back. I have mixed feeling about that. He isn't cleared for contact yet and only skates with the team on an intermittent basis. I suspect Mario and Shero would prefer to shut him down. He seems to have other ideas.

[Lakeshark]

If the Wings goalie actually performs well, very few if any will beat them. There is no decent back up for him if he doesn't perform, and that's a problem. I'm thinking Wings in Six versus the Yotes.

Fwiw, Lidstrom and Modano are the only super old ones, and Lidstrom doesn't play old at all. Unfortunately, Zetterburg may not be able to play in the early part of the first series due to injury.

I think the Canucks are the ones to watch, they're just loaded, primed, and ready. It'll be interesting to see how the Pengies hold up and who comes out of the East, the East seems like any of the top five could win.

[secret garden]

No, but we have Pekka Rinne, the best goalie in the NHL. We have a good penalty kill but not much of a power play. We prefer 5 on 5.

[secret garden]

Plus, we have already beaten them 3 times this season, so it can be done.

[The Pack Knight]

Ha! The old dude in the background is getting into that goalie fight. Is that Stan Fishler?

For a second there, I thought the "old dude" you were referring to was Tim Thomas.

[fkabuckeyesrule]

I’ve got a bad feeling the Flyers will lose to Buffalo. Miller might have an outstanding run in the post seson and if the Flyers cant get Pronger back they might be in trouble with a rookie goaltender. Otherwise I’d love to see Vancouver do well.

[fkabuckeyesrule]

I sometimes go to a STEP class at the gym and one of the moves the instructor has us do is something she calls “the penquin”.

[PA Engineer]

Great game BTTT.

[airborne]

I'm on the road, currently in Ohio, for a pair of shooting competitions.

I listened to the game on my laptop. It was great to get a win in the first playoff game at Consol Energy.

One down, 16 to go!

[airborne]

LET'S GO PENS! LET'S GO PENS! LET'S GO PENS!

[airborne]

GOOOOOOAAAAAAL ! ! ! ! !

[dfwgator]

Rooting for a Wings-Habs Final.

[airborne]

Hockey Ping!

(let me know if you want on or off the ping list)

Let's go Pens!

[airborne]

No, I’m still ticked off that the Pens couldn’t gat their offense going against the Habs last year.

This year they’ve been amazing, playing without Sid or Malkin.

[max americana]

Chicago Faghawks have no business hanging with the Canucks.

[airborne]

Be nice now.

Chicago can’t win - they have 0bama on their side now....

[dfwgator]

At least I know now that even had the Stars made the playoffs, it would have been a short stay.

[PA Engineer]

These penalty calls are starting to smell like game 2.

[airborne]

Seriously!

The elbowing call was weak, and the interference call was nonexistent.