NHL Playoffs

[TruffleShuffle]

just brutal work by the refs in the third. 2 minute boarding against hatcher is ruled 5 and a game misconduct; then the refs just ignore a trip on umberger and roughing against hatcher (cross check 3 seconds after the play is blown dead). looks like they want the end of this one to be interesting.

 

and there's one. what a joke.

[TruffleShuffle]

two. seriously if we lose this game, don't even show up for game four. if they're going to make calls that bad, we don't stand a chance in this series.

[TruffleShuffle]

yet another penalty against us. i'm done with this game; the WWE has more legitimate contests than this.

[jaydee]

Hatcher is a moron. But Flyers still won. It never ceases to amaze me how good dmen like Hatcher and Pronger do stupid things like that at such important times.

[Drew Doughty]

hatcher isn't a good dman any more.

[TruffleShuffle]

hatcher isn't a good dman any more.

 

it's weird. in some ways he's very good - positional defense especially. he's still a good PK'er because playing the PK generally involves not much skating and being in the right place to block shots or lift a guy's stick or clear out the front of the net. but he has the mobility of file cabinet, and he's also apt to make a horrendous turnover every now and then - as he did earlier in this series with a cross-ice pass right onto the stick of a canadien who ended up with a clear breakaway.

 

but back to the officiating. was it a dumb boarding? yes. but how about this?

 

“At first (the referee) told me it was a two-minute penalty,” Hatcher said. “Then he saw Bouillon had a little cut on his face, and he turned around and said, ‘now it’s five.’

 

 

did i miss something? is blood on a boarding call the difference between a two-minute minor and a five-minute all-you-can-eat power play? if so, that's absolutely idiotic. if not, kudos to the refs for making up rules on the fly.

 

also - and this probably pisses me off just as much as the boarding call - bouillon got up and cross checked Hatcher a solid three seconds after the whistle blew. All series they've called the Flyers for late hits every time there's a hit well after the whistle (including one time giving Montreal a 5-on-3). Now when Montreal does it, there's nothing? it's brutal.

 

and don't get me started on steve downie. he's getting the crap beat out of him by two habs in the first period and they end up with the power play. at this point i don't even think the flyers should dress him; he's had so many horrendous calls go against him over the last quarter of the season that it's obvious to me that the refs are going to call him for anything they can. i hope this doesn't damage his effectiveness as a player in the future, but it pretty much makes him worthless for at least the playoffs this year.

 

hilarious

 

also, i would love to see the reaction if the tables had been turned, and someone on the dirty, satan-worshiping flyers had sucker punched a squeaky-clean hab after a goal like

.

[Guest]

Another year, another disappointing playoffs from the Sharks.

[TruffleShuffle]

Another year, another disappointing playoffs from the Sharks.

 

yeah if detroit wins tonight, there's only one series that isn't over.

[TruffleShuffle]

man, you just know the refs want to even up the penalties in the detroit game, but colorado won't give them a chance. they're pretty much forcing the refs to call penalties on them. high sticking, goalie interference, too many men... if they don't stay out of the box they have no shot.

[loukycub]

i am pleasantly surprised by our goal output. the avs have scored 7 goals so far when i predicted 4. the number of games won however has been sadly accurate.

 

here's a real big F U to calgary for choking in game 7. and if we cannot miraculously win 4 games against a team we haven't beaten since early last calendar year, here's to the stars winning their first legitimate stanley cup.

[Drew Doughty]

sean avery out for the playoffs with a lacerated spleen.

[jaydee]

i am pleasantly surprised by our goal output. the avs have scored 7 goals so far when i predicted 4. the number of games won however has been sadly accurate.

 

here's a real big F U to calgary for choking in game 7. and if we cannot miraculously win 4 games against a team we haven't beaten since early last calendar year, here's to the stars winning their first legitimate stanley cup.

Calgary didn't choke. They were lucky to get it to game 7.

[TruffleShuffle]

sean avery out for the playoffs with a lacerated spleen.

 

so one game then

[TruffleShuffle]

biron is saving our arse right now

 

phantom hooking call on jim dowd, classic.

[TruffleShuffle]

two awful bounces - one off derian hatcher, who finally found a way to beat biron - and it's yet another blown two goal lead. booooooooooo.

[TruffleShuffle]

this area will be insane if it's pens-flyers in the eastern conference finals. please let this happen.

 

http://d.yimg.com/a/p/sp/getty/fb/fullj.65ddbbbcd583fa0ba324c65db0ca9170/65ddbbbcd583fa0ba324c65db0ca9170-getty-80820555jm013_montreal_cana.jpg

[TruffleShuffle]

http://d.yimg.com/a/p/sp/getty/71/fullj.3fa9000562ca1f7de856be88cf8f4a9d/3fa9000562ca1f7de856be88cf8f4a9d-getty-80820555jm017_montreal_cana.jpg

[AI]

Great pics Truf.

 

An all PA Wales Conference Final would be awesome. Just think, you'll get to bitterly type "Cindy" Crosby until your heart's content. ;)

[TruffleShuffle]

An all PA Wales Conference Final would be awesome. Just think, you'll get to bitterly type "Cindy" Crosby until your heart's content. ;)

 

well, we did our part... up to you guys now

[Drew Doughty]

I have a lot of trouble seeing someone beat the Pens. I think Philly will make for a great series, probably long (I would be stunned if it lasts less than 6 games, and expect 7), but man the Penguins are good. Watching them churn on the PP is quite a sight.

[shnsajax]

The Stars and Sharks series has been really damn good. 4 OT's in 6 games, 5 games decided by 1 goal, great goal keeping the entire series.

[sneakypower]

NABOKOV

[Guest]

3rd OT for the Sharks-Stars right now.

[sethuel1]

this game is awesome

[Drew Doughty]

this is the best hockey game i've seen in a long, long time. just insanity.