Marshmallow Jones: right - the guys who got taken to the brink against a team who backed into the playoffs in game 81.

Wow, if only that wasn't totally meaningless, you'd have a point.

Playoff Stats: GAA SV%
Brodeur 2.06 .922
Bryz 3.89 .871

There offensive talent on the ice in the Devils/Panthers series vs the Pens/Flyers series was night and day.

When I watched Game 6 Devils/Panthers it felt like I was watching women's hockey. It was so farking slow and boring.

Not even good defense like the Rangers laying 6 people in the crease, but just no offense. Like a Ravens/Browns game.

MugzyBrown: Bryz had 1 bad game (which the whole team tanked). If you factor out that game he gave up just over 3 goals per game.

That's not something you want to use in support of the guy. A GAA of over 3.00 in the playoffs is bad. Hell, with inflated goalie stats of late, that'd be average-to-bad in the regular season.

Time Traveling Bunnies: Any chance Philly and Penn actually had good goalies but the caliber of offense they were facing was just that good?

swahnhennessy: That's not something you want to use in support of the guy. A GAA of over 3.00 in the playoffs is bad. Hell, with inflated goalie stats of late, that'd be average-to-bad in the regular season.

The Penguins averaged 3.4 goals per game in the regular season. So it's not really that bad. Not great, but not bad.

MugzyBrown: There offensive talent on the ice in the Devils/Panthers series vs the Pens/Flyers series was night and day.

When I watched Game 6 Devils/Panthers it felt like I was watching women's hockey. It was so farking slow and boring.

Not even good defense like the Rangers laying 6 people in the crease, but just no offense. Like a Ravens/Browns game.

I generally agree, we'll know soon enough. The Devils should have an easier time scoring against the Flyers while the Flyers will not be able to replicate the type of numbers from the Pens series. Defense > Offense and given the Devils won the regular season series I have to give them the edge. That being said I don't think it's their year so I wouldn't be too surprised if Phili won although if that is the case I imagine it will be in a game 7.

Doc Daneeka: Shane Doan probably deserves a ring more than any other player in the league. He's been a very good player for a long, long time, without much success to show for it. He's earned it.

Sometimes I root for teams because of players like that. That's why I was rooting for Tampa in the 2004 Finals. I wanted to see Dave Andreychuk finally get his name on the Cup.


That's how I feel about Nashville, now that Ottawa and Vancouver (SO's team) are out. Mike FIsher was my favourite player on the Sens, and his transition to Nashville was about as anti-acrimonious as you can get. He just plays the game the right way [/Grapes], and I want him to succeed. He doesn't have the longevity of Doan or the Garbage Man, but I love him.

/Plus, it'd be cool to try to see other teams store ringers in the KHL as part of a 'Copy the Cup champs' strategy' in the coming years...

I generally agree, we'll know soon enough. The Devils should have an easier time scoring against the Flyers while the Flyers will not be able to replicate the type of numbers from the Pens series. Defense > Offense and given the Devils won the regular season series I have to give them the edge. That being said I don't think it's their year so I wouldn't be too surprised if Phili won although if that is the case I imagine it will be in a game 7.

If the Flyers are able to replicate the edge they had vs Pitt I think they take Jersey in 5. The Flyers D should improve as the series goes, possibly getting Grossman and Meszaros back. Basically if they can get Lilja off the ice, the flyers D is actually a solid 6 man group.

MugzyBrown: Not even good defense like the Rangers laying 6 people in the crease, but just no offense. Like a Ravens/Browns game.

oh man i got to see a preseason Ravens/Browns game at M&T Stadium. Club seats too. We ended up changing the channel on the TV in the suite.

How do you make a BAL/CLE game more boring? Have it in the preseason.

Not to be Captain Obvious, but we won't know how they'll play until they play.

Did anyone foresee Philly going up 3-0 on PIT in the playoffs? In my lifetime I never thought "Philly Sweeps Pittsburgh" could be a possible headline. As in "those words even as speculation never existed together"

I just hope for some good hockey, but sometimes I find after an awesome Conf. quarterfinals, the semis end up being sweeps.

Smiths: MugzyBrown: Not even good defense like the Rangers laying 6 people in the crease, but just no offense. Like a Ravens/Browns game.

oh man i got to see a preseason Ravens/Browns game at M&T Stadium. Club seats too. We ended up changing the channel on the TV in the suite.

How do you make a BAL/CLE game more boring? Have it in the preseason.

Not to be Captain Obvious, but we won't know how they'll play until they play.

Did anyone foresee Philly going up 3-0 on PIT in the playoffs? In my lifetime I never thought "Philly Sweeps Pittsburgh" could be a possible headline. As in "those words even as speculation never existed together"

I just hope for some good hockey, but sometimes I find after an awesome Conf. quarterfinals, the semis end up being sweeps.

As a Ravens fan I love playing CLE, the win is never in doubt. You can have your high scoring offensive football all you want, leave me the AFC North.

Moosecakes: How do you sell tickets at a loss? That makes no sense. Any tickets sold makes money. Especially playoff tickets.

They don't get to use the arena for free and all the arena staff and security don't work for free.

Philly was up against Fleury, who had a .834 save percentage and a 4.63 GAA.

Now Philly is facing Brodeur, who has a comparatively stellar .922 save percentage and a 2.06 GAA.

Their scoring is going to probably be at least cut in half this series. Is 15 goals enough?

mainstreet62: Philly was up against Fleury, who had a .834 save percentage and a 4.63 GAA.

Now Philly is facing Brodeur, who has a comparatively stellar .922 save percentage and a 2.06 GAA.

Their scoring is going to probably be at least cut in half this series. Is 15 goals enough?

This is the worst logic argument ever... considering Fleury's stats are a result of playing Philly, one of the top scoring teams, and Brodeur's are a result of playing one of the worst scoring teams in the league.

MugzyBrown: This is the worst logic argument ever... considering Fleury's stats are a result of playing Philly, one of the top scoring teams, and Brodeur's are a result of playing one of the worst scoring teams in the league.

Additionally, Brodeur was looking his age by the end of bonus hockey yesterday. No guarantees that he can keep the pace for the remainder of the playoffs, he was making mistakes and slowing down noticeably in the 3rd last night.

Fleury was just plain abysmal so we don't have a good mark as to how PHI's offense is.

/Caps in 6, Flyers in 5. Caps to finals in 7.
//I was totally hoping for Kings v. Panthers in the final for the lulz

MugzyBrown: mainstreet62: Philly was up against Fleury, who had a .834 save percentage and a 4.63 GAA.

Now Philly is facing Brodeur, who has a comparatively stellar .922 save percentage and a 2.06 GAA.

Their scoring is going to probably be at least cut in half this series. Is 15 goals enough?

This is the worst logic argument ever... considering Fleury's stats are a result of playing Philly, one of the top scoring teams, and Brodeur's are a result of playing one of the worst scoring teams in the league.

Yeah you can't break down the numbers that way. A better form of comparison would be to look at the G vs GA of each team during the regular season. PIT scored the most while FLA scored the least. Devils allowed the least while Phill allowed the most. The numbers point to a classic matchup of O vs D and defense wins championships. Hell, it wins them so well the NHL banned the Devils from playing D a few years ago!

/LOVE the trap

MugzyBrown: mainstreet62: Philly was up against Fleury, who had a .834 save percentage and a 4.63 GAA.

Now Philly is facing Brodeur, who has a comparatively stellar .922 save percentage and a 2.06 GAA.

Their scoring is going to probably be at least cut in half this series. Is 15 goals enough?

This is the worst logic argument ever... considering Fleury's stats are a result of playing Philly, one of the top scoring teams, and Brodeur's are a result of playing one of the worst scoring teams in the league.

Are you kidding? Defense, and especially goaltending, is what wins the Stanley Cup. The Pens/Flyers series was defense optional.

Don't kid yourself, Fleury sucked. Bryz sucked slightly less.

Look what happened to the #1 seed Canucks when they ran into the brick wall named Jonathan Quick, despite having Cory Schneider being awesome in goal for 3 games.

Leaders in goals for this regular season:

Pittsburgh - 282 - Status: OUT
Boston - 269 - Status: OUT
Philly - 264 - Status: Advanced to Round 2
Vancouver - 249 - Status: OUT
Ottawa - 249 - Status: OUT
Detroit - 248 - Status: OUT
Chicago - 248 - Status: OUT

Philly is the only team in the top 7 in goals scored that's still in the playoffs

Goals AGAINST leaders:

St. Louis - 165 - Status: Advanced to Round 2
Los Angeles - 179 - Status: Advanced to Round 2 (OVER VANCOUVER)
NY Rangers - 187 - Status: Advanced to Round 2
Vancouver - 198 - Status : OUT (Luongo had a bad series)
Boston - 202 - Status: OUT
Detroit - 203 - Status: OUT
Phoenix - 204 - Status: Advanced to Round 2

Four of the top 7 teams are still in it.

Rev.K: They don't get to use the arena for free

Actually, I believe they do.

My understanding is that the Panthers have a very favorable lease with Broward County. Not only do they pay no rent to the county and get full control of the arena, but they also get a share of revenues from concerts, shows, and other sporting events held at the arena.

Time Traveling Bunnies: Any chance Philly and Penn actually had good goalies but the caliber of offense they were facing was just that good? No?

Okay, bash away.

Philly is Penn. Pittsburgh is the capital of West Pennsyltucky, where dreams go to die

Renegade Pervert: [img341.imageshack.us image 640x335]

That's awesome.

Detroit, Chicago, SJ and Vancouver all finished first round Lulz. Anyone who predicted this outcome is a liar.

Doc Daneeka: Actually, I believe they do.

My understanding is that the Panthers have a very favorable lease with Broward County. Not only do they pay no rent to the county and get full control of the arena, but they also get a share of revenues from concerts, shows, and other sporting events held at the arena.


Then they have one of the sweetest deals in the league.

Lt. Cheese Weasel: Detroit, Chicago, SJ and Vancouver all finished first round Lulz. Anyone who predicted this outcome is a liar.

The only one of those four that surprised me was Vancouver losing to LA.

I had Nashville, Phoenix, and St. Louis winning their series.

Rev.K: Doc Daneeka: Actually, I believe they do.

My understanding is that the Panthers have a very favorable lease with Broward County. Not only do they pay no rent to the county and get full control of the arena, but they also get a share of revenues from concerts, shows, and other sporting events held at the arena.


Then they have one of the sweetest deals in the league.

They have a favorable lease.

That's why I have to laugh when people spout off in hockey threads about which teams "should be moved," without knowing anything about ownership situations, arena situations, lease situations, etc. The Panthers are not in any danger of relocating.

mainstreet62: Philly was up against Fleury, who had a .834 save percentage and a 4.63 GAA.

Now Philly is facing Brodeur, who has a comparatively stellar .922 save percentage and a 2.06 GAA.

Their scoring is going to probably be at least cut in half this series. Is 15 goals enough?

Umm, why not just look at Brodeur's split stats against Philly this year? 1-3, 2.26 GAA, .905 save %

Bryzgalov vs NJ: 3-0, 0.29 GAA, .987 save %

Doc Daneeka: Rev.K: They don't get to use the arena for free

Actually, I believe they do.

My understanding is that the Panthers have a very favorable lease with Broward County. Not only do they pay no rent to the county and get full control of the arena, but they also get a share of revenues from concerts, shows, and other sporting events held at the arena.


This is true. You wouldn't believe how many times you hear about upcoming concerts during Panthers games. Since we no longer have a modern rock station in the area, I had no idea TOOL was coming to town until I was informed at a Bruins/Panthers game.

AKTurkey: Philly is Penn. Pittsburgh is the capital of West Pennsyltucky, where dreams go to die

Thanks. Even as I typed it, I knew something felt wrong with that sentence.

roncofooddehydrator: Umm, why not just look at Brodeur's split stats against Philly this year? 1-3, 2.26 GAA, .905 save %

Bryzgalov vs NJ: 3-0, 0.29 GAA, .987 save %

Stop being logical!

As a Capitals fan, I find it difficult to be worried about playing the Rangers. We're the underdog this time around but they are the one team we have consistently beaten in the playoffs in team history.

facisto: As a Capitals fan, I find it difficult to be worried about playing the Rangers. We're the underdog this time around but they are the one team we have consistently beaten in the playoffs in team history.

I had a John Druce flashback last night. It wasn't pleasant.

Yanks_RSJ: facisto: As a Capitals fan, I find it difficult to be worried about playing the Rangers. We're the underdog this time around but they are the one team we have consistently beaten in the playoffs in team history.

I had a John Druce flashback last night. It wasn't pleasant.

THE DRUCE IS LOOSE!

mainstreet62: Defense, and especially goaltending, is what wins the Stanley Cup

*Philadelphia vs Chicago, 2010 SCF exempt from this rule, as both teams' goaltending was laughably bad.

mainstreet62: Philly is going to flop vs. New Jersey, simply because the Swiss cheese that was in front of goal for the Penguins has now been replaced by actual goaltending.

Partially agree with this: The series will go 7 because Brodeur > Fleury. If Bryz steps up his game it will be a close series; if he continues leaking goals it'll be over sooner.

Captain Oates: 2wolves: He had ONE good period. One.

Playoff Stats: GAA SV%
Brodeur 2.06 .922
Bryz 3.89 .871

I was talking about Fleury.

MugzyBrown: Captain Oates: while I'm not sure Bryzgalov will play much better than he did.

Bryz had 1 bad game (which the whole team tanked). If you factor out that game he gave up just over 3 goals per game.

In fact, if you factor out the awful game 4, he held the Pens a bit under their season average per game.

Obviously he needs to do a bit better, but he didn't really shiat the bed.

I agree with this... in that last series you had the number 1 and 2 offenses from the regular season going head to head, can't really expect that to make the goalies look good. Everyone seemed eager to bring up the fact that the pens defense and the goalie sucked, but I wonder if the Flyers just made them look that bad or if they played that bad. To me it didnt look like either goalie gave up too many soft goals.

drworm: I agree with this... in that last series you had the number 1 and 2 offenses from the regular season going head to head, can't really expect that to make the goalies look good. Everyone seemed eager to bring up the fact that the pens defense and the goalie sucked, but I wonder if the Flyers just made them look that bad or if they played that bad. To me it didnt look like either goalie gave up too many soft goals.

8 goal game, 8 goal game, 10 goal game...ain't no way there's not plenty of softies there, lol.

No FLORIDA tag?

8 goal game, 8 goal game, 10 goal game...ain't no way there's not plenty of softies there, lol.

There were a few, but way more skill on the ice than you're probably used to seeing from the Devils/Panthers series.

The big, bad Kris Versteeg was a 3rd line Flyers cast away.

In other news, suck it Canada.

Rwa2play: mainstreet62: Philly is going to flop vs. New Jersey, simply because the Swiss cheese that was in front of goal for the Penguins has now been replaced by actual goaltending.

Partially agree with this: The series will go 7 because Brodeur > Fleury. If Bryz steps up his game it will be a close series; if he continues leaking goals it'll be over sooner.

Ultimately, it doesn't matter. I just hope one of these teams gets steamrolled in 4 games OR it's a 7 game brutal series decided in 6OT. I don't really care which.

roncofooddehydrator: mainstreet62: Philly was up against Fleury, who had a .834 save percentage and a 4.63 GAA.

Now Philly is facing Brodeur, who has a comparatively stellar .922 save percentage and a 2.06 GAA.

Their scoring is going to probably be at least cut in half this series. Is 15 goals enough?

Umm, why not just look at Brodeur's split stats against Philly this year? 1-3, 2.26 GAA, .905 save %

Bryzgalov vs NJ: 3-0, 0.29 GAA, .987 save %

2.26 GAA is not great, but not horrible. 0.29 is clearly amazing, but is it sustainable?

Comprehensive regular season stats, plus stats from the playoffs so far, say a 0.29 GAA will not last long. We'll see.

I can understand throwing out some of the goals scored in that 10-3 drubbing, because I'm sure Bryz stopped caring after it was like 6-3 or 7-3.

All I know is, it's going to be fun rooting for any of 2 teams to fail in a series again like last round!

Rwa2play: mainstreet62: Philly is going to flop vs. New Jersey, simply because the Swiss cheese that was in front of goal for the Penguins has now been replaced by actual goaltending.

Partially agree with this: The series will go 7 because Brodeur > Fleury. If Bryz steps up his game it will be a close series; if he continues leaking goals it'll be over sooner.


actual goaltending is defined by a goalie with 2.43 GAA vs a team that only score 2.4 G/G in the regular season?

Rangers are too beat up to beat the Caps IMO

Caps vs Blues cup finals

Blues win the cup

MugzyBrown: 8 goal game, 8 goal game, 10 goal game...ain't no way there's not plenty of softies there, lol.

There were a few, but way more skill on the ice than you're probably used to seeing from the Devils/Panthers series.

The big, bad Kris Versteeg was a 3rd line Flyers cast away.

Oh, somehow I think our brains will be able to comprehend such a high level. :)

/Devils in 6...pleasepleaseplease

ontariolightning: Rangers are too beat up to beat the Caps IMO

Caps vs Blues cup finals

Blues win the cup

You and I haven't agreed upon a single thing yet in all these threads... until now.

drworm: Rwa2play: mainstreet62: Philly is going to flop vs. New Jersey, simply because the Swiss cheese that was in front of goal for the Penguins has now been replaced by actual goaltending.

Partially agree with this: The series will go 7 because Brodeur > Fleury. If Bryz steps up his game it will be a close series; if he continues leaking goals it'll be over sooner.


actual goaltending is defined by a goalie with 2.43 GAA vs a team that only score 2.4 G/G in the regular season?

Compared to Fleury this postseason, anything else, quite literally, is actual goaltending.

TJWitz: ontariolightning: Rangers are too beat up to beat the Caps IMO

Caps vs Blues cup finals

Blues win the cup

You and I haven't agreed upon a single thing yet in all these threads... until now.

And then you both came out of your meth induced hallucinations. Caps won't make it. Blues have a good shot.

mainstreet62: And then you both came out of your meth induced hallucinations. Caps won't make it. Blues have a good shot.

I'm trying to figure out who on the Rangers is "beat up". Other than Boyle's concussion and questionable status, they have pretty much the same team they've been playing with for months, with the rapidly developing Kreider added to the mix.

Yanks_RSJ: mainstreet62: And then you both came out of your meth induced hallucinations. Caps won't make it. Blues have a good shot.

I'm trying to figure out who on the Rangers is "beat up". Other than Boyle's concussion and questionable status, they have pretty much the same team they've been playing with for months, with the rapidly developing Kreider added to the mix.

Dubinsky was clearly hurt last night but yeah, Kreider and Hagelin are the difference makers when it came to coming out of that 3-2 deficit.

Yanks_RSJ: mainstreet62: And then you both came out of your meth induced hallucinations. Caps won't make it. Blues have a good shot.

I'm trying to figure out who on the Rangers is "beat up". Other than Boyle's concussion and questionable status, they have pretty much the same team they've been playing with for months, with the rapidly developing Kreider added to the mix.

It was clear to me last night that the Rangers are too tired & beat up ..not enough in the tank for the rest of the playoffs. I say Caps in 6th

Caps were too big & strong for the big bad Bruins & they will be too big and strong for the Rangers to overcome as well

ontariolightning: It was clear to me last night that the Rangers are too tired & beat up ..not enough in the tank for the rest of the playoffs. I say Caps in 6th

I guess I won't bother watching.