NHL general discussion thread

[Magnum Force]

The West has more power house teams than the East does... I wouldn't be surprised if one of the lower placed teams knocks out the Sabres. Don't get your hopes so high that it turns to ignorance.

[dansdarkside]

Originally Posted by pyro120

Okay, number 1, Ryan Whitney is essential to our power play and he was out with a groin injury, that's why we went 0-8 on the pp, number 2, Ryan Miller wasn't "awesome", he just had 6 people standing around him and the shots never got through, and number 3, we split the series this year with you guys so stop being ecstatic.

6 guys..........ok. So only 1 goal, Which should have not counted is not awesome?

Originally Posted by Cylon

Statement win? Against the Penguins? I don't think so...maybe if it was against a power house from the Western Conference, not the Pittsburgh Penguins. Come playoff time, the atmosphere is completely different, and I would not be surprised it the Sabres get knocked out before reaching the Stanley Cup Finals, much like they did last year.

Originally Posted by Magnum Force

The West has more power house teams than the East does... I wouldn't be surprised if one of the lower placed teams knocks out the Sabres. Don't get your hopes so high that it turns to ignorance.

Last year they got hot at the end of the season, this year they have been hot all season, Plus we have been playing with call ups for most of the season. Trust me once we get our guys healthy no team in the east could beat us in a 7 game series.

Ignorance? How is it ignorant to be happy that for the first time in 20 years your team has the clinched the conference?

[Magnum Force]

Originally Posted by dansdarkside

Ignorance? How is it ignorant to be happy that for the first time in 20 years your team has the clinched the conference?

I'm talking about how confident you are in the Sabres. You can be as happy as you want, I'm just warning you that things rarely turn out the right way.

-------------------------

Found this interesting little snippet from a Sharks forum.

Originally Posted by Top 10 Reasons Why Other Teams Don't Want to Play Us

These are in no particular order....

1.) We have two number one goalies
Though it looks like Nabokov is the starter from now on, if needed, we can bring in Toskala to back him up. BTW, if Nabby gets hot other teams are in trouble: he's only the 5th goalie to win Rookie of the year since the NHL was expanded in '67. Also, Toskala won 12 straight regular season games in a row (end of last year and beginning of this year) and 20/22.

2.) We have two first lines
Any other team would have Marleau, Guerin, and Bernier on their top line. When you have a line like Thornton, Cheechoo, Michalek it's a different story. These two lines are the reason why we're hot right now. Lately, when our first line isn't producing our second line is. 3/27 against the Kings is a perfect example.

3.) We have the #1 powerplay in the league
We're only ahead of The Habs by 2/10 of a percent, but we've been one of the best all season. Thornton controls from the boards and Cheechoo's finding his way to the net again. If clubs take penalties against this refined Sharks squad, they're going to pay this year. With Rivet on point to set up Erhoff's blistering one-timer, we don't need to rely on Big Joe every time.

4.) Kyle McLaren's A$$ of Doom
Everyone knows that hitting is much more devastating come the post season. McLaren is on of the best hip-checkers in the league and other team's forwards will need to keep their heads up if they don't want to end up like Letowski (video here).

5.) Marleau was made for the playoffs
Marleau is a beast in the playoffs. He seems to flip a switch every year and turn on the scoring. In the past three seasons, he's had at least 10 points . Last year he had a career best of 14pts in 11games, despite the abbreviated run. Compared to the leader, Eric Staal's 28pts in 25games, Marleau's pace would have been right at the top if we had advanced to the finals.

6.) We own the Eastern Conference
Based on our record against teams from the east, our chances of winning The Cup look good if and when we make it to the Finals. Over the past two seasons, the Sharks are 17-3-0 against the east.

7.) We're on fire
The Sharks are 11-2-1 since our season worst 4game losing streak. The two losses were both close one goal games (the 'Canes got an empty-netter in their 6-4 win) and the OTL was to the Av's who are a remarkable 13-1-2. We haven't beaten any playoff-bound teams since the first two wins of this streak against Dallas and Minnesota, which is why our last three games are so important.

8.) We can win in anyones building
The Sharks have a record of 25-14-1; the most road wins in the league. We're almost equally good at home as on the road, earning the exact same number of points in each situation.

9.) We're one of the youngest teams
While some would argue that this is a bad thing in the playoffs, it's actually not. Our young players have contributed all season and with the addition of veterans like Guerin and Rivet, we have the leadership and experience to balance our youth and energy. We have the weapons to carry us through four intense rounds and the experience to show us the way.

10.) The Tank is one of the loudest buildings in hockey
San Jose fans have always been rowdy and hockey savvy. The infamous (in San Jose that is) 5-on-3 or should I say 5-on-1 was one of the loudest moments I can remember (video here). We'll not just take on your team we'll go after your entire country. Even if it means alienating our own players. Oops. In any case, an active crowd can be key in motivating the home team and intimidating the one visiting.

Pretty interesting, but not all is going to help the Sharks... especially if they play Nashville, who they can't beat to save their lives.



Found another snippet within that thread:

Originally Posted by Three Reasons Why Other Teams Want to Play Us in the Playoffs

1.) Joe Thornton career points per game in the regular season is .97 in the post season it drops to .58 - Joe Sakic for example is 1.20 regular 1.09 in the post season...Forsberg is 1.24 regular, 1.16 playoffs...

2.) Bill Guerin career points per game in the regular season is .70 and in the post season it drops to .50

3.) Cheech's scores goals at a 42% rate in the regular season, drops to 28% in the post season...

Looks like a problem with scoring efficiency... I hope they get that tightened up. Otherwise the Sharks are going to be in a whole mess of trouble. But they are practically a whole new team this year... I'm sure it will be different.

[Magnum Force]

Sorry for double post.


Sharks just beat the Ducks in a shootout, 3-2. The game was incredible with alot of huge hits, plays, saves, and crappy calls (naturally). Nabby was unstoppable and the shootout was beastly. Teemu Selanne got called for having an illegal stick and had to sit a penalty during OT. Coach Ron Wilson had coached Teemu before and knew he had an illegal blade and was waiting for the right moment to call it. Great job for the Sharks. They now have a record 50 wins (compared to their old one of 45), and they are determined to get 53 with their last 3 games remaining.

[pyro120]

Originally Posted by dansdarkside

6 guys..........ok. So only 1 goal, Which should have not counted is not awesome?





Last year they got hot at the end of the season, this year they have been hot all season, Plus we have been playing with call ups for most of the season. Trust me once we get our guys healthy no team in the east could beat us in a 7 game series.

Ignorance? How is it ignorant to be happy that for the first time in 20 years your team has the clinched the conference?

The goal counted because Rex was stopping not kicking, and he was getting pushed from behind. Just watch, pens are gonna end up in 5th place and we are gonna face the Senators(4th) in a 7-game series. I bet most teams could beat the Sabres in a 7-game series.

We will make it to the 2nd round. We have about 12 players that have at least 1 game in the playoffs in their career(Recchi won a cup with the pens in '92 and '06 with the canes), and we are the fifth youngest team in the league. We have the skill to beat any team when we are healthy, which we now are, because Whitneys groin is better. Marc-Andre Fleury is a tremendous goaltender. People give the pens so much **** when they can beat any team out there

[Magnum Force]

Originally Posted by pyro120

The goal counted because Rex was stopping not kicking, and he was getting pushed from behind. Just watch, pens are gonna end up in 5th place and we are gonna face the Senators(4th) in a 7-game series. I bet most teams could beat the Sabres in a 7-game series.

We will make it to the 2nd round. We have about 12 players that have at least 1 game in the playoffs in their career(Recchi won a cup with the pens in '92 and '06 with the canes), and we are the fifth youngest team in the league. We have the skill to beat any team when we are healthy, which we now are, because Whitneys groin is better. Marc-Andre Fleury is a tremendous goaltender. People give the pens so much **** when they can beat any team out there

The Sharks are the number one youngest team, but I still highly doubt they will make it the the Finals or win it if they make it. Experience is better than age in the playoffs... but it still helps the team somewhat.

[pyro120]

I heard an announcer on FSN Pittsburgh saying that the Pens and Sharks were tied with 90 Power-play goals, and then we scored two on a 5-minute major.

[Magnum Force]

Originally Posted by pyro120

I heard an announcer on FSN Pittsburgh saying that the Pens and Sharks were tied with 90 Power-play goals, and then we scored two on a 5-minute major.

Yea, but the Sharks still have the number 1 powerplay in the NHL.

Sharks beat the Flames 3-4. The Sharks were actually up 4-1 in the third and then the Flames almost came back. There were a lot of big hits and whenever the Sharks tried to fight, the Flames acted like puzzies and ran off. Oh well... last game is on Saturday against the Canucks. Sharks are only 1 point behind the Ducks too. That's be amazing if they pass them for first place.

[Scuba Steve]

I was so anxious for today. The Avs played Vancouver (who I hate due to Bertuzzi) and the Sharks played the Flames. The Avs won, beating them 3-1. Hejduk has a hat-trick. The Sharks also won. This is very very good for the Avs.

[Cylon]

The Rangers defeated Montreal 3-1 last night, which clinched them a playoff spot. They now hold the 6th seed in the Eastern Conference, ahead of Tampa Bay by two points with 1 game left in the season.

I'm confident that the Rangers will be able to beat Pittsburgh on Saturday, which will lock them in them in the 6th seed, and set-up a first round match-up with Atlanta. If they fall to 7th, they will be playing New Jersey, since the Devils clinched to their division due to Pittsburgh's late season falter down the stretch.

I find it laughable that the Islanders are still in the running for a playoff spot....they can clinch if Montreal loses their final game and the Islanders win their final two games.

Broduer won his 48th game of the season last night, surpassing Bernie Parent's single season record of 47 wins.