NHL "2007-08 Playoffs" Talkback

[PhatMan]

Round 1:

East
(1) Montreal Canadiens vs. (8) Boston Bruins
Montreal Canadiens wins the series 4-3



Montreal Canadiens 4, Boston Bruins 1
Montreal Canadiens 3, Boston Bruins 2
Boston Bruins 2, Montreal Canadiens 1
Montreal Canadiens 1, Boston Bruins 0
Boston Bruins 5, Montreal Canadiens 1
Boston Bruins 5, Montreal Canadiens 4
Montreal Canadiens 5, Boston Bruins 0

(2) Pittsburgh Penguins Vs. (7) Ottawa Senators
Pittsburgh Penguins win series 4-0


Pittsburgh Penguins 4, Ottawa Senators 0
Pittsburgh Penguins 5, Ottawa Senators 3
Pittsburgh Penguins 4, Ottawa Senators 1
Pittsburgh Penguins 3, Ottawa Senators 1


(3)Washington Capitals vs. (6) Philadelphia Flyers
Philadelphia Flyers win the Series 4-3


Washington Capitals 5, Philadelphia Flyers 3
Philadelphia Flyers 2, Washington Capitals 0
Philadelphia Flyers 6, Washington Capitals 3
Philadelphia Flyers 4, Washington Capitals 3 (2nd OT)
Washington Capitals 3, Philadelphia Flyers 2
Washington Capitals 4, Philadelphia Flyers 2
Philadelphia Flyers 3, Washington Capitals 2 (OT)

(4) New Jersey Devils vs. (5) New York Rangers
New York Rangers win series 4-1


New York Rangers 4, New Jersey Devils 1
New York Rangers 2, New Jersey Devils 1
New Jersey Devils 4, New York Rangers 3
New York Rangers 5, New Jersey Devils 3
New York Rangers 5, New Jersey Devils 3


WEST

(1) Detroit Red Wings vs. (8) Nashville Predators
Detroit Red Wings win the series 4-2


Detroit Red Wings 3, Nashville Predators 1
Detroit Red Wings 4, Nashville Predators 2
Nashville Predators 5, Detroit Red Wings 3
Nashville Predators 3, Detroit Red Wings 2
Detroit Red Wings 2, Nashville Predators 1
Detroit Red Wings 3, Nashville Predators 0


(2) San Jose Sharks vs. (7) Calgary Flames
San Jose Sharks win the Series 4-3


Calgary Flames 3, San Jose Sharks 2
San Jose Sharks 2, Calgary Flames 0
Calgary Flames 4, San Jose Sharks 3
San Jose Sharks 3, Calgary Flames 2
San Jose Sharks 4, Calgary Flames 3
Calgary Flames 2, San Jose Sharks 0
San Jose Sharks 5, Calgary Flames 3

(3) Minnesota Wild vs. (6) Colorado Avalanche
Colorado Avalanche wins series 4-2


Colorado Avalanche 3, Minnesota Wild 2 (OT)
Minnesota Wild 3, Colorado Avalanche 2 (OT)
Minnesota Wild 3, Colorado Avalanche 2 (OT)
Colorado Avalanche 5, Minnesota Wild 1
Colorado Avalanche 3, Minnesota Wild 2
Colorado Avalanche 2, Minnesota Wild 1


(4) Anaheim Ducks vs. (5) Dallas Stars
Dallas Stars wins the series 4-2


Dallas Stars 4, Anaheim Ducks 0
Dallas Stars 5, Anaheim Ducks 2
Anaheim Ducks 4, Dallas Stars 2
Dallas Stars 3, Anaheim Ducks 1
Anaheim Ducks 4, Dallas Stars 2
Dallas Stars, 4, Anaheim Ducks 1

Round 2

East



Game 1: Thursday, April 24, 2008 7:00 PM Philadelphia at Montreal CBC, RDS
Game 2: Saturday, April 26, 2008 7:00 PM Philadelphia at Montreal CBC, VERSUS, RDS
Game 3: Monday, April 28, 2008 7:00 PM Montreal at Philadelphia VERSUS, CBC, RD
Game 4: Wednesday, April 30, 2008 7:00 PM Montreal at Philadelphia VERSUS, CBC, RDS
Game 5: *Saturday, May 3, 2008 7:00 PM Philadelphia at Montreal CBC, VERSUS, RDS
Game 6: *Sunday, May 4, 2008 7:00 PM Montreal at Philadelphia VERSUS, CBC, RDS
Game 7: *Tuesday, May 6, 2008 7:00 PM Philadelphia at Montreal CBC, RDS



Game 1: Friday, April 25, 2008 7:00 PM NY Rangers at Pittsburgh VERSUS, CBC
Game 2: Sunday, April 27, 2008 2:00 PM NY Rangers at Pittsburgh NBC, CBC
Game 3: Tuesday, April 29, 2008 7:00 PM Pittsburgh at NY Rangers VERSUS, CBC
Game 4: Thursday, May 1, 2008 7:00 PM Pittsburgh at NY Rangers VERSUS, CBC
Game 5: *Sunday, May 4, 2008 2:00 PM NY Rangers at Pittsburgh NBC, CBC
Game 6: *Monday, May 5, 2008 7:00 PM Pittsburgh at NY Rangers VERSUS, CBC
Game 7: *Wednesday, May 7, 2008 TBD NY Rangers at Pittsburgh CBC

West



Game 1: Thursday, April 24, 2008 7:30 PM Colorado at Detroit VERSUS, TSN
Game 2: Saturday, April 26, 2008 3:00 PM Colorado at Detroit NBC, TSN
Game 3: Tuesday, April 29, 2008 10:00 PM Detroit at Colorado VERSUS, TSN
Game 4: Thursday, May 1, 2008 10:00 PM Detroit at Colorado VERSUS, TSN
Game 5: *Saturday, May 3, 2008 1:00 PM Colorado at Detroit NBC, TSN
Game 6: *Monday, May 5, 2008 10:00 PM Detroit at Colorado VERSUS, TSN
Game 7: *Wednesday, May 7, 2008 TBD Colorado at Detroit TSN



Game 1: Friday, April 25, 2008 10:00 PM Dallas at San Jose VERSUS, TSN
Game 2: Sunday, April 27, 2008 9:00 PM Dallas at San Jose VERSUS, TSN
Game 3: Tuesday, April 29, 2008 7:30 PM San Jose at Dallas TSN
Game 4: Wednesday, April 30, 2008 9:00 PM San Jose at Dallas VERSUS, TSN (JIP)
Game 5: *Friday, May 2, 2008 10:00 PM Dallas at San Jose VERSUS, TSN
Game 6: *Sunday, May 4, 2008 9:00 PM San Jose at Dallas VERSUS, TSN
Game 7: *Tuesday May 6, 2008 10:00 PM Dallas at San Jose TSN

[dark knight acolyte]

Predictions! And hockey....

Put it together and you get the word FUTILE! The NHL playoffs are about as predictable as a rocketing champagne cork in a rubber-walled dining room. Lame analogy, but it's late, and it's all I have at the moment!

Here are my picks (I'll put an * by the series I feel will be most entertaining):

EASTERN:
Montreal 4-1 over Boston
Pittsburgh 4-2 over Ottawa
New York Rangers 4-2 over New Jersey *
Washington 4-3 over Philadelphia *

High seed, low seed, so going forward....

New York Rangers 4-3 over Montreal *
Pittsburgh 4-2 over Washington

And for the East...
Pittsburgh 4-3 over New York Rangers *


WESTERN:
Detroit 4-2 over Nashville
San Jose 4-3 over Calgary * (I could easily see an upset here, though, with Calgary's intimidating home ice advantage. Calgary and Detroit are intimidating venues!)
Colorado 4-2 over Minnesota
Anaheim 4-3 over Dallas

Detroit 4-1 over Colorado
Anaheim 4-3 over San Jose (best series of the playoffs if it happens!!! I'll take the Ducks playoff experience and grit to anchor a "huge" road upset.) *

And for the West...

Anaheim 4-3 over Detroit (I would go with 6, but I could see Detroit having legs on Anaheim to start, despite age, due to the easier path) *



STANLEY CUP FINALS

PITTSBURGH PENGUINS DEF. ANAHEIM MIGHTY DUCKS 4-2


The young guns in Pittsburgh win their first of a few. Granted, they may not resign Marian Hossa, but they have the nucleus to contend and retool for years to come!!!!!!!!

[bigddan11]

*- If necessary
EAST

(1) Montreal Canadiens vs. (8) Boston Bruins

Canadiens won the season series 8-0
Canadiens win playoff series 4-3

Game 1: Canadiens 4, Bruins 1
Game 2: Canadiens 3, Bruins 2 (OT)
Game 3: Bruins 2, Canadiens 1 (OT)
Game 4: Canadiens 1, Bruins 0
Game 5: Bruins 5, Canadiens 1
Game 6: Bruins 5, Canadiens 4
Game 7: Canadiens 5, Bruins 0

Montreal in 4

(2) Pittsburgh Penguins Vs. (7) Ottawa Senators

Season series split 2-2
Penguins win playoff series 4-0

Game 1: Penguins 4, Senators 0
Game 2: Penguins 5, Senators 3
Game 3: Penguins 4, Senators 1
Game 4: Penguins 3, Senators 1

Pittsburgh in 7

(3)Washington Capitals vs. (6) Philadelphia Flyers

Season series split 2-2, with the road team winning every game
Flyers win playoff series 4-3

Game 1: Capitals 5, Flyers 4
Game 2: Flyers 2, Captals 0
Game 3: Flyers 6, Capitals 3
Game 4: Flyers 4, Capitals 3 (2OT)
Game 5: Capitals 3, Flyers 2
Game 6: Capitals 4, Flyers 2
Game 7: Flyers 3, Capitals 2 (OT)

Washington in 7

(4) New Jersey Devils vs. (5) New York Rangers

Rangers won the season series 7-1
Rangers win playoff series 4-1

Game 1: Rangers 4, Devils 1
Game 2: Rangers 2, Devils 1
Game 3: Devils 4, Rangers 3 (OT)
Game 4: Rangers 5, Devils 3
Game 5: Rangers 5, Devils 3

New York in 6

WEST

(1) Detroit Red Wings vs. (8) Nashville Predators

Red Wings won the season season series 5-3
Red Wings win playoff series 4-2

Game 1: Red Wings 4, Predators 1
Game 2: Red Wings 4, Predators 2
Game 3: Predators 5, Red Wings 3
Game 4: Predators 3, Red Wings 2
Game 5: Red Wings 2, Predators 1 (OT)
Game 6: Red Wings 3, Predators 0

Detroit in 5

(2) San Jose Sharks vs. (7) Calgary Flames

Flames won the season series 3-1
Sharks win playoff series 4-3

Game 1: Flames 3, Sharks 2
Game 2: Sharks 2, Flames 0
Game 3: Flames 4, Sharks 3
Game 4: Sharks 3, Flames 2
Game 5: Sharks 4, Flames 3
Game 6: Flames 2, Sharks 0
Game 7: Sharks 5, Flames 3

Calgary in 6

(3) Minnesota Wild vs. (6) Colorado Avalanche

Wild won the season series 5-3
Avalanche win playoff series 4-2

Game 1: Avalanche 3, Wild 2 (OT)
Game 2: Wild 3, Avalanche 2 (OT)
Game 3: Wild 3, Avalanche 2 (OT)
Game 4: Avalanche 5, Wild 1
Game 5: Avalanche 3, Wild 2
Game 6: Avalanche 2, Wild 1

Minnesota in 7

(4) Anaheim Ducks vs. (5) Dallas Stars

Stars won the season series 5-3
Stars win playoff series 4-2

Game 1: Stars 4, Ducks 0
Game 2: Stars 5, Ducks 2
Game 3: Ducks 4, Stars 2
Game 4: Stars 3, Ducks 1
Game 5: Ducks 5, Stars 2
Game 6: Stars 4, Ducks 1

Dallas in 6

[dark knight acolyte]

Playoff time, and still no love for the NHL.

In baseball, there is a strike, the game comes back slower than ever, expansion completely waters down the quality of play, scandals disrupt the game constantly, the salary situation is so disproportionate that it's a miracle small market teams like Atlanta have success while the same 8 teams make up half or more of the playoff spots each year, and Bud Selig continues to be a pet rock with glasses.

In basketball, the East is a two-horse race with possible two losing teams and the West, granted, is going to be an entertaining tournament.

And yes, it doesn't compare to the NFL, but the NHL's game has improved since the lockout, almost every team has a viable chance to turn things around, and the influx of superstars in the past two years is...frankly amazing. And yet, nobody cares. It must be the "Versus" effect.

[GWOtaku]

I, for one, do care about hockey!

I'm delighted the Capitals managed to make the playoffs, and as the third seed no less! I was there for their decisive victory over Carolina and I hope they go a ways in the playoffs. My dream matchup is a Capitals vs. Penguins series; if that happens I'm definitely paying out of my wallet to see that. Washington and Pittsburgh happen to be my two favorite teams, so I hope one of them goes all the way.

[Draft]

The Bruins actually made it?

Meh, I don't know nothing bout Hockey

I'll taken the Canadian team

[bigddan11]

The Bruins actually made it?

Meh, I don't know nothing bout Hockey

I'll taken the Canadian team

Both Montreal and Calgary are Canadiean teams, so you'd need to be more specific.

[n1c3guy707]

The NHL did not bounce back the way the MLB did after the strike was because the NHL has a horrid TV deal. Look at MLB their games are everywhere while the NHL is on Versus which most people do not get that's why the NHL isn't even on the radar right now.

As for my picks I'm not going to pick a winner for every match since I'm horrible at it (picked the 49ers to win it all last year, the Angels to win the pennant and the horrible choices go on and on) but I will pick the Sharks to go all the way this year. They are good enough in every facet of the game and as long as their scorers stay hot (I'm looking at you Cheecho and Marleau) they can go all the way. The only problem with my pick is that the Sharks are 1-3 versus the Flames this season.

[dark knight acolyte]

The NHL did not bounce back the way the MLB did after the strike was because the NHL has a horrid TV deal. Look at MLB their games are everywhere while the NHL is on Versus which most people do not get that's why the NHL isn't even on the radar right now.

As for my picks I'm not going to pick a winner for every match since I'm horrible at it (picked the 49ers to win it all last year, the Angels to win the pennant and the horrible choices go on and on) but I will pick the Sharks to go all the way this year. They are good enough in every facet of the game and as long as their scorers stay hot (I'm looking at you Cheecho and Marleau) they can go all the way. The only problem with my pick is that the Sharks are 1-3 versus the Flames this season.

Exactly. When I refer to the "Versus" effect, it echoes your thoughts exactly. What aggravates me even more is that albeit the league is airing on networks that don't lend their hands to exposure, even SportCenter will show second round playoff action in the NBA as a top story OVER game anything other than 7 of the Stanley Cup Finals. Major sports networks, who are supposed to, IMO, present sports and athletics without bias across the entire athletic spectrum clearly have no desire to promote the NHL product. Instead, ESPN, located in Bristol, Connecticut (coincidence?) can continue to show it's clear bias toward Boston-dominated sports (football, baseball, basketball) and those specific teams. I'm not insinuating that ESPN doesn't cover hockey because it's located in New England- just that, IMO, it's prone to bias.

[bigddan11]

Exactly. When I refer to the "Versus" effect, it echoes your thoughts exactly. What aggravates me even more is that albeit the league is airing on networks that don't lend their hands to exposure, even SportCenter will show second round playoff action in the NBA as a top story OVER game anything other than 7 of the Stanley Cup Finals. Major sports networks, who are supposed to, IMO, present sports and athletics without bias across the entire athletic spectrum clearly have no desire to promote the NHL product. Instead, ESPN, located in Bristol, Connecticut (coincidence?) can continue to show it's clear bias toward Boston-dominated sports (football, baseball, basketball) and those specific teams. I'm not insinuating that ESPN doesn't cover hockey because it's located in New England- just that, IMO, it's prone to bias.

I would look at the facts before accusing ESPN of being biase on this matter. ESPN shows as much hockey coverage on Sports Center and in the same places as when they had the NHL contract. ESPN chose not to renew the NHL contract because 1) the ratings were decreasing and 2) they weren't willing to pay as much money as the NHL wanted them to pay. As a result, the NHL has seen ratings continue to decrease every season. Sure, they set a record for the biggest crowd attendance in most arenas this year, but that's because the local networks that carried the games have actually started cutting back on the number of games they show because it doesn't get the ratings.

Also, while I enjoy the NBC NHL coverage, I have to say it's the biggest joke I've seen for a major sport. They treat the Olympics with more respect than they do the NHL. They don't even show 1/3 of the season.

If the NHL ever wants to get ratings up, they have to get it more exposure. When it was on ESPN, they typically had 4 nights a week where hockey was on ESPN or ESPN2. Now they get 2 nights on Versus. ABC would show an NHL Game of the Week for 2/3 of the season. NBC shows it for 9 weeks, and they originally only broadcast it 3 weeks a year. The increase only came because they let go of the Arena Football League.

In the long run, don't blame ESPN for not showing something they don't get money for. They have the rights to the NBA, MLB, Golf, and NASCAR, all of which are more popular than the NHL and all of which they get money for.

For the record though, ESPN did air hockey as the first item on SportsCenter more times this season, at 12 times, than they have in the past because now the NHL is finally getting competitive games again and All-Star players.

[dark knight acolyte]

Fair enough. Perhaps my position was one of a bit too much condemnation. I don't feel that they show as much coverage as they did with the contract, but certainly I'm not going back and timing it, either. Besides, I'm not as concerned with the amount of coverage so much as the prioritizing of it. Granted, without an NHL contract, it benefits them fiscally to promote their own products first. This presents a bias, and not all biases are bad- this is a bias resulting from monetary gain. *shrugs* But, I digress. Frankly, doesn't matter.

The word bias is perhaps STRONG, so I'll refer to it as a disproportion of headlining coverage, and that's WITH consideration to their terminating their prior NHL contract. It's also with consideration to the fact that outside of the playoffs, the NHL isn't making huge national headlines. Last year, when the Sens won game 3 to pull to within a game of the Ducks (STANLEY CUP FINALS), both golf and Nascar were headlined in advance of playoff game coverage. Granted, it's a subjective position, but as sure as I am this happened as my roommate who discussed it with me, I think it's a shame what little attention is given to hockey even during a championship series. It may just be me, and I'm fine with that. I'm not solving quantum physics; I'm sharing what I miss, admittedly perceptively, about the validation of hockey by networks that have influence.

Either way, it's a perception. As for facts, if I ever decide to do a disseration, you can bet I'll more thoroughly review and establish a final position with a wealthier body of evidence. In the meantime, that's just my position. My tube will be tuned into nearly every hockey game this June either way. I'd certainly like to see, if not expanded, at least more prioritized coverage. IMO (opinion being the operative), a Stanley Cup Finals game deserves precedence over NBA semis game 2.

But, the NBA is an ESPN product that draws ratings and hence, albeit fiscal-based, it presents a LOGICAL bias, otherwise known (I'll admit) as smart marketing. Guess I'm just a little ol' hockey fan that misses the days that it was a little bit more glorified.







ONE THING IS FOR SURE, THOUGH. I completely agree a huge part of what's influencing the amount of coverage and exposure of the game to the public is, again, the "VERSUS" effect. Games outside of local markets aren't televised in a manner that is conducive to exposure. Period.

[bigddan11]

Fair enough. Perhaps my position was one of a bit too much condemnation. I don't feel that they show as much coverage as they did with the contract, but certainly I'm not going back and timing it, either. Besides, I'm not as concerned with the amount of coverage so much as the prioritizing of it. Granted, without an NHL contract, it benefits them fiscally to promote their own products first. This presents a bias, and not all biases are bad- this is a bias resulting from monetary gain. *shrugs* But, I digress. Frankly, doesn't matter.

The other thing to remember is that when ESPN was a broadcast partner, they could shows highlights from any and every game. Now they can only show highlights from networks they have a contract with, and those usually can't be more than 20 seconds. Since they can't show as much, it has gotten put on the back burner. It was ESPN last year though that provided evidence of their hockey coverage on Sports Center when they were partners and now that they aren't, and it is identical, except now they only have one analyst instead of four.

Either way, it's a perception. As for facts, if I ever decide to do a disseration, you can bet I'll more thoroughly review and establish a final position with a wealthier body of evidence. In the meantime, that's just my position. My tube will be tuned into nearly every hockey game this June either way. I'd certainly like to see, if not expanded, at least more prioritized coverage. IMO (opinion being the operative), a Stanley Cup Finals game deserves precedence over NBA semis game 2.

Most of the time an NBA Semi Game 2 is better than an NHL Championship blowout. It actually depends on the series though as to which goes first. Last year, with ESPN and TNT broadcasting the Warriors/ Jazz series that went the full amount and had a close game almost every night, then it made sense for them to show it over a 3-0 or 5-1 final. This year, when the NHL games actually got exciting and competitive again, they showed NHL above NBA and NCAA Basketball. So it depends on the game and series, as I said before.

[PhatMan]

Todays Games

AT.

AT.

AT.

AT.

All Interesting games today Lets get these Playoffs Started.

[Shakes]

Pittsburgh did their business tonight with a solid 4-0 win.

But wow the Flames up 2-0 already. never thought that

make that 2-1. man that was quick

[Burgundy Ranger]

And, on the first night, we get the greatest thing in sports:

Overtime Playoff Hockey. (Avs-Wild)

No gimmicks, no 4-on-4 and -- best of all -- no bleep-de-bleepin-bleep shootout.

Just 5-on-5 until someone scores. As long as it takes.

Oh, and the Versus thing is a pure money grab by the NHL. That's part why the cap is as high as it is. Could have bit the bullet and taken less money for better exposure on ESPN.

[PhatMan]

Well Mr, Clutch for the Avs Joe Sakic gives the Avs a 3-2 Win on OT. All Road teams have won except for Ottawa true the San Jose game isn't over yet but there still 2 min left and Calgary is up by 2. So I don't see SJ coming back. In Fact it's over now so here are your scores for tonight

4 0

4 1

3 2

3 2

[Shakes]

They almost did but Calgary won 3-2 thanks big saves by kip

[n1c3guy707]

Like I said before in another thread SJ is a streaky team. They went 18-0-2 then they went 0-2 after that. So assuming that they are in a losing streak I expect the Sharks to not even make it out of the first round. I know it's only 1 game but as a Sharks fan I see this whole streaking thing all the time, whether it's a winning streak or a losing streak.

[PhatMan]

Another Day of Playoff Hockey Continues today here are the games today

AT

AT

AT

AT

Interesting to see the SJ and Flames get to play back to back.

[Wonderwall]

Guess Calgary and SJ will have 2 days off after this then. I'm pulling for Dallas, though Anaheim isn't going to be easy. Man after last night, Ottawa might as well not show up for the next 3. They have absolutely no chance against the raw talent of Pittsburgh, I know it, Pens know it, and even the Sens know it.