Let's see: Puck Drei's done, and NHL hockey is done for the month of May.
History will be made this June! 
Stanley Cup Finals
Sun, 2011-05-29 01:20
#1
Stanley Cup Finals
Sun, 2011-05-29 01:25
#2
Boom Boom
Why has it taken so long to return Stanley to Canada?
Sun, 2011-05-29 01:35
#3
It's a shame that one of these two teams will not win the cup. They've come so far. I hope it's a clean series without any of the dirty stuff. May the best team win.
Sun, 2011-05-29 01:47
#4
Sven
Cancuck win in six.
Mon, 2011-05-30 14:31
#5
Canuck's in 5
Mon, 2011-05-30 17:46
#6
I think the Canucks will have to take advantage of the Bruins so-so penalty kill. Because five on five the Bruins are pretty stingy when playing in their groove. And the Bruins will have to try to score a few on the pp in this series. Their power play stinks without Savvy.
Mon, 2011-05-30 18:22
#7
Northern Shoveler
Canucks in 5. I hope the parade goes through Stanley Park so his Lord's Cup can visit his park.
1915 was a good year for hockey. I hope our actual millionaires can bring the Cup home just like these Millionaires did.
Tue, 2011-05-31 10:10
#8
Tony Gallager, a politically rightwing but longtime sports scribe for The Province made some interesting comments yesterday. He wrote a column pointing out what a joke the Colin Cambell situation is and how it's ridiculous the League still thinks such an obvious conflict of interest is not an issue. I heard him on a sports radio station theorizing that the all encompassing power of Cambell has an effect on young referees who don't need instruction but will simply do what they think their boss wants because their profession is so competitive. What was interesting was that he used the example of how the Aspers simply had to make their political views public on things such as the Middle East and that the effect was that their media empire became an echo chamber of these views not because of any top down policy but simply out of an eagerness to please from those who wanted to advance their careers. I've heard a lot of journalists talk about this before but I was surprised to hear it from Gallager.
Tue, 2011-05-31 12:26
#9
Northern Shoveler
Tony Gallager, a politically rightwing but longtime sports scribe for The Province made some interesting comments yesterday. He wrote a column pointing out what a joke the Colin Cambell situation is and how it's ridiculous the League still thinks such an obvious conflict of interest is not an issue. I heard him on a sports radio station theorizing that the all encompassing power of Cambell has an effect on young referees who don't need instruction but will simply do what they think their boss wants because their profession is so competitive. What was interesting was that he used the example of how the Aspers simply had to make their political views public on things such as the Middle East and that the effect was that their media empire became an echo chamber of these views not because of any top down policy but simply out of an eagerness to please from those who wanted to advance their careers. I've heard a lot of journalists talk about this before but I was surprised to hear it from Gallager.
Did he cite Chomsky for his "idea." The process is what Noam referred to as manufacturing consent. It is the central control mechanism in our society. No one has to tell people what to say and think as long as the fastest route to advancement is parroting the believes of the bossman.
Tue, 2011-05-31 20:59
#10
Yeah I've read Chomsky, I was just surprised to hear it from Gallagher and using the analogy of the Aspers political views influence on the editorial policy the paper he works for to explain why Cambell has an effect on the reffing when it comes to the Bruins who incidentally had the first playoff game in twenty years without a single penalty in Game 7 against Tampa.
Wed, 2011-06-01 11:50
#11
Northern Shoveler
Gotta love capitalists. Boston Pizza was always a strange name for a Canadian pizza company. So do people in the GTO get to go to Vancouver Pizza or are they stuck with the old name?
In a show of home-town support and solidarity, Boston Pizza has become "Vancouver Pizza" -- for the duration of the Stanley Cup Playoffs, anyway. The change was made on the restaurant chain's website almost immediately after the Boston Bruins won their series Friday night, and more substantial changes will take place early next week.
But the planning for this mastermind marketing move actually took place last year when it looked like there was a chance Boston and the Vancouver Canucks might play each other at some point.
"The stars didn't align at that time so we just kept it in the can," Brad Bissonnette, Boston Pizza's director of regional marketing said in an interview Saturday. "Now, the city is on overdrive and it's really special to be a part of that."
As soon as Boston won its series, the restaurant "pulled the trigger," ordering up rebranding materials for all of its 62 B.C. locations.
In a show of home-town support and solidarity, Boston Pizza has become "Vancouver Pizza" -- for the duration of the Stanley Cup Playoffs, anyway. The change was made on the restaurant chain's website almost immediately after the Boston Bruins won their series Friday night, and more substantial changes will take place early next week.
But the planning for this mastermind marketing move actually took place last year when it looked like there was a chance Boston and the Vancouver Canucks might play each other at some point.
"The stars didn't align at that time so we just kept it in the can," Brad Bissonnette, Boston Pizza's director of regional marketing said in an interview Saturday. "Now, the city is on overdrive and it's really special to be a part of that."
As soon as Boston won its series, the restaurant "pulled the trigger," ordering up rebranding materials for all of its 62 B.C. locations.
[/quote]
http://www.vancouversun.com/business/Brilliant+marketing+Boston+Pizza+be...
Wed, 2011-06-01 12:00
#12
Northern Shoveler
Proof positive that the Canucks are a regional team with not many other Canadians caring. Don't worry there is still room on the bandwagon.
CBC’S HOCKEY NIGHT IN CANADA DRAWS 4 MILLION VIEWERS TO VANCOUVER/SAN JOSE GAME FIVE
Double overtime game ranks as second largest Stanley Cup Round Three Playoff audience since 1993Millions of Canadian hockey fans tuned into CBC’S HOCKEY NIGHT IN CANADA Tuesday night to watch the Canucks earn their spot in the 2011 Stanley Cup Finals. Game Five between the Vancouver Canucks and San Jose Sharks drew an average audience of 4.03million viewers*, only to be surpassed by Game 7 in the Toronto/Los Angeles series in 1993, which drew 4.24 million viewers.
The audience for Tuesday’s Vancouver-San Jose nail-biter peaked at 10.7 million viewers.
http://fangsbites.com/2011/05/nhl-western-conference-finals-get-4-millio...
Wed, 2011-06-01 23:01
#13
Wow, is it just me or are the Canucks even speedier on high def tv?
Canucks 1 Bruins 0. That was quite a game. The Canucks missed a few good chances, too.
Wed, 2011-06-01 23:12
#14
The goalies were amazing, I like that we have two Vezina trophy finalists facing off in the final. I didn't like how people last year were trying to draw the conclusion that goaltending didnt matter. I can think of a few teams that would be a hell of a lot more competitive if they had either Thomas or Luongo in net.
I hope Hamhuis isn't seriously hurt. There are probably only five or six players that the Canucks could less afford to lose.
Thu, 2011-06-02 11:22
#15
Northern Shoveler
I was really taken aback by the Ron Maclean interview with Michael Fox. I found it inappropriate. He asked him about someones else's medical condition who had just had an operation that Michael had declined in the past. I was impressed with Michaels answers but really what the fuck is a sports announcer doing asking someone how come you didn't have this operation done don't you think it is safe? With a followup of what do you want to say to the guy who opted to have it?
IMO He trashed the medical privacy of two people and it had no relevance to Michael's hockey allegiances or anything else.
I did find the slight of Campbell at the end of that interview hilarious. Fox was in the NHL President's box and they only talked to him. They panned the camera at the end to a waiting Campbell but only asked him if he'd like to be interviewed some time and then left.
Thu, 2011-06-02 12:02
#16
Pogo
I agree about Ron McLean. That had to be the most inappropriate line of questioning I have heard in a long time. I used to like him a lot, but maybe being around Cherry so long, stupidity rubs off.
Sun, 2011-06-05 02:28
#17
The series shifts to Boston.
Sun, 2011-06-05 13:41
#18
No kidding?
Chara must have hepatitis or something; he plays like on old wet hankie.
I can see now why the Leafs beat Boston in their last three games.
Sun, 2011-06-05 14:00
#19
Northern Shoveler
Chara is now -2 against Vancouver. Boston wouldn't be the Final if his numbers had been like this prior to this series. The Canucks seem to be getting in close to him and then his reach is not a factor.
Burrows sure made him look slow and awkward in just 11 seconds.
This season Chara led the league with a plus/minus rating of plus-33, which tied a career-high. He also led the Bruins, (the NHL’s third-best defensive team) in average ice time with 25:26.
Sun, 2011-06-05 14:30
#20
The Canucks seem to be getting in close to him and then his reach is not a factor.
His stick is too long. He loses the puck in his feet along the boards behind the net too often.
Sun, 2011-06-05 14:40
#21
Speaking of long sticks, the one Canuck from last year that I really wish was on this run is Willie Mitchell.
The Canucks are lucky they aren't playing a team with explosive offense. Kesler is clearly hurt and Hamhuis is their best shutdown D-man. Krejci is the only Bruin out there who looks consistantly dangerous. They should play Seguin more. If they don't get a little more going, this is going to be a very short series. I'm going to be in Vancouver next Friday so I'm hoping for a five gamer.
Sun, 2011-06-05 19:44
#22
The Bruins played two gruelling seven game series prior and are now playing a Nucks team that was relatively healthy all season and pretty much breezed through to the final round. The Bruins are also without their dishmeister and power play quarterback due to a season ending concussion. Bergeron is also one heavy hit away from taking a health break from the game.
I'd be wagering on Vancouver if I was a betting person. For now. But the odds favour Vancouver.
Sun, 2011-06-05 20:11
#23
Northern Shoveler
The Canucks are lucky they aren't playing a team with explosive offense.
The Canucks are lucky they don't have to play the best offensive team and the best defensive team from this years regular season. The Bruins well they need luck because they are playing both those teams at once.
Vancouver ranks first in scoring offense, averaging 3.15 goals per game in the regular season. They ranked best in scoring defense allowing just 2.20 goals per game in regular season games.
Sun, 2011-06-05 20:28
#24
Pogo
now playing a Nucks team that was relatively healthy all season and pretty much breezed through to the final round.
The Canucks are without their top shutdown defenseman. Samuelson is out for the playoffs and Maholtra just returned. During the season they were sometimes down 4 defensemen.
Sun, 2011-06-05 20:45
#25
Northern Shoveler, that's true but they aren't healthy. Kesler looks hurt, although still very good, not the player that he can be, and their most reliable defensive defenceman is out. Boston doesn't have the guys who can take advantage of that but I think Tampa could have given the Canucks more of a game. Anyways, I know how good Vancouver is. It's been weird this season watching them start off as the favorites and living up to that expectation. Other than Team Canada, I don`t have a lot of experience rooting for that kind of team.
Fidel, I wouldn't say the Nucks breezed through to the finals. They played the same number of games as Boston to get here, had a more strenuous travel schedule and played stronger opponents. I think that Chicago and San Jose would be up 2-0 right now too if they were in the final against Boston.
Vancouver has had lots of injuries this year, amongst the teams with the most mangames lost. In a weird way the injuries helped the Canucks manage their capspace and hold onto all their defencemen. If they'd all been healthy at once, Vancouver would have been well over the cap.
ETA. I`m not whining about playing Boston though, it`s awesome watching Vancouver play an original six team, they have heaps of personality. I`m sure they`ll come out swinging in Boston and if Seguin gets going, this might turn into a series. Boston is going to be a good team for a long time, they`re missing one or two top six guys and that`s a champion(Kessel, Savard).
Sun, 2011-06-05 21:23
#26
now playing a Nucks team that was relatively healthy all season and pretty much breezed through to the final round.
The Canucks are without their top shutdown defenseman. Samuelson is out for the playoffs and Maholtra just returned. During the season they were sometimes down 4 defensemen.
That's par for the course and nothing extraordinary. Samuelson is no Markov or Crosby or Savard. Try losing a top line player of that caliber for the season and playoffs. Try taking one of the Sedins or Burrows out of the picture. Where would they be now? You can do reasonably well without your best players as the Habs, Bruins. Penguins etc have shown, but the missing and walking wounded top line players tend to become noticable as playoff teams are whittled down to four and then two. Vancouver had one seven round series and got it out of the way in series one. They've breezed through to this round by comparison.
Fidel, I wouldn't say the Nucks breezed through to the finals. They played the same number of games as Boston to get here, had a more strenuous travel schedule and played stronger opponents. I think that Chicago and San Jose would be up 2-0 right now too if they were in the final against Boston.
Nucks played one seven game series in the first round not the opening and semi-finals. It's all about timing and recovery period. The Bruins look a little tired. And long distance travel is something West coast teams are more used to than East. You say that's an advantage for the Bruins?
ETA: I think the Nucks and Hawks lost all reg season games to the Habs and Bruins when travel was in the other direction.
Mon, 2011-06-06 23:09
#27
Vancouver Bites.
The hockey gods had their revenge on the Cnøcks tonight. That hit by Rome on Horton was typical; a blindside shot at a guy in a vulnerable position, just like Raffi Torres' hit on Joe Thornton in the previous series.
Why didn't Max tete a clacque bite when the Bruins offered him their fingers?
I'd like to see these guys lose just because they play like a bunch of rats.
Mon, 2011-06-06 23:18
#28
Catchfire
Yes, it's a shame the Canucks can't play with the class of Ference, Recchi, Marchand and Thorton.
I'll say one thing though: when the Canucks decide to lose a game, they sure do it with everything they've got.
Mon, 2011-06-06 23:29
#29
Did you see Marchand's shorthanded goal? Were you watching Recchi play?
I know hockey's a bit faster than football, and Cnøcks fans get a whining allowance, but give us a break.
Mon, 2011-06-06 23:38
#30
Catchfire
Marchand's goal was nice. Recchi's been good all playoffs. Torres's game-winner last week was nice too. But to say the Canucks are dirtier than the Bruins is nonsense.
And if I'm a Canucks fan, I might ask when you gave up the blue and white for the Bruisers.
Mon, 2011-06-06 23:39
#31
Maybe the Nucks need to ram someone's head up against a stanchion in order to gain some babblers' approval around here. It's hard to tell.
Anyway the Bruins may have ticked off Luongo just enough that he will come back focussed and help them win game four. That's my guess.
Tue, 2011-06-07 00:09
#32
And if I'm a Canucks fan, I might ask when you gave up the blue and white for the Bruisers.
I didn't; I'm a disinterested hockey guy this spring (except for when my kid plays) and am looking at the series as an outsider. I like the way the Bruins (except for Chara) played tonight.
Go Jets Go!
Tue, 2011-06-07 00:22
#33
And if I'm a Canucks fan, I might ask when you gave up the blue and white for the Bruisers.
Since I was a kid I've noticed that team's fans tend to be for ABTH, or anyone but the Habs. They tend to switch allegiance come Spring time and depending on who the Habs play. And whatever team beats the Habs, well they are just the greatest thing since sliced bread from that point on.
Tue, 2011-06-07 00:24
#34
Yeah, it's a great big conspiracy.
Tue, 2011-06-07 00:27
#35
That was brutal.
The Rome hit is the kind of hit that I think should be eliminated. When a guy is in that vulnerable position, don't hit him in the head.
The only team dirtier than the Bruins are the Flyers. It worked tonight because their penalty kill was near perfect and Vancouver couldn't get their powerplay going. I gotta say I like Claude Julien.
Hopefully, Rome and Alberts out and Ballard and Tanev in. Vancouver gets back to playing their speed game.
Tue, 2011-06-07 00:56
#36
Yeah, it's a great big conspiracy.
Was it conspiracy or wild COINCIDENCE that Harold Ballard and Leafs braintrust traded away good players for money for many years?
The problem with Leafs management and fans is that they couldn't recognize that it was an inside job until very many years after the fact. Sorry but the Leafs were sabo'd from within by their own managerial gladios long time.
Don't those guys in Hog Town get the news? Sheesh!
[IMG]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v697/rabblerabble/Tide.jpg[/IMG]
![http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v697/rabblerabble/Tide.jpg[/IMG]](http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v697/rabblerabble/Tide.jpg[/IMG]){kind=link}
Tue, 2011-06-07 01:13
#37
Right. Fidel post #2 of 4.
You really oughtta expand your repetoire, or are these the only scripts Central IA casting will provide for their interweb operatives?
Tue, 2011-06-07 01:16
#38
Okay you got me with that one. You win. Just don't turn me in to the internet feds.
Tue, 2011-06-07 01:27
#39
No worries, old sport (that's like "10-4, good buddy" to y'all).
Just keep in mind that when you chant "CA-NA-DA, CA-NA-DA" to the tune of "U-S-A, U-S-A" and say "Benedict Arnold is kaput," you sound mighty strange to Canadian ears.
Tue, 2011-06-07 01:48
#40
It's all in fun. I never intend to hurt anybody, and you seem to have a pretty steady chin yourself. Leafs vs Nucks or Jets for the cup in 2016. I'll buy the tickets. You can razz me about the Habs all the while. 
Tue, 2011-06-07 13:17
#41
The 4 game suspension of rome is a crock of shit. Horton should have looked where he was going instead of admiring his pass like a prima donna.
Tue, 2011-06-07 13:40
#42
Boston Bruins winger Nathan Horton has suffered a severe concussion and is out for the rest of the Stanley Cup final.
I'm not a big fan of the blindside late hit. Horton took a couple of strides after his teammate picked up the pass, which isn't the same as the cliché, "admiring his pass." Whatever the case, the NHL makes announcements almost daily about how the league is going to crack down on head shots with the goal of reducing concussions. The suspension is thus not much of a surprise.
Tue, 2011-06-07 13:51
#43
I'm not convinced the hit was blindside. Actually, he was admiring it while he took those strides. I just looked at it again. Horton was clearly looking at where the pass went not where he was going.
Tue, 2011-06-07 14:07
#44
Northern Shoveler
Too bad that like some other big players he developed the bad habit of skating through the neutral zone with his head down. I would love someone to actually break down the tape from the first three games and show the hits that were just as bad but not called. The suspension is for the damage done not the immorality of the hit. If that hit was dirty then pretty well every defence man in the league is dirty.
It was a late hit on a "star" trying to gain the zone, with his head down because he was trying to read a return pass possibility.
If the league was really interested in concussions they could start by beefing up the helmet rules and returning to padded elbows for protection of the wearer not the armoured elbow pads that are potentially far more dangerous weapons in a hit to the head.
Tue, 2011-06-07 14:14
#45
They should do away with helmets rather than make them "beefier," which creates the illusion of invincibility.
They could reduce the size of shoulder pads, and start calling crosschecks to the back already!
Tue, 2011-06-07 14:28
#46
Northern Shoveler
The cross checks to the back are going to show up in hockey players long after they retire. In one game they showed a Boston player cross check 8 times in the same play without a call. Any one who has been cross checked knows that even a little shove with a stick hurts and in the lower back it can do long lasting damage without immediate major trauma.
I wish all the hockey players would just STFU with their holier than thou comments. They got to play in the league and their teams are winning because they will do whatever the refs let them get away with. If the Canucks don't out hit the other team then their offence is not going to score. There are no teams with polite defence men left in the playoffs.
Replay the tape and then I would like to hear suggestions on which Boston D-man would have not hit a Sedin or Kesler or esprecially Burrows if they left themselves vunerable by looking at the puck and not skating with their head up.
Tue, 2011-06-07 14:29
#47
Another case of the NHL's bias against Canada.
Tue, 2011-06-07 14:35
#48
The conspiracy widens...
Tue, 2011-06-07 14:39
#49
I hope Vancouver will be appealing this ruling.
Tue, 2011-06-07 17:26
#50
was the hit really late by NHL standards? You see people getting hit along the boards after dumping the puck WAY later than this, or at least AS LATE as this on a regular basis with no penalty. If late hits are really illegal, shouldn't they be called all the time not just when someone gets hurt?
sort of like slashing. People get slashed on the regular, no call. if their stick breaks or they drop it, it's a penalty, even though sticks break on something as simple as a wrist shot...makes no sense.
same with headshots. if there's no injury, no suspension. but as soon as someone gets hurt it's all of a sudden a crime.
how about the NHL starts enforcing the rules BEFORE people get hurt...if there's some continuity in the calls between games/refs perhaps peoples style of play would change or adapt, but when it's all over the place even the players don't know what is and isn't against the rules.
Tue, 2011-06-07 17:59
#51
N.Beltov
Horton got his concussion from the impact with the ice - and not directly by Rome's hit - so such concussions could take place as a result of a completely "clean" hit. I think, therefore, the NHL has to consider the injury when dishing out suspensions and larger penalties. There isn't really any other objective criteria to use.
It's crossed my mind that if Vcr wins the Cup then I may have no reason to watch the NHL anymore. Other than, you know, maybe a highlight reel at 11 or something like that.
That could be a good thing. Three hours of your time is a terrible thing to waste watching grown men chase a frozen piece of rubber around the ice. (quoting my mom, lol!)