On The Eve of the New Season: North of the Border Editio

vansmack wrote:

sweetcell wrote:
world juniors: canada vs. usa, tonigt at 7:30 pm.  anyone been watching the tournament so far?

lacking the NHL network i need to find a bar nearby ASAP.  i wonder if hooters will be showing the game…

I have been and it's been fantastic.  It's been fun to scout Kyle Palmieri…

And who cares if hooters has the NHL Network?  You should go anyway.

i watched a few early games while visiting family in canada last wek but have since haven't seen anything recently.  can't wait to get back into it tonight.  hope it's a good one.

agreed about hooters, but if they're not showing the can-usa game i might defer my visit to another night.  also, i'm still a little miffed that they dropped the prime rib sandwich.  only thing on the menu worth getting IMO.

most hooters have directv i believe. you should be fine

bugsy's would be the other option, but i'm not in the mood for a 30-40 minute drive.

i called the local hooters, they will indeed be showing the game.  plus, my girl samantha is working tonight!

sweetcell wrote: also, i'm still a little miffed that they dropped the prime rib sandwich.  only thing on the menu worth getting IMO.

They serve food?!?  Who knew…

sweetcell wrote:
  plus, my girl samantha is working tonight!

That's my boy!

vansmack wrote:

sweetcell wrote: also, i'm still a little miffed that they dropped the prime rib sandwich.  only thing on the menu worth getting IMO.

They serve food?!?  Who knew…

i thought you'd pick up on that. 

go 'nucks!

gutted.  what a collapse.  talk about embarrassing.

at least the ruskies kept it classy

sweetcell wrote:
gutted.  what a collapse.  talk about embarrassing.

at least the ruskies kept it classy

Last year's final was much better.

At least Igor Bobkov got his confidence back.  I was worried the Ducks were going to lose their next keeper after the opening game.

so while others here ramble on about stick-ball and the local teams' delusions of adequacy (the O's long-term chances of success mirror those of the FSS), i'm totally enjoying the stanley cup playoffs - and the fact that coverage is on CNBC & NBCSN.  the expanded coverages means that i can catch 3 games a night if i wanted to/had the time.

what i'm enjoying less is the stupid violence that seems to be plaguing the playoffs so far this year.  i like the rougher side of the game as much as the next guy, but shit like that hit on Hossa just doesn't belong.  i just heard that suspension #8 will be handed out soon.  there were 7 suspension during the entire playoffs last year, we've already topped that this year and we're not even out of the first round.  seem to be a lot more stupid penalties going down this year too - players getting caught taking obvious cheap shots, losing their cool in critical situations, over-doing the protect-the-goalie gig, etc.  it's not just the rookies, either.  WTF is going on this year?  did someone publish a study that proves that the value of the irritation and distraction caused by jabbing the opponent in the face is greater than the risk caused by taking a penalty?!?  head in the game, boys.

pens/flyers and rangers/sens have been great series so far.  what i wouldn't have given to be in scotia place tonight when Turris scored that overtime winner.  shaking my head in disgust at vancouver.

Go Caps ;D

y'all ready to do this?

yay!!!!

So excited! Can't wait to get back into the Phone Booootthhhhhh

Hopefully snagging some tickets from a friend for the Penguins game. Can't wait to see how rusty everyone is!

sweetcell wrote:
y'all ready to do this?

Nope.  Won't be fooled again.

vansmack wrote:

sweetcell wrote:
y'all ready to do this?

Nope.  Won't be fooled again.

I'll be the first to point out my hypocrisy.

OK, let's move on.

Lets put in some predictions so we can all look foolish in two weeks! One thing to keep in mind is there's no reseeding every round so its a more traditional bracket.

First Round
Bruins over Wings in 7
Habs over Tampa in 6

Pittsburg over Columbus in 5
Rangers over Flyers in 7

Avs over Wild in 5
Chicago over St Louis in 6

Ducks over Stars in 5
Kings over Sharks in 7

Divisional Finals
Habs over Bruins in 7
Rangers over Pens in 6

Blackhawks over Avs in 5
Kings over Ducks in 7

Conference Finals
Habs over Rangers in 5
Kings over Blackhawks in 6

Cup Finals
Kings over Habs in 5

apology accepted.

predictions?

east:
bruins over wings in 5 (sorry jules…)
canadians over lightening in 7
pens over jackets in 4
rangers over flyers in 6

west:
ducks over stars in 5
kings over sharks in 6 (my upset pick, of sorts)
avs over wild in 4
hawks over blues in 6

edit: julian beat me to it.  at least our predictions align!

sweetcell wrote:
bruins over wings in 5 (sorry jules…)

I'm just thrilled we made the playoffs. Next year the Wings can make a run. Our cap geek page makes me warm and fuzzy.

NHL.com has an online bracket-picker thingy, and even a bracket challenge you can enter:

http://bracketchallenge.nhl.com/playoff_challenge/picks?locale=en

i have the bruins hoisting the cup.  i just don't see montreal getting past them, as much as i would want them to.