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

wow - no one seems to think the sabres will sweep the series. granted at times they looked awful against the rangers but im thinking the sabres will pull it off in 6.

ducks in 7.

all i hope is that the eastern conference wins now.

Set up your calendar accordingly….

Thu May 10, 2007
7:00 PM ET Senators v Sabres VERSUS

Fri May 11, 2007
7:30 PM ET Ducks Red Wings VERSUS

Sat May 12, 2007
8:00 PM ET Senators Sabres VERSUS (HD)

Sun May 13, 2007
7:30 PM ET Ducks Red Wings VERSUS (HD)

Mon May 14, 2007
7:00 PM ET Sabres Senators VERSUS (HD)

Tue May 15, 2007
9:00 PM ET Red Wings Ducks VERSUS (HD)

Wed May 16, 2007
7:00 PM ET Sabres Senators VERSUS (HD)

Thu May 17, 2007
9:00 PM ET Red Wings Ducks VERSUS (HD)

Sat May 19, 2007
2:00 PM ET Senators Sabres NBC (HD)

Sun May 20, 2007
3:00 PM ET Ducks Red Wings NBC (HD)

Mon May 21, 2007
7:00 PM ET Sabres Senators VERSUS (HD)

Tue May 22, 2007
9:00 PM ET Red Wings Ducks VERSUS (HD)

Wed May 23, 2007
7:00 PM ET Senators Sabres VERSUS (HD)

Thu May 24, 2007
7:30 PM ET Ducks Red Wings VERSUS (HD)

The only problem with the coverage is that we probably won't get anymore "bonus" coverage, which means not getting the great analysis from CBC or TSN. I've been really disgusted with colour commentary on Versus and the studio talk with Clement et al isn't much better. These guys aren't dumb - they know their hockey. I think they avoid the detailed analysis for fear of losing casual fans. There's also a definite sense of promoting the US teams when the play the Canadian ones. Again, understandable given the demographics, but unfortunate. They pretty much unanimously picked the Pens to beat the Sens and did the same with NJ. I'll be they pick the Sabres tonite, too.

The only bright spot will be Pierre Maguire's brilliant analysis on NBC. That guy really knows his stuff.

Since nobody is watching the West Coast games except maybe Pollard, you all missed an exciting game last night. Ewing theory in effect with Ducks taking it to the Red Wings last night sans Pronger. It's a new series now when I thought we were toast.

Of course, we don't have a chance if we can't figure out how to keep the Red Wings from making themselves comfortable in front of our net.

Originally posted by vansmack:


Of course, we don't have a chance if we can't figure out how to keep the Red Wings from making themselves comfortable in front of our net.

Is it too late to trade for Chris Simon??? ;)

Originally posted by vansmack:
Since nobody is watching the West Coast games except maybe Pollard, you all missed an exciting game last night. Ewing theory in effect with Ducks taking it to the Red Wings last night sans Pronger. It's a new series now when I thought we were toast.

Of course, we don't have a chance if we can't figure out how to keep the Red Wings from making themselves comfortable in front of our net.

I was actually surprised anaheim won, I had to take off after detroit tied it, as soon as they did I figure Anaheim was done. I would prefer an Anaheim/Ottawa finals at this point.

Originally posted by pdx pollard:
I was actually surprised anaheim won, I had to take off after detroit tied it, as soon as they did I figure Anaheim was done. I would prefer an Anaheim/Ottawa finals at this point.

Agreed. When Jackman scored to start it off I thought I was on to something good. But after the phantom penalty and the ensuing cross-check on face off call (!!!) to start the third I was pretty sure Detriot would take the lead and win. But alas, these Ducks aren't mighty. They're just good.

I do think that not enough is being made about the loss of Chris Kunitz though, especially on the power play. Anaheim's offense has been much weaker without him.

what's with the early start times for both games this weekend? and no games tonight, a friday?!? my take: the NHL has rolled over and given up. they know they won't get any viewership on weekend evenings (and networks wouldn't give them the time anyways) so they'll take what little they can get… competing with saturday afternoon cartoons. on the upside, i means i can go from watching the FA Cup final into Sens-Sabres. wow will i be drunk by 4 pm.

Originally posted by sweetcell:
what's with the early start times for both games this weekend? and no games tonight, a friday?!? my take: the NHL has rolled over and given up. they know they won't get any viewership on weekend evenings (and networks wouldn't give them the time anyways) so they'll take what little they can get… competing with saturday afternoon cartoons. on the upside, i means i can go from watching the FA Cup final into Sens-Sabres. wow will i be drunk by 4 pm.

Saturday's start time did surprise me. At first I think they didn't want to compete with the NBA playoffs, but now they could have had the entire evening to themselves on the national TV schedule. Instead they go up against the Fox MLB game of the week during rivalry week.

Sunday makes sense as there is no national baseball game on at 3:00 on Sunday. And there may not be a basketball game either.

Sometimes I'd rather be lucky than good.

Originally posted by Daniel Alfredsson:
Sometimes I'd rather be lucky than good.

:D

GO SENS GO!!! if i can nab a ticket to one of the first three games in ottawa, i'll be flying home. not likely tho, since season ticket buyers are getting first crack at playoff tickets. apparently no more than 1000 tickets, and possibly less, will be available for public onsale.

once upon a time i would have preferred the sens taking their chances against detroit. but the ducks are looking a lot less flashy (especially their offense) and i like our chances against them a little better now. plus, if the ducks make it, it'll mean that their current series will have gone to seven games. i hope the series goes to game seven no matter who wins!

Originally posted by sweetcell:

Originally posted by Daniel Alfredsson:
Sometimes I'd rather be lucky than good.

:D

once upon a time i would have preferred the sens taking their chances against detroit. but the ducks are looking a lot less flashy (especially their offense) and i like our chances against them a little better now. plus, if the ducks make it, it'll mean that their current series will have gone to seven games. i hope the series goes to game seven no matter who wins!

Actually, no. The Ducks lead 3-2 and can close it out in game 6. If Detroit wins, it will mean it goes 7 games.

As for the flashiness, or lack there of, the Duck have now played two really flat games in a row, but thanks to JS and a couple of lucky breaks, they won them both. The loss of Chris Kunitz is the main reason for the lack of flash on offense, something we've been lacking the second half of the season and is just magnified now with Kunitz out. Should the Ducks get through, I might not sleep thinking about the line of Alfredsson, Heatley and Spezza.

giguere will choke sooner or later…end of story.

sorry, smackie, i would just really love to see Canada get the cup back for a year!

Originally posted by sweetcell:
what's with the early start times for both games this weekend? and no games tonight, a friday?!? my take: the NHL has rolled over and given up. they know they won't get any viewership on weekend evenings (and networks wouldn't give them the time anyways)

i hope no one was shut out of over-time play on saturday because of NBC's lame coverage. they cut away from over-time of a crucial game… for the preakness pre-race show. what an embarrassment. interviews with the groundskeepers, and shots of where street sense grazes during the off-season, rate higher than sudden-death that might send a team to their first stanley cup finals in their modern history?!? lame.

indeed: wow, was i drunk by 4 pm. after catching the FA cup at a friend's, i stumbled over to lucky bar in hopes of convincing them to put the game on (i soooo didn't want to trek out to old town). turns out i had the place to myself. literally. so they put nbc on the giant hi-def and i spent the first half of the game alone, yelling at the tv :) somewhere in the second period a half-dozen roller-hockey players came in, rollerblades, sticks and all. good comraderie, pitchers everywhere, and they helped raise a proper stink when NBC's coverage switched to "stall cleaner's report (live from pimlico)".

Originally posted by vansmack:
Actually, no. The Ducks lead 3-2 and can close it out in game 6. If Detroit wins, it will mean it goes 7 games.

duh. BRAINFART. how embarrassing. but like is said, i hope the series goes to seven. go wings!

may history repeat itself:
<img src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/d9/Silver7.jpg" alt=" - " />

Originally posted by le sonick:
giguere will choke sooner or later…end of story.

sorry, smackie, i would just really love to see Canada get the cup back for a year!

It's fine to root for Canada, but at least be realistic about it. He's a proven playoff net minder - Conn Smyth winner for christ's sake - he won't choke, especially not in a contract year (can you say "hello LA Kings" for a ton of money?).

Now a true hockey fan would have said "with the ducks lack of discipline/composure in the playoffs and the power play prowess in the playoffs of the Sens, this is the year the cup comes back to Canada!"

If the Ducks don't win the Stanley Cup this year, it won't be Giguere's fault.

Originally posted by vansmack:

Now a true hockey fan would have said "with the ducks lack of discipline/composure in the playoffs and the power play prowess in the playoffs of the Sens, this is the year the cup comes back to Canada!"

If the Ducks don't win the Stanley Cup this year, it won't be Giguere's fault.

calling me not a true hockey fan??? pshh. perhaps you mean "a more well-written hockey fan would've said"

but what i really meant by my little comment was that a) the senators should win the cup (if they play Anaheim and giguere is the reason they will lose

if giguere plays like he is now, they'll raise the cup, however, i dont think he will…and it sure as hell wont be Selanne/Neidermeyer/Prongers fault if they lose.

i seem to remember a hot springtime Giguere riding his momentum….oh so close once before.

i dont need to delve into a million stats that i know you are already aware of to say that, my prediction is that when the finals are over, Ducks fans will look at Giguere (over any other ducks player anyway) as to the reason they didnt win.

though, they'll probably have their eyes on Heatley/Spezza/Alfredsson even more.

Just busting your chops, although I do expect a little more from Canadians when it comes to hockey analysis.

I'm very careful not to get ahead of myself, so we can break down a Ducks/Sens final after the Ducks eliminate the Wings, should that happen.

But it would be sad if Ducks fans blame Giggy for any playoff mishaps (and likely a testament to the lack of hockey knowledge for most Ducks fans) given his performance in the first three series.

As for his 2003 performance, nobody blamed Giggy for the Ducks not winning, except perhaps Giggy himself, which is ridiculous. The Mighty Ducks road his back all the way to Game 7, and yes, it was oh so close.

Originally posted by vansmack:
Just busting your chops, although I do expect a little more from Canadians when it comes to hockey analysis.

:)

ok. i understand. though, this year, you can claim knowledge over me, since my team (boston) isnt in the playoffs and since i dont have Versus i havent even been watching the games.

furthermore, i admit to being an Eastern Conference fan far above Western Conference and will defer all western conference knowledge and analysis to my friends who are ducks/nucks/flames/wings fans. :)

Giguere proved that a hot goalie can steal a game, as he did in game 5. The Wings clearly outplayed them in every possible way and yet Giggy game them the chance to win.

However, he hasn't been stellar all the time. At times, he's been downright mediocre (see game 3, which was a 5-0 loss).

Some may say that Emery has been less than stellar, especially with the bad rebounds and occasional shaky play. But the team in front of him is SO strong that they've been able to beat the best goalies in the game, including Brodeur and Miller.

I just can't see either the Wings or the Ducks having the strength to contain the Sens. They can score with any given line. Sure, the Ducks will throw Pronger and Niedermayer at the Sens #1 line, but the Sens have players that can score on all lines.

The Sens have overpowered every team they've faced and I have every confidence that they'll win the Cup. GO SENS!!!!!