The Energon Pub

If the Hawks repeat I will be stunned, but I'm not going to say they can't. Honestly, the loss of Antti Niemi is not a big one because their other AHL goalie- Corey Crawford- was actually BETTER than Niemi, but lost the back up job in Chicago this pas season due to a sports hernia. So that means a goalie combo of Marty Turco and Corey Crawford with a much improved team of defensemen. Throw in virtually the same offense as last year and that's going to be a team to be reckoned with.

I just don't want my Caps to choke like they did in the first round of the playoffs last season. What an embarrassment.

Still, it's been nice seeing them kick ass these past few seasons! Never thought I'd seem them this good since I became a fan back in the mid-90s.

Preseason is finally here! I can finally stop avoiding watching the Cubs!

Blurrz wrote:So eh? No one wants to join my league eh?

I tried that one time--EPIC FAIL.

Blurrz wrote:Come on, It'll be fun!

Oh, all right.

It's that time all...

LET'S DROP THE PUCK BABY!

On an intersting side note, I work for the Blackhawks AHL farm team in Rockford. The GM, who is number 2 on the player development team, brought in his ring today and I got to wear it...that wasn't a ring, it was a set of brass-er, platinum- knuckles! On another side note, our team will be hosting the Stanley Cup, Norris and Con SMythe trophies on SUnday. Those of us on the medical team will get first crack at it...we even get white gloves!

Blurrz wrote:God I can't wait for this - so much drama this offseason

Will the Blackhawks repeat?

I've created a Fantasy Hockey League on Yahoo.

League ID is 23912
Password is Monkeys

Online draft will be on Oct 2 - 9:00 EST

http://hockey.fantasysports.yahoo.com/l ... zenbananas

Blurrz, I totally forgot about this!

I have my annual Yahoo! league going this year, too. I got off to a phenomenal start thanks in a large part to the best draft I've ever had and the brilliance that is Steve Stamkos.

I'm hoping the guys find that playoff level at the Joe today so Ozzie can get win #400!

I'd feel bad for Chicago getting gutted in the summer but that's what happens when contract deadlines are missed making RFA's UFA's a contract early. Poor Versteeg is in Toronto of all places. But Byfuglien is turning out to be a solid offensive defenseman in Atlanta. If Chicago had figured that out before trading him they might have been able to mess with their cap a bit to keep him.

I'm ticked about another Winter Classic featuring two northern teams. Why aren't northern teams hosting southern teams? And why didn't the Wings host the Habs at Michigan Stadium the night before the Big Chill? The ice was ready to go and so was the stadium. Easy as pie to pull that off.

Thank goodness the PA finally has an ED than has what it takes to make some noise in New York and not only prevent another lost season but also bring in some proper marketing that isn't only about Crosby and Ovechkin.

And why don't we see hockey commercials during prime time broadcasts?

I'm not 100% certain yet, but I'm guessing Wings over anyone in the east for the Cup this season. Now we just have to sit back and enjoy the rest of the ride!

Alright, i know everyone here that's following this thread are die-harders. Has anyone ever seen a playoff race like what's been going on in the Western Conference? It has been absolutely insane. 5 games left, then the REAL season begins

First-Aid wrote:Alright, i know everyone here that's following this thread are die-harders. Has anyone ever seen a playoff race like what's been going on in the Western Conference? It has been absolutely insane. 5 games left, then the REAL season begins

I don't think the math has ever been filled with so many variables. Someone asked me if I thought Detroit had to finish ahead of San Jose to prevent too many West Coast series, but the fact is today Detroit would host Anaheim in the first round. It's nuts. I doubt we'll know the final match ups before the weekend, and even then Sunday's games might be the deciders.

Looking forward to the playoffs! I just wish McCreary was in the ref mix. He had a great career and I wish him all the best!

Agreed on McCreary. Best Moustache Outside a Porn Movie hands down...even better than some porn 'staches too.

Blurrz wrote:I hate the Blackhawks.. but I want the Nuck fans to shut up too. Hmmmmm

Being a former Blackhawks farm system employee, I'm obviously pulling for them. However, at this point, I'd be pulling for ANY number 8 seed who is on the verge of pulling a comeback from 0-3. This could be the biggest piece of hockey history since the Miracle on Ice in '80. To quote Jurassic Park, "hold onto yer butts.."

Sorry First-Aid, but final the spoils go to the Canucks.

Got to hand it to Crawford thou. He has nothing to feel bad about, he had a great series and a strong future.

My boy Crow is something else. The last three seasons I've watched him down in Rockford at the AHL level. It would have been him in net last year when the Hawks won the Cup except at the beginning of training camp he had a sports hernia. Corey is fundamentally better than Antti Niemi in every way...in fact, at the AHL level Antti never started because Corey did.

Well, my Wings are out. Not surprised as even I picked San Jose or Vancouver should the Wings falter. Heck of a fight to the finish, but these teams were very even, and losing two key forwards in one game while still staying in it is admirable. I cannot feel bad about this series since SJ should have ended it in 5 like last year. So close, but close doesn't get it done.

There were about four or five situations where if the Wings had a righty on the puck they would have had a goal. Holland has Mursak and Pyett coming in, but if Wisnewski hits free agency the Wings need to sign him. This team is so close, and Howard may have allowed a lot of goals, but boy did he steal some games and keep the team alive in every poor (5 out of 7, last 3) first period in this series. Add his improvement with Datsyuk getting healthier in game 7 and the Wings just might have gotten it done this year had they completed the comeback. I was not expecting Pav to shoot the way he did, but the early forehand and the later backhand (a goal) were very strong, so it comes down to SJ got it done, Detroit didn't.

Marleau finally scored, and I think he'll take that with him to the WFC. All the Sharks have to do is shut down Kesler (it seems), and that's easier than shutting down the Wings' lineup, injured or not (no offense to Kesler, but if the Sedins don't dominate the Sharks will kill the whales).

If Chara is healthy that should mean trouble for TB, but I still pick SJ to win the Cup this year, something I thought about after the first round. I believed after seeing Vancouver's play that the conference and likely the Cup would be decided in the SJ/Detroit series. As of now I have no reason to change my mind.

But it would be something special if TB won it all this year, Yzerman's first as GM. So I'll be rooting for the Lightning going forward, even if they are the only underdog left.

Bradimus wrote:I believed after seeing Vancouver's play that the conference and likely the Cup would be decided in the SJ/Detroit series. As of now I have no reason to change my mind.

Before I start, congrats to the Wings Bradinus. Their play over the last series was great, and they didn't stop. They might not have won game 7, but they definitely didn't quit.

The question that makes me ask is which games are you basing Vancouver's play on?
The performance of Kesler has been outstanding, but is hardly the only bullet in the 'nucks arsenal.

While it is hard to defend the Sedins based on their lower presence against their season records, but they have had 2 series where the opponents have targeted and played shut down lines against them and yet they still pulled in 19 points. Even their biggest knock came from game 4 against the hawks who deserved to turn that affair into a round of "NHL Hitz". Against the Sharks who play a closer game to the 'nucks natural style, this round should be a faster match-up that can allow them to get back in their groove.

Beyond them, look at who has performed so far, with Burrows, Edler and Raymond posting good numbers, and ever guys like Chris Higgins stepping up. Even Manny Mahotra while not suiting up is skating with them and providing leadership from the sky-boxes. This is a team that wants it, and is working for it.

The Sharks are by no means push-overs and many did want to see the Wings show up instead. The Sharks are talented, have great leadership and after dealing with the Hawks in Round 1, they could do without facing Antti Niemi but it's just another challenge to face. If the Canucks can keep their focus they should have no problem ending this in 6 games.

All 4 teams have shown the will to succeed in these finals. The Cup and the Conference Titles are still anyones at this point, and as they say "History will be made." My personal opinion is the Canucks and Boston will hoist the Campbell Cup & Wales Trophy for a magical June.

I can't pinpoint exactly what it is about Vancouver, but based on everything I've seen overall I just like the Sharks more in this matchup. As both teams had trouble with 3-0 leads, this should be a battle, and I expect 7 games. I'd also be surprised if we did not see an epic goalie battle, a few low scorers, a few high scorers, but mostly 1 goal wins.

Thanks for the praise for the Wings. They will reload and return. They are so close right now, especially with how much Howard has improved.

Tampa scorched Boston tonight, so game one to the Lightning. That should go 7 as well. I think each CF is fairly evenly matched, but I believe the West has the stronger, deeper teams. We'll find out soon enough.

The scary part for SJ is that even when they only had Datsyuk and Zetterberg to deal with half way through the game those two still almost beat them. If the team learned the lesson and Marleau finally gets going I think Vancouver is in trouble.

Should be good hockey to close out the season. Then we'll have the draft, some rule talk, some PA talk, some CBA talk, and some trades leading up to both the draft and FA. I hope the NHL is smart enough to realize it has a great CBA in place that simply needs some tweaking and avoids a lockout unlike the NFL and possibly the NBA. It's weird thinking we might not have two major sports playing next season. Maybe this time the NHL comes out smelling like a rose. And maybe they still work out a deal with ESPN if it has no sports to show (though I've heard VS is exclusive, but that would be moronic).

Rest in peace, Derek Boorgard. You left this world way too soon.

As a health care professional, I see the effects of head injuries. THough I am a hockey purist, I really think fighting needs to be curtailed. Hopefully this event will shed more light on the potential effects of fighting and head injuries. Should the autopsy come back as I expect it to, the NHL will have a concrete reason to crackdown soundly and decisively on head hits.

While I'm not sure it it was shown on the US coverage of the game, The Canucks held a moment of silence for Boorgard before the anthems.



While I completely agree with First-Aid's head injury due to certain hits assessment, I prefer to wait until we have the official word on COD before wadding into that discussion.