NHL Canadian Playoffs Thread
 

So, no hockey talk?

Who is going to make the playoffs?

In the west I don't think the flames are in danger of slipping and missing the playoffs. I also don't think the Oilers have even the slightest chance to make it in.

In the east, however, the race is tight and very exciting.
There are 6 teams that have a shot at the last three spots and because all 6 teams are really mediocre the 3 spots are really up for grabs.

Who do you think will make it?
Will the habs be in and leafs out?
Leafs in and habs out?
Both out?
Both in?
Other?

Here are the league standings courtesy of www.canadiens.com. This will always show the most recent standings as they appear on teh Canadiens website.
(I hope is it OK to put an iframe in here)
<iframe src="http://www.canadiens.com/eng/redirect.cfm?sectionID=habsStatisticStandings.cfm&displayID=2" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" width="600" height="850"></iframe>
*Edit: It worked on the testing board. Here is the link: http://www.canadiens.com/eng/stats/r...cStandings.cfm

I hope the habs make it in although I will not expect it.
If the leafs make it in I hope they loose early (sorry leafs fans).

I'm a Leafs fan but wouldn't mind the Maple Leafs missing the playoffs for the second straight year.

Hopefully they fire John Ferguson Jr. at the end of this season and hire someone who is better qualified. JFJ reminds me of Rob Babcock, someone the Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment hired on the cheap with little or no management experience.

Wouldn't mind seeing Richard Peddie canned as well.

Meh, I hate to say it, but I don't think any of the Canadian teams have the gas to go all the way this year. My Canucks stand about the best chance I think, but even I have to be realistic.

Someone needs to get Roberto Luongo a glass of water, pulling a bandwagon is hard work.

Well I think that if the habs or the Leafs make the playoffs they won't get anywhere. They are just not strong enough.

That being said, of the habs and the leafs the one more likely to get a Miracle are the habs. Huet, who should be back by the end of the season has proved that he can be a super hero at times. I am not counting on this but it is the only possible way the habs will move forward.

Out in the West, I think the Canucks have a good shot to go pretty far. I guess it depends who they draw in the first round. The West is really strong this year. I think the only thing that is going to keep a team from the west from winning the cup is a show of good goaltending from the eastern team they meet in the finals.

Disappointed in Ottawa. Thought maybe Muckler might atleast let something slide to get a Sourey or (not a fan but,...) Gary Roberts at the deadline.

If Redden isn't gone by next year's deadline,...Ottawa may well as be Philadelphia. 6M. Wow.

Ottawa won't make it past the second round if their defense sucks.

It is easy for us to say that the GM's of our favorite teams did nothing at the Deadline but we really don't know what went on behind the scenes.

Gainey basically had no resulte to show after the deadline so everybody in MTL is on his case that he did not do anything. The habs have a whole bunch of free agents that everybody is expecting them to lose at the end of the season so the argument is - why not get rid of them for something before the deadline rather than nothing before the end of the summer.

The other side is that if Gainey had made a move like Souray for a couple of draft picks he would have never heard the end of it here. How come you got rid of Souray everyone would say. He was damned that he didn't and he would have been damned if he did.

Don't you think he tried to get something?
I am sure that most GM's tried to do something.

By the way, does anybody understand why the ifram above worked on the testing board but not here?

I basically have a problem understanding how anybody can be a fan of a team other than the maple leafs. But that is only because I'm one of those pathetic people who desperately hope, year in and year out, that the Bleu et Blanc will do something (goddam Wayne Gretzky in '93) and I don't jump on or off the bandwagon.

Be that as it may, I do recognize that Montreal, Calgary, Vancouver and even the hated Senators have a fan base.

I doubt that either the Hads or the Laffs will make it in this year. And I truely hope that Ferguson's group doesn't make it in order to shake 'em up for the second year in a row. And anyways, they are the team in the league that is most able to afford a miss of the playoffs.

If the Leafs do get in, I can only hope that they do so to meet, and eliminate the Senators in the first round.

Hehehe (evil chuckling).

That is so funny I am so close to agreeing with you I would just eliminate the following words "a team other than".
I really don't understand what you have to be a fan of. What a sad life.

If someone can remmeber the Leafs winning the cup they will proabably loose that memory to old age very soon.

(not that the Habs won't be in the same situation soon)

I was going for arrogance. Yeah, that's it. A fine ingrainded sense of arrogance... But if you peel away the humourous aspect, and investigate the statement, historically one is a 'homer' for the local team. Particularly if such a team is steeped in tradition. So, for me that team is the Leafs. Regardless about how badly they play.

I remember the shock i felt in high school back in '76/'77 when one of my friends sported a (at the time very much hated) Philadelphia Flyers jersey during the playoffs. That's when I first got a glimmer that people could be non-homer fans.

But for the same reason I have agrudging respect for habs fans, and like to hold that team up as the standard for pro-sports when discussing baseball or football.

i figure Luongo is gonna keep standing on his head goiung into the playoffs...........our record against the teams in the east is out-fucking-standing.......


all we gotta do is get through the west to the big prize,and i figure it is a possibility.

go Canucks.

I understand how people are not Homer's. What I don't get is how a guy from MTL could like the Leafs or Bruins. Or how a guy from TO could root for the habs.

Good game Saturday night. I was upset the Leafs were able to pull off a point though.

you happen to see the Canucks kick Detroits ass on saturday too Sticky?


i'm tellin' ya'........watch for them to go deep into the playoffs

My next door neighbour is a staunch Habs fan. We co-exist.

It was a good game, but dammit, we need better than a measely point for 2 games.

I was not able to watch it.
They are strong. but so are a lot of other teams in the west.

This is a whole other discussion, but I think they need to change the point system.
The point for an overtime loss was brought in before the shootout, wasn't it.
The reason was that they wanted the teams to really play in overtime and not settle for the tie.
Now that there are no ties the extra point is no longer needed as an incentive.

sweet........2 more points for us.


edmonton is damn near finished......slim hope in hell for them to make the playoffs.

The Habs, Flames, and Senators won last night.

OK, the Leafs won too.
This puts the Leafs, Hurricanes, and Habs in a tie for 8th spot

ya' know.........i'm a western dude........not really giving a shit about the eastern teams but...........i'd sure like to see as many Canadian teams in the playoffs as possible.

even though i absolutely loathe the leafs and habs............

'nother two points..........4 points outta first in the west.......


25-2-2.......can you believe that......since christmas.

That's crazy. I caught the end of the game last night. Both the Canucks and the Predators looked like they were playing really well. Luongo is stealign all the games.

As it stands now the fate of the habs are completely in their hands.
They are now in 8th place.

Yeah, but you know, we're such a streaky team - we win a bunch in a row, like now, we're just due for a fall, unfortunately.

I don't see any Canadian teams making it past the quarter finals. None of them. I think this may be San Jo's year. I kind of hope it is. I'd like to see Thornton win one.
I'd also like to see Pittsburgh make it a couple rounds... I'd like to see Sid light it up in the playoffs.

That is fine. But as of now it is completely in their control.
I would rather miss the playoffs becuase we lost then miss becuause we just could not catch up.

of the six Don't forget that everyone is playing each other alot at the end.
Rangers - TO (1) NYI (1)
Tampa - CAR (2)
Toronto - NYR (1) NYI (1)
Islanders - NYR (1) TO (1)
Carolina - TBL (2)

Anyone excited about the last game between the Leafs and Habs on Saturday? May determine the final playoff spot.

Actually, I am so hoping that it won't come to that and the Habs will win tonight and the Leafs will loose. That will clinch it for the habs.
It would be an exciting game though.

Actually, I am so hoping that it won't come to that and the Hads will lose tonight and the Leafs will win. That will make it an exciting game on Saturday. :thumbsup:

even if they both win the game will be exciting on Saturday it will just be an overtime loss in favor of the team with the additional point.

You have to figure that right now tonights game is the biggest game of the year for the leafs of the Islanders.
Both are playing for their lives. The loser (in regualtion) is out.

well, seeing as they both lost, it's the same deal. This has got to be the most exciting finish for a season to see who will be the frist team eliminated from the playoffs!

So as of today, the battle for the last playoff spot in the East has

Montreal with 90 points
Toronto with 89 points
NY Islanders with 88 points

All three are playing today.

But NY has a game in hand. For them, they could still get in the playoffs if Toronto beats Montreal today, and they beat Philadelphia. All they have to do is win both games, and end up with 92 points to toronto's potential 91.

BUT, If MTL wins tonight, they will tie with the Islanders, if NY wins both their games.

Anyways, we all know the way this will go:

Maple Leafs win in regular: a strong performance where Sundin will finally get his own goal, I say a 5-3 Toronto victory, with an empty netter at the end.

NY will win against the last place Flyers this afternoon but will not be able to beat Brodeur and the Devils on Sunday afternoon.

Result: Toronto will be in the playoffs. And I can finally take the Jersey out of my cupboard after a year (it's a #21 Salming jersey) to celebrate the arrival of the second season.


** and then I woke up! :rolleyes:

12 mins left in the 3rd, 6-5 TOR. WHAT A GAME.

If only they'd both played like this during the first 81 games...

Goodbye Montreal.

6-5 TOR it ends. On the edge of my seat for the whole 3rd period.

... go devils? :confused: :confused:

So I see the Leafs win. My brother will be happy about that (friend of Cujo's). I see that Sundin didn't score and Raycroft got pulled. Must've been an exciting game to watch and the T.O. fans might have even got out of their seats and cheered for once. They will have to wait to see if the Isles can beat Jersey on Sunday but even if the Leafers get in, Raycroft and McCabe will let them down against Buffalo. C'mon, will either player even be in the NHL 3 years from now? Sittler used to be a regular at my summer hockey camps 25+ years ago so I'm kinda glad his scoring record will last another year. Pre-playoff prediction: Buffalo and Dallas in the finals.

canucks get dallas in the first round.


see ya' later dallas.

So the Isles have to lose to NJ today for the Leafs to get in. The Devils are playing Clemmenson instead of Brodeur. I still think the Dev's can beat the Isles, especially with the Isles not having DiPietro in goal.

Either way, it really doesn't matter. Montreal, Toronto, the Islanders, whoever. They'd all lose to Buffalo in six games or less. Including my Buds. I know they're a rotten team. I can admit it.

Ottawa will need some solid D if they want to make it to the semi's. And if teams pick up on Emerys weak glove side, that could be trouble.

Being in Ottawa I can only hope someone covers up for Redden's inevitable giveaways, especially up the middle.

As for Toronto. Substandard management will kill a team everytime. Look forward to TO missing the playoffs again next year as well.

And dont be fooled by Ottawa. Muckler is about 3 trades away from a serious contender.If he constantly refuses to continue to give up some youth for experience, Ottawa will be fighting with both Montreal and Toronto for next years final spot.

Time to fire JFJ.

I kinda hope this is going to be Buffalo's year. I can remember as a kid driving down to Buffalo once or twice a year to catch a game at the old Aud because Leaf tickets were (even back then) way overpriced. As a result I've kinda always had a soft spot for the Sabres but lets face it up until last year there wasn't exactly much to cheer for.

I'm only happy that the Flames made it because that means I have more work for myself, I work security at the Dome, and hopefully they'll go far but it's not looking good against a good Detroit team. Though I dream of the day I can call it a young Detroit team.

The Sedins lead the league in playoff scoring, leading the charge to a Stanley Cup Victory.

YHIHF!!!!

I actually am glad Calgary made it to the playoffs just so I can enjoy belittling the Flames Fanboys. Petty? Why yes it is, thank you sir!

The Habs actually had a decent record against the Sabres.
4-2-2

Doesn't really matter though.
It was all in the habs control if they wanted it enough. They could have beaten NYR in the Thurs. game to clinch or TOR in the Sat. game.

Obviously the Leafs wanted it more.
I give credit to the Leafs. They did all they could. They needed to beat MTL straight out to have a chance and that is what they did.

Sorry Leafs fans, missing the playoffs felt a lot better once the Islanders knocked the Leafs out.

My wings just had a squeaker against the flames... 4-1!