NHL Playoff Pool

[Charles]

Originally Posted by stormin

• [SIZE=3]Blowin' Smoke - Penguins - 3rd period - 14:51[/SIZE]
• [SIZE=3]stevefrench - Canadiens - 3rd period - 18:36[/SIZE]
• [SIZE=3]Mr.Maduro - Detroit Red Wings - 3rd period - 8:32[/SIZE]
• [SIZE=3]Mr.Maduro - New Jersey Devils - 3rd period - 9:19[/SIZE]
• [SIZE=3]Charles - Caps - 3rd period - 15:00.[/SIZE]
• [SIZE=3]Charles - Calgary - 3rd period 11:00.[/SIZE]
• [SIZE=3]yourchoice - Minnesota Wild - 3rd Period - 16:02[/SIZE]
• [SIZE=3]Old Sailor - Montreal - 3rd period 16:15[/SIZE]
• [SIZE=3]Old Sailor - Detroit - 3rd period 17:45[/SIZE]
• [SIZE=3]stevefrench - San Jose Sharks - 3rd period - 17:33[/SIZE]

Do we even have coverage of all the teams? Might have to cover another team. Hope everyone understands that more than one botl/sotl can play for an individual team - thus the requirement to pick the winning goal/period.

[stormin]

Good afternoon Sportsfans! I'm back to do some compiling of the list this evening.

If all goes well I might have some time to criticize some picks and insult people.

[stormin]

[SIZE=3]OK, here is where we currently stand:[/SIZE]

• [SIZE=3]Blowin' Smoke - Penguins - 3rd period - 14:51[/SIZE]
• [SIZE=3]stevefrench - Canadiens - 3rd period - 18:36[/SIZE]
• [SIZE=3]stevefrench - San Jose Sharks - 3rd period - 17:33[/SIZE]
• [SIZE=3]Mr.Maduro - New Jersey Devils - 3rd period - 9:19[/SIZE]
• [SIZE=3]Mr.Maduro - Detroit Red Wings - 3rd period - 8:32[/SIZE]
• [SIZE=3]bobarian - Detroit Redwings - 3rd period - 16:50[/SIZE]
• [SIZE=3]Charles - Caps - 3rd period - 15:00.[/SIZE]
• [SIZE=3]Charles - Calgary - 3rd period 11:00.[/SIZE]
• [SIZE=3]yourchoice - Minnesota Wild - 3rd Period - 16:02[/SIZE]
• [SIZE=3]Old Sailor - Montreal - 3rd period - 16:15[/SIZE]
• [SIZE=3]Old Sailor - Detroit Red Wings - 3rd period - 17:45[/SIZE]
• [SIZE=3]jamesb3 - Detroit Red Wings - 3rd period - 16:47[/SIZE]
• [SIZE=3]ltc1303 - New Jersey Devils - First OT - 3:53[/SIZE]
• [SIZE=3]bobarian - SJ Sharks - 3rd period - 17:30[/SIZE]
• [SIZE=3]OB1 Stogie - PENGUINS - 3rd period - 2:32[/SIZE]
• [SIZE=3]OB1 Stogie - SJ SHARKS - 3rd period - 12:33
  [/SIZE]

[stormin]

Originally Posted by stormin

[SIZE=3]OK, here is where we currently stand:[/SIZE]

• [SIZE=3]Blowin' Smoke - Penguins - 3rd period - 14:51[/SIZE]
• [SIZE=3]stevefrench - Canadiens - 3rd period - 18:36[/SIZE]
• [SIZE=3]stevefrench - San Jose Sharks - 3rd period - 17:33[/SIZE]
• [SIZE=3]Mr.Maduro - New Jersey Devils - 3rd period - 9:19[/SIZE]
• [SIZE=3]Mr.Maduro - Detroit Red Wings - 3rd period - 8:32[/SIZE]
• [SIZE=3]bobarian - Detroit Redwings - 3rd period - 16:50[/SIZE]
• [SIZE=3]Charles - Caps - 3rd period - 15:00.[/SIZE]
• [SIZE=3]Charles - Calgary - 3rd period 11:00.[/SIZE]
• [SIZE=3]yourchoice - Minnesota Wild - 3rd Period - 16:02[/SIZE]
• [SIZE=3]Old Sailor - Montreal - 3rd period - 16:15[/SIZE]
• [SIZE=3]Old Sailor - Detroit Red Wings - 3rd period - 17:45[/SIZE]
• [SIZE=3]jamesb3 - Detroit Red Wings - 3rd period - 16:47[/SIZE]
• [SIZE=3]ltc1303 - New Jersey Devils - First OT - 3:53[/SIZE]
• [SIZE=3]bobarian - SJ Sharks - 3rd period - 17:30[/SIZE]
• [SIZE=3]OB1 Stogie - PENGUINS - 3rd period - 2:32[/SIZE]
• [SIZE=3]OB1 Stogie - SJ SHARKS - 3rd period - 12:33[/SIZE]

As it stand, no one has yet to chime in for the Avalanche, the Ducks, the Flyers, the Senators, the Bruins or the Rangers. I can understand the lack of interest in the Rangers because I heard a rumour that they suck!

[stormin]

So how about the state of hockey? Is it broken or is it perfect the way it is? How about goaltender equipment? Too big? What about bigger nets? No touch icing? The instigator rule?

I heard one fella say that almost all of the GM's would agree to change the rules to keep the puck in play when it hits the netting and pounces back to the ice surface. Less whistles and more play in the offensive zone. What do you think of that?

[yourchoice]

Originally Posted by Charles

Sorry I'm slow to get back. Family emergency took me out of town. You are on.

Charles

Alright, sounds good. I hope all is well with your family.

Originally Posted by stormin

So how about the state of hockey? Is it broken or is it perfect the way it is? How about goaltender equipment? Too big? What about bigger nets? No touch icing? The instigator rule?

I love the sport the way it is, but I could see them shrinking the goalie equipment. Don't get me wrong, some of the best games, in my eyes, are the 1-0, 2-1 type games. But to generate more interest I could see that change. They would have to be careful with it though, because if they made it too big of a change, and the scoring increased too much, some of their core fans could be lost.

As for no touch icing, I heard some interesting commentary on XM's NHL channel. Apparently a minor league league has an interesting compromise to this. I may not get this 100% right, but basically, if it is clear that the defensemen is going to touch up, the linesman (or referee?) can blow the play dead and call it icing. If it is going to be close, they let it play out. That would eliminate some of the injury situations associated with it, but certainly not all. The biggest problem is obviously it's a judgement call...and they SUCK!

Originally Posted by stormin

I heard one fella say that almost all of the GM's would agree to change the rules to keep the puck in play when it hits the netting and pounces back to the ice surface. Less whistles and more play in the offensive zone. What do you think of that?

I think that's a terrible idea!



Alright, another pick:

Flyers 5:40 in the third

I may have yet a third by the deadline.

[jamesb3]

They goalies have gotten so big that IMHO bigger goals and smaller goalie equipment is they way to go. I think it would increase scoring but not so much that it would cause old time hockey fans to walk away from the game. It's only been in the last 10-12 years that scoring has gone way down. With the advent of the neutral zone trap and the bigger players. Look at the scores just 15 years and prior and you would see 5-3 and 7-5 games on a regular basis. I believe it would help to generate more interest in the game. But that is just my opinion.

[icehog3]

Originally Posted by stormin

As it stand, no one has yet to chime in for the Avalanche, the Ducks, the Flyers, the Senators, the Bruins or the Rangers. I can understand the lack of interest in the Rangers because I heard a rumour that they suck!

No one picked the Leafs yet?

Originally Posted by stormin

So how about the state of hockey? Is it broken or is it perfect the way it is? How about goaltender equipment? The league is going to reduce it, like it or not...Bettman wants more goal scoring. What about bigger nets? Hope not. No touch icing? I don't like the idea, although it takes the potential for a few injuries away, it also will reduce the hard forecheck. The instigator rule? A stupid rule....Toe Blake, Eddie Shore....old time hockey.

I heard one fella say that almost all of the GM's would agree to change the rules to keep the puck in play when it hits the netting and pounces back to the ice surface. Less whistles and more play in the offensive zone. What do you think of that? Goofy.

[stormin]

[SIZE=3]Picks:[/SIZE]

• [SIZE=3]Blowin' Smoke - Penguins - 3rd period - 14:51[/SIZE]
• [SIZE=3]stevefrench - Canadiens - 3rd period - 18:36[/SIZE]
• [SIZE=3]stevefrench - San Jose Sharks - 3rd period - 17:33[/SIZE]
• [SIZE=3]Mr.Maduro - New Jersey Devils - 3rd period - 9:19[/SIZE]
• [SIZE=3]Mr.Maduro - Detroit Red Wings - 3rd period - 8:32[/SIZE]
• [SIZE=3]bobarian - Detroit Redwings - 3rd period - 16:50[/SIZE]
• [SIZE=3]Charles - Caps - 3rd period - 15:00.[/SIZE]
• [SIZE=3]Charles - Calgary - 3rd period 11:00.[/SIZE]
• [SIZE=3]yourchoice - Minnesota Wild - 3rd Period - 16:02[/SIZE]
• [SIZE=3]yourchoice - Flyers 3rd period - 5:40[/SIZE]
• [SIZE=3]Old Sailor - Montreal - 3rd period - 16:15[/SIZE]
• [SIZE=3]Old Sailor - Detroit Red Wings - 3rd period - 17:45[/SIZE]
• [SIZE=3]jamesb3 - Detroit Red Wings - 3rd period - 16:47[/SIZE]
• [SIZE=3]ltc1303 - New Jersey Devils - First OT - 3:53[/SIZE]
• [SIZE=3]bobarian - SJ Sharks - 3rd period - 17:30[/SIZE]
• [SIZE=3]OB1 Stogie - PENGUINS - 3rd period - 2:32[/SIZE]
• [SIZE=3]OB1 Stogie - SJ SHARKS - 3rd period - 12:33[/SIZE]

[stormin]

Originally Posted by icehog3

No one picked the Leafs yet?

Jon and I will be picking shortly.

So Blackhawks?

[icehog3]

Originally Posted by stormin

Jon and I will be picking shortly.

So Blackhawks?

Next year.

I will be making my picks tonight before bed.

[stormin]

It is kind if strange how Calgary and San Jose have already played 2 games while the Caps and Flyers haven't played any yet.

It sure is tough to pick this year. To my mind Detroit, San Jose and Anaheim all have a legitimate shot. If Dallas gets going, they look like they have a team that can contend (on paper at least, although their stumbling and fumbling ways to end the season don't inspire much confidence). Teams from the east are just as hard to pick. Pittsburgh and Montreal look like good choices, but I am worried if they can compete against the western teams come the final. I am really tempted to pick Washington as my dark horse and sentimental favourite. Ovechkin sure is fun to watch.

[stormin]

My first pick........

Detroit - 3rd period - 19:16

[stormin]

[SIZE=3]Picks:[/SIZE]

• [SIZE=3]Blowin' Smoke - Penguins - 3rd period - 14:51[/SIZE]
• [SIZE=3]stevefrench - Canadiens - 3rd period - 18:36[/SIZE]
• [SIZE=3]stevefrench - San Jose Sharks - 3rd period - 17:33[/SIZE]
• [SIZE=3]Mr.Maduro - New Jersey Devils - 3rd period - 9:19[/SIZE]
• [SIZE=3]Mr.Maduro - Detroit Red Wings - 3rd period - 8:32[/SIZE]
• [SIZE=3]bobarian - Detroit Redwings - 3rd period - 16:50[/SIZE]
• [SIZE=3]Charles - Caps - 3rd period - 15:00.[/SIZE]
• [SIZE=3]Charles - Calgary - 3rd period 11:00.[/SIZE]
• [SIZE=3]yourchoice - Minnesota Wild - 3rd Period - 16:02[/SIZE]
• [SIZE=3]yourchoice - Flyers 3rd period - 5:40[/SIZE]
• [SIZE=3]Old Sailor - Montreal - 3rd period - 16:15[/SIZE]
• [SIZE=3]Old Sailor - Detroit Red Wings - 3rd period - 17:45[/SIZE]
• [SIZE=3]jamesb3 - Detroit Red Wings - 3rd period - 16:47[/SIZE]
• [SIZE=3]ltc1303 - New Jersey Devils - First OT - 3:53[/SIZE]
• [SIZE=3]bobarian - SJ Sharks - 3rd period - 17:30[/SIZE]
• [SIZE=3]OB1 Stogie - PENGUINS - 3rd period - 2:32[/SIZE]
• [SIZE=3]OB1 Stogie - SJ SHARKS - 3rd period - 12:33[/SIZE]

• [SIZE=3]stormin - Detroit - 3rd period - 19:16[/SIZE]

[yourchoice]

Oh...why not a third:

Penguins - 3rd period 13:51