This game for some reason reminded me of the last Blue Jackets playoffs game... What a craziness. The Pens PP with 4 goals - 2 for and 2 against.
Flyers were coming back like that was the last hockey game ever. Philly can be proud of their team. They weren't sucking and collecting those high draft picks for 6 years like Pens did.
The Flyer/Pen game tonight was one of the worst playoff games I've ever seen, 13 goals is poor hockey on both sides.. neither team will go far if they keep playing these score fests. That said, I'm shocked the Flyers are up 2-0 over Pittsburgh, Howson is an expert for making teams other than the Blue Jackets playoff contenders.
I agree that quality wasn't highest.. Both teams were surprisingly nervous. But I'm sure everyone enjoyed that intensity, emotions, personal skills a lot. Something you Americans love the college sports for.
Sorry, Viqsi, but after that Weber display I've lost all respect for the Preds and hope they are shut out the rest of the way by the hated Wings and get beat up, to boot. Shanahan makes Campbell look like Solomon with that rediculous non-punishment.
Couturier with a hat-trick... The Flyeyrs should build Сarter's monument for the return he brought to Philly.
I've never seen a three-way win before. Well, at least not an all-male three-way win.
Philly got rid of a headache and replaced him with an excellent prospect and a productive playmaking winger. Columbus got rid of an underachieving whiner and replaced him with a terrific defenseman and a first-rounder. And Los Angeles got scoring punch that they'd lacked and got rid of a defenseman who wasn't helping, who also was impairing Voynov's being able to get prime minutes.
I've never seen a three-way win before. Well, at least not an all-male three-way win.
Philly got rid of a headache and replaced him with an excellent prospect and a productive playmaking winger. Columbus got rid of an underachieving whiner and replaced him with a terrific defenseman and a first-rounder. And Los Angeles got scoring punch that they'd lacked and got rid of a defenseman who wasn't helping, who also was impairing Voynov's being able to get prime minutes.
Was there ever a difference between "playoff hockey" and dumb thuggery? I saw more cheap shots, elbows, late scrums, and blows targeting the head, today, than I think I've ever seen before. I'd like to blame dickless Shanahan for encouraging it with his failure to suspend Weber, but I think it's much deeper than that - these guys have no respect for each other, for their profession, or for their game. Take the size and speed of these guys, wrap them in hard armor, and sit back and wait for the permanent injury or death yet to come. There must be more to the game than that. At it's best, it's the fastest, most intense game on the planet; played by the toughest, most skilled athletes in the world. The games, this year, have been close and exciting but all of the extra crap just detracts from the flow of the game. Play hard, play tough, but don't leave the rules of the game completely in the dust.
Was there ever a difference between "playoff hockey" and dumb thuggery? I saw more cheap shots, elbows, late scrums, and blows targeting the head, today, than I think I've ever seen before. I'd like to blame dickless Shanahan for encouraging it with his failure to suspend Weber, but I think it's much deeper than that - these guys have no respect for each other, for their profession, or for their game. Take the size and speed of these guys, wrap them in hard armor, and sit back and wait for the permanent injury or death yet to come. There must be more to the game than that. At it's best, it's the fastest, most intense game on the planet; played by the toughest, most skilled athletes in the world. The games, this year, have been close and exciting but all of the extra crap just detracts from the flow of the game. Play hard, play tough, but don't leave the rules of the game completely in the dust.
True post...
Weber not getting a two game suspension for blatant intent to injure is key, Shanahan needs the tar and feathers for being so inconsistent. The other point you made about the playoffs is true as well, the refs put their whistles away every playoff post season which is not consistent with the regular season; its not right.
Was there ever a difference between "playoff hockey" and dumb thuggery? I saw more cheap shots, elbows, late scrums, and blows targeting the head, today, than I think I've ever seen before. I'd like to blame dickless Shanahan for encouraging it with his failure to suspend Weber, but I think it's much deeper than that - these guys have no respect for each other, for their profession, or for their game. Take the size and speed of these guys, wrap them in hard armor, and sit back and wait for the permanent injury or death yet to come. There must be more to the game than that. At it's best, it's the fastest, most intense game on the planet; played by the toughest, most skilled athletes in the world. The games, this year, have been close and exciting but all of the extra crap just detracts from the flow of the game. Play hard, play tough, but don't leave the rules of the game completely in the dust.
It's frustrating and sad to see. I don't know where the lack of respect for your fellow player comes from. Someone's going to say it's always been there and to a certain extent they'd be right - I don't have some kind of wistful nostalgia. But the ability to inflict serious injury on an oppoent has never been greater, and the liberties taken in that regard are at best a detriment to the game and at worst criminal.
I enjoy chippy play. I enjoy when emotions run high on the ice, when there's a facewash or two after the whitsle or a guy clears the crease after a save - and I hate it when I don't see the CBJ doing it. But this is not that. It's being sold as the great intensity of playoff hockey. But this is not that, either.
And, since I'm ranting, that ********* Tortorella, who called out opposing players as dirty just a week ago, is apparently defending Hagelin after his hit on Alfredsson. That guy puts the I'm a ****face in hypocrite.
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"Every game, every point is a necessity." -- Ty Conklin, January 2007
"I'll have a chance to compete for the post of first issue. This is the most important thing." -- Sergei Bobrovsky, June 2012
End right after your 3 posts Shaw hits Smith to the head. Phoenix goalie was down on the ice for a few minutes.
Pay back: Torres screens, Vermette scores on that 5 min major PP.
I enjoy chippy play. I enjoy when emotions run high on the ice, when there's a facewash or two after the whitsle or a guy clears the crease after a save - and I hate it when I don't see the CBJ doing it. But this is not that. It's being sold as the great intensity of playoff hockey. But this is not that, either.
Facewashing as "intensity" means as much as a batter continuously calling time and stepping out of the box has to do with "building tension".
The Smith incident was a joke. Ok, so it looks like it could have been bad, he's down on the ice like he's been shot, 3 guys come out to tend to him for 5-8 minutes and then 'ok, im all better'. Good acting job by Smith. Certainly not saying it wasnt a penalty, but talk about an acting job....for someone to be down that long and need that much attention, certainly shouldnt be continuing to play if it was as bad as he acted
Facewashing as "intensity" means as much as a batter continuously calling time and stepping out of the box has to do with "building tension".
Except I never said the former. And no, I'm not going to compose an 18-paragraph piece in hopes of avoiding misinterpretation, out-of-context or over-literalism. If that's what you felt was most worthy to reply to in my post, I don't know as further explanation is worth it.
The Smith incident was a joke. Ok, so it looks like it could have been bad, he's down on the ice like he's been shot, 3 guys come out to tend to him for 5-8 minutes and then 'ok, im all better'. Good acting job by Smith. Certainly not saying it wasnt a penalty, but talk about an acting job....for someone to be down that long and need that much attention, certainly shouldnt be continuing to play if it was as bad as he acted
Shaw saw where Smith was, never stopped and hit him to the head. Smith could easily get concussion. The fact he didn't doesn't make Shaw look better n that situation.
Shaw saw where Smith was, never stopped and hit him to the head. Smith could easily get concussion. The fact he didn't doesn't make Shaw look better n that situation.
Like I said, it was still a penalty, but the theatrics were ridiculous. He should have had to of gone to the quiet room and be evaluated for how long he was down for. I've seen Mason do it as well....get run into, then lay there motionless like he's unconscious and then miraculously be able to continue
Except I never said the former. And no, I'm not going to compose an 18-paragraph piece in hopes of avoiding misinterpretation, out-of-context or over-literalism. If that's what you felt was most worthy to reply to in my post, I don't know as further explanation is worth it.
I'm well aware of what you said and what you meant. I just have a difficult time saying on one hand that bastardizing the name of intense playoff hockey with violent/criminal behavior is horrible (which it is), but that essentially slapping another man in the face with a gloved hand is positive because it increases the intensity.
The two are linked. I'm having a tough time remember a game that featured legitimately violent play on both sides that didn't involve excessive facewashing, or crosschecking an opponent in the back near the net. I regard facewashing and other post-whistle scrums as needless theatrics, and I really wish they'd penalize it during both the regular season and playoffs.
It would be cool to see the hockey game right now, but unfortunately the local NBC affiliate here in Cleveland thought having the Indians game on 2 channels was a better idea.
Several series' have stepped up the nastiness (Ottawa/Rangers, Stl/SJ). Ever since Shanahan decided not to suspend Weber, he sent the message "Have at it guys".
