NHL 2009/ 2010

[sjcma]

I must say, as much as I enjoy seeing the Habs win, I enjoy seeing the Pens lose 100x more. Yes, I'm still holding a grudge for the Sens loss, but that's what sports is all about.

[citizen k]

Hoe-lee crap.
I didn't see that coming.

Yeah, the way they played around the Olympic break and through the end of the season, I don't think any of us did! Though Halak played awesome in nets for the Czechs in the Olympics. Go Jaro!

[sjcma]

What's amazing about the Habs and their run is their success despite the huge shots-on-goal differential in favour of their opponents game after game. Speaks volumes about Halak.

The following show the SOG differential from Montreal's perspective in the playoffs so far. Out of 14 games so far, Montreal has outshot their opponents in only three games -- and they lost all three. Except for Game 2 against the Caps, Montreal won all other games (6 games total) where the opponents' SOG advantage was in the double digits.

It appears the secret to success is: shoot less, win more (and pray Halak remains hot).

SOG Difference Versus WSH
G1 (W) -9
G2 (L) -13
G3 (L) -9
G4 (L) +1
G5 (W) -10
G6 (W) -32!!
G7 (W) -26!!


Shots on Goal Difference Versus PIT
G1 (L) +7
G2 (W) -18
G3 (L) -7
G4 (W) -10
G5 (L) +8
G6 (W) -12
G7 (W) -19

[djlowballer]

I think they also have an absurd amount of blocked shots as well. The key thing is Halak. He is holding the line.

[sjcma]

I cannot believe my eyes. Two storybook teams about to meet in the Eastern Conference finals.

The Flyers-Bruins game 7 mimiced the series, with the Flyers down 3-0 and then crawling their way back to victory.

I think the choking dogs label just got passed from Washington to Boston.

Go Habs!

[k.k.]

That was a choke job of monumental proportions. Not only up 3-0 in the series, but 3-0 in the 1st period and Boston still finds a way to lose and launch the Flyers to the East Conf final and some pretty elite history. The Flyers join the '42 Leafs, the '75 Islanders, and the 2004 Boston Red Sox as the only sports teams to rally from being down 3-0 in a 7 game series to come back and win it.

I would have enjoyed seeing Boston and Montreal hook up in the East Conf final, a bit of an old school matchup, but the Flyers represent a better chance of making it a competitive series. Boston was the 2nd lowest scoring NHL team all season. Probably a bit of a stretch for them to have gotten as far as they did in the first place.

[citizen k]

No hockey Saturday ET/PT. Bettman, you're a dink!

Montreal and Philly, eh? Go Habs! See you Monday morning, kids!

[citizen k]

Go Habs! See you Monday morning, kids!

Ouch!

[k.k.]

Go Habs! See you Monday morning, kids!

Ouch!

I wouldn't worry. The Habs play better when they are down in the series.

Philly did look pretty good in game 1 though. They are a hell of a lot bigger than the diminutive Habs forwards.

[citizen k]

I wouldn't worry. The Habs play better when they are down in the series.

Mumble, mumble, mumble...Looks like the Flyers are playing Habs series 1&2 hockey; Leighton perfect again and the team was 2 for 4 on the powerplay today...meanwhile, the C's cannot put the puck in the net. Mumble, mumble, mumble...