[cferneyh]

Buffalo will have a big say in the Leafs hopes though, they play each other 4 more times.

You bastard! Just when I was starting to feel that maybe they could pull it off, you go and remind me of that. :lol:

[Lizard King]

lol..that's too funny..now all his supporters will have another excuse for his shitty play

I love the Bertuzzi apologists. I remember when his poor play after his big season was because of the stress of trying to get a contract done. Then it was the stress of living up to the contract. Then it was not having played for so long. Now its the Moore lawsuit.

I think he's got more excuses than money. It's too bad really. I remember when he first got traded to Vancouver I loved to watch his style of play. But he just doesn't seem to play with the same drive anymore.

You think its possible he's scared to play physical and tough anymore? Maybe he's afraid of putting the hurt on someone and having it blow up into armaggedon again. Before the Moore incident if he gave someone a shot to the head or a semi-dirty hit, and the person was't severly injured, they would chalk it up to playing tough with an edge. But now let's say he nailed a guy with a cross-check or hammered someone into the boards a little cheaply, the reactions would probably be crazy. I say he's running scared.

[cferneyh]

lol..that's too funny..now all his supporters will have another excuse for his shitty play

I love the Bertuzzi apologists. I remember when his poor play after his big season was because of the stress of trying to get a contract done. Then it was the stress of living up to the contract. Then it was not having played for so long. Now its the Moore lawsuit.

I think he's got more excuses than money. It's too bad really. I remember when he first got traded to Vancouver I loved to watch his style of play. But he just doesn't seem to play with the same drive anymore.

You think its possible he's scared to play physical and tough anymore? Maybe he's afraid of putting the hurt on someone and having it blow up into armaggedon again. Before the Moore incident if he gave someone a shot to the head or a semi-dirty hit, and the person was't severly injured, they would chalk it up to playing tough with an edge. But now let's say he nailed a guy with a cross-check or hammered someone into the boards a little cheaply, the reactions would probably be crazy. I say he's running scared.

When Bertuzzi was on his game he was taking the puck to the net with authority. It didn't matter how many guys he had on him, he'd power through. He'd also go into the corners and win the battles and again, he'd carry guys to the net on his back if he had to. Now when I watch him he seems to be quitting on plays as soon as there is contact, or worse, he's looking to make the pass. He just doesn't want to seem to pay the price anymore.

It's not like what happened with Moore (ie punching a guy to the back of the head) was a regular part of his game that now he's afraid to do. And his play had tailed off before the incident. I just think that he's figured he's proved himself, he's getting his fat wallet, so now there is no need to pay the price like he used to.

[opiated]

when bert landed that punch on moore, he had only 1 goal in his last 20 games or something like that..i know he wasn't playing all that well

[tigerthelion]

5-0 loss to the Preds. :oops:

I'm starting to really, REALLY DOUBT the Canuck's chances. They need someone to light a fire under their asses. Burke, as stubborn as he was to take a risk via trade, seemed to be able to re-ignite the team when he called them out. They need something now or the Oilers will nail the final coffin in their playoff chances.

[direwolf74]

5-0 loss to the Preds. :oops:

I'm starting to really, REALLY DOUBT the Canuck's chances. They need someone to light a fire under their asses. Burke, as stubborn as he was to take a risk via trade, seemed to be able to re-ignite the team when he called them out. They need something now or the Oilers will nail the final coffin in their playoff chances.

I can't believe how awful they're playing. As much as I hate the Canuckleheads, I still think they have a very talented team...at least on paper. You'd think that this time of year they'd be playing with more desperation, considering how tight the standings are. The Flames have gone through bad stretches this year too, but we have yet to crap the bed as badly as the Canucks are doing right now. Are there problems in the dressing room? Are they fighting with Crawford? Do they just not care anymore??

[opiated]

i think that there must be dressing room problems, and i'm sure it revolves around bert...

[cferneyh]

So in a little more than a month it is going to be the best time of the year: NHL PLAYOFFS!

Any predictions for the Cup finalists?

I'm thinking Ottawa (assuming Hasek is back and healthy) and Nashville. I think that Ottawa is the deepest team in the East, especially once Havlat comes back. And it is very doubtful that the Leafs are going to get the chance to bounce them yet again. If I had to make a second choice I'd say Buffalo.

As for the west I'm taking Nashville because I can't take Detroit seriously (Datsyuk and Zetterberg have never done anything in the playoffs), and if Calgary can't score in the new NHL, how the hell are they going to score in the playoffs? I think Sutter really dropped the ball by not trading for a playmaking centre. With the way Kipper is playing these days the Flames' time is now - that's not worth a couple of early round draft picks? I'd love to see Calgary make it to the Cup again because there is nothing quite as exciting as being in a town where the home team is playing for the Cup - even if it isn't your favourite team.

[fingernailsonhull]

I think the Rangers may surprise in the playoffs in the East. Jagr is positively on fire. Lundqvist will be the issue. He has shown he is for real, but playoff pressure is another thing altogether.

I also like Nashville in the West. They have been a pleasant surprise this year. It's nice to see expansion teams coming out of obscurity to really compete. We've seen this with Minnesota, Nashville, and (the slightly older) Anaheim and Tampa Bay.

[ryan93]

It's a really tough call, and i think that really there are as many as 6 teams in each confernce that could potentially go all the way. In the west, i think i'd have to go with Detroit. The Wings have all the tools, but their post seasons have been anything but consistent in recent years & have been ousted a few times in the early rounds. Although Zetterberg & Datsyuk haven't proven themselves in the playoffs yet, i really don't think that'll be an issue. It remains to be seen how Legace does in the p/o's as well. The Wings are a team that could easily go all the way, or could be upset in the first or second round. Dallas Stars would be my second pick.

In the East, it's literally wide open. I don't think there is any denying that the Ottawa Senators with a healthy Dominik Hasek & Martin Havlat, are the most talented of the bunch. However they have real playoff issues, and although it looks as though they won't have to face the Leafs (although i'm still holding out hope, Leafs are my 2nd favorite team...and the Sens my least favorite), until they prove they can do it... Carolina i think have a shot, if the Flyers could ever get 100% healthy, or anywhere close to it, and get solid goaltending from either Esche or Niittymaki, then i think they still have a shot. Buffalo have a very good team, i would like to think the Rangers might have at least a slight chance, Tampa Bay are the defending Cup champs & that has to count for something, etc. I don't know who to go w/ in the East.

[direwolf74]

I'm still going with my prediction of an Ottawa/Calgary final. Speaking of the Flames, anybody catch that game against the Edmonton Horseshoes tonight? Talk about bad breaks. First the Flames have an obvious goal not count because the freakin' ref blew the whistle just as the puck slid across the line, and then the Greasers tie the game on a fluky bank shot off a Flames defenceman. Then we go to OT where Roman Hamrlik trips on a broken stick and falls backwards, crashing into Dion Phaneuf in the process, and leading to a Horcoff breakaway in which he completely mishandles the puck, but yet it somehow slips through Kipper's five-hole. BRUTAL! It was like watching a Keystone Kops routine. Oh well, at least we got a point out of it, and we're still in first place.

F**k I hate the Oilers.

[BuffaloHipFan]

There is no team that can beat the sabres in a best of seven. Ottawa depends on tight games. Now that the sabres are healthly, good luck holding them to less than 3 goals a night. They just posted their 8th win in a row and are now 18-1-2 in their last 21 games.

That's 38 out of 42 possible points for 25% of the season!

If only they didn't lose 7 out of 9 early in the season.

[ryan93]

The Sabres are on some kind of run, that's for sure. They are actually 15-1-2 in their last 18 games (16-3-2 in their last 21). I wouldn't want to face them in the playoffs the way they are playing right now & there's no denying they could very well be this years Tampa Bay, i personally still don't think they'll go all the way, but hey, that's just me.

The Canucks are in Columbus tonight for what is almost a must win game for Vancouver. The Blue Jackets are actually playing good hockey since around Christmas, especially at home where they are 11-3, and overall since Christmas they are 17-13-1. They have dropped 2 straight though and are just 3-6-1 in their last 10.
Very important game for the Canucks though, and nothing against all you Canucks fans on here, but i hope they lose. I would like nothing better than to see Brian Burke's Anaheim Mighty Ducks overtake the Canucks and snag the last playoff spot, while his old club sits on the outside looking in.

[Lizard King]

Its hard to predict the East this year, I like Buffalo, Carolina and Ottawa, I think two of those 3 will definitely be in the East final, right now I have to say Buffalo-Ottawa. The wild West is a little easier, I think Detroit, Nashville or Dallas will make it to the final dance. Right now I have to put my money on Detroit, but the playoffs are crazy, anything can and usually does happen. Like cfern said, dont count Nashville out. If the West standings stay the way they are today Calgary and Edmonton will meet in the first round, how awesome would that be to watch.

Of course I'd rather see the Habs back in the Cup final, hopefully the new era of salary cap will allow them to build a team to get there soon. I won't hold my breath though.

[cferneyh]

There is no team that can beat the sabres in a best of seven. Ottawa depends on tight games. Now that the sabres are healthly, good luck holding them to less than 3 goals a night. They just posted their 8th win in a row and are now 18-1-2 in their last 21 games.

That's 38 out of 42 possible points for 25% of the season!

If only they didn't lose 7 out of 9 early in the season.

I don't know what it is, but I just cannot take the Sabres seriously. Of course I couldn't take the Lightning seriously two years ago, so what do I know?