NHL Playoffs - SECOND Round

sancarlos · Post by **sancarlos** » Mon May 13, 2013 1:07 pm

Games start Tuesday evening - Ottawa at Pittsburgh and San Jose at Los Angeles. Then on Wednesday, Detroit at Chicago.

kranepool · Post by **kranepool** » Mon May 13, 2013 1:15 pm

Easy, tiger. Let the first round end first. I'm dyin' over here.

rass · Post by **rass** » Mon May 13, 2013 1:29 pm

West Coast bias.

sancarlos · Post by **sancarlos** » Mon May 13, 2013 1:34 pm

rass wrote:West Coast bias.

Heh. I suppose you saw this:

Ryan Getzlaf and Teemu Selanne believe the Hart Trophy voting is a product of EAST COAST BIAS. "The only time the media in the East sees anyone in the West is when we play them," Getzlaf said. "You're not going to see our games, the media, staying up to 1 or 2 in the morning to watch."

rass · Post by **rass** » Mon May 13, 2013 7:26 pm

Hey DirecTV, get this shit on the schedule already so I can set the DVR...

SportsDoc · Post by **SportsDoc** » Mon May 13, 2013 10:48 pm

sancarlos wrote:
rass wrote:West Coast bias.
Heh. I suppose you saw this:
Ryan Getzlaf and Teemu Selanne believe the Hart Trophy voting is a product of EAST COAST BIAS. "The only time the media in the East sees anyone in the West is when we play them," Getzlaf said. "You're not going to see our games, the media, staying up to 1 or 2 in the morning to watch."

And this year, with the lockout, there were no inter-conference games played.

MaxWebster · Post by **MaxWebster** » Tue May 14, 2013 7:25 pm

while that might be a legit argument at times (Theodore over Iginla) that all went to shit when Corey fucking Perry won the goddamn Hart. sweet jesus.

Post by **Sabo** » Tue May 14, 2013 8:55 pm

Every time I see the Senators coach on TV, I expect him to say "I'm Scruffy, the janitor" and then follow up with "Oh, marmalade!"

sancarlos · Post by **sancarlos** » Tue May 14, 2013 10:27 pm

Sharks came out roaring but haven't been able to solve Quick yet.

First home ice advantage in a series for the Kings in 21 years! They've won five straight series' coming into this one... The last series they lost was to... The Sharks!

DSafetyGuy · Post by **DSafetyGuy** » Wed May 15, 2013 12:20 pm

Sabo wrote:Every time I see the Senators coach on TV, I expect him to say "I'm Scruffy, the janitor" and then follow up with "Oh, marmalade!"

If only this magazine appeared behind the bench:

sancarlos · Post by **sancarlos** » Thu May 16, 2013 8:30 pm

I put my comment on the Sharks missing Raffi Torres in the wrong thread. Should've gone here. I've always disliked the guy, but I know my team is going to be hurt by his absence.

Watching the Ranger/Bruins game - I don't have a dog in this fight, but Brad Marchand makes it easy to root against Boston. They just showed a replay of him skating behind and past a stopped Ryan Callahan. And, sure enough, Marchand jabs him in the nuts with his stick as he skates past. Callahan winces in pain and looks around, like, what??

Scottie · Post by **Scottie** » Thu May 16, 2013 9:10 pm

(From the 1st round thread)

sancarlos wrote:Raffi Torres suspended for the rest of the series. The Sharks are going to miss him. They certainly became better when they acquired him.

Really learned his lesson after that 21-game suspension for the hit on Hossa in the playoffs last year, eh?

degenerasian · Post by **degenerasian** » Thu May 16, 2013 9:16 pm

Scottie wrote:
sancarlos wrote:Raffi Torres suspended for the rest of the series. The Sharks are going to miss him. They certainly became better when they acquired him.
Really learned his lesson after that 21-game suspension for the hit on Hossa in the playoffs last year, eh?

Except that he got suspended basically because he is Torres.

I'm not even sure that's a penalty. It wasn't charging or elbowing It wasn't a hit directly to the head. He hits him in the arm shoulder area and Stoll seems to get whiplashed from the hit more than anything. Also how can the NHL play down that Stoll was moving around with his head leaning down looking for the puck. Then goes upright just as the hit is laid out.

"The head was the principal contact with the head although we'd agree that Torres made initial contact with the shoulder but it was at most a glancing blow"

What? Does this explanation make any sense? The league isn't even sure what they're doing that they can't give 6 games, they have to make it 'the series. That's so vague.

Scottie · Post by **Scottie** » Thu May 16, 2013 9:19 pm

degenerasian wrote:What? Does this explanation make any sense? The league isn't even sure that they can't give 6 games, they have to make it 'the series. That's so vague.

Because he's a "repeat offender" mostly. But it was a head shot. What I don't like is that the suspension is 3 or 4 or 5 or 6 games. Pick a frigging number and stick with it. Call it 6.

degenerasian · Post by **degenerasian** » Thu May 16, 2013 9:30 pm

Still, you remember when nobody ever got suspended from the playoffs? It was a shock if anyone got suspended for 1 playoff game. Now there are suspensions everywhere.

I just thought the explanation was so bad and so vague. It was a headshot but a glancing blow lalalalala...
Just say that Torres is a predator, went for the head when he could have easily gone for the puck and give him 10 games.

Scottie · Post by **Scottie** » Thu May 16, 2013 9:34 pm

McGruff the Crime Dog was probably stressing "glancing blow" because people were expecting a longer suspension. Perhaps?

sancarlos · Post by **sancarlos** » Thu May 16, 2013 11:53 pm

Un-fucking-believable!

degenerasian · Post by **degenerasian** » Fri May 17, 2013 12:00 am

To play that well and still lose.

Soul crushing.

kranepool · Post by **kranepool** » Fri May 17, 2013 5:24 pm

The Rangers played amazing hockey for 15 seconds last night.

They had absolutely no business being in that game. Weird to see Callahan that bad. Borderline uninspired. I wonder if he's hurt.

Dumbest of all, watching an overtime hockey game in its entirety the evening before four interviews 75 miles away. I left my house at 5:00am and it still took 2.5 hours.

sancarlos · Post by **sancarlos** » Fri May 17, 2013 7:35 pm

Sharks' GM, Doug Wilson issues a fairly strong statement re the suspension of Raffi Torres:

The Sharks organization fully supports the NHL in its efforts to remove illegal and dangerous hits from the game but we strongly disagree with the NHL's decision to suspend Raffi Torres.

Upon review of the incident, it is abundantly clear that this was a clean hockey hit. As noted by the NHL, Raffi's initial point of contact was a shoulder-to-shoulder hit on an opponent who was playing the puck. He did not leave his feet or elevate, he kept his shoulder tucked and elbow down at his side, and he was gliding - not skating or charging.

As stated in the NHL's Player Safety video, Rule 48.1 says, "A hit resulting in contact with an opponent's head where the head is targeted and the principal point of contact is not permitted." Thus, with the use of the word "and", this rule clearly states that two elements must occur in order to violate the rule. Raffi absolutely did not target his opponent's head on the play. The call on the ice specifically acknowledged that the head was not targeted and nowhere in the NHL's ruling does it insinuate or suggest that the opponent's head was targeted.

Furthermore, the rule goes on to say: "However, in determining whether such a hit should have been permitted, the circumstances of the hit, including whether the opponent put himself in a vulnerable position immediately prior to or simultaneously with the hit or the head contact on an otherwise legal body check was avoidable, can be considered."

As evidenced in the video, just prior to Torres making contact with the opposing player, that player altered his posture to play a bouncing puck with his hand, placing himself in a vulnerable position.

Comparing the facts of this incident against the actual wording of Rule 48.1, it appears that the NHL has not only made an inappropriate application of this rule but is trying to make an example out of a player who is being judged on past events, one who has changed his game dramatically this season and taken only six minor penalties in 39 games.

We are proud of the work Raffi has put in to successfully adjust his game. Although it's unfortunate that Jarret was injured on the play, we feel this decision is grossly unfair to the Raffi, his teammates and our fans. However, Raffi does not want to be a distraction to his teammates and has decided not to appeal this suspension and we respect that decision.

ZMan · Post by **ZMan** » Fri May 17, 2013 11:22 pm

I'm sort of with the Sharks GM. I saw no intent ( whether that's a factor, I dunno). Also, Stolls head whips into Torres's body after the blow to the shoulder. A 'glancing blow' shouldn't make your neck snap like that. I think Torres is a victim of physics and history.

BSF21 · Post by **BSF21** » Fri May 17, 2013 11:47 pm

Torres charged him plain and simple. Yes it was a hockey play. Yes his head was down playing the puck. You have to expect that when you are a dirty headhunter like Torres (and don't tell me this is off, he is and everyone knows it), you are going to take a suspension. How long before the NHL makes their players take accountability? Is it going to take snapping someone's neck before it happens? Head on is one thing, but when you approach from the side, can clearly see your opponent's head is down, and choose to go ahead and gun for the (shoulder to shoulder?) head hit? Your ass sits. There is no place for that in the game. Torres could have easily decided to turn off or hit Stoll in the body. He chose to crank his neck. There is no place for that. He ought to sit the rest of the playoffs.

BSF21 · Post by **BSF21** » Fri May 17, 2013 11:52 pm

degenerasian wrote:
Scottie wrote:
sancarlos wrote:Raffi Torres suspended for the rest of the series. The Sharks are going to miss him. They certainly became better when they acquired him.
Really learned his lesson after that 21-game suspension for the hit on Hossa in the playoffs last year, eh?

Except that he got suspended basically because he is Torres.

I'm not even sure that's a penalty. It wasn't charging or elbowing It wasn't a hit directly to the head. He hits him in the arm shoulder area and Stoll seems to get whiplashed from the hit more than anything. Also how can the NHL play down that Stoll was moving around with his head leaning down looking for the puck. Then goes upright just as the hit is laid out.

"The head was the principal contact with the head although we'd agree that Torres made initial contact with the shoulder but it was at most a glancing blow"

What? Does this explanation make any sense? The league isn't even sure what they're doing that they can't give 6 games, they have to make it 'the series. That's so vague.

I don't know about not putting a number on it, but the decision that Shanny laid out seemed perfectly relevant to me. He headhunted, plain and simple.

Scottie · Post by **Scottie** » Sat May 18, 2013 12:23 am

BSF21 wrote:Torres charged him plain and simple. Yes it was a hockey play. Yes his head was down playing the puck. You have to expect that when you are a dirty headhunter like Torres (and don't tell me this is off, he is and everyone knows it), you are going to take a suspension. How long before the NHL makes their players take accountability? Is it going to take snapping someone's neck before it happens? Head on is one thing, but when you approach from the side, can clearly see your opponent's head is down, and choose to go ahead and gun for the (shoulder to shoulder?) head hit? Your ass sits. There is no place for that in the game. Torres could have easily decided to turn off or hit Stoll in the body. He chose to crank his neck. There is no place for that. He ought to sit the rest of the playoffs.

That sounds about right; I can't disagree with that. Only thing I'd like to see is a definite number of games.

Don Cherry called him out tonight on Coach's Corner. He told Torres, flat-out, to stop being so stupid. Here's the link to the segment:

http://www.cbc.ca/sports/hockeynightinc ... 2385901173" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

He addresses a number of things; the Torres comments are about 4:40 in or so.

BSF21 · Post by **BSF21** » Sat May 18, 2013 9:23 am

Thanks for the link Scottie.

I know he is a national treasure up there and all, but he is damn near unintelligible at points. That was some hard listening.

Scottie · Post by **Scottie** » Sat May 18, 2013 11:41 am

Thing about Cherry is that to understand him you have to have been watching him for years and years and years. It's like he has his own dialect that you have to learn. And he can't pronounce anything unusual. Casey Cizikas is right out of the question.

Steve of phpBB · Post by **Steve of phpBB** » Sat May 18, 2013 2:19 pm

I was going to complain about having to deal with kids soccer and work instead of being able to watch the game today, but it sounds like I've been lucky.

degenerasian · Post by **degenerasian** » Sat May 18, 2013 5:08 pm

sancarlos wrote:Sharks' GM, Doug Wilson issues a fairly strong statement re the suspension of Raffi Torres:

Doug Wilson fined $100,000.

Scottie · Post by **Scottie** » Sat May 18, 2013 5:23 pm

A hundred thousand??? Wow. Is that the largest fine to an individual in league history? I seem to recall the Islanders as a team had a huge fine after that game against the Penguins a couple of years ago. But for one guy? For making comments in the form of a press release? Those comments by Wilson (posted upthread) weren't particularly inflammatory. It was more their side of the story, as it were. Yikes. That's enormous. I don't even think that the league fined Torres for the hit.

degenerasian · Post by **degenerasian** » Sat May 18, 2013 5:33 pm

$25,000 was automatic for making a formal statement within 48 hours of the suspension.
The other $75,000 was because it hurt the NHL's feelings.

DSafetyGuy · Post by **DSafetyGuy** » Sat May 18, 2013 6:01 pm

I didn't realize the NHL had a separate wheel just for fines.

rass · Post by **rass** » Sun May 19, 2013 4:12 pm

Tonight's game will be the first one in the series that I'll be able to sit down and watch. Spezza is back for the Sens. How you feeling Ram's Fan(ny)?

Scottie · Post by **Scottie** » Sun May 19, 2013 4:42 pm

Once again there is no small irony that I have to watch a game in French (Réseau des sports) so as to not endure a bombastic megaphone named Pierre. If anything, he's become yappier and more jackassier since moving to NBC.

The Penguins always seem to have a hard go of it in Ottawa. And home teams have won seven of the first eight games in the second round; they're now 37-18 (.673) in the playoffs. Plus Boston is winning at home at the moment. It's been 20-years since the home teams in the playoffs finished at .600 or above (last time the Habs won, actually, 1993*).

*Last time a Canadian-based team won it, that is.

Rams Fanny · Post by **Rams Fanny** » Sun May 19, 2013 4:52 pm

rass wrote:Tonight's game will be the first one in the series that I'll be able to sit down and watch. Spezza is back for the Sens. How you feeling Ram's Fan(ny)?

Not great. In order for the Sens to have a chance, they need stellar goaltending...and haven't gotten it. Pens are faster and better puck handlers pretty much across the board so the Sens have to make it a checking/dump-and-chase game. Spezza will be an emotional lift but it will take him a couple games to get up to speed. I think the Sens will split these next two....but that probably won't be good enough. If Anderson can go back to standing on his head, I'll be singing a different tune tomorrow.

sancarlos · Post by **sancarlos** » Sun May 19, 2013 6:02 pm

Big hit by Brad Stuart on Justin Williams last night.

kranepool · Post by **kranepool** » Sun May 19, 2013 8:33 pm

Whatever happened to Mike Komisarek? He went from top 10 pick to Habs (Alternate?) Captain to Leafs to gone, and seemingly overnight. Anyone know the scoop?

SportsDoc · Post by **SportsDoc** » Mon May 20, 2013 1:07 pm

sancarlos wrote:Big hit by Brad Stuart on Justin Williams last night.

This would have been a five and a game in college. Not because it is (it is a perfectly legal check), but because the officiating is that bad.

SportsDoc · Post by **SportsDoc** » Mon May 20, 2013 1:08 pm

The adage that in the Playoffs a Series doesn't get legs until someone wins on the road is one I buy into. Consequently, the game tonight between the hawks and Wings should be a doozy!!!

BSF21 · Post by **BSF21** » Mon May 20, 2013 1:50 pm

SportsDoc wrote:
sancarlos wrote:Big hit by Brad Stuart on Justin Williams last night.

This would have been a five and a game in college. Not because it is (it is a perfectly legal check), but because the officiating is that bad.

There you go. Now that is a nice clean hockey hit right there. Someone explain this to the knuckleheads that continue to headhunt.

sancarlos · Post by **sancarlos** » Mon May 20, 2013 7:08 pm

I still endorse Doug Wilson's comments.