The Thread Where We've All Got Playoff Beards

[RPS]

Yessssss Pittsburgh. Oh sweet joy. Great game tonight. Pitts and Philly has been the most interesting NHL series in the last few playoffs.

[SeanDMan]

http://www.theonion.com/articles/arizona-toughens-immigration-laws-in-attempt-to-ri,27984/

[Ruki]

Torres gets 25 games.

[Hewey]

Damn, 25? Looks like they're not fucking around. That was one nasty hit, but I didn't expect 25.

[thatshortguy]

You don't count out Detroit, but they really were overmatched in basically every category in this series. Better goaltending and better scoring depth for Nashville, especially. It gets said every year, but this might be the summer where the Red Wings undergo a major facelift. Holmstrom I think will likely go and Lidstrom may as well.

For all the talk of great parity in the West, it's all Eastern series that I find too tough to call right now.

I'm wracking my brain trying to remember a time where Detroit was just soundly beaten in an early round. I knew Nashville was good, but that was almost surgical how the Preds picked them apart.

Also, tonight, we get to

[Hewey]

Who's got the best shot of winning in the West? I haven't been following the games over there, but from what I heard, the Blues are a lock, but how about Nashville?

[thatshortguy]

Who's got the best shot of winning in the West? I haven't been following the games over there, but from what I heard, the Blues are a lock, but how about Nashville?

Blues & Preds are the safe choices, though if the Kings keep playing like this I would not underestimate them.

[caucasianheat]

I'm wracking my brain trying to remember a time where Detroit was just soundly beaten in an early round. I knew Nashville was good, but that was almost surgical how the Preds picked them apart.

Hmmm. It would definitely be pre-lockout. The year after Bowman left as head coach, they were swept in four close games by Anaheim. Every game was a one-goal game, but it was a 2 vs. 7 series with Detroit pretty heavily favoured.

[Guest mr. potato head]

I'm wracking my brain trying to remember a time where Detroit was just soundly beaten in an early round. I knew Nashville was good, but that was almost surgical how the Preds picked them apart.

Hmmm. It would definitely be pre-lockout. The year after Bowman left as head coach, they were swept in four close games by Anaheim. Every game was a one-goal game, but it was a 2 vs. 7 series with Detroit pretty heavily favoured.

And the only person primate in the world to predict that was TSN's Maggie the Monkey.

Also 25 games for Torres is ridiculous based on what had been handed out previously. Completely punishing the result rather than the intent. I would be fine with a 25-game suspension had other incidents led to suspensions more than 12% that length.

[caucasianheat]

Torres is Matt Cooke of seasons past minus the skillset, so it's really nothing of value lost. If the NHL just came forward and said that they were going to punish goons more severely than star players for the same kind of hits, it would at least pour a little water on fan outrage over the big inconsistencies in discipline. I don't know they even bother with the veneer of objectivity really.

Also, KINGS are obviously a lock for the West

[Guest mr. potato head]

Washington takes a 3-2 series lead after a great back-and-forth game.

[caucasianheat]

Kevin Bieksa Ryan Kesler talking to the Los Angeles media.

[Hewey]

I'm beginning to think Washington will win this series against Boston. I was not expecting them to take it to Boston like this.

I was expecting some kind of upset in the first round, but I was thinking more of the Senators somehow taking out the Rangers.

[Mountainous Cleavage]

Woooo Marlies!!!! 4-3 win to go up 2-0 in the series (5 game series in the 1st round, so one more win!), game was fun as hell to be at.

Towel rallying is fun, but a bit embarassing when it slips out of your hand and lands on the head of the older lady behind you

EDIT: Catching the replay on TV, and late in the third everytime the puck comes into Toronto's zone, you see me and my buddy in our seats just whirling those towels while NOBODY else on that side of the rink is doing it. Looks so fucking funny.

Edited April 22, 2012 by Mountainous Cleavage

[Gabriel]

The reason Torres got 25 games is partly because of the end result, but it's mostly Shanahan throwing the book at him for being a repeat offender. What's this, his third suspension in the last year? I say 25 games is a good number.

Besides, the Coyotes have to be happy. They lose Raffi Torres. Chicago loses Marian Hossa. That's a pretty good trade-off.

[Mountainous Cleavage]

Just finished watching the documentary on the '72 Canada-Russia summit series, hell of a good watch. Definitely recommend it to anyone who hasn't seen it yet.

[Guest mr. potato head]

For any Canadians so interested, London/Kitchener Game 2 will be on the main Sportsnet channels tonight at 7 Eastern. I know it's hyperbole to say it's the loudest junior atmosphere in the country, but it's not as much hyperbole as you'd think.

[Toe]

In Kitchener? I would not doubt it.

[Hewey]

Flyers leading 2-0, but the Pens will come back, no way are they going down without a fight.

[Hewey]

Damn, Pens are about to be eliminated. Sucks to see them go, but they played horribly today.

Hope the Flyers get the Rangers or Bruins next, at this point, I'll take anyone but the Flyers.