NHL Thread

[warehouse]

I can't even express how excited I am for next week. I've been joking around with friends lately about how we're closing in on 30 years old, and it just occurred to me that I was still a teenager the last time the Leafs played a playoff game.

How much of the Leafs success do you attribute to Burke versus Noonis?

100%

[@SkitchP]

I can't even express how excited I am for next week. I've been joking around with friends lately about how we're closing in on 30 years old, and it just occurred to me that I was still a teenager the last time the Leafs played a playoff game.

That's the same way I've been feeling, except the exact opposite. I was 10 and in elementary school the last time the Wings missed the playoffs. Middle school, high school, college, careers, marriage, kids, etc have all happened since then. Luckily it looks like their streak will continue, but man have we been spoiled. There are people at bars watching games that literally were not even born the last time they missed the playoffs.

[philpritchard]

I can't even express how excited I am for next week. I've been joking around with friends lately about how we're closing in on 30 years old, and it just occurred to me that I was still a teenager the last time the Leafs played a playoff game.

How much of the Leafs success do you attribute to Burke versus Noonis?

100%

Pretty close. Almost every single part of the roster is in place because of Burke and, as much as I hate to say it, some great late-round drafting by JFJ in his last couple of years as GM. I give Nonis credit for waiving Komisarek and Connolly (which I'm not sure Burke would have done) and trading Lombardi, which made the team stronger and opened up spots for guys like Kadri, Komarov and Frattin to find their way into the lineup and contribute.

It's funny. Most of Burke's moves were made with the goal of accelerating the rebuild. The rebuild still took 4-5 years, yet they've managed to find success with a very young core and a lot of very good prospects on their way. It was unconventional and didn't work the way Burke was hoping, but the team is exactly where it should be right now considering where they were when he took over.

[warehouse]

they also dressed colton orr almost every game

[surfndestroy]

I can't even express how excited I am for next week. I've been joking around with friends lately about how we're closing in on 30 years old, and it just occurred to me that I was still a teenager the last time the Leafs played a playoff game.

How much of the Leafs success do you attribute to Burke versus Noonis?

100%

Pretty close. Almost every single part of the roster is in place because of Burke and, as much as I hate to say it, some great late-round drafting by JFJ in his last couple of years as GM. I give Nonis credit for waiving Komisarek and Connolly (which I'm not sure Burke would have done) and trading Lombardi, which made the team stronger and opened up spots for guys like Kadri, Komarov and Frattin to find their way into the lineup and contribute.

It's funny. Most of Burke's moves were made with the goal of accelerating the rebuild. The rebuild still took 4-5 years, yet they've managed to find success with a very young core and a lot of very good prospects on their way. It was unconventional and didn't work the way Burke was hoping, but the team is exactly where it should be right now considering where they were when he took over.

I agree with you on the bolded part wholeheartedly. Burke, for all his bluster just tends to get too attached to players and coaches. I don't think he would have made these decisions. Asmuch as I like seeing the Leafs lose, now that it doesn't help Bruins drafting I'm happy to see them in the playoffs.

[Strat]

Geezes christ. Playing Edmonton at home, a victory and we clinch a playoff spot. Should be a no brainer. We've beat edmonton i think 2,189 times in the past 2 years. No problem. Unless of course you are a MN Sporting Squad.

Amazing.

[philpritchard]

I can't even express how excited I am for next week. I've been joking around with friends lately about how we're closing in on 30 years old, and it just occurred to me that I was still a teenager the last time the Leafs played a playoff game.

How much of the Leafs success do you attribute to Burke versus Noonis?

100%

Pretty close. Almost every single part of the roster is in place because of Burke and, as much as I hate to say it, some great late-round drafting by JFJ in his last couple of years as GM. I give Nonis credit for waiving Komisarek and Connolly (which I'm not sure Burke would have done) and trading Lombardi, which made the team stronger and opened up spots for guys like Kadri, Komarov and Frattin to find their way into the lineup and contribute.

It's funny. Most of Burke's moves were made with the goal of accelerating the rebuild. The rebuild still took 4-5 years, yet they've managed to find success with a very young core and a lot of very good prospects on their way. It was unconventional and didn't work the way Burke was hoping, but the team is exactly where it should be right now considering where they were when he took over.

I agree with you on the bolded part wholeheartedly. Burke, for all his bluster just tends to get too attached to players and coaches. I don't think he would have made these decisions. Asmuch as I like seeing the Leafs lose, now that it doesn't help Bruins drafting I'm happy to see them in the playoffs.

Yeah, I think there were a few times where Burke let his loyalty get in the way of doing what's best for the team.

[Strat]

[numbers]

As foolish as it might sound, I think tonight is the Bruins' most important game of the season thus far.

[philpritchard]

As foolish as it might sound, I think tonight is the Bruins' most important game of the season thus far.

A win tonight clinches the 2nd seed. More importantly, a Leafs regulation win over Montreal guarantees a Leafs-Habs first round matchup. That would be really, really awesome.

[Strat]

This is killing me. The Wild dont really deserve to be in the playoffs. Or at least =- Won't go very far as we will play the Hawks.... But you still want your team to be in playoff hockey....

Also, the western conference spread is intense. 6 points separate 3rd and 8th place.

Here we go, Bup Bup.

MN Sports never make it easy, G Dangit.

[daft twat]

This is killing me. The Wild dont really deserve to be in the playoffs. Or at least =- Won't go very far as we will play the Hawks.... But you still want your team to be in playoff hockey....

Also, the western conference spread is intense. 6 points separate 3rd and 8th place.

Here we go, Bup Bup.

MN Sports never make it easy, G Dangit.

We're in! The Kings blew heading into the playoffs last year and damn near ran the table. Hate to face a team with Toews though. That fucker still gives me nightmares from his UND days.

[Strat]

This is killing me. The Wild dont really deserve to be in the playoffs. Or at least =- Won't go very far as we will play the Hawks.... But you still want your team to be in playoff hockey....

Also, the western conference spread is intense. 6 points separate 3rd and 8th place.

Here we go, Bup Bup.

MN Sports never make it easy, G Dangit.

We're in! The Kings blew heading into the playoffs last year and damn near ran the table. Hate to face a team with Toews though. That fucker still gives me nightmares from his UND days.

Ill take it. Playoffs is a new season....

But good God the game Friday night gives me little hope for being able to play under pressure. I dont know. We need P-Ville in the lineup so hopefully its no major Concussive issue.

Would love to come back for a game.....

[elliseamos]

As foolish as it might sound, I think tonight is the Bruins' most important game of the season thus far.

that went well.

[numbers]

Yeah, the entire reason I felt the game was important(more so than simply locking up the 2nd seed) was to see if they could play two games in a row without playing like slugs and giving up an early lead.

[Peeps]

[YouTube]http://youtu.be/u4OTtV_OSuw[/YouTube]

[southp]

Bring on the Sens!

i'll love watching the Bruins and Leafs goons beat eachother up.

[elliseamos]

1st round:
PIT over NYI 4-0
MTL over OTT 4-1
NYR over WAS 4-3
BOS over TOR 4-1

CHI over MIN 4-0
ANA over DET 4-3
SJ over VAN 4-2
LA over STL 4-1

2nd round:
PIT over NYR 4-3
BOS over MTL 4-3

CHI over LA 4-1
ANA over SJ 4-3

3rd round:
PIT over BOS 4-3

CHI over ANA 4-3

Cup:
PIT over CHI 4-3 (Iginla Conn Smythe)

[philpritchard]

PIT over NYI 4-1
OTT over MTL 4-2
WAS over NYR 4-3
TOR over BOS 4-2

CHI over MIN 4-1
ANA over DET 4-1
SJ over VAN 4-3
STL over LA 4-2

[MattA75]

As a Canucks fan, bring on the Sharks!

Ottawa might not beat Montreal, but they will give them a hell of a series one way or another. I have major respect for that team and what they accomplished in the light of all of their injuries. I also think they can matchup pretty well with Montreal's speed, especially with Karlsson back.

I think the Islanders will be a little bit more pesky to the Pens that most, I still think the Pens win the series, but it might take 6 games.

St Louis/LA could be the best series in terms of competitiveness.

PIT over NYI 4-1
OTT over MON 4-3
WAS over NYR 4-2
BOS over TOR 4-2

CHI over MIN 4-1
ANA over DET 4-3
VAN over SJ 4-2
STL over LA 4-3