- Chicago Blackhawks score shorthanded with less than 14 seconds left after Marian Hossa takes major penalty. Hossa gets out of box in Overtime and scores game winner. Penalty was awfully similar to Ovechkin's hit on Campbell. Hossa should have been kicked out in our opinion and if you are a Predator or Predator fan, you have every right to be kicking and screaming.
- Versus screws the fans again as San Jose and Colorado are joined in progress
- The Stanley Cup Champions fight back from 3-0 hole to eliminate Ottawa in Overtime
- Look for San Jose to knock out Colorado tonight. The Avs won't go down without a fight though.
Saturday, April 24, 2010
Saturday Playoff Thoughts
Thursday, April 22, 2010
NHL and Versus Screwing Fans
It's April 21st, 10pm Eastern and 7pm Pacific time. Your Los Angeles Kings are in the playoffs for the first time in 8 years and you are about to watch them take on the Canucks for game 4 of the playoffs. A win gives you a commanding 3 games to 1 lead. Turn on the TV and what do you see? Boston and Buffalo in an overtime that may never end. Add to that, people that own the NHL Centre Ice Package got blacked out with a message that read, catch game on Versus.
This was the case for many Kings fans (and Canucks fans) that live outside of their teams market. One of HockeySureShot's members made the 6 hour drive from San Francisco to LA for game 3 of this series. This same fan has bought hats, jerseys, tickets to games, bought the NHL Centre Ice Package and now sits at home missing the entire first period of the Kings and Canucks.
"Don't miss a single second of the NHL Playoffs" is what you hear when you call Versus to complain or simply ask what is going on. Versus is owned by Comcast, who owns about 400,000 channels. No good answer was given to me as to why the late game, (in this case LA vs Vancouver) can't be shown temporarily on another channel or why their exclusive rights screw over fans that pay $140 for the Centre Ice Package.
When calling the NHL, they agree with my complaints and say that next year is the last year of the contract with Versus and that they are not happy with what has been going on. Versus needs to find a way to get every game on TV for their entirety.
Tuesday, April 20, 2010
San Jose at Colorado
San Jose -160 over Colorado
Sharks fans are echoing the words "must win" yet again this time of year as the Sharks are down to Colorado 2-1 in this best of seven. We find it astonishing that the #1 seeded Sharks have yet to have played with the lead in this series. Their only win was in Game Two when they came back five different times to tie it and ultimately won 6-5 in OT. The first question that can be raised heading into tonight is how San Jose responds to the bizarre way that they lost game three. Yes, they outshot Colorado by wide margins the last two games, and it does appear that they have figured out the Avalanche's neutral zone trap, but can the Sharks be trusted mentally? On paper Colorado does not have near the skill of the Sharks and on top of that they are very banged up. We expect the Sharks to rebound in this pivotal Game 4. If they lose tonight we promise to NEVER pick them again. It's time for the core group of the Sharks(Thornton, Boyle, Murray, Nabakov and especially Marleau) to step up their game and earn a big win on the road. The best chance the Av's have tonight is if Craig Anderson stands on his head like he did in Game Three.
Sharks fans are echoing the words "must win" yet again this time of year as the Sharks are down to Colorado 2-1 in this best of seven. We find it astonishing that the #1 seeded Sharks have yet to have played with the lead in this series. Their only win was in Game Two when they came back five different times to tie it and ultimately won 6-5 in OT. The first question that can be raised heading into tonight is how San Jose responds to the bizarre way that they lost game three. Yes, they outshot Colorado by wide margins the last two games, and it does appear that they have figured out the Avalanche's neutral zone trap, but can the Sharks be trusted mentally? On paper Colorado does not have near the skill of the Sharks and on top of that they are very banged up. We expect the Sharks to rebound in this pivotal Game 4. If they lose tonight we promise to NEVER pick them again. It's time for the core group of the Sharks(Thornton, Boyle, Murray, Nabakov and especially Marleau) to step up their game and earn a big win on the road. The best chance the Av's have tonight is if Craig Anderson stands on his head like he did in Game Three.
Monday, April 19, 2010
We are through five exciting days of the NHL playoff season which included seven overtime games already. We decided to rank all eight of the series in terms of excitement thus far. The action has been tremendous across the board proving once again that no sport can match playoff hockey.
8) Chicago vs. Nashville
We ranked this series last because no game has gone to OT and the other series have been slightly more entertaining. This matchup will pick up more intensity as it shifts to Nashville.
7) Buffalo vs. Boston
Looking forward to tonight's game in Boston. Both games have been in close so far and the hitting is starting to pick up. This has the feel of a seven game series.
6) New Jersey vs. Philadelphia
Daniel Carcillo of all people scores the OT winner for Philly yesterday. Pressure mounting for the Devils who have had trouble getting past the first round in recent years.
5) Pittsburgh vs. Ottawa
Ottawa shocked the defending Stanley Cup Champions in game one, but the Penguins have rebounded nicely in yet another exciting and competitive series. The hit by Andy Sutton was memorable as has Sidney Crosby's performance thus far.
4) Vancouver vs. Los Angeles
Two games and two overtimes. First home playoff game for LA tonight which should have that building filled with overwhelming excitement.
3) San Jose vs. Colorado
The snake bitten Sharks lose game 3 as Dan Boyle puts the puck in his own net. The Sharks only win was in OT, and they have never led in the series. All three games have been tied going into the final minute of play.
2) Phoenix vs. Detroit
Game one is decided by one goal, and game two may have been the most entertaining game I have ever watched. This is another series that will probably go seven games. Both teams are fast and aggressive which adds to the spectacle.
1) Washington vs. Montreal
Didn't expect this series to be as close as it is, but Montreal is giving the favored Capitals all they can handle. After Washington came back from a 4-1 deficit in the third and both games have gone into overtime, this series got our nod as the best series by a slim margin.
8) Chicago vs. Nashville
We ranked this series last because no game has gone to OT and the other series have been slightly more entertaining. This matchup will pick up more intensity as it shifts to Nashville.
7) Buffalo vs. Boston
Looking forward to tonight's game in Boston. Both games have been in close so far and the hitting is starting to pick up. This has the feel of a seven game series.
6) New Jersey vs. Philadelphia
Daniel Carcillo of all people scores the OT winner for Philly yesterday. Pressure mounting for the Devils who have had trouble getting past the first round in recent years.
5) Pittsburgh vs. Ottawa
Ottawa shocked the defending Stanley Cup Champions in game one, but the Penguins have rebounded nicely in yet another exciting and competitive series. The hit by Andy Sutton was memorable as has Sidney Crosby's performance thus far.
4) Vancouver vs. Los Angeles
Two games and two overtimes. First home playoff game for LA tonight which should have that building filled with overwhelming excitement.
3) San Jose vs. Colorado
The snake bitten Sharks lose game 3 as Dan Boyle puts the puck in his own net. The Sharks only win was in OT, and they have never led in the series. All three games have been tied going into the final minute of play.
2) Phoenix vs. Detroit
Game one is decided by one goal, and game two may have been the most entertaining game I have ever watched. This is another series that will probably go seven games. Both teams are fast and aggressive which adds to the spectacle.
1) Washington vs. Montreal
Didn't expect this series to be as close as it is, but Montreal is giving the favored Capitals all they can handle. After Washington came back from a 4-1 deficit in the third and both games have gone into overtime, this series got our nod as the best series by a slim margin.
Sunday, April 18, 2010
Sunday Morning Playoff thoughts
-Still recovering from an amazing night of playoff action once again. Seven series are tied 1-1 which gives you an idea how entertaining the playoffs have been thus far.
-We get the feeling that the Washington Capitals could put up ten goals in a game if they wanted to. Niklas Backstrom's OT winner last night may be a series changer for Washington.
-Enjoyed reading that Ottawa coach, Cory Clouston wants his team to be more physical as Andy Sutton's hit the other night is still fresh in my mind. Game three vs. Pittsburgh should be a must watch today.
-Los Angeles appeared in big trouble after going down 2-0 in the first period last night, but give the young team credit for a huge win. Jonathan Quick did not give up a goal the rest of the way and Anze Kopitar set up the tying goal and won it in OT.
-Finally, I could do without the matinee playoff games. I know NBC has to show games on a weekend, but a 10:00 AM start on the west coast is kind of mindless in our opinion.
-We get the feeling that the Washington Capitals could put up ten goals in a game if they wanted to. Niklas Backstrom's OT winner last night may be a series changer for Washington.
-Enjoyed reading that Ottawa coach, Cory Clouston wants his team to be more physical as Andy Sutton's hit the other night is still fresh in my mind. Game three vs. Pittsburgh should be a must watch today.
-Los Angeles appeared in big trouble after going down 2-0 in the first period last night, but give the young team credit for a huge win. Jonathan Quick did not give up a goal the rest of the way and Anze Kopitar set up the tying goal and won it in OT.
-Finally, I could do without the matinee playoff games. I know NBC has to show games on a weekend, but a 10:00 AM start on the west coast is kind of mindless in our opinion.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
