[Strutz]

That was a brutal loss for San Jose today. They lost 4 players as well to injury. It looks like St. Louis will take the series in the next game, unless of course San Jose can make a comeback, and go up against Boston.

I didn't really have a favorite in this series anyway so I will hope that whoever wins goes all the way.

[Strutz]

So it will be St. Louis and Boston playing for the Stanley Cup.

Predictions anyone?

I'll go with St. Louis in 6 (just so that they win it at home).

[Thanos]

Hopefully St. Louis in seven. Not really all that interested to be honest, aside from not wanting to see Ratboy on the Bruins ever hold the Cup over his head.

[Strutz]

Thanos Thanos:

Hopefully St. Louis in seven. Not really all that interested to be honest, aside from not wanting to see Ratboy on the Bruins ever hold the Cup over his head.

I hear ya!

This has been a bit of a boring playoff run this year. I've watched most of the games but with less and less emotion as it's progressed and more often than not am doing something else while the games are on TV. The teams I was hopeful for dropped out a long time ago (or so it seems). It's almost June FFS and time to think about the CFL season.

[Thanos]

I wasn't paying too much attention even in the first round, especially not when it became obvious in Calgary by Game 3 that we were witnessing another classic Flames Flop unfolding. Been through that too many times, with them winning all of four playoff series since the victory in 1989. Can't give them my energy anymore when they do that and none of the other teams stir much emotion in me at all, either like or hate. I don't even hate Boston. I wouldn't object if they won, as long as Marchand wasn't on their team.

[Sunnyways]

Thanos Thanos:

I wasn't paying too much attention even in the first round, especially not when it became obvious in Calgary by Game 3 that we were witnessing another classic Flames Flop unfolding. Been through that too many times, with them winning all of four playoff series since the victory in 1989.

I arrived in Calgary (and in Canada) in 1986 and saw nothing but rising success for the Flames and a city electric with enthusiasm for the game. The rivalry with the Oilers matched anything I’d ever seen in soccer or rugby. For strictly social purposes one had to know about Loob, Lanny, Mullen, Otto, Pepper and the rest. I left Alberta a few months after the Stanley Cup win and, hockey-wise, it’s been downhill ever since for me. I can barely summon any curiosity for these American match-ups in the play-offs.

[Thanos]

You're lucky you got out of AB while you could because in reality both teams have been shit for the better part of the last 25 years - the great playoff runs in 2004 for Calgary and 2006 for Edmonton were the exception, not the rule. They were both semi-competitive in the 1990's somewhat but it's almost a miracle they were able to stay in Canada in the 2000's before the salary cap came into being because that exchange differential between the US and Canadian dollars almost killed both teams.

The last time I was interested in any US team was when Philadelphia was still competitive and that was a hell of a long time ago too.

[Sunnyways]

Such excitement was amplified in a relatively small city like Calgary. I was able to get to games and had many friends who were obsessed with the finer points. When I left I lost all that. People I worked with elsewhere didn’t have the same unified connection to a team - many were immigrants. I occasionally see it at local level now but I’ve never recaptured that feeling I had thirty years ago.

[martin14]

Sunnyways Sunnyways:

I left Alberta a few months after the Stanley Cup win and, hockey-wise, it’s been downhill ever since for me.

That's funny...


I left Toronto in 1967.
I left Montreal in 1993.

[PublicAnimalNo9]

The only thing I can say about these playoffs is, with the exception of Boston I'm betting the sports bookies took a shit kicking this year.

Who would have expected Tampa Bay to be swept in the first round? Who would have thought St. Louis would even make the playoffs?

I'll be going for St. Louis only for two reasons. 1) Between players, coaching and management they might as well be a Canadian team and 2) I just fucking hate Boston. Marchand don't help but even if he wasn't on the Bruins I still wouldn't root for them.

[Sunnyways]

Thanos Thanos:

The last time I was interested in any US team was when Philadelphia was still competitive and that was a hell of a long time ago too.

Must admit I was rooting for Chicago and the sweet skills of Toews, Kane et el. against the Flyers in 2010.

[martin14]

PublicAnimalNo9 PublicAnimalNo9:

I just fucking hate Boston.

^^ Yup. This.



( mind you, I'm sure B fans feel the same about the Habs )

[PublicAnimalNo9]

martin14 martin14:

PublicAnimalNo9 PublicAnimalNo9:

I just fucking hate Boston.

^^ Yup. This.



( mind you, I'm sure B fans feel the same about the Habs )

So do I.

[Strutz]

So... if anyone else is still watching the playoffs St. Louis came back tonight after that terrible loss in game 3 to take game 4 tonight.

Series now tied 2-2. Game 5 on Thursday should be interesting...

[Strutz]

So either St. Louis wins tomorrow to win the cup or Boston rises up and pushes for a game 7...