NHL Playoff Race Tracker

[celtsxpatsxsox]

Lapierre probably deserved one game, but he's not as important to the Habs as Lucic is to Boston. Lucic is your team's heart and soul ... so I'll be glad to see him watching from the pressbox in game 3. If I'm lucky, game 4 too, but I doubt it'll be more than one game.

yeah it was already announced that it was just one game.

[chazmaniandevil]

why would you go into the playoffs with expectations when you know Joe Thorton leads your team?

because we have a lot better team than the bruins did when he was with them

[chazmaniandevil]

this team was considered one of the best teams ever, then the second half happened

we do better against the ducks at there home arena so hope for the best

and i wouldnt blame this on thornton, id blame it on our powerplay, 0-12

[chazmaniandevil]

Thornton is the main playmaker on those power plays.....

but hes not without a very strong supporting cast

boyle, erhoff, setoguchi, clowe, and marleau are all money on pp's

[Ravin]

As I said what needed to happen for the Ducks to win, the sharks have run head on into a hot goalie. It probably is true that Thorton does get a lot of shit for his not playing, but when you're that type of player, it kind of is expected to do well. It was like Malkin last playoffs when he didn't show up for the finals. A leading points scorer, and he can't be bothered to play. In Thorton's case, granted he is only as good as the people around him, but it doesn't help that he has been kept off the score sheet already.

Kind of pissed though I missed the 3rd period of that game. Damn sleep!

I think the St. Louis/Vancouver series is one of those series that is just fun as hell to watch. It is such classic playoff hockey. Us hardcore hockey guys know what playoff hockey really means, and you can look at that series and say, "yup, that is how it should be". A lot of series are like that, and it is good for the NHL.

[Ravin]

As for Lucic's hit, glove or stick really doesn't matter, it was more the fact it was a hit to the head. Boston was well up at that point, so it kind of was uncalled for. Granted if they are going to do this as a suspension, they missed the ball on Cammelleri's punch to the head in game 1 of Flames/Hawks.

[Tailback U]

The Ducks just want the puck more than the Sharks. That is all there is to it. They are out hustling and out working the Sharks to every loose puck. They skate harder, they work harder on the boards, they hit harder, they do all the little things.

The Sharks have too many big name primadonnas. Too many superstars that expect guys to go get the puck on the boards and just give it to them and not willing to go get it themselves.

I think they can come back if they get their heads out of their asses because talent/skill has never been the question with this team, but I have my doubts.

[Ravin]

I just can't see them beating the Ducks now. The Sharks won every home game until what, late January at home, and the Ducks walk in and take two games from them. They need to stop walking in the puck. While I was watching last night, I don't know how many times just in the second period alone I saw a guy take the puck and carry it into the zone, all while a winger is sitting at the blue line, no moving because he is either waiting for a pass, or a dump in. It may have been a set play they have, and that was the look of it. Guy walks into the zone, dumps back to said winger, who then either puts it back low, or to the point. Thing is, it didn't work any of the three times in a row they tried.

[killgod]

I think it's a bit much to write this series off.

The shots are 79-43 right now. 2 posts have saved Hiller's ass in both 3rd periods.

I've seen a less talented Sharks team come back and win 3/4 on the road against a tougher opponent before, we've recently seen a team lose it's first two at home in the playoffs and turn around to win a cup.

A big hit, a timely goal, a huge save....a series can change momentum on just one play at any time. That's the beauty of playoff hockey and that's all it takes to turn things around.

It's just a matter of someone stepping up to make that play tomorrow.

We watched this team go 20+ games without a loss in regulation, it's not extreme to think they can take 4 out of 5 here, not at all.

The pressure is off the Sharks now, it's on the Ducks. They need to close it out here, they can't allow San Jose back into the series or it will prove fatal for them.

[JRoZe410]

I hope my Caps win tonight or I think I may cry We lose tonight IMO we are done.

[killgod]

If Lucic gets suspended, why not Komi for his eye-gouge on hunwick.

Lucic = head shot
Komi = face wash

[calgaryballer]

I'm interested to see how the Flames react to being at home, and how the Hawks deal with going on the road. The Saddledome can be a pretty intense place once the playoffs hit. If the Flames can't find the motivation to play a full 60 minutes in front of the home crowd, they are done for.

Iginla started strong on Saturday night, but then disappeared. I don't know if its because the Hawks are keying on him or what, but he seems content to fire wrist shots from the top of the circle and not really do much else.

The Flames could really benefit from getting Regher back. He is their one true defenceman and the guy I'd want out on the ice against the Toews line. Phaneuf is a liability on defence, and Leopold has made some poor decisions so far. CBC has said Round 2, but if he could come back any earlier, it'd be a big boost

[calgaryballer]

Belated observation, but the TSN commentary on Saturday night was AWFUL! They said magic 1,345 times while adding no insightful comments

[Ravin]

Canucks up 3 zip!!

If the Blues can get a good offensive / power play qb defense man like Mark Striet, Sergei Gonchar, or even Thomas Kaberle in the off-season they should be a lock to make the playoffs in 2010. Their sputtering power play, and the Canucks strong penalty killing, has killed them in the series so far.

Thing is, the Blues haven't been out of any game. They have been right in there every single game. Good to see from them.

[Shwayzed]

I hope my Caps win tonight or I think I may cry We lose tonight IMO we are done.

Sorry to dissapoint, but its gonna be VERY tough for the caps to win in the garden. The rangers have a great chance of winning in 4, but I also can see the caps stretching the series to a game 5 or 6 before the rangers close the lid on 'em.