GMRwings1983

This team might be worse in the playoffs than the 2006 Red Wings.

I cannot watch this series primarily because of Carolina's jerseys. They're hideous to look at. BTW, it looks like we drafted the wrong Svechnikov.

Oh yeah. I forgot all about that, TBH. It's stuck in my memory somewhere with the Legwand, Cole, and Zidlicky cameos.

He was pulled in the Miracle on Ice game when the score was 2-2. Terrible coaching by Tikhonov. Totally overreacted. Tretiak was the best goalie in the world in his prime. The Russians win that game if he stays in the net.

Pinocchio vs. Pig Nose

Never played an NHL game. He's one of the best ever and I have no doubt he'd have a great NHL career if he was allowed to. I'm looking at Nabokov, Bryzgalov, Vasileveskiy, and Bobrovsky. Vasilevskiy has the smallest sample size, but he didn't impress me in the Washington series last year in the clutch moments. The other three players on this list are notorious playoff chokers. These are the four best Russian goalies in the league over the last 15 years. Nabokov is from Kazakhstan but chose to represent Russia for most of his international career. The other guy who should be noted is Varlamov. While he wasn't a great goalie, remember his meltdown against Pittsburgh in game 7 in 2009. He had a good run for a while but that was a stain on his career. The only Russian goalie with success in the playoffs would be Khabibulin. That was based off one long playoff run, though. The Coyotes teams were never that well rounded but that Tampa team in 2004 was strong. They won the Cup. Irbe wasn't Russian but close enough as Latvia is a former Soviet republic. He had some good playoffs in him too. Make no mistake about it, Bobrovsky or Vasilevskiy will have the choker label stuck to them, whichever one loses this series. Bobrovsky already has this label actually and is trying to shed it.

Which Russian goalie will choke more? That's what this series is all about. Russian goalies have a poor history in the NHL playoffs. They seem to fold when it matters most.

Does LA really want to mess with another Russian?

The dude's name is Jamie. If I were Franzen's size, I would have pulled a Happy Gilmore on Jamie. Instead, Franzen lay there on the ice like a big wimp. He did that many other times in his career too.

How's Nolan Patrick working out for the Flyers?

Why not? He can't even bring this team good luck at the lottery.

I agree. He won't last in the league with that attitude. An 18 year old Ovechkin or Jagr would have hit on that broad.

This reminds me of the Champions league draw that's always rigged every year. The NFL has it the best, where the record literally determines the draft ranking. Yes, it encourages tanking, but it's better than a "fake" lottery.

I hope Kakko, Hughes, and that Russian guy turn into JaMarcus Russell, Greg Oden, and Len Bias.

I hate that cocksucker. Any chance the Red Wings can trade Abdelkader and move up in the draft?

Draft was rigged for the big American cities. The 1985 NBA draft was more legitimate than this.

God hates us now.

Didn't Ernst & Young screw up the Oscar win a few years ago?

Soviets over the age of 40 only drink vodka neat.

Wayne might the best looking member of that family. That's scary.

The Red Wings should have sent Yzerman as their rep.

Don't any of these idiots know how to smile?

I've never liked it unless it's mixed with something else.

I haven't been this excited in April since the last time the Wings actually had a playoff game.

That would never be drank in Russia. LOL