Third Man In

1. Yes, since they seem to be suggesting that 4 goals in 7 games is somehow inadequate. Although in theory, after the season he's had and considering it's his first playoff, it is unfair to judge AO on his playoff performance. 2. Yes. No qualification needed. 3. Absolutely not. The Lakers are a cinderella story every year for the same reasons.

I feel like the longer into the third this game stays tied the more likely it is the Caps pull it out. They've had the ability to come up with big, late goals in this series, and I feel another one or two coming. If Philly can't get a couple goals in the first half of the period I think they're in a lot of trouble. *crosses fingers*

Terrible call on the goal, yes, but I'm not buying any conspiracy theories, for two reasons: 1. The league would love a Sidney v. AO series to market 2. Nobody likes Philly

No. But what I said wasn't quite true either. Feds had a 4:00 high sticking penalty, and then 18 seconds later Steckel took another penalty.

You missed Philly fail to score on a 5:00 5-on-3 followed immediately by a 2:00 5-on-4.

BlueMonk, if you are reading this, you said during the last game of the Avs-Wild series that one of Minny's PPs was the worst you'd ever seen. Still feel that way after Philly's fiasco there?

That early goal's huge! Let's see if the Caps can run Philly out of the rink early and hang on--unlike what the Flyers were able to do with their 2-0 lead yesterday

Sorry, but I've been thinking this all series and need to get it off my chest: anyone else think that Biron ought to play for the Ducks with those leg pads? I swear they make him look like he has duck feet.

Well, let's not forget a few things: 1.) Theodore is playing better now than in the regular season 2.) Sakic missed all four games between the teams 3.) Smyth and Stastny missed two of the games When you throw Foote and Floppa into the mix, the Avs and their fans probably feel like you can throw the first four games out the window--especialy in the playoffs. Not that this is what Opie is suggesting, but this would be far from an easy series. For the record, the Denver Post is running poll on their website that is currently 67.49% to 32.50% in favor of a Wings-Avs matchup. Edit: spelling

I've been in the whole way, no way I'm backing out now I'm officially neutral in the Sharks-Flamers game now that the Wings won't have to go through both the Sharks and the Ducks again. But Go Caps Go! Viperar--have a blast!

The Arnott situation is just the most recent instance of a very scary trend in the league. No, I'm not referring to teammate-on-teammate violence (looking your way here Emery), but rather the way concussions are handled in the league. This is something the NHL and the NHLPA need to take a hard look. Arnott sustains a concussion at the end of game 3, plays game 4, feels "sick" after the morning skate before game 5 and is scratched with "flu" or "food-poisoning"; it is only before game 6 that the Predators admit he has a concussion. I realize there is something embarrassing about admitting that Arnott suffered a concussion because of Radulov's stupidity, and Arnott is important to the Predator's chances. But concussions are not something to be messed around with. It is not about playing through pain, as if one had broken ribs. A concussion is a brain injury; the dizziness is experienced because one is doing further damage to your brain. That is not something to trifle with. The league policy on this is terrible: if a player is diagnosed with a concussion they are required to sit out for (I believe) at least a week. The result, of course, is that teams avoid diagnosing players like Arnott (and perhaps Lidstrom earlier this season) with a concussion until it is unavoidable. In the interim, the player is skating in practice and perhaps playing games, doing further and perhaps permanent damage in the process. The real tragedy, though, is that players don't seem to be informed what's going on. Neither doctors nor organizations tell them they are doing permanent damage. But as this article says, Geoff Courtnall, who was hospitalized in 2005 with concussion-related symptoms years after he left the ice, claims that there are former players who have to "sleep in the middle of the day" because they're exhausted all the time, and others who are so debilitated that they "can't find their way home".

Go Caps! I'd love to see them push this to seven. At that point, even though they really don't belong in the series, they'll have a great chance to move on. Get some popcorn for the Bs-Habs game, it will be an entertaining one. This series has been a monument to terrible hockey. Hamrlik fires the puck into his own net McCabe-style, and the Bs win 1-0 and devastate the Habs.

You and others have a point in that the players do have a responsibility here. But part of my point is that many players don't understand the severity of a concussion, so they want to try to shrug it off. And I don't think teams should be so lax either when a player says "I got my bell rung but I'll be ok". The trainer and the team medical staff, after all, are the medical experts, not the player. And a player who has just suffered a concussion is literally not in his right mind and isn't qualified to make this decision. With the first sign of trouble team doctors need to intervene; as Keith Primeau himself told Simon Gagne, "If it doesn't feel right, then it's not right." But players are often pressured to play through it when it doesn't feel right. Only the most atrocious example of which is Bobby Clarke questioning the severity of Lindros’ concussions. Clarke helped finish off Lindros' career when he did so.

I agree with you three. I didn't think it would have been fair for the Wings to finish as a one seed and have to play SJ and Anaheim two years in a row. But I also think the Wings have some unfinished business with the Ducks, and part of me would like to settle the score. The Wings would have a lot of hate and added motivation to fuel them against Anaheim. If the Wings play the Flames than the Sharks, they'll face two teams with added motivation against them. But yes, I'll take what I can get.

Yes. But stupidity often leads to accidents, freak or otherwise. That's not the point of the thread. The point is, does anyone else think the NHL's handling of concussions is an issue and, if so, what would you like to see done about it?

Sorry, no fancy GDT from me. The first game may determine the Wings' second round opponent. Regardless of who wins the series, I'd love to see it go 7, so go Flames tonight. But I'm torn about the series overall. I'd like the Sharks not to advance, but I can't resist a Wings-Avs second round series. The Ducks did well to extend the series at the Ponda Center the other night, but I think the Stars close it out tonight in their barn.

Hey Giggy's respectable too. Alright, goodnight for real.

Yeah I was beginning to get flashbacks late last week to 2006 when then top 4 seeds went down in the first round in the West. Alright, I gotta run everyone. Cheers!

Sorry, Duck Guy. It's not a fun feeling.

Ducks just never got it going this playoff. I don't know if they just had no energy or if they went through too much with the Niedermayer, Selanne, and McDonald situations or what.

Easy with the streamers there Dallas. The result isn't in doubt, but the game's not over yet

Sorry, BlueMonk, but it's time to call you on this:

True Nice timing Chrissy Pronger. Enjoy the end of your series from the penalty box.

At least Carlyle knows when to pull a goalie