Covenant

Wings win a close one tonight, maybe 3-1 or so. Bobbert coming up HUGE as the postseason continues. Oh yeah, that was a segue for everyone to check out the snazzy new Offsides sig I'm sporting today.

Two in yourbush maybe! Sorry - - completely classless.. just what jumped immediately to my 'male' mind.

I think Mr. Redden, Phillips, Volchenkov, et al. would say otherwise. They will proviide a stiff test to anyone in the Finals, very underrated team defense up in Ottawa.

But Pronger likes it when Niedermeyer tea-bags him!

While the Sabres are quick, they are far too small and weak to hang with the mighty Senators. I say this quasi-tongue-in-cheek, but it's true. When I had the CenterIce package I watched a ton of the Senators - I've always loved that team. I watched most of the Sabres in the playoffs so far, and I think at best they are the most opportunistic team in the playoffs. They pounce on a mistake better than anyone. They have Mr. Clutch in Drury, feisty little phuque Briere. . but I think the only real physical forward was their excellent pickup Zubrus. He's VERY good, and underrated. I think the top line on the Sens got 23 points! versus the Devils, that's amazing. Emery vs. Miller = draw Forwards: Slight advantage Senators Defense: BIG advantage Senators. I like the Sens tonight, and a split in Buffalo.. both at the Scotiabank place to the Sens, and to satisfy the home fans, they'll lose game 5, and win a trip to the Cup Finals back in Kanata. Sens in 6!

.. good take. But now, finally... the wait is almost unbearable. I'm thankful as hell the ECF's start tonight! Can't wait to watch on CBC.. I'm curious, whom will they pick in the WCF seeing as both teams are American! Oh yeah, the team with the greater contingent of North American players. GO SENS! (in the East)

That's a damn shame that much cash is tied up in him.. in fact, it *Edit: real thoughts, I freaking love Ryan Smyth, he's a beast, the kind of guy to have on line two... it'd be like having two Holmstroms! Anyhow, I'm skeptical of Bert, like most are.. but even in the very few shifts that he's played great this postseason, it tantalizes me to think of him returning at 100% health next year. Maybe sign Bert to a cheapy-incentive laden short-term deal, and get Smyth too! We can all pray..

Well, any major hockey fan will DEFINITELY be tuning into that one!! I'm excited as hell to see who we're going to play for the Cup. (woops, over-confident) All kidding aside, I have a pretty good friend that lives in Ottawa, and they are my Eastern Conference team.. here's to ya Sens, whip them small/speedy/non-physical Sabres into submission.

Um, I haven't ever been to the "Ponda", but I was at about 8 Wings games this year @ the Joe, and believe me, I BET you it was louder out there. Hopefully the WCF are different, but the atmosphere at the Joe this year was really lacking.

Hasek has a career 1.97 goals-against average in playoffs, which is second-best among those with 100 or more appearances. HOLY s***. And Ducky fans aren't worried about him.

I was leary of Calgary, until I saw the glaring lack of offense they had.. then I was REALLY leary of San Jose.. but after we came back from those defecits I had a great feeling. The Ducks? I'm not so sure I'm as leary of them. Yes, their defense without question is amazing, and they have balanced scoring for sure.. but, I dunno.. it's the physicality I'm not so worried about now. We have quite a few forwards that love to scrum it up as well. Combine that with darling Euro's on line one, and I think it'll be a tough-tight-checking series that will eventually come down to timely goal scoring, the powerplay, and Dats and Zetts and Homer absolutely dominating.

Mr. Bobbert Frickin Lang. Saved our season

Pardon my cut/paste from the other Ducks thread

so true.. (for the record, I drank as well)

One word really: HEALTHY!!

Except for the Goc goal, he has been stellar. Thornton to Cheechoo one-timers are basically always going to work (LAY ON THE ICE CHELLY!) .. he is unorthodox as ever, and frankly it's taken me a while to get "re-used-to" having my heart jump up in my throat when he sprawls.. but it's been working out a-okay I think! It's been repeated ad-nauseum everywhere, but the amount of confidence he instills in his teammates can't be ignored.. playing with fire and tenacity! All praise Dom Hasek! (it'd be nice to have him back next year too!)

True.. but, he is basically awful at it.

D13, great posts all series long. The Wings were the better team, like after the midway point of Game 3 that is. Thanks for the well-wishes, we're going to need them.. the Ducks are going to be a major pain in the ass. But Kudos to all of the Sharks fans here (minus 'you-know-who'), you've been well-informed and non-inflammatory.

Well well, I expected more smack-talk this round, but this is insane! Good luck to the Ducks, and WELCOME to the boards.. that is, welcome to the intelligent posters who are here to talk hockey! Season series proved these teams are pretty equal I think. I even was lucky enough to attend the last game at the Joe. As the Sharks proved, bigger/stronger/younger means nothing when it comes to playing the Wings. Veteran saavy + good young forwards, and more checking/physical play than anyone thought the Wings capable of.. I may be wrong, but vs. the Flames and Sharks we outhit them in every game. So physicality is a non-issue. Although we don't have anyone to fight George Parros. (spelling right I hope) Covenant's Cubicle Analysis Defense: Draw. Many will scoff, especially after Schneider went down, but.. Pronger/Niedermeyer are stupendous (to say the least), but I'll take Lidstrom/Chelios' combination to match up fairly even. After that, Beauchemin/?? , etc. a wash. Offense: Ducks (slightly).. Their "big/strong/young" forwards can actually finish.. and Dats/Zetts/Homer will have a tough time behind the net with Pronger back there laying people out.. BUT, that being said, we've scored some timely goals with some unsuspecting guys so far, and I expect that to continue-- depth. Goaltending: The great unknown.. But, I'm giving the edge to Hasek. If he doesn't play the puck that often it will help, but nobody comes up with timely saves like him. Giggy is all-world too.. Wow, tough one, but I like the Wings in 6 grueling games (hopefully 5) Ducks are NO Senators - - that series will be scary.

Cliche? Maybe, but a team that faces zero adversity (*cough-cough: Ducks) isn't battle-tested like ours.

What up with that particular penalty?

I pick Dom Hasek Honestly though, could care less - - play tough, hit like we hit the Flames in Round One.. seems to me when we're hitting the Sharks it gets them off their game.. as "BIG and TOUGH" as they are.

and for those w/out cable? Not saying Iam, but still... screw-job.

and why is that a BIG if? I think we've played the Sharks well, and would actually pose a stiffer test to the Ducks than the Sharks would. It's destiny baby, Babcock vs. his old team. Pronger vs. Lidstrom.

I wish he was in the lineup. He's one of their forwards that is playing like dog-doo.