Comments on: Bruins/Habs 2009 Playoffs: Game 4

By: stevehab

stevehab — Sun, 31 May 2009 22:42:10 +0000

As I’ve said before, the final four teams ij contention for teh Cup had one thing in common… they fought through adversity and didn’t quit. Now that it’s down to the Pens and Wings a few things stand out. 1. excellent goaltending by both Fleury and Osgood. 2. Both teams’ ‘superstars’ are playing up to ther billing. 3. Did you see how the Pens sucked it up and skated, hit and played with lots of grit IN DETROIT. That takes guts… which both of these teams have an abundance of. 4. Both teams are dedicate to playing a system that their coach(es) have put in place. Detroit is by far the best passng team in the league adn the Pens are also moving the puck very well which gets the team out of trouble and turns the play around quickly and efficiently.

Habs management… please take note!!!

By: Joseph

Joseph — Sun, 10 May 2009 00:36:29 +0000

“Well, Mr. NHL Corporation Marketing Division Manager, everything has gone to plan. We’ve got Crosby and Ovechkin deadlocked in a thrilling two-two tie in the Easter Conference Semi-Final series. And further… just a sec… Wow, I’ve just received word, Sir, that Washington has just scored to even Game Five at one goal apiece, and in the second period no less. Yes, very exciting indeed, Sir. A real nail biter. What’s that? Oh, yes, they played the police siren that you love after the goal. And you’ll also be very pleased to know that Mr. Johnson is in top form tonight. His circus announcing lessons have really paid off. He really compliments the motif we’re shooting for. What’s that? Oh, no I don’t actually have the game on, Sir–not really all that interested in watching myself–but my top guys are on it and reporting back to me on every minute of our conversation here, so we’re good. We’re better than good, we’re gold, Sir. Just like this series. Pure gold. And… Sorry, Sir? Oh, yes, of course. We’ve got big plans for the Anaheim-Detroit series. What an underdog story we’ve got in the makes there. I can only imagine how the fans will enjoy that one, Sir, with Anaheim eventually pushing Detroit to seven games. Oh, yes, it’s covered, so no worries, big guy. The officials know the deal. We’re good. Did I say we’re good? I meant we’re gold.”

By: Joseph

Joseph — Sat, 09 May 2009 20:28:14 +0000

I, too, am a true fan of the game. Just not the NHL version, or should I say perversion, of it.

By: Ray77

Ray77 — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 19:52:21 +0000

I am a true fan of the game, and not just a troll here to wreak havoc. I have been staying up until 1 am watching the west coast games, (driving my wife nuts), and played the game for years.. My 7 year old middle DAUGHTER plays hockey.. (Sorry, 3 girls, no boys). I’m here because I respect the Canadiens.. Can’t say the same for either Florida team, or even the Coyotes, (Even with Gretzky). Since the sold out and left Winnipeg.. My all time favorite games to watch when I was younger were the Quebec Nordiques v. Bruins.. The Stasneys V. Bourque was always fun…

By: Joseph

Joseph — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 06:28:24 +0000

Another gem. Ironically, Cam Neeley missed quite a few post-season games as a result of, ironically, a devastating hit by now Bruin Mark Recchi in the 1991 playoffs. I’ll never forget it. Neeley tried to take a cheap shot at Lemieux after the whistle and Recchi came barreling in like a freight train from the blue line and thoroughly planted him in Neverland. The crowd fell silent as they looked on in shock. Not a single boo, just the dead quiet of humbled masses. A Bruin’s hat fell somewhere in the upper bowl and echoed throughout the Garden as it hit the floor. Cartoon Penguins circled Neeley’s shrunken head as he came to and was helped off the ice and out of the series, followed shortly thereafter by the rest of his teammates.

That was when men not only played this game but called it. There was no penalty on the play.

By: Mats Naslund

Mats Naslund — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 15:06:21 +0000

My personal favorite came at the expense of Kovalev. Edwards asked redundantly, (I’m paraphrasing here) “Where has Kovalev gone? Cam Neeley would never have been this invisible in a playoff game” – Kovalev scored less than 5 seconds after the comment. Neeley never won a cup – Kovalev has, not to mention that Kovalev has more playoff points and 3 points in 4 games this time around.

I also loved earlier in the season how angry they got about Alex Henry fighting with Thornton. They said that Henry was called up for one purpose and wouldn’t take another shift. They bashed him for doing the same thing that makes Thornton his money, and never mentioned the fact that Henry played a regular shift through the game and ended up with 10 minutes ice time. They said some really insulting things about him. Just another example of the pointless, unprofessional drivel that comes from these guys when they call a game. You would never hear Jim Hughson or Doc Emerick go after a player personally like that. That being said, when they call games without the Bruins, they don’t go to that level.

By: Joseph

Joseph — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 09:41:58 +0000

I must commend you though, Ray. This was a big step up from the usual ‘The Price was wrong’ and ‘I wonder when the cheapshots will start’ rubbish which you spewed redundantly on this blog throughout the four game series. Well done!

By: Joseph

Joseph — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 09:38:14 +0000

Well, I was going to say something about extremely biased broadcasting, but there you have it. The same could be said for Paul Steigerwald in Pittsburgh, incidentally – a yinzer fanboy through and through. Unbearable to listen to.

As to the assumption that I’m angry over the Habs’ swift playoff exit, it’s an inaccurate one. All things considered, I, like many Habs fans, fully expected the Habs to lose efficiently. As has been stated, they were without Lang (leading goal scorer with 18 prior to his injury near mid-season), Tanguay (whose presence provided the Habs one of the best first lines in hockey over the final stretch), Markov (second only to Kovalev in team scoring) and Schneider (powerplay quarterback). But injuries aside, this team had been downright terrible for the entire second half of the season. So not much anger at all from my end. By the time the playoffs rolled around, I was watching with a sense of amusement. In fact, I was of the opinion that the Habs didn’t deserve to be in the playoffs at all this season.

Anyway, for the record, I am familiar with Brickley and Edwards and I’ve never liked the coverage on versus. It’s stale. And when the Bruins are involved, it’s biased. So I don’t watch.

But back to my original point…

‘… Bruins handed ‘em a broom for their 100th birthday…’ and ‘… melt the ice, scrape off the logo and turn out the lights on your way out…’ aren’t pointing out the Habs’ weaknesses. No, that’d be nothing more than a potent mix of homerism and sour grapes, which is no surprise given the fact that the Bruins have, well, let’s be completely honest here, been the Habs’ b*tch throughout most of their history.

Horrid broadcasting.

Having said all that, good for the Bruins. They have to win sometimes. Otherwise it’s not much of a rivalry at all, is it?

By: Mats Naslund

Mats Naslund — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 05:17:15 +0000

Once again ray, it would be alot easier to take you seriously if you knew where the discussion of Brickley and Edwards came from. You can read back through many of the posts for this season, but you’d rather jump to conclusions and assume its about an isolated occasion. I’ve said many times that these two are capable of calling a good game. I’ve seen them both do games for other teams. Brickley does a great job with the Beanpot etc. Unfortunately they call Bruins games which makes for terrible hockey coverage because they are fans of the team. Yes I’m a Canadiens fan, but I watch all NHL teams. That means every game I watched in which the Bruins played I saw the NESN coverage. These two fanboys call every game from the perspective of the Bruins fan (which is fine if you want to hear your own garbage), but terrible if you prefer to have an announcer describe reality unfolding infront of him. I can’t stand hearing a guy talk about refs and all of the missed calls, and opposing teams in a derogatory fashion. Its not just about the Habs-Bruins – its every game, and unfortunately for me I will be proven right anytime I want to watch the bruins because of the NHL’s blackout restrictions that stop those of us in the Bruins market from receiving the feeds from CBC and elsewhere.

Again, these two are terrible. I always thought hearing Joe Bowen was painful, but these guys take the cake. The reason is that they call the games for a team they love. The best in the business give up allegiances and just call the game because they love it. I enjoy Brickley’s analysis when the Bruins aren’t involved..

By: Senet1

Senet1 — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 00:56:39 +0000

Buffalo come a close second. It is like a Bud Linch years gone by (Detroit) makeover.

It is one thing to be partial towards your team, but really lets try to see the game for what it really is.