first, it's been two really great games to watch just as a hockey fan! love to see the sport on it's way back!!
Maybe Mike Richards.. Your whole team.. no way.
I'll take that.
i'm still down on the puck bouncing the hawks way, and hate to say it but, it seems to be the hawks year.
but as for "maybe richards".... he's been invisible. he was all be super human, in previous series, but not yet this series. we've out shot and out pressured 3/4 of the time. the hawks have been very opportunistic.
If out playing the Hawks means losing 2 games in a row by a goal, then I guess you can say that you "outplayed" us. If getting 4 power plays to none, getting out shot in game one and losing by a goal means outplaying, then I guess you did "outplay" us. San Jose is still saying the same thing and couldn't accept the reality that they were beaten by the better team.
The criteria to blow the whistle is if the referee loses sight of the puck. He obviously did and blew the play dead. Nothing "early" about that. There was a mass of humanity in front of the net and there was no way a zebra could see a thing. And I think it's ironic a filly fan complaining about the officiating when Pronger is getting away with cross check after cross check in front of the net every play the Hawks are down there. Or complaining because you were never penalized in game one when there were 4 or 5 obvious penalties that were ignored. Your team got what they deserved in game 2 with that meat head carcillo in the line up. Nice job laying out your own guy.
Nothing is over, but I like our position!!
you my friend, have been watching a different series than most. i get being a fan, and obviously you know a bit of hockey. but too much kool aide can make you blind.
i'll say that the refs may have missed 2 calls against us in game 1, but they missed that many against the hawks as well. each penalty was warranted. the flyers actually showed some discipline for once. even the color commentator stopped just short of pointing out the (philly-like) whinning when they were screaming for too many men by saying "not even close" in an annoyed voice.
your 4-0 powerplay arguement is weak. and the gap was warranted.
what was exceptional was how chicago handled it. good pressure on the puck, and no open lanes for the flyers to collapse the triangle.
(shots were even in game one btw)
also, san jose was run over. and chicago was exceptional in that series. but besides winning, did you really see anything exceptional from them so far? you're up 2-0. but you haven't dominated. in fact, most times during periods 1 & 3 in game 2 you played on your heals. furthermore, 3 soft goals in game one coupled with the typical philly turnover to setup another goal in their own end, lead to 6 goals.
the argument goes easily both ways. depending on the kool aide. good fortune followed the flyers through 3 rounds, now they may be the victim.
you're right on "the criteria". but that puck was hardly covered. don't want to cry about the refs, but that may have been a critical moment when the losing team typically crashes the net. the mass of humanity really wasn't near the puck, give or take a few feet, lol. but i'm pretty sure any hockey fan realizes the importance of playing a loose puck in front of the net. a series can go either way on just one- kinda like a turnover in your own end.
out of the "ignored" penalties, chicago still had plenty. by wanting credit for calls, you're sounding a bit phillyish.... even by the old-school standards so many in that town live by.
you won, "outplayed" or no, who really need that much respect? whine much? and pronger's cross check.... you see gagne getting knocked down when shooting the equalizer with 3 minutes left? it's hockey, it happens. most fans get that. if you get a win when you shouldn't, in any sport, especially in the championship- celebrate it! don't whine and complain about style points!
and carcillo, agreed. he will never realize his potential. he really does have skill as a forward. but he can never, ever, ever, keep his cool. in fact the matching minors were likely a result of his dbag rep. definitely should not gone to the box there.
good luck the rest of the way! seriously! i really think it's been a fun series, as much as it's ripped my heart out. i've been to every home game in philly so far ( in fact, my buddy and i are in the nbc pregame intro for like 2 seconds....) and it's been an incredible ride. hockey needs a comeback. and this series seems far from over!
