Let's all Go Cup Crazy!

**JPL** · 04-12-2009, 09:37 PM

EASTERN CONFERENCE

Series 'A' - #1 Boston Bruins vs. #8 Montreal Canadiens
Series 'B' - #2 Washington Capitals vs. #7 New York Rangers
Series 'C' - #3 New Jersey Devils vs. #6 Carolina Hurricanes
Series 'D' - #4 Pittsburgh Penguins vs. #5 Philadelphia Flyers

WESTERN CONFERENCE

Series 'E' - #1 San Jose Sharks vs. #8 Anaheim Ducks
Series 'F' - #2 Detroit Red Wings vs. #7 Columbus Blue Jackets
Series 'G' - #3 Vancouver Canucks vs. #6 St. Louis Blues
Series 'H' - #4 Chicago Blackhawks vs. #5 Calgary Flames

**Ian** · 04-12-2009, 10:03 PM

Man, who would have ever thought the Canadiens would end up as the 8 seed?? That's going to be a great series, I think. I wouldn't be terribly shocked to see Boston upset in that round.

I'm happy with the Flyers draw. They owe the Pens a little payback, so hopefully they can get their skates under them and take care of their business.

I don't know, though. They've really played very ,very poorly as of late and that typically doesn't bode well for playoff success.

**iluvdizney2** · 04-12-2009, 10:47 PM

As a diehard and often disappointed Bruins fan, I would really like to see them go all the way. Just once.....thats all, just once...I am not looking for a dynasty, just want to see them do this because they earned it this year.

**Damon18** · 04-12-2009, 10:48 PM

Can't wait to get the games started! I like the Bruins chances this year. The Habs have been a total mess the last 2 months and were lucky to make the playoffs.

I actually think the west 1 vs. 8 is going to be real good. I wouldn't want to play Anaheim in the first round.

**kakn7294** · 04-13-2009, 08:18 AM

Unlike Ian, I'm hoping for a repeat of the Pens playoff performance from last season against the Flyers.

**JPL** · 04-13-2009, 08:43 AM

I am kind of hoping the Pens and Flyers beat on each other for 7 long multiple overtime games

**PirateLover** · 04-13-2009, 10:18 AM

The Flyers have been so back and forth. They need to have 2 things happen in order to take this series: 1) Step up to the challenge of playing on the road, and play smart hockey
2) Biron needs to not let in those soft goals.

He has proven in the past (esp last year) that he has the ability to "stand on his head" but last year the whole team was hot headed into the playoffs. This year, not so much. I'll be watching and hoping though

**marylynne95** · 04-13-2009, 10:41 AM

Lets Go Flyers!!

**Pagan** · 04-13-2009, 11:10 AM

Originally Posted by kakn7294

Unlike Ian, I'm hoping for a repeat of the Pens playoff performance from last season against the Flyers.

Amen...just remember...BEWARE THE PENGUINS!

**JPL** · 04-13-2009, 11:19 AM

Originally Posted by Pagan

Amen...just remember...BEWARE THE PENGUINS!

Actually is more like beware the Refs when playing the Penguins!

**Ian** · 04-13-2009, 01:49 PM

Originally Posted by JPL

I am kind of hoping the Pens and Flyers beat on each other for 7 long multiple overtime games

Why do you care? It's not like the Devils are getting out of the 1st round anyway. You won't be facing either one of those teams!

**JPL** · 04-13-2009, 02:12 PM

I think we can take the Canes this year

**buzz638** · 04-13-2009, 02:22 PM

What would be spring whithout the classic Habs-Bruins matchup ?
To all you die hard Bruins fan, i just want to remind you of last season when it was (again) Bruins-Habs but the Habs were 1st and the Bruins 8th. It went on for 7 games ans that's whats going to happen again this year, hopefully with the Habs on the winning side...
But i have to be realistic, 2009 could be the year of the Bruins ??? As iluvdizney2 said "just once" not more........

GO HABS GO

Buzz

**Ian** · 04-13-2009, 02:57 PM

Originally Posted by JPL

I think we can take the Canes this year

I'm just messing with you ... the Devils are actually my pick to play for the Cup from the East this year.

Brodeur appears to be on a mission.

**alphamommy** · 04-13-2009, 05:01 PM

I know we aren't a #1 seed, we didn't win the President's Cup this year, or anything like that, but we ARE the defending Stanley Cup Champs, so

LET'S GO RED WINGS!!!!

**Donald A** · 04-13-2009, 06:26 PM

Power play aside, I think that this years Penguins team is actually better than last year's. I think they have the potential to go all the way. However, unlike last year, I think that the competition is much tougher. I would not be surprised to see any of the teams (except maybe NY or the Habs) making it to the Stanley Cup finals. My wife got tickets for Game 2 here Friday night when they went on sale at 10AM last Tuesday (before the Pens even clinched the playoffs). When she went to buy for game 1 at 10:04 those were all gone. Hockey is taking over here in Pittsburgh and I imagine several other cities in the league. It is a good time of the year. As is sometimes said "if every hockey game was like a playoff hockey game, all other sports would come second."

LET'S GO PENS!!!

**Donald A** · 04-13-2009, 06:34 PM

Originally Posted by JPL

Actually is more like beware the Refs when playing the Penguins!

Having been to 15 games at Mellon arena this season, I honestly don't see how the refs favor the Pens. I have seen some officials make some dumb non-calls on both sides and make some dumb petty calls on both sides. I can give several examples but the most notiable was the officials actually missing a puck hitting the net (that the whole arena saw hit it) and letting play continue in the Pens zone. Or the legal hip check by Brooks Orpik and a guy skating into him from behind after play and nailing him while Orpik gets a double minor. The list goes on and on. I have watched nearly every Pens game this season and it does go both ways. Am I biased, yes, but I do know what I see and the officials pretty much screw up on both teams.

**Ian** · 04-14-2009, 08:34 AM

I hate the Penguins, but I tend to agree. I think most star players in any league draw some moderate favoritism from the refs and that's pretty much normal.

I'm not even sure they mean to do it, I just think sub-conciously they understand what those players mean to the league and how important it is that that remain on the ice/field/court so they go the extra mile to protect them.

I've seen enough Pens games to know that, yeah, Crosby definitely gets special treatment. He dives like crazy and he's almost never called on it and he definitely draws more penalties on the opposing teams than are really warranted, but hey ... that's just the way it is. The only thing that does for me is make me wish he was on the Flyers!

But hey Jeff I mean pot ... don't be calling kettle black, dude, because no one gets babysat by the refs more than "Marty"!! God forbid you get near that dude's crease or ... GASP ... accidentally bump into him! Not THE EXALTED ONE "Marty"!! Oh no ... into the Sin Bin you shall go if you dare invade Marty's space!!

**kakn7294** · 04-14-2009, 08:44 AM

Originally Posted by Donald A

As is sometimes said "if every hockey game was like a playoff hockey game, all other sports would come second."

That would NEVER happen in Steeler country - no other sport will ever come first here. Even when the Steelers were bad and the Pens won their Cups, the Steelers were first.

Originally Posted by Donald A

Having been to 15 games at Mellon arena this season, I honestly don't see how the refs favor the Pens. I have seen some officials make some dumb non-calls on both sides and make some dumb petty calls on both sides. Am I biased, yes, but I do know what I see and the officials pretty much screw up on both teams.

Well, I'm biased too but I have to agree. We watch a few other games here and there too (not Penguin games) and see the same things. It happens in every game, every sport, every level of play.

Originally Posted by Ian

I hate the Penguins, but I tend to agree. I think most star players in any league draw some moderate favoritism from the refs and that's pretty much normal.

I'm not even sure they mean to do it, I just think sub-conciously they understand what those players mean to the league and how important it is that that remain on the ice/field/court so they go the extra mile to protect them.

I've seen enough Pens games to know that, yeah, Crosby definitely gets special treatment. He dives like crazy and he's almost never called on it and he definitely draws more penalties on the opposing teams than are really warranted, but hey ... that's just the way it is. The only thing that does for me is make me wish he was on the Flyers!

But hey Jeff I mean pot ... don't be calling kettle black, dude, because no one gets babysat by the refs more than "Marty"!! God forbid you get near that dude's crease or ... GASP ... accidentally bump into him! Not THE EXALTED ONE "Marty"!! Oh no ... into the Sin Bin you shall go if you dare invade Marty's space!!

Here we go again...