*DAMN R6 Forum

Any hockey fans out there? I need someone to brag at when the Toronto Maple leafs win the stanley cup.

A Western Conference team will win the Cup, either in 4 of 5 games.  So it will either be me or Grift bragging when things are said and done.

>:( You wish....LOL ;D

I am picking the Avalanche in 7 vs Detroit.....Then the Avalanche in 5 for the Cup.

i predic Toronto will win in the final in 7 games multiovertime!

I'll take the Wings in 7.

How about the Avs and Leafs both win the current series in 7 and then go to a game 7 in the final.  Whoever wins the 28th game of the playoffs wins the cup.  If you think about it 28 games is like 1/3 of a season.

who cares who wins, it's playoff hockey
the best sport around
after football ofcourse ;)

Brain, you sure know how to spoil a good conversation  :(

it's my specialty
keep arguing if you want
hell, i'll take the wings to take it all, they need another trophy to add to their collection ;)

TEXT I pick montreal TO GET MURDERED BY THE HURRICANES!! I hate Montreal, the only reason they got by the bruins was because of Theodore(dirty bastard)!! Well, go Avalanche!
;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D

I'm taking bets  8)

:o Yeah, sure you are...  :o

Bondo-

That would be crazy to have both teams in a game 7 for the cup, and for it to be the 28th game for both teams. I wonder if that has ever happened before?

Indeed it would, I think I heard that they were the first two teams to have two 7 game series to start the playoffs but maybe I remember wrong.

I wanna see Avalanche vs Leafs, or Leafs vs Redwings  :D

If Leafs take the Canes, which they will (GO LEAFS GO), they will win the cup.  O btw it will be vs the Wings, and Toronto will take it in 6-7 games.  i don't feel strong about OT tho.  GO LEAFS GO!!!

Major Leafs Fan,
Nomad ;D ;D

Myst, you are making plans way in advance.... you'll probably never even remember us in 2039, when the Leafs actually pull it off....

I hope the Wings do see the Leafs in the Finals... but there isn't a chance in hell of Toronto beating Detroit...  are you guys even watching Detroit??  oh... gotta go... almost time for me to leave for the game... what's that?... yeah, I'm up in Suite 19 (right over the blue line across from the Wings Bench) tonight for the Wings over the Av's... heh.  Ahhh... free beer... free food... live hockey... tv's for instant replay... private bathroom (bigest perk of all).... add a blow job and a cigar and I'd say I was in heaven...

I like the avs too =( which to hope for

There goes Myst again... backing the loosers.

That blow job had better be from your wife or heaven won't be the place you are going   ;).  Oh, and one loss does not a loser make in a best of 7 series.

The avs are the defending champions, Girft >:(

what is this?  more hockey snobs who don't think we know how to play in suburban north carolina?

Well for your information, we set a record low temperature for may last night - 39 degrees F!

The Canes are going to win it all!

8)

What does setting a record low temperture have to do with hockey.  And I'm afraid that Carolina won't be winning, sorry.

I don't think the Hartford Whalers have ever taken a series off the Wings... oh, sorry... Carolina (I liked them better in Hartford too...)

The Qu?bec Nordiques (or what ever) are gonna win this year! ( if the leafs dont!  ;)

Well... when I go get the third picture of me taken with the cup here in Detroit, I'll be sure to post it for you Myst...

Then again, better not, no telling what Pun will do with it...

OMG, my first sucsessful topic!!!!!!!! ?;D

A few thoughts:

1)  For those who don't know, Hockey is played on ice  ;)  This means that places that don't usually have large amounts of ice don't usually get a lot of hockey respect.  Example: Raleigh, North Carolina.  So a low temperature more common to northern areas is a good thing regarding hockey.

2)  I remember how it felt to have my first successful thread too.  Those were the days!

3)  Well, the Canes are still in the playoffs for those who haven't noticed.  At the time I'm writing this, they're tied 1-1 at the beginning of overtime in the 3rd game of that series...if they win they'll be up 2-1.  This is respectable!  

4)  Give Raleigh a chance - our most exciting precipitation may not be blizzards, but our hurricanes are enough!

Loud -
You got your OT win  :)

I also noticed the Avalanche got themselves an OT win in Detroit the other night. I am still sticking close to my original prediction.

Avs in 7 vs Detroit (maybe in 6) - Avs in 5 for the Cup (maybe 4)

I am starting to think that maybe the Canes will be going on to the cup, but every game seems to go 50/50 to those teams.

I am just a BIAS AVALANCHE fan though but anyways GO AVS!!

Sorry loud, Canes are no way in hell gonna take the leafs this series.  YEs, they just took TO in OT again, but the serires are far from over and we (leafs) are still in very good position with home advantage next game.  Besides my prediction still stands, Leafs over Canes 6 or 7 games and TO vs Wings in Final and leafs take them in 7, sorry Girft  ;)

GO LEAFS GO
Nomad

I agree with nomad on those predictions.

My prediction:

Canes defeat leafs in 7th game after 4 OTs with the score tied 0-0  ;D

Then they play Detroit and lose in 4 games :-/

I may be a fan, but I don't think carolina will have much chance in the finals...but I'm pretty sure they're gonna get there!

I'm with you Loud.. I just want Toronto to win so I can go see more games live (my buddy and I will trek over to Toronto for most games there too...  where our US $$ will go twice as far with the scalpers).  Carolina is a bit too far away for that.

Good idea, atleast somebody is learning from my mistakes   ;)

Yeah - though apparently not everyone thinks the way you do.  The ESA (our arena) was sold out at over 18000 seats...and over 4000 were leafs fans.  They had RVs all over the parking lot.  

I dunno...hockey's great, but I'm not sure its worth that kind of a drive.  Although I heard season tickets have a 25-year waiting list in Toronto, so i guess they're kind of desperate to see games.

And $40 for upper level seats, even though its a lot more than the regular season (I think it's $12 usually) was well worth it.  The atmosphere in the playoffs is really electric!

I've heard that rumor about Toronto's tix as well.. and can believe it, since the waiting list for tickets for the Wings are much the same... I've been on that waiting list for 6 years so far.  

I have gotten some mini packs of tickets every year, and managed to get seats for the playoffs (I was there for one of the cup wins!)  And you are right, nothing like being there.

Toronto is only 400km from my house (406km from here to the Air Canada Centre), so it's either a 3.5 hour drive or train ride.  And if Dest can hook us up some tix for there, I can do the same for him here, and I only live about 15mins from Joe Louis Arena and have an extra room...

3-1

muahahhaahahahahahaha

I figure this thread is as good as any to say, ha to Grifter saying the Avs won't see a game six on his forums.  Ha to Ace for saying the Rockies suck and that the Giants are good.  How did you like the Rockies beating you two straight now.  How do you like that if the Rockies played at the rate before they fired Buddy Bell that they have after, they'd be the best team in the National League.  How do you like that they are a game over .500 only 5.5 games back of Arizona and closing fast.

I see toronto dying now... :( :( :( :( :( :(

Screw the Leafs!! GO WINGS!!!  8)

Well, the Wings owned everything in that game but the final score.  They played great and doubled the Av's up on shots again (sweet short hander by Federov though).  But, Whaaa was a wall again.  Oh well...  back to Detroit with home ice again.

Yeah, I don't like Ava. at all. I was rooting for the Devils, my home team, but somehow shitty Carolina beat 'em. DEATH TO CAROLINA!! I really would like to see the Wings win it...

No one seems to like the Avalanche with me. >:(

Anyways good to see the Avalanche tied up the series even while playing like shit.  I don't think Detroit can take us because we will start playing decently soon.

It also seems Toronto won't go quietly. 8)
GO AVS ON MONDAY!

-Nuke

Nuke, you aren't the only Avs fan here, if you'd read the last few pages you'd see that me and Grift have been spatting about it for days.  He just can't accept that the Avs are a better team that even when playing bad can win half the games they play against the Wings.

GGGGGGGGGGGGGGGOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAAAAAALLLLLLLLLLLL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Perhaps next year you will give Carolina the benefit of the doubt before they beat you?

STANLEY CUP FINALS IN RALEIGH, NORTH CAROLINA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

and that's all I have to say....

First, sorry for mod'ing your post Loud, but all those !!!'s were screwing up the script and not letting another post in (one of those weird perl things).

Yes, Carolina made it to the finals and congrats are in order.  I actually bet on them in my hockey pool, but I wanted Toronto because of both being closer and seeing Detroit and Toronto in the Finals would be very, very cool to me (big fan of first six teams I am).

The Wings and Av's are turning out to be all that was expected of them.  Game 7 on Friday night... now the question is should I blow the big bucks for a ticket for Friday... or gamble and wait for the finals.

i think the question becomes do you have faith in your team... act accordingly

well, Hasek and the wings blanked the avs at the Pepsi Center...Game 7 in Hockeytown!

As for Carolina...they managed to win even though the "BBC Line" wasn't producing. They are overloked and could surprise a few people but I still think the Western Conference champ will win Lord Stanley's Cup.

Actually Brain, it's a bit more complicated than that to me....

Yes, I'll assume that the Wings are going to win (that wasn't the real gamble).  The real gamble is finding a ticket to the Finals and how much more it will cost.

First, Game 7 in Detroit is likely to be the best game of the playoffs all year.  As many people have said, this may be the game for the cup.

Second, since the Wings will have Home Ice for the cup, will they sweep, which game do I try to get tickets for?  No offense, but spending a few hundred per seat isn't something I'll do more then once to see the Wings and Carolina.  Wings and Leafs was a different matter.

I'll probably just head downtown tomorrow and see what I can find... if I find a "bargin" (tickets less then 4x face value) then I'll probably jump on them.  If not, I'm only 15 mins from home, and there are plenty of sports bars in between.

 I think the winner of the avs and redwings is the winner of the stanly cup

Awww.... sucks for Toranto... I was hoping to see them in the Stanley Cup with the Wings. However, that was a nice goal Sundin had with 28.1 seconds left in the game to send it into over time. Damn Carolina.

Go Wings Go!!

Game 7 slaughter in Detroit...wow.

Wings vs Canes for the cup

Ahhh... where to start.

Well, first things first.... YEEEEEEEHAAAAAA!!!

Ok, had to get that out of my system.  Man, was this a great series to watch (not always comfortable to be a fan, but great freaking hockey!!).  Yes, I did go to the game tonight... yes, I paid way too much for 4th row upper bowl tickets.... yes, I lost my voice chanting "we want roy"... hehe.

Even Bondo has to admit that the Wings earned this conference title.  They played great clean hockey (as did the Av's).  They Wings have always been the hardest team on Roy (even back when he was at Montreal  What was that... 11 goals they scored on him that last game?)

I'm looking forward to the Cup Finals and getting my picture taken with it once again as it finds it's way back here to Hockeytown.

Now Bondo, I hope that you now look at your previous statements about playoff success and give the Wings their due... they have now gone to the Cup finals 4 times in the last decade... soon to drink from the cup for a third time in the last decade.  If that doesn't meet your criteria for playoff success, then it's a moving target and you are without hope.  Even I'll admit that the Av's are the second best team in that same time period....

Well Grift, I must say congrats on the game, I wanted the wings to win.....you know I am not a Wings fan but I did pick them in my hockey pool and I did lose last series with the leafs  :( I hope the Wings take the Canes in a nice sweep, Oh! WAIT!! then I would lose my pool, no! I hope the take em in 6, but I would love to see the sweep, just to stick it to Irbve dammit!!! I am crying right now, wishing it would have been a LEAFS vs WINGS final, that would have been a beautiful series, I know you (Grift) wanted to see that too, but I guess there is always next year!! (GOD I HATE SAYING THAT)

Nomad
ps. o btw, there is a bright side to all this........the World Cup has started WooT!!!!   FORZZA AZZURRI-GO ITALY GO....

;D ;D
You following the Cup or goin for any Country Grift??

lmao @ France

I follow World Cup when it's Rugby, not Soccor...

I like the real man's sport =P.  Then I pull for the All Blacks!  Damn those Springbucks.  And the US team sucks, they never make it to the World Cup.

Yes, I'm a big futbol fan (soccer? what were you thinking you mongrels), not quite big enough to wake up at 5:30 this morning to watch this game live but enough that I'll be watching US and England games live.

I'll accept that this game put the Red Wings ahead for now as the best team.  I will still cling to my argument that they wouldn't have won if they didn't just buy up free agents.  Outside of their yearly deadline trade, the Avs get pretty much everyone else through the draft.  And if we count farm teams (go Hershey Bears) then the Avs stomp on the Red Wings. ;)  Now if only the Avs would dump Roy (by this I of course I mean have him retire) and make Abischer the starter.

Bondo, how many Av's were drafted by the Av's?  Not traded for, but actually drafted by the Av's?

Because Yzerman, Federov, Lindstrom, Draper, Williams, Holmstrom, McCarty, Maltby, Dandenault, Fischer... and now Zetterberg (who had a great olympics and was drafted by the Wings) has been signed....  The three guys you are referring to didn't win that series... hell, Yzerman and Federov were probably the two most pivitol players on the ice for Detroit... playing it well at both ends.  McCarty and Holmstrom another pair...  And yes, I think that Osgood would have won in goal and played just as well as Hassick... Osgood did get his name on the cup twice before with Detroit.

And there were plenty of others that were drafted and lost to free agency along the way (Osgood, Koslov)

But you also have to look at it from the other direction.  Players like Hull and Chellios really wanted to come to Detroit and used free agency to do it.  What, Detroit is supposed to turn them down?  Are you saying that the Av's would have turned down either guy that wanted to come over to them??

But if that's your silver lining for the Av's than you hang onto it.  

BTW, the best defensman in Wings history (and the most under-rated in the NHL) was at the game last night... yes, the Vladinator was there.  One of the most inspiring thing for the Wings to have seen.  It was a crime that this man never won the Norris Trophy.  Ah, if the Wing hadn't lost him to that damn drunk limo driver, they would have had another cup in there.  We've struggled at D ever since then, until this year (and we are still not as good).

Wow...  I was just looking over the Carolina site... to see what they were saying.  I looked at the standings and came to see that Carolina finished 7th in the East in points (won their division, but behind the thrid place finish of the Senators even).  Not only that, but were in 17th place overall in points this year.  It's amazing that they made it to the finals that far behind.

What happened to them?  I only saw them play twice in the regular season to Detroit (both WIng's wins and one close).  But in the playoffs, they've played tough and Irbe has been on fire..   what happened in the regular season?  Which one is the fluke?

Now I get why they are considered such an underdog.

These are the players Quebec/Colorado has gotten from the draft.

Joe Sakic
Peter Forsberg (Draft day trade of draft picks sending Lindros to Flyers).
Adam Foote
Chris Drury
Milan Hejduk
David Abischer
Alex Tanguay
Martin Skoula
Radim Verbata
Brian Willsie
Riku Hahl
Dan Hinote
Eric Messier (Not drafted, but has only played for CO)
Scott Parker

Maybe it would have been easier if I pointed out that the only significant players who were not original Avs were:
Mike Keane
Patrick Roy
Rob Blake
Greg DeVries
Stephan Yelle
Darius Kasparitis
Stephen Reinprect
All of the above were gotten through trades, not through free agency.

Grifter...it's because no one has given Carolina any benefit of the doubt.

During the regular season and in previous seasons, they haven't done especially well because they've lacked a lot of popular support.  People didn't believe that hockey could survive down here.  And I can sort of see where they're coming from - I went ice skating for only the second time in my life yesterday.  I think in Detroit that would probably be considered inhuman.

Anyway, now that the Canes have at least a few people that believe in them (though obviously no one on this forum...sigh) they should do better.  No matter what happens in the Finals, next season should be great.

And besides, every hockey fan knows the regular season points have almost nothing to do with performance in the playoffs.

Well, last year the team that won the President's Trophy won the Cup and if the Wings win this year it will be the same.  I'd say that points matter to a degree.  Still, I think if Irbe just plays four amazing games, they can win the Cup, but I don't like the odds.  Still, I'll be cheering for the Canes.

Well if Bondo is cheering for the Cains, you may as well pack it in right now... since Bo (ndo) don't know hockey.

I agree that points don't mean it all... but they were quite a bit far back there... even discounting the West. ?And one thing it does mean is Home Ice. ?Tell me that the Av's wouldn't have wanted home ice for that series with the Wings.... ?

Basically, watching the playoffs, I agree that the Cains deserve to be in the finals... I just wondered why they did so poorly in the regular season compared to now.

Oh, and loud, not being on skates is no sin here... as long as you are a swimmer.  Michigan produces more college swimmers then any other state (or did in the late 80's, which is the last time I looked)... and we produce more swimmers then hockey players (but not by much).  Now, cross the river, and it is completely a different matter.  Ontario produces hockey players like Iowa produces football linesmen (or Florida defensive backs or Chicago hoop stars).

Does Minnesota produce more swimmers or hockey players than Michigan? ?They have more lakes and just as much cold. ?And I'm not cheering for the Cains because I think they will win so I don't know what my hockey knowledge has to do with it.

Did I mention I graduated from the High School with the most state titles, they won again this year. ?All I know is I'm in the state the produces the most skiers in the country and has the highest concentration of Olympic atheletes. ?My city is also home to the 2002 National Spelling Bee Champion so there.

!

My high school has 6 All-American atheletes this year...

and since when does chicago produce great basketball players?  I only know of one...

Seems like suburban North Carolina is the true home...

;D

Sorry to burst your bubble Bondo, but Michigan has more water, more high school swimmers, and the largest amount of boats of any state in the US.... also, the most coastline of the 48.  

BTW, Michigan produced more college swimmers... that doesn't mean that many of them were the best.  Although my senior year in HS, our 4x100 free relay that won States was only 4 seconds off the time that won the NCAA that same year (which 1 second per person is nothing... ).  We had 8 swimmers from my high school alone get scholarships (including one diver).  Most of the schlorship offers were out of state no less.

As for Hockey, it's just much more of a tradition here... been around a bit longer.  

As for Chicago, They kept putting out many, many great guards from high school...  And you don't know names like Isiah Thomas, or Magic Johnson??  Remember, we weren't talking about colleges.  All the college scouts run to Chicago to scope out talent.  VS in states like Michigan, where they just look at the known schools and stats.

Grifter, you don't get to count the Great Lakes, just the water within the borders of the state.  To hell with your coastline as coastline itself says that it is the border of the land (you don't call just any edge of a lake a coastline).

i would like to remind you grift, that Michigan steals alot of coastline from wisconsin using the up

by the way, wisconsin is a close second (or third) for water content, there are thousands of lakes in northern wisconsin, it is common to have 5 lakes with in a 2 mile radius
and with that many lakes (and very few ppl) nearby, it is fairly easy to find calm water for skiing or barefooting

GRIFT, I don't know what you are smoking, but when it comes to putting out swimmers, no one beats California. No doubt Michigan has a fine swimming program; they are always one of the best schools in the country. But compare that to California with USC, Berkeley, Stanford, and plenty more, and there just really is no comparison. Not to mention some of the best club swim teams like Santa Clara.

California also is THE home for water polo. If you made up a team of just players from California, it would basically look the same as the national team minus a couple players.

i hear thet texas(texas a and m, i think) has an excelent swimming program as well

I think Grifter is talking about where good swimmers are born, not where they go to college.  Sort of how Colorado College doesn't use may Colorado hockey players (rather they get Minnesota players) so Texas probably recruits from out of state swimmers to some degree.

Yes Ace, I'm talking about where they swin in High School... and just the number that get college scholarships, quantity, not quality...  After all, I know guys that left Michigan to go to Mission Viejo and Arizon to swim (while in high school).  As a matter of fact, our old high school coach went to Arizon to coach a team with Rowdey Gains back in the late 80's.

Bondo, the coast and waters of the great lakes do count... since the state line is drawn out in the middle of the lake.  And if coast of the great lakes doesn't count... then I guess California has no coast line what so ever in your opinion...  Bondo, you are the king at discounting facts that you don't like.  

And Brain.... the U.P. is still Michigan =P

I wasn't saying that Michigan didn't have coastline, I just said the water in the Great Lakes doesn't count in how much the state has (just like I'm not counting Lake Superior for MN).  I'm talking landlocked (within the state) lakes and rivers.

GRIFT, I admit I don't know much about the talent coming out of Michigan, but I would be willing to wager large amounts of beer that California consistenly produces the top swimmers in the country and almost any age group you wish to compare. We simply kick ass at swimming and water polo out here.

plz ppl,  i started this thread so it wouldnt become a arguement!  :(

i know that,i'm saying that if the up didnt exist(or belonged to wisconsin, like it should)
then wisconsin would have aproximatly equal(or more)coastline than michigan, hence you are taking away our shorline

GIVE US OUR SHORE LINE BACK!!!
STOP, THEIF!!! ;)

Mysterio - what are you talking about?
This whole thread has been one long argument!

Speaking of which -

Go Canes!

It's not over yet....

Not over yet... but tonight we'll see how the Canes bounce back.  If they can pull themselves together tonight, then they are much much better then anyone gave them credit for being....  if they fold like the Av's did in Game 7, then it's all over.  

What a game the other night though....  I didn't get to sleep until 4:30 after that thing....  

To bitch a little... the ref's should be calling all that grabbing that's been going on.  But until they do, the Canes are doing it well.... they are just smothering the Wings.  It surprises me, because usually in the playoffs, they call that a little closer.  But I'm not blaming the Canes... if they can get away with it... why wouldn't they do it....

And to think I thought you knew something about hockey. In the playoffs, especially OT, a good general rule is if they don't go to the hospital, it's not a penalty. The refs have been calling each and every little bitch call they can, unlike I've ever seen before in the playoffs. They need to swallow their whistles and let the players decide this.

Grift is only whining because his team is kicking less ass than they would if they weren't being held (something that every single team does).

Ace... OT is a different matter.... I don't like whistles in OT either.

But there are a bunch of muggings going on... while at the game (since you don't see it all on TV), many Canes would still be holding players sticks, trying to yank them away, while in the far zone behind the play... ?Which could be called for Holding, Obstruction, Boarding or (in many cases) Roughing.... or all at once.  Yes, every team holds.... the Canes are just doing it better and not getting called then any team I've seen in a long time.?

Like I said, it's a little bitch.. not a big one. ?Wings are still up 3 - 1. ?and this should be over on Thursday (too bad I took the Canes to win 2 games in the pool). ?

Canes will come back!! FU Detroit!!

I see Rancid has taken that quote to heart

once again...showing 0 (zero)(zilch)(no)(nil)(nada)(naught)(kein) faith in the canes whatsoever.  

Please people give them the respect they deserve.  They made it to the finals convincingly, and they're still in them!  Now go home and watch the game.

Loud,

I give them mucho respect.  I think they have played the Wings tougher then anyone else in the playoffs.  They've only won one game, but every game is a battle.  The Wings are playing at the top of their game, and not scoring a bunch, which means that the Canes are doing something right.

Even though the win / loss doesn't show it, I'd say the Canes are playing better against the Wings then any team in the playoffs.  If it wasn't for Roy (I'll admit, the best goalie in the game today) the Av's would have been done in 4 or 5.  Roy is the biggest reason the Av's are where they are at.  Irbe is good, but he's not the one making the difference with the Wings... it's the team defense that the Canes are playing.

So I have plenty of respect, and do think that the Canes deserve to be there... but, as a life long Wings fan, and a watcher of hockey... I'd have to say that the Wings are just better and this series is just about over.  Even if Carolina wins tonight... how many teams have come back from being down 3-1 in the finals?

hey grift, look at it this way
if the wings win, then you have another trophy to brag about
if they lose tonight then you are golden with your hockey pool

you aint got much to loose here, so dont worry ,be happy :) :D

Well Grifter,

Hockey is the ONLY sport where a team has come back from being down 3-0...and that happened twice. DOn't count any team out until they are out. A break here, a break there, and the series is 3-1 infavor of Carolina.

did any one else hear sombody say fuck off at about the 9 min mark in the third period? ???

Well damn

try not to gloat too much...

well, it's official detroit  3 to 1 has  detroit has won the stanley cup, and hasek has got a million dollar bonus(i want his agent)
excelent hockey all around, and carolina actually looked like they had a (small) chance right up untill that last goal from half ice.
the whole game was amazing, simply amazing
god i love hockey

Don't worry loud, he can't possibly gloat as much as after they pummeled the Avs in game 7.  After all, the Avs were supposed to play the Red Wings close.

Me.... Gloat.... nah.... not my style.  I will sit here and be very very happy though (along with very, very tired... we didn't get kicked out of the Hockey Town Cafe until 3 hours ago).  Go back a read a little Bondo... I don't consider my posts gloating.

Sin, it's only happened once in Hockey in the finals.  That being Toronto v Detroit long long ago (before even my parents were born).  If ESPN is to be believed , it's never happened in hoops, once in hockey and 3 times in baseball.  At least that was the stats they were flashing in the "quest for the cup" show last night.

And Loud, Irbe played great last night, the Canes defense was amazing again.  Carolina could easily have won if they could put together some offense.  If they keep that team together (and maybe add another scorer to it), they could easily end up in the finals again next year.  I'm not going to take anything away from them.

I also want to see the votes for the MVP.  I figure it had to be at least 4 guys, and pretty close.  Not that any of the four would be a bad call.  But I'd love to see the totals.

Also of note, in still a class act that the Wings are, Vladdy was out there on the ice to hold the cup and be right next to it in the team picture.  That is one of the reasons that the Wings are the Wings....  5 years after being turned inside out in a limo accident, he still has his locker, is still on the bench, and is still part of the team in everything but ice time.  That is what made me feel the best about the cup this year.  Seeing the Vladinator out there with it still.