Fever NHL / Ice Hockey Thread, eh!

   

Im not going to say the 'c' word, it is looking a bit shaky. all tied up at 3 games each

oh My!  Vancouver leading 1-0 most of the match, then with less than 3 minutes till the end of the 3rd period, Chicago get an equaliser!!!  crazy stuff!

Was that a short handed goal?

Have no idea, only following on nhl.com scoreboard.  wish i had seen it though

Yes it was.Just saw a replay.

I'll be a bit sad if Chicago get knocked out but would rather go out to a Canadian team.  Least I still have the Penguins!

So Vancouver take it.They deserved the win.
Chicago had a chance on the power play.

Right, so now we have:

Washington v. Tampa Bay
Philly v. Boston

Canada's Team v. Nashville
San Jose v. Detroit

Hope to see Detroit beat the Sharks (Dany Heatley can GGF). Apathetic on Philly-Boston: on one hand Boston has a Newfoundlander on the team, but on the other hand I'm grateful for Philly defeating Buffalo scum. Got a soft spot for Nashville - but obviously going for the Canucks to go all the way.

 No Penguins, No Blackhawks and No Ducks.  This is sad for me.  Think I'm backing the Canucks now.

ooh first game on today Oceanic62011-04-29 08:17:17

Capitals out! And looks like Detroit and Philadelphia could be following them. Vancouver has the series lead 3-1 against Nashville.

Flyers eliminated 0-4. And Canada beat USA 4-3 in a shootout

Oceanic62011-05-07 18:06:15

http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=562168

Absolute fucking joke. Phoenix does not belong in the NHL. The team needs to relocate, even if they don't take the moral move and return it to Winnipeg. Hockey in Phoenix has failed every year in every aspect. Send them to Las Vegas or Kansas City before keeping them in Arizona, but best of all send them back to Winnipeg. </rant over>

nice new avatar there Robb.

Nicked it off the Timbers Army forum, not my own work. But yeah, very much anticipating Sunday's match!

Bloody stoked about the Canucks. One step closer to bring Lord Stanley's Cup back on the right side of the border - where it belongs!

Well I hope they can go all the way.  Would be great.

Glendale City Council confirm they will waste US$25 million of taxpayer funds on keeping the Coyotes in Arizona one more year.  Great job. Possibility of the Goldwater suing them to prevent the payment from being made, fingers crossed.

Also a rumour that they'll be renamed the Arizona Coyotes for the 2011-12 season, something initially considered years ago to coincide with the move to Glendale from Phoenix proper, but wasn't achievable within a desirable timeframe. I'd rather see them renamed the Winnipeg Jets, but that's just everybody who likes the sport me.

CANADA USA IN NZ UPDATE: I've just found out that The Press reported on May 3 that Ryan O'Reilly from Colorado will be joining Quincey and Schremp as the only NHL players coming to NZ.

I'm still very skeptical, but I still would like to see Canada beat the US in person, even if it is overpriced for joke teams.

Oh, and just found this statement from the NZIHF:

CANADA VS USA EXHIBITION ICE HOCKEY SERIES 23 February 2011

 

Douglas Webber Events based in Christchurch is promoting a series of games at Auckland�s Vector Arena, Christchurch�s CBS Canterbury Arena and Dunedin�s Ice Arena, late July early August.

 

NZIHF is unable to officially endorse this series because;

• As a member of the international ice hockey community the players need to be sanctioned to play in NZ. Hockey Canada and Hockey USA have advised me in writing the players and the teams are not sanctioned.

• We wonder if the quality of the players will live up to the hype and ticket prices

• We are concerned with the emphasis on fighting and violence in their marketing.

However we need to be realistic, despite our reservations this event will continue with or without the endorsement of the NZ Ice Hockey Federation.

 

It is imperative we make best use of every opportunity, so we hope to be able to work with Douglas Webber Events to promote ice hockey to potential new players and find new fans for National League during this event.

 

 Our official position is therefore;

 

 ï¿½Although the USA vs. Canada games are not sanctioned by NZIHF, we are excited to see games of this magnitude on home soil. It should be a great show.�

I've already booked my cheap flights to Auckland for the weekend the game is up there. Not bought a ticket yet, but not expecting many "names" so will wait till the last minute.


So it's down to Vancouver, San Jose, Tampa Bay and Boston. Tipping game has kinda gone out the winner.   
I reckon Vancouver in 7 and Tampa Bay in 6

This is so sad....someone so young and his future ahead of him

Ranger forward Boogaard dead at age 28
http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=562799&navid=mod-rr-headlines

All but confirmed that the Atlanta Thrashers are moving to Winnipeg.

Still possible it won't happen though.

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=10727312&ref=mobile


Aaron Miller (D, USA) is retired, 39yo, last played for the Canucks (2007-08). Won silver at the 2002 Olympics. Was on the squad for the 2006 Olympic team but played no matches. Played for the USA's 2004 World Cup team. 677 NHL matches. Also played for Quebec  and Colorado (was part of the relocation), as well as LA.

Derek Armstrong (C, CAN) is a free agent, 38yo, last contract was with the Blues in0 9-10 where he mostly played for their AHL affiliate in Peoria. Has had a decent NHL career, including a stint with the mighty Ottawa Senators. Also played for the Rangers, Islanders and Kings. But most importantly, he played for the Senators (if only for 9 matches. Bonus points - he was born in Ottawa).  477 NHL games. Has not played for Canada, although the Canadian pool certainly has more depth.

John Grahame (GK, USA). He's currently contracted to the Avalanche, playing for their AHL affiliate Lake Erie Monsters. Played for the USA at the 2006 Olympics in one match (v. Latvia), was the starting keeper for their 2007 World Champs squad. Was the backup keeper for the 2003-04 Stanley Cup winning Tampa Bay Lightning, taking over as starter after Nikolai Khabibulin left but failing to impress. 224 NHL games.

Vancouver into the stanley cup final! they must be going nuts over there!

Well I'm a fool and didn't buy a ticket to the USA v Canada game in Auckland months ago and now it's virtually sold out. how the hell did that happen? Only over $100 tickets left. I'm gutted.

Same here - but to be honest, the price they're charging for the product they're bringing just isn't worth it. Seriously considered Christchurch but I have more important things in the budget so shelling out hundreds for flights won't help. And at least I get to catch an NZIHL double header this year, seeing my Southern Stampede take on the Dunedin Thunder at Dunedin Ice Stadium.

Oh, and CANUCKS TO WIN THE CUP!

Alright, I've just heard that no current NHLers will be playing. Kyle Quincey wil be her as a coach but that's it, Rob Schremp outright isn't coming.

Another name announced - Bates Battaglia, SA, 35yo LW. Currently with the minor-league Tulsa Oilers. Has played for NHL teams Carolina, Colorado, Washington and (ugh) Toronto. 15 matches for USA, all at the World Championships, which isn't that an illustrious tournament (for those who don't know - the national teams in that tourney are usually comprised from NHL players on teams that didn't make the playoffs).

Organisers were hoping to make up numbers with import players from the NZIHL but the NZIHF blocked that. Current NHL players were at one stage available but the IIHF seem to have put a stop to that.

whoo hoo!!!  The games are supposed to be on Sky, but can't see them on the EPG yet.   Funnily enough same day (NZ time) as both the All Whites football friendlies.

Methinks I may need to head to the Kings a few times in the near future...

WINNIPEG IS BACK IN THE NATIONAL HOCKEY LEAGUE!!!

Well timed goal by Torres.

Stopped watching in order to watch the football (was very tempted not to). Stoked with the result -  sounds like I missed a cracker!

Go Nuks -2-0 up in the finals -will be hard to beat from here

Yay! was watching on sky! excellent.

what the hell, how do Vancouver lose 1-8 against Boston. It's just not right!

Makes me wish I could drink. I can practically hear the bottle of Molson on my bookshelf calling to me...

that is ridiculous! did vancouver choke???

this is going from bad to worse, game 4 on now, boston already up 3-0 at almost the end of 2nd period.

ouch

final score 4-0.  Rubbish.  Will Vancouver bounce back?  Hope so but really only scoring 5 goals to Boston's 14, going to be hard to get that confidence again.