Sens are headed to the Cup!!!!!

[Jeffc]

whohoo!!!!!!!!!!!

[TehFlakes]

YES BABY!!!

I walk in the door and bam GOAL!

Wheres racmbs now? he wont pick up his phone!

[titleistfan]

Oh baby!!!

[Golfbum]

QUIET, you'll awaken the sleeping LEAFS FANS.;)

I for one, being a SHARKS FAN am happy the Sens made it to the Cup Final. I just wish they were facing my team.

GOOD LUCK TO THE SENS AND ALL OF THEIR FANS

[laps]

This is awesome!!!

I was at their first gae in 1992 in the Ottawa Civic Centre. The Sens beat the Habs in their first ever game. Intersting trivia - the national anthem at that game was sung by a local singer with big hair called Alanis. She also went on to great success.

LEAFS Fans get on the bandwagon - support the SENS, a Canadian team has not won the Cup since 1993 - and the Sens are from the same province.

Prove that you are hockey fans and not only LEAFS fans.

GO SENS!!!

[guitarman]

This is awesome!!!

I was at their first gae in 1992 in the Ottawa Civic Centre. The Sens beat the Habs in their first ever game. Intersting trivia - the national anthem at that game was sung by a local singer with big hair called Alanis. She also went on to great success.

LEAFS Fans get on the bandwagon - support the SENS, a Canadian team has not won the Cup since 1993 - and the Sens are from the same province.

Prove that you are hockey fans and not only LEAFS fans.

GO SENS!!!

Just because I'm not a Sens fan doesn't mean I'm not a hockey fan. I'll bet if the shoe was on the other foot and the leafs were in there, these so called Sens/hockey fans would be hoping for anyone but the leafs.
Having said that anyone that can take out the Sabres to once again make sure that we don't have to watch them edge closer to the cup can't be all bad. Of the 3 teams left I'll watch and obviously hope for the Sens to win. Its the lesser of the evils. And yes its a Canadian team. It is fun to watch a team that has never won before (and I'm talking about the expansion version) win the cup

[davevandyk]

What an amazing game!!!!! I drove down to Buffalo for the game, and let me tell you how nervous that game was, never been that nervous in my life... also never had soooo many people tell me they hated me!! OF course i had my Sens jersey on, let's just say that not all the fans were cordial to me! What an atmosphere in that building, it was a great building to be in and i loved the fact that i basically got booed everytime i left my seat, including the entire 20 minutes between both periods!

LETS GO SENS!! They are bringing the cup home, hopefully they play Detroit so i can go to see them both in Ottawa and Detroit.

[threeputt]

Go Anahiem Go !!!!! And I am from Ottawa !!!!!

[Flamingo]

:clap:GO SENS GO:clap:

[Greywolf]

Congrats to the Sens for getting to the final, not a fan or the Leafs for that matter. Ideally, I would like to see the Wings against the Sens with Detroit coming out on top!!

[racmbs]

YES BABY!!!

I walk in the door and bam GOAL!

Wheres racmbs now? he wont pick up his phone!

racmbs has been spending his life's savings over the course of the last few months, have some pity on a guy. :p

Wish I could have watched that game Ryan, but I was too pre-occupied picking out tuxes for 10 guys yesterday and tasting pieces from 5 different wedding cakes. Let's just say after that little bit of fun, I was freakin' wired for the rest of the day...mucho-gusto chocolatte baby. :D

You'll get your 2 pops next weekend.....but for now, I'm off to play some golf with Mike and Swainer......time to put these boyzz to school. Swainer's on a high, he's beat me twice already, don't want his head to get any fatter. :D

[Big Shooter]

That's 2 years-in-a-row that Gerber has been the backup goalie in The Stanley Cup Final.....where will he backup next year!?? ;)

never been that nervous in my life...

what are you, 12 years old? :$ :D

[Jeffc]

That's 2 years-in-a-row that Gerber has been the backup goalie in The Stanley Cup Final.....where will he backup next year!?? ;)



what are you, 12 years old? :$ :D

he was also the backup to Giguere when the Ducks went to the final in 2003. Maybe he's some sort of weird lucky charm?

[davevandyk]

That's 2 years-in-a-row that Gerber has been the backup goalie in The Stanley Cup Final.....where will he backup next year!?? ;)



what are you, 12 years old? :$ :D

you have to be 12 years old to have that much passion for a team? It was a wicked feeling of nervousness, one of those games that you knew the game could hinge on just one play

[pdonnelly]

I was sitting in Atlanta airport yesterday and look up at a big screen in a Samuel Adams grill and there is hockey on. I thought I'd see the game in Toronto later that night. Well it ends in a tie, they go to overtime, but the &*&%$^ station goes to a horse race! Found out in T.O. the Sens made it, awesome playoffs for them, been an 80 year drought but good luck and bring the cup home, I doubt the Leafs will for quite some time yet.:)

[AnnikaFan]

That's 2 years-in-a-row that Gerber has been the backup goalie in The Stanley Cup Final.....where will he backup next year!?? ;)



the funny thing is that he is suppose to be the Starter at the beginning of the each of the two seasons.....

[el tigre]

the funny thing is that he is suppose to be the Starter at the beginning of the each of the two seasons..... Gerber WAS the starting goalie for Carolina all of last season and started the playoffs for them. He was injured late in the season and came back for the playoffs, but there was a lot of speculation that he had not fully recovered. He played badly in the first round against Montreal and was replaced by Cam Ward after they were down 3-1 in the series.

Emery is the better goaltender, but Gerber is not that bad and played pretty well at the end of the season. It helps when the team in front of him is playing better too.

[Golfing in Ottawa]

TERRIFIC !!! Sens deserve to be in the Cup Final..... HANDS DOWN !!!!

Ref tried his best to try and "alter" the outcome...... but Sens penalty kill would NOT let this happen!!!

When the Sens got the go ahead goal just before the end of the 2nd period, my friend said in a loud voice to our group "they needed that goal because Bill McCreary would see to it that the Sens would play short handed for the entire 3rd period". I guess my friend was wrong because McCreary only had the Sens shorthanded for 1/2 the 3rd period:mad: .........

3rd Period Ottawahooking - 2 min3:33, D. Alfredsson Ottawatripping - 2 min8:55, A. Volchenkov Ottawaslashing - 2 min9:25, C. Schubert Ottawaroughing - 2 min12:21, C. Neil Ottawadelay of game - 2 min17:10, M. Comrie

Lets hope the NHL will not let this guy near the ice for the Final.

GO SENS !!!!

[Section ThirtyOne]

Just thought i'd stop by this thread and say hi. :D

(go sens go)

[golfguy25]

Well.....looks like I came back to TGN at just the right time to see my Sens off to the Stanley Cup Finals!!! GO SENS GO!!!!!

[Rocknronny]

Well.....looks like I came back to TGN at just the right time to see my Sens off to the Stanley Cup Finals!!! GO SENS GO!!!!! Back? where have you been all this time?;)
RR

[golfguy25]

Back? where have you been all this time?;)
RR

LOL...there was some kinda problem with my login for the last little bit...doesn't seem like Imist a whole lot of hockey talk though!!!

[Golfbum]

Well.....looks like I came back to TGN at just the right time to see my Sens off to the Stanley Cup Finals!!! GO SENS GO!!!!!

:rofl: I wondered when you would show up :D

[golfguy25]

So now that we know it's the Sens vs the Ducks.....what are all the HOCKEY fans here saying...who takes home the Cup and in how many games?:D

[guitarman]

So now that we know it's the Sens vs the Ducks.....what are all the HOCKEY fans here saying...who takes home the Cup and in how many games?:D

Ottawa in 5.

[hogannut]

Ottawa in 5.

Agree.....Ottawa in 5. Annaheim was lucky IMO. I also think the Sens fans should consider themselves lucky as Detroit just kept getting stronger. When Detroit lost the heartbreaker in SUnday you knew they were done, but Annaheim's defensive collapses and their undiscipline play when they panic will cost them against Ottawa.

Although everyone knows I'm a Leaf fan, after watching some very entertaining hockey this year it becomes obvious how bad the LEafs are, and that they are not going to get any better anytime soon. I like Maurice but having him is a waste of time because he has no talent to work with. Other than some decent 3rd and 4th liners the Leafs have no future (Robbie Earl could develop into a decent player) and considering JFJ's record when trying to acquire big name players I don't see much hope for the Leafs to be anything other than a team trying to get the 8th spot for next few years.

I have suffered enough with the Leafs, no more until they right the ship.

[davevandyk]

Agree.....Ottawa in 5. Annaheim was lucky IMO. I also think the Sens fans should consider themselves lucky as Detroit just kept getting stronger. When Detroit lost the heartbreaker in SUnday you knew they were done, but Annaheim's defensive collapses and their undiscipline play when they panic will cost them against Ottawa.

Although everyone knows I'm a Leaf fan, after watching some very entertaining hockey this year it becomes obvious how bad the LEafs are, and that they are not going to get any better anytime soon. I like Maurice but having him is a waste of time because he has no talent to work with. Other than some decent 3rd and 4th liners the Leafs have no future (Robbie Earl could develop into a decent player) and considering JFJ's record when trying to acquire big name players I don't see much hope for the Leafs to be anything other than a team trying to get the 8th spot for next few years.

I have suffered enough with the Leafs, no more until they right the ship.

i actually wished the Sens would have played the wings instead of the Ducks. The Ducks scare me, they are big, fast and that is a tough combo for the defense, as Lidstrom and Chelios found out. I have no doubt that Ottawa will overcome that however.

[racmbs]

Anaheim in 5.......Sens will choke, as usual.

[golfguy25]

Anaheim in 5.......Sens will choke, as usual.

Spoken like a true Leaf fan!!!!

Sens have taken 15 games with only 1 raod loss....they shut down the "best player in the world"....beat "the best goalie in the world" and beat "the best team in the NHL" to get were they are but some still like to refer to them as chokers....way to funny!!!!:D

Wouldn't expect anything less from you Scotty!!!

If Anaheim continues to take all of the stupid penalties, the series will be a lot shorter then they would have hoped for!!

[guitarman]

Spoken like a true Leaf fan!!!!

Sens have taken 15 games with only 1 raod loss....they shut down the "best player in the world"....beat "the best goalie in the world" and beat "the best team in the NHL" to get were they are but some still like to refer to them as chokers....way to funny!!!!:D

Wouldn't expect anything less from you Scotty!!!

If Anaheim continues to take all of the stupid penalties, the series will be a lot shorter then they would have hoped for!!

After Ottawa wins the cup the only accomplishment they have yet to succeed at is beating the Leafs in the playoffs. Thats not going to happen for a looong time.:confused:

[davevandyk]

So now that we know it's the Sens vs the Ducks.....what are all the HOCKEY fans here saying...who takes home the Cup and in how many games?:D

I say Sens in 6. I think its gonna be tough for the boys to go into Anaheim and win there. However, i think they will split the first 2 games, then the home team will win out.

[laxgolf]

Anaheim in 5.......Sens will choke, as usual.

Do you honestly think that, or is that just Leafs bitterness?

[nearace]

I am jumping on the sens bandwagon,go sens go

[golfguy25]

After Ottawa wins the cup the only accomplishment they have yet to succeed at is beating the Leafs in the playoffs. Thats not going to happen for a looong time.:confused:

Sure won't...we won't see the Leafs in the playoffs for a long time to come!!!!

[Jeffc]

Sure won't...we won't see the Leafs in the playoffs for a long time to come!!!!

Great comeback!!!!!!!!!!!

[guitarman]

Great comeback!!!!!!!!!!!

Errr um... if you or golfguy had noticed my frustration icon, you would have got that I was exactly referring to the fact that the leafs would probably not make the playoffs for a long time. Geez I should have known that I'd have to explain a joke to a Sens fan. Ah who cares,. I think my new team is the Preds.

http://torontosun.com/Sports/Football/2007/05/24/4203989-sun.html

[racmbs]

Do you honestly think that, or is that just Leafs bitterness?

I honestly think that.....and of course I'm bitter, I'm a Leafs fan dammit!! :rofl:

[Jeffc]

Errr um... if you or golfguy had noticed my frustration icon, you would have got that I was exactly referring to the fact that the leafs would probably not make the playoffs for a long time. Geez I should have known that I'd have to explain a joke to a Sens fan. Ah who cares,. I think my new team is the Preds.

http://torontosun.com/Sports/Football/2007/05/24/4203989-sun.html

I guess the joke wasn't that obvious.....

[guitarman]

I guess the joke wasn't that obvious.....

I should have expected that from a Sens fan:D

[racmbs]

Spoken like a true Leaf fan!!!!

Sens have taken 15 games with only 1 raod loss....they shut down the "best player in the world"....beat "the best goalie in the world" and beat "the best team in the NHL" to get were they are but some still like to refer to them as chokers....way to funny!!!!:D

Wouldn't expect anything less from you Scotty!!!

If Anaheim continues to take all of the stupid penalties, the series will be a lot shorter then they would have hoped for!!

Now, now Chad....back off and grab a banana.

Anaheim in 5.....the Sens lack veteran experience in a cup final. Anaheim is packed with veterans who will play great hockey and superior "jedi-like" mind games against the Sens, which will result in a heart-breaking loss for the young-guns and plenty of keelnex being shared in the locker room when it's all over.

I've been told this by an insider..... :D

I should have expected that from a Sens fan:D

They are not just "Sens" fans...they are "Sensitive" fans. :D

[hogannut]

The KW Predators....I'm lovin' it!!!

Anyone hear about the apparent poor TV ratings from CBC? Apparently Gilmore Girls is getting better ratings. This is disapointing because I have really enjoyed most of the playoffs, although some of the games have been low scoring. The BUffalo/Ottawa series was good, so was the Annaheim/Detroit series.

IF Nashville did move to KW or Hamilton I think it would be the best thing to happen to the Leafs. I think within the next 5-10 years you may start seeing Leaf games no longer selling out if they don't get any better.

Many of the younger fans who cannot relate to the teams dominance during the original 6 era don't care about them anymore. My son is one of them, and he says many of his school buddies don't follow the Leafs anymore because they are crap.

I know for me if there was a NHL alternative in southern Ontario I'd be interested. Although for Nashville I'd rather see the team in Quebec City or Winnepeg before KW.

For anyone who is interested the Hamilton Bulldogs are 3-0 in the conference finals in the AHL. I think they play for the Calder Cup if they get by this round. I'd consider driving to Copps to see that.

[golfguy25]

Now, now Chad....back off and grab a banana.

Anaheim in 5.....the Sens lack veteran experience in a cup final. Anaheim is packed with veterans who will play great hockey and superior "jedi-like" mind games against the Sens, which will result in a heart-breaking loss for the young-guns and plenty of keelnex being shared in the locker room when it's all over.

I've been told this by an insider..... :D
:D

TOO FUNNY......I do recall a conversation that we had via messenger last week where you told me that the Sens were going to win it all....you must have gotten this inside information after we had that discussion!!LOL:D

[guitarman]

The KW Predators....I'm lovin' it!!!

Anyone hear about the apparent poor TV ratings from CBC? Apparently Gilmore Girls is getting better ratings. This is disapointing because I have really enjoyed most of the playoffs, although some of the games have been low scoring. The BUffalo/Ottawa series was good, so was the Annaheim/Detroit series.

IF Nashville did move to KW or Hamilton I think it would be the best thing to happen to the Leafs. I think within the next 5-10 years you may start seeing Leaf games no longer selling out if they don't get any better.

Many of the younger fans who cannot relate to the teams dominance during the original 6 era don't care about them anymore. My son is one of them, and he says many of his school buddies don't follow the Leafs anymore because they are crap.

I know for me if there was a NHL alternative in southern Ontario I'd be interested. Although for Nashville I'd rather see the team in Quebec City or Winnepeg before KW.

For anyone who is interested the Hamilton Bulldogs are 3-0 in the conference finals in the AHL. I think they play for the Calder Cup if they get by this round. I'd consider driving to Copps to see that.

Yeah you must listen to the same radio show I do in the morining. Too funny.

I guess they thought the Gilmore girls meant the Doug Gilmore girls

I've never even seen that show.
I secretly hope for a Sens cup based on the 2 teams left but I can't express how much that hurts. I don't know if I can ever forgive the leafs for putting me in a position of rooting for the Sens. If the Preds come to KW I will be switching loyalties.

[golfguy25]

I secretly hope for a Sens cup based on the 2 teams left but I can't express how much that hurts. I don't know if I can ever forgive the leafs for putting me in a position of rooting for the Sens. If the Preds come to KW I will be switching loyalties.

LOL...you have to forgive and FORGET the Leafs all together!! I think that we could start a support group for you if need be!!!:D

[guitarman]

LOL...you have to forgive and FORGET the Leafs all together!! I think that we could start a support group for you if need be!!!:D

Beleive me. The trauma I need to deal with is having to root for the Sens in the final not the fact that the leafs let us down year after year. And September I'll be mindlessly rooting for the leafs again, saying, "This is the year the leafs go all the way". How do I get off this dam rollercoaster?
Oh well I am a hockey fan and I will be watching the final, rooting for red and seeing blue.

[el tigre]

And September I'll be mindlessly rooting for the leafs again, saying, "This is the year the leafs go all the way". . Only if you trade for Gerber in the off-season!!! :D

[davevandyk]

Now, now Chad....back off and grab a banana.

Anaheim in 5.....the Sens lack veteran experience in a cup final. Anaheim is packed with veterans who will play great hockey and superior "jedi-like" mind games against the Sens, which will result in a heart-breaking loss for the young-guns and plenty of keelnex being shared in the locker room when it's all over.

I've been told this by an insider..... :D



They are not just "Sens" fans...they are "Sensitive" fans. :D

I would argue who is the younger and inexperienced team, but bring it on. I seem to like how the inexperienced Lightning and Canes did the last couple of years. I think playoff experience is somewhat overblown at times towards its significance. Did New Jersey's experience help against Ottawa;s? The fact that Buffalo was in the conference finals last year, didn't help them either. The same can be said with the Ducks beating the Wings.

[laxgolf]

Do you honestly think that, or is that just Leafs bitterness?

I want the Sens to win the Cup, but for different reasons.

My reasons are simple.

If the Sens win the cup, I think it would be great karma for them to open up at home against the Leafs so Leafs nation can watch Ottawa raise the Cup bannar, and get their rings.

Then I would begin cheering for the KW Predators because that chapter would be CLOSED.

I would argue who is the younger and inexperienced team, but bring it on. I seem to like how the inexperienced Lightning and Canes did the last couple of years. I think playoff experience is somewhat overblown at times towards its significance. Did New Jersey's experience help against Ottawa;s? The fact that Buffalo was in the conference finals last year, didn't help them either. The same can be said with the Ducks beating the Wings.

Lesser offenses have managed to score plenty of goals on Anaheim and the Ducks haven't had to deal with a team playing as well defensively as Ottawa has been. The teams actually mirror each other more than anyone seems to think. I don't care what anyone says, the talent discrepancy between Redden/Neidermayer, Phillips/Pronger and Volchenkov/Beauchemin isn't all that big. It's not like Ottawa has Brad Marsh, Kerry Huffman and Lance Pitlick back there anymore. They stack up pretty evenly against each other. After the big 3 on each team, Ottawa has better depth.

It's going to be a great series to watch.

[guitarman]

The Sens will win the cup this year. And next year will not make the playoffs.

[davevandyk]

The Sens will win the cup this year. And next year will not make the playoffs.

You know what, as a die-hard Sens fan, i would accept that as their fate... although i don't believe they will miss the playoffs next year.

[guitarman]

You know what, as a die-hard Sens fan, i would accept that as their fate... although i don't believe they will miss the playoffs next year.

Yup. Reflecting back now, I see my statement was pointless. I to,would give anything for the leafs to win the cup and not make the playoffs the following year.

[focal]

ducks....series lead 1-0

[iyell4]

ducks....series lead 1-0

??? i headed up stairs to check my email then go back down to watch the OT.
Whappend?!?!?!:confused:

[Big Shooter]

No LEAFS-fan in their right-mind (oxymoron perhaps!?:D ) is actually hoping The Sens win...

http://www.sportslogos.net/images/Hockey/NHL/ANA_dggehfugf1ee8bfcaw9e.gif

[pdonnelly]

No LEAFS-fan in their right-mind (oxymoron perhaps!?:D ) is actually hoping The Sens win...

http://www.sportslogos.net/images/Hockey/NHL/ANA_dggehfugf1ee8bfcaw9e.gif

Bingo!

Actually, if it comes down to patriotism, there are 19 Canadian players on the Ducks, while the Sensitives have but 12. :D

http://winnipegsun.com/Sports/Hockey/2007/05/26/4209617-sun.html

[hogannut]

Bingo!

Actually, if it comes down to patriotism, there are 19 Canadian players on the Ducks, while the Sensitives have but 12. :D

http://winnipegsun.com/Sports/Hockey/2007/05/26/4209617-sun.html

Also.....indirectly the Leafs would win a cup as Carlisle used to play for them!:rofl: :rolleyes: :p ;)

[golfguy25]

No LEAFS-fan in their right-mind (oxymoron perhaps!?:D ) is actually hoping The Sens win...

http://www.sportslogos.net/images/Hockey/NHL/ANA_dggehfugf1ee8bfcaw9e.gif

As a SENS fan we don't want LEAF fans to cheer for the Sens!!!!!!:D

[Big Shooter]

As a SENS fan we don't want LEAF fans to cheer for the Sens!!!!!!:D

Good, that's settled! :D Go Ducks!

[guitarman]

I'm almost of the opinion that it doesn't matter who wins. Great hockey to watch though. I would like to see a Canadian team take it. Why couldn't it have been Vancouver or Calgary or any team but Ottawa?

[pdonnelly]

As a SENS fan we don't want LEAF fans to cheer for the Sens!!!!!!:D


I don't think you have much to worry about there GG25,;) good golfin' to ya!:)

[golfguy25]

It would be the same if the Leafs ever made it to the cup final....I mean anybody who knows anything about hockey knows that it won't happen any time soon...BUT if it were to happen you wouldn't have any SENS fans cheering for your leafs...it's just the way it is!!!! We hate you...you hate us!!!! Let's just move on and watch the Sens win the cup!!

[Pingnut]

It would be the same if the Leafs ever made it to the cup final....I mean anybody who knows anything about hockey knows that it won't happen any time soon...BUT if it were to happen you wouldn't have any SENS fans cheering for your leafs...it's just the way it is!!!! We hate you...you hate us!!!! Let's just move on and watch the Sens win the cup!!

That's right, all 6 of you sens fans will be crying when Anaheim wins the cup - GO DUCKS!

[guitarman]

BUT if it were to happen you wouldn't have any SENS fans cheering for your leafs...it's just the way it is.

I think the leafs could live without that 2% of the Canadian population

[golfguy25]

You guys are way too funny.....The bottom line is that all 6 Sens fans in here have their team playing for the cup and the Leaf fans can do nothing but watch and be bitter!!! Enjoy the Hockey leaf fans...it's the closest that you will ever see to a Stanley cup anywhere near your precious city!!!!:hush:

[davevandyk]

You guys are way too funny.....The bottom line is that all 6 Sens fans in here have their team playing for the cup and the Leaf fans can do nothing but watch and be bitter!!! Enjoy the Hockey leaf fans...it's the closest that you will ever see to a Stanley cup anywhere near your precious city!!!!:hush:

That's true! I watched MY team play last nite in the Stanley Cup finals, leaf fans watched McCabe and other leafs hit the links at Glen Abbey! You would think the leaf fans wouldn't be bitter, they should have grown up being used to this, and been already teaching the next generation of leaf fans to get used to not watching leaf playoff hockey, i mean you don't want to set your kids up for disappointment if you can help it.

[Big Shooter]

That's true! I watched MY team play last nite in the Stanley Cup finals, leaf fans watched McCabe and other leafs hit the links at Glen Abbey! You would think the leaf fans wouldn't be bitter, they should have grown up being used to this, and been already teaching the next generation of leaf fans to get used to not watching leaf playoff hockey, i mean you don't want to set your kids up for disappointment if you can help it.

Grab the cup while the 'window-of-opportunity' is OPEN...ask Vancouver, Buffalo, San Jose.... :rolleyes:

[golfguy25]

That's true! I watched MY team play last nite in the Stanley Cup finals, leaf fans watched McCabe and other leafs hit the links at Glen Abbey! You would think the leaf fans wouldn't be bitter, they should have grown up being used to this, and been already teaching the next generation of leaf fans to get used to not watching leaf playoff hockey, i mean you don't want to set your kids up for disappointment if you can help it.

Yup..you are so right...I guess we just have to get used to them...they'll never smarten up and cheer for a team that can win!!!! The leaf arte the only thing they know!!!!!

[pdonnelly]

Yup..you are so right...I guess we just have to get used to them...they'll never smarten up and cheer for a team that can win!!!! The leaf arte the only thing they know!!!!!

Listen to you guys, you're in final and still whining :confused:. Never smarten up? leaf arte the only thing they know?? Whatever leaf arte is? Frig, at least the Leafs didn't lose their tour card for like 70 years or whatever, great they are in there with their measly 12 Canadian players, lets see if they can get the job done. I don't think so, too much Canadian talent on the Ducks. But of course Ottawa doesn't know much about Canadian talent, it's just the treasury for Quebec anyway.:rofl: Jaaaaaysuz, lighten up or are you going to go off the deep end again and down the road with you for another nice long stint. :eek:

[racmbs]

Yup..you are so right...I guess we just have to get used to them...they'll never smarten up and cheer for a team that can win!!!! The leaf arte the only thing they know!!!!!

What do the Ottawa Senators and the Titanic have in common?

[Golden Bear]

It would be the same if the Leafs ever made it to the cup final....I mean anybody who knows anything about hockey knows that it won't happen any time soon...BUT if it were to happen you wouldn't have any SENS fans cheering for your leafs...it's just the way it is!!!! We hate you...you hate us!!!! Let's just move on and watch the Sens win the cup!!Actually, I don't hate the Sens or their fans ... just enjoy a nice ribbing now and then. But it is refreshing to hear a Sens fan say that they wouldn't cheer for the Leafs in the finals, either. For the past week, there has been a constant barrage of "man-on-the-street" interviews with reporters asking Torontonians "are you cheering for the Sens"? Yikes, why do people care so much about who Torontonians are cheering for? Why does our opinion mean so much? And why are we supposedly doing something wrong if we don't jump on the Sens bandwagon?

For what it's worth, I would normally cheer against the Sens, but after some long, hard thought, I simply cannot stomach the idea of the Ducks as Stanley Cup Champions. When the Sens came into the league, I, like most people in the GTA, LIKED the Sens. It was only after Toronto-bashing in the first Leafs-Sens playoff matchup that I started disliking the Sens. But nothing about the existence of the franchise turned my stomach. The Ducks ... as soon as they were named I could not stand the fact that they were around. I don't care if they changed their logo, and if they're no longer promoting a stupid Disney kids film.

So I have to go for the lesser of two evils ... and that's Ottawa.

Besides, if Ottawa wins, at least we can say that it never would have happened if a Toronto businessman hadn't saved them from bankruptcy. ;)

[guitarman]

Sens could be in trouble. 5 minutes away from losing #2.

[SoNgMaN]

Sens could be in trouble. 5 minutes away from losing #2.


sens are in trouble. 4 mins away from an enevitable sweep. wasn't emery's fault this year. where's the scapegoat?

[racmbs]

BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOYYY YYYYYYAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

HAHAHAHAHA

I LOVE it.....

Ducks are up 2-0

Cue the Senators choke. :D

See you Friday night Chad, gonna be a live one I'm thinking. :rofl:

[guitarman]

The Sens definitely have some issues, one not being goal tending. The next game will be pivotal. They have to pick that one up or its all but over.

[pdonnelly]

Ducks (mostly Canadian talent) up 2 games to zip, snicker:D

[guitarman]

Ducks (mostly Canadian talent) up 2 games to zip, snicker:D

I like that game saver with that stick at the end by O'donnel. Funny enough an Ottawa native.

[JEBS]

Sens are headed to the Cup!!!.... Tin cup that is;) ;)

[davevandyk]

Cmon gents, i know it is 2-0, but isn't that what it's supposed to be?? You win your home games, right?? Now we go back to Ottawa for 2. We can start talking golf course if they lose game 3, but this is exactly how its supposed to play out.

Outside of Emery, the Sens can't play any worse and yet they lost both games by a goal each. Obviously they have been badly outplayed, so what, they have still had chances to win the game in the late stages. People need to realize that the Ducks have had last change in both of those games, so Carlyle can put the checking line out against the Spezza line every shift, i think it was 17 out of 20 shifts at one point last nite.

When the game gets to Ottawa, Murray has last change and you know he's not sticking Spezza against Paulsson!! You think Carlyle is still gonna stick Pronger and Neidemyer together with hopes that Murray will comply and put Spezza/Alfie/Heater against them??

[racmbs]

*cough-cough* *sniffle*

:D

2-0 baby....no matter how you slice it, type it, say it, speak it.....they are down and will not recover.

[hogannut]

Sens are headed to the Cup!!!.... Tin cup that is;) ;)

LOL.....:rofl: :eek:

4 of 5 wins against a team that is strong as Annaheim is a pretty tall order. Great effort on the back check by Alfie eh?

[davevandyk]

LOL.....:rofl: :eek:

4 of 5 wins against a team that is strong as Annaheim is a pretty tall order. Great effort on the back check by Alfie eh?

Wouldn't you have said it would be a tall order for them to win 4 of 5 against Pittsburgh with their explosive offense? Against New Jersey with their tough trap and the #1 goalie in the league, Brodeur? Or against Buffalo who was the top team in the league with a line-up that no team rivals from top to bottom and having a great goalie in Miller??

In each of their series, they have won 4 of 5, so i think they could do it again for sure. They just have to play their game and get back to what makes them win. They are trying to play the Anaheim game of big hits, and are looking for the big hit before they are looking to get the puck right now. I gotta say watching the last two games has been unbearably hard to watch, but they are gonna win both at home and then everybody will be talking about how they are team that looks like it can't be beat.

Never underestimate the influence of playing at home in front of 20,000 of your home fans, and more importantly the importance of last change.

[hogannut]

Wouldn't you have said it would be a tall order for them to win 4 of 5 against Pittsburgh with their explosive offense? Against New Jersey with their tough trap and the #1 goalie in the league, Brodeur? Or against Buffalo who was the top team in the league with a line-up that no team rivals from top to bottom and having a great goalie in Miller??

In each of their series, they have won 4 of 5, so i think they could do it again for sure. They just have to play their game and get back to what makes them win. They are trying to play the Anaheim game of big hits, and are looking for the big hit before they are looking to get the puck right now. I gotta say watching the last two games has been unbearably hard to watch, but they are gonna win both at home and then everybody will be talking about how they are team that looks like it can't be beat.

Never underestimate the influence of playing at home in front of 20,000 of your home fans, and more importantly the importance of last change.

Yes....agree home ice advantage can be a big factor, but they still have to win ONE in Annaheim!

[laxgolf]

I don't think this series is over quite yet, BUT they'd better start realizing that they're playing for the Cup.

[hogannut]

Driving home last night I saw a car with a Sens flag on it. Between Steeles and 401 going south on 404 there must have been half a dozen cars that went by him and gave him the bird!! I did laugh, but it wasn't very nice. I gave the credit for having guts.

[Golden Bear]

Fer cryin' out loud, someone loosen the collar on the dog. I'm not going to get a lot of joy out of seeing a team called the Ducks winning a Stanley Cup.

[guitarman]

Cmon gents, i know it is 2-0, but isn't that what it's supposed to be?? You win your home games, right??


So your saying Anahiem in 7?


Never underestimate the influence of playing at home in front of 20,000 of your home fans,

There won't be that many. The leaf fans won't be there.

[Bellyhungry]

May be the Sens can join the Leafs on the back nine on the links.

I reckon that depend on if the Leafs have a pit stop and hot dog at the turn :$

[racmbs]

hehehehe

[Bellyhungry]

hehehehe

Utterly classless and tasteless :D

[pdonnelly]

hehehehe

F**K, I just blew coffee out my nose:rofl:

[leftintherough]

Not a Sens fan by any stretch of the imagination. However, I'd hate to see them go down in this fasion.

Game 3 will really be a tell-tale.

[davevandyk]

hehehehe

that's great. I love the part "There are some teams that won't choke in the playoffs... like the leafs, bluejackets, blackhawks, panthers.... and the list goes on.

Oh i forgot, they haven't made the playoffs in years, so they can say they don't choke.

Gotta love the leaf fans, as clueless as they are. They would rather have a team that doesn't make the playoffs, then have their team lose in the Stanley Cup finals. If the Sens are "choking" in the playoffs, then does that mean the leafs have choked for 40years? I will double-check the stats, but i haven't been able to see where it says that a team that loses 4-3 in a series wins the series partially, whereas the team that loses 4-0 doesn't win the series even a little bit.

I understand your frustration, if i had to deal with all the leaf players and leaf fans on the golf course on game nights, i would be right pissed too, u can never finish 18 with that many people on the courses!

May be the Sens can join the Leafs on the back nine on the links.

I reckon that depend on if the Leafs have a pit stop and hot dog at the turn :$

Back nine... cmon, the leafs are already finished their round and already in the bars drunk, talking about "Next year is OUR year, we're gonna take it all!! We are just missing that ONE piece of the puzzle!!" Well that one piece of the puzzle is called TALENT. :help: :help:

Sorry, i know how many leaf fans hate when Sens fans drag the leafs into conversations about the Sens, but i didn't start it. :rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl:

Its always the girls that don't get invited to the dance that complain

[guitarman]

We are just missing that ONE piece of the puzzle!!" Well that one piece of the puzzle is called TALENT. :help: :help:



Leave it to a Sens fan to state the obvious. Yes, its a well known fact that the Leafs lack talent and this is the reason for their woes. When its the ducks hoisting the cup what will the Sens excuse be?

[racmbs]

that's great. I love the part "There are some teams that won't choke in the playoffs... like the leafs, bluejackets, blackhawks, panthers.... and the list goes on.

Oh i forgot, they haven't made the playoffs in years, so they can say they don't choke.

Gotta love the leaf fans, as clueless as they are. They would rather have a team that doesn't make the playoffs, then have their team lose in the Stanley Cup finals. If the Sens are "choking" in the playoffs, then does that mean the leafs have choked for 40years? I will double-check the stats, but i haven't been able to see where it says that a team that loses 4-3 in a series wins the series partially, whereas the team that loses 4-0 doesn't win the series even a little bit.

I understand your frustration, if i had to deal with all the leaf players and leaf fans on the golf course on game nights, i would be right pissed too, u can never finish 18 with that many people on the courses!

Holy...you still itchy from all the bug-bites Dave? :rofl:

Touchy little XXXX, ain't ya? :p :D

[davevandyk]

Leave it to a Sens fan to state the obvious. Yes, its a well known fact that the Leafs lack talent and this is the reason for their woes. When its the ducks hoisting the cup what will the Sens excuse be?

I would assume the reason would be, if they lose the Cup which i don't think will happen, that they got beat by a better team over the series. Just because you don't win, it doesnt' mean you should need an excuse. So far the reason they are down 2-0 is that they are getting outplayed. I know in all sports, the media/fans tend to look at the losing team as the reason the game was lost, as opposed to looking at the team that won and say, "Man, they just flat out earned it." That is how is has been so far, the Ducks have just been the better team, not the fact that the Sens are playing poorly, although they aren't playing particularly well.

[danakin]

Under no circumstance can I bring myself to cheer for Ottawa.

Go Ducks!

[davevandyk]

Holy...you still itchy from all the bug-bites Dave? :rofl:

Touchy little XXXX, ain't ya? :p :D

haha, nah i would just love to replace the desktop picture on my desktop with the Sens with the Cup. Right now i have a pic of the victorious OttawaGolf team with the Ryder Cup... i guess there are worse pics to have up... right? :p

[racmbs]

haha, nah i would just love to replace the desktop picture on my desktop with the Sens with the Cup. Right now i have a pic of the victorious OttawaGolf team with the Ryder Cup... i guess there are worse pics to have up... right? :p

At least you'll be able to proudly display one cup. :D

Oh nice....fokker is a bad word now. :rolleyes:

[Golden Bear]

that's great. I love the part "There are some teams that won't choke in the playoffs... like the leafs, bluejackets, blackhawks, panthers.... and the list goes on.

Oh i forgot, they haven't made the playoffs in years, so they can say they don't choke.

Gotta love the leaf fans, as clueless as they are. They would rather have a team that doesn't make the playoffs, then have their team lose in the Stanley Cup finals. If the Sens are "choking" in the playoffs, then does that mean the leafs have choked for 40years? I will double-check the stats, but i haven't been able to see where it says that a team that loses 4-3 in a series wins the series partially, whereas the team that loses 4-0 doesn't win the series even a little bit.

I understand your frustration, if i had to deal with all the leaf players and leaf fans on the golf course on game nights, i would be right pissed too, u can never finish 18 with that many people on the courses!


The reality, of course, is that until the past two years the Leafs HAVE been in the playoffs and have actually overachieved on several occasions -- it's tough to make a case that the Leafs' final-four teams all belonged in the conference championships. They've been good playoff performers on many occasions, whereas the Sens have underachieved in just about every playoff before this year. Even in the series vs. the Leafs, they never had any business losing to Toronto, in most cases. They had superior teams. But they lost anyway.

It's tough to look at ANY Leaf season in the past 40 years and say "the Leafs choked." They never played below expectations. The Sens have.

Granted, I'd rather have a team choke in the playoffs than miss the playoffs altogether ... but if we're talking about two seasons of missing the playoffs, I'm not sure that particularly burns Leafs fans, because it's not something that's happening year after year after year.

That said ... I don't think it's fair to say that if the Sens lose this year they "choked". (I know, I made the "choking dog" reference earlier, more out of frustration because I'm actually rooting for the Sens this series and the fools have frustrated me, but I can't legitimately call it a "choke".) They've gone further in the playoffs than their talent would say the SHOULD have gone. And if they lose to the friggin Ducks it will be because the Ducks are simply a better team.

Unfortunately, I think if the Sens do lose ... and I'm losing confidence by the day ... then the "choke" label will be applied, whether warranted or not, so it's something Sens fans might want to learn to live with if the Ducks put their abominable name on the cup.

[davevandyk]

The reality, of course, is that until the past two years the Leafs HAVE been in the playoffs and have actually overachieved on several occasions -- it's tough to make a case that the Leafs' final-four teams all belonged in the conference championships. They've been good playoff performers on many occasions, whereas the Sens have underachieved in just about every playoff before this year. Even in the series vs. the Leafs, they never had any business losing to Toronto, in most cases. They had superior teams. But they lost anyway.

It's tough to look at ANY Leaf season in the past 40 years and say "the Leafs choked." They never played below expectations. The Sens have.

Granted, I'd rather have a team choke in the playoffs than miss the playoffs altogether ... but if we're talking about two seasons of missing the playoffs, I'm not sure that particularly burns Leafs fans, because it's not something that's happening year after year after year.

That said ... I don't think it's fair to say that if the Sens lose this year they "choked". (I know, I made the "choking dog" reference earlier, more out of frustration because I'm actually rooting for the Sens this series and the fools have frustrated me, but I can't legitimately call it a "choke".) They've gone further in the playoffs than their talent would say the SHOULD have gone. And if they lose to the friggin Ducks it will be because the Ducks are simply a better team.

Unfortunately, I think if the Sens do lose ... and I'm losing confidence by the day ... then the "choke" label will be applied, whether warranted or not, so it's something Sens fans might want to learn to live with if the Ducks put their abominable name on the cup.

I almost 100% agree with you. If the Sens do lose, which they won't, its not called choking. The team that wins is the better team, and that's all there is.

[Golden Bear]

The unfortunate thing is that the Sens need to win to shed the "choke" label. As a Jays fan going back to 77, I'm all too aware of how hard it is to shed such a label. The Jays choked a little in 85, and completely collapsed in 87, and so, every year after that until 1992 they were accused of "choking". In reality, they were losing to better teams. It stuck in my craw a little, until they finally won and shed the label.

The Boston Red Sox are another example. They only actually choked a couple of times in their long drought ... but they were considered a team of chokers right up until they won in 2004. The label was unfair, because the reason they failed to win for so many years wasn't that they choked (outside of the two most notable examples), but that they were never good enough.

(Of course, on the flip side there are the Phil Mickelsons of the world, who got rid of the label only to have it bounce off a hospitality tent and right back in his face.)

[davevandyk]

The unfortunate thing is that the Sens need to win to shed the "choke" label. As a Jays fan going back to 77, I'm all too aware of how hard it is to shed such a label. The Jays choked a little in 85, and completely collapsed in 87, and so, every year after that until 1992 they were accused of "choking". In reality, they were losing to better teams. It stuck in my craw a little, until they finally won and shed the label.

The Boston Red Sox are another example. They only actually choked a couple of times in their long drought ... but they were considered a team of chokers right up until they won in 2004. The label was unfair, because the reason they failed to win for so many years wasn't that they choked (outside of the two most notable examples), but that they were never good enough.

(Of course, on the flip side there are the Phil Mickelsons of the world, who got rid of the label only to have it bounce off a hospitality tent and right back in his face.)

good point! People will label someone as a "choker" until they win the Cup, even if they play their best hockey. I guess only the real hockey fans can tell whether a team is choking, or just losing to a better team!! :rolleyes:

[pdonnelly]

Wow an aweful lot of verbal felating those sens.:eek: How long since the Sens won a cup and how many have they won? How long since the Leafs won and how many? I think history speaks for itself. Ducks in 5.:cool:

[davevandyk]

Wow an aweful lot of verbal felating those sens.:eek: How long since the Sens won a cup and how many have they won? How long since the Leafs won and how many? I think history speaks for itself. Ducks in 5.:cool:

I would say the Sens haven't won one in their 15 year existence, the leafs haven't won a cup in 40 years. Or are you one of those leaf fans that says, well the Sens haven't won in 80 years... makes a better story if you neglect to add that there was no Ottawa Senators for 65 of those years. Give the Sens another 25 years and then you can talk about history being on the leafs side.

However if you want to include the original Sens, then the Sens won 10 Cups in 56 combined years. The leafs have won 13 i believe in 90 years. That would put the Sens at a winning percentage of 17% and the leafs at 14%!! So as you said, even including the Senators from the early 1900's, they still have a better winning percentage. (number could be off, i used Wikipedia :P)

[Bellyhungry]

Back nine... cmon, the leafs are already finished their round and already in the bars drunk, talking about "Next year is OUR year, we're gonna take it all!! We are just missing that ONE piece of the puzzle!!" Well that one piece of the puzzle is called TALENT. :help: :help:

Sorry, i know how many leaf fans hate when Sens fans drag the leafs into conversations about the Sens, but i didn't start it. :rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl:

Its always the girls that don't get invited to the dance that complain

Whether you miss the playoff or lose in the final, the reality is second place is first among losers (as per Tiger Woods). So the Sens and the talentless Leafs are more-alike then they care to acknowledge :p :) :rolleyes: :$

Let me see:

1) Miss the playoff; play lots of golf; still get paid
2) Make the final; lose in final; miss golf by 2 months; don't get paid for the 2 extra months of work....

Seems like option 1 is a rather attractive proposition...

Hmmm....I suspect the Leafs threw their season away....

[guitarman]

Whether you miss the playoff or lose in the final, the reality is second place is first among losers (as per Tiger Woods). So the Sens and the talentless Leafs are more-alike then they care to acknowledge :p :) :rolleyes: :$

Let me see:

1) Miss the playoff; play lots of golf; still get paid
2) Make the final; lose in final; miss golf by 2 months; don't get paid for the 2 extra months of work....

Seems like option 1 is a rather attractive proposition...

Hmmm....I suspect the Leafs threw their season away....

So if the Sens were smart they'd throw the last 2 games call it a day and head to the links. Sounds like a better option rather than giving everything they've got only to be dominated by the ducks anyway and lose more of the golfing season by posiibly pressing it to 7 games.

[laxgolf]

Wow an aweful lot of verbal felating those sens.:eek: How long since the Sens won a cup and how many have they won? How long since the Leafs won and how many? I think history speaks for itself. Ducks in 5.:cool:

I don't know the exact # but the Sens have won some Cups. They were an awful long time ago though and then they were out of the league for 70 something years.

If you're comparing the Leafs Cup record to Ottawa's, then it doesn't really mean anything unless you compare since 1991 when the Sens came back. They've even. Both have zero.

I understand the need for Leafs fans to get their jollies about the Sens being down 2-0 in the STANLEY CUP FINAL, but the fact of the matter is that they're up against a fantastic hockey team. Anaheim deserves to be exactly where they are right now. They've been a top team all season and it's crystal clear why they're dominant. Ottawa definitely needs to get their sh*t together, but I wouldn't call this a 'choke job' by any means. I can't see how any other team in the NHL would be doing better against Anaheim than Ottawa is.

What I don't get is this...how can anyone who supports a team who misses the the playoffs for a couple of years chirp a fan who's team is in the finals? I don't get it. Is it because of the 4 playoff victories? If that's the case, then the past sure looks better than the future in Leafs land. It appears that Ottawa has some things to learn, but at least they're getting on the job training while playing in the final, which is more than 28 other teams can say.

[davevandyk]

So if the Sens were smart they'd throw the last 2 games call it a day and head to the links. Sounds like a better option rather than giving everything they've got only to be dominated by the ducks anyway and lose more of the golfing season by posiibly pressing it to 7 games.

I'd take a game 7 lose over an extra week of golf anyway, as i am sure the Sens would as well. You telling me the leaf players wouldn't love to be down 2-0 in the Cup finals as opposed to sitting in a golf cart, talking about their past glories...?

[pdonnelly]

I don't know the exact # but the Sens have won some Cups. They were an awful long time ago though and then they were out of the league for 70 something years.

If you're comparing the Leafs Cup record to Ottawa's, then it doesn't really mean anything unless you compare since 1991 when the Sens came back. They've even. Both have zero.

I understand the need for Leafs fans to get their jollies about the Sens being down 2-0 in the STANLEY CUP FINAL, but the fact of the matter is that they're up against a fantastic hockey team. Anaheim deserves to be exactly where they are right now. They've been a top team all season and it's crystal clear why they're dominant. Ottawa definitely needs to get their sh*t together, but I wouldn't call this a 'choke job' by any means. I can't see how any other team in the NHL would be doing better against Anaheim than Ottawa is.

What I don't get is this...how can anyone who supports a team who misses the the playoffs for a couple of years chirp a fan who's team is in the finals? I don't get it. Is it because of the 4 playoff victories? If that's the case, then the past sure looks better than the future in Leafs land. It appears that Ottawa has some things to learn, but at least they're getting on the job training while playing in the final, which is more than 28 other teams can say.

I can say (that's right "say" not chirp) anything I want because I'm free, pro sports teams rise and fall. The gist of what is being said here is like the Leafs will never be good again, and the Sens will always be good, a couple of bad seasons and Ottawa will probably be back looking at being broke. It is the Sens fans yelping about it being 40 years since a cup for the Leafs, therefore that opens up that it has been 80 or whatever for the Sens as the Sens fans alude to championships captured while the Sens were without a tour card. Face it the Leaf organization has more money, is better established, has a huge market and will probably be better more often the Sens in the future just because of this. Who knows unless you're reading your crystal ball, and you aren't. They are playing a fantastic team with more of our own players than the Sens sport. Ah, but Ottawa is so multi-cultural, eh?:cool:

[guitarman]

I can say (that's right "say" not chirp) anything I want because I'm free, pro sports teams rise and fall. The gist of what is being said here is like the Leafs will never be good again, and the Sens will always be good, a couple of bad seasons and Ottawa will probably be back looking at being broke. It is the Sens fans yelping about it being 40 years since a cup for the Leafs, therefore that opens up that it has been 80 or whatever for the Sens as the Sens fans alude to championships captured while the Sens were without a tour card. Face it the Leaf organization has more money, is better established, has a huge market and will probably be better more often the Sens in the future just because of this. Who knows unless you're reading your crystal ball, and you aren't. They are playing a fantastic team with more of our own players than the Sens sport. Ah, but Ottawa is so multi-cultural, eh?:cool:

I figure this is Ottawas moment. If they can't get the cup this year then its most likely they won't get it. The leafs moment was back in 92/93 when the officials decided the game for them. I beleive, as well, that the leafs have more potential to put a winning team together. As soon as they get rid of some of the boneheads making the decisions.
To be honest I still think that Ottawa can pull it off and hope they do. If they drop one more game though all hope will be lost. As much as I hate the Sens I have to admit that I am Canadian and hate the fact that the cup hasn't been won by a Canadian team since 92/93.
I guess I also hate the fact that Montreal was the last team to bring it to Canada and that currently our best hope is Ottawa. What a cruel world.

[laxgolf]

I can say (that's right "say" not chirp) anything I want because I'm free, pro sports teams rise and fall. The gist of what is being said here is like the Leafs will never be good again, and the Sens will always be good, a couple of bad seasons and Ottawa will probably be back looking at being broke. It is the Sens fans yelping about it being 40 years since a cup for the Leafs, therefore that opens up that it has been 80 or whatever for the Sens as the Sens fans alude to championships captured while the Sens were without a tour card. Face it the Leaf organization has more money, is better established, has a huge market and will probably be better more often the Sens in the future just because of this. Who knows unless you're reading your crystal ball, and you aren't. They are playing a fantastic team with more of our own players than the Sens sport. Ah, but Ottawa is so multi-cultural, eh?:cool:

WTF are you talking about multi-culturalism for and when did the amount of $$$ the Leafs have come into play? If my post wasn't quoted, I wouldn't have a cluse who you were responding to.

FYI, the Leafs can have as much $$$ as they want, but there's a cap they have to adhere to and that's been going real well for them. Also, if anyone has the comparison between the season ticket base in both cities, I'd like to see it. How much of it is corporate vs average Joe buying tickets? Leafs fans are so lucky to have such a financially secure team. The vast majority of fans in the city can't get or afford tickets to the game. At least I can see pretty much any game I want to in Ottawa.

By the way, you're the one that broyught up the 'history'. Not me.

I figure this is Ottawas moment. If they can't get the cup this year then its most likely they won't get it. The leafs moment was back in 92/93 when the officials decided the game for them. I beleive, as well, that the leafs have more potential to put a winning team together. As soon as they get rid of some of the boneheads making the decisions.
To be honest I still think that Ottawa can pull it off and hope they do. If they drop one more game though all hope will be lost. As much as I hate the Sens I have to admit that I am Canadian and hate the fact that the cup hasn't been won by a Canadian team since 92/93.
I guess I also hate the fact that Montreal was the last team to bring it to Canada and that currently our best hope is Ottawa. What a cruel world.

Everyone thought that last years Sens team was the team that should have won the Cup, but here they are in the Finals. The nucleus of this team will be together for at least two more seasons. If they don't win this year, there's no reason to believe that they won't be as good or better next year and the year after that. Redden's deal is up after next year, but he's going to get shipped for a boatload of talent anyways, and that will only help the Sens stay competitive long term.

[davevandyk]

I can say (that's right "say" not chirp) anything I want because I'm free, pro sports teams rise and fall. The gist of what is being said here is like the Leafs will never be good again, and the Sens will always be good, a couple of bad seasons and Ottawa will probably be back looking at being broke. It is the Sens fans yelping about it being 40 years since a cup for the Leafs, therefore that opens up that it has been 80 or whatever for the Sens as the Sens fans alude to championships captured while the Sens were without a tour card. Face it the Leaf organization has more money, is better established, has a huge market and will probably be better more often the Sens in the future just because of this. Who knows unless you're reading your crystal ball, and you aren't. They are playing a fantastic team with more of our own players than the Sens sport. Ah, but Ottawa is so multi-cultural, eh?:cool:

Face it the Leaf organization has more money, is better established, has a huge market and will probably be better more often the Sens in the future just because of this.

i just had to double post this cause i thought it was great.

1) They have more money, so what? Its a cap world and all money does is.... NOTHING.

2) They are better established, wouldn't you expect a team that has been around for 60 years to be better established then a team that has been around for 15.

3) They will be better more often then the Sens in the future :confused::help::confused:What type of evidence shows this? The Sens are a MUCH better team now, and unless YOU have a crystal ball, nobody knows what they are gonna be in the near future.

But hey, i will give you all the credit in the world, you are a die-hard leafs fan and i gotta give you props for that. As delusional as your optimism is, at least you have some optimism, Lord knows if the Sens were in the same situation it would be tough for me!

[guitarman]

Face it the Leaf organization has more money, is better established, has a huge market and will probably be better more often the Sens in the future just because of this.

i just had to double post this cause i thought it was great.

1) They have more money, so what? Its a cap world and all money does is.... NOTHING.

2) They are better established, wouldn't you expect a team that has been around for 60 years to be better established then a team that has been around for 15.

3) They will be better more often then the Sens in the future :confused::help::confused:What type of evidence shows this? The Sens are a MUCH better team now, and unless YOU have a crystal ball, nobody knows what they are gonna be in the near future.

But hey, i will give you all the credit in the world, you are a die-hard leafs fan and i gotta give you props for that. As delusional as your optimism is, at least you have some optimism, Lord knows if the Sens were in the same situation it would be tough for me!

I feel your frustration. It must be tough being a Sens fan. The Leafs have a huge and loyal fan base in spite of their poor performance and lack of appearnace in the post season the last couple of years. If the Leafs were to be in the spot that the Sens were right now there would be mass hysteria and millions jumping on the bandwagon. The Sens are right there in the mix one of 2 teams still in the running for the cup. And there bandwagon is empty Nobody would jump on that bandwagon if you paid them. Some of us begrudgingly and secretly hope they win for the sake of Canada. But its not jumping on the bandwagon. Its just slightly the lesser of two evils.

[pdonnelly]

WTF are you talking about multi-culturalism for and when did the amount of $$$ the Leafs have come into play? If my post wasn't quoted, I wouldn't have a cluse who you were responding to.

FYI, the Leafs can have as much $$$ as they want, but there's a cap they have to adhere to and that's been going real well for them. Also, if anyone has the comparison between the season ticket base in both cities, I'd like to see it. How much of it is corporate vs average Joe buying tickets? Leafs fans are so lucky to have such a financially secure team. The vast majority of fans in the city can't get or afford tickets to the game. At least I can see pretty much any game I want to in Ottawa.

By the way, you're the one that broyught up the 'history'. Not me.



Everyone thought that last years Sens team was the team that should have won the Cup, but here they are in the Finals. The nucleus of this team will be together for at least two more seasons. If they don't win this year, there's no reason to believe that they won't be as good or better next year and the year after that. Redden's deal is up after next year, but he's going to get shipped for a boatload of talent anyways, and that will only help the Sens stay competitive long term.

WTF? is that like my wrist to floor measurement?? It's is all in fun chum, read between the lines and lighten up.:rofl:

[davevandyk]

I feel your frustration. It must be tough being a Sens fan. The Leafs have a huge and loyal fan base in spite of their poor performance and lack of appearnace in the post season the last couple of years. If the Leafs were to be in the spot that the Sens were right now there would be mass hysteria and millions jumping on the bandwagon. The Sens are right there in the mix one of 2 teams still in the running for the cup. And there bandwagon is empty Nobody would jump on that bandwagon if you paid them. Some of us begrudgingly and secretly hope they win for the sake of Canada. But its not jumping on the bandwagon. Its just slightly the lesser of two evils.

If i feel frustration, it would have absolutely nothing to do with the size of the bandwagon. I know when i go to the Scotiabank place, there are TONS of Sens fans. You can say that when the Sens/leafs play the place is half full of leaf fans, but all that proves is that this rivalry only really matters to leaf fans. Us Sens fans would rather buy tickets for when the Devils/Sabres come in town, because we know its a team that we will likely have to beat to get to the Cup finals, not the leafs. However i beat the Sens take it seriously when they play golf against leaf players, cause you know they are already in mid-season form when the Sens are just getting their first round in!! :P

Now i don't want to harp on this point, but why do you keep bringing up how the situation would be different if the leafs were there?? Well the Sens would be doing better if they had Gretzky, Lemieux and Howe as their 3rd line! What is the point of comparing the real world to fantasy world??

[pdonnelly]

Face it the Leaf organization has more money, is better established, has a huge market and will probably be better more often the Sens in the future just because of this.

i just had to double post this cause i thought it was great.

1) They have more money, so what? Its a cap world and all money does is.... NOTHING.

2) They are better established, wouldn't you expect a team that has been around for 60 years to be better established then a team that has been around for 15.

3) They will be better more often then the Sens in the future :confused::help::confused:What type of evidence shows this? The Sens are a MUCH better team now, and unless YOU have a crystal ball, nobody knows what they are gonna be in the near future.

But hey, i will give you all the credit in the world, you are a die-hard leafs fan and i gotta give you props for that. As delusional as your optimism is, at least you have some optimism, Lord knows if the Sens were in the same situation it would be tough for me!


You must really be irregular to take things so seriously. Try some psylium and lots of water. Ottawa has lost their team before for a long time and I think they will again, according to my crystal ball of course, so lighten the feck up, it's only a game, like golf, except enjoyable.:rofl:

[laxgolf]

WTF? is that like my wrist to floor measurement?? It's is all in fun chum, read between the lines and lighten up.:rofl:

Yeah you're right. Sorry dude.

[pdonnelly]

Actually I was informed that at an autograph signing the other night in Anaheim a mere handfull of fans (literaly 3 handfulls I guess) showed up while Ottawa had thousands at a pep rally. Better ice conditions in the next game, as the ice couldn't be anyworse than in Anaheim. But like in curling, both teams play the same ice, good or bad. Anyway, tough to beat a mostly Canadian team with a multi-cultural unit like Ottawa. Does everyone get the multicultural reference now?:rofl: Ottawa has a long hill to climb here but they were considered out of it back in December so we will see.

[davevandyk]

You must really be irregular to take things so seriously. Try some psylium and lots of water. Ottawa has lost their team before for a long time and I think they will again, according to my crystal ball of course, so lighten the feck up, it's only a game, like golf, except enjoyable.:rofl:

Don't worry, i just lightened up a LOT. Reports say the leafs are close to inking Sunding for 2yrs, 11 million bucks!!! That is gonna put a hit of over 6.33 million to their cap. That makes me very happy, got a good laugh out of it.

This makes the fact that the Pens named Crosby the captain sound pretty sane.

[racmbs]

WTF? is that like my wrist to floor measurement?? It's is all in fun chum, read between the lines and lighten the feck up.:rofl:

Feck is a bad word.......you are banned. :D

[pdonnelly]

Feck is a bad word.......you are banned. :D

OOOOPS, was watching Father Ted, I thought it was Irish Catholic for darn:rolleyes:
NO, I was hoping Sundin (Swedish for the sun is setting) would retire, he's like an old Beamer, very good but you never know when it's going to break down.:$

[guitarman]

I almost 100% agree with you. If the Sens do lose, which they won't, its not called choking. The team that wins is the better team, and that's all there is.

I keep hearing you say they aren't choking. That they are just being beat by the better team. From what I saw lastnight the teams were even until Heatly coughed up the puck and choked the game away. The Sens are chokers and if they lose the series it will be their choking. CHOKE:rofl: :rofl: :rofl:

[davevandyk]

I keep hearing you say they aren't choking. That they are just being beat by the better team. From what I saw lastnight the teams were even until Heatly coughed up the puck and choked the game away. The Sens are chokers and if they lose the series it will be their choking. CHOKE:rofl: :rofl: :rofl:

that's an awesome logic :p:p! Sounds like every single team in the history of sports is a choker! I'm not positive, but i believe every single team has at one point turned the puck over and which led to a goal. http://www.bombsquadgolf.com/invboard_release/upload/style_emoticons/default/banghead.gif

[alienurbanite]

I almost 100% agree with you. If the Sens do lose, which they won't, its not called choking. The team that wins is the better team, and that's all there is.

The funny thing is that while Sens fans (and probably most other Canadian hockey cities) hate the Leafs, I don't think Leaf fans have nearly the reverse animosity. I haven't figured out why they hate us so much, but Bob McCowan brought up a good point on the Fan 590 the other day. People in Toronto simply care very little about the other cities...and when the hockey season is over, we actually HAVE other professional sports teams we can watch... don't blame us for not caring... why should we? I don't expect Ottawa fans to cheer for any of our teams or even bother watching... Yes, as sports fans we're self-centered... But frankly, I just don't enjoy hockey enough to watch other teams play.

Yes, as a Leaf fan, it sucked when they didn't make the playoffs... but how pathetic was the Ottawa mayor in drumming up support by trying to make the Sens "Canada's Team" during their run? Personally, I just don't care enough about Ottawa to jump on the bandwagon...and if anything, Anaheim's blue line is cemented by two hall of fame Canadians that I've been cheering for every couple years in international hockey.

It's not about national pride. Team Canada is about national pride... beyond that, it's like asking Yankee fans to cheer for the Red Sox when they play the Jays...

Ultimately, nobody cares about Ottawa winning except for Ottawa. And I sure as heck don't expect Sens fans to cheer for the Leafs if we ever make the finals.

I could be biased because I don't watch hockey regularly, but yeah... the last game I watched was Leafs vs. the Habs. After that, it was all basketball all the time...

Of course, given the large percentage of Canadians living in the GTA, there's a reason why CBC's numbers are down in this year's final. Nobody's watching.. .:rolleyes:

[davevandyk]

The funny thing is that while Sens fans (and probably most other Canadian hockey cities) hate the Leafs, I don't think Leaf fans have nearly the reverse animosity. I haven't figured out why they hate us so much, but Bob McCowan brought up a good point on the Fan 590 the other day. People in Toronto simply care very little about the other cities...and when the hockey season is over, we actually HAVE other professional sports teams we can watch... don't blame us for not caring... why should we? I don't expect Ottawa fans to cheer for any of our teams or even bother watching...

Yes, as a Leaf fan, it sucked when they didn't make the playoffs... but how pathetic was the Ottawa mayor in drumming up support by trying to make the Sens "Canada's Team" during their run? Personally, I just don't care enough about Ottawa to jump on the bandwagon...and if anything, Anaheim's blue line is cemented by two hall of fame Canadians that I've been cheering for every couple years in international hockey.

It's not about national pride. Team Canada is about national pride... beyond that, it's like asking Yankee fans to cheer for the Red Sox when they play the Jays...

Ultimately, nobody cares about Ottawa winning except for Ottawa. And I sure as heck don't expect Sens fans to cheer for the Leafs if we ever make the finals.

Of course, given the large percentage of Canadians living in the GTA, there's a reason why CBC's numbers are down in this year's final. Nobody's watching.. .:rolleyes:

I hear ya, Edmonton tried to do the same thing last year, and Calgary the year before.

[Golfing in Ottawa]

The funny thing is that while Sens fans (and probably most other Canadian hockey cities) hate the Leafs, I don't think Leaf fans have nearly the reverse animosity. I haven't figured out why they hate us so much, but Bob McCowan brought up a good point on the Fan 590 the other day. People in Toronto simply care very little about the other cities...and when the hockey season is over, we actually HAVE other professional sports teams we can watch... don't blame us for not caring... why should we? I don't expect Ottawa fans to cheer for any of our teams or even bother watching... Yes, as sports fans we're self-centered... But frankly, I just don't enjoy hockey enough to watch other teams play.

Yes, as a Leaf fan, it sucked when they didn't make the playoffs... but how pathetic was the Ottawa mayor in drumming up support by trying to make the Sens "Canada's Team" during their run? Personally, I just don't care enough about Ottawa to jump on the bandwagon...and if anything, Anaheim's blue line is cemented by two hall of fame Canadians that I've been cheering for every couple years in international hockey.

It's not about national pride. Team Canada is about national pride... beyond that, it's like asking Yankee fans to cheer for the Red Sox when they play the Jays...

Ultimately, nobody cares about Ottawa winning except for Ottawa. And I sure as heck don't expect Sens fans to cheer for the Leafs if we ever make the finals.

I could be biased because I don't watch hockey regularly, but yeah... the last game I watched was Leafs vs. the Habs. After that, it was all basketball all the time...

Of course, given the large percentage of Canadians living in the GTA, there's a reason why CBC's numbers are down in this year's final. Nobody's watching.. .:rolleyes:

Response to above:

(i) Leafs fans have "plenty" of animosity. Many in Ottawa have surfaced after the first two Sens losses in the Cup Final. They seem to be "very happy" with the outcome of the first two games...........Guess they must be "huge" Ducks fans....... or is it animosity..............???:rolleyes:

(ii) "People in Toronto simply care very little about the other cities". (Bob McCowan). TRUE....;)

(iii) " I don't expect Ottawa fans to cheer for any of our teams".....

NOT TRUE.
Blue Jays have always had big fan support in Ottawa. There certainly was plenty of excitement in Ottawa's sports bars and media when the Jays had their World Series victories.

(iv) "How pathetic was the Ottawa Mayor in drumming up support by trying to make the Sen's Canada's Team during their run"......
I think you have missed his point. It has been since 1993 since the last Canadian based team (Montreal) won the Cup. The Mayor would like to see the Cup come back to Canada where it means a "heck of alot more" than in the U.S. Similiar to the cross Canada support Calgary saw in their Cup run.

(v) "Nobody cares about Ottawa winning except Ottawa"....
NOT TRUE. Ottawa seems to have cross Canada support except from the GTA..............How do you spell "A N I M O S I TY".........;)

(vi) "CBC numbers are down in this years final".........
This might well be TRUE. Considering the Leafs were not in the playoffs many GTA people likely lost interest in hockey before the playoffs even started.........Thats why the CBC was "so hopeful" that Sid the Kid and the Penguins would have advanced........Was very noticeable during the first round CBC coverage........:rolleyes:

[Golden Bear]

Response to above:

(i) Leafs fans have "plenty" of animosity. Many in Ottawa have surfaced after the first two Sens losses in the Cup Final. They seem to be "very happy" with the outcome of the first two games...........Guess they must be "huge" Ducks fans....... or is it animosity..............???:rolleyes:
But you're talking as someone in Ottawa who is hearing from people in your city who are Leafs fans, people on message boards, etc. Living in Toronto, I can tell you that while there's a Toronto-Ottawa rivalry in hockey, there really isn't any animosity toward other cities. If any thing, there's different degrees of "like".


(ii) "People in Toronto simply care very little about the other cities". (Bob McCowan). TRUE....;)
In part, it's true ... but at the same time, we have to remember that a large portion of the population of Toronto actually comes from other cities in Canada. Those people care about Toronto and their home towns ... but that's about it.


(iii) " I don't expect Ottawa fans to cheer for any of our teams".....

NOT TRUE.
Blue Jays have always had big fan support in Ottawa. There certainly was plenty of excitement in Ottawa's sports bars and media when the Jays had their World Series victories.
I'd agree with you there. As a Jays' fan, I know that there is support across the country, and the message boards I'm a part of have posters from all over Canada.

But that's really because the Jays are the only team in the country now, and until a couple of years ago, were one of only two teams. I don't expect people from outside Toronto to support the Leafs or Argos, and am surprised if they do. I believe that people from outside Toronto who are NBA fans will tend to root for the Raptors ... because it's the only NBA team in the country. But when there are other options in the country, I don't expect that people who aren't from this city will gravitate towards our teams.



(iv) "How pathetic was the Ottawa Mayor in drumming up support by trying to make the Sen's Canada's Team during their run"......
I think you have missed his point. It has been since 1993 since the last Canadian based team (Montreal) won the Cup. The Mayor would like to see the Cup come back to Canada where it means a "heck of alot more" than in the U.S. Similiar to the cross Canada support Calgary saw in their Cup run.
I'd agree with you -- Edmonton and Calgary have dubbed themselves / been dubbed "Canada's team" when they've made the finals. It's just part of the fun. And in fact, Toronto's mayor ALSO said Ottawa is Canada's team right now. I don't have a problem with it. Though if we're being honest, if the Leafs were in the final and Toronto's mayor called them "Canada's team", it would be a national scandal and citizens from coast to coast would be up in arms. So you can understand if a Leafs fan objects to the declaration.


(v) "Nobody cares about Ottawa winning except Ottawa"....
NOT TRUE. Ottawa seems to have cross Canada support except from the GTA..............How do you spell "A N I M O S I TY".........;)
I think Ottawa has support across the country at the moment and that Canadians want them to win. I think, however, that it's simply because they're the Canadian team in the final. The rest of the year, I'm not convinced that Ottawa has widespread support from coast to coast.

The same would be true of most Canadian teams. All have scattered support throughout the country, but not a huge, devoted, national following. The only Canadian teams that have significant support outside their own markets are the Leafs and Habs.

But whether I agree or disagree with the statement depends on what its intent was, which I don't know. If it means that no one outside of Ottawa is rooting for the Sens or will be happy if they win, it's untrue. If it means that no one (or few people) outside Ottawa will have a warm fuzzy feeling all summer and that no one outside of Ottawa will be buying commemorative memorabilia and fondly remembering the Sens' cup win for generations to come ... there's likely some truth to that.

The Sens would be like the Flames or Oilers. There are fans across the country, but it's a relatively small scattering of fans. It's the "I know a guy who's a Flames/Oilers fan" kind of fan base ... not the swarms decending upon other teams' arenas that you get with the Leafs and Habs. The Sens basically have the standard "outside" fanbase that any team has.

[davevandyk]

The Sens would be like the Flames or Oilers. There are fans across the country, but it's a relatively small scattering of fans. It's the "I know a guy who's a Flames/Oilers fan" kind of fan base ... not the swarms decending upon other teams' arenas that you get with the Leafs and Habs. The Sens basically have the standard "outside" fanbase that any team has.

I agree with you about the older generation. However i think now that the young fans are growing up with the Sens, there are much more fans throughout the country. I think next year on CBC will be interesting, because if i understand the agreement, they won't be solely showing leaf games now. That will give the young undecided fan a chance to see all Canadian teams, and not have CBC choose who there favourite team is, simply because they are the only one that can be seen on tv. Unless you live in Ottawa, you really can only see less than 1/4 of the Sens games on tv, without NHL Centre Ice.

[Bellyhungry]

....I think next year on CBC will be interesting, because if i understand the agreement, they won't be solely showing leaf games now.....

I am going along just fine until the above....CBC is all about the rating in their Sports Department. While the rest of the CBC might be interested in being a public service organization, the Sports Department needs the revenue to subsidize all those shows no one watches.....Unless other eastern canadian starts playing in the afternoon, the Sat night timeslots will always be Leafs.

See http://jam.canoe.ca/Television/2007/05/29/4218782-cp.html

[guitarman]

The Sens have one simple task. Bring the freakin cup to Canada. I would have rather picked any other Canadian team to do it but we are stuck with the chokin Sens. I just hope they don't screw it up.:D

[davevandyk]

I am going along just fine until the above....CBC is all about the rating in their Sports Department. While the rest of the CBC might be interested in being a public service organization, the Sports Department needs the revenue to subsidize all those shows no one watches.....Unless other eastern canadian starts playing in the afternoon, the Sat night timeslots will always be Leafs.

See http://jam.canoe.ca/Television/2007/05/29/4218782-cp.html

i thought the CBC will be forced into showing other games, or did i misunderstand what i read? I could care less about CBC, I think they do a horrible job with the hockey games. The only thing they have going is the history behind HNIC. Cole and Neale and just horrible, even for leaf games, they are just not good announcers. i just wish there was a network that would should other teams with more regularity than what Sportsnet/TSN do now.

[davevandyk]

Anybody got any reaction to the Chris Pronger suspension for game 4?? I think the shot definetly deserved a game suspension, not only because of the hit, but also because he has a history from the last round of intent to injure, as well as he is always playing on the line.

Its hard for me to dish on Pronger as he is from Dryden, a fellow Northwestern Ontario boy, but i have always looked upon him as more of a dirty player, as opposed to a real skilled player, such as a Neidemyer or Lidstrom.

Any thoughts?

[Golfing in Ottawa]

Anybody got any reaction to the Chris Pronger suspension for game 4?? I think the shot definetly deserved a game suspension, not only because of the hit, but also because he has a history from the last round of intent to injure, as well as he is always playing on the line.

Its hard for me to dish on Pronger as he is from Dryden, a fellow Northwestern Ontario boy, but i have always looked upon him as more of a dirty player, as opposed to a real skilled player, such as a Neidemyer or Lidstrom.

Any thoughts?

He deserved more than one game, but this is the Finals so we have to accept the fact that the NHL would not dish out a more severe suspension.

I was listening to the Team 1200 this morning and they mentioned that Pronger has a history of violent reactions when he is not having much success in a particular game. They gave the dirty hit he made in the Detroit series as one example.
In my opinion the guy is a large skilled "goon". I think everyone is tired of seeing his "Slapshot movie" antics.............except maybe one of his biggest cheerleaders............Don Cherry................
Grapes will likely have some of Pronger's antics on his next Rockem Sockem Video..................


GO SENS !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[el tigre]

The suspension was well-deserved. Pronger is one of the dirtiest players in the NHL, and has the suspension history to prove it.

And the play is just another illustration of how brutal the officiating is in these playoffs. This is now the second game where an Anaheim player has elbowed someone to the head causing an injury (Comrie got a bloody nose in Game 2). Both of these should have resulted in a major penalty, and instead there was no call. And why Neil didn't get a charging penalty on MacDonald, I'll never know.

And it seems that Anaheim is allowed to do all the interference they want now. Even if Pronger had connected below head level, McAmmond had already shot the puck and was skating by him. How is that not interference? How can they call Redden for interference for a hit in front of the net just as the Anaheim player receives a pass, and then let go a straight arm to Alfredsson long after the puck is shot into the corner? Is obstruction interference OK now for the finals?

I hope they bring in a new crew for tonight's game. The 4 referees that have worked the series so far have been terrible.

[racmbs]

You guys want to talk dirty?

Chris Neil

Enough said about that idiot.

[el tigre]

You guys want to talk dirty?

Chris Neil

Enough said about that idiot. Neil is not even close to Pronger. He sometimes hits a little late, but not dirty. I don't think Neil has ever received a suspension.

He's an agitator though, no question. I can't say I'm surprised that Leaf fans don't like him. He's the guy the visiting team always hates - but secretly wishes he played for them.

[Golden Bear]

Switching gears a little, to another "controversy" from the game.

I'm probably the only person on the planet who things that Alfredsson's foot had started to move a wee bit forward on that goal, and that that movement may have helped the goal. He certainly MEANT to kick it in the net, even if the kick didn't help.

BUT, it's not something I'm particularly keen on debating, because I really don't care if he kicked it or not. I'm fine with it being a goal. (Particularly since I want the Ducks to lose.) The reason I bring it up is this:

Why shouldn't it be legal to kick the puck in the net?

You're allowed to kick the puck everywhere else on the ice. You can kick it out from the boards to get it on your stick, you can kick it to a teammate. Is there any good reason NOT to allow goals scored by kicking the puck? The only reason that seems to exist is "it's always been that way".

You can't bat the puck in the net with your hand, just as you can't pass a puck to a teammate with your hand. That makes sense. You can't knock the puck in the net with a high stick, just as you can't knock a puck down to yourself or a teammate anywhere on the ice. That also makes sense.

I say they strike the rule forbidding kicking the puck into the net. It seems to me that it's a perfectly fair way of scoring a goal.

[el tigre]

Switching gears a little, to another "controversy" from the game.

I'm probably the only person on the planet who things that Alfredsson's foot had started to move a wee bit forward on that goal, and that that movement may have helped the goal. He certainly MEANT to kick it in the net, even if the kick didn't help. They changed the rule of this a few years ago. It now has to be a definite "kicking motion". Simply angling your skates for a favourable deflection is perfectly OK now.

I say they strike the rule forbidding kicking the puck into the net. It seems to me that it's a perfectly fair way of scoring a goal. I believe the rule exists to protect the players - especially goaltenders. Serious (even fatal) injuries can result from being kicked with a skate, and the fact that it was accidental does not make hurt it any less. Goal crease scrambles can get pretty hairy - IMHO we don't need players swinging sharp steel blades around trying to score.

[Golden Bear]

I believe the rule exists to protect the players - especially goaltenders. Serious (even fatal) injuries can result from being kicked with a skate, and the fact that it was accidental does not make hurt it any less. Goal crease scrambles can get pretty hairy - IMHO we don't need players swinging sharp steel blades around trying to score.Nice. Way to ruin a perfectly good argument with a common sense answer. Next time I'll post my proposed rule changes in a thread where someone WON'T shoot me down in the very next thread. Yeesh.:mad:

[racmbs]

Neil is not even close to Pronger. He sometimes hits a little late, but not dirty. I don't think Neil has ever received a suspension.

He's an agitator though, no question. I can't say I'm surprised that Leaf fans don't like him. He's the guy the visiting team always hates - but secretly wishes he played for them.

Not dirty?

You obviously don't watch enough hockey then.

[laxgolf]

Not dirty?

You obviously don't watch enough hockey then.

He's not dirty. He's mean, but not dirty and there's a difference. I don't think Chris Pronger is dirty either. Both players play the game in the grey zone between OK and not so OK. They play within the rules, but to the outer limits. When anyone hears Neils name, they only think of the Drury hit. It was well-timed, just like Colby Armstrongs hit on Eaves. Players need to be aware of who's on the ice at all times. Players hit to hurt each other. That's just the way it is and anyone believeing otherwise have never played the game.

I think Neil should have had a 2 minute charging penalty on saturday, but he never made contact. You can't penalize a guy for an attempted hit, regardless of whether or not it was perceived to be dirty. Otherwise there's be a bunch of suspensions handed out every game. The fact that he's never been suspended says alot about him.

[el tigre]

Not dirty?

You obviously don't watch enough hockey then. Pretty much every Sens game this year!:D

Neil led the league in hits, and it is pretty obvious that he will throw a bodycheck anytime he has the opportunity. Sometimes he's a little late, and he usually gets called for that.

But compared to "Elbow to the Head" Pronger or even "Crosscheck in the Back" McCabe, he's a Lady Byng candidate.

[racmbs]

He's not dirty. He's mean, but not dirty and there's a difference. I don't think Chris Pronger is dirty either. Both players play the game in the grey zone between OK and not so OK. They play within the rules, but to the outer limits. When anyone hears Neils name, they only think of the Drury hit. It was well-timed, just like Colby Armstrongs hit on Eaves. Players need to be aware of who's on the ice at all times. Players hit to hurt each other. That's just the way it is and anyone believeing otherwise have never played the game.

I think Neil should have had a 2 minute charging penalty on saturday, but he never made contact. You can't penalize a guy for an attempted hit, regardless of whether or not it was perceived to be dirty. Otherwise there's be a bunch of suspensions handed out every game. The fact that he's never been suspended says alot about him.

He's dirty, and if you've watched enough hockey the last few seasons, you'd see that Neil is just more than your typical nuisance and has been involved in more than one incident where his intentions were scrutinized across the league. He's a pest alright, but he's also the type of hockey player that will go after your head when you aren't expecting it.....he's slowly earning the crown of cheap-shot artist in my books. And the main reason why he hasn't been suspended is that he's been lucky, plain and simple.

Now as for Pronger, he's a putz....and it's a shame because when he first came into the league I enjoyed watching him play. But with his continued dirty play and blatent cheap shots, he deserves a lot more than a 1 game suspension for that last elbow to the head. he should be sat out for the rest of the playoffs and a good portion of the 2008 regualr season, so he can think about what he did.

[davevandyk]

He's dirty, and if you've watched enough hockey the last few seasons, you'd see that Neil is just more than your typical nuisance and has been involved in more than one incident where his intentions were scrutinized across the league. He's a pest alright, but he's also the type of hockey player that will go after your head when you aren't expecting it.....he's slowly earning the crown of cheap-shot artist in my books. And the main reason why he hasn't been suspended is that he's been lucky, plain and simple.

Now as for Pronger, he's a putz....and it's a shame because when he first came into the league I enjoyed watching him play. But with his continued dirty play and blatent cheap shots, he deserves a lot more than a 1 game suspension for that last elbow to the head. he should be sat out for the rest of the playoffs and a good portion of the 2008 regualr season, so he can think about what he did.

I don't think he is even close to earning the crown of cheap-shot artist in the league... not even close. If McDonald didn't duck out of the hit, i really don't think it would have been a head shot, it would have been charging thats for sure, but not a head-shot.

As far as Pronger, i totally agree with you. I have watched him since i was 5 or so, back home and he always stood out on the ice for how gifted and physical he was out there. Now he is just a goon, who is a great example of why the league has to crackdown more on players. This guy is a 7 TIME offender and he only gets 1 GAME?! What a joke, i don't care if its the Cup finals, what stops this guy from continuing to go for the heads of his opponents?

[hogannut]

SUsupend him for 20 games....that is a start anyway. He's only hurting himself, and it is to bad because other than his goon actions he is one of the best in the game right now.

[laps]

I don't think that Alfie wanted to kick the puck into the net. His foot was moving, but he was being pushed by another player at the same time. I guess he is the only one who really knows.

As far as allowing kicking the puck into the net - I agree with you that it should be allowed.

In general, sports have too many rules, everything to simplify the game should be encouraged. Golf is a prime example of that(you can fix a ballmark but not a spike mark!).

My favourite example of all-time is the rule in the NFL where the defensive team cannot jump up before the ball is snapped for a field goal. This rule was introduced in the late 70s, before that the linebackers were jumping up and down to distract the kicker. Another bad football rule is the "ineligible receiver". If the quarterback wants to throw the ball to an overweight lineman - let him. Everyone on the field shold be eligible.

My apologies for the rambling. I am sure everyone has their own favourite silly rule.

[AnnikaFan]

for alfie's kick..

i was actually quite surprised that they called it a goal given how they've been calling kicked goals these playoffs and how it was initially ruled as no goal..

anyone remember the...er...NYR and Buffalo (i think) series? There was one incidence...(forgive me..i don't quite remember the exact details)...but a NYR goal was ruled off due to "kicking"...even tho replay clearly showed that there's absolutely no kicking motion at all (at least Alfie had a little kicking motion...even though it may not have contacted with the puck..it was hard to tell)....but the NYR player was pushed...and he was trying to stop...and his skates changed the puck's direction as he was trying to stop...ending up a goal....I believe it was intially ruled as a goal...but after lengthy video review...it was called no goal..

talk about inconsistency..

[laxgolf]

He's dirty, and if you've watched enough hockey the last few seasons, you'd see that Neil is just more than your typical nuisance and has been involved in more than one incident where his intentions were scrutinized across the league. He's a pest alright, but he's also the type of hockey player that will go after your head when you aren't expecting it.....he's slowly earning the crown of cheap-shot artist in my books. And the main reason why he hasn't been suspended is that he's been lucky, plain and simple.

Now as for Pronger, he's a putz....and it's a shame because when he first came into the league I enjoyed watching him play. But with his continued dirty play and blatent cheap shots, he deserves a lot more than a 1 game suspension for that last elbow to the head. he should be sat out for the rest of the playoffs and a good portion of the 2008 regualr season, so he can think about what he did.

If there's one thing that I do well, it's watch ALOT of hockey and my wife will attest to that :$ . Since I'm a Sens fan in the GTA, I susbscribe to the Centre Ice package and get all the NHL games that are broadcasted. Aside from all the Sens games I watch, I watch bits and pieces of games every pretty much every night. I'm a very active fantasy poolie where I have to manage an entire roster so I try and keep up as much as I can. The title of dirtiest player in the league sits squarely on the shoulders of Saku Koivu. That might surprise everyone, but his stickwork is absolutely brutal.

Chris Neil doesn't go head hunting. I've seen 90+% of the games he's played in the NHL, and can say that with certainty. Given that he's a leader in hits, it's a given that a few will be high but that's not how he plays. He's laid some guys out with questionable (but completely legal) hits, but rarely does he get his arms and elbows up into anyone's head. You mention his intentions, but again, Chris Neil is a guy whose job depends on making the hits and getting involved physically. If he doesn't make that hit on Chris Drury (or others), he's not doing his job. Timing is everything. His intent is to slow down the opposing team, which he does well. He knew full well who he was lining up when he hit Drury, and also knew that the Sens would have to beat