NHL 2008-09 regular season thread!

[Doc Holliday]

Bruins/Habs playoff schedule

Thursday, April 16 at Boston, 7:00 p.m. CBC, RDS
Saturday, April 18 at Boston, 8:00 p.m. VERSUS, CBC, RDS
Monday, April 20 at Montreal, 7:00 p.m. CBC, RDS
Wednesday, April 22 at Montreal, 7:00 p.m. CBC, RDS
*Saturday, April 25 at Boston, 7:00 p.m. CBC, RDS
*Monday, April 27 at Montreal, TBD CBC, RDS
*Wednesday, April 29 at Boston, TBD CBC, RDS

*if necessary

 

[Doc Holliday]

So what exactly is your prediction then? To qualify as an annihilation that would mean 4 games with a one sided score. Are you ready to back that up with a bet?

The Bruins will demolish the Habs in every aspect, especially in manhandling them. It'll be a rough series & the Bruins won't lose a single fight. They'll beat the Habs in 5 games or less.

 

[Techman]

The Bruins will demolish the Habs in every aspect, especially in manhandling them. It'll be a rough series & the Bruins won't lose a single fight. They'll beat the Habs in 5 games or less.

So that must mean at least a three goal spread in each win, not including empty net goals to qualify as 'demolish'? Willing to make a bet on those terms?

As far as fights are concerned...there isn't a player on the Bruins that has the balls to step up to fight Laraque and they prefer to take on the Habs players either two against one, when the Hab is being held by an official or jump them from behind. They may be the big bad Bruins but they sure aren't the big brave Bruins.

I won't make any predictions until after the first game.

 

[Doc Holliday]

As far as fights are concerned...there isn't a player on the Bruins that has the balls to step up to fight Laraque .....

Sorry to burst your bubble Techie, but on the same night Milan Lucic nearly committed homicide on Mike Komisarek, Sean Thornton fought George Laracque to a draw (however, many believe Thornton got the decision). Thornton had acutally put Laracque down early in the fight. It wasn't the first time that they fought. They fought one another when Laracque played for Edmonton & Thornton for Chicago.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UU_ir-veRp4&feature=related

Different view of the start of the fight:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OhA1VFeX82E&feature=related

Zdeno Chara also fought Laracque when George played for Pittsburgh....twice in the same game! I gave a slight edge to Chara in the 1st one on a bodyslam. The 2nd was even & not much action:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W4Cegfj7wJE&feature=related

 

[Doc Holliday]

Milan Lucic destroys Mike Komisarek !!!

Mike Komisarek hasn't been the same player since his mugging at the hands of Milan Lucic.

Warning: This fight isn't for the faint of heart if you're a Habs fan. But it's a great adrenaline boost if you're a Bruins fan:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gjZbNtzsQFY

 

[Techman]

Sorry to burst your bubble Techie, but on the same night Milan Lucic nearly committed homicide on Mike Komisarek, Sean Thornton fought George Laracque to a draw. Thornton had acutally put Laracque down early in the fight. It wasn't the first time that they fought. They fought one another when Laracque played for Edmonton & Thornton for Chicago.

Sorry Doc. I'm talking about last week's game when Laracque wasn't even in the lineup and the Bruins took advantage of the officials seeming refusal to call major penalties against anyone or to give a game misconduct when Lucic pulled a move worthy of Todd Bertuzzi by attacking from behind.

I just hope that the officials in the playoffs call what has to be called on both sides and let the teams play hockey.

 

[Doc Holliday]

Sorry Doc. I'm talking about last week's game when Laracque wasn't even in the lineup......

That's NOT what you had posted. Let me refresh your memory:

"As far as fights are concerned...there isn't a player on the Bruins that has the balls to step up to fight Laraque...."-----Techman

I proved you different. None of the Bruins are afraid of the big slow goon who can barely skate & can't play hockey!

 

[Techman]

We'll see. The last time Laracque faced the Bruins, they avoided him all night. Let's see what happens in the first game on Thursday.

By the way...I'm still waiting for your definition of 'annihilate' and 'demolish'. How many goals do the Bruins have to win by for the game to qualify?

 

[Doc Holliday]

We'll see. The last time Laracque faced the Bruins, they avoided him all night. Let's see what happens in the first game on Thursday.

The Bruins are better off avoiding Laraque. This way, they'll have him on the ice more often, which is to their great advantage. Laraque is too slow & has no hockey whatsoever & will be a detriment to his team whenever he's on the ice, unless he can coax one of the Bruins into fighting with him & thus making the Bruins short of an excellent player (e.g. Chara or Lucic) for at least 5 minutes or more. Fighting Thornton again might be an even matchup, but i doubt Laraque wants to fight him again since he knows Thornton (and Chara) is a player that can beat him on a given night, which would seriously deflate his own team. What i'm saying is, Thornton has nothing to lose in fighting Laraque, since everyone expects Laraque to win the fight. Laraque has everything to lose.

I also have a feeling that Laraque won't dress for most of the games. If he plays, who do you sit? The Habs cannot expect to win if they fall into the Bruins trap & play roundhouse hockey. The only way they can beat the Bruins is with speed, skill & strong goaltending. Playing Laraque on a regular basis will only be playing into the Bruins' hands. That's what the Bruins want, and they're much better than Mtl in playing that type of game.

 

[Techman]

Well it's looking that George will be dressed for at least the first game according to the sports broadcast this evening. I agree that it would not be to the Bruins' advantage to fight Laracque for exactly the reasons you mentioned. He isn't exactly the equal of any Bruins player in hockey sense.

 

[lgna69xxx]

Yea, Lucic is a amazing 2 way hockey player, meaning a good player and a great fighter, he and big george ever fought? even tho i hate bosDONE, my money is on Milan....... with that said, i still wanna see the Habs beat the bruins!

Mike Komisarek hasn't been the same player since his mugging at the hands of Milan Lucic.

Warning: This fight isn't for the faint of heart if you're a Habs fan. But it's a great adrenaline boost if you're a Bruins fan:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gjZbNtzsQFY

 

[JustBob]

The Big Bad Bruins will totally anihilate the talent-challenged Habs!!

Considering almost everyone of Doc's "predictions" ends up being wrong, this is pretty much a guarantee that the Habs will win the series.

 

[lgna69xxx]

no offense Doc, but i was thinking the same thing , besides it would be nice to see a gohabsgo post again before October

Considering almost everyone of Doc's "predictions" ends up being wrong, this is pretty much a guarantee that the Habs will win the series.

 

[Doc Holliday]

Considering almost everyone of Doc's "predictions" ends up being wrong, this is pretty much a guarantee that the Habs will win the series.

You have me mixed up with Joe T !!!

 

[SexyNadya]

Hello Igna !!!!

Well I will !!

In the East :

The Habs Vs Boston ( Boston in 5 )
The Caps Vs N.Y Rangers ( Caps in 7 )
Jersey Vs.The Canes ( Canes in 5 )
Pens Vs. Philli ... This one will be outstanding ( Philli in 7 )

Kisses xxxXXXxxx

no offense Doc, but i was thinking the same thing , besides it would be nice to see a gohabsgo post again before October

 

[lgna69xxx]

i like your predictions, but i think caps will win it quicker than 7 tho, and i think NJ will beat the canes

Well I will !!

In the East :

The Habs Vs Boston ( Boston in 5 )
The Caps Vs N.Y Rangers ( Caps in 7 )
Jersey Vs.The Canes ( Canes in 5 )
Pens Vs. Philli ... This one will be oustanding ( Philli in 7 )

Kisses xxxXXXxxx

 

[jackd1959]

As a Flyer season ticket holder for a number of years now this Flyers team is an enigma to me. Some games they look awesome and others they look horrible. I'm not a big fan of the Jones/Alberts defense pairing as they seem to give away a lot of pucks... I like the fact that I don't hae to worry about the CAP HIT in the playoffs so no moe $100 rentals. Having Sbisa back should help if Parent can't play. Bringing up Ross as their forth line center and moving Powe to the wing will shore up their third line with Briere and Giroux. Powe is a big (5'11" 212 lbs) and very mobile center who also plays wing and likes to hit. He's much faster than Asham and should work well on this line. Limiting Carcillo's ice time is a plus as it will reduce the exposure to stupid penalties...I can only figure the Upshall trade was to free up CAP $$.

In any case, I have no idea which Flyer team will show up but I do know that they remember last year very well and getting a shot at Pittsburgh in round 1 while they're still healthy should make this series a fun one to watch. The season series was 2-4 PENS but one of the PENS wins was a SO and another was a PENS power play OT that gave them the win. They were really 2-2-2 with he teams evenly splitting the home and away both going 1-1-1 in the others building.

I'll give the edge to this series to Philly because I think the Flyers scoring depth will be difficult for Pittsburgh to match...Briere is healthy again and has really started to gell along side Giroux and the addition of Powe makes this a very fast and creative line that will be difficult for Pittsburgh to match up against. I also think the Flyers top 4 defensemen can limit the PENS scoring chances... staying out of the penalty box (refer to Carcillo comment) and GOOD line changes and I feel the Flyers could prove to have too much depth. Then of course it comes down to which goalie shows up for both teams... Fluery and Biron have been fantastic and utterly human all in the same week throughout this season...

My picks:

Pens Vs. Philly (Philly in 6 )

The Habs Vs Boston ( Boston in 6 ) - I think the HABS will give the B's a bit of a run but I don't know if Price is good enough to keep them in it

The Caps Vs N.Y Rangers ( Caps in 6 maybe 7) Lunquist stole two games from the Flyers this past week, if he gets under the young CAPS teams skin this could go either way. It will also be interesting to see what the officials let Avery gets away with. The CAPS have been known to take stupid penalties when frustrated.

Jersey Vs.The Canes ( Canes in 6 ) I'm a huge hockey fan but I don't think I'll be able to stay awake for this series...these are two of the most boring hockey teams I've ever seen.

 

[Doc Holliday]

Yea, Lucic is a amazing 2 way hockey player, meaning a good player and a great fighter......

I absolutely love the guy!!

Want to know who he reminds me of? Wendel Clark!!!

Wendel is my favorite hockey player ever!!!!

 

[Doc Holliday]

Well I will !!

In the East :

The Habs Vs Boston ( Boston in 5 )
The Caps Vs N.Y Rangers ( Caps in 7 )
Jersey Vs.The Canes ( Canes in 5 )
Pens Vs. Philli ... This one will be outstanding ( Philli in 7 )

Nads??? You're going against your Habs?? What the ?????

Okay, that's the only prediction i agree with. My picks:

Boston (in 5)
Rangers (in 6)
Canes (in 6)
Pens (in 7)

 

[G1GBallday]

1) Habs in 6 - Have to admit I'm going strictly by loyalty. You're either a fan or not.

2) Caps in 5 - Rangers are the shittiest and most overrated team in the playoffs and Drury the most overpaid player in the league is hurt.

3) Flyers in 7 - The biggest idiot in hockey Mike Milbury says Pittsburgh in 5 so you know they're gonna lose.

4) Jersey in 7 - Tough call, a short series will go to Carolina but the longer it goes, the Devils experience will come out on top.