Mon 5 May 2008
Soo… the Conference Finals are upon us.
Why the lack of enthusiasm, you ask? Maybe it has something to do with my beloved Devils completely eating it during their series with the Rangers. Or perhaps it has something to do with the increasingly lackluster contests or even my inability to handle another second of John Forslund’s untamed defamation of the Engli
sh language night in and night out on VERSUS. However, amidst all the “maybe’s“, there is a certainty — the fact that I woke up this morning to find that the ‘08 Final Four consist of the four teams I despise the most in all the Ligue Nationale de Hockey. And I cried.
The thought that one of Dallas, Detroit, Pittsburgh, or Philadelphia will be parading around next month with Lord Stanley’s mug has me seriously considering dousing myself in kerosene and running naked into the next burning building I come across.
Why does this simple fact of life have me so up in arms? To be honest, I don’t know. But that’s alright, we hockey fans don’t have to backup our statements with rational thought and supporting factual research. All ya need to know is that the playoffs have been dead to me this year, and that has me very upset.
April usually brings with it a wild excitement as the NHL’s second season gets underway, but this year is missing the intensity and ferocious competition that makes the playoffs THE PLAYOFFS. It’s my theory that the wussification of the game is finally starting to take it’s toll. If that theory holds its own in the lab, then it seems to me that we’ve sacrificed exciting playoff battles and gained a skills competition used to decide the outcome of regular season games.
Jussttttt peachy.
So, um, could someone wake me up on or around July 1st? I’m sure I’ll have a mouthful of nails when it comes to Lou Lamoriello and the free agent market.
May 5th, 2008 at 7:07 pm
I have to disagree; the games this year have been just as exciting and intense. Detroit didn’t let up as they dropped 8 on Colorado (and dropped the Avs on their proverbial head); the Dallas-San Jose series was close in all of it’s games; Philadelphia beat up on a tired Montreal team; and Pittsburgh needed OT to put NY away.
May 5th, 2008 at 8:20 pm
I don’t know, John, I just don’t see the lustre in this year’s tourney.
I’ll give you Dallas/San Jose, but Detroit dropping 8 on Colorado was a bit overkill, definitely thought the Avs would come out with at least SOME desperation in an elimination game. Pitt/NY didn’t do much for me and Montreal laid down and died at the hands of Philly.
I’m glad someone is enjoying them though, that must be doing SOMETHING for the ratings ;).
May 5th, 2008 at 8:44 pm
I’m with you on the good ship GodIHateTheseTeams. When Philly…PHILLY…is turning into my favorite…(PHILLY!), there’s something wrong.
PHILLY, for fucks sake!
I think it’s what I currently refer to as the Jim Dowd Factor (JDF)…Philly is the only team remaining with a Jim Dowd, so therefore I’m less heartstruck to see them win.
There’s also a Brian Rafalski Factor (BRF), but it’s not as strong as the JDF.
…PHILLY.
Of course, every team I have pulled for at any time in any playoffs in 2009 (NFL, NHL, AHL, ECHL, NBA to a lesser extent) has up and died. So now that Philly (PHILLY! They of the 5 billion games lost to suspension!) are the team I’m kinda sorta reluctantly pulling for, they’re probably toast.
…
Philly.
I hate you, 2008.
May 5th, 2008 at 8:45 pm
2008 is the year I was referencing in the previous tirade, naturally. Not so much 2009. Typing in the dark here.
…Philly.
:shakes head and walks away:
May 5th, 2008 at 9:30 pm
I don’t get why anyone hates Dallas? I can understand Detroit and Pittsburgh but I don’t really have anything against them either. I don’t like Philly that much but Biron’s a feel-good story at least.
May 5th, 2008 at 9:49 pm
Has - Mine’s a personal hatred of Dallas. I’ve a friend who’s boyfriend us a Dallas fan, and also a Rangers fan.
So you can see why I don’t like seeing Dallas succeed.
May 6th, 2008 at 8:26 am
Maybe I’m strange, but I’m enjoying these playoffs just like any other. I mean, it sucks the Devils got eliminated in the 1st (and by the RANGERS) and I was absolutely devastated for a few days, but after I got over it I started enjoying watching the rest of the games.
Oh, and I can’t really understand how a Devils fan can hate Detroit, Dallas or even Pittsburgh more than Philly. Rangers and Fyers are our #1 enemies, after all. Right now I only care about the Flyers losing, that’s all I’m asking for. And may the best team win the Cup (Dallas would be cool, but I won’t cry if they lose).
Oh, and when it comes to the level of play, I don’t find it any worse. Last year’s playoffs sucked totally IMO, only one 7-game series, zero excitement. But this year we’ve already had some pretty good games and tight series. I think you’re being too negative, Joe.
May 6th, 2008 at 11:17 am
What kind of Hockey fans are you? Yea, NJ is out but its still Hockey.. I am very disappointed in this site at the moment.
May 6th, 2008 at 11:23 am
Goon - school and work commitments are kicking all of our collective asses, I believe. Luckily, finals are this week. We’ll have some semblance of normalcy soon, I hope.
May 6th, 2008 at 12:23 pm
Thing is, the first round of the playoffs was plenty exciting aside from our series (three Game 7’s and three six-game series), while the second round was a total dud. The Dallas-SJ games were exciting, particularly the legendary Game 6 but having a series be 3-0 took away the juice until Game 6.
May 6th, 2008 at 1:34 pm
Malkin is a beast. He is on the way to the Conn Smyth and Pittsburgh is on their way to the CUP. I cannot see Philly’s defense stopping these guys. The Malone/Malkin/Sykora line reminds me of the Devs “A” line circa 2000-2001 playoffs. They are unstoppable. Not to mention a second line center named Sidney. The Flyers will take to many penalties and the Pens will capitalize. In the west, that hit Brendan Morrow leveled the Shark with reminded me of Scott Stevens. IF Dallas can stop “the Mule”, I think they can take Detroit. Lets face it, the AVS played like dogs. Dallas will be a much different opponent than Colorodo. It is Turco’s time to rise. In the end, I am not sure Malkin can be stopped.
May 7th, 2008 at 1:45 pm
1) Couldn’t agree more with your “wussification of the game “assessment. In the good old days you’d always see several scraps/intense hockey as teams fight (literally) for their playoff lives
2) The skill level has undoubtedly increased with the flood of Europeans, but so has the intensity level waned as a result. A jingoistic attitude? Perhaps, but its still true!
May 7th, 2008 at 5:01 pm
Can we just dismiss the season as crap and move onto greener pastures, i.e. will the Devils sign anyone relevant in the offseason to make up for the players lost in free agency and retirement over the past few seasons?
I don’t think the crop is all that great, but this team certainly could use another centerman and some help on the blue line.
May 8th, 2008 at 5:00 pm
Seems like it’s just been one of those seasons…too preditable. Let’s Go Redwings?