NHL Final Series Starts Tonight. 8pm ET.

CableDude · Post by **CableDude** » Sat Jun 10, 2006 8:45 am

Think Edmonton is going down 3-0 after tonight?

minir · Post by **minir** » Sat Jun 10, 2006 9:53 am

CableDude wrote:Think Edmonton is going down 3-0 after tonight?

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Hi CableDude

If Edmonton is going to show what got them there it will be tonight.

They are too good a Team to fold 4 straight, Goalie or no. They have Home Ice advantage and a tremendous crowd behind them. I sense an Oilers Victory tonight.

That is to be taken with a grain of salt if they continue their selfish and undisciplined play and the resulting penalties that inevitably follow.

Anyhow it beats Oprah.

Have a good one.

minir

CableDude · Post by **CableDude** » Sat Jun 10, 2006 12:32 pm

I think it will be a close game.

Ken · Post by **Ken** » Sat Jun 10, 2006 3:07 pm

minir wrote:--

Hi CableDude

If Edmonton is going to show what got them there it will be tonight.

They are too good a Team to fold 4 straight, Goalie or no. They have Home Ice advantage and a tremendous crowd behind them. I sense an Oilers Victory tonight.

That is to be taken with a grain of salt if they continue their selfish and undisciplined play and the resulting penalties that inevitably follow.

Anyhow it beats Oprah.

Have a good one.

minir

Oprah got beat?? With what, an ugly stick!

Hoping for a better game, but still pulling for Carolina!

minir · Post by **minir** » Sat Jun 10, 2006 3:10 pm

Hi CableDude & Ken

CableDude
Could well be CableDude.

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Ken

Oprah got beat?? With what, an ugly stick!

Now that i'd definitely pay to see.

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Thanks fellas

minir

Rivas · Post by **Rivas** » Sat Jun 10, 2006 4:30 pm

what time its gonna start 8 pm GST ?

Ahren · Post by **Ahren** » Sat Jun 10, 2006 10:49 pm

Man that was a good game. Markkinen played very well.
The Oils could have won by ten if it wasn't for Ward.

Its a series now. Way to go!

minir · Post by **minir** » Sat Jun 10, 2006 10:57 pm

A real squeaker Jarngrimr

Strong Goaltending kept the Oil in the Game.

minir

minir · Post by **minir** » Mon Jun 12, 2006 7:06 pm

Should be a good one again tonight at 8pm ET.

Going to stick my skate in my big mouth and say the Canes take it tonight???

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minir

Rivas · Post by **Rivas** » Mon Jun 12, 2006 10:56 pm

we lost again

YARDofSTUF · Post by **YARDofSTUF** » Mon Jun 12, 2006 10:59 pm

So who is leading whats left?

minir · Post by **minir** » Mon Jun 12, 2006 11:11 pm

YARDofSTUF wrote:So who is leading whats left?

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Canes leading 3 to 1 in a best of 7 Series. They go back to Raleigh for the next game and it should end their i would think.

The Canes are simply stronger imho and have excellent Goaltending, not to say that Edmonton is not getting it as well, but since the injury not spectacular goaltending.

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minir

CoolJ · Post by **CoolJ** » Tue Jun 13, 2006 2:21 am

This just makes it hurt even more. If Buffalo took game 7, I think the cup was ours.

minir · Post by **minir** » Tue Jun 13, 2006 5:24 am

CoolJ wrote:This just makes it hurt even more. If Buffalo took game 7, I think the cup was ours.

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Fate CoolJ, Fate!

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minir

cho · Post by **cho** » Tue Jun 13, 2006 2:00 pm

Edminton has nothing to be ashamed of etiher. They are the 8th seated team in the playoffs. That means they had to go through all the tougher teams to get where they did. Not only that but they were stuck in the tougher conference and the closest division. They have been the underdog since day 1 of the playoffs and even for most the season since most people wrote them off back in Jan.

The Canes came in sitting in second spot on the East and were the 4th team over all in the entire NHL this season. They were definitely a cup contender from the get go.

It is great to see such a low ranking team prove to be a handle for such a higher ranking team. There has only been one game where the Canes dominated and that was game 2. All the rest have been so close they could have gone either way.

YARDofSTUF · Post by **YARDofSTUF** » Tue Jun 13, 2006 2:33 pm

*cho* wrote:Edminton has nothing to be ashamed of etiher. They are the 8th seated team in the playoffs. That means they had to go through all the tougher teams to get where they did. Not only that but they were stuck in the tougher conference and the closest division. They have been the underdog since day 1 of the playoffs and even for most the season since most people wrote them off back in Jan.

The Canes came in sitting in second spot on the East and were the 4th team over all in the entire NHL this season. They were definitely a cup contender from the get go.

It is great to see such a low ranking team prove to be a handle for such a higher ranking team. There has only been one game where the Canes dominated and that was game 2. All the rest have been so close they could have gone either way.

If Edminton lets the canes win they should hang themselves!

They better pull together.

minir · Post by **minir** » Tue Jun 13, 2006 4:11 pm

Hi *cho* & YARDofSTUF

*cho*
Acquisitions had a lot to do with their emergence imho *cho*. As always Goaltending Wins Stanley Cups. They had it and lost it and it cost them a Game. That was too much of a loss to overcome and by the time they got their confidence back it was too late. They also appeared tired to me and it shows in the 3rd periods imho.

Yes they did well and should be proud of their accomplishments.

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YARDofSTUF
To have to Win 3 straight is an impossible task YARDofSTUF imho. Mistakes in play cost the Oilers and misfortune was the end for them. They are now resorting to the Trap ala Detroit Series. The very thing the NHL is trying to rid themselves of. Shame really, but a good run nonetheless.

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regards

minir

minir · Post by **minir** » Wed Jun 14, 2006 3:28 pm

Well this could be the End of the Season and the Cup presented tonight.

Hard to predict as the Oilers have nothing to lose and should come out as loose as a Goose and may just catch the Canes tonight.

The Canes on the other hand know they can do it tonight and will be fired up.

Tonight's a Game of Wills. Who wants it more and are willing to do whatever it takes to get the almighty Cup and have their Name etched on the Cup and a Ring for their finger and be known forever as Stanley Cup Champions. Something no one can take away.

Wherever life leads them This will put them above the norm. A place of Honour in the history of Sport.

Putting my ass in my hand once more...

The Carolina Hurricanes will be the New Stanley Cup Winners tonight.

Hopefully lessons will have been learned from this Season and the Rules and Officiating will be revised for next Season to make it a better Game to follow.

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regards

minir

Ahren · Post by **Ahren** » Wed Jun 14, 2006 11:11 pm

Pisani Short-Handed...Unbelievable!!!

See you in Edmonton!

minir · Post by **minir** » Wed Jun 14, 2006 11:14 pm

Oilers surprise again. Back to Edmonton for Game 6.

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minir

YARDofSTUF · Post by **YARDofSTUF** » Wed Jun 14, 2006 11:15 pm

Good, they only need to win 2 more

Randy · Post by **Randy** » Wed Jun 14, 2006 11:19 pm

Jarngrimr wrote:Pisani Short-Handed...Unbelievable!!!

See you in Edmonton!

awesome!!

CoolJ · Post by **CoolJ** » Thu Jun 15, 2006 12:59 am

Go Edmonton!

CableDude · Post by **CableDude** » Thu Jun 15, 2006 6:42 pm

Good game last night!

Rivas · Post by **Rivas** » Thu Jun 15, 2006 11:43 pm

i can cap saturday night game and post it somewhere so you guys can watch.
no commercials,pure game play,just let me know if you want it in HIGH RESOLUTION HDTV or just HDTV.

Jamie_R · Post by **Jamie_R** » Fri Jun 16, 2006 7:18 am

Go Hurricanes !!!

(c'mon ... I'm from NC - who'd ya think I was gonna pull for?

)

9mmprincess · Post by **9mmprincess** » Fri Jun 16, 2006 8:20 am

yes! Go Canes!

minir · Post by **minir** » Sat Jun 17, 2006 6:45 am

Could be the Last Game Tonight???

8pm ET.

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Sad but True
=============

NBC's Jay Leno, on the downside of the World Cup overlapping the Stanley Cup final: "Americans are so confused, we don't know what sport to ignore."
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Way to go Gary.

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PLAYING IN THE DARK
===

The National Hockey League may have fixed what its selling.

These NHL playoffs have provided some of the most exciting hockey since Wayne Gretzky stopped playing NHL goalies like puppets on a string.

Too bad nobody outside Canada and its newly adopted province of Carolina gives a hoot 'n' holler. A road hockey game in Scarborough gets more looks than the NHL does on the OLN.

Game 1 on the Outdoor Life Network was outdrawn by women's college softball. In the face of this, NHL commissioner Gary Bettman says he's pleased with the league's TV plan. The previous time we saw this kind of denial in the face of adversity the Iraqi defence minister was denying that there were American troops in Baghdad just as they were, ahhh, lighting his pants on fire.

And, don't think it can't get worse. It already has. In Game 2, the OLN ratings came in a loser behind an ESPN baseball game that was rained out. In other words, in the U.S., given hockey, most people would rather watch grass grow.

Game 3, being on NBC was supposed to be better -- until its Los Angeles affiliate pre-empted the game to show reruns of I Love Lucy.

Bettman has to get the NHL back on a network (preferably sports-friendly ESPN) even if the league has to pay to do it. Only then can it win back fans.

Many Canadians say they don't care if the sport isn't appreciated in the U.S. Well, better start caring. Fact is, the league and its players, need the U.S. market. Without that, all you've got left is the CFL with pucks.

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minir

CableDude · Post by **CableDude** » Sat Jun 17, 2006 9:14 am

Should be good tonight. No Doug Weight for Carolina.

minir · Post by **minir** » Sat Jun 17, 2006 11:46 am

Looks like he's out & will be missed CableDude.

Should be a good one and i wouldn't be surprised to see a bit of a Blowout tonight.

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minir

YARDofSTUF · Post by **YARDofSTUF** » Sat Jun 17, 2006 2:13 pm

minir wrote:Could be the Last Game Tonight???

8pm ET.

---

Sad but True
=============

NBC's Jay Leno, on the downside of the World Cup overlapping the Stanley Cup final: "Americans are so confused, we don't know what sport to ignore."
---

Way to go Gary.
---

PLAYING IN THE DARK
===

The National Hockey League may have fixed what its selling.

These NHL playoffs have provided some of the most exciting hockey since Wayne Gretzky stopped playing NHL goalies like puppets on a string.

Too bad nobody outside Canada and its newly adopted province of Carolina gives a hoot 'n' holler. A road hockey game in Scarborough gets more looks than the NHL does on the OLN.

Game 1 on the Outdoor Life Network was outdrawn by women's college softball. In the face of this, NHL commissioner Gary Bettman says he's pleased with the league's TV plan. The previous time we saw this kind of denial in the face of adversity the Iraqi defence minister was denying that there were American troops in Baghdad just as they were, ahhh, lighting his pants on fire.

And, don't think it can't get worse. It already has. In Game 2, the OLN ratings came in a loser behind an ESPN baseball game that was rained out. In other words, in the U.S., given hockey, most people would rather watch grass grow.

Game 3, being on NBC was supposed to be better -- until its Los Angeles affiliate pre-empted the game to show reruns of I Love Lucy.

Bettman has to get the NHL back on a network (preferably sports-friendly ESPN) even if the league has to pay to do it. Only then can it win back fans.

Many Canadians say they don't care if the sport isn't appreciated in the U.S. Well, better start caring. Fact is, the league and its players, need the U.S. market. Without that, all you've got left is the CFL with pucks.

--

minir

I bet the world cup gets great ratings in the US actually.

If the NHL wants the spotlight why dont the players go on any shows to promote it?

The easiest way to get the spotlight in the US, CREATE CONTROVERSY. its that simple, Bettman needs to get some guy tested positive for drugs, have him go crazy at a press conference and even stage is so that he talks about how bad bettman is. I would garantee the ratings would tripple.

Rivas · Post by **Rivas** » Sat Jun 17, 2006 2:22 pm

YARDofSTUF wrote:I bet the world cup gets great ratings in the US actually.

If the NHL wants the spotlight why dont the players go on any shows to promote it?

The easiest way to get the spotlight in the US, CREATE CONTROVERSY. its that simple, Bettman needs to get some guy tested positive for drugs, have him go crazy at a press conference and even stage is so that he talks about how bad bettman is. I would garantee the ratings would tripple.

minir · Post by **minir** » Sat Jun 17, 2006 2:51 pm

Hi YARDofSTUF & rivas

The Talk Shows have tried to do their bit over the years but Hockey simply doesn't draw the interest in the US other than when its a US Team that does well in the Olympics for example.

Doesn't seem to matter whats done it doesn't interest the vast majority of the American audience. The Europeans on the other hand are great Hockey Fans. It simply has never caught on in the US. Blame it on many things..poor TV coverage, lousy announcing, very bad Camera work and a total lack of understanding about the finer points of the Game.

Hockey like Baseball seems simple enough but one can spend a lifetime and never grasp all the little intricacies of the Game.

Soccer is coming on and will continue to do so as more and more Families are moving away (In Canada) from Hockey due to the costs involved. Hundreds of Dollars needed for equipment, Ice time and the running to different Towns for Games etc.

Soccer is succeeding for the exact opposite reasons. Low cost, minimal equipment etc. Families here are finding it much cheaper to enroll their Kids in Soccer and over time it will become a major sport here imho. Also Immigration has an enormous impact on Soccer's popularity as well. Toronto for example is alive with Cup fever at the moment in the ethnic neighborhoods.

I fear Hockey (the NHL) is in serious trouble in the USA and over time will simply die out in many areas. A shame really but it was never meant to be the size they have tried to grow it too.

The Talent pool has been diminished by the demand and therefore the on ice product of most Teams is lacking. The Original Six was filled with only the best of the best. now you have a Star forward or 2 and a Goalie plus a talented Defenceman the rest are fill at low wages. Not the recipe to put the best product on the ice imho.

Bettman overreached and it has cost a great deal imho.

Thanks Fellas.

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regards

minir

YARDofSTUF · Post by **YARDofSTUF** » Sat Jun 17, 2006 3:06 pm

Not talk shows, sports shows, radio morning shows. They just need something/anythign to talk about.

minir · Post by **minir** » Sat Jun 17, 2006 3:31 pm

YARDofSTUF wrote:Not talk shows, sports shows, radio morning shows. They just need something/anythign to talk about.

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YARDofSTUF
I thought "Talk Shows" covered the whole gambit and that is what i was referring to when i stated Talk Shows.

We have them big time here in Canada and they are very popular both on Radio and TV. One really has no idea how big Hockey is till you've lived in Toronto for example or Montreal as another.

For 12 months of the year the Papers, TV, Radio and Barbershops throughout the Country bristle with conversations related to hockey. Whose going to be traded, Whats the News on so and so' injury, etc.

US and Euro Players are simply dumbfounded when first exposed to the Media scrutiny here. It is like nowhere else. Why? Because we are interested. It is a National Game played by most everyone growing up and we understand the Game.

The US Media are more market driven and given a choice of Air Jordan or Wayne Gretzky appearing on whatever medium, they go with the one they know will draw the largest audience.

Can't blame them as they are there to make money, but it doesn't make it any easier.

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regards

minir

YARDofSTUF · Post by **YARDofSTUF** » Sat Jun 17, 2006 3:46 pm

Nah, talk shows = jerry springer to me

With all the shows theres plenty of chances for them to get on the TV here.

The thing is with baseball you have steriod and drug usage talks, basketball has had some court cases and the support from MTV and "urban" crowds, football has the large population of the overweight males and beer lovers, plus the players have a lot of attitude and its very aggresive.

Hockey needs to stir up the talk of the sport, allow more hitting. ESPN would jump at airing a press conference or interview about a player attackign teh league, or be happy to show clips of major checking.

minir · Post by **minir** » Sat Jun 17, 2006 4:05 pm

Nah, talk shows = jerry springer to me

If Hockey has to go that low then i hope the League simply folds first.

ESPN and the rest have already given it a go but Market Share is what drives these Networks and the Shows on them.

If you can't draw and audience you can't Sell your Advertising or at the least you can't Sell your Advertising for big money.

No Advertising, no high paid Hosts etc. A vicious circle and until Hockey becomes a major Sport it is of no interest to them to promote it.

The Lockout certainly didn't help and the inept handling of ESPN & NBC etc over the years is also to blame.

Hockey is one of the most skilled and exciting Sports there are, bar none but many things have been eating into its popularity over Batman's reign unfortunately.

A perfect example was the Owner of the Ottawa Senators bumped a traditional Saturday Night Game to a Fri. so they could present Dora the Explora in its place. This during the final run for the money no less and in Canada. Tells you something about the Leadership Bettman has.

That should never have even been a consideration let alone a fact without the harshest of penalties from Head Office. But Numb Nuts did nothing.

There are plenty of Fights and highlights shown on Canadian Talk Shows YoS daily, but i fear a Hockey Player could appear naked on the Tonight Show and they Ratings wouldn't move and inch in the USA.

Too many other Sports competing for the consumers dollar. Baseball, Basketball, Football, Car Racing, Golf, etc. and Hockey simply doesn't come up on the radar there.

Game 3, being on NBC was supposed to be better -- until its Los Angeles affiliate pre-empted the game to show reruns of I Love Lucy

What more can be said.

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regards

minir

Jamie_R · Post by **Jamie_R** » Sat Jun 17, 2006 8:14 pm

Good Luck to my canadian friends! Here we go!!!

RoscoPColtrane · Post by **RoscoPColtrane** » Sat Jun 17, 2006 10:04 pm

amazing game six 2nd period by the oilers! They are blocking EVERYTHING that the canes are tossing there way. I think the oilers goalie has only stopped like 4 goals so far! crazy!

as far as soccer versus hockey. i would watch hockey any day of the week. LIke was stated above, i don't think people understand the game enough to enjoy it..

a couple years back they were explaining the rules and why penalties were called and such during the breaks in play. I think they need to do that again. Don't know why they stopped....

You would think american's would love this sport! Non-stop action!

I tried to watch a soccer game the other day and almost fell asleep. that field is FRIGGIN HUGE! and i think only one shot on goal in like the 15 minutes i was watching?! Seemed pretty boring, plus those players dive worse than in the NBA! if you act hurt, you better friggin be hurt!

LONG LIVE HOCKEY!

cho · Post by **cho** » Sat Jun 17, 2006 10:11 pm

Well Oilers are up 2-0 going into the 3rd...but all it takes is less than 30 seconds for 2 goals...so nothing is set in stone yet.