*Official* 2008 NHL Stanley Cup Playoff Thread

[Neo]

jebus... yeah we do...

Pfft no way you guys deserve it more than Buffalonians. We're more cursed than anybody, and get screwed more often than anybody.

[CaptainCaveMan]

2 more wins apiece until the wings and pens are in the finals!

[BULLET_WS6]

Here's a good hockey fight...dope.........

i think it was wayyyy better when turco tripped the guy... so intentional it wasnt even funny... wait... it was funny
but yeah i would like to see the stars win like oneee game against the red wings... unfortunately i dont see that happening

[dparsons1968]

2 more wins apiece until the wings and pens are in the finals!

Yes sir, 6 more wins and the cup is back in Pittsburgh.

Detroit is going to be tough...another great series.

[Spaz]

my flyers are shining with that philly curse!!!

[CaptainCaveMan]

Yes sir, 6 more wins and the cup is back in Pittsburgh.

[dparsons1968]

I guess you didn't agree with my statement?

That is cool...they both have to win two more just to get there...I will talk about the Cup finals if the Pens hold on to win the East.

[Spaz]

I guess you didn't agree with my statement?

That is cool...they both have to win two more just to get there...I will talk about the Cup finals if the Pens hold on to win the East.

yeah... fucking philly...

[ls1blackbeauty98]

my flyers are shining with that philly curse!!!

yea i wasnt to happy starting the series out in pitt, not good, not good....
hopefully comin home the boys will be better... lets hope! dont give up on them yet

[CaptainCaveMan]

Wings 1 win away from the finals!!!!!!!!!!

[dparsons1968]

Wings 1 win away from the finals!!!!!!!!!!

Wings played a very good game last night. Watched some of it while flipping between the Boston/Cleveland game.

Pens in Philly tonight. Big game for the Flyers. It would be great to go up 3-0 like Detroit...we need to end this quick...it is only going to get more physical and we can't go into a series with the Red Wings without everyone healthy.

[Spaz]

yea i wasnt to happy starting the series out in pitt, not good, not good....
hopefully comin home the boys will be better... lets hope! dont give up on them yet

Wings played a very good game last night. Watched some of it while flipping between the Boston/Cleveland game.

Pens in Philly tonight. Big game for the Flyers. It would be great to go up 3-0 like Detroit...we need to end this quick...it is only going to get more physical and we can't go into a series with the Red Wings without everyone healthy.

flyers haven't done this since what... 1977 or some shit...

[doberman 152]

i have a personal issue with the stars back when buffalo whent to the cup,I feel i was ripped off when brett (cockbag) hall's foot was in the crease and the puck went in. now back then the rule was no foot shall be in the crease
There will never be an explanation to this one that satisfies everyone. But at risk of setting off tempers among Dallas Stars and Buffalo Sabres fans, here goes:
You're talking about the goal scored in triple overtime of Game Six of the Stanley Cup Final, giving Dallas a 2-1 victory over Buffalo and delivering the Stars their first championship.

The first thing you need to know is that the rule that caused all the trouble no longer exists. At the time, players were not allowed in the goalie's crease unless the puck was already there. Here's how the rule was worded:

"Unless the puck is in the goal crease area, a player of the attacking side may not stand in the goal crease. If a player has entered the crease prior to the puck, and subsequently the puck should enter the net while such conditions prevail, the apparent goal shall not be allowed."

This rule was strictly enforced, using video review. Players carrying the puck were allowed to take it into the crease (as long as they didn't interfere with the goalie). But if any player on the attacking team arrived in the crease before the puck, it was no goal. This helped protect goalies, but too many goals were disallowed because players inadvertently had the toe of a skate in the crease before a teammate scored. It was a dumb, frustrating rule.

When Brett Hull scored his early morning Cup-winner in June, it looked like a classic case of no goal:

Hull shoots; Sabres goalie Dominik Hasek saves.
The rebound bounces outside the crease.
With his skate, Hull kicks the puck forward to his stick. But as he is kicking the puck, his left skate slides into the blue paint. If you freeze that moment, Hull is guilty. He's in the crease, the puck isn't.
With his left skate planted in the crease, Hull shoots again. This time he scores. The Stars celebrate, the Sabres freak out.
So how did the NHL justify the decision to let the goal stand? Here's what Bryan Lewis, NHL Supervisor of Officials, had to say:

"A puck that rebounds off the goalie, the goal post or an opposing player is not deemed to be a change of possession, and therefore Hull would be deemed to be in possession or control of the puck, allowed to shoot and score a goal even though the one foot would be in the crease in advance of the puck.

"Hull had possession and control of the puck. The rebound off the goalie does not change anything. It is his puck then to shoot and score albeit a foot may or may not be in the crease prior to."

"Did he or did he not have possession and control? Our view was yes, he did. He played the puck from his foot to his stick, shot and scored."

So in the NHL's view, the entire sequence - shot, rebound, kick, second shot - constitutes one instance of "possesion" by Brett Hull. As long as he and the puck are one, his presence in the crease is not illegal.

I'm afraid that's as clear as I can make it. It's all very murky. Throughout the season, goals very similar to Hull's had been disallowed. Considering all the evidence, I conclude that the league blew the call and then scrambled like hell to cover its ass.

So does that mean the Stars "stole" the Stanley Cup? Not at all. Officiating is not a science. Refereeing mistakes are part of the game. Argentina won soccer's World Cup on a goal that should have been called back. The Patriots needed a suspicious call to get to the Super Bowl. An umpire's mistake probably cost the St. Louis Cardinals a World Series.

It's not much comfort to Sabres' fans. But nobody ever said justice was perfect.

[steelerfan]

Yes sir, 6 more wins and the cup is back in Pittsburgh.

Detroit is going to be tough...another great series.

I'll have to side with you on this one ! GO PENS !!!

[doberman 152]

It probably seems like im crying right ? I am .....

[dparsons1968]

Just got done watching the Pens the Flyers in game 5.

Eastern Conference Champions!!!

[third_shift|studios]

[steelerfan]

Though I'm a Pens fan my congratulations to the Flyers for an outstanding year ! Well done !

[x-40oz-x]

I hope the wings completly destroy the pens.

[Spaz]

told you guys... the philly curse... we get close... just not there...