“Twenty-seven games played by eight teams has to be some sort of record for the second round”

Ties the record from 1985-86. Calgary-Edmonton (Steve Smith!), St. Louis-Toronto and Montreal-Hartford all went the distance. The Rangers beat the Caps in six.

The first round of the 1992 postseason was even more extraordinary, odds-wise. Six of the eight series went seven games, the other two went six. 54 of a potential 56 games. Naturally, five of the seven remaining series from the second round on were sweeps. Too much of a good thing, I guess.

When I hear the words “New York.” The first thing that comes to mind is the Rangers. I am quite certain, that is because we are still in hockey season. Before the signing of Avery, I had no impression/opinion of the Rangers one way or the other. I recall the incident with Avery that tossed him out of Dallas and I remember and posting, I feel sorry for any team hard up enough to sign him. We all know that Avery was signed by the Rangers. We know how he played and now the Coach too is circling down the drain and just needs to be flushed. Do I have compassion for the other members of the Rangers? The people on the payroll who sell the tickets? The Marketing folks and anybody affiliated with the Rangers? Sure I do. Avery has a long track record of being a piece of chit. The good thing, is the men who represent the NHL and do a fine job of it, know all about Avery. So they will protect themselves and each other. It wasn’t even 3 weeks ago, that I posted about being happy we were playing Carolina next. I went as far as posting they would play clean hockey. They would not be like Montreal. I didn’t sit and pace the floors worrying about the cheap shots or sucker punches to my team. Carolina HAD my respect but they don’t any longer. Staal was supposed to be this big scary guy, and a force to be reckoned with. You are kidding me right? The Kids is cagey, and very bright. But he isn’t THAT great. He doesn’t stand out (for me.) His brother is a Ranger. Do I like Staal? No opinion one way or the other. Then there was Cam Ward. A 25 year old Rock Star. Guy is good. Guy will be better and can possibly be an “elite” goalie. If you asked me today about Cam Ward, I would look at you and say who? Pardon me? I don’t remember Cam Ward now. I don’t remember the Hurricanes and where they finished or what they did for this season. They have destroyed it all. They have joined the likes of the Rangers and I think it is shameful that Walker wasn’t dealt with. Do you care what I think? Probably not. But my point is this. One bad apple does spoil the entire bunch. I wouldn’t eat from that tree if it was the only food/fruit I would ever get again. There are only 30 teams in the NHL. How many are going to fall from Grace because of one schmuck? Wake up NHL. You don’t have the following Baseball and Football have. Why is that? I don’t know. I could promote hockey for the rest of my life and you wouldn’t have to pay me a dime. Deal with these A holes and clean this up. Remember, for every one of me, there are hundreds. Most people just walk. I will walk but I will tell you why I left. How many more feel what I do? I don’t think you want to roll the dice on this one.

During the regular season, both conferences had tight playoff races right up until the last weekend, how late into the season was it and the Pens were not in a playoff position? The West had teams leapfrog 2 positions with a win.

Now a few weeks into the playoffs, we have a number of game 7’s, one series with three OT games, for the most part cvlose margin wins. Discount the Van-Stl, and the Bos-Mtl series, but are these signs of parity? Is this how a salary capped NHL should work?

Crosspost: I suppose all you pantywaists are looking for Niedermayer to be suspended now too, right? Let’s have the NHL start doling out suspensions for every penalty called on those barbaric hockey players. Until then you can start covering your eyes every time the action gets heated during the last couple minutes of a hockey game.
Or you can just try watching some knitting/crocheting playoffs, you delicate flowers.

I agree it’s a non-issue and nothing to worry about. I felt the same way about Walker’s punch too, not like most of the posters who whine if a player breaks a nail.

On the subject of a game 7, I’d like to go on record and say that, if Detroit loses this series, the blame doesn’t go to Chris Osgood. I don’t care if he looks horrible, and they lose 9-8. He’s done his job. Given the skill of the team in front of him, and the number of goals Osgood has allowed, they should have won four games already. The scorers haven’t been doing their job consistently. The goaltending has been fine.

For whatever reason, you want a quick first two rounds, but a long third round. Teams that won the third round in 5 or fewer games haven’t done well in the finals lately.