Quest for the Stanley Cup 2012

[Tapir12]

OK, so it's that time of the year when we become fans again and the teams take it up a notch.

All energy is focused on that beautiful, shiny, slightly dented cup.

GO CANUCKS!!!

[Elomin Sha]

GO GO POWER RIOTERS!

[goat]

Haven't watched a game all year, but I'm sincerely thinking about watching as much as I can of the playoffs. Sadly, my beloved Red Wings aren't projected to get past the first round v. Nashville.

[psychopez]

My Penguins vs the Flyers first round.

It's gonna be 6 games of bloody, vicious scrums.

[Metcarfre]

First Round Matchups

EAST

1) NYR vs. 8 ) OTT

2) BOS vs. 7) WSH

3) FLA vs. 6) NJ

4) PIT vs. 5) PHI

WEST

1) VAN vs. 8 ) LA

2) STL vs. 7) SJ

3) PHX vs. 6) CHI

4) NSH vs. 5) DET

Predictions?

Mine are;
NYR in 6
BOS in 5
NJ in 5
PIT in 7

VAN in 6
STL in 6
PHX in 7
NSH in 7

Can we maybe change the thread title to "Stanley Cup Playoffs 2012"?

GO CANUCKS!

[aeric90]

Shall we go with round predictions?

East
1 - NYR in 5
2 - BOS in 4
3 - NJD in 6
4 - PIT in 5

West
1 - VAN in 6
2 - STL in 6
3 - CHI in 7
4 - NSH in 6

Some of these are tough calls, like the CHI - PHX series could go either way. I don't see any way that Pitsburgh doesn't make the finals. It's either them on Boston. The West is harder and as much as I'm cheering for Vancouver I'm seeing St Louis or Nashville.

[Metcarfre]

The PIT/PHI and NSH/DET are definitely the series to watch.

Conversely I have to believe that the Rangers make it to the conference finals.

I could see Phoenix making the upset; but I've said that for years now, and where has it gotten me?

[JustAName]

My friend lives in SJ and I go to visit her sometimes. It got awkward last year when I told people I was obligated to root against their team because of some people I knew from online.

[Tim]

My predictions:

EAST
1) NYR vs. 8 ) OTT -- Rangers in 7
2) BOS vs. 7) WSH -- Bruins in 5
3) FLA vs. 6) NJ -- Devils in 6
4) PIT vs. 5) PHI -- Penguins in 6

WEST
1) VAN vs. 8 ) LA -- Canucks in 6
2) STL vs. 7) SJ -- Blues in 5
3) PHX vs. 6) CHI -- Coyotes in 7
4) NSH vs. 5) DET -- Red Wings in 6



All of that said, here are my preferences (based on which teams I like more):

Ottawa
Washington
New Jersey
Philadelphia
Vancouver
St. Louis
Phoenix
Nashville

[Dutch guy]

Go go gadget "who cares"...

[Keab42]

GO GO POWER RIOTERS!

Free Flamethrowers to anybody who topples a car.

[zukamori]

East
NYR in 6
BOS in 5
NJD in 6
PIT in 6

West
VAN in 6
SJS in 6
CHI in 6
DET in 7

[Tapir12]

I didn't get to watch very much of the regular season, so here's some wild guesses and hopes:

EAST
1) NYR vs. 8 ) OTT - Ottawa in 7
2) BOS vs. 7) WSH - Boston in 5
3) FLA vs. 6) NJ - New Jersey in 6
4) PIT vs. 5) PHI - Pittsburgh in 5

WEST
1) VAN vs. 8 ) LA - Vancouver in 6
2) STL vs. 7) SJ - St Louis in 5
3) PHX vs. 6) CHI - Chicago in 6
4) NSH vs. 5) DET - Nashville in 5

This is gonna be good!

[King Kool]

I wish I knew where the Stanley Cup was while LRR was in Boston. Ah, well.

[CommanderKeen]

Likely in Toronto, where all the awards are kept.

[Rikadyn]

Likely in Toronto, where all the awards are kept.

Ah, the irony...

[plummeting_sloth]

Come-on Caps... aside from the Ravens you're the only half-way good team of any sport around here.

[Metcarfre]

Well, you're only half wrong...

A night of upsets last night! Will the trend continue?

[aeric90]

I wish I knew where the Stanley Cup was while LRR was in Boston. Ah, well.

There are really 2 Stanley Cups (3 if you want to get technical and count the original bowl). One is the presentation cup. That's the one you see at the finals and that's given to each player to return to their hometown with. In cases where the cup is shown like at charity events, this is the cup that goes. When it's not being shipped around it sits in the center plinth at the Hockey Hall of Fame here in Toronto (just down the street from where I work ^.^). The other is the display cup. When the presentation cup is out and about the display cup takes its place at the Hall. With the exception of a few corrected typos, the display cup is identical to the presentation cup. You can identify which cup you're seeing in the Hall by looking for the corrections. Check Wikipedia for more info

[Tim]

The Canucks needed a wake-up call, apparently.

At least, I hope that explains the loss.

They can still win, right?

Please?

Guys?

[Tapir12]

YES! We must believe!! All Kings fall!

[Tapir12]

This... is not looking good.

Perhaps we need some Quicksand.

EDIT: After the 4-1 goal I'm going to stop watching. I can't watch this game anymore. 3 special teams goals against, 2 shorthanded. We needed this game so badly.

The Canucks are scrambling. They are not looking like a team. The Kings? They have heart. They are working together. They are confident. They are focused. I don't know if the Canucks can come back from this.

It's not any one player's fault. It's turnovers, it's missed passes, it's a mess.

Ahhhhh..... I am going to go watch some MLP to feel better. Seriously.

[Lord Chrusher]

It ended up 4-2.

Sadly as a Canucks fan I have been here many times before.

[Tapir12]

Sadly as a Canucks fan I have been here many times before.

I know. You'd think that would make it easier but I think it just makes it worse.

[goat]

On the upside, the wings won last night!

Two things, though:

1)I missed game 1 and found out one of my favorite players is out for the season after getting a tendon severed in his forearm by a skate (he's ok, but holy shit. Don't scare me like that, Helm)

2)Everybody seems to be making a lot out of that fight between Bertuzzi and Weber. Yes, it was payback; yes, it was message sending; but it wasn't that great a fight. I mean, if anything, Bertie lost that one, so as far as message sending is concerned, "we will come after you, but you'll probably still win a fight" doesn't sound like something to be celebrated as a moral victory. I mean, good on him for stepping up for his team, but I think people are more excited about it than they should be, star player or no.