WESTERN CONFERENCE FINAL Anaheim v Nashville

[sseagle]

Friday, May 12, 8pm: Predators @ Ducks | NBCSN, CBC, TVA Sports
Sunday, May 14, 6:30pm: Predators @ Ducks | NBCSN, Sportsnet, TVA Sports
Tuesday, May 16, 7pm: Ducks @ Predators | NBCSN, Sportsnet, CBC, TVA Sports
Thursday, May 18, 7pm: Ducks @ Predators | NBCSN, CBC, TVA Sports
Saturday, May 20, 6:15pm: Predators @ Ducks | NBC, CBC, TVA Sports
Monday, May 22, 7pm: Ducks @ Predators | NBCSN, CBC, TVA Sports
Wednesday, May 24, 8pm: Predators @ Ducks | NBCSN, CBC, TVA Sports

[Irish Blues]

The only possible ex-Blue left in the West is Kris Russell (Edmonton).

[glen a richter]

My hope at this point is for an all-Canada SCF because Ottawa and Edmonton are the only two teams left I don't flat out despise.

[gaijin]

I don't know if I despise Nashville or not. Typically, being eliminated by a certain team ups the hatred factor (at least for me), but if I'm being objective, there's not really a lot to hate about Nashville- they didn't play dirty (any more than you would expect from any playoff team), their fans weren't overly obnoxious (again, any more than you would expect from any playoff team). In fact, I found the Wild fans to be more annoying.

Not that I want them to win the whole thing, mind you. I want them to get eliminated in the Conference Finals- there should be NO MORE teams younger than the Blues who win their first Cup before we do. But I don't hate them. Yet.

And country music still sucks.

[WaukeeBlues]

I will never cheer for the Oilers. I have a petty, irrational grudge against them for winning the lottery so many dang times and (of course) hitting the last big time in landing McDavid. Plus they have their dynasty already. Albeit 30+ years ago now but still. They've had one. I feel for their long suffering fans but I still can't stand the fact they got McDavid and never will.

[Portland Blues]

Pretty good Game 1 although I'm hoping Anaheim wins the series.

[theohall]

Anaheim needs to do a better job of forechecking Subban. Keeping him from being able to move the puck and forcing him to play board battles, which he tends to lose and winds up tackling his opponent, takes away the best part of his game. The Blues did a decent job of this when they weren't killing penalties.

[cardsfan04]

I caught the 3rd period and OT last night after the cards game. I don't usually cheer for the team that knocks us out, but caught myself hoping Nashville won. I guess that's who I'm rooting for the rest of the way.

[theohall]

After seeing how Nashville's D handled Anaheim's speed most of Game 1, it is more obvious how good a team the Predators are and it's surprising the Blues actually won 2 games without being a faster team. The Predators were being dominated in the face-off circle through the first 2 periods, yet were out-shooting the Ducks and out-possessing them. If Anaheim doesn't find another gear, which they seemed to be capable of doing whenever really needed vs Edmonton, the Predators are going to the Finals. We'll see how Game 2 plays out. It's not like Anaheim was down 2 games to none before while having home ice or anything.

[Irish Blues]

Thoughts through 14 minutes of Game 2 (in no particular order):

1. No urgency at all by Anaheim; Nashville made them pay on Johansen's breakaway goal.
2. More than a handful of fans dressed as empty seats tonight.
3. if one of our goalies ever lets in a goal like John Gibson did on #2, I'll hear the screaming from Blues fans up here.
4. This has all the feel of the Kings when they rolled everyone on the way to the Cup in 2012.

[theohall]

And Anaheim pulled the same thing they did repeatedly vs Edmonton. Look completely disinterested for a period, then win the game.

The 4th goal Rinne allowed (Ritchie's goal) is one had Allen allowed Blues fans would want his head. That was a really bad goal to allow in a tie game.

[Irish Blues]

Was it really that bad, though? Yes, it was from a bad angle, but Rinne's squared up to the play and it went right over his shoulder, past his right ear. That's a hell of a shot from anyone. It's kind of like Vatanen's goal that made it 2-1; bad angle shot, outside and below the faceoff dot, and Vatanen hammers it into the upper corner, far side. If I have a problem with either, I've got a slightly bigger problem with the 1st (Rinne could have cut that angle a little more, leaving the near side where he has his glove available) - but either way, I don't expect those shots to go in 95-98% of the time. Those are just good shots.

Neither one of those was Gibson getting fooled thinking there was a pass coming, leaving the net wide open for Neal to dribble it in.

[Portland Blues]

I can't believe Nashville is 2 wins away from going to the Stanley Cup.

[gaijin]

I can't believe Nashville is 2 wins away from going to the Stanley Cup.

The bastards.

[Kerfuffle]

I can't believe Nashville is 2 wins away from going to the Stanley Cup.

Agreed - and I have a feeling they're going to win it all. I hate it.

[Irish Blues]

The next 2 wins just got a lot more difficult.

http://www.tsn.ca/predators-johansen-ou ... s-1.756740

[theohall]

The next 2 wins just got a lot more difficult.

http://www.tsn.ca/predators-johansen-ou ... s-1.756740

Good, I'd rather not see a dive-a-thon in the Finals.

[Irish Blues]

At this point, I can't find anyone to root for. Hate Anaheim (really hate Perry and Kesler, and Carlyle winning a 2nd puts him in rare company - and I think his 1st Cup was a total gift because of the defense he was handed), would be sick to see Nashville win, don't want to see the Pens win yet another one, and Ottawa winning would mean basically the 13th best team managed to luck out with other weak opponents the first two rounds and then somehow win the Cup.

Ugh.

[Irish Blues]

BTW, the latest edition of the NHL "Wheel of Justice"

Andrew Shaw, uses a slur against an official last year in the playoffs: $5K fine, suspended one game

Ryan Getzlaf, same thing this year: $10K fine, no suspension

I guess conference final games are too important to miss.

[theohall]

BTW, the latest edition of the NHL "Wheel of Justice"

Andrew Shaw, uses a slur against an official last year in the playoffs: $5K fine, suspended one game

Ryan Getzlaf, same thing this year: $10K fine, no suspension

I guess conference final games are too important to miss.

Whatever Getzlaf said, wasn't against an official. It's been clearly stated it was directed at the opponent. That is why no suspension like Andrew Shaw. It's probably directed at Subban or Neal's diving antics, but god forbid an opponent should insult the foe for being a bunch of Oscar candidates.