The NHL Thread

Backing Anaheim at Colorado tonight, going with regular time at 2.82.

The Avalanche are poor to say the least, their recent winning streak was out of nowhere and the Ducks shouldn't be so low down in the standings, a good side.

Let's hope it comes in!

some way to start the game!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=iIlLbJHKw8M

Nucks fan and would really like to avoid the Sharks in first round but guess Sharks will get to choose their opponent as they are the late game. Would prefer the Coyotes but they would need to lose to finish 7th and then Blues would need to win and Nucks lose against Oilers. More realistically Sharks beat the Kings and we get Kings in first round which is also tough but at least Kings are not gonna beat us up physically during the series like the Sharks did last year.

West to me is really open Sharks, Kings could well win it. Blues, Redwings, Nucks are overrated. Blackhawks are very strong if they get decent goaltending.

Who is gonna beat the Bruins though? Seem like they are in 2nd gear.

I know LA were robbed in game 81 but SJ just looked the better team. Almost looked inevitable they were gonna make a comeback in the 3rd period of the last game when they decided to wake up. Sure the Kings are solid enough but really very pleased to have avoided the Sharks who surely were a 100pt+ team had they bothered to try for more of the season.

Agree with you except CHI beats PHX and was leaning to NJD over FLA but not seen enough of both of them to be fair.

SJ @ 25/1 would be my tip at this stage.
Nashville slightly overpriced at 16/1 as well but can't see them winning it.

NHL playoffs are just the best sport - if you don't follow them you're missing out plain and simple. In no other sport do you get such hatred over a series.

As for Nucks, a lot depends on whether Daniel is ok to go. I fear its worse than they're letting on to but I guess Henrik is playing better since he got hurt. Could do with Kassian in the line up for some strength especially for the bruiser opposition later - if we get to later that is.

Hi Guys

Hope you've all had a good season but suppose the real viewing excitement starts tonight , been another great year with all the now established theories proving fruitful.

Some interesting thoughts posted on the play-offs & here's my albeit quick thoughts for what they're worth..

Pens v Flyers
You could look at this match-up for another month but it'll still be down to who produces the goods on the night , series far more evenly matched than the odds suggest for me as is usually the case with divisional rivals , taking the better prepared ,& healthy roster of Pittsburgh to make experience tell over potential.
Pens in 6

Bruins v Caps
It's getting frequently harder to oppose Boston at this stage of the season , considering their style of play the ability to maintain that level of intensity for nearly 100 games every season is remarkable , Caps enter the play-off with no expectation for the first time in a while but they're in a good place at the moment with confidence high , loved the way they went to MSG knowing a win would match them up with Bruins after taking Rangers apart , good chance of a big shock here.
Caps in 6

Blues v Sharks
San Jose too inconsistent for me still & no confidence in the big guns to get the job done , still get the impression that some Sharks will be hiding rather than wanting the puck and think it may be the usual nervous times for them at this stage , think Blues took their eye off the puck when the reality of a possible Presidents Trophy kicked in and fancy them to re-group here , Todd under pressure no doubt if Sharks fall at this hurdle yet again.
Blues in 6

Canucks v Kings
Won't dwell on this one too much as you guys will no doubt have an objective view of your own , something tells me this will be a long series with Kings a gut feeling.
Kings in 7

Pred's v Wings
May as well flip a coin here in all honesty just as the betting suggests , not sure the extra home ice will count for anything as there looks sure to be a few road wins in the series , Pred's will feel they'll never have a better chance of winning a series against a big name and putting themselves on the map , impossible to call for me.
Coin toss

Panthers v Devils
Not sure Florida are in too good a place at the moment , looking jaded & nervous they were probably fortunate to nick 3 seed after winning the division , fancy Devils to do a job here but wouldn't be surprised if every game produced unders as goals look hard to come by.
Devils in 6

NYR v Ottawa
Find this series a difficult call tbh , hard to be certain how Rangers will handle the expectations and they will have to be somewhere near their very best to see off Sen's.
No view

Coyotes v Hawks
What you see is what you get with Phoenix and Chicago will know exactly the levels they need to succeed , hard to get away from the potential match winners in Hawks team and think they will show up enough times to nick the series.
Hawks in 6


As is the norm for me won't be getting involved financially in the play-offs apart from the old chestnut of backing the home ice in game 3 providing the series score stands at 0-2 , game 4 in any series and irrespective of the current status is always best swerved from a betting perspective.


Best of luck guys , all views welcome 

omg we are playing so dumb - very fortunate to be tied after 2.

Disappointing from Canucks but not overly concerned just yet.  Tonight a single on Rangers to go one up.  Hoping for a great atmosphere and exciting game.  Anyone else playing tonight?

Played the Sharks and the Hawks.

Huge game tonight.

Just hope we play our game and don't get sucked into all the physical scrums. Nucks just not built that way.

Florida just took such a pounding in that first period.....26 shots FFS, Theodore must have post traumatic stress disorder in the changing room.  Must set the tone for the entire series surely?

This Pens/Flyers series is a classic already , unreal stuff 

The number of shots we had is very misleading - hardly had any decent chances.

6 seconds to go this time FFS, boiling here

Maybe, but I'm the one sat with the dent in the pocket

If Shaw gets 2 how many is Asham going to get.

That was one of the most vicious periods I have ever seen.  Unbelievable scenes in Phili.

Any thoughts on game in Florida tonight?  Cats have to come out with some spark or this series is surely gone.  Have to say the Sens were great last night.  Skated Rangers into the ground and I now fear for my AP bet.  They also won 3 of 4 during the season so no surprise if NY are now getting a little messed up in the mind

Yes been here since 2003 - ex London.

Agree we have been terrible so far. Out coached IMO and the move to trade Hodgson was a terrible one. You don't trade away that much skill for what amounts to a meathead that plays 5 mins max on 4th line. The playoffs have been called brutally so far IMO an Shanahan has sent the wrong message with the lack of suspensions.

Vancouver got caught in the trap of thinking skill wasn't enough last year and tried to cover all bases with the make up of their team and now just don't know who they are. Lets be fair Vancouver must have won 20+ games this season where they were outplayed so their final position greatly flattered them and without Daniel they look very ordinary and have looked very ordinary since possibly the Wings game in late Feb.

Hope Schneider can some how perk the rest of the team up as he seems to be their lucky mascot.

Schneider has an amazing save % on the road this season and the D seems to play better when he's around. Not that Luongo is the reason we are 2 down though by any means.

tomdeane - I have a question for you. Do you bet with the UK bookies? Do you want to earn some extra money for very little. It could help me out too obviously but if so e-mail me: sbbudd@hotmail.com

Better first period by Nucks but no goals to show. Playing a bit smarter today - hope it yields a win.