[Sidney Crosby]

Brian Burke called Kyle Dubas and Babcock "Greenpeace guys", basically they both want the Leafs to play like pussies. Babcock had Detroit play like pussies as well, not like he didn't have success at times with the Wings but team toughness is important in the playoffs.

[MdWanderer]

(04-27-2019 05:15 PM)Deepdiver Wrote:  

LOL, We New Englanders are a tough hardy lot... we like our teams to put team goals and performance ahead of glitz and personal egos... what is interesting is seeing the younger Bruins guys take form and develop and play up to their potential due to the on-ice coaching and lead by example of our veterans... I expect Boston to put their heads into each game and grind it out with a balance of toughness, aggressive attacking style of play and finesse. Toronto was a bigger and faster team but the tough Boston Tempo and work ethic basically wore them out in 7 games.

One of the things I look for is a will to win each possession, each period, each game - as is most evident when they can pull out wins on the oppositions home ground... then I begin to become excited at our chances be it Patriots, Red Sox, our beloved Boston Bruins or our Celtics. There is a reason why Boston is consistently the City of Champions even though Chicago, LA, NYC, and Florida are ten times our size and ten times richer - the secret is subordinating individual star egos and working toward the team goal of winning championships against all odds and comers.

Example Arron Rogers of GBP gets $38M a year and Tom Brady only takes $20M cash per year with a large deferred comp package... Result Americas Patriots have plenty to pay for a strong Offensive and Defensive line and backs plus enough to sweeten the pot for great receivers now that Gronk retired before his back and neck all need to be fused with rods and screws. Will be tough to replace Gronks heart and will to win always putting the Team ahead of himself... Result Brady SIX Lombardy Trophies and Gronk THREE Lombardi trophies including the one he used as a baseball bat at the World Series Champion Boston Red Sox home opener and now has a permanent Gronk Dent in it and the fans all love him for it and his enthusiastic energy to live life to its fullest...

Let's see if the same Boston work ethic and team above all else attitude pays off for our beloved ancient and honorable Bruins in the New England birthplace of the frozen north countries favorite and toughest game.

Will we win the Stanley Cup - hard to say and do not want to jinx our chances with hubris... will we make all challengers fight for every inch of ice and every goal and do the same ourselves - you can bet on it!

Excellent point. I'm sure a lot of people are tired of Boston winning everything but glad you guys knocked off the Leafs. That feminist hellhole of Toronto deserves nothing but more misery in the NHL playoffs. That "Boston Work Ethic" has been missing with the Capitals for the longest time up until 2018.

[Brosemite]

(04-25-2019 11:14 PM)MdWanderer Wrote:  

And blowing a 3-1 lead at home? They resembled more of the Choking Dog (The Washington Post's old nickname for the Capitals) teams from the past than the defending champions. Oh well, at least we finally have our Cup.

Who I want to see in the Stanley Cup Finals: St. Louis vs. NY Islanders, but I think it will be Columbus and Dallas/San Jose instead.

Yeah it was good to see Ovie not just get to the ECF, or the Cup Finals but to also win the Cup as well.

Never quite understood how such a talented team could be upended by lesser skilled NY Rangers squads all those years. Good to see them overcome that finally.

Was hoping for a healthy Caps team to reach the ECF and play against the Jackets. That first round series in 2018 was quite entertaining...

[doc holliday]

I think Deepdiver really wants the Bruins to win lol. Love the passion but the Bruins have a ways to go to match the beloved Blackhawks three Cups in 5 years. You do remember those fateful 17 seconds in the third period of Game 6 of the final in 2013 right DD? I think a third of the Boston Garden that night was filled with Hawks fans and they were loud. And very proud.

Back to 2019, Carolina looks tough, they're just stifling the Islanders but Mrazek getting injured could be a big problem going forward.

Bruins are going to have a tough time with Columbus. Tough penalty for Bergeron to take in 2OT.

Dal-Stl is a war but I'm sure Diop was jacking off in his Mike Modano jersey yesterday after that Dal win.

Let's see if the Avs can tie the series up tonight.

Leafs need a number one Dman and some grit for sure. They should let Gardiner go and trade Nylander for a defenceman.

[Once Was Not]

As is tradition I'll be rooting for Caps West, though I think Colorado and St. Louis can beat them. In the East it's all up to the Bruins now. No fucking way do I want to see any of these 3 co-division inhabitants make it to the final. Honestly I probably hate the Canes, Islanders, and Blue Jackets more than our other notorious rivals at this point. Hopefully Bergeron stops being an idiot.

And I love that it's the second round yet NBC feels putting the worst possible commentators out there is acceptable. Kenny Albert and AJ Whatever. Like...seriously? I have to listen to those chuckleheads? You literally could not do worse. Give me a damn "crowd and ice noises only" option. Fucking feminist bullshit.

[Brother Abdul Majeed]

God damn those Boston Bruins. Every single time.

Being a Maple Leafs supporter is like being married to a horrible woman that you can't divorce.

[MdWanderer]

(04-28-2019 12:20 AM)Brosemite Wrote:  

Yeah it was good to see Ovie not just get to the ECF, or the Cup Finals but to also win the Cup as well.

Never quite understood how such a talented team could be upended by lesser skilled NY Rangers squads all those years. Good to see them overcome that finally.

Was hoping for a healthy Caps team to reach the ECF and play against the Jackets. That first round series in 2018 was quite entertaining...

I remember last year's Caps-Jackets series and remember while down 0-2 "Same Old Caps" and even doubted them against the series against Pittsburgh. As a Caps fan I have witnessed some of the most excruciating playoffs losses. The 2018 team simply had the will to win that was missing in seasons before. There was no difference in talent from the years pasts. Speaking of the Rangers, the worst was in 2015 when we were up by one point leading the overall series 3-2 and one minute away from advancing. The Rangers the it up in the final seconds and win in overtime. They would come back to win the series 4-3. I thought to myself that the Caps would never get over the hump after that.

[Brosemite]

(04-29-2019 09:52 AM)Once Was Not Wrote:  

And I love that it's the second round yet NBC feels putting the worst possible commentators out there is acceptable. Kenny Albert and AJ Whatever. Like...seriously? I have to listen to those chuckleheads? You literally could not do worse. Give me a damn "crowd and ice noises only" option. Fucking feminist bullshit.

Kenny Albert is horrible...even Steve is quite awkward though I like Marv calling other sports. I remember years like 2009-2010 when CBS had legends like Marv Albert, Dick Enberg, Gus Johnson, and Kevin Harlan calling the 4th-6th AFC games every Sunday bc that channel wasn't shy about spending money on talent.....whereas Fox had Kenny Albert calling the #2 NFC game on Fox behind Joe Buck who just drives me nuts...

Well back to hockey...it'd be nice to get some Chris Cuthbert or Gord Miller calling more of these games on the US broadcasts..much better than Doc or Kenny.

[Once Was Not]

(04-30-2019 12:43 AM)Brosemite Wrote:  

(04-29-2019 09:52 AM)Once Was Not Wrote:  

And I love that it's the second round yet NBC feels putting the worst possible commentators out there is acceptable. Kenny Albert and AJ Whatever. Like...seriously? I have to listen to those chuckleheads? You literally could not do worse. Give me a damn "crowd and ice noises only" option. Fucking feminist bullshit.

Kenny Albert is horrible...even Steve is quite awkward though I like Marv calling other sports. I remember years like 2009-2010 when CBS had legends like Marv Albert, Dick Enberg, Gus Johnson, and Kevin Harlan calling the 4th-6th AFC games every Sunday bc that channel wasn't shy about spending money on talent.....whereas Fox had Kenny Albert calling the #2 NFC game on Fox behind Joe Buck who just drives me nuts...

Well back to hockey...it'd be nice to get some Chris Cuthbert or Gord Miller calling more of these games on the US broadcasts..much better than Doc or Kenny.

Last night was just straight up painful to watch/listen to. Usually I can kind of tune out substandard commentators but my God these three are the perfect storm of terrible. Kenny is so fucking boring, the woman never even played at this level and is insipid, and Pierre was just being weird as fuck, more than usual.

Why can't we have whoever were doing the Colorado-Calgary games? I think it was Ferraro and...was that Gord he was with? Those two are amazing. But no, F team for 2nd round of playoffs. I'd stream the radio broadcast to my stereo if it wasn't so old, I just have no way to do it. Ugh.

I wonder why my guy Joe B. never gets any games. It's not like he's super biased or anything. He's at least as good as Forslund who is calling his own team's series twice now haha. Eh, probably a contract issue or he doesn't want to do it. Though I know he has before and our whole broadcasting thing is owned by NBC itself so...

[Jones]

(04-27-2019 09:00 PM)Sidney Crosby Wrote:  

Brian Burke called Kyle Dubas and Babcock "Greenpeace guys", basically they both want the Leafs to play like pussies. Babcock had Detroit play like pussies as well, not like he didn't have success at times with the Wings but team toughness is important in the playoffs.

Too true. Mike Commodore (traded after 17 games with Wings in 2012) just trashed him on twitter last week:

"Well Folks...what a shocker...that piece of shit Babs is blaming anyone but himself...The GM, the goalie, depth. Truth is That Leafs team is good. Real good. Loaded with talent. Generational coach? Leader? Bullshit.
He’s a fraud."

Babs also kept Modano from playing in 1500 (1499 - only 40 games in '11)

Detroit always had grinders but never kept fighters, no toughness.

With Babcock: LAST IN NHL FIGHTS 2006-2012, 2014, 2015 (29th in 2013)

After Babcock: 2016 - 2019: 30th, 13th, 8th, 14th

Mike Commodore, Jordin Tootoo, Brad May, Aaron Downey, all fighters that got traded or stuffed in the minors.

Only NHL game I was ever at, (and during no-fighting Babcock era!) a fight:

[doc holliday]

Forslund and Benninati are two of the best American hockey announcers. Doc gets a lot of hype but I've never been all that impressed by him. Cuthbert is good but his voice is so high, it's kind of grating after a while.

One of my all time favorites was Gary Thorne, the guy who called NHL when it was on ESPN. I wish he had come over to NBC. The guys who take the cake though are Jack Edwards who does the Bruins games and Rick Jeannerette who's the Sabres play by play guy. These two are so over the top, they crack me up whenever I listen to them.

Big, huge games tonight.

[Brosemite]

(04-30-2019 04:36 PM)doc holliday Wrote:  

Forslund and Benninati are two of the best American hockey announcers. Doc gets a lot of hype but I've never been all that impressed by him. Cuthbert is good but his voice is so high, it's kind of grating after a while.

One of my all time favorites was Gary Thorne, the guy who called NHL when it was on ESPN. I wish he had come over to NBC. The guys who take the cake though are Jack Edwards who does the Bruins games and Rick Jeannerette who's the Sabres play by play guy. These two are so over the top, they crack me up whenever I listen to them.

Big, huge games tonight.

I'm a huge fan of guys like Cuthbert & Gord Miller who are now calling NBC Sports games since TSN got outbid by Sportsnet/CBC for all their NHL coverage. It's like having access to NHL Center Ice for out of market games minus paying for that service. Cuthbert has more of that golly gee shucks vibe which resonates with more of an old school Canadian hockey audience.

Despite being a Canucks homer, I'm a huge fan of Jim Hughson when he's not calling Vancouver games. Best voice in hockey by far though his commentating feels much more uninspiring & corporate being relegated to all these Leafs games.

Everything in the Canadian market seems catered towards Toronto fans so that's why everybody in the country HATES the Leafs.

I think ABC/ESPN hung onto Gary Throne because he is amazing baseball commentator. He almost makes sitting through an entire MLB game bearable not to mention he may have called home run derbies in the past too. Great voice.

As for Jack Edwards, my favorite homer-rific call of his....

[Jones]

Leafs Fights Under Babcock:

2019: 6 Fights - 31st (w/ Vegas)
2018: 12 Fights - 24th (6 Matt Martin* Fights (50 Games)
2017: 25 Fights - 15th (13 Matt Martin* Fights (82 Games)
2016: 10 Fights - 28th

Pre-Babcock Leafs '09-'15:
Avg. 48 fights a season! Lead NHL in 2013 & 2014!

*Matt Martin: 2016, 4 year deal $10 mil, 2nd year "healthy scratch" for 18 straight games, gets traded back to Islanders.

Tough loss for the Bruins, couple bad calls (offsides on first goal? Marchand follow-through "high stick"?) and Blue Jackets getting phenomenal goaltending.

Avs got a beauty shot from MacKinnon, Sharks win after a Couture hatty, looks like it's gonna be a 7 game series.

[Once Was Not]

Sad news boys. Unfortunately all former players are either dead or stuck at the desk for analysis during intermission or watching horses run around. So NBC has been forced to wander the streets and ask the first women they come across to do color for the 2nd round of the fucking playoffs. But hey, the NHL is just a little bit less male now, and that's a good thing.

No, wait, I'm hearing Mike Milbury and his shoe are available. Oh, thank God.

[Once Was Not]

I thought Carolina was going to be an easy first round win for us. What a crazy playoffs. Good for them. That new owner really turned the franchise around.

[Sidney Crosby]

(04-30-2019 04:21 PM)Jones Wrote:  

(04-27-2019 09:00 PM)Sidney Crosby Wrote:  

Brian Burke called Kyle Dubas and Babcock "Greenpeace guys", basically they both want the Leafs to play like pussies. Babcock had Detroit play like pussies as well, not like he didn't have success at times with the Wings but team toughness is important in the playoffs.

Too true. Mike Commodore (traded after 17 games with Wings in 2012) just trashed him on twitter last week:

"Well Folks...what a shocker...that piece of shit Babs is blaming anyone but himself...The GM, the goalie, depth. Truth is That Leafs team is good. Real good. Loaded with talent. Generational coach? Leader? Bullshit.
He’s a fraud."

Babs also kept Modano from playing in 1500 (1499 - only 40 games in '11)

Detroit always had grinders but never kept fighters, no toughness.

With Babcock: LAST IN NHL FIGHTS 2006-2012, 2014, 2015 (29th in 2013)

After Babcock: 2016 - 2019: 30th, 13th, 8th, 14th

Mike Commodore, Jordin Tootoo, Brad May, Aaron Downey, all fighters that got traded or stuffed in the minors.

Only NHL game I was ever at, (and during no-fighting Babcock era!) a fight:

Not saying he's not a good coach but I think he's overrated.

Look at what a guy like Trotz did with Nashville, WSH or the Islanders. Many of those years in Nashville he wasn't working with much.

People give credit to Babcock for Team Canada at the Olympics, 2010 and 2014 Olympics, yes we dominated but anybody could have coached those teams to Gold.

I don't see why Babcock is so against Don Cherry type hockey, IIHF have faggot rules but in the NHL you need a guy like could guys that can throw them.

[Brosemite]

(05-02-2019 10:33 AM)Once Was Not Wrote:  

Sad news boys. Unfortunately all former players are either dead or stuck at the desk for analysis during intermission or watching horses run around. So NBC has been forced to wander the streets and ask the first women they come across to do color for the 2nd round of the fucking playoffs. But hey, the NHL is just a little bit less male now, and that's a good thing.

No, wait, I'm hearing Mike Milbury and his shoe are available. Oh, thank God.

Yeah not sure why you can't have these females as "sideline reporters" doing actual broadcast journalism opposed to the eerily painful color commentary.

Michelle Tafoya, Tracy Wolfson, and Allie Laforce are fine with me....these female color commentators though.....ugh...even CBC in the past had Cassie Campbell fulfilling more "sideline" type responsibilities instead of taking full control of the broadcast

[doc holliday]

Did not see a Carolina sweep coming at all, wow. I still can't get a grasp on this team but they look pretty deep with some veterans who have won and some younger skill players. Great D too. Can they beat Boston or Columbus?

That chick on the Stl-Dal broadcasts is hilariously bad. She did make some good observations last nights and actually had some decent insights but man her voice and delivery are hard to take. I was wondering what Once was not was going to say about her lol.

Dallas looks like they've taken control of that series with their pk, goaltending and scoring on their chances. Seguin is starting to beast and Benn looks solid. The line juggling they did seems to be working.

Big games tonight with Clb-Boston and Col-SJ. I think both are going 7.

[Laner]

Pretty intense game for the Sharks and Av's last night, despite the low score.

Carolina is incredible to watch. This is why the playoffs are so damn brutal.

[partyfowl]

(05-05-2019 12:56 PM)Laner Wrote:  

Pretty intense game for the Sharks and Av's last night, despite the low score.

Carolina is incredible to watch. This is why the playoffs are so damn brutal.

I always realized the low scores are usually the intense ones in sports since a point matters THAT much more.

[Once Was Not]

(05-04-2019 12:12 PM)doc holliday Wrote:  

Did not see a Carolina sweep coming at all, wow. I still can't get a grasp on this team but they look pretty deep with some veterans who have won and some younger skill players. Great D too. Can they beat Boston or Columbus?

That chick on the Stl-Dal broadcasts is hilariously bad. She did make some good observations last nights and actually had some decent insights but man her voice and delivery are hard to take. I was wondering what Once was not was going to say about her lol.

Dallas looks like they've taken control of that series with their pk, goaltending and scoring on their chances. Seguin is starting to beast and Benn looks solid. The line juggling they did seems to be working.

Big games tonight with Clb-Boston and Col-SJ. I think both are going 7.

The on-ice product is great, this playoffs is as entertaining as ever. Almost everything that happened has been unexpected.

It's just a shame NBC and certainly the NHL feels the need to distract and take attention away from that. Women's voices just do not sound good commentating on men's sports. It's loud, harsh, out of place, and draws attention away from the sport itself. Most male commentators blend into the action much better. Color is supposed to be someone who spent years on that surface playing or coaching at that very level, otherwise the play-by-play dude could just handle both roles.

I don't get it. The league is far and away 4th place in terms of major sports in this country, they're not the NFL who can put male refs and cheerleaders onto the field and kneel for the flag and people just don't care. NHL is not big enough to alienate their audience yet, at least I think.

Anyway, if you think this is bad just wait till next season when we have female ref/refs. Then the who dynamic on the ice will be permanently altered. Such is life in clown world. Sports isn't even an escape anymore.


I think Carolina's achievements are more surprising than the Lightning getting swept. It's remarkable. The effect Williams has on those guys is palpable. I think Rod is a damn good coach too, working with the average talent he has.

All the other series feel evenly matched. Col-Bos could go either way really. But if Pasta is returning to form that could be the edge the Bruins need. I feel like Dallas and Colorado are top heavy depth wise and should lose to their counterparts but I see all the series going to 7.

[aeroektar]

As a die hard Bruins fan, I love Jack Edwards. He was on fire for game 7 in the last series, absolute legendary mad man commentary.

[Once Was Not]

Some big fake boobs hanging out behind the Dallas bench. Fucking THOT.

But yeah, everyone take a look.

[Once Was Not]

Found some pics

[Once Was Not]

Looks like this was from earlier in the series. I need to visit Dallas and find some hockey THOTs.