2012 NHL Playoffs Thread

[mclarke]

Well that Florida goal will make the last 15 minutes more interesting.

I agree that the southern expansion experiment has generally failed.

In a league where team revenues are largely dependent on the gate rather than on television contracts, at least outside of Canada, moving into markets with no history of having played the game has proven to be a folly, with a couple of exceptions. Hockey will always be a bit of a regional sport and an unwillingness to recognize or accept that has been one of Bettman's chief failures.

[KevMcNJ]

Hockey is a total mystery here in SC. We had a minor league here in Columbia team but it failed. Augusta had a minor league team but its gone too. Ditto Greenville. Charleston has a team that appears to be doing OK though

No idea how the Charlotte Checkers do and the 'Canes are an exception to the rule Maybe Raleigh is far enough North

Oh how nice the game came back on

[PHJIndy]

There are a lot of northerners and even Canadians in Florida. I don't understand why hockey isn't wildly popular down there. I've been to a game in Tampa and the crowd was huge and very knowledgeable but that was in the mid '90's and the Lightning were still playing in the baseball stadium.
I'm hoping that the Panthers can tie this game and at least send it to OT. The Rangers and Senators game was a whole lot better, imo.

[mclarke]

Who didn't want overtime?

[mclarke]

I'm hoping that the Panthers can tie this game and at least send it to OT.

All you had to do is ask.

[KevMcNJ]

Who didn't want overtime?

Those who have to wake up in 5 hours

[PHJIndy]

All you had to do is ask.

Yep!

[PHJIndy]

Headin' into double OT!
I hope I can stay awake long enough to see Andrew Luck on Letterman and the end of this game.

[mclarke]

This first round is taking the good out of me. It's 1:39 and this could go on for a while but I think I'll stay with it ; too much invested to this stage to quit.

[mclarke]

Sure it's a cliche but it's a shame that either team had to end their season after putting in that effort in overtime.

Turnovers in your own end kill you every time.

Time to reload for round 2.

[KevMcNJ]

This first round is taking the good out of me. It's 1:39 and this could go on for a while but I think I'll stay with it ; too much invested to this stage to quit.

I gave up and just set the DVR to record thru the night. Glad I did it that way instead of staying up another 25-30 minutes. Worked like a charm. OT hockey with breakfast was a nice strt to my day

[mclarke]

I gave up and just set the DVR to record thru the night. Glad I did it that way instead of staying up another 25-30 minutes. Worked like a charm. OT hockey with breakfast was a nice strt to my day

You are a much wiser man than I.

[mclarke]

There are a lot of northerners and even Canadians in Florida. I don't understand why hockey isn't wildly popular down there. I've been to a game in Tampa and the crowd was huge and very knowledgeable but that was in the mid '90's and the Lightning were still playing in the baseball stadium.

It's a difficult question to answer, though I've seen lots of speculation. I have heard the argument that the northerners who live in Florida tend to be retirees and they often don't have the disposable income or the inclination to become season ticket holders. From an anecdotal viewpoint, my wife's sister and her husband live in Florida and given that she is Canadian and he is from Chicago, they have a general though not passionate interest in hockey. Both are professionals but the downturn in the economy over the last few years has devastated what had been a very nice lifestyle for them. Talking to them, it seems that Florida has been hit harder than some other areas in the USA and has been slower to recover, though I confess that I have little true familiarity with the degree to which that may be factually accurate or whether economics is a valid explanation for sports popularity..

I get the impression that the Lightning have a more established base and I know they have had an exciting team, even though they missed the play-offs this year. If they can afford to pick up Luongo, they will have the core of a competitive team in future although competitive performance doesn't always parallel fan interest and financial success, or the Maple Leafs would play in front of an empty arena each night.

When I'm in Florida, the only ice I think about is in a drink so I really can't relate to the presence or absence of grassroots interest in hockey.

[PHJIndy]

It's a difficult question to answer, though I've seen lots of speculation. I have heard the argument that the northerners who live in Florida tend to be retirees and they often don't have the disposable income or the inclination to become season ticket holders. From an anecdotal viewpoint, my wife's sister and her husband live in Florida and given that she is Canadian and he is from Chicago, they have a general though not passionate interest in hockey. Both are professionals but the downturn in the economy over the last few years has devastated what had been a very nice lifestyle for them. Talking to them, it seems that Florida has been hit harder than some other areas in the USA and has been slower to recover, though I confess that I have little true familiarity with the degree to which that may be factually accurate or whether economics is a valid explanation for sports popularity..

I get the impression that the Lightning have a more established base and I know they have had an exciting team, even though they missed the play-offs this year. If they can afford to pick up Luongo, they will have the core of a competitive team in future although competitive performance doesn't always parallel fan interest and financial success, or the Maple Leafs would play in front of an empty arena each night.

When I'm in Florida, the only ice I think about is in a drink so I really can't relate to the presence or absence of grassroots interest in hockey.

There are also a lot of wealthy retirees in southern Florida. Disposable income isn't the entire answer.
BTW, I stayed awake until the end. Now I'm worn out!

[KevMcNJ]

It's a difficult question to answer, though I've seen lots of speculation. I have heard the argument that the northerners who live in Florida tend to be retirees and they often don't have the disposable income or the inclination to become season ticket holders. From an anecdotal viewpoint, my wife's sister and her husband live in Florida and given that she is Canadian and he is from Chicago, they have a general though not passionate interest in hockey. Both are professionals but the downturn in the economy over the last few years has devastated what had been a very nice lifestyle for them. Talking to them, it seems that Florida has been hit harder than some other areas in the USA and has been slower to recover, though I confess that I have little true familiarity with the degree to which that may be factually accurate or whether economics is a valid explanation for sports popularity..

I get the impression that the Lightning have a more established base and I know they have had an exciting team, even though they missed the play-offs this year. If they can afford to pick up Luongo, they will have the core of a competitive team in future although competitive performance doesn't always parallel fan interest and financial success, or the Maple Leafs would play in front of an empty arena each night.

When I'm in Florida, the only ice I think about is in a drink so I really can't relate to the presence or absence of grassroots interest in hockey.

I have two friends who live in Florida now. Ive been told the housing bubble rocked Florida. Homes are almost worthless in some towns and counties from what my buddy on the Gulf Coast says. I went down there in 2010 and I bet half the houses in his development were empty. Unsold or people just left he said

But I dont live there and I dont know how it is now in 2012

He is a life long Flyers fan. Lives in Cape Coral and could not care less about the Panthers or the Lightning. Just because you move doenst mean you change teams. Im not a Carolina Panthers fan now that they are my closest football team.

[Kurt Cobain]

Coyotes!

[Kurt Cobain]

I have two friends who live in Florida now. Ive been told the housing bubble rocked Florida. Homes are almost worthless in some towns and counties from what my buddy on the Gulf Coast says. I went down there in 2010 and I bet half the houses in his development were empty. Unsold or people just left he said

But I dont live there and I dont know how it is now in 2012

He is a life long Flyers fan. Lives in Cape Coral and could not care less about the Panthers or the Lightning. Just because you move doenst mean you change teams. Im not a Carolina Panthers fan now that they are my closest football team.

Yeah, but if you love hockey it wouldn't matter. I'm a St. Louis Blues fan and I'm planning a move to Phoenix in the next few years. I would be disappointed if they moved. I'm hoping they stay as I love hockey and would watch.

[Slim]

Anyone see that bad bounce the puck took and Yip had a completely empty net to score in? Smith got caught behind the net waiting to play the puck that ended up taking a bad bounce and ended up just to the left of the empty net. It was like Christmas Day for Yip.

I like the Coyotes...but I would like them better as the Quebec Nordiques...

I think Nashville is the team to beat in the Western Conference. It will be fun watching the teams try to beat them. Pekka Rinne looks sound in the net tonight.

[mclarke]

Terrible bounces so far but there seems to be a lack of intensity and focus by both teams.

Not nearly as much hitting as I expected, in the sense of finishing checks and taking the body.

Frankly, kind of boring.

Must be the oval shape of the surface allowing too many meaningless passes.

[Kurt Cobain]

Ready for the second round.

[mclarke]

Outshot 25-6 in the third period and overtime and Phoenix still wins the game.

This type of hockey was not what I expected from those two teams but the game got better as time went on.

[KevMcNJ]

Terrible bounces so far

I saw none of this game. Took the night off LOL

But is it possible the room was too warm?

Soft ice is a PITA to play on

[Clefo]

But is it possible the room was too warm?

Soft ice is a PITA to play on

There's a great tradition in Arizona once April rolls around. We call it "Blasting AC to all hell, whether or not it's needed be damned", so I doubt that was the case.

[KevMcNJ]

There's a great tradition in Arizona once April rolls around. We call it "Blasting AC to all hell, whether or not it's needed be damned", so I doubt that was the case.

AC or swamp cooler?

[Captain Spyro]

Twas an interesting game, and I actually was pulling for the Coyotes. Hope the series improves.

[Clefo]

AC or swamp cooler?

AC, even the Coyotes aren't that poor

[Slim]

End of the first period for the Rangers and Caps, no score. It wouldn't surprise me if this ends up being a 1-0 game. 4 penalties in the first, 2 for each team. Not many shots on goal for either team. They both seem more interested in making the big hits. I think my interest in this game lies with the Rangers. Big Mike Rupp and Ruslan Fedotenko are both former Penguins....plus, I really still cannot stand Dale Hunter.

[mclarke]

I like watching a series when I don't really have a favorite since I like both Washington and New York.

That goal by Chimera with 4 seconds left in the second to tie the score was a beautiful goal on a perfect pass by Laich and that late in the period could be a real back breaker for the Rangers.

Daylight be damned ; it's time to pour another one for the third period.

[PHJIndy]

Two quick goals and the Rangers win 3-1, even though they only had 14 shots on goal.
Next up tonight, the Blues and the Kings at 7PM on NBCSports.
It should be a good series.

[mclarke]

While the Flyers and the Penguins hated each other from the drop of the puck in the first game of their series, it is taking a little longer for the Blues and the Kings to really learn to dislike each other but they seem to be making some progress on the issue.

I can see why Brown is the Kings captain.
Short-handed goal late in a period is tough to deal with.