[glenn]

that is Kovalev's blast that went over thomas' shoulder. Price played solid again. Not that anyone cares. Don Cherry was all bruins during coaches corner. What do folks have against the habs. Oh well, maybe after the cup, people will begin to talk. Or maybe after a collapse folks will start to vindicate.

[blueandwhite]

don't be surprised that Cherry leans that way. He has little respect for French Canadians (and Europeans) and it is sad and horrific, both.
Kovalev is a Super Star.
I always thought, a team needs a superstar. Toronto has Sundin but he's not a super super star, you know? Anahaeim has Selanne, Calgary has Iginla, Columbus has Nash (I could go on) - Kovalev is Montreal's and what a great guy he is.
Last night was his game.
Boston came close this time - better game this round for sure for them - and Thomas had his moments - but Habs pull it out of the hat in OT. With a bullet.

[Oli Jokinen!]

You mean the Habs will beat the Pens??? I don't see that. Sure, Price is on fire, and so is Kovalev, but Malkin, Fluery, Crosby, Hossa, Roberts, Sykora, Whitney, Gonchar, and Orpik?!?! Who can beat that?
Habs need to act 07 Aneheim to beat them. Pittsburgh has a shut out and Malkin has 6 points in two games...
So, if Habs don't face Pittsburgh, they have a lucky break. But from the west, if the Habs DO make it, will they be able to play Physical?

[Oli Jokinen!]

I do think it's too soon to be talking about the cup. But here are the most likely teams.


Detroit- Zetterburg, Hasek (Decent goaltender), Datsyuk, Holmstrom, Lidstrom (MY GOD!!!), Chelios, Rafalski, Cleary, Hudler and Franzen...

Pittsburgh- Malkin... Crosby... Hossa... Gonchar... Sykora... Malone... Stall... Gill... Whitney... Oprik... Fluery... Dupius... and Roberts...

Washington- Ovechkin!?!?!?!?!?! (Best player in the league...), Federov, Huet, Semin, Green... Is Nylander coming back???

Montreal- Markov, Kovalev, Briesbois, Plekanics, Smolinski, Kostopoulus, and Price.

Philly is also a worthy contender, but I don't know much about them. Maybe Phills can help me out on that one?

Dallas- Richards, Turco, Morrow, Modano (Is he injured or something I forget), and Zubov.

Rangers- Gomez, Lundquivst, Drury, Jagar, Shanahan, Avery, Dawes, and Dubinsky.

[blueandwhite]

Originally Posted by Oli Jokinen!

You mean the Habs will beat the Pens??? I don't see that. Sure, Price is on fire, and so is Kovalev, but Malkin, Fluery, Crosby, Hossa, Roberts, Sykora, Whitney, Gonchar, and Orpik?!?! Who can beat that?
Habs need to act 07 Aneheim to beat them. Pittsburgh has a shut out and Malkin has 6 points in two games...
So, if Habs don't face Pittsburgh, they have a lucky break. But from the west, if the Habs DO make it, will they be able to play Physical?

season record is 2 wins for the habs and 2 wins for the penguins. hmm seems even to me.
I noticed you mention it in your next post but I must say myself - the Canadiens are more than price and Kovalev - they are the Kostitsyn brothers, Higgins, Smolinksi is hot, Hmrlik, and all the others you mentioned.
I do not know why people sell the Habs so short.

[glenn]

Thanks Blue. That was a scary game last night though. Boston looked good. It's just so fitting that Kovalev, our best player all year came through. Who shoots like that in such a tense part of the game. Only the best. I was calling for Kovy to be traded after last year but myself along with a lot of others were dead wrong. On Cherry, why is that bigot still on the air, unbelievable. Can he not cheer for a canadian team? We barely have any french canadiens anyway. Brisebois, Lapierre and Latenndresse. Those are the regulars and they're not even pressure players, they're just components. What a retard, bring on Hrudey.

[blueandwhite]

He is a bigot. I tune him out. How can you not appreciate what the Europeans have brought to the sport of hockey? he's a blowhard and so irresponsible with his mouth.
hey don't you have dandenault, Bouillon (whoops - American), begin as well?

[blueandwhite]

and let's not forget the love of French Canadian coaches.

[glenn]

yeah you're right. But Dandenault is kind of a non-event although he's been classy all year when being scratched and he has played a role. And Begin, thx for recalling my depleted memory, big hit last night for him. But the point is that we've played with a lot more french canadiens in the past and this year it's more of a soviet-era team. What is the leafs ratio of canadian to european/foreign players?

[blueandwhite]

good question.
13 canadians (mostly Ontario), 3 Czechs, 2 Swedes, 1 Fin, 4 Americans, a guy from kazakhstan and a guy from the ukraine.
I didn't realize we had 4 Americans.

[glenn]

that's interesting. Didn't know they had so many canadiAns. In your opinion, top 5 on the leafs and their nationalities

[blueandwhite]

I'd say the swedes, the Fin, the guy from Kazakhstan, and maybe one of the canadians.

[Oli Jokinen!]

I still think that Montreal can't match up to Pittsburgh. You forget Malkin and Crosby. Better then two Kovalevs.

[Phils20]

Oli, I think Philly's only chance in these playoffs lies in thier balanced attack. If they can keep that up, they have a chance to make a dent in this years playoffs.

I'm glad they made it in, but now that they are here, I at least want to beat the Caps. And I think they are good enough to do that.

After I see how well they play in this round, I'll give my opinions on a second round opponent, if there is one!

[Oli Jokinen!]

Tough competition in the playoffs. And I think it's funny that Phills came after I called him.