Since I spent about 33 years living in Nashville--and, for the past 30 years, have lived only about 30 or 35 miles southeast of there, in Murfreesboro--I naturally am pulling for the Nashville Predators in the Stanley Cup playoffs. Of course, they lost rather badly Thursday night (6-0). My guess is that the Predators will win game 6--not because I am some sort of cheerleader, but because the home team has won every game in the Finals so far. (The home team actually has an enormous, 24-6 advantage in goals scored.) Moreover, every time a team has lost by six or more goals in the playoffs this year (it has happened three times), it has won the following game. But that would only push it to a seventh game. And for the same reason that I would favor the Predators in Game 6, I would favor the Penguins in Game 7. Thoughts?
Tough luck, buddy. I was rooting for Nashville because I wanted to see a game 7. I don't pledge allegiance to any one team (mostly). I played hockey for so long that I'm more of a fan of individual players rather than teams. Needless to say, I watch a lot of hockey. That ref screwed over Nashville by being out of position and missing that goal.
The story was the repeat. NBC was wedded to it. So, objectively were the officiating crew. The best story though was just how boring Pittsburgh is. Even applying coats of lipstick in the liberal media (calling them the Paris of the Allegheny or other libelous contentions of other worldly European cultural superiority) could compare with the party and the atmosphere produced in Nashville during the playoffs. Nashville won on every front, even it they didn't secure the Stanley cup.
It was no doubt Pittsburgh was the better team though. They have 6 total studs on that team, compared to about 2 on the Preds. Preds were an 8 seed too. They had a lucky run if you ask me. But yes, this was good for their city.
I think you are correct. I have tried--really--to view the matter objectively. Still, I keep coming to the conclusion that that first-period goal really was a goal. Whether it would have produced a Predators victory, I cannot say. (In fact, it is even doubtful that the game would have been played precisely the same--and especially the last few minutes of it.) The rationale for the officials' rescinding the Predators' first-period goal was that they (supposedly) had whistled the play dead, just before the goal was scored, since one official could no longer see where the puck was. And that is, indeed, in keeping with the rule. The officials said that the crowd noise simply drowned out the whistle. But I watched the play on instant replay, and I never could hear the whistle. I have to wonder if this was just a CYA thing by the officials...
It's impossible to say what would have happened had they counted it a goal. The ref was out of position, plain and simple. Sad. Great run by the bottom seed team though. Very cool to watch
You are absolutely correct, on all counts! Considering that the Preds were the 16th of 16 teams chosen for the playoffs (their regular-season record was a mediocre 41-29-12), they probably made a pretty good run at the end...
I love when that happens. Nashville in no way was every considered a hockey town. Now, they're amped up. Hockey is such a great sport and it was so cool to see the Nashville locals that enthused. They should have a good future ahead of them.
We need more NHL talk on PF. Recently, a black NHL player was subjected to racial taunts in Chicago: http://www.startribune.com/black-nhl-player-devante-smith-pelly-taunted-by-chicago-fans/474409823/ Washington Capitals right wing Devante Smith-Pelly (25) argues with Chicago Blackhawks fans from the penalty box during the third period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, Feb. 17, 2018, in Chicago. It is reported that the fans were ejected so that nobody can claim this is fake news.
This speaks very badly of those who did the taunting--to put I mildly. Even so, I do hope that this NHL player will simply rise above these "fans," and take it in stride--knowing that other bigots will surely act similarly, in the future.
The Predators have just KICKED THE PUCK into the Avalance net, which is forbidden by the rules. It was as clear as could be from at least two different camera angles and yet the damned officials ruled that it was a score. The Av's have had a hard playoff series because the Preds are talented, and they do play rough and dirty -- especially Subban! But Colorado cannot beat the Preds AND these rotten damned hockey officials! There is NO excuse for this! A dozen re-plays make it clear as a glass of water that Nashville KICKED THE DAMN PUCK into the Av's net!
HA HA! I don't believe it! In spite of hell, the Colorado Avalanche have scored two points to defeat the Predators! Ah, JUSTICE! How very sweet it is! Andrew Hammond was our back-up, back-up goaltender -- and HE SHUT THE PREDS DOWN!
Well, last night, where the Av's hosted the Preds in Denver for game six it was a rough night. We were trounced... period. The Predators actually played like a championship team and quit acting like a gang of overbearing thugs. Last night they were coordinated, smart, and disciplined. The Av's were no match for them, as the score shows. But, I'm very proud of the Colorado Avalanche. Nobody had any hope for this team at the beginning of the season because of the two previous years which were disasters. Not only did the Av's do amazingly well, it was almost like a "Stanley Cup" victory for them even to be in the playoffs. Then, when we put Hammond in as our back-up, back-up goaltender, it seemed like we would be smashed in "Smashville" -- but we defeated them in their own lair.... So, we'll be back, older, wiser, and stronger than ever next October. Who's going to win the Cup this year? Probably the Las Vegas Golden Knights! They are almost super-human.... . WE'LL BE BACK!
I was just bustin your chops. I like the Avs. I think the winner of the Capitals/Pens series wins it all. Normally I'd vote the winner of the west but the Pens have the experience and the caps are HUNGRY for their first
Lots of really good hockey yet to come in these playoff's! The Caps and Pens are both excellent teams. Boston is on a roll, too. And the Golden Knights present a very real challenge to everyone. Ain't it great? I love hockey! I don't care if I never see another NFL football game, but I do LOVE hockey!
Hockey is a great sport. Played for a number of years. Loved every minute of it. Was too small to pursue college hockey. Didn't hit my growth spurt until later. I love playoff hockey. They put so much work into every game it's just amazing
Possibly. But the Winnipeg Jets--whom the Predators are now playing, in the second round of the NHL playoffs--could possibly be a serious contender, too. The Jets and the Preds have played each other practically to a standstill this season. I look for it to become a most interesting series; and for the survivor (which could be either team) to contend seriously for the title.
Just out of curiosity (and not sour-grapes), does anyone give the Preds a serious chance at the Cup? They beat the crap out of my Avalanche in Game #6, but coming up to that last game with us, the truth is that the Preds really didn't look all THAT good. Granted, too often we looked like a team made up of "Lone Wolves" who passed poorly and didn't seem to have a coordinated tactical strategy. We played on youthful strength, individual talent (some of which is truly exceptional), and "fire in the belly". But we didn't really play as a team very often. And then we lost our first-string goaltender... and then we lost our second-string goaltender. And still, the truth is that the Preds didn't really play all that much better than we did. As I see it, the Preds have exactly one truly great talent -- FILIP FORSBERG! What else have they got in order to win? A really very LARGE goaltender, Pekka Rinne -- who's about the size of a 1955 Norge refrigerator! Still, our Avalanche ran him off the ice in Game #5 of the playoffs, which was the one game that we won! They've also got one pretty abusive player who's going to probably get them a lot of penalties going forward (if the referees are awake enough to see what this guy does), even though he is a talented player -- P.K. Subban. Watch him during the rest of the playoffs -- you won't believe the crap this guy pulls off -- and gets away with most of the time.... May the best team win!
