Wow! Stanley Cup hockey is awful!

I watched the third period of last night's game and I have to say, it was some of the lamest hockey I've ever seen. Teams like the Red Wings, who are know for finesse, European style get knocked out early, and scrappy teams like Boston go on to the Finals. What a shame. No passing or play-making. Just bump and grind, dirty hockey.

you would not lay the blame for last night's ugly game at the feet of Boston. That was absolutely the most exciting 1-0 game I've ever seen.

:sarcasm:

BTW, I despise the Red Wings.

:mad:

However, I'm a long-time Bruins fan and also a realist.

:hi:

But when they're clicking, it's pretty stuff to watch. I know, rooting for the Wings is sort of like rooting for the Yankees.

:hide:

Different styles win different years.

Loved it!

The only way to score on two goalies like that is to fire from a distance through a number of players in front of the goal, so the puck might not be seen and might ricochet, or like they did last night, a side-to-side pass. You're not going to score by just heading straight at them.

I can't say I enjoyed last night's game very much.

No plays, no good passing. Just dump the puck in the corner and go after.

And defensive schemes are better than ever. Dump and chase is as old as the game itself, and I can't think of a single team that doesn't do it regularly throughout a game. Some more than others, but all do it.

Watch international hockey, where the ice surface is bigger. No hits, lots of passes. I find it a lot more boring because there's almost zero physicality, but it would be right up your alley.

NEW YORK – The opener of the Stanley Cup finals drew the best preliminary rating for a Game 1 in 12 years.

The Vancouver Canucks' last-second 1-0 win over the Boston Bruins earned a 3.2 overnight rating and 6 share on NBC on Wednesday. That's up 14 percent from last year's Philadelphia-Chicago Game 1 and the highest since a 3.7 for Buffalo-Dallas in 1999.

The rating was boosted by heavy interest in Boston's large market, which posted a 25.5/39, topping the 19.1/34 for Game 1 of last year's Celtics-Lakers NBA finals.

The rating was 113 percent higher than the first game on NBC the last time a Canadian team was in the final. Ottawa-Anaheim in 2007 drew a 1.5/3.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20110602/ap_on_sp_ho_ne/hkn_stanley_cup_ratings

That they didn't make it, since I hate Mike Illitch. But I like seeing good hockey.

:D He seems awfully quiet in the sports forum this year!!

Maybe it must have how the cameras/mikes were set up, or maybe NBC did some editing, but I felt like I was hearing very little crowd noise/energy as I watched. It detracted a bit, IMO... :shrug:

especially between two teams that don't play each other that often. Regardless of the less than artful brutishness on the ice we were treated to terrific goaltending duel. Seventy shots on goal and just the one score.

because I really enjoyed it. Especially the second period.

Thomas vs. Luongo is a great finals match-up, both of them want to prove he's the best... Round One goes to Luongo by :30 seconds... Sets up a classic series....