NHL 2015, Part II - Stanley Cup Playoff Race and Beyond

[FreshFish]

Re: NHL 2015, Part II - Stanley Cup Playoff Race and Beyond

A few days late with this post....

I was surprised at the arc of the 'Hawks - Ducks series. At first I was concerned that the Ducks, by going for the body all the time instead of the puck, would wear the 'Hawks down but it looks like the 'Hawks had their own 'rope-a-dope' strategy to allow the Ducks to hit them, absorb the hits, and then keep skating. It looks like the Ducks tired themselves out by going after the body so much so often, and the 'Hawks responded with an extra level of intensity in games 6 and 7 that the Ducks couldn't match.

The statistic on "hits" was something like 335 - 245 in the Ducks favor, yet the more hits they laid the better Chicago played.

 

[pgb-ohio]

Re: NHL 2015, Part II - Stanley Cup Playoff Race and Beyond

He's a Wings fan stuck living in Chicago for the best run in Hawks history. It's hard on him.

Ah. Makes sense. Cue up the grunge on his behalf. Or a dirge.

...I was surprised at the arc of the 'Hawks - Ducks series. At first I was concerned that the Ducks, by going for the body all the time instead of the puck, would wear the 'Hawks down but it looks like the 'Hawks had their own 'rope-a-dope' strategy to allow the Ducks to hit them, absorb the hits, and then keep skating. It looks like the Ducks tired themselves out by going after the body so much so often, and the 'Hawks responded with an extra level of intensity in games 6 and 7 that the Ducks couldn't match.

The statistic on "hits" was something like 335 - 245 in the Ducks favor, yet the more hits they laid the better Chicago played.

There you go.

Are we paying attention, Mr. Kessler? No human can deliver that many hits and still play effective hockey.

 

[Gurtholfin]

Re: NHL 2015, Part II - Stanley Cup Playoff Race and Beyond

Several teams have tried to beat the Hawks into submission and it generally doesn't work.

The Blues... the Bruins... the Ducks...

The Kings are the only team that played the Hawks physically and won and it took them till OT of game 7 and a fluke goal to do it. That following the previous year where the Hawks beat the Kings in 5.

 

[trixR4kids]

Re: NHL 2015, Part II - Stanley Cup Playoff Race and Beyond

A few days late with this post....

I was surprised at the arc of the 'Hawks - Ducks series. At first I was concerned that the Ducks, by going for the body all the time instead of the puck, would wear the 'Hawks down but it looks like the 'Hawks had their own 'rope-a-dope' strategy to allow the Ducks to hit them, absorb the hits, and then keep skating. It looks like the Ducks tired themselves out by going after the body so much so often, and the 'Hawks responded with an extra level of intensity in games 6 and 7 that the Ducks couldn't match.

The statistic on "hits" was something like 335 - 245 in the Ducks favor, yet the more hits they laid the better Chicago played.

The Kings and Hawks are two teams that get consistently out-hit every year so I wasn't too worried about them wearing down or w/e. Part of it is because they are better possession teams and you're not going to hit the other team as much when you have the puck.

 

[pgb-ohio]

Re: NHL 2015, Part II - Stanley Cup Playoff Race and Beyond

FWIW, a "limited number" of tickets go on sale today for the Cup games in Chicago.

Disclaimer #1: They are not cheap.
Disclaimer #2: The three hour "Hull Pre-Sale" (currently in progress) may exhaust the supply.

That said, the Public Sale starts at 1:00PM Eastern/12:00Noon Central on Ticketmaster. Best of luck to anyone hoping to make the purchase.

 

[hockeyplayer1015]

Re: NHL 2015, Part II - Stanley Cup Playoff Race and Beyond

FWIW, a "limited number" of tickets go on sale today for the Cup games in Chicago.

Disclaimer #1: They are not cheap.
Disclaimer #2: The three hour "Hull Pre-Sale" (currently in progress) may exhaust the supply.

That said, the Public Sale starts at 1:00PM Eastern/12:00Noon Central on Ticketmaster. Best of luck to anyone hoping to make the purchase.

I was able to snag 3 for game 1 down here in Tampa, after it appeared things had sold out. The old "tickets trickling out, keep refreshing the page" shtick. 100's are running $350-$420 each, face value+fees. 300's are something like $175-$250.

 

[Gurtholfin]

Re: NHL 2015, Part II - Stanley Cup Playoff Race and Beyond

The starting price of $285 each for the worst of the 300s was all I needed to hear.


Too many other things to spend $1300 on.

I'll be content at home with the flat screen, friends, the well stocked bar and comfy chairs.


I bet once the secondary market gets ahold of them, it will be cheaper to fly to Tampa for a game.

 

[St. Clown]

Re: NHL 2015, Part II - Stanley Cup Playoff Race and Beyond

Friends?

 

[hockeyplayer1015]

Re: NHL 2015, Part II - Stanley Cup Playoff Race and Beyond

The starting price of $285 each for the worst of the 300s was all I needed to hear.


Too many other things to spend $1300 on.

I'll be content at home with the flat screen, friends, the well stocked bar and comfy chairs.


I bet once the secondary market gets ahold of them, it will be cheaper to fly to Tampa for a game.

Eh... Maybe.

Seconday supply for Tampa is jacked up a good bit too. I imagine Chicago will be a bit more of a premium, but I'm not entirely sure it would be enough to cover flight/hotel/etc.

Looking forward to checking off a partial bucket list item to be at a SCF game tomorrow night. May not be my true #1 team involved, but it's in my back yard. Hard to pass that up.

Edit: Game 2? $425 on Tiqiq just to get in the door.

 

[goldy_331]

Re: NHL 2015, Part II - Stanley Cup Playoff Race and Beyond

Friends?

Johnnie Walker, et. al. Or wait, I guess for him it's several high end rums whose names I don't know. But all close and personal for Gurt.

 

[pgb-ohio]

Re: NHL 2015, Part II - Stanley Cup Playoff Race and Beyond

The starting price of $285 each for the worst of the 300s was all I needed to hear.

Too many other things to spend $1300 on.

I'll be content at home with the flat screen, friends, the well stocked bar and comfy chairs.

I hear ya. It's a significant price hike, even from the WCF. Will always cherish my Game 6 WCF memories, but am content to watch on TV the rest of the way.

Ticketmaster Details: I did log on when the public sale opened. Fairly heavy traffic; five minutes of wait time on the first try. No seats offered. That first try was for AMEX tickets, which may have been a tactical mistake. Next tried for General Public tickets. After about a 3 minute wait, nothing offered. Should mention that I limited the initial searches to the 300 Level, the only price points I was giving any serious consideration to.

Next, for the sport of it, I tinkered around with options. But soon I was getting nothing but immediate rejections, regardless of options selected. Spent about 25 minutes on Ticketmaster overall; was never offered face value seats at any price point. As noted above, it's probably just as well...

I bet once the secondary market gets ahold of them, it will be cheaper to fly to Tampa for a game.

Could very well be. The Ticketmaster resale prices for the Chicago games are absolutely out of this world. Cheapest nosebleed seats I found on the resale board were $800 each. (For the record, that was for Game 6 of the Finals.)


EDIT: FWIW, There are now a handful of resale tickets for Game 3 in the $450 - $600 Range; and some Game 4 ducats in the $600 - $800 range. Doesn't change my plans. But the fact that there are a few sellers out there who are "content" with doubling their money is arguably a good thing.

 

[Gurtholfin]

Re: NHL 2015, Part II - Stanley Cup Playoff Race and Beyond

Friends?

Johnnie Walker, et. al. Or wait, I guess for him it's several high end rums whose names I don't know. But all close and personal for Gurt.

Your words hurt.



Had a Game 7 party on Saturday and we were shooting pool by the 3rd period and toasting yet another Cup Final appearance.

Unfortunately, have to work the beer tent for Verona Hometown Days (high school hockey fundraiser) at 9:00 this Saturday, so the party that night will be cut short at 8:45 or so as we all move to the town park.

 

[aparch]

Re: NHL 2015, Part II - Stanley Cup Playoff Race and Beyond

Grand Rapids Griffins get eliminated by the Utica Comets in the AHL Western Conference Final. Utica faces the Manchester Monarchs for the Calder Cup.

Blashill as new Red Wing HC pending Griffins locker clean out and exit interviews.

 

[pgb-ohio]

Re: NHL 2015, Part II - Stanley Cup Playoff Race and Beyond

Frivolous Thought For The Day:

Tampa: Upcoming Frozen Four Host; 2015 Stanley Cup Finalist
Chicago: Upcoming Frozen Four Host; 2015 Stanley Cup Finalist
Minnesota: Upcoming Frozen Four Host; Upcoming Stanley Cup Finalist?

Hey, just trying to give the Wild fans some hope.

 

[lugnut92]

Re: NHL 2015, Part II - Stanley Cup Playoff Race and Beyond

Frivolous Thought For The Day:

Tampa: Upcoming Frozen Four Host; 2015 Stanley Cup Finalist
Chicago: Upcoming Frozen Four Host; 2015 Stanley Cup Finalist
Minnesota: Upcoming Frozen Four Host; Upcoming Stanley Cup Finalist?

Hey, just trying to give the Wild fans some hope.

Does this mean that the Blues missed their chance by being hot garbage the season before STL hosted the Frozen Four?

 

[aparch]

Re: NHL 2015, Part II - Stanley Cup Playoff Race and Beyond

I think the worst one was 2006 when the Milwaukee Admirals lost the Calder Cup to the Hershey Bears after hosting the NCAA tournament.


For most the teams, there doesnt appear to be a correlation. All their Stanley Cup appearances come before they host the NCAA. Onlt thing I saw noteworthy is that hosts have mostly lost in the SCF.

2015 Boston - last Stanley Cup Finals appearance 2013 - Lost
2014 Philly - 2010 - L
2013 Pittsburgh - 2009 W
2012 Tampa - 2004 W
2011 St. Paul - 1991 L
2010 Detroit - 2009 L
2009 Washington DC - 1998 L
2008 Denver - 2001 W
2007 St. Louis - 1970 L
2006 Milwaukee - 2006 Calder Cup Loss
2005 Columbus - Never
2004 Boston - 1988 L
2003 Buffalo - 1999 L
2002 St. Paul - 1991 L
2001 Albany - 1995 Calder Cup W
2000 Providence - 1999 Calder Cup W

 

[icehawk]

Re: NHL 2015, Part II - Stanley Cup Playoff Race and Beyond

Bolts all over the Hawks. Hawks are chasing big time. 1-0 Bolts early.

 

[icehawk]

Frivolous Thought For The Day:

Tampa: Upcoming Frozen Four Host; 2015 Stanley Cup Finalist
Chicago: Upcoming Frozen Four Host; 2015 Stanley Cup Finalist
Minnesota: Upcoming Frozen Four Host; Upcoming Stanley Cup Finalist?

Hey, just trying to give the Wild fans some hope.

As long as they don't have to face the Hawks in the playoffs it could happen. Then again probably not.

 

[SteveP]

Re: NHL 2015, Part II - Stanley Cup Playoff Race and Beyond

Wanna be an NHL owner?

Via Bob McKenzie of TSN with the bombshell:

Pittsburgh Penguin owners Ron Burkle and Mario Lemieux have hired Morgan Stanley to explore the possibility of selling some or all of the NHL franchise.

It doesn't mean Burkle and Lemieux are necessarily getting out but they are looking at various options. It's believed Lemieux, perhaps more than Burkle, may have an interest in getting his equity share out of the ‎franchise.

That would be something considering the fact that the Penguins are seen as one of the league’s success stories – a group that was publicly uplifted out of bankruptcy by Lemieux and now is one of the NHL’s top destination spots for players.

My source in the 'Burgh says Lemieux and Burkle have had a falling out. He added the Sid and Geno aren't exactly best buds these days.

 

[FadeToBlack&Gold]

Re: NHL 2015, Part II - Stanley Cup Playoff Race and Beyond

I wonder if this means Lemieux has cancelled Saturday morning cartoons and chocolate chip pancakes with Sid?