Lundqvist is a better than average goalie, but most
playoff goalies are. Part of the reason I hate NYR is because the NHL and NBC analysts are in love with NYR for some reason. If Lund is having a bad game they blame the D for being out of position or forwards for not scoring. Heaven forbid they point out that he missed his assignment or didn't cut down the angle.... He is good, but no King as they like to refer to him.
<-- ignorant hockey noob. Torts is the head coach for NY, yes? What's he doing to that is screwing over his team?
Basically, I was pumped for this season after watching the playoffs last year, but the strike kinda made me forget about everything hockey related until the cup came around again.
Also, my bro is a HUGE Pens fan after he lived in Pitt for a while. What team should I root for (besides the Senators) just to aggravate him? lol
*edit* oh yeah, what's an enforcer? Roamers that just hit people?
Torts = John Tortorella, New York Rangers' head coach. I don't think he is
doing anything to them. NYR have (almost) always played as a group of individuals and Torts just lets them do it expecting Nash or Richards (or another individual) to step up and put the team on their shoulders. You can win the first round that way, but not a championship. You win championships by playing strong as a 5-man team unit.
I seem to find myself explaining the lockout to casual fans all the time. A lockout is different than a strike, so don't make that mistake. It basically boils down to who is responsible and their reasons for doing it. A strike is when labor (players) refuse to work until their demands are met (usually more money). Lockout is when management (owners) refuse to play under current conditions. The NHL is governed by a Collective Bargaining Agreement that outlines everything from rules to trades and salary. But, honestly there is way too much information to discuss there.
Everyone loves the Pens. It's like loving the Red Wings in the late 90's. Can't really go wrong with a "winner" like that. As far as the playoffs go, since my team is out, I'm not really rooting for anyone specifically, but rather rooting against teams/players.
I want Boston to win because I hate the Rangers.
I want Pitt to win because I picked them in the finals (but I want to see a long series with Ott)
I want Detroit to win because I really like Datsyuk and Zeterberg and hate Patrick Kane & Jonathan Towes
I want LA to win because they beat us and I'd rather loose to the eventual winner than someone that just got kicked out in the Conf Finals
If you're looking to "get into" hockey, your home team Avalanche is going to be very exciting to watch for a long time. They have a lot of great youth and will be very good over the next 5-10 years if they can keep the core youth in tact.
I prefer Western Conf hockey to Eastern Conf hockey any day. It's all hockey, but there is a different philosophy in the West. Whoever scores more goals wins in the East. Whoever allows fewer goals wins in the West. They may as well not even have defensemen in the Eastern Conf, cause they are so focused on scoring and never bother to defend their own end. I've always played defense, so I prefer a tight checking game and better defense.
EDIT: An enforcer is the muscle that protects "star" players. During the regular season they mostly forecheck, hit people and fight, but you have to be able to play a complete game if you want to play in the playoffs. In the PO's they are there to forecheck, shut down the 2nd scoring line and protect players like Crosby, who are more focused on scoring than throwing his weight around on body checks.