Riviera82

Treliving's been Brian Burking the Flames goaltending.

1040 hands down. I think the personalities are better and the sound quality on the radio is better too.

That was the goaltending duel I've wanted to see Markstrom win since he became a Canuck. I wasn't sure if he'd ever be able to do it because he's never been a "shutout-goalie", but he showed me! Tied for second place in Canuck history with Cory Schneider in saves (43) for a shutout. Kirk McLean remains in first with 46.

I don't think this is a good deal at all. Vasilevsky has never shown very well in the playoffs and that's of course where performance counts the most.

Chicago in 2013. I found that one to be a bit more satisfying actually. The Bruins had a 1 goal lead late in game 6 at home and the Hawks scored 2 quick ones to steal the cup.

I think I feel happy. Didn't want Boston to win, didn't want St. Louis to leave the "sad club", but I think I do like this better. That's 2 cup losses on home ice for Boston since 2011. It's just us and Buffalo now.

We saw that last year.

If the Blues win they leave the "sad club". Since the Capitals won last year that would leave only the Canucks and Sabres. I hate Boston though. I wish both teams could lose but I have to root for St. Louis, although I think Boston will be too much for them and take it in six. Whoever wins though, I wont be happy.

I was driving in my car when I heard the news and my jaw practically hit the steering wheel. I couldn't believe my ears. I always enjoyed Botch, whether it was his articles, TV appearances, but mostly the Power Hour or other appearances on 1040. I find this news incredibly sad, not just on an entertainment level, but more so on a human level. To pass away so suddenly, so unexpectedly, and at such a relatively young age with a wife and young family left behind; it's tragic. I know many folks on this forum weren't crazy about Jason Botchford, but I was a big fan of his. Rest in peace, Jason.

Frankly, I think Mike Babcock is overrated as a coach. He usually has had pretty good teams to work with and has accomplished relatively little. Yeah, 2 Olympic golds. I could've coached those Canadian teams to gold. 3 Stanley Cup Finals' - J.S. Giguere carried him to the first one, 1 win with a Presidents Trophy winning dream team. Lost the next year in virtually the exact same scenario. 14 playoff appearances - lost in round one 7 times (50%), lost in round two 3 times, lost in round three 1 time, lost the cup 2 times and hasn't coached beyond round 1 since 2013. I just don't see why some people think he's so special.

Picking the Stars in 6 again. I think they'll be this year's Cinderella team.

I always wait for the DVD to see the Marvel movies (except Infinity War) but Captain Marvel and Endgame are too close together. I'll be seeing Endgame in theater before Captain Marvel is on DVD, which is a bit disappointing. Hope I haven't missed anything very important. I must say though, those Endgame trailers gave me such a hard on. Cant wait!

I'm gonna disagree with you on that one. Playoff Luongo was pretty much either shutout or blowout for a couple years leading up to that SCF. Don't you think that would psych-out the skaters on that team? Not knowing which Luongo was going to show up on a game to game basis. I think they were playing scared after game 3 and couldn't play the way that made them successful.

I've always taken issue with this line of thinking. When people say we "made it to game 7" or we "took them to game 7", to me that suggests we were the underdogs. We weren't. We were the (heavy) favorites, we had a 2-0 series lead, and we pissed it all away and lost. It's not like it was in '94. A plucky underdog team that wasn't supposed to be there and fought all the way back from 3-1 down to force a 7th game on the road. No, it was pretty much the opposite. We collapsed to a game 7.

To be perfectly honest, I hate it. I really hope they go with a different name.

Does anyone else kind of hope that the BJs win the series?

I'd like to see an epic upset but I don't think it happens here. Tampa in 5.

I think this'll be a homer series, so the Flames will take it in 7.

The leafs have been bleeding goals for quite a while now, but I think they'll elevate their game and lose in 6.

Gonna take Dallas in 6; if Bishop stays healthy.

Just saw Infinity War tonight and was not at all disappointed. Highly recommend. Although I would suggest it's important to catch up on previous MCU films beforehand so this movie will make more sense. I went with my brother and he was asking a lot of questions and yet still enjoyed the show.

It seems to me like we're nearly on the same wavelength but could actually end up having an endless debate about this. Firstly, if it we're up to me Naslund wouldn't be in the rafters. Trevor and Bure were iconic players for this franchise who might be the only two I would want up there. For me, Smyl is borderline at best. If Luongo's number were to be retired here well then it would also have to be retired in Florida. How many cupless goalies can say they've been honored that way by 2 teams? Not only that, if in Vancouver we ever have a goalie who wins a Vezina or leads this team to a Stanley Cup then shouldn't he automatically have his number retired as well even he doesn't have the same long stretch of regular season success that Luongo did? Honestly I cant stand the thought of the #1 being hung from the rafters at the Rog with Luongo's name on it. That was Kirk McLean's number first and before Luongo he led all Vancouver goalies in every category (and still a couple) and all he got was the RoH. The best players usually define themselves in the playoffs and all things being equal, both #1's had just one long run. McLean was heroic for an underdog team who lost the cup by 1 goal to the Presidents Trophy winning "best team money could buy" while playing in an era of much higher scoring and still posting what would even be sparkling stats by today's standards. Luongo, while playing for the heavy favorite and yes having some great moments along the way nearly coughed up a hairball again against Chicago after building a virtually insurmountable series lead in the first round. Then of course was made to look foolish in 4 games of the SCF with none of the losses being even close. Yeah I know our team didn't score but the guy at the other end set a record for saves in the cup final which I think had something to do with it. To your final point, I think I'd probably vote Luongo into the hall before either of the twins too because at least his regular season totals are pretty phenomenal. The Sedins have been really good but their totals dont really "leap off the page" and they've had the same underwhelming postseason success as Luongo did. To me all 3 of them aren't clutch when the games are most important.

The bold part I agree with wholeheartedly. The twins should definitely be in the rafters as opposed to Luongo though as they've spent their entire careers here, etc., etc.. I dont necessarily believe that either the Sedins or Luongo belong in the HOF however. For me at least, Luongo is held to a different standard because he was a highly touted "elite" goaltender who was supposed to be our "answer" in net and yet while he was remarkably consistent during the regular season, the playoffs would always be a rollercoaster ride with him. One game he would be unbeatable and the next he would be Markstrom on a bad day. His meltdowns in crucial games have practically become the stuff of legend.

Yep, I agree with you, the skaters were not good enough in 2011 but that wasn't all that I was referring to. Luongo's body of work in the playoffs was pretty uneven throughout his time here.

Overall Luongo was no good in the playoffs, that's why I dont want Kirk McLean's number in the rafters. Luongo had some great moments for sure but his level of inconsistency in postseason play was remarkable. He had some very good teams to work with and despite that could only backstop his team to 1 lengthy but failed run and looked pretty bad at crucial times doing it. If there were a 'regular season hall of fame' I'd say say Luongo should go in first ballot along with the Sedins.