Because he did it in the playoffs?
- MBFlyerfan

I'm not that upset about COuturier because I think he's gonna win a couple Selke's down the road.

one shootout win

my question is how many of the losses did bob start? i know he started the last one, in march (in the middle of bryz's streak)
- FlyerMike18

i attended that game of course. bryz gets a vacation and i got a 4-1 loss.

I see your point but disagree. If the award is player most valued to their team, then a teams success or record does not mean anything, IMO. Stamkos on Tampa would mean so much more than stamkos on the flyers because he carries Tampa while he'd be a scoring weapon here. Giroux would be more valuable because of his two way play. Does that make sense at all?

I just think its a case by case thing. Can't look directly at the teams record.
- funmaster18

If you have two guys, who were equally valuable to their teams, then the next step is to look at team success. Obviously, Stamkos was Tampa's MVP. No doubt about it. Giroux was equally important to Philly. Quick was probably more valuable to the Kings than either Stamkos or Giroux.

But if you have three guys who were equally valuable to their team's successes, then the next criteria should be how successful was the team?

i'm not arguing that stamkos should be a finalist. my only argument is that he shouldn't simply be counted out because the team's d and goaltending are absolute butt and therefore they missed the playoffs.
- OrangeBlack27

He certainly deserves consideration. I just feel that there's 3 or 4 guys who are more worthy. I also think that Quick is a far bigger snub than Giroux....of course, I personally think that goalies shouldn't be in the Hart race, because it'd be real easy to argue that the 3 finalists should be Quick, Lundqvist and Mike Smith or Pekka Rinne

If you have two guys, who were equally valuable to their teams, then the next step is to look at team success. Obviously, Stamkos was Tampa's MVP. No doubt about it. Giroux was equally important to Philly. Quick was probably more valuable to the Kings than either Stamkos or Giroux.

But if you have three guys who were equally valuable to their team's successes, then the next criteria should be how successful was the team?
- Jsaquella

not sure how you can determine if two guys were "equally valuable" to their team thoguh

I'm not that upset about COuturier because I think he's gonna win a couple Selke's down the road.
- JoeRussomanno

I just thought the Hart thing is interesting. Don't put too much stock into these awards at all. Like honestly who cares what the 29 other GMs think of Giroux or Lunqvist or anyone.

Only pure personal achievement I would argue and care about is players making the HoF. (and yes you can argue I then should worry about these awards as they are used for HoF consideration but whatever)

I just thought the Hart thing is interesting. Don't put too much stock into these awards at all. Like honestly who cares what the 29 other GMs think of Giroux or Lunqvist or anyone.

Only pure personal achievement I would argue and care about is players making the HoF. (and yes you can argue I then should worry about these awards as they are used for HoF consideration but whatever)
- mrhattrick27

Despite my backhanded remark about Hank I think he should win the Vezina. The Hall is a big achievement and ye you should care about it. That's a whole other conversation that I frankly don't have the energy to entertain at this time, but any time one of our former players is snubbed or graced I'll happily oblige.

not sure how you can determine if two guys were "equally valuable" to their team thoguh
- Crimsoninja

That's the big question, and it also bring up team success. Without Stamkos, the Lightning still don't make the playoffs. Instead of 10th, they probably finish 12th or 13th. Still no playoffs.

Remove Quick from the Kings. My guess is, you do that, and Richie and Carts are playing with Nail Yakupov next fall.

Despite my backhanded remark about Hank I think he should win the Vezina. The Hall is a big achievement and ye you should care about it. That's a whole other conversation that I frankly don't have the energy to entertain at this time, but any time one of our former players is snubbed or graced I'll happily oblige.
- JoeRussomanno

I don't. I think Quick is the most deserving Vezina candidate.

the devils are a very scary jekyll and hyde team, if kovalchuk parise and elias bring their a-game i dont know that bryz can handle it...people may want to forget it but he did give up an absurd amount of goals last series, and if we can dictate the pace in any game the flyers are in serious trouble
- Xnightwish

Anything can happen in the playoffs and I understand you back your team. That said, ON PAPER this is an utter mismatch in every aspect of the game. Comments about Bryzgalov are moot as Brodeur has demonstrated in the past few years he is just as likely to implode and be terrible for long stretches.

The Devils went 2-3-1 against the Flyers. One win was a shootout and one was the game where the Devils chased Bob
- Jsaquella

from what i've seen, bob started all three losses

bryz gave up one goal in 3 starts and a third period relief appearance against the devils this year

i attended that game of course. bryz gets a vacation and i got a 4-1 loss.
- Don'tForgetTocchet

that's some messed up poop, boo

I asked Danny Briere two series preparation-related questions today, and he provided two interesting answers.

Q: Is there anything you gain from the video review meetings -- or watching games at home -- that you don't get from actually playing a team like the Devils so many times?

Briere: Sometimes. I don't think there's any substitute for playing a team. We know pretty much what they're going to do, and they know us, too. But sometimes the coaches can pick on little tweaks you can make. They might find a 'fail point' on the other side we might be able to take advantage of. For the most part, though, it's kind of a reminder of tendencies you see when you play against them.

Q: Danny, are there any particular ways you have changed your own preparations for playoff games from the time you were a young player til now?

Briere: As you get older, you know more about what it's like in the playoffs. You spend less time thinking about what might happen and just get ready for whatever comes. When I was a young player, I would get so hyped up the night before a big game. Sometimes, I would wake up feeling drained. The energy would be gone. So I try to keep it on an even keel more. Sometimes that's easier said than done.

I think you see that during the regular season, too. You know how sometimes you have a big game against a really tough opponent and the next game out, there's a letdown against one of the worst teams in the league? You don't want it to be that way. But it's a big challenge to find that level, that energy you need. So that's really what I focus on now more than thinking about what's going to happen in the game.

The other part of it is just knowing your body. As you get older as a player, you have to pay attention to that, too.

I don't. I think Quick is the most deserving Vezina candidate.
- Jsaquella

Trust me if he won it, I wouldn't be shedding any tears

from what i've seen, bob started all three losses

bryz gave up one goal in 3 starts and a third period relief appearance against the devils this year
- FlyerMike18

Yes, Bob was the goalie in the two regular losses and the shootout loss.

his 27 points vs henriques 51 points in 3 less games doesnt really lend credence to your claims...and playoff stats dont matter coming out of that circus act you guys called a series
- Xnightwish

Exactly, it was a series of offensive juggernauts and Malkin scored 1, yes 1, ES point. Henrique doesn't have that prowess.

If you don't keep the discussion to hockey and respect other posters you won't be saying much for the duration of the series.
- bodiva88

that's some messed up poop, boo
- FlyerMike18

i did also get to see the 3-0 shutout though

I asked Danny Briere two series preparation-related questions today, and he provided two interesting answers.

Q: Is there anything you gain from the video review meetings -- or watching games at home -- that you don't get from actually playing a team like the Devils so many times?

Briere: Sometimes. I don't think there's any substitute for playing a team. We know pretty much what they're going to do, and they know us, too. But sometimes the coaches can pick on little tweaks you can make. They might find a 'fail point' on the other side we might be able to take advantage of. For the most part, though, it's kind of a reminder of tendencies you see when you play against them.

Q: Danny, are there any particular ways you have changed your own preparations for playoff games from the time you were a young player til now?

Briere: As you get older, you know more about what it's like in the playoffs. You spend less time thinking about what might happen and just get ready for whatever comes. When I was a young player, I would get so hyped up the night before a big game. Sometimes, I would wake up feeling drained. The energy would be gone. So I try to keep it on an even keel more. Sometimes that's easier said than done.

I think you see that during the regular season, too. You know how sometimes you have a big game against a really tough opponent and the next game out, there's a letdown against one of the worst teams in the league? You don't want it to be that way. But it's a big challenge to find that level, that energy you need. So that's really what I focus on now more than thinking about what's going to happen in the game.

The other part of it is just knowing your body. As you get older as a player, you have to pay attention to that, too.
- bmeltzer

Say what you want, but Briere's had a lot of success in getting up for playoff games.

That's the big question, and it also bring up team success. Without Stamkos, the Lightning still don't make the playoffs. Instead of 10th, they probably finish 12th or 13th. Still no playoffs.

Remove Quick from the Kings. My guess is, you do that, and Richie and Carts are playing with Nail Yakupov next fall.
- Jsaquella

you're probably being slightly facetious, but i'll disagree anyway.

quick was awesome, but so is the kings' defensive system. they outshot the opposition every night (yearly average 31 to 27 advantage...5th fewest shots allowed/game--10th most shots for). it's not like they were pinned in their own end consistently. put bernier in there instead and they probably just miss the playoffs only because they couldn't score at all. not even close to fail for nail territory, imo.

Say what you want, but Briere's had a lot of success in getting up for playoff games.
- Jsaquella

It is truly amazing.

i did also get to see the 3-0 shutout though
- Don'tForgetTocchet

hopefully bryz dominates this round and shuts up the haters

Talbot had to have a root canal after the mishap yesterday. He's OK now. It was from a shot by Carle ("good thing it was him -- it was a muffin") but deflected by Wellwood ("I'll get him back").

Talbot had to have a root canal after the mishap yesterday. He's OK now. It was from a shot by Carle ("good thing it was him -- it was a muffin") but deflected by Wellwood ("I'll get him back").
- bmeltzer

Talbot had to have a root canal after the mishap yesterday. He's OK now. It was from a shot by Carle ("good thing it was him -- it was a muffin") but deflected by Wellwood ("I'll get him back").
- bmeltzer

I love the #weakwrists hashtag they had for Carle's shot.