Round 1 Buffalo(TigerToa) 3 - Pittsburgh (Frankididou) 2

The high flying Pittsburgh Penguins and Buffalo Sabres met in the first round of the playoffs in an intense battle that will be considered one for the ages. (details below are best as I could remember ... scores are accurate)

Game 1
Pit 0 @ Buf 2 (F)
Both teams came out and tried to dictate their style of play in the game as Penguins came out hitting hard while the Sabres tried to play their puck pocession game. It seemed as both offences suffered as chances were very slim even during the Sabres powerplays. The Sabres broke the goose eggs late in the 1st period to take a 1-0 lead into the second frame. The war continued as neither goalie faltered and no pucks found twine. In the third, the Sabres were able to add an insurance goal early and Miller reinforced wall he had built in the Sabres net as the Penguins fire power was brought to bear as much as they could ... but with a total of 24 shots between the two teams, not much was available.

Game 2
Buf 4 @ Pit 2 (F)
The teams took no time to reaquaint themselves as the the intensity seemed to creep even further as the offences adjusted are were able to get more shots off. As in the first game, the Sabres drew first blood in the first period to take 1-0 lead into the second. The script had changed however, as the Penguins went on the power play and Crosby was able to beat Miller to tie the game up. The Sabres came back and scored two more goals, but the Penguins would not be denied and scored late in the third to bring the game back to within one. Early in the third, the Sabres scored to make it a 4-2 game and held on tight as the Pens started to take control of the flow of the game as a sign of things to come. Only thanks to Millers great saves did the score stay 4-2.

Game 3
Pit 3 @ Buf 0 (F)
With a renewed vigor, the Penguins stormed back and totally dominated the Sabres, not only scoring first, but also holding the stunned Sabres to 2 shots. The talented Pittsburgh squad smelled blood and continued their imitiation of their football brothers Steel Curtain through the second while extending the special team dominance with a power play goal that pinballed off a Sabres defender into his own net. In the third just when the Sabres got some life, the Penguins scored again driving a final dagger into the hometown team. Fleury barely broke a sweat during the game but was there when it counted.

Game 4
Buf 1 @ Pit 3 (F)
The Sabres were able to seemingly turn up the offence in the first period with an early goal but the moment was short lived as the Penguins came back and respond with one of their own. From then on the play went back and forth with the defences getting the better of both teams. But the Pens eventually solved the now human Miller and take a 2-1 lead into the third and added injury to insult with a spectacular hit on the Sabres Connolly who crumbled on the ice and had to be helped off to an early visit to the trainers table. Once again the Sabres powerplay failed to provide any sort of a spark and the Penguins added a third insurance goal.

Game 5
Pit 1 @ Buf 2 (F)
In a gut wrenching, controller soaking final game, both teams laid their sweat and tears on the ice and a battle escalated even further. With both teams getting a few chances in the first period, both goalies were stellar in shutting out the big guns. In the second period,the Pens came out storming and were able to get one past Miller early. As the hometown team squandered two more powerplays, it was looking bleak for the fans. As the third opened both teams had many seeming open nets but some spectacular defensive play kept the score at 1-0. The Sabres eventually were able to get another one past Fleury 5 minutes into the third frame. From then on, it was a battle of wills as no inch was given freely. But the goalies and defense stayed true keeping the score at 1-1. Then with just under a minute left, the puck somehow found its way to Drew Stafford in front of the net with very little room. As he was getting hit he somehow managed to get a shot away just over the pad and the glove of Fleury. Through the next 53 long seconds the Sabres and Miller were able to stave off the high pwered Pens and seal a very tough victory

Short video of the goal ...
http://www.easportsworld.com/en_US/video/3531250

Great games Franki, Outside of the 3rd game, I thought they all could of went either way! Enjoyed every gut wrenching second of it!

Ahhh....I don't think there are shootouts in playoff games.... =/

TB (dirkp) vs Dal (sippinforties)

Another great series in the gughl. Thank you to sippinforties, all of the games were close and came down to the wire. Dallas grabbed the first game but then the Lightning took the next 3 to win the series 3 to 1. The last game of the series went to a shootout with Lecavalier scoring the only goal of the game to clinch the series.

San Jose (1) Vs NYR (8)

This was quite the battle. After losing a crazy defensive first 2 games 1-0 a piece, San Jose found themselves in the same position as the Avs and was down two games to none with not a goal on the board in either game. Game 3 was back at the shark tank, and things seem to turn. With the threat of elimination on there hands, Nabokov and Thornton stepped up to the plate and gave the Sharks a strong performance leading them to the 4-0 victory to help gain confidence and possibly turn the series around. Game 4 started off like all the others and was a defensive game all the way through until the Sharks were able to pop one home in a dazzeling double OT victory. The last and final game of the series, saw San Jose back at home in the tank once more to a full house. With the only goal in mind to come out with a victory and move to the next round in search of the cup, the San Jose Sharks pulled off a home victory with goals from Semenov and Thornton leading them to a 2-1 win over the New York Rangers.


Game 1

NYR 1 @ SJS 0

Game 2

SJS 0 @ NYR 1

Game 3

NYR 0 @ SJS 4

Game 4 (2 OT)

SJS 1 @ NYR 0

Game 5

NYR 1 @ SJS 2



Great bloody games XTRM!!! I haven't had a string of well played tough games like that in a while. Had to be the best series I have played so far!!

Colorado (3) vs Boston (6)

After dropping the first 2 games the Avs looked hopeless and in need of a miracle (insert Andrew Raycroft). As Raycroft stood on his head at one end, Sakic went to work at the other inspiring the troops to find a way past Thomas. He did just that with 12 seconds left in game 3 to avoid OT and seemingly turn this series around.

Game 1
Col 0 @ Bos 2

Game 2
Bos 4 @ Col 1

Game 3

Col 2 @ Bos 1
18 shts 17
29 hits 17

3 stars
Sakic 1g
Sturm 1g
Clark 1a

Game 4

Bos 1 @ Col 4
27 shts 22
21 hits 14

3 stars
Raycroft 26sv
Guite 1g
Arnason 2a

Game 5

Col 1 @ Bos 0
20 shts 24
37 hits 22

3 stars
Raycroft 24sv
Smyth 1g
Thomas 19sv

GUGHL09 Standings

PLAYOFF Schedule Coming Jan 22nd.
The following have contacted me that they are in for playoffs ...
RazCal
TigerToa
Roooski
DirkP
JohnnyMac
SippinForties
Frankididou

Only the games posted here are in the standings right now:

POS	City	Team	Owner	GP	W	L	OT	Pts	GF	GA	SF	SA
1	San Jose	Sharks	RazCal	22	14	6	2	30	40	29	218	151
2	Buffalo	Sabres	TigerToa	18	11	5	2	24	33	30	176	187
3	Colorado	Aves	Rooski	15	10	3	2	22	28	20	205	186
4	TB	Lightning	DirkP	13	5	4	4	14	29	33	189	253
5	Boston	Bruins	Johnymac	12	6	6	0	12	13	15	144	94
6	Phoenix	Coyotes	Maglorius	9	6	3	0	12	16	11	110	153
7	Montreal	Canadiens	Critter3	7	4	1	2	10	12	9	175	127
8	Ottawa	Senators	SummDoggs	5	5	0	0	10	12	4	0	0
9	NY	Rangers	XTRM250	8	4	4	0	8	11	12	133	99
10	Calgary	Flames	TooNudie	5	3	2	0	6	7	7	0	0
11	Dallas	Stars	Sippinforties	8	1	4	3	5	8	13	0	0
12	NJ	Devils	Summa 25	6	2	4	0	4	9	10	76	88
13	Edmonton	Oilers	Sagenki	3	2	1	0	4	6	4	16	20
14	Pittsburgh	Penguins	Frankididou	11	1	9	1	3	13	30	117	162
15	Nashville	Predators	maddiesel	5	0	4	1	1	1	8	27	66
16	Chicago	Blackhawks	stortzee	1	0	1	0	0	0	3	0	0

SJS 2 @ BUF 1

17 Shots 21
26 Hits 15
9 Faceoffs 11

3 Stars
Marleau 2g 0a
Nabokov 20 sv
Afinogenov 1g 0a


GREAT games Tiger! Hope to see you in the playoffs.

BUF 0 @ SJS 2

9 Shots 23
22 Hits 18
4 Faceoffs 15

3 Stars
Goc 1g 0a
Michalek 1g 0a
Nabokov 9 sv

Boston 1 @ Buffalo 2 (F)

Great battle goes to the wire as the Sabres win last minute in a tight checking battle.

Good games Sippin ... could of went either way

Buffalo 3 @ Dallas 2 (OT)

Buffalo almost blows a 2-0 lead and pulls out an OT win.

Shots 22 - 30
Hits 24 - 43

Great game Sippin

Avs Holiday Games

Sorry about clumping these all together but it seems like it will be quicker at the moment.


Dallas 3 @ Colorado 0
19 shots 22
33 hits 25

Colorado 1 @ Dallas 0
17 shots 16
23 hits 18

Pitts 2 @ Colorado 3
13 shots 30
33 hits 22

Colorado 5 @ Pitts 1
25 shots 16
31 hits 34

Phx 1 @ Col 0 (Shootout)
18 shots 21
34 hits 47

Col 2 @ Phx 1
17 shots 24
29 hits 25

BOS 0 @ SJS 2

25 Shots 16
33 Hits 23
13 Faceoffs 6

3 Stars
Nabokov 25 sv
Roenick 1g 1a
Thornton 1g 0a

SJS 2 @ BOS 1

22 Shots 25
17 Hits 47
15 Faceoffs 11

3 Stars
Nabokov 24 sv
Thomas 21 sv
Chara 1a

Buffalo 1 @ Boston 0 (F)

Miller outduels Thomas and steals another win for the Buffalo team even though the Bruins heavily outshot the Sabres.


Good Games as usual Johnymac, I definetly got lucky with Miller shutting things down and the rebounds going my way!

Boston 0 @ Buffalo 2 (F)

Miller continues to shine as he carries the badly outshot Sabres to a 2-0 win in a technically challanged battle.

NY Rangers 0 @ Buffalo 3 (F)

Miller stones the Rangers in a hard fought battle.

Buffalo 0 @ NY Rangers 3 (F)

Rangers exact revenge on the Sabres.