Damnit Arp. Find a way!

$80 for a 3-star hotel downtown on Hotwire.

TSN says Monday and Thursday for the first 2 games, for some reason.

What are the odds that you can book from Ottawa, and just show up in Toronto for your connection? LOL

I would go with you....but I'll be in North Carolina!

If you don't show up for any part of a plane ticket, it's void.

I live basically right in between Raleigh and Pittsburgh so when I get back stateside a week from Friday I assume it'll be around game 3 and I'm going to make an effort to get to one of these games hopefully.

Zach, consider me probably out for this game. At this point, I see nothing flight wise. And too damn lazy to drive 5 hours anyway! If you get the tickets, Im gonna kick myself I think.

Next question: If this game goes 6 or 7 games.......where are we watching them? ESPN Sportszone?


2009 EASTERN CONFERENCE FINALS

SERIES M #4 vs. #6
Network
Monday, May 18 at Pittsburgh
Thursday, May 21 at Pittsburgh
Saturday, May 23 at Carolina
Tuesday, May 26 at Carolina
* Friday, May 29 at Pittsburgh
* Sunday, May 31 at Carolina
* Tuesday, June 2 at Pittsburgh

****ing game 6 is 100% going to be during the FCP golf outing. I may skip it for the game, though. If it's at night, I'm skipping the poker tourney, then.

Definitely ESPN Zone, or just wherever. ****ing basketball playoffs might **** us over, though. We'll have to find somewhere with the games on, anyways.

I know, I just realized Im working Game 6!!!! Im setting up my appointments, never considered a game with Carolina, especially afternoon, or even late morning Vegas time!!!!

As soon as I find the time of the game, I gotta move some appointments around!

Zach:
Flies with connection in Toronto, and ends up in Pittsburgh. Same thing on way back, thru Toronto to Ottawa.

Me in Toronto:
Same plane, I get on and join him for half the flight time each way.


He pays, all in, $355.

I pay, all in, $1303.

Difference: half the flight time, for $1000 MORE!

Seriously, how does Air Canada not go bankrupt?

They have been close several times:

http://www.btnonline.com/businesstravelnew...t_id=1003957282

BTW. You guys better hope that there is no NBA game during the hockey in game in Vegas...We were going to watch the Leafs vs Flyers playoff game in ESPN zone(which seems like ages ago) but just because some stupid Lakers vs Pistons final game was on we couldnt even get in to the place, let alone watch it there....

Laker fans are annoying IMO..

Economics 101: the air line industry is set up to charge as much as possible

ie: family vacationers are price sensitive but will buy their tickets months in advance.
ie: business travelers are less price sensitive but will generally buy their tickets at the last minute

Getting people to pay more than the market clearing equilibrium is what makes them money.

Anyone else enjoy how quickly Mike Milbury got out of his Garden Superbox last night?

I have no idea how what you just said has anything to do with my post.

You just said things that I would assume EVERYONE knows. If they charged everyone $1300, and I complained about just that, then I'd understand your argument.

Now, if your looking to impress me with your Economics degree, explain to me how they make money by charging $300 for one guy in Ottawa to fill up the same plane they want someone in Toronto to fly at for $1300. Obviously, they have some angle for trying to lure in Ottawa customers, but flying half empty planes hasn't exactly proven to be the best course of action for the airline industry, no matter how high the margins.

And if your point is that Toronto is all business travellers and Ottawa are all famillies looking to go to the Pens game, I think I'd disagree. Why not try to get Ottawa customers to pay up as well?

I actually quite enjoy the Lakers fans. I love being there every June, its basketball crazy, and I love bball.

But yeah, it would suck if it hurt hockey viewing.

I am now a huge Carolina Hurricanes fan..

They are my team to go all the way to win the Cup...

Lets go Eric Staal..

Lets go Nascar...

Lets go old man who does funny things to his son on national tv.

In the words of Ric Flair...WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOoo

I'm an economist too!

And there was much rejoycing in Pens Land.

I mean, he really doesn't even have to come out and say it anymore, it's very much assumed he's rooting against the Penguins. The only thing that's proven powerful enough to overturn the serge-curse in the last couple years were the Detroit Red Wings.

Yes sir...Only two teams i will cheer for the Penguins against..

you know who they are..

Curse is over bitches.

Did you guys buy your tickets at the same time/set sale?

either you misunderstood, or I explained it very badly.

If you look RIGHT NOW, those are the prices.
So yes, same time.

Not only same time, but I'd be flying ON HIS ACTUAL PLANE, but for half the miles, but more than $1000 cost over his.

Drive to Buffalo, you'll spend an extra two hours in the car and save a ton of money.

usually, Id agree with you, but doesnt apply to a short drive like Pittsburgh.

Last year I saved over $1k in family trip to Florida by going thru Buffalo.....and that was with some decent (relatively speaking) Westjet/Air Canada finds.

The number of cars with Ontario license plates at the hotel or airport parking lots in Buffalo are insane.

Oh ah, weird.

Yeah, I suppose that's true, if you're going to drive to Buffalo you may as well sack up and drive the rest of the way to Pittsburgh.

Last chance Arpiar.

Believe it or not, tickets are still available... C-level for $198 or B-level for $210.

DRIVE DOWN! I would damn near do it if the flight wasn't so cheap for me.

fwiw thus far my conn smyth winner is sid by about 0.1% ahead of cam ward. i geniunely believe which ever one progresses to the finals will win the trophy regardless of whether or not they win the cup.

I don't disagree with that at all.

Thanks, but it really became impossible once the Mrs. came down with the flu, and I became Mom+Dad around the house.

Have a blast, enjoy the game. Hard to believe tickets are so readily available, then again, they cost more than I would have guessed.

Interesting, your probably right, but Im not sure that Staal wouldnt take away some of Ward's thunder though.

Scott Walker's wife diagnosed with cancer. All the best to him and his family.
You have to wonder how it affected him, and how each of us would have dealt with it if going thru something similar while still trying to perform on the ice.


TSN story

I'm about to turn this into a Serge-like I hate the Pens type of thread.

#1. Matt Cooke (always been cheap and dirty, not just a Pens thing)

#2. Bill Guerin (i just wish someone would kick granpa's ass)

But my true hate is for Malkin and Crosby. Cause its just ****ing unfair to have to play against BOTH of these guys.

staring at Malkin's goofy ogre face tilts me every ****ing time..

I am seriously disgusted..

One silver lining...If the Pens win, and lose another final there is good justification for them to be the "Buffalo Bills" of the NHL..Crosby can be the next Jim Kelly.

I cant help but be disgusted at this whole team...The players, the fans(serious issues they have) just the whole situation..

BAAAA

Yeah, imagine being 2-2 in franchise finals appearances.

lol.

#1. Little ******. Hate him unless he's on your team. Love him now, obviously. I dunno what he did in this game. I would agree the knee was questionable in game 1, but so were about 3 separate ones by the Canes in this game.

#2. Unreal how he's turned it on after the deadline. He's young again. He has a bit of a Gary Roberts type of "don't **** with me" thing going on.

Agree with your last statement.

I know this is no consolation now, Arp, but you've gotta be proud of what this team did this year. Half-way through the season, they were at best a long shot to make the playoffs, and to have them get to the conference finals is a huge achievement. I know it's not the ultimate prize, but still a great season for the Canes. Staal had a great run, and Ward played fantastic, even in Penguins series. Young guys like Larose getting better, Staal and Ward getting another year under their belt, etc. This team should be exciting going forward.

Great playoff run! I was baffled the whole time. I was always completely opposite on my picks. I figured Jersey would beat them in 7, they took it in 7. I said Boston would beat them handily, probably in 5. Wrong! I said Pitts would struggle to finish them off? Wrong. Not to be offensive there, but man they were a huge surprise all playoffs. Hats off.

I agree with you guys and the kind words for the team is appreciated. This was not expected and it was a real pleasure to watch. I hope this ends the sometimes shaky play I have seen from Ward and Staal over the last couple of regular seasons. We just need better depth on the top lines.....and we need Brind'Amour to be 29 again. Im not sure we have the prospects to compete going forward....but we will see.

Staal was amazing. Ward was sick. The comebacks were pure joy. Good run!

This team was more useless than a screen door on a submarine, what a waste of what could have been an exciting playoffs

j/k Arp, I'm just still bitter!

After seeing Washington and Philly, it was kinda nice to play a team that had a classy fan base for a change. Sure, there are idiots in every franchise, but Carolina was heads and tails above what I'm used to. In Washington, you have the owner and fans doing everything they can to block Pittsburgh ticket buyers, you have the Philly organist doing his/her best to lead the "Crosby Sucks" chant, and then you have the Canes who actually congratulated the Penguins on the jumbotron for winning the East. I also don't think there' are many people in this forum that thought either of these 2 teams would have been fighting in the Eastern Finals around February. Great series, and good luck next year.

i had to go way back to find this.

They suck...Its official..

Arp what is going wrong?

They cant score, they are last in the league in GFA, they cant stop the puck they are 29th in the league(only thanks to Toskala).

Eric Staal has 3 goals and 2 assists..

WTF??

Did Maurice overstay his welcome, and he is gone soon??

The should be last overall before the end of the week.. We play them Friday

yeah I'm shocked they are playing so poorly tbh. but, they'll probably still sneak into the playoffs and make the cup finals, lol.

they have the talent to be much better..

I think Paul Maurice will be fired very soon.

Staal is injured....Cole is coming back. I think the Hurricanes will turn it around on Nov 6th.

ahhh, so much to say.

Problems: where to start.....

Staal is hurt. Finally left yesterdays game early. He is one of those guys that plays hurt all the time, which is great, but you never know if he's not playing well, or if he is just hurting. Personal opinion.....his shoulder hasnt been right in years. I expect some very bad news on him shortly. He hasnt played well all year.

Maurice: What happens when the GM and coach are like best friends, and suddenly the coach loses the room? (sound familiar?) I think soon Rutherford will have no choice but to fire Paulie again, and shed some tears doing it. Sorry, but no friends in hockey. Maurice has already made a few questionable calls that has me shaking my head...I have to believe his players are dumbfounded as well. I think he lost the room, and is now trying to pull rabbits out of a hat. Good luck.

Defence: Its atrocious. There seems to be no cohesion for some reason. They keep trying to pair Pitkanen+AWard, and thats been a disaster. There was one play yesterday that was ridiculously bad, and showed a lot of frustation. Here is a small sample......
Pitkanen frustrated
Corvo disappears for half a game at a time, and reminds me of Kovalev in the I dont give a f**k department, just without the world class skills.

Forwards: Staal is hurt. BrindAmour is practically done. Whitney trying to play for one last contract, but not getting anywhere, Larose looks like Larose again and cant score, Ruutu looked good til suspension and Samsonov still sucks. Cole was hurt, and that didnt help. Juicy Jokinen would be great if there was nothing but last minute plays and shootouts. Sutter is suddenly our best player, but gets bullyed out there too much. Its time to call up Boychuk and maybe Bowman. I dont believe in calling up players during losing streaks, cause it might harm them long term+reeks of desperation, but I think they are more ready than Maurice gives them credit for. At least a few games to give them a taste, and to give the other players some fears. The one thing I despise about the Canes is their over abundance of loyalty. At some point, you gotta bench some guys! A few of them should have been scratches long ago.

GTD/Ward: I think he's tired still from last year, and is a little shaky. Hard to tell what came first though, the bad defence, or his own loss of confidence. I think it was both at same time. On the plus side, Leighton just became a father. Maurice in his wisdom, gave him a start practically the next day, in the afternoon. Sleepy? Too bad!

Overall: This team is old. Rutherford is great, but too big a believer in going back to the good things that worked before. Team is feeling the effects of last years run, it doesnt have a major injection of youth (although there are a couple of guys in the AHL that could be called up) and sadly, once Staal is out, has no one to take charge. Its a Staal+Ward team. With Staal hurt, and Ward shaky, things do downhill fast. .

All you really need to know: They played at 1pm EST yesterday afternoon against a San Jose team that flew cross country, and whose body clock was 10am.
And Canes still got bombed+outplayed+worst of all, outworked.

Great analysis Arp, thanks.

Hate to see your team doing bad, but dont mind if we leap frog you tomorrow ok..

Not sure I mind that all that much. Maybe more losses are best, especially to the Leafs.
I think last years run was a nice mirage. Fun one, but not indicative of their long term strength.

At this point, if Staal is hurt long term, I like the idea of a quick rebuild/retool.
They have some nice depth on the farm at fwd+def, Ward+Staal+Ruutu are young and a decent core, and by adding a star type player in 2010 draft, there could be another Stanley run in 2011-2012.

bump for the best team in hockey