Post: #126

(04-19-2019 04:39 PM)doc holliday Wrote:  The Blues comeback last night was amazing. Can't believe Schwartz tapped that into the net out of mid-air. The series is St Louis' for the taking now.

I still think the Caps will win this series but going forward, not having Oshie will be tough. That hit by Fogele on Oshie was dangerous as hell and Fogele should get a suspension for that.

Calgary is done I think but they may pull one out tonight. Johnny Hockey is not acquitting himself very well in this playoff so far and Mark Giordano is all but invisible.

Leafs and Bruins will go 7 just like the last two times and I still think the Leafs can pull it out despite all of the mess with Kadri.

Nash and Dallas will go 7 but no idea as to who will win that series.

Vegas should finish San Jose off in game 6 but I could see SJ getting to game 7 if Jones plays like he did yesterday. Eric Karlsson is still a mess on D though and Brent Burns can decide any day now that he'd like to show up.

All in all, crazy, incredible first round with a few game 7s in the making.

MVP of the first round is one of either Nathan McKinnon, Sergei Bobrovsky or Mark Stone.

A measly two minute penalty is a small price to pay for taking out one of our best players. But it's ok we're calling up a fat out of shape one dimensional grinder who isn't even that physical so we're all good now. Or maybe Burakovsky, who we're paying 3 million dollars to rot on the 4th line, will suddenly stop playing like it's his first season in the NHL like he does every year. Or maybe Kuznetsov, who we're paying almost 8 mil, will emerge from hiding. Or maybe Carlson, who we're paying 8 mil, will decide to stop playing like shit and easy goals.

Anyway. Can't believe Calgary folded that hard last night. Avalanche look scary as fuckkkk. Speed, speed, and more speed. I'm so high on them and the Blues right now. Leafs definitely look to have the edge against Boston, who I thought would go deep haha. I'm not watching Nash-Dallas anymore because they put that unbearable woman on commentary. I am quite fond of Dallas though, not so much the Preds with that flopping bitch Subban. And fuck Vegas I hope the Sharks come back and take them out.

Post: #127

Washington kicked ass last nightt. Ovechkin is such a beast. Washington will win this series and play the Islanders. That will be a tough series but I see the Caps beating the Isles too. Once Was Not, you should be relieved and have confidence in your boys now.

Calgary folded like a cheap rug. Johnny Hockey with 3 breakaways and a penalty shot and still couldn't score. Just brutal. Avs look on fire right now.

Good work by the Blues and Dallas looking real good. That would be a great second round series.

Hope the Leafs pull this off today and I think Sharks-Vegas goes to game 7 after tonight.

Post: #128

(04-21-2019 11:03 AM)doc holliday Wrote:  Washington kicked ass last nightt. Ovechkin is such a beast. Washington will win this series and play the Islanders. That will be a tough series but I see the Caps beating the Isles too. Once Was Not, you should be relieved and have confidence in your boys now.

I think the Caps are super hyped up after losing T.J, Oshie. They definitely took it out on the Canes last night. Devante Smith-Pelly being called up was encouraging too. He was one of the heroes from last year's Stanley Cup run.

I don't want to get ahead of myself too much, Caps need to finish off the Canes first. But a Caps-Isles playoff series will be must see TV and would probably draw the best ratings of the entire playoffs.

Post: #129

How does MAF not get a Vezina nomination? Ridiculous.. he has always been underrated.

Post: #130

So far the inverse of my opinions has been a solid winner.

So uhhhh, the Caps will definitely lose tonight, like, for sure. Total blowout coming. We don't stand a chance. 100% stone cold lock. Of the century.

Post: #131

Caps will close it out tonight. Road team has yet to win a game in this series but it will happen tonight.

Nashville will force game 7 tonight.

Oh and fuck the Flyers for removing the statue of Kate Smith. Let that be a 100 year curse for them. As if anyone needed more reasons to hate that douchebag of a team.

Post: #132

Especially since she's been dead for over 30 years, it's crazy how she did something that is now considered racist all the way back in the 1930's and now it's a big deal.

The flyers will be a good team next year and I still think Nolan Patrick will become an elite forward, some players take longer to develop. They haven't had a decent goalie in forever and Carter Hart seems to be the real deal.

Post: #133

Same problem all series: no one shows up except first line and Connolly. Hard to win when most of your team is invisible. It hurts to watch Kuznetsov be so shit right now.

Ovi barely left the ice around the 5 minute mark of the 3rd period and eventually got thrown out when his frustration over the disallowed goal got out of control. That's on our idiot coach who was going for the win down by 3 instead of resting guys. Now Ovi who was giving it all on the ice is going to be exhausted. It was ridiculous to let him play that long.

It would be a huge mark of shame to lose to the Canes, we better bring it in game 7. Someone needs to show up that isn't Backstrom, Ovechkin, Wilson, or Connolly.

Post: #134

It'll be interesting to see what happens in Nashville. Too many grinders at the forward position without enough pure skill up front. Too many offensive zone entrances with their dump & chase forecheckers resulting in low percentage shots from the perimeter....Postseason wise, haven't been the same since losing James Neal in the expansion draft. Might take losing one of their top 4 dmen to get more finishers up front or snag a UFA like say Panarin if lucky...

St. Louis & Dallas will be an interesting series. Blues beat a similar team in the first round as their dmen are bigger & more intimidating than the pairings Dallas faced in their previous series. Ryan O'Reilly fills the void of Backes & then some but, I like the Stars in the next series anyways...

Post: #135

There are rumours of NSH maybe trading PK. If I was them I'd do it for a good prospect and a 1st round pick, plus that would enable them to obviously shed his salary and use it to sign a UFA forward. NSH since coming into the league has basically always been kind of weak offensively.

I'd bet on STL, outside of the DAL top line they don't seem that deep.

Post: #136

(04-22-2019 10:07 AM)Once Was Not Wrote:  So far the inverse of my opinions has been a solid winner.

So uhhhh, the Caps will definitely lose tonight, like, for sure. Total blowout coming. We don't stand a chance. 100% stone cold lock. Of the century.

Unfortunately you were right this time! I'm super nervous for this game, even though we are the defending champs and will be playing at home. Both teams have been playing stellar at home, hope the Caps can do that for game 7.

Post: #137

(04-23-2019 01:42 AM)Sidney Crosby Wrote:  There are rumours of NSH maybe trading PK. If I was them I'd do it for a good prospect and a 1st round pick, plus that would enable them to obviously shed his salary and use it to sign a UFA forward. NSH since coming into the league has basically always been kind of weak offensively.

I'd bet on STL, outside of the DAL top line they don't seem that deep.

Yeah biggest issue with Nashville is that they were able to play their style in the Stanley Cup Finals run 2 years back because they had an interesting forward like James Neal in their lineup. Neal is a guy who was maybe a bit underwhelming when skating on a line with top playmakers (see Pittsburgh days) yet excelled at really creating something from nothing in the dump & chase game; he's like a more talented Ryan Smyth.

It's takes courage going into heavy traffic offensively but it requires both courage & skill being a playmaker in congested areas. Colton Scissons, Nick Bonino, Kyle Turris, and Calle Yarnkrok are gritty two way forwards but lack enough finish offensively when push comes to shove. It's almost as if the dmen of Nashville had to pinch in moreso than usual to create offense come playoff time leaving them vulnerable on the backend.

On the contrary, Nashville's forwards had to back check more regularly because the top 4 of Nashville is mainly 6-0 or shorter outside of Matthias Ekholm who doesn't strike fear within opposing forwards much like Shea Weber or Ryan Suter did in their primes.

I don't think PK Subban himself is a problem for Nashville....it's just the team needs better pieces geared for another postseason run...perhaps getting a Jacob Trouba for say Subban via trade, sending PK off for some skilled gritty forwards, and/or trying to go after Tyler Myers in free agency. Artemi Panarin, Joe Pavelski, or Mark Stone would be great additions up front while getting rid of some overachieving yet average two way forwards.

This is the most interesting UFA pool/RFA scenarios I've seen heading towards what should be an eventful offseason.

Post: #138

Just as spring follows winter and day follows night, the Leafs shitting the bed in game 7 follows the announcement that they play the Bruins in round one.

On one hand - I live on the opposite side of the world and have more important shit to deal with than hockey.

It's fine to support a sports team, but the way some people get so emotionally invested in them that they cry and spend tons of cash and take a few days off work after they bow out is beta.

After game six I knew this would happen anyways.

At least I'm not some doofus like Steve Dangle or hundreds of other men who have sunk thousands of dollars of my own money into jerseys and related merchandise - the same jerseys that cost $10 to make and retail for $300...I haven't been to a game since 2009.

But I'm pissed because my dad, who was younger than I am when they last won, and who has a degenerative brain disease and will probably be dead in five years, has just been robbed of yet another chance to see a Leafs cup win.

Fucking THREE series leads taken.

Three series leads pissed away.

And the best part is that this Bruins team didn't even look very good aside from games 2 and 6! They looked very beatable!

Once more its the fault of the same people as last year.

Andersen failing to make the timely save when it's all on the line.

Jake Gardiner -3 in a game seven, but he's a UFA anyways, get the fuck out.

Kadri watching from the press box because he acts like a terrorist again and gets himself suspended, again...get the fuck out.

But most egregious is Babcock.

'I er um down two goals with ten minutes left, instead of running Marner, Tavares, Matthews, Nylander, Kapanen, Johnsson, Rielly and Muzzin through a brick wall, Jake, Marleau and Brownie get out there, you're gud pros who train right and love your families!'

What would I do?

Kadri for a D in summer.

Brown for a mid round pick.

Marleau and a prospect and a pick to whoever he agrees to go to, offer to retain if you have to. If Marleau can't or won't be traded find a way to LTIR him.

Delete Gardiner's number on June 30th.

And Babs...you're out. Get a coach who wants to win instead of being fine with losing as long as it's done his way.

Post: #139

Trouba most likely gets moved and then they have the cap space to re-sign Myers. Trouba is a good player but he doesn't want to be there.

I don't think Subban is a problem but he is a good trading chip and he has a high cap hit.

The team that signs Erik Karlsson is going to end up regretting it, he has injury problems and he will demand a 7 year contract north of 10 mil and he will be 29 this summer.

Post: #140

This SJ-VGK game just did a complete 180 in the span of 4 mins. Never seen anything like this and I've been watching hawwwkey since 1992.

Post: #141

Such a weak call though, 2 minute penalty at the worst. He was pushed and fell awkwardly.

Post: #142

(04-23-2019 09:31 PM)Sidney Crosby Wrote:  Trouba most likely gets moved and then they have the cap space to re-sign Myers. Trouba is a good player but he doesn't want to be there.

^That's debatable for Trouba. He voiced his displeasure about playing left side when he's a right shot dman & primarily wanted (still wants) big bucks long-term. Had he wanted out, he would've literally asked for out ages ago instead of requesting more money & added ice time on the right side.

Winnipeg seems like a tightly knit team with almost half of their skaters being American. Oilers fans including myself joked that the relocation from Atlanta made Edmonton seem like a more desirable destination for UFAs but the top Jets guys seem to love playing in Winnipeg as I'm sure Trouba is no exception to that.

Recent winning doesn't hurt matters either though the top players on their roster including Trouba didn't request trades when times were rough leading up to the drafting of Laine

I still feel Trouba gets traded for cap reasons as Tyler Myers seems more willing to negotiate with the Jets for a more team friendly deal that nets him a good payday as well.

Ehlers will likely get moved for cap relief with Connor/Myers/Laine expecting big extensions so hoping my Oilers can get in on him or Trouba.

(04-23-2019 11:53 PM)Sidney Crosby Wrote:  Such a weak call though, 2 minute penalty at the worst. He was pushed and fell awkwardly.

If anything, that penalty should've been called on Stastny for driving Pavelski into the ice while he was in mid-air opposed to Eakin

Post: #143

I don't think they will have cap space without moving out a significant contract so for me it makes sense to trade Trouba because and re-sign Myers. Trouba would obviously get them some significant pieces as well.

I really don't have any confidence in Oilers management/ownership. So many blown picks and bad trades, I'd say the worst move in recent history would have to the trade for Reinhart.

Post: #144

(04-24-2019 12:50 AM)Sidney Crosby Wrote:  I don't think they will have cap space without moving out a significant contract so for me it makes sense to trade Trouba because and re-sign Myers. Trouba would obviously get them some significant pieces as well.

Yep I see Ehlers and Trouba being the odd men out. Both guys will net them a ton of valuable assets as they'll need another left shot dman, prospects, draft pics, and various assets.

(04-24-2019 12:50 AM)Sidney Crosby Wrote:  I really don't have any confidence in Oilers management/ownership. So many blown picks and bad trades, I'd say the worst move in recent history would have to the trade for Reinhart.

Yes this is quite depressing for me. Looch is signed until forever so I'm hoping he can be moved to a team that needs to meet the cap floor (Coyotes/Sens). Chiarelli extending Kris Russell was awful when he already had Klefbom, Sekera (who I hope recovers), and Nurse on the left side.

Adam Larsson gets too much heat but not sure why management has not added another right shot puck moving dman yet for years & counting.....

Matt Benning is a third pairing guy at best though I do have hopes for Evan Bouchard...would rather not see management rush his development however

Post: #145

Adam Larsson seems fine but everyone is still pissed off about losing Hall.

Lucic is fine, as a 3rd/4th liner making 2.5 million. They are going to have to give up an asset to unload him because isn't that contract buyout proof basically?

Matt Benning wasn't even picked up when he was put on waivers.

Puuljarvi is a project, he may end up being a decent top 6 forward. Another rushed Oilers prospect.

The Oilers need to go out and find a defensive 3C that plays all the hard minutes so then they can put RNH with either McDavid or Drai since I think those two should play separately. I think RNH -McDavid - Kassian works if Kassian can improve his fitness. It's almost like Eberle would look good playing for the Oilers.....

Post: #146

Wow what a game that Vegas-SJ game 7 was. I think that play deserved the major. You can seriously fuck someone up by cross checking them because of the force you can apply with your stick like that. Pavelski is so strong on his feet so Eakin must have used a ton of force to knock him off balance like that. Stastny could have been given a penalty for driving his head to the ice like that too. Plus what happened to the Vegas pk? That was brutal as hell. 4 goals in less than 5 min? Damn. Vegas had tons of opportunities to put the Sharks away, being up 3-1 in the series and 3-0 in this game. That was so much fun to watch, almost better than sex!

First game 7 was good too, Rask and Boston's 4th line won that game for the Bruins. I can see Columbus taking them out, I don't think the Bruins are anything special.

You Caps fans here ready? Scared after watching tonight? Lol. MdWanderer and Once was not , you guys must be getting nervous.

Brosemite, you must have loved watching the Flames implode. Johnny Hockey was such a douchebag, turning his head away from the Avs players in the hand shake line and then chirping at the refs on his way to the dressing room from the hand shake line.

NHL playoffs are always great but this one so far has been one of the best ever so far. Just amazing. Can't wait for yet another game 7 tomorrow.

Post: #147

As good as the first round has been they need to go back to the 1 v 8 format, Don Cherry agrees.

Post: #148

(04-24-2019 01:09 AM)doc holliday Wrote:  Wow what a game that Vegas-SJ game 7 was. I think that play deserved the major. You can seriously fuck someone up by cross checking them because of the force you can apply with your stick like that. Pavelski is so strong on his feet so Eakin must have used a ton of force to knock him off balance like that. Stastny could have been given a penalty for driving his head to the ice like that too.

If anything a 5 minute major by Stastny for driving Pavelski into the ice while somewhat in mid-air....maybe a minor on Eakin but that's a judgement call open for interpretation

(04-24-2019 01:09 AM)doc holliday Wrote:  First game 7 was good too, Rask and Boston's 4th line won that game for the Bruins. I can see Columbus taking them out, I don't think the Bruins are anything special.

I think Columbus can take out the Bruins too. What an implosion by the Leafs...

(04-24-2019 01:09 AM)Sidney Crosby Wrote:  Puuljarvi is a project, he may end up being a decent top 6 forward. Another rushed Oilers prospect.

Wouldn't say he was rushed because he was brought up & down accordingly...likely better off finding his game elsewhere

(04-24-2019 01:09 AM)Sidney Crosby Wrote:  Adam Larsson seems fine but everyone is still pissed off about losing Hall.

Yeah Hall was a cancer in the locker room & within the community too...Oilers still didn't get enough for him and Eberle though

Post: #149

Thing is that you get nastier rivalries this way which is what I think the NHL wanted by going to this format. Just imagine how the Sharks-Knights games will be next season. Imagine Dallas-Nashville in the Winter Classic next year. There are no cream puff teams in the playoffs anymore so doing the 1-8 won't give the better teams a greater advantage.

Brosemite, yeah maybe they got the wrong player but I think a major was warranted there. I thought his jugular had been cut the way the blood was spurting on to the ice there.

Post: #150

^Good pts but I think intense rivalries stemming from playoff series would still exist as a result of the previous format...(minus the monotony)
Battle of Ontario
Stars-Oilers
Canucks-Hawks
Wings-Hawks
Habs-Bruins