NFT: NHL Playoff Thread

Defeat the Minnesota Wild, 4 games to 0

but any hockey fans needs to watch the playoffs. Especially those late nights on the West coast. I'll take a stab at some predictions..

Lightning in 4
Pens in 5
Caps in 5
Leafs in 7

Kings in 7
Ducks in 7
Wild in 6
Preds in 5

The west is going to be great and that Boston/Toronto series should be really good. Hope that goes 7.

I fully expect the Penguins or Devils to win the cup. Just seems like that type of sports year.

Poster says Lightning in four yet later says Devils win the cup because it's that kind of year. FYI the Devils all three against the Lightning this season.

the low key great series is Winnipeg/Minnesota. Winnipeg is a really fun team that doesn't get much attention in the States because of where they play. But they have an awesome crowd and there's a natural location rivalry with Minnesota. That's going to be a good one.

Pens in 6
Tampa in 5
Boston in 7
Columbus in 7

Nashville in 5
LA in 5
Winnipeg in 7
Sharks in 6

But out of the TB/Boston option which was on the table heading into last night, TB is the better matchup for NJ.

Not saying the Devils will win but I doubt they get swept. I'm just excited for playoff hockey again after 6 years.

Looking forward to watching them take their best shot.

for game 7's.

don't care too much who wins as long as it's not the Bruins, but nothing in sports IMO is like a NHL game 7.

I like playoff OT's as well.

It's been a while since they won it all.If the Rangers are out I always root for an Original 6 team[except for the Bruins].
I love playoff hockey, psyched for the playoffs.
Teams I can't root for, Penguins, Flyers, TB[Rangers South], Caps.

In comment 13905968 Arkbach said:

Quote:

Poster says Lightning in four yet later says Devils win the cup because it's that kind of year. FYI the Devils all three against the Lightning this season.

Well, those are just my predictions. I would like the Devils to lose in 3 if they could. But this sports year has been so bad that I wouldn't be surprised if they won the cup.

Devils win the Cup. Keith Kinkaid is named Conn Smythe winner. The kid is amazing and his starting over Corey "overpaid and over-rated" Schneider is long overdue

or Toronto instead of Tampa. I think TB will win the cup and that team is just so deep and talented. Hopefully the Devils can win a couple of games to give their young players some much needed playoff experience.

If the Devils are able to win a series or two it will factor into free agents deciding to sign with the Devils as well as entice Taylor Hall to sign an extension. For the Devils to actually win this series they will need Kinkaid to continue to play as well as he has and Hall needs to continue his MVP caliber play. Hischier, Palmieri, Vatanen, Butcher, Severson, and Maroon will need to play well for the steal this series. Grabner needs to step up as Maroon has been the better of the deadline acquisitions.

In comment 13906055 PatchoguePete said:

Quote:

Devils win the Cup. Keith Kinkaid is named Conn Smythe winner. The kid is amazing and his starting over Corey "overpaid and over-rated" Schneider is long overdue

That is some ZGiants level optimism. I just don't think the Devils are that close yet. Kinkaid absolutely deserves to remain the starter but I don't think it is "long overdue." Kinkaid did not start out the season well. Before Schneider's injury Kinkaid was playing poorly. I don't know what happened but Kinkaid has been one of the best goalies in the league since then.

I hope the Devils are do trade Schneider in the offseason while they are still able to. Clearing his 6 million salary off the books will allow the Devils to be major players in free agency. I would try to trade for Grubauer to compete with Kinkaid or they could sign a stopgap veteran and wait for Blackwood to develop.

and most people's favorite in the East, but the last few times I watched them I was shocked how bad defensively Victor Hedman was. Offensively, he's elite, but defensively he was caught up often, pinched routinely and was beaten.

I don't know if it was just how loose he felt he could play since TB had a huge pt lead in the standings and in the playoffs he'll be more conservative, but I don't remember his D being this suspect.

something to watch in the playoffs wrt TB.

However, I believe BOS is the favorite in the East, that line of Pastrnak, Bergeron, and Marchand is the best line in the league right now (non PP line).

I hate the Bruins more than any NHL team, but I am admittedly amazed watching those 3, the no look, quick passed, the transitions, the skill, they can turn a game pretty quickly.

Of course the Penguins can never be forgotten and unfortunately WAS can't lose as the #1 seed this year and they can never be counted out, but I think BOS or TB comes out of the East.

Oh, and I'm always wrong with playoff predictions. I had WAS and ANA last year (I think).

no matter what. Such is life as the #2 WC.

I think if you look at matchups and most recent play, you take your chances against TB.

but I guess other news is fine too. With this attitude, if it's pervasive, I don't think the Housley era will last too long in Buffalo. I know every assistant coach probably aspires to be a head coach, but I'd have strongly considered staying in Nashville another year if I was Housley over taking as HC in Buffalo.

this quote is from Ryan O'Reilly, a supposed team leader in Buffalo.

To me, you expect players to be accountable, but this is the coach's job.



Link - ( New Window )

I know I will get flogged for saying this but I hate OT hockey in the playoffs. So many games go into 2-3 OT periods....It makes the game too long. Most people need to get their sleep and be ready and sharp for work and or children. I believe they need to make playoff hockey 4-4 from the get go.

In fact I�m hoping down the road the NHL will play half their games 4-4 and of course the other half 5-5.

Both are excellent teams but we match up way better vs. TB. Boston would have been a nightmare with their size, forcheck and physicality. TB is really talented it should be a really entertaining series as both teams love to skate and trade chances. I understand many don't watch the Devs, but those thinking they will be easy 4 or 5 game fodder are in for a surprise. TB has been treading water the 2nd half of the year.

but playoff hockey is as exciting as anything in sports.

and the more OT's the higher the drama.

I think it's a silly fear to have or opinion to have since going back to the 1930's there have been just 45 games that went beyond 2 OT - out of thousands of games.

In comment 13906696 pjcas18 said:

Quote:

but playoff hockey is as exciting as anything in sports. and the more OT's the higher the drama. I think it's a silly fear to have or opinion to have since going back to the 1930's there have been just 45 games that went beyond 2 OT - out of thousands of games.

Why can�t it be 4-4? It would still be x icing only end quicker. After all, during the reg season all OTs are 4-4. Why discard 4-4 completely? You have to admit, 4-4 hockey is very exciting to watch.

Devils are extremely dangerous...that's a 6 or 7 game series that can go either way

In comment 13906778 5BowlsSoon said:

Quote:

In comment 13906696 pjcas18 said: Quote: but playoff hockey is as exciting as anything in sports. and the more OT's the higher the drama. I think it's a silly fear to have or opinion to have since going back to the 1930's there have been just 45 games that went beyond 2 OT - out of thousands of games. Why can�t it be 4-4? It would still be x icing only end quicker. After all, during the reg season all OTs are 4-4. Why discard 4-4 completely? You have to admit, 4-4 hockey is very exciting to watch.

Because my goal for the playoffs isn't for the game to end sooner, it's to be as fair as possible to both teams and 5v5 is the only thing that represents actual play.

in the regular season they don't want games to be too long, so 3v3 makes sense.

in the playoffs it does not.

And for the record I didn't think I would like 3v3, but I love it. really shows off the skills some players have.

is Toronto. Otherwise go West go!

hockey, but love playoff hockey. It'd be cool to see Vegas, an expansion team, to win it all. Toronto too. They haven't won it since the '60s.

In comment 13906816 pjcas18 said:

Quote:

And for the record I didn't think I would like 3v3, but I love it. really shows off the skills some players have.

Yep I agree I love how tactical it is with puck possession and watching set plays develop slowly. its a side of the game you don't get to see much even strength.

of what the playoff situation would look like if the league awarded 3 points for a regulation win (a no-brainer imo) and seeded 1-8 by record (my personal preference). Notably, the Panthers would've been in the playoffs instead of the Blue Jackets under this system.

East:

#1 TB vs. #8 PHI

#2 BOS vs. #7 NJ

#3 WAS vs. #6 PIT

#4 TOR vs. #5 FLA

West:

#1 NAS vs. #8 COL

#2 WIN vs. #7 LA

#3 LV vs. #6 SJ

#4 MIN vs. #5 ANA

Penguins 7, Flyers 0

with the natural hat trick.

dating back to last year.

1st period in Boston. Furious pace, great hitting, end to end play.

for game 2 vs LVG for a hit to the head on William Carrier.

I have no issue with the suspension, but that is a legal hit 5 years ago. It was just unnecessary in that spot.

Washington. CBJ gave up those two goals early on during that power play but CBJ did a great job killing it off got a quick goal back.

...

...

rolled, they're going to be a tough out. Not sure why TOR didn't challenge the 1st goal, it was close, but I think it was offside, while I hate the rule, while it's there may as well use it.

BJ's rally in the 3rd to tie it, under 4 min left, we may get playoff OT tonight. USA Network.

... don�t like the way this is going.

Crap.

with a high skill play for the GW.

Caps lose.

Immediately what I thought when Panarin scored that filth

CBJ is legit. They are going to be a tough out for everyone.

all season. They're similar ages and salary, but Panarin is much better.

And panarin was projected to be paid more soon. Plus many were convinced panarin was a product of playing with Kane.

Guess not.

Nice equalizer from Nashville.

clearing attempt by Barberio. NSH capitalizes.

About same division teams playing each other every year ... I don't think any first round series has been seen in a while.

Boston / Toronto might be the most recent ... and that was 2013 I think? (And torontos choke was epic... and painful as a rangers fan because then momentum launched Boston to the finals ... 2 goals in 90 seconds.. oh wait Ottawa did that last year too... fucking Vigneault on a beach somewhere laughing about his $8 million hard earned payoff)

Sean Avery "screens" Marty Brodeur

was good MAF Tuesday night, can't wait for Vegas to turn into a pumpkin, but it doesn't seem they will.

and it's not I want them to be bad, I just think they will be.

See what happens tonight, Flyers embarrassed, Kings blanked, Jets played well.

see if that continues.

If I had to root for a team it might be Winnipeg.

it was a bad hit (and one I wonder if it made 5Bowls proud), but 5 games? holy shit.

1 playoff game supposedly equals 5 regular season games. that was not a 15 game suspension hit.

dirty hit, no doubt about it, but not series suspension worthy IMO.

Flyers showing life.

4 - 0 Flyers.

mow 4 - 1. Crosby missed a wide open net end of the 2nd.

the Wild, win game 2 4 - 1, up 2 - 0.

Jets out shot the Wild 84 - 37 in the two games.

Wild good at home though I think.

Vegas?!

Boring game

hopefully 5bowls is proud of his team.

hard hitting series - no surprise, could not stay up for Vegas the other night, let's see if they sustain on the road.

and this is pretty remarkable about the Jets roster. I haven't fact-checked it, but I assume it's correct.

Quote:

Brad E. Schlossman ‏ @SchlossmanGF Here's how Winnipeg acquired last night's lineup. Not a single NHL FA signing. Unbelievable job by Cheveldayoff and his scouting staff: Draft - Draft - Trade Draft - Trade - Draft Draft - Draft - Trade Draft - Draft - College FA Draft - Draft Trade - Trade Draft - Trade Draft