Like I said in the final 10 thread, the teams were pretty much locked, but there was some jockeying for position and one team flip in the West (ARI out, COL in).
Some positioning changes, NYI had the M1 seed, now M2 and play PIT instead of CAR. Not sure I feel they did themselves any damage, PIT is obviously skilled but they are old team trending down, and CAR (a bunch of jerks) is young and full of energy.
Anything can happen in hockey, 1 seeds lose, 2 seeds lose, it happens. So my predictions are not something I'd wager on per se, but just my feeling about the series and how they'll go.
East match-ups:
A1: TBL vs WC2: CBJ 4/10 IMO this is not a cake walk for the Lightning. Yes, they're the best team in hockey and one of the best teams in a long time, but CBJ went all-in. Not just with their acquisitions, but by the players they kept knowing there was a very low chance of keeping them (Panarin and Bobrovsky to name a couple).
Prediction: TB wins, but closer than some people think
A2: BOS vs A3: TOR 4/11 my favorite series of the 1st round, and this is why IMO the NHL changed the playoff format. they want these matchups "guaranteed" and they want them early. I love Boston to win this matchup, TOR has been coasting for a while (and they shouldn't have been) I don't love the TOR D and I don't love Andersen in the playoffs. BOS has the best line in hockey (if they keep them together) with Bergeron centering Marchand and Pastrnak. Their 2nd line is like many teams 1st line with Krejci, deBrusk and probably Heinen. He could shuffle things up, but Bergeron, Marchand and Pastrnak tallied 30 pts in the 7 game series vs TOR last year. I wouldn't mess with it. Toronto's fowards might even be deeper - and Boston has David Backes in their 4th line - but man that D could be exposed.
Prediction: BOS, in 6 or 7 in a great series
M1: WAS vs WC1: CAR 4/11
I like that CAR made the playoffs a year early (they just had the #2 pick in the last draft), but WAS should handle them. In the end this will provide the canes some good experience for their young team.
Prediction: WAS in 5.
M2: NYI vs M3: PIT 4/10
In a matchup of the last two stanley cup winning coaches, I think the Islanders actually helped themselves playing PIT instead of CAR, CAR is a team that I don't think anyone likes to play - highest shot total in the league. But IMO PIT with their aging skill is still a bad matchup for NYI who rely on timely scoring, solid D and stingy goal-tending, PIT PP IMO makes the difference. If the Islanders can stay out of the box, they can win this series, but it's the playoffs, and the spotlight will be on the officiating and they'll call it tight, benefiting the Pens.
Prediction: PIT in 5 or 6
West match-ups:
P1: CAL vs WC2: COL 4/11
The Flames are one of the most unheralded 1 seed I can remember. I think it's because a) they're in mountain time and b) their goalie situation is tenuous. But they have such a solid team on O and D I hope they get a long run and people get to see players like Gaudreau, Giordano, Monahan, etc. tough team in all facets. I said above the bruins have the best line in hockey, but Colorado's top line of MacKinnon, Rantanen and Landeskog isn't far behind. If Rantanen can return from injury. However, the Flames should roll.
Prediction: CAL in 5
P2: SJS vs P3: LVG 4/10
LVG team this year is MUCH better IMO, but they don't play quite the same style. SJS is everyone's pick every year to win the cup, they have probably the best D in the playoffs.
So they're mine to win this series.
Prediction: SJS in 5/6
C1: NSH vs WC1: DAL 4/10
Dallas owner publicly ripped his team - mostly stars Tyler Seguin and Jamie Benn - Preds owner should have ripped his team. The Stars responded from mired in futility to make the playoffs, and they are my upset pick.
Prediction: Stars in 7
C2: WIN vs C3: STL 4/10
Love this series. Laine, Connor, Wheeler, Scheifele, Trouba, Ehlers, big Byfuglien - WIN has a star studded roster. The Blues are not bereft of talent either with Tarasenko, two-way prototype center Ryan O'Reilly (my favorite Oz character), Schenn, 19-year old Robert Thomas ans good D plus phenom goalie Jordan Binnington - yes he's a 25 year old rookie, but he's a rookie and he led the league in GAA.
Prediction, going with the HTA: Jets in 6.
Even though my team isn't in it, I'm looking forward to the playoffs. I hope the Bruins get knocked out early (doubt it), otherwise don't care who wins.
Typo obviously meant Pens D had the breakdown
Good 1st so far in WIN, tied up 1 - 1
That was not a fluke. The Penguins were gooning it up and the Islanders stayed disciplined. The Refs did not impact the outcome.
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the Penguins simply can't win.
That was not a fluke. The Penguins were gooning it up and the Islanders stayed disciplined. The Refs did not impact the outcome.
I didn't say it was a fluke nor did I say the refs were to blame.
I do think they called some pretty borderline penalties, but no the refs weren't the reason for the outcome - the Islanders outplayed the Pens. I Simply said in my OP the Pens need to win the series on special teams and I believe that to be true - if the series holds up with the Isles getting 3 times as many PP's it will be a short series, and normally in the playoffs right or wrong Crosby and Malkin get the borderline calls, they haven't so far. Quite the opposite, even when the Islanders goaded Malkin after the whistle, the refs took both.
Vegas quickly up 3-0
crazy 1st period.
and Sheifele ties it up in WIN with a 1 min left in the 2nd
both games 3 - 3 (different period intermissions)
5 min in to the 3rd
Such a stupid penalty completely out of frustration, I don't think it was as dangerous as the announcers made it out to be, but definitely can see him getting a game.
Caley Chelios
Verified account @CaleyChelios
9h9 hours ago
Nikita Kucherov will have a hearing tomorrow for Boarding Columbus Markus Nutivaara.
2 replies 5 retweets 7 likes
only 1 game for some teams, might mean more later in the playoffs.
Sean Tierney
@ChartingHockey
14m14 minutes ago
Happy Playoffs Saturday, friends!
So, I'm working with @NatStatTrick data to make playoffs charts. Let's start with a team thread based on almost no sample whatsoever because #playoffs.
shot rates - this is a Trotz thing I think
PDO (maybe this is what Rover mean about managing luck):
Sean Tierney
@ChartingHockey
12m12 minutes ago
PDO breakdown
This behaves oddly when you're playing the same team repeatedly, so treat it as descriptive more than anything else.
I bet TBL was counting on more saves than this through the first two games.
Link below
Hockey Charts on Twitter - ( New Window )
Atmosphere wasnt off the hook last night. Pittsburgh is one of the dirtiest teams Ive ever seen. A complete gift that isles didnt have a dozen power plays. The Barzal is really generating a lot of chances and the power play looks dangerous.
Hopefully isles can get a split in Pitt and have a chance to close out at home at game 5.
Why no more games there if they advance?
I thought I saw on the post-game show they were tearing up the ice.
If the Islanders have more home games where will they play?
Why no more games there if they advance?
I thought I saw on the post-game show they were tearing up the ice.
If the Islanders have more home games where will they play?
If they get to the 2nd round or beyond they are playing the home games at Barclays. They had to make a deal with Barclays just to get the first round in the coliseum and I'm guessing ownership had to just pay the difference in revenue.
I bet PIT is just hoping to extend the series long enough to go play at Barclays.
It can't be like the coliseum.
I bet PIT is just hoping to extend the series long enough to go play at Barclays.
It can't be like the coliseum.
Pitt cant play at Barclays. All first round home games will be at the coliseum. Every round after that will be at Barclays.
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thanks Eric, makes sense, I wondered why/how they played home games in two places.
I bet PIT is just hoping to extend the series long enough to go play at Barclays.
It can't be like the coliseum.
Pitt cant play at Barclays. All first round home games will be at the coliseum. Every round after that will be at Barclays.
I thought they said on the broadcast last night that was it for the coliseum and it looked like they showed them ripping up the ice - wishful thinking for a sweep?
or maybe it was just AJ Mileski or whatever her last name is who won't be doing games for them. I was half listening.
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In comment 14384876 pjcas18 said:
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thanks Eric, makes sense, I wondered why/how they played home games in two places.
I bet PIT is just hoping to extend the series long enough to go play at Barclays.
It can't be like the coliseum.
Pitt cant play at Barclays. All first round home games will be at the coliseum. Every round after that will be at Barclays.
I thought they said on the broadcast last night that was it for the coliseum and it looked like they showed them ripping up the ice - wishful thinking for a sweep?
or maybe it was just AJ Mileski or whatever her last name is who won't be doing games for them. I was half listening.
They might have a concert or something else while Islanders are in Pittsburgh and AJ is a moron
Kathryn Tappen is bigger than Jack Hughes.
They stood next to each other and I knew he was small for a hockey player, but I don't know how tall Kathryn Tappen is, but she was legit taller than him.
And 17 shots as a team is not good.
And 17 shots as a team is not good.
yep, look at the charts, Caps had an awful game, they were fortunate to win...if you believe the analytics.
I thought you wanted the Bolts Jets so you can get a better draft pick.
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Lightning vs. Golden Knights/Avalanche in the Finals
I thought you wanted the Bolts Jets so you can get a better draft pick.
We need the Jets out ASAP. And I thought the Stars had to advance to the SCF in order for us to get their first, but they just need to go to the WCF.
Got it, will do. thank you for the advice.
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Caps need more from Kuznetsov and Oshie today. Neither one had a shot on goal.
And 17 shots as a team is not good.
yep, look at the charts, Caps had an awful game, they were fortunate to win...if you believe the analytics.
Much better effort so far today.
Walked right in. Canes getting rolled. I thought they'd have more fight than this.
Didn't score, so it's a win for the Caps, but that PP looked effective.
other note...I think the Bruins are on national NBC tonight, hoping that means no Jack Edwards.
Wild game.
Certainly seems that way. But stranger things have happened.