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NFT: NHL Playoff Thread - playoffs start saturday

pjcas18 : 5/13/2021 12:33 pm
BOS vs WAS to kick things off.
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RE: I'm  
Mike from Ohio : 7/6/2021 12:39 pm : link
In comment 15299885 pjcas18 said:
Quote:
not irrationally confident, the Lightning are as good a team as there has been in a long, long time.

Almost no weakness. Perennial Vezina candidate in net, perennial Norris candidate on the blue line, and several perennial all-stars up front. Lethal PP, solid (or better) bottom 6 and can play physical or finesse.

They are $18M over the salary cap, but I'm not going to whine about that, if you can skate through the season without Kucherov and a lot of it without Stamkos, make the playoffs and get them back healthy, you are a good team.

Watching the Lightning break out is technically as sound as any team I have seen since the old Soviet teams. Surgical.

But...MTL has heart and talent of their own, despite what some might say but MTL margin for error is MUCH less. MTL needs to be just about perfect to win. Last night both major mistakes they made wound up in the back of their net, and a couple more hit posts.

They can win, but it's an uphill battle, I'd take it one game, one shift at a time, win the battles, get some breaks, stay out of the box.


You sound like every Islander fan two weeks ago!

Other than Florida who tried to out-Tampa, Tampa, this is the only way to play against them. They can make mistakes and win. Their opponents can’t.
The Islanders  
pjcas18 : 7/6/2021 1:26 pm : link
are better than MTL though, and it showed in the results.

Other than the one blow out game, NYI controlled and even dominated large parts of their series with TBL.

the best thing for me is MTL took TBL at least as far as CAR, lol, so maybe Scott in Montreal will take a little break in proclaiming how bad MTL is but CAR is not.

I don’t see a way for Montreal to come back…  
trueblueinpw : 7/6/2021 2:10 pm : link
I know that technically anything is possible. But…yeah, not here. Tampa just has too much posse. I don’t know if it’s because I was watching on delay last night, but coming out in the first period Montreal didn’t seem like a team playing for the Cup. Maybe they were tight, I think getting swept would be horrible to endure in the Montreal / Quebec media. But either way, yeah, Tampa is a ridiculously complete team. TJ on the 4th line? I mean… good luck in Florida on Wednesday.
RE: The Islanders  
Scott in Montreal : 7/6/2021 3:58 pm : link
In comment 15300000 pjcas18 said:
Quote:


the best thing for me is MTL took TBL at least as far as CAR, lol, so maybe Scott in Montreal will take a little break in proclaiming how bad MTL is but CAR is not.


Ouch! No bloody way. Take a look at the two divisions. You cannot deny that the Canes had a much tougher schedule than the Habs this year. They held their own and won the division. I could be wrong but they went 4-4 against Tampa and all the losses except one were close.

As for the playoffs. The turning point for the Canes was starting Mrazek that second game where he shit the bed. They lost 6-4 and probably would have won that game with Ned in the nets. That was their MAF moment.

Hopefully they will get back to a regular schedule next season. Then we will see.
I know it's unlikely but i'd love to see Montreal shoot this TB roster  
Eric on Li : 7/6/2021 4:07 pm : link
to the moon. I knew they were over the cap and the roster was unsustainable going forward but didn't realize it was by that much. Would be awesome to see them get blasted apart and remembered for another all time choke job as opposed to riding into the sunset.
The playoff Tampa team is a different animal  
Mike from Ohio : 7/6/2021 4:20 pm : link
Than the regular season one. Carolina won the division against the cap-constrained Lightning without arguably their best offensive player. The cap-free Lightning are not the same.

Tampa didn’t blow out Carolina as they didn’t blow out Montreal. While Carolina likely has more offensive weapons than Montreal, Price is leaps and bounds better than Ned or Mrazek. The separation between those teams isn’t large.

While I want Montreal to win the series, part of me wants it over in 5 just so I can feel like the Islanders are closer to Tampa than anyone else, because they are returning almost all the same pieces next year.
RE: The playoff Tampa team is a different animal  
Eric on Li : 7/6/2021 4:33 pm : link
In comment 15300141 Mike from Ohio said:
Quote:
Than the regular season one. Carolina won the division against the cap-constrained Lightning without arguably their best offensive player. The cap-free Lightning are not the same.

Tampa didn’t blow out Carolina as they didn’t blow out Montreal. While Carolina likely has more offensive weapons than Montreal, Price is leaps and bounds better than Ned or Mrazek. The separation between those teams isn’t large.

While I want Montreal to win the series, part of me wants it over in 5 just so I can feel like the Islanders are closer to Tampa than anyone else, because they are returning almost all the same pieces next year.


the NYI system and style is just best equipped for playoff hockey. With a little perspective the gauntlet they ran through was pretty impressive. Pitt, Boston, and Tampa to a 1-0 game 7 is about as good of opponents as you can face - all three with home ice and the isles obviously without their captain. When the "worst" PP of teams you've faced has Crosby on it, and it's not even particularly close to the other 2, that's saying something. I'm excited entering the offseason because I think they are ahead on the Lee/Wahlstrom for Palmieri/Zajac swap (I expect them to bring Czikas back on a very prorated 5 or 6 year deal).
Agree Eric  
Mike from Ohio : 7/6/2021 4:40 pm : link
Lee & Wahlstrom >>>>>>> Palmieri & Zajac.

Also think Cizikas will be back. If for some reason he isn’t, probably have to hope the Kraken doesn’t take Koivula as he likely slots in at 4C with Cizikas gone.
RE: RE: The Islanders  
pjcas18 : 7/6/2021 4:41 pm : link
In comment 15300125 Scott in Montreal said:
Quote:
In comment 15300000 pjcas18 said:


Quote:




the best thing for me is MTL took TBL at least as far as CAR, lol, so maybe Scott in Montreal will take a little break in proclaiming how bad MTL is but CAR is not.




Ouch! No bloody way. Take a look at the two divisions. You cannot deny that the Canes had a much tougher schedule than the Habs this year. They held their own and won the division. I could be wrong but they went 4-4 against Tampa and all the losses except one were close.

As for the playoffs. The turning point for the Canes was starting Mrazek that second game where he shit the bed. They lost 6-4 and probably would have won that game with Ned in the nets. That was their MAF moment.

Hopefully they will get back to a regular schedule next season. Then we will see.


TBL had a short-handed team all year - no Kucherov, a little over half season of Stamkos, deadline acquisitions, etc.

So, sure going 4 - 4 against them short handed is fine in the regular season, but playoffs with relatively healthy squads CAR went 1 - 4.

At worst same at MTL one more win from MTL and they did better - and MTL is playing without 3 top 9 forwards not even counting coaching decisions like Kotkaniemi.

RE: Agree Eric  
Eric on Li : 7/6/2021 5:05 pm : link
In comment 15300164 Mike from Ohio said:
Quote:
Lee & Wahlstrom >>>>>>> Palmieri & Zajac.

Also think Cizikas will be back. If for some reason he isn’t, probably have to hope the Kraken doesn’t take Koivula as he likely slots in at 4C with Cizikas gone.


If someone blows Czikas' doors off I'd bet a lot they just bring back Zajac.

I'd put Bellows slightly ahead of Koivula in terms of likeliest expansion pick because he's actually shown some flashes and his shot is a standout trait. But something tells me Lou may go the other way though and try to bribe Seattle with a draft pick to shave off some salary. Komarov only has 1 year left at 3m so i don't think that would cost a premium draft pick, though Ladd's 2 years would (and I'd be very tempted to do that and just gain the $5m in space unless they have plans to eventually "IR" him).
RE: RE: Agree Eric  
Mike from Ohio : 7/6/2021 6:39 pm : link
In comment 15300192 Eric on Li said:
Quote:
In comment 15300164 Mike from Ohio said:


Quote:


Lee & Wahlstrom >>>>>>> Palmieri & Zajac.

Also think Cizikas will be back. If for some reason he isn’t, probably have to hope the Kraken doesn’t take Koivula as he likely slots in at 4C with Cizikas gone.



If someone blows Czikas' doors off I'd bet a lot they just bring back Zajac.

I'd put Bellows slightly ahead of Koivula in terms of likeliest expansion pick because he's actually shown some flashes and his shot is a standout trait. But something tells me Lou may go the other way though and try to bribe Seattle with a draft pick to shave off some salary. Komarov only has 1 year left at 3m so i don't think that would cost a premium draft pick, though Ladd's 2 years would (and I'd be very tempted to do that and just gain the $5m in space unless they have plans to eventually "IR" him).


That’s certainly a possibility. Zajac’s age and size limit what he can do physically on the 4th line. But I can see him back because he will be cheap and Trotz loves his “play the right way” guys.
I don't have a dog in this fight.  
Bill in UT : 7/6/2021 8:22 pm : link
I'd be surprised if TB doesn't end this at home
Game 5 tonight at 8pm  
pjcas18 : 7/7/2021 1:16 pm : link
win this game and it's a series.

Obviously tall odds.

When the playoffs started MTL had the longest odds of any playoff team, entering the finals they I believe were the biggest long shot in modern history (77% odds for the Lightning).

Down 3 - 0 they were at a .0001 % win probability.

And, TBL is a better team.

But that's why they play the games. So, yeah, no one is going out on a limb at all predicting TBL closes it out.

TBL is -225, a prohibitive favorite in this game.

the goal line is TBL -1.5

I hope there's a game 6 back in MTL.
....  
BrettNYG10 : 7/7/2021 1:58 pm : link
I was thinking earlier, how bad does a team need to be that they would have even odds of winning a series down 3-0? And 3-1?

Would the Sabres be favored in a series against TBL assuming they had a 3-1 lead? Probably.

So it's really hard to come back. Just have to win one.

I think TBL wins tonight. But I'm rooting for MTL. They have not been badly outclassed this series outside of a couple periods.
pjcas  
PwndPapi : 7/7/2021 1:59 pm : link
In your mind, is this iteration of TB the best team to win a cup in modern history? Back to back cups. Stamkos a HOF?
Not sure if you have seen this.  
Scott in Montreal : 7/7/2021 2:00 pm : link
Quote:
If @CanadiensMTL end up losing to Tampa, a suggestion has been made that we hold a Stanley Cup parade anyway as a way to salute the team for a great season where they 'almost' won the cup - basically the equivalent of an adult participation medal. Does anyone like this idea?
— Aaron Rand (@aaronrand) July 6, 2021


It is actually true. I listened to the whole thing on the radio yesterday. It was not (local radio host) Aaron Rand who started this. It was a jackass named Jay Pollack (who I happen to know personally. He is a giant twat)who started this stupidity.

The CJAD radio station Facebook page went crazy with people blasting the idea and then there was the losers who were all for this.

Like or hate the Habs. If they do this. They will have become more of a joke than all the stupidities that Montrealer's love to take shots at Toronto about.

Montreal use to be such a proud city. Not anymore. Just the thought of this turns my stomach.
Parade for losers - ( New Window )
RE: pjcas  
pjcas18 : 7/7/2021 2:10 pm : link
In comment 15300750 PwndPapi said:
Quote:
In your mind, is this iteration of TB the best team to win a cup in modern history? Back to back cups. Stamkos a HOF?


Probably most complete team.

In my lifetime we've had a bunch of dynasties so hard to say best.

Just in the past decade or so we've had Crosby/Malkin and Toews/Kane win three cups each. Pens winning back to back.

And going back further we had the Devils Brodeur teams, the Red Wings Fedorov/Yzerman teams, the Lemieux/Jagr teams, the Gretzky/Messier Oilers and the Islanders teams. Going back further it's basically the Canadiens dominating history for many reasons (with some Leafs/other teams sprinkled in).

I'd probably say the Gretzky/Messier/Coffey/Kurri/Fuhr teams were the best, but this Lightning team has to be up there in the conversation.

they don't have a weakness.
RE: Not sure if you have seen this.  
pjcas18 : 7/7/2021 2:12 pm : link
In comment 15300753 Scott in Montreal said:
Quote:


Quote:


If @CanadiensMTL end up losing to Tampa, a suggestion has been made that we hold a Stanley Cup parade anyway as a way to salute the team for a great season where they 'almost' won the cup - basically the equivalent of an adult participation medal. Does anyone like this idea?
— Aaron Rand (@aaronrand) July 6, 2021



It is actually true. I listened to the whole thing on the radio yesterday. It was not (local radio host) Aaron Rand who started this. It was a jackass named Jay Pollack (who I happen to know personally. He is a giant twat)who started this stupidity.

The CJAD radio station Facebook page went crazy with people blasting the idea and then there was the losers who were all for this.

Like or hate the Habs. If they do this. They will have become more of a joke than all the stupidities that Montrealer's love to take shots at Toronto about.

Montreal use to be such a proud city. Not anymore. Just the thought of this turns my stomach. Parade for losers - ( New Window )


lol, what a joke, yes they would and should be a laughingstock if they did this.

but then again Boston held a parade for Ray Bourque when he won a cup with the Avs, so nothing would shock me.

This was a more fun time for me in Boston. Back when Boston was loserville. I miss those days.

If MTL does in fact do this, they deserve to be ridiculed.
Also  
pjcas18 : 7/7/2021 2:18 pm : link
yes, I think Stamkos is a HOFer.

injuries have slowed him down, but I think he's achieved enough to this point to get in.
....  
BrettNYG10 : 7/7/2021 2:49 pm : link
Stamkos will probably finish his career with 5-600 goals and >1,000 points. I think he's a no-brainer. He had 34 points in 38 games this year - you have to assume they kept him out a bit at the end of the year due to the cap. Assume he has four good years left, maybe misses 10-20% of those games. Can get to 600 if he has 3-4 good years, and a few more average ones.
......  
Route 9 : 7/7/2021 9:38 pm : link
Sweet fucking pass
point is so good  
Eric on Li : 7/7/2021 9:55 pm : link
I hope we get a replay of what happened in OT last game but I think Tampa is gonna come out with their foot on the gas to start the 3rd and a big push to end it here.
.  
pjcas18 : 7/7/2021 10:13 pm : link
Jeremy Rutherford
@jprutherford
· 48m
BREAKING: Blues winger Vladimir Tarasenko requests a trade, per sources: Why he wants out, possible destinations and more https://theathletic.com/2690474/2021/07/07/blues-winger-vladimir-tarasenko-requests-a-trade-per-sources-why-he-wants-out-possible-destinations-and-more/
#stlblues
Chiarot  
pjcas18 : 7/7/2021 10:19 pm : link
just got a penalty for doing that exact same thing to Point.
if TB hangs on Vasilevsky has to be Conn Smythe  
Eric on Li : 7/7/2021 10:23 pm : link
can't believe I once thought they were making a mistake letting bishop go.
RE: Chiarot  
BrettNYG10 : 7/7/2021 10:31 pm : link
In comment 15301194 pjcas18 said:
Quote:
just got a penalty for doing that exact same thing to Point.


The officiating has been bad every series but the Habs have been on the short end the entire postseason IMO
....  
BrettNYG10 : 7/7/2021 10:49 pm : link
Tampa could have been called for about five hooking/holding penalties in the last five minutes.
......  
Route 9 : 7/7/2021 10:51 pm : link
This is the most lopsided Stanley Cup finals I've ever seen in my life. Surprised Montreal even won a game...

Maybe Red Wings Devils in 1995?
.  
pjcas18 : 7/7/2021 10:51 pm : link
on to the draft.
......  
Route 9 : 7/7/2021 10:52 pm : link
Florida just kicks everyone's ass again.

Oh and what a lame crowd lol
......  
BrettNYG10 : 7/7/2021 10:53 pm : link
Sorry, pj. Really sucks.

Happy for McDonagh.
RE: .  
Route 9 : 7/7/2021 10:55 pm : link
In comment 15301222 pjcas18 said:
Quote:
on to the draft.


Thank God. Worst Finals I can think of.
Post game handshake  
Bricktop : 7/7/2021 10:59 pm : link
Best ritual in sports.
RE: Post game handshake  
BrettNYG10 : 7/7/2021 11:01 pm : link
In comment 15301227 Bricktop said:
Quote:
Best ritual in sports.


Handshakes are for stupid boomers, I wish the pandemic ended them.
RE: RE: Post game handshake  
Bricktop : 7/7/2021 11:06 pm : link
In comment 15301229 BrettNYG10 said:
Quote:
In comment 15301227 Bricktop said:


Quote:


Best ritual in sports.



Handshakes are for stupid boomers, I wish the pandemic ended them.


We all know you prefer skipolling after a game. Double Fist Brett.
......  
Route 9 : 7/7/2021 11:07 pm : link
Lol. Brett. Best BBI post of all-time.
RE: RE: Post game handshake  
pjcas18 : 7/7/2021 11:08 pm : link
In comment 15301229 BrettNYG10 said:
Quote:
In comment 15301227 Bricktop said:


Quote:


Best ritual in sports.



Handshakes are for stupid boomers, I wish the pandemic ended them.


it ended them for men's league.
......  
Route 9 : 7/7/2021 11:09 pm : link
And hey, watch yourself, using "Boomers" and "stupid" in the same sentence is redundant.

;-)
RE: RE: RE: Post game handshake  
BrettNYG10 : 7/8/2021 8:43 am : link
In comment 15301231 Bricktop said:
Quote:
In comment 15301229 BrettNYG10 said:


Quote:


In comment 15301227 Bricktop said:


Quote:


Best ritual in sports.



Handshakes are for stupid boomers, I wish the pandemic ended them.



We all know you prefer skipolling after a game. Double Fist Brett.


Anything to improve my wrist shot.
RE: ......  
BrettNYG10 : 7/8/2021 8:44 am : link
In comment 15301235 Route 9 said:
Quote:
And hey, watch yourself, using "Boomers" and "stupid" in the same sentence is redundant.

;-)


So true.

Pj, my men's league in NY isn't returning until September.
RE: RE: ......  
pjcas18 : 7/8/2021 8:53 am : link
In comment 15301313 BrettNYG10 said:
Quote:
In comment 15301235 Route 9 said:


Quote:


And hey, watch yourself, using "Boomers" and "stupid" in the same sentence is redundant.

;-)



So true.

Pj, my men's league in NY isn't returning until September.


We had a brief pause in September (two weeks) and they reopened but no locker rooms and no beer in the parking lot, etc. - so I "opted out". I was not about to drive to the rink with my hockey equipment on and post-game beers is 90% of why I still play.

I was amazed some people actually did it - talk about love of the game (or just derangement).

We started back up full go in March - no masks, full locker rooms, no electronic whistles, - just no post game handshakes.

I like the handshake tradition and I (obviously not a boomer) come from the second best generation. and none of the players are boomers and they all like it too. players are at the oldest millennial, but more Gen z.
....  
BrettNYG10 : 7/8/2021 9:35 am : link
I miss league games - open hockey just isn't the same. They tried to open back up earlier in the year but there were too many teams hesitant, rather due to COVID or because too many of their players temporarily left NYC.

I actually like the tradition but I hate seeing the losing team waiting after a big celebration and hate handshakes personally.

BTW, this Kucherov clip is hilarious.
Twitter - ( New Window )
Watching a team  
pjcas18 : 7/8/2021 3:27 pm : link
celebrate is brutal, but to me is motivation.

From the time we were mites and we cried when we lost (at least I did), to being grown ups when we felt like punching something, soaking in the elation and glory of the victor is the price you pay for losing. Plus it's respectful IMO.

I think most people take it that way - other than the Lias Andersson's of the world who throw their medal in the stands (which I kind of liked too), but to the other point re: handshakes:

shaking hands post series is a sign of respect and unless you're an animal like Milan Lucic represents the sportsmanship of these athletes brutally hating each other and trying to rip each others heads off for an entire series and when it's all over you tip your hat to the victor, shake their hand, hopefully learn from it, and move on.

I don't see how it's a boomer thing unless sportsmanship and respect for your opponent died with the later generations.

I hope my kids can shake hands post-game this year in a COVID free sports world.
...  
BrettNYG10 : 7/8/2021 4:30 pm : link
The Boomer 'I can judge a man by his handshake and the way he looks me in the eye mentality' makes them love handshakes.

Pros? I'm for it. Sportsmanship and all that shit. Beer league? I think it's a crock of shit - if you have respect for your opponents don't cross check them ten seconds after the whistle or slash them all game. It's not the NHL, brah.
RE: ...  
pjcas18 : 7/8/2021 4:45 pm : link
In comment 15301679 BrettNYG10 said:
Quote:
The Boomer 'I can judge a man by his handshake and the way he looks me in the eye mentality' makes them love handshakes.

Pros? I'm for it. Sportsmanship and all that shit. Beer league? I think it's a crock of shit - if you have respect for your opponents don't cross check them ten seconds after the whistle or slash them all game. It's not the NHL, brah.


lol, yeah, like I said men's league did away with hand shakes with COVID and they never came back.

and our men's league went bankrupt with COVID (turns out they were playing a big shell game with ice time payments - using summer league (for example) team fees to back pay for winter ice and so on, and when the summer was canceled they had no money to pay for the prior winter.

Some other league wound up "buying" the league which pretty much meant just keeping all the teams. the new league announced they were wiping the stats which had been there from inception (mid-90's). I joined in 2000 and one of my teammates downloaded all the stats and added them up, over 20 years I spent the equivalent of a 40-hour work week in the penalty box. lol.

When I was younger I was a dick, not because I wanted to be a dick, but because the 20-somethings would come home from college and be dicks, so in retaliation I felt obligated to slow them down.

I don't think I have even got a 2 min penalty in the past 3 or 4 years, but that gap between "I used to be able to do this and I'm no longer able to do this" is tough on a man.

Congrats to the Lightning  
NYerInMA : 7/8/2021 5:10 pm : link
They had a great season and their track record since 2015 is remarkable. Another positive moving forward with the NHL leaving NBC:
The Lightning won the Cup, but we all won, because there’s no more Pierre McGuire - ( New Window )
NYR agree to terms with RFA Brett Howden  
PwndPapi : 7/9/2021 11:03 am : link
Congrats Anak!
Buyout  
pjcas18 : 7/9/2021 12:04 pm : link
window 1 is open, from now until July 27
.....  
BrettNYG10 : 7/9/2021 12:28 pm : link
Lol, pj, I probably only get 2-3 penalties over a 16 game season - usually an accidental trip and one temper tantrum.

Only been thrown out of a game once.
RE: .....  
pjcas18 : 7/9/2021 12:31 pm : link
In comment 15302147 BrettNYG10 said:
Quote:
Lol, pj, I probably only get 2-3 penalties over a 16 game season - usually an accidental trip and one temper tantrum.

Only been thrown out of a game once.


We have a 3 penalty ejection rule, which comes with a 10 min misconduct on the stat sheet (so 16 min in penalties total for that). I had about 40 of those in my 30's.

none since (I don't think).

Plus there were a few fights I'm not proud of, but also don't regret, lol.

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