A lot of the drama is basically decided in the East.
All 8 playoff teams have clinched, only jockeying for position/seeding is left.
All teams have anywhere from 2 to 4 games left.
As it stands today (games remaining in () at the end):
E1: (Atlantic champ) Panthers 120 pts (clinched 1 seed) (4)
E2: (Metro champ*) Hurricanes 110 pts (*not clinched) (3)
E3: Leafs 109 pts (3)
E4: Rangers 108 pts (3)
E5: Lightning 105 pts (4)
E6: Bruins 101 pts (4)
E7: Pens 101 pts (3)
E8: Caps 99 pts (4)
If nothing changes the 1st round matchups would be:
Panthers vs Caps (A1 vs WC2)
Hurricanes vs Bruins (M1 vs WC1)
Leafs vs Lightning (A2 vs A3)
Rangers vs Pens (M2 vs M3)
If I'm the Rangers I'm fine where I am and they have clinched at worst the 2 seed in the Metro. I'd rather play the Pens than the Bruins.
I will add the West in a separate post (5 teams have clinched and basically 4 teams vying for the final 3 spots).
I don't complain about refs I think they miss shit and they miss it both ways, and I'm glad it's not reviewable, but it sucks when you're on the losing end of one of their misses at a critical point.
Bo Byram is still in the D zone here out of camera view.
6th player not involved in the play, looks like he's skating off, but it was at least a few seconds. His replacement was on way too long to let go IMO.
"7 fucking guys. There's seven guys on the ice. For the fucking goal. It's right here"
And it was unchallengeable.
You serious?
Today's just not my day.
2 real fluky goals for Avs against AV in regulation..
Link - ( New Window )
In the NHL only the current team can offer an 8-year deal, all other teams can only offer 7. I haven't seen the $$ but I have to believe it's in the $8-10M range AAV.
I hope he hits FA it's always more exciting to see FA movement.
In the NHL only the current team can offer an 8-year deal, all other teams can only offer 7. I haven't seen the $$ but I have to believe it's in the $8-10M range AAV.
I hope he hits FA it's always more exciting to see FA movement.
If he takes that (And he should if its legit) I wanna be Johnny Hockey's agent come free agent frenzy. He was already scalding hot, now the sky is the limit.
Flames have space ($27M)
but they have Gaudreau (UFA), Tkachuk (RFA) and that's $20M at least which leaves $7M for
Mangiapane RFA ($5M)
and then ($2M for...)
7 more UFAs and at least one more RFA.
They may be able to do it or some format of it, but long-term it will be hard for them to maintain.
Bo Byram is still in the D zone here out of camera view.
6th player not involved in the play, looks like he's skating off, but it was at least a few seconds. His replacement was on way too long to let go IMO.
COL bench coach in charge of line changes and timing needs to up his game. There was one stretch, I think in the 2nd, one of the many times Tampa had Avs pinned in their own zone in one of Bolts' classic forechecking shifts--Makar's pair and don't remember which line was on brutally long shift and could not change. Finally, there was a partial clear between red line and TBL's BL--Avs bench in that period was on the TBL BL side of center ice--Avs desperate to change and the players due to come on were not even standing/straddling the boards ready to jump over. You could see them rise from seated position to make the change, but by then Bolts regained possession and as result no one jumped on ice for a partial change. Just brutal. They were asleep at the switch at a crucial juncture. I was yelling WTF are you waiting for?
I didn't look enough to know if it should be called.
It wasn't as egregious as say, the 2014 uncalled goaltender interference against Lundqvist.
lol I can't help it but feel joy in this.
There was hooking call on Avs and it looked very similar to, and was almost the identical spot where KAM was called for the phantom hook. Came immediately to mind. But, yeah, there were calls that could easily have been made against both that weren't.
I didn't notice much missed by the refs, but that's consistent for me, I'm usually one of those let them play people Brett hates, lol.
I only called out the too many men, because it happened in OT of a SCF game. you know bright lights big stage, obvious missed call.
Ready, aim...
Ready, aim...
Even if TDA is the closest (and I disagree, but respect your opinion and everyone's opinion for that matter) he's not close.
And I felt like TDA struggled in the Rangers series in this exact role. He was not innovative at all moving the puck as PP QB, with PP zone entries or PP puck distribution.
Maybe he was too amped up, not sure, but I came away very unimpressed.
the closest to pure skating I have seen of current players to Makar might be Quinn Hughes. But I think Hughes has been (not 100% sure with my eye test) massively exposed in all other areas of defense limiting his utility.
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/FV852AsWQAQfB7p?format=jpg&name=small
I know. I was just combining them because in my mind skating enables the maneuverability (or at least makes it more effective).
Makar's passing is on another level too, almost always crisp, tape to tape, or in the sweet spot for a one-timer, little things that sometimes get overlooked.
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/FV852AsWQAQfB7p?format=jpg&name=small
I'll be amazed if the Rangers can move that contract in a flat cap year (without eating salary).
It would open up a lot of options if they can though.
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/FV852AsWQAQfB7p?format=jpg&name=small
Would be dumb to trade him now at a low after a perceived poor playoffs
And, hell, if this Staple rumor has any basis, what about Kreider? His SCP were pretty darn quiet too, especially vs Bolts, tip toeing around scrums along the boards, late and lazy in checking, forward and back
He is a free agent signee, not a draft pick the Rangers invested in and developed and are afraid to lose for nothing.
If you want to trade Panarin (I'm not convinced it makes the Rangers better) you're not concerned on recouping investment, you are looking for some team to take his salary.
He says he chose not to submit his ballot in protest of masking rules and inconsistent access to players during the post-season. Because of course he did.
my assumption was they'd free up the Panarin money to make a run at Gaudreau or something like that. Not get those points replaced in a trade.
PJ, I assumed that, if they did want to dump his salary, it would be to be able to retain more of their young players long term.
Trouba creates a much bigger hole IMO than Panarin.
I do support trading Kreider though, his value won't likely be higher.
Kreider is the better option. These NMCs are killer.
If, could, near-impossible. So it sounds like he's not going anywhere? It's entirely possible Drury expressed in exit interviews to Panarin that they need more from him in the playoffs, while also not having any intention to deal him. But I guess we'll see
Look at the blocked shots, hits, and opponents they normally play against.
On the Rangers, IMO, a #1 D like Trouba is more valuable and harder to replace than Panarin or Kreider.
And I think Trouba's salary is the most fair of the three.
In that context, Trouba is safe and valued. I've no idea as to contract status, but I'd wager Drury looks at Maroon, Killorn, Cirelli, Hagel, et al. style of play and thriving in the Cooper school and covet one or more, hell, even Perry.
So frustrating to see Panarin and Kreider wilt in the fire of the crucible.
Yes, Kreider under-performed and did his usual (before 2021-2022 regular season) disappearing act for long stretches, but for the playoffs he
Led the team in even strength goals (tied with Chytil)
Led the team with 3 GWG (and I know GWG are a flimsy stat, but still better than anyone else on the team other than Chytil)
Led the team in G/60
Was 3rd on the team in hits
Could he has been better? Sure, but Kreider wasn't the reason they didn't advance
I liked him as MTL D coach, I wonder if he tries to lure Petry away.
sad, but at least we have the draft to look forward to.
Main reason I wanted TBL to win game 4, was to ensure at least a game 6. Now need the unlikely to happen and TBL to win in COL.
Point and Cirelli both GTD.
I always liked Roy. I thought he was a funny character.
I went to that game in 1997 or 1998 where he skated out to center ice with the puck. That still cracks me up to this day.
I do hate TBL though.
sad, but at least we have the draft to look forward to.
Main reason I wanted TBL to win game 4, was to ensure at least a game 6. Now need the unlikely to happen and TBL to win in COL.
Point and Cirelli both GTD.
I think Tampa Bay wins tonight and then Colorado wins game 6.