NFT: NHL Thread - Rest of Regular Season/Playoff Positioning

is their own worst enemy - against NYR they were throwing everything on net it was clear their plan was to shoot from everywhere.

Now they're playing a sieve and being selective with their shots. I don't get it.

TBL wins if they pepper the goalie. Kuemper may not be a sieve that was harsh, but he's the weak link on COL and long with their bottom 4 on D.

TBL who had such a good approach vs NYR has such a bad approach vs COL IMO.

I just disliked when their fans got to celebrate a championship they never had to suffer for.

Colorado is a way better team than the Rangers are.

Even if the Rangers did slip by Tampa Bay, no way I can see that series going more than 5 games, probably a sweep in Colorado's favor, to be honest.

Colordo lost a hockey team too but they were like 7 years old by that point lol

In comment 15740638 pjcas18 said:

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fan I'd put Kreider and Panarin in quite the same bucket. 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 wasn't aware of these facts, thanks for posting.

Kreider is still a frustrating player to me. I don't think he's as good of a forechecker as he should be given his speed. He isn't that strong along the boards. He's still very good, obviously.

which could explain his falloff in the semifinals

Staple said "league" sources, not "team" sources. Big difference. League sources are hearing things 3rd or 4th hand. Team sources are more legit

by Johnson. I don't hate the Lightning, respect the team, even if Henrik vintage Rangers vs TB was star-crossed, seemed unfair. But jeez I still love #27 regardless the uni

Tampa STRIKES first

Maroon is so strong on his skates

as Makar swooped in, sliced through three defenders but AV poked and deflected

terrific

have dominated 4 of the 5 games. Lightning somehow found a way to win this one. 2 of the 3 goals for Lightning have to be stopped by Kuemper.

Are going to happen. This one was sensational.

Both teams had long stretches during which they just camped in the other team's end. There were long stretches of end to end play. Perhaps edge to Avs.

Best game of the Series, imo

They certainly have the heart of a champion.
I thought they outplayed the Avs tonight.
Palat with another GW goal.

Rivalry in the late 90s. Those games were appointment television for me back then.
Link - ( New Window )

In comment 15740960 St. Jimmy said:

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Rivalry in the late 90s. Those games were appointment television for me back then. Link - ( New Window )

Hell yeah

I'd be so angry if I were an Avs fan and bought tickets to that game. Friday night, at home and they don't bring home the cup?

Seats would be flying!

game of the playoffs. Or recency theory, not sure.

I thought it was a great heavyweight battle between two great teams.

and glad we get 6, hoping for 7.

Kuemper gave up 2 very soft goals last night.
It takes crazy bounces to get the puck in the goal past AV who is at the top of his game.
Cale Makar played a awesome game last night.

1st goal was soft by Kuemper (and that was the difference so can you point to Keumper as the difference if you want).

the Palat goal (the eventual GW) had Kuemper moving, he got his stick on it, but IMO that would have been a great save.

In comment 15739144 ColHowPepper said:

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...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?

That was my comment from Game 4.
Redux at an even more critical juncture very late 3rd, arguably 7 position players on ice.

In comment 15740930 ColHowPepper said:

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as Makar swooped in, sliced through three defenders but AV poked and deflected

It was a nice poke check by Vasilevskiy, but it was only made possible because Makar was egregiously hooked on the way in by McDonagh. I stand by my "let them play" position, but that almost always gets called. In every era, not just today's standards.

For sure Kuemper Rutta's slapper, deflected off side of his chest and inside his glove arm, needs to make that save, clear view and Rutta with the wind up and slapper, so no surprise when it was coming.

But come on! Both goals allowed by AV were shaky, at best: Nichushkin goal, puck flipped up in the air off AV's glove (great production pick up by ABC and Boucher showing it deflected off Hedmann's (?) glove on way to net) and AV had zero clue where it was, even after it dropped inside the crease for the easy sitter. I don't watch TBL in-season except when they play NYR, but I've never seen him so disoriented, lost, on a puck he has initially played.

2nd goal, maybe off Cernak's skate, it's under AV's body, and it looks like he may have nudged it over the goal line as he attempted to smother it.

In comment 15741033 ColHowPepper said:

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For sure Kuemper Rutta's slapper, deflected off side of his chest and inside his glove arm, needs to make that save, clear view and Rutta with the wind up and slapper, so no surprise when it was coming. But come on! Both goals allowed by AV were shaky, at best: Nichushkin goal, puck flipped up in the air off AV's glove (great production pick up by ABC and Boucher showing it deflected off Hedmann's (?) glove on way to net) and AV had zero clue where it was, even after it dropped inside the crease for the easy sitter. I don't watch TBL in-season except when they play NYR, but I've never seen him so disoriented, lost, on a puck he has initially played. 2nd goal, maybe off Cernak's skate, it's under AV's body, and it looks like he may have nudged it over the goal line as he attempted to smother it.

CHP, I completely defer to you on this topic, but I view any goal that gets tipped or deflected as not soft. I'd like the goalie to save it, but to me those types of goals I always view squarely in the category of "puck luck" and while I do maintain you can make your own luck to an extent you do need the "luck" part.

Am I wrong on that? Are there some tips or defections that goalies should be expected to save?

In comment 15741030 pjcas18 said:

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In comment 15740930 ColHowPepper said: Quote: as Makar swooped in, sliced through three defenders but AV poked and deflected///// It was a nice poke check by Vasilevskiy, but it was only made possible because Makar was egregiously hooked on the way in by McDonagh. I stand by my "let them play" position, but that almost always gets called. In every era, not just today's standards.

pj busy in the film room this morning (:

And a question on what in soccer is called 'play on', or allowing the advantage. Assuming you're right, and it sure looks like either or both McDonagh or Sergachev (?) hooked him: but Makar breaks through both, continues on net, maneuvers and takes his shot, which AV deflected. In soccer, except in certain situations (DOGSOs), to which this could be analogous also, the foul(s) is trumped by virtue of the fact that the attacking player has overcome them and it's preferable, in the subjective judgment of the ref, to allow play to continue because the advantage the player has created for himself is preferable in terms of team's advantage to calling the penalty/foul.

Can--can--it be analogous on ice?

who is pulled down from behind, giving rise to penalty shot. I'm fuzzy on this, but have there been situations where the player is hooked from behind but nevertheless shrugs it off, continues on net, shoots and misses or is saved?

And the penalty shot is not awarded? That would be the clearest example.

CHP, and maybe that's how the refs saw it, but that usually gets called regardless of result and while Makar fought through the hook, he lost the puck enough to allow the poke check.

You can't see the puck here, but the hook caused Makar's stick to go back away from the puck and gave (IMO) Vasilevskiy the opportunity for the poke check because by the time he got the puck on his stick he was too close, if not, pretty sure Makar beats him high glove side.

In comment 15741040 ColHowPepper said:

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who is pulled down from behind, giving rise to penalty shot. I'm fuzzy on this, but have there been situations where the player is hooked from behind but nevertheless shrugs it off, continues on net, shoots and misses or is saved? And the penalty shot is not awarded? That would be the clearest example.

But a penalty is called regardless (if there is an infraction) by rule a penalty shot is called (usually) if the penalty stops the player from getting off a shot.

that is usually the determinant between penalty or penalty shot, if the player gets a shot off it's usually a penalty, if not it's a penalty shot, but either way unless the player scores a goal a penalty is called.

In comment 15741037 pjcas18 said:

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...I view any goal that gets tipped or deflected as not soft. I'd like the goalie to save it, but to me those types of goals I always view squarely in the category of "puck luck" and while I do maintain you can make your own luck to an extent you do need the "luck" part. Am I wrong on that? Are there some tips or defections that goalies should be expected to save?

I wouldn't say you are off (and your deference is very overblown (<: ) at all, but I think it's more shades of gray, and a lot of it is instinct. I think Vas was off last night, not only on goal scoring plays. And as much as the Big Cat benefits from his big body, it also takes longer for that big body to position itself to ward off danger; so, for example, Igor's body leaves more openings vis à vis the 4 x 6 because he's smaller, but I would say he's quicker, more precise by where he flops or tries to cover or smother. I just thought Makar's shot leading to Nichushkin's goal, the puck flipped high came down and settled, puck luck for sure on the way in, but I thought there was a window of reaction time whereby Vas, had he been able to track it better after he (mis)played it, could have been a save.

Maybe you can show a sequence on Makar's shot, because I'm going from memory last night.

In comment 15741041 pjcas18 said:

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You can't see the puck here, but the hook caused Makar's stick to go back away from the puck and gave (IMO) Vasilevskiy the opportunity for the poke check because by the time he got the puck on his stick he was too close, if not, pretty sure Makar beats him high glove side.

Yeah, not a stretch at all to see that the hooking altered Makar's angle of and distance to SOG.

yeah, no clue what AV was doing on that one, I couldn't tell if the puck was knuckling or something, but he definitely misplayed it.

still saved it, but he left the rebound sitting on the door step. You may be able to make out the puck on here, I don't even think it was tipped up high, I think AV just lost it.

Keepers aside, interesting in that screen grab is you see all 6 Bolts and 4 Avs, Nichushkin nowhere to be seen, evidently completely unchecked and must be lurking just off screen low on the right circle.

In comment 15741071 ColHowPepper said:

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Keepers aside, interesting in that screen grab is you see all 6 Bolts and 4 Avs, Nichushkin nowhere to be seen, evidently completely unchecked and must be lurking just off screen low on the right circle.

exactly, such a smart play, some people have tendency to clog the net front, other plays position themself for a rebound, Nichushkin chose wisely on this play and Paul thought he was doing the right thing by helping in front, but basically he's covering no one.

If you were the Devils GM who would you take at 2? Wright will be the #1 pick in all likelihood so would you go for Slafkovsky or Cooley at 2? I keep going back and forth.

In comment 15741117 Jay on the Island said:

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If you were the Devils GM who would you take at 2? Wright will be the #1 pick in all likelihood so would you go for Slafkovsky or Cooley at 2? I keep going back and forth.

I read they're shopping #2 for a young established player, and I think that's smart. If not despite the allure of Slafkovsky, I think Cooley is a sure fire 1C/2C two-way player so I think I'd go with him.

To me, Slafkovsky is boom or bust, boom you're going to regret it for a decade if you pass on him, bust you will count your blessings (obvious?).

#2 more pressure around Slafkovsky than #1 IMO because if you take Wright I think he has a pretty high floor if you know what I mean.

conclusion Tyson Barrie will be traded.

consistent 45+pt player RD.

will impact Petry market IMO.

I think Petry is more well-rounded but would take either in my top 4 for the right price. Barrie should cost more in trade comp, Petry costs more in cap space.

Barrie (31 years old) two more years @4.5M
Petry (34 years old) three more years @6.25M

this is real.

36 year old Alexander Ovechkin makes his soccer debut for FC Dynamo Moscow.....and scores a goal.

the first goal (and eventual GW in a 5 - 0 win)

I thought this was a video game when I first came across it on twitter.
link - ( New Window )

and he looks like nothing so much as a somewhat out of shape weekend warrior. Crazy

In comment 15741136 pjcas18 said:

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In comment 15741117 Jay on the Island said: Quote: If you were the Devils GM who would you take at 2? Wright will be the #1 pick in all likelihood so would you go for Slafkovsky or Cooley at 2? I keep going back and forth. I read they're shopping #2 for a young established player, and I think that's smart. If not despite the allure of Slafkovsky, I think Cooley is a sure fire 1C/2C two-way player so I think I'd go with him. To me, Slafkovsky is boom or bust, boom you're going to regret it for a decade if you pass on him, bust you will count your blessings (obvious?). #2 more pressure around Slafkovsky than #1 IMO because if you take Wright I think he has a pretty high floor if you know what I mean.

Yeah the more I read analysis from people who have been doing deep analytical dives analyzing the NHL draft for a decade, it's talking me out of Slaf. His advanced metrics really are not great at all. That having been said at age 18 you can't over analyze that stuff especially with the way he's played in the 2 recent tournaments playing with men and apparently he had a very good playoff for his league team as well. Maybe the light went on the last 6 months? Increasingly I'm gravitating towards pushing hard to trade the pick in a deal for DeBrincat or maybe Pasta if they are truly available. If not trading it I'd seriously consider Cooley there or maybe even Nemec. It sure would be nice to have a potential top pairing of him and Luke Hughes for a decade.

Dubois tells WIN he plans to test FA in 2024, maybe signifying they move him now (as an RFA).

Not the best on the dots, but there is your 2C (or even 1C depending on linemates) if you're a team who can somehow wrestle him away from WIN and extend him.

both rumored to be being shopped at the draft.

No idea what on Miller or really Boeser for that matter.

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Really looking forward to tonight ColHowPepper : 6/20/2022 2:37 pm : link : reply - not only is it possibly the penultimate game of the '21 - '22 season, after which we have to wait ~4 months before bullets start flying, but - am intrigued by whether Cooper can find some answers, because the first two games didn't seem to offer up many: three pair that look overmatched and the forward lines that have looked NYR like in ineptitude in some of their games vs PIT, CAR, and TBL....

Well, Cooper and his troops did that and more. After Friday night's barn burner, if TB at home can string a win back to back, this Series has the makings of a classic.
COL bench coach needs to put his big boy pants on.

early on

They are hitting Makar every chance they can when he is on the ice

similar to how Cooper targeted Fox

I think he get nicked up in the third period last game and it has carried over to this game. Doesn’t seem to have his normal speed and burst in the first period,
Something to keep an eye on ad game progresses
Give Bolts credit for making in game changes

this period, no banking on Annie tomorrows

Crew was clueless, but what an interesting issue, of I have it right argument was that with TB touch it should have been call of penalty before McK goal

Maybe my phone fucked-up or something but why the hell was that icing waved off?

Better team won the Cup. Guess that's how it's supposed to be.