NFT: NHL Thread - the stretch run

players voted Sidney Crosby the "most complete" player for the 4th year in a row. Almost a 3rd of the players voted Crosby #1 in this category. Patrice Bergeron was 2nd with 18%.

respect.

more player polls in the link

link - ( New Window )

with his 60th last night, OT GW (his 2nd of the game).

outside chance he hits 70 with 10 games left (he's not on a gpg pace, but not far off it either).

Crosby with his 30th ties Lemieux for most 30 goal seasons in pens history. Mario obviously in another league from Sid in goal scoring prowess, but it speaks to consistency.

out Ovi? Set an NHL record for most 40 goal seasons and for comparison with his contemporaries....Ovi has more 40 goal seasons (13) than Crosby has 30 goal seasons (11)

1st round today and tomorrow.

BU vs Western Michigan on now. 3 - 1 BU so far

Cornell knocks off #4 seed Denver and moves on to face BU.

St. Cloud State moves on

Minnesota absolutely dominated Canisius to close out day 1 games.

Minnesota
Cornell
BU
St. Cloud State all advance to the elite eight.

Minn may be the only team who can match the talent of Michigan.

Cooley, Knies, Faber, Snuggerud, etc.

Today:

Ohio State vs Harvard (2pm)
Merrimack vs Quinnipiac (5:30pm)
Michigan Tech vs Penn State (5pm)
Colgate vs Michigan (8:30pm)

In comment 16074294 pjcas18 said:

Quote:

Minnesota absolutely dominated Canisius to close out day 1 games. Minnesota Cornell BU St. Cloud State all advance to the elite eight. Minn may be the only team who can match the talent of Michigan. Cooley, Knies, Faber, Snuggerud, etc. Today: Ohio State vs Harvard (2pm) Merrimack vs Quinnipiac (5:30pm) Michigan Tech vs Penn State (5pm) Colgate vs Michigan (8:30pm)

Go Colgate! (I just want Luke Hughes to lose so he can joint the Devils:-)

than basketball obviously but Colgate beating Michigan may not be as big an upset as FDU beating Purdue, but it would be an upset of epic proportions.

Harvard, surprisingly to some, has the most NHL draft picks of any NCAA team, but Michigan has the most talent

and has a number of teams left standing at the end. Every year that conference gets shit on and it tends to overperform.

In comment 16074347 Metnut said:

Quote:

and has a number of teams left standing at the end. Every year that conference gets shit on and it tends to overperform.

the knock is always they don't play a difficult schedule. I mean, Quinnipiac was 30 - 4 - 3 on the season.

but they do have a bunch of good teams in the conference and is always underrated.

getting smoked by Ohio State - not helping the ECAC argument - losing 8 - 0 with a half the 3rd period left.

Hopefully Sean Farrell signs an ELC with the habs in the near future, but it's why I hate drafting Harvard commits - they often complete their education.

In Buffalo. I know clinching a playoff spot in hockey is no biggie and it's been pretty much a foregone conclusion for awhile for them but it still will be a nice satisfying moment when they do it. Like for Giants fans It's been a rough decade outside of 2018.

In comment 16074843 pjcas18 said:

Quote:

getting smoked by Ohio State - not helping the ECAC argument - losing 8 - 0 with a half the 3rd period left. Hopefully Sean Farrell signs an ELC with the habs in the near future, but it's why I hate drafting Harvard commits - they often complete their education.

lol bad timing for my post

In comment 16074334 pjcas18 said:

Quote:

than basketball obviously but Colgate beating Michigan may not be as big an upset as FDU beating Purdue, but it would be an upset of epic proportions. Harvard, surprisingly to some, has the most NHL draft picks of any NCAA team, but Michigan has the most talent

Colgate has been a thorn in the side of a few good teams this year, including all three of the other ECAC entrants. It would not shock me if they pulled an upset (or if they get crushed).

Any way, Go Big Red! They played a brilliant game to knock of the defending champs yesterday.

dominated Merrimack, 4 - 0, moves on to face Ohio State (4pm Sunday) in the Bridgeport regional final.

In comment 16074954 pjcas18 said:

Quote:

dominated Merrimack, 4 - 0, moves on to face Ohio State (4pm Sunday) in the Bridgeport regional final.

5 - 0 - there was an ENG I forgot about.

All blowouts so far today.

Ohio State 8 - 1 over Harvard
Penn State 8 - 0 over Michigan Tech

Big 10 dominant so far with 3 teams in the elite 8 and can get a 4th if Michigan wins. If Colgate wins would give the ECAC 3 teams in the elite 8.

Hockey East with BU
NCHC with St. Cloud State

Michigan up 8-0 on Colgate in the 2nd. Luke Hughes with 5 points (1g 4a) so far. His future team will have to wait a night for the playoffs as the Devs play very loose early in a 5-4 loss to the Sabres.

In comment 16074989 Stu11 said:

Quote:

Michigan up 8-0 on Colgate in the 2nd. Luke Hughes with 5 points (1g 4a) so far. His future team will have to wait a night for the playoffs as the Devs play very loose early in a 5-4 loss to the Sabres.

ECAC still has 2nd most teams in the elite 8, after big 10, but this round went as I expected.

Bruins brawl at puck drop. Old school.

someone results in a Bruins power play.

was a great period in Boston, I really can't stand listening to Jack Edwards, but otherwise, such good hockey.

it's so clear a team like TBL plays down to their competition, kind of on cruise control it seems - like their loss to MTL - just have to hope they don't go to "turn it on" and find it's not there if you know what I mean. when that happens, IMO, you're team is descending. TBL may be at the pinnacle of that right now - when teams like WAS and PIT are on the way down.

1st team heading to Tampa, 2 - 1 over Cornell.

but each member of the Kid Line has a goal vs. the Panthers

Let's see if they can get right down the stretch, in a bit of rough patch the last five games.

the Pens to take advantage now of the FLA loss.

2 pts for the Pens would be good.

In comment 16075376 BH28 said:

Quote:

Let's see if they can get right down the stretch, in a bit of rough patch the last five games.

Goaltending is a concern and I have no idea why they are playing Blackwood. He looks bad again tonight.

In comment 16075403 Jay on the Island said:

Quote:

In comment 16075376 BH28 said: Quote: Let's see if they can get right down the stretch, in a bit of rough patch the last five games. Goaltending is a concern and I have no idea why they are playing Blackwood. He looks bad again tonight.

I wish Blackwood would never play another meaningful game for this franchise again. Goaltending will be ok Jay. You have egregious breakdowns vs the elite skill guys Buffalo has like they did last night I don't care who's in net you're gonna struggle. Seriously even if Vanacek or Schmid get hurt I'd rather they call up Dawes from the American league over Blackwood. A huge positive is Jack the past 2 nights. He's been flying around again like the Jack we know and love.

Devils fans.

A lot to be excited about, good young core, solid nucleus and a lot to look forward to.

As mentioned I this thread (or was it a different one) goalie is my main question on the Devils.

beat St. Cloud State in a great game in the 2nd game yesterday, the Manchester, NH final.

So, Quinnipiac and Ohio State in Bridgeport (4pm)
and Penn State and Michigan in Allentown (6:30pm)

the 4 teams playing today won their sweet sixteen games by a combined 32 - 2.

If Ohio State wins, there will be 3 Big 10 teams in the frozen four.

I don't care about conferences too much, just interesting.


Some other frozen four fun facts
This is both Minnesota and BU's 23rd Frozen Four and both have 5 titles.

Michigan has the most appearances (26) and titles (9 - tied with Denver).

This would be Quinnipiac and Ohio States 3rd frozen four, neither have won the title, but Quinnipiac has appeared in the title game twice, Ohio State is 0 - 2 in frozen four appearances.

Just to get Luke Hughes up to Devils quicker.

Absolutely infuriating. How is it that you can play like he has and keep getting sent down when that sieve Blackwood actually gets healthy enough for a week to get in there and give up 4 goals a game? Vanacek is not a solid enough #1 to play most every game down the stretch and the playoffs. The Devils are gonna need a 2nd goalie and Schmid has earned it. It's absolutely infuriating.

In comment 16075636 Stu11 said:

Quote:

Absolutely infuriating. How is it that you can play like he has and keep getting sent down when that sieve Blackwood actually gets healthy enough for a week to get in there and give up 4 goals a game? Vanacek is not a solid enough #1 to play most every game down the stretch and the playoffs. The Devils are gonna need a 2nd goalie and Schmid has earned it. It's absolutely infuriating.

I hate to keep repeating myself but this is just another reason why Ruff has to go. He continues to ride with Blackwood despite the fact that Schmid has been the best goaltender this season for the Devils.

Not just that but he is so quick to bench a young player for a bad game but now that Wood is healthy again he immediately put him back in the lineup over Foote who was playing well. How did Wood respond? He had 17 penalty minutes and turned the puck over in their own zone late in the 3rd when the Devils were up by 1. He constantly commits turnovers, takes stupid penalties, and now he isn't scoring. Please explain to me why this guy continues to play?

In comment 16075517 pjcas18 said:

Quote:

Devils fans. A lot to be excited about, good young core, solid nucleus and a lot to look forward to. As mentioned I this thread (or was it a different one) goalie is my main question on the Devils.

Thanks PJ, I agree with you about the goaltending. I like Vanecek and Schmid but I genuinely question if they are good enough to get this team to the stanley cup finals.

and this season is put out of its misery for habs (and other) fans, and onto the NHL 2nd season for the other half of the league.

This the past couple weeks shifted a few things, but as expected not much changed beyond some seeding.

every team has between 8 and 11 games left.

This is how the races stand:

(x) clinched playoffs, (y) clinched division
EAST
Atlantic:
BOS (y) 117 pts (10 games left)
TOR 95 pts (10 games left)
TBL 90 pts (8 games left)

Metro:
CAR (x) 102 pts (11 games left)
NJD (x) 100 pts (9 games left)
NYR 96 pts (9 games left)

Wild card:
NYI 83 pts (8 games left)
PIT 82 pts (9 games left)
FLA 79 pts (9 games left)

In the hunt (on life support):
BUF 76 pts (10 games left)
WAS 76 pts (8 games left)
OTT 75 pts (9 games left)

WEST
Central:
MIN 93 pts (9 games left)
DAL 92 pts (9 games left)
COL 90 pts (11 games left)

Pacific:
LVG 98 pts (9 games left)
LAK 94 pts (10 games left)
EDM 91 pts (9 games left)

Wild card:
SEA 88 pts (10 games left)
WIN 85 pts (8 games left)

In the hunt:
CAL 81 pts (8 games left)
NSH 80 pts (11 games left)

If Calgary misses the playoffs, 15 OT losses will be why - 7 more than the closest team they're chasing.

The Bedard sweepstakes bottom 6 is just about locked but CBK and SJS in a battle:

SJS 53 pts (9 games left) 14 RW 18 ROW
CBJ 53 pts (10 games left) 15 RW 22 ROW
CHI 54 pts (10 games left) 16 RW 22 ROW
ANA 56 pts (9 games left) 13 RW 20 ROW

MTL and ARI fighting for 5th

could mathematically catch BOS but would need basically to win all remaining games in regulation and BOS would need to lose all remaining games in regulation.

BOS will win the Presidents Cup

and both teams already allowed more goals than they did the last game.

2 - 1 Quinnipiac, heading to the PP, 5:16 left in the 1st

Quinnipiac punches their ticket to Tampa. 4 - 1 (ENG) over Ohio State

Will play the winner of Michigan vs Penn State on now.

1st period in Allentown for Michigan vs Penn State

scoreless after 1, both teams had 14 shots on net, a bunch of posts and missed nets too.

signs with Calgary (from Harvard).

Hopefully Farrell follows him to the NHL.

Calgary Flames
@NHLFlames
·
1m
Welcome to the #CofRed, @MattCoronato
🔥

somehow I missed it:

Quote:

Montreal Canadiens sign Sean Farrell to entry-level contract The NCAA star will start his professional career.

seeing a great one.

1 - 0 Penn State after 2. Weak penalty on Michigan, led to a Penn State PPG. so many shots, goalies playing great.

goalie is really good.

wins it in OT.

Michigan and Minnesota will be big favorites.

draft pick Mackie Samoskevich (from Newtown, CT) with a sick wrister to win it for Michigan.

ironically, his sister plays for Quinnipiac (per wikipedia)

win, the only team who can catch BOS for President's Trophy is CAR and CAR would need 17 out of their final 20 possible points and BOS would need to get 0 out of their final 18 possible points.

I believe BOS can clinch President's Trophy Tuesday.

Let's hope it's the cursed version.

myth.

Fluto Shinzawa
@FlutoShinzawa
·
2m
Matthew Coronato (CGY), Sean Farrell (MTL), and Henry Thrun (SJ) have signed entry-level deals. Alex Laferriere (LA) could follow.

Examining the Harvard-to-NHL pipeline.

I just hope it doesn't cost Kirby Dach. I like his game.


Marc Dumont
@MarcPDumont
·
3h
According to Elliotte Friedman, #Habs and Jets have discussed a potential Pierre-Luc Dubois trade.

"We know Dubois is going to end up there, 95 percent."

But in this case, there's no need to rush. Patience is in order for the Canadiens.

with playoff implications:

FLA @OTT
NJD @NYI

It's so hard to make up ground in the NHL

PIT has just a 3pt lead on FLA.

If PIT goes 5 - 4 down the stretch

then 6 - 3 from FLA still doesn't catch them.

they would need 6 - 2 - 1 and then would be tied

If PIT goes 6 - 3
FLA needs 7 - 1 - 1 to tie them

Need to win the winnable games, and tonight for FLA is winnable. OTT is tough, and not eliminated in their own right, but FLA should win - it's a winnable game for them - and with their talent they should win.

game if I had to guess

for FLA vs OTT

in MIN, Matthew Boldy is on fire.

very good goalie, defensively solid, have been playing well since they got Horvat at the trade deadline. Getting that 1st wildcard is very important to them so they avoid Boston. They could give Carolina a very tough time in a series