Welcome to the most exciting event in sports and the hardest trophy to win. The NHL Stanley Cup playoffs. I am sure NYR fans and NYI fans probably have game threads, but this thread for all hockey discussion. Including the playoffs, the U18s, World Championships, awards, predictions and draft lottery. Playoffs start Saturday with all series beginning either Saturday, Sunday or Monday. Most series are every other day with an occasional 2nd day for travel or other reasons. Schedule in link.
The playoff match ups are finally set with LAK win (and LVG loss).
Here they are:
East
NYR* (1M) vs WAS (WC2) (Starts Sunday)
CAR (2M) vs NYI (3M) (Starts Saturday)
FLA (1A) vs TBL (WC1) (Starts Sunday)
BOS (2A) vs TOR (3A) (Starts Saturday)
West
DAL (1C) vs LVG (WC2) (Starts Monday)
WIN (2C) vs COL (3C) (Starts Sunday)
VAN (1P) vs NSH (WC1) (Starts Sunday)
EDM (2P) vs LAK (3P) (Starts Monday)
* President's Trophy Winner
My Predictions:
NYR in 5
CAR in 6
FLA in 6
BOS in 7
DAL in 6
COL in 7
VAN in 5
EDM in 7
What am I rooting for? Game 7's and OT's.
On the other end? The lottery teams will be (order determined at draft lottery which is usually during the playoffs):
32. SJS
31. CHI
30. ANA
29. CBJ
28. MTL
27. ARI/UTA
26. OTT
25. SEA
24. CAL
23. NJD
22. BUF
21. PHI
20. MIN
19. PIT
18. DET
17. STL
Playoff Schedule - (
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I think they got a decent return, but not as good as potentially Gauthier can be. They basically traded the 5th pick in the 2022 draft for the 6th pick in the 2020 draft and a 2nd. And normally this would be ok, pretty fair even Drysdale was great early on, but hurt or no bueno since.
I still think Drysdale will be good, a top 4 D on his team, but Gauthier can be a star. And I'm not sure I'd move him off C.
NYI@CAR 5:00pm start on TBS
TOR@BOS 8:00pm start on TBS
Other news...
Drouin out for 1st series. Big loss for COL, he was on their top line and PP1 units.
Also, something to watch in CAR, Svechnikov was out last playoffs. he's been rusty since I have seen them, but improving and he is an impact player when healthy.
Kate Shefte
@KateShefte
Jared McCann said he’s playing for Team Canada at the 2024 IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship in Prague.
“Very excited to represent my country.”
yep. he won MVP. He was the best player on the ice all season, just about every time BC played.
Excluding Bedard, the last time I was that impressed with a player at WJC was Lafreniere in 2020, lol.
Excluding Bedard, the last time I was that impressed with a player at WJC was Lafreniere in 2020, lol.
Yeah, Bedard is the best I have seen though people who know say Forsberg dominated that tournament like no one else.
What Gretzky did there at 16 is historic. Lindros and Jagr dominated at 17.
but Forsberg, Gretzky, Lindors and Jagr were before i had access, so I take historians words for it.
The best recent individual I have seen other than Bedard was Trevor Zegras. He didn't even get best forward, I think Stutzle got it.
One other under the radar performance - not in points but in play - was Lias Andersson. He was captain of Sweden when they lost to Canada and famously threw the silver medal in the stands - I thought he would be a really good NHL player.
watched first 2 periods last w/e, Eagles and top line started out with some chances but Davis was so solid, gave up not a sliver of hope, and by midway 2nd the feeel of the game had swung.
Back on topic, always makes me nervous when predominant sentiment is to give a team no chance to win…Caps…lgr
(means Caps in 4)
1-1 12 left in the 2nd.
2-1 CAR in the 3rd (16 min left)
2-1 CAR in the 3rd (16 min left)
Couple times in the last month of the season as the puck folks were batting around SC contenders, I kept pushing Canes and you kept pushing they don’t have the goaltending.
Quote:
save by Andersen and then CAR scores on the ensuing play off a shot, tip, rebound.
2-1 CAR in the 3rd (16 min left)
That goal was foretold by the building pressure…hard fought, physical, good game.
Couple times in the last month of the season as the puck folks were batting around SC contenders, I kept pushing Canes and you kept pushing they don’t have the goaltending.
I have a hard time highly ranking a Freddy Andersen led team.
He had some decent ANA years/playoff performances but was a circus with Toronto AND wasn't sure he would even be an option with the blood clots/health issues until a couple weeks ago.
And if it was Kochetkov it would be worse.
Seriously. Twice they dive like they are playing Premier League soccer.
CUNTS
Quote:
canes seem to have added an acting coach this year meanwhile reilly cant even bleed right.
Seriously. Twice they dive like they are playing Premier League soccer.
CUNTS
refs correctly let a few go too. pretty good game by the isles but just like every other time they play carolina their goaltending/ST outplays isles and they get the win.
I'm surprised that got the slashing call without at least an embellishment unsportsmanlike penalty to off-set it.
I'm surprised that got the slashing call without at least an embellishment unsportsmanlike penalty to off-set it.
agreed. the call on lee early was weak too.
not the officials fault the isles ST suck but hopefully the rest of the series they are clear on carolina's obvious intent to take advantage of that.
Go no one...hate these two teams.
Quote:
In comment 16477224 pjcas18 said:
Quote:
save by Andersen and then CAR scores on the ensuing play off a shot, tip, rebound.
2-1 CAR in the 3rd (16 min left)
That goal was foretold by the building pressure…hard fought, physical, good game.
Couple times in the last month of the season as the puck folks were batting around SC contenders, I kept pushing Canes and you kept pushing they don’t have the goaltending.
I have a hard time highly ranking a Freddy Andersen led team.
He had some decent ANA years/playoff performances but was a circus with Toronto AND wasn't sure he would even be an option with the blood clots/health issues until a couple weeks ago.
And if it was Kochetkov it would be worse.
Anderson was recently the quickest goalie to a certain win amount. Him being hurt all the time takes away from bow good he is when healthy
I think the Rangers could match their physicality, it's matching their intensity and commitment that I worry about.
Long way to go before that anyway.
Quote:
In comment 16477254 ColHowPepper said:
Quote:
In comment 16477224 pjcas18 said:
Quote:
save by Andersen and then CAR scores on the ensuing play off a shot, tip, rebound.
2-1 CAR in the 3rd (16 min left)
That goal was foretold by the building pressure…hard fought, physical, good game.
Couple times in the last month of the season as the puck folks were batting around SC contenders, I kept pushing Canes and you kept pushing they don’t have the goaltending.
I have a hard time highly ranking a Freddy Andersen led team.
He had some decent ANA years/playoff performances but was a circus with Toronto AND wasn't sure he would even be an option with the blood clots/health issues until a couple weeks ago.
And if it was Kochetkov it would be worse.
Anderson was recently the quickest goalie to a certain win amount. Him being hurt all the time takes away from bow good he is when healthy
Yeah, most wins first 500 games. Goalie wins is not the best metric to evaluate a goalie. He beat out Braden Holtby by 1. Still commendable and like I said in the thread when I posted that if I had 100 guesses at who owns this "record" I never would have guessed it.
I'm just not sold on Andersen being able to win deep into the playoffs.
he was fantastic today though. Maybe he proves me wrong.
they were +5k before today's game, so an extra $3k is right there for the taking!
Isles have been playing well; but for Panarin’s artistry, NYR would be second seed.
To Rob’s point it is fair and it’s not like Laviolette hasn’t amped the intensity but for the uncertainty in that vein of Zib and CK. But Brind d’Amour is on a whole different level and his team is the mirror their coach
I wonder if any other player has played all 82 regular season games and then missed a playoff game.
I'm sure someone has gotten sick or something over the years but it has to be pretty unusual.
not that it would necessarily make a difference, but he scored 40 goals and had almost 100 points.
BOS owns TOR.....again. This could be a sweep if Nylander doesn't come back.
(means Caps in 4)
Agreed. None of this overthinking, playing down to opponents, squeaking by with 1-0 wins 2-1 wins, and the RANGERS having to be the ones to climb out of serious deficits and get wins to stay alive in games 5 and 6.
It's time to think. If you cannot beat this Caps teams with ease, holy shit. Lol.
Sweeps still exist. Make it happen, Rangers.
For the love of God, being up 2-0 in a series is a good thing. Keep the momentum going for yourselves, not the other way around.
they avoided the Lightning in round 1, who I think are vastly overrated by many people - including most of the NYR fans on here, and got the Leafs who they own.
If TBL can knock off FLA in an intrastate battle, BOS has a cake walk, IMO, to the conference finals. FLA BOS would be awesome, but BOS walks over TBL IMO.
I know I'm getting ahead of myself but a Rangers Bruins conference finals would be incredible.
0 SOG by Tampa Bay
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I've never been so confident in a playoff series than this one, CHP.
(means Caps in 4)
Agreed. None of this overthinking, playing down to opponents, squeaking by with 1-0 wins 2-1 wins, and the RANGERS having to be the ones to climb out of serious deficits and get wins to stay alive in games 5 and 6.
It's time to think. If you cannot beat this Caps teams with ease, holy shit. Lol.
Sweeps still exist. Make it happen, Rangers.
For the love of God, being up 2-0 in a series is a good thing. Keep the momentum going for yourselves, not the other way around.
Spot on--Rangers fans are terrified are having any confidence about anything.
I'm not confident about winning the Cup, no team has more than a 20% chance at this stage. But the Rangers should demolish this Caps team.
What the hell does he know?
You are only saying this to impress me.
Uncalled interference calls irritate the shit out of me. The league would open up so much more if they were more meticulous about it.
You are only saying this to impress me.
Uncalled interference calls irritate the shit out of me. The league would open up so much more if they were more meticulous about it.
Ha! I was hoping to irritate
no idea. I mentioned it above. it's a mystery. I only assume he was injured in practice. I can't remember any player ever playing 82 games in the regular season and then miss game 1 of the playoffs. that's 100 point player out of your lineup.
One of the Leafs players asked about it said "hopefully he doesn't miss much time" but that's as much as I've heard said about it.