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'm still not sold on TBL going on a long run, but they're a much tougher match up for BOS (or anyone) than TOR. And it's not like TOR has no talent, with or without Nylander, but goalie as usual is their Achilles heel and they don't have depth.
Very deep forwards, Bobrovsky he recaptured the fountain of youth, but other than Forsling they don't have good defensive D.
@reporterchris
William Nylander was among the #leafs who took part in a highly optional skate in Boston this afternoon. It's the first time he's been spotted on the ice since Wednesday's game in Tampa.
I wonder if any other player has played all 82 regular season games and then missed a playoff game.
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is out.
I wonder if any other player has played all 82 regular season games and then missed a playoff game.
Pageau, about two hours before
I guess it happens. seems like it has to be rare.
apparently all the analytics say it's the right thing to do, but I hate it too.
but that was a very weak penalty call on the cross check. I wonder if they call it if it was a 1-goal game.
I think all the ESPN guys are good.
Bob Wischusen. He's awesome and I like Ryan Callahan as the broadcast analyst more than as a studio analyst.
Rangers Caps get Sean McDonough who is also really good with Ray Ferraro who I don't love. - like his commentary, hate his voice.
The biggest question for me is in the Av's net. Georgiev (tonights starter) was a circus the second half and Annunen was streaky. Georgiev also though has the ability to be stellar - who shows up?
The Jets had a great trade deadline IMO.
They got Sean Monahan from MTL and Tyler Toffoli from NJD - both are on their second line (along with very good Nikolaj Ehlers) and both can do everything. Love watching that line play.
Kyle Connor on WIN's top line is a sneaky goal scorer. Wicked shot.
Some former Rangers on the Jets roster. Namestnikov is on the 4th line and Neal Pionk on their 3rd D pair.
The Avs big deadline add was Mittelstad from BUF - and also a D - Sean Walker from PHI. former Rangers on COL are the aforementioned Georgiev and Jack Johnson (he played a year in NY, right?)
Losing Drouin will hurt COL and moves Zach Parise up to their 1st line.
There are times I watch MacKinnon and I feel like he's as dominant as McDavid - and Makar sometimes I feel like is what Bobby Orr must have been like. Neither MacKinnon or Makar are as good as McDavid or Orr but you get the point.
This will be a fun series to watch.
There are times I watch MacKinnon and I feel like he's as dominant as McDavid - and Makar sometimes I feel like is what Bobby Orr must have been like. Neither MacKinnon or Makar are as good as McDavid or Orr but you get the point.
This will be a fun series to watch.
Thanks PJ good stuff. Johnson is still being villified by Rangers fans for how bad he was the time he played here. As usual with everything Rangers, it's blown out of proportion.
That story was just horrendous. Both parents involved. Borrowed high leverage loans against his future earnings.
Did you think that was a little soft by Georgiev?
Quote:
Morrisey through a screen.
Did you think that was a little soft by Georgiev?
I think practically every goal from the point that isn't tipped is soft, lol, but they didn't show a good view to see the screen.
If CHP is watching, as a former goalie he'd have a good perspective.
what did you think? Did you get a good view?
Parise just cannot keep up with MacKinnon. Not sure what you can do, they lost Drouin, but maybe put Lehkonen up there.
Georgiev has had bad moments, but came up big end of the period to keep it a one goal game.
So doubt they bring in 3rd goalie.
COL needs to score on this PP.
Some of this is not just Georgiev, the COL D is pretty porous.
Some of this is not just Georgiev, the COL D is pretty porous.
Colorado d is awful. They're terrible at physically preventing guys from making plays near the crease. It's a constant problem and has been for years. You watch the Jets and they don't let anyone make plays around the net, most of the Jets goals were more on Avs D than Georgie. Not to say he had no blame, but he has terrible defense in front of him.
There are times I watch MacKinnon and I feel like he's as dominant as McDavid - and Makar sometimes I feel like is what Bobby Orr must have been like. Neither MacKinnon or Makar are as good as McDavid or Orr but you get the point.
This will be a fun series to watch.
Mackinnon is a totally different player than McDavid. Mac is a power skater and very physical, McDavid is a finesser.
Canucks and Maple Leafs are fun to watch with their playoff struggles.
Canucks and Maple Leafs are fun to watch with their playoff struggles.
Yes Nashville is gritty and scrappy and always down for a dogfight. Rather were recently one of the hottest teams in the league. They love being extremely physical and punishing the opposition. Forsberg is their top playmaker. No one wanted to face them in rd1.
Quote:
if you don't watch COL you will notice MacKinnon and Makar just play at a different speed than everyone else.
There are times I watch MacKinnon and I feel like he's as dominant as McDavid - and Makar sometimes I feel like is what Bobby Orr must have been like. Neither MacKinnon or Makar are as good as McDavid or Orr but you get the point.
This will be a fun series to watch.
Mackinnon is a totally different player than McDavid. Mac is a power skater and very physical, McDavid is a finesser.
lol
McDavid is not a "finesser" his style is closer to Crosby than Gretzky which is part of what makes him so unique, but where did I say they were the same player? I said at times I feel like MacKinnon is as dominant as McDavid. A finesse player is Panarin or Jack Hughes, Johnny Gaudreau but McDavid is not a finesse player.
2023 hit stats (not the perfect measure but as good a one as we have for this topic):
McDavid: 118
MacKinnon: 55
Jack Hughes: 10
Panarin: 18
Gaudreau: 2
Gaudreau has less hits in a 11 year career than McDavid had in 2023.
Not a finesse player.
Tonight the final 2 series start (EMDvsLAK @10pm and DALvsLVG @9:30pm)
Plus game 2 in CARvsNYI (CAR leads 1-0) @7:30pm and BOSvsTOR (BOS leads 1-0) @7pm
Game 1 winners win the series 2/3rds of the time.
If CHP is watching, as a former goalie he'd have a good perspective.
what did you think? Did you get a good view?
I was watching. There was such traffic, so many bodies at the crease and a couple moving in the slot can't see as how he did. Even if you do "see" it, it's so late as to make a reaction look weak and wobbly because the mind/eye to gun hands reaction is confused. It's on you before you know it.
So much fire power. It is fun and the town on the prairie is stoked. Can't help but root for Bowman, no?
a couple seasons ago, Edmonton set a record for the most post-season losses in a single post-season when you score 5 or more goals in the game. I know it's one game but COL could break that.
Hagens is an underager (2025 draft eligible), Eiserman will be a top 15 pick in the 2024 draft. Hutson (Lane's younger brother) will also be a 1st/2nd round pick in 2024, and more. should be a competitive squad.