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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another softie IMO. Good shot, but Samsonov looked like he has a clear view of it the whole way.
another softie IMO. Good shot, but Samsonov looked like he has a clear view of it the whole way.
Rangers had that exact goal yesterday. High, short side, normally stopped.
Rangers had that exact goal yesterday. High, short side, normally stopped.
not really, Roslovic’s shot was from an extreme angle, way less likely to find cord, Marchand off the circle, if that’s what you’re referring to
BOS steals back home ice. 2-1 in the series.
I would. Swayman hasn't lost to TOR. Coaches are stubborn though, so who knows maybe Monty keep his rotation alive.
Puts DAL up 1-0.
tied up at 1.
no chemistry
MM seems to revile his colleague and imo adds little
doing ok with the re cam
pk is well pk
no chemistry
MM seems to revile his colleague and imo adds little
doing ok with the re cam
pk is well pk
their in-game teams are so good and studio teams so bad.
but I'm not much of a in-between periods watch the studio crew guy. what do we expect?
I like the TSN crew who does Habs games, but I liked Don Cherry too.
Meanwhile I didn't watch, I switched over to EDM vs LAK.
LAK took a 2-goal lead and then Brett Kulak with a blast cuts the lead to 1. EDM controlling play, but not strong on the blue line or in net so they will need to win some track meets.
LAK comes right back with the breakaway when the D loses Doughty and he scores to restore the 2-goal lead.
BOS steals back home ice. 2-1 in the series.
Weak?
McAvoy has a clear line to the puck behind his own net and is going to clear it and gets pulled down from behind. lol
You have to make that call in the defensive zone.
Weak is naming the Toronto goalie as the Third Star.
Quote:
ends it. Weak penalty on Tavares. Matthews fails to get it deep and no idea what the D was doing to break it out.
BOS steals back home ice. 2-1 in the series.
Weak?
McAvoy has a clear line to the puck behind his own net and is going to clear it and gets pulled down from behind. lol
You have to make that call in the defensive zone.
Weak is naming the Toronto goalie as the Third Star.
The Bruins player was holding Tavares stick when he grabbed McAvoy. Call both or neither.
Just calling like I see it. I hate both teams.
in the series
What a snipe by Kopitar.
USA goals from Eiserman and Hutson, two 2024 draft eligibles.
Hutson is Lane's younger brother.
Hagens (a BC commit) is a 2025 draft eligible.
Hagens probably passes both, but Eiserman is a scorer and I don't think he's getting proper value in mock drafts. He has an NHL shot. I read some beat writers talking Habs saying even if the Habs trade down into the 10-15 range they would not take him and I don't understand that.
Still a long way to go, maybe Nylander returns and gives them a boost in scoring. They need it
I was watching a review of their roster, they are easily the favorite. Doesn't mean they'll win - they have a tough bracket with Sweden, but they're loaded.
Hagens 3rd point of the game.
He'll be drafted this year, but he needs work. Good project prospect.
6-0 2nd under 3 left.
CAR@NYI at 7:30 (CAR up 2-0) Sorokin gets the net
in between NFL draft picks.....
Yeah, his dad was 6'3" and had the highest selling NHL jersey for a while.
To say he's raw though, is kind of a slap in the face to the word raw. lol. I do think he'll be drafted this year, but he needs work.
I think he hit a growth spurt and is still growing in to his body. Sometimes those uber tall players (like Tage Thompson) take a little longer to regain their coordination. Only thing I can think of. Today was my first time seeing him. he didn't make team Slovakia U18 last year as an under-ager so I hadn't seen him until today.
Central Scouting has him as the #51 ranked Euro skater, so that's probably a 4th/5th round pick is my guess. I could also be overstating things because they played a far better team today and no one really looked good on Slovakia.
lol. I know what he means and thought that was perfect.
Another good example. So true.
In this case though I hate how they manipulated LTIR and Dallas gets penalized for a team taking advantage of a rules loophole.
Can't believe that elbow to the head by Oshi on Panarin right after the faceoff wasn't called.
I think Rempe has the same challenge Judge has in BB. The low called strikes on him have some similarity where Rempe hit people cause of the height disparity.