Edmonton Oilers @ Florida Panthers 8pm ET on ABC.
The Panthers are favored to win the series due to a well balanced team and a stout goalie, but the Oilers have the playoffs top 4 scorers and 5 of the top 7.
Florida's biggest weakness is their D are not very good defensively and due to their aggressive style they play in the offensive zone are prone to giving up odd-man rushes and they rely on their goalie (Bobrovsky) to bail them out. They also take a lot of penalties (generally speaking).
the Oilers are lethal on the power play (37.3% to lead the playoffs). The Oilers PK also leads the playoffs. They will need both to be at their best to win the series because their goalie (Skinner) has not been consistent (but was fantastic in the Dallas series).
This is Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl's first SCF appearance and both have had stellar careers to this point, but post-season success has eluded them both and been a stain to an extent on their careers. The only stain.
Should be a fun series. The heavy forecheck and 200-foot game of Florida with Barkov, Tkachuck, Bennett, Verhaeghe, Reinhart, vs the speed and skill of Edmonton with McDavid, Draisaitl, Hyman, Bouchard, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, etc.
This is has Steelers vs Seahawks Super Bowl vibes to it. Two teams I have no interest and no animosity towards, but at least you could get entertained by that Rams/Titans Super Bowl in 1999-2000.
I think if this were a best of 8 and they kept playing, it might be 8-0 or 7-1 Florida.
I thought Edmonton was way better than they were, but to me they just look like one of those teams should just be happy they got to the SCF.
So, not to take anything away from Quick, his 2012 was incredible, but eye test, I have never seen anything like Tim Thomas the year before. Maybe that's a tribute to Quick. He made it look easy - like how Carey Price played net so sound positionally, calm, in control, Thomas was flailing all over the crease - like Hasek did.
They aren't playing badly, they're paying the price for not upgrading in goal.
[quote]JFresh
@JFreshHockey
set goalies aside and the Oilers have been competitive, arguably even.
unfortunately for the Oilers, in the sport of hockey you cannot set goalies aside and Stanley cups are not won on deserve to win o meters
12:11 AM · Jun 14, 2024
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Brodeur is probably after those 2 for me.
My favorite goalie "moment" of all time other than Jim Craig in Miracle on Ice was the 1996 World Cup of Hockey. Mike Richter may have had the best performance I've seen a goalie have in any format, in any tournament.
and it highlights my thoughts on this series. first, I don't find it boring at all. Almost every time McDavid touches the puck he's like a jitterbug skimming across water he just looks different than everyone else and I love to watch him play, and it seems like he's playing a ton each game (you can see his frustration but he's playing a ton). And overall this is not as lopsided a series as the 3-0 lead and two 3 goal wins would indicate.
Also Forsling defensively is so sound.
Wish Barkov was a Ranger.
Also Forsling defensively is so sound.
Wish Barkov was a Ranger.
Good call. He's the premier 2-way player in the league now that Bergeron is retired. I think Barkov probably even got cheated out of a Selke or 2 due to the reputation of Bergeron (and Barkov has 2 Selke's).
Also, Richter would allow some of the worst goals I've ever seen in my life lol like from center ice or way behind it.
Quote:
I thought Edmonton was way better than they were, but to me they just look like one of those teams should just be happy they got to the SCF.
They aren't playing badly, they're paying the price for not upgrading in goal.
[quote]JFresh
@JFreshHockey
set goalies aside and the Oilers have been competitive, arguably even.
unfortunately for the Oilers, in the sport of hockey you cannot set goalies aside and Stanley cups are not won on deserve to win o meters
12:11 AM · Jun 14, 2024
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I hate to keep crossing swords here but it's like when the Nets got swept by the Lakers in 2002. 3 out of 4 of those games were close. Still a sweep though.
Florida will hoist the cup in game 4 and a standing ovation by the Edmonton fans for a concerted effort.
Brodeur is probably after those 2 for me.
My favorite goalie "moment" of all time other than Jim Craig in Miracle on Ice was the 1996 World Cup of Hockey. Mike Richter may have had the best performance I've seen a goalie have in any format, in any tournament.
PJ you know how big of a Devils fan I am. The best goalie of my lifetime is Roy and I don't have to think about it much. As random as Playoff OT can be it wasn't with Roy. He played his best hockey during it. At one point he won a record 10 in a row and was 40-18 lifetime. I saw many games where he stood on his head and absolutely refused to let his team lose. Not to mention when he and Brodeur met in the finals he outplayed Marty. After that I don't get as much into ordering them. I'd probably take Marty over Hasek because of his durability and sheer numbers, but I wouldn't fight to the death with someone who puts Hasek ahead of Marty. '94 when Marty was a rookie they went head to head in a great 7 game 1st Rd series. Game 6 went scoreless for like 6 or 7 periods. I didn't think anyone would ever score. It may have been the best goalie battle I've ever seen.
I felt like every other game that team played went into overtime because he kept them alive somehow. Some of them were like 3 and one of them went 5 vs Dallas.
Glad he wanted all in 2007. He deserved a cup just for that effort alone.
Besides that I think the hockey is interesting, I need a couple bad games from Bobrovsky and a couple good ones from Barkov to shift Conn Smythe to Barkov so I win my bet.
As good as Bobrovsky has been, Swayman (with a sterling 13.3 in 12 games) and Shesterkin (13.1 in 16 games) both still lead Bobrovsky (11.5 in 20 games) in goals saved above expected for the playoffs.
I think Bob is the HEAVY favorite for Conn Smythe right now (Captain obvious?), in fact it would probably be unanimous, but if the series extends I do think there is an opening for him to lose it.
Now, another clunker from Bobrovsky, who all of a sudden looks very mediocre and an elite effort from Barkov to help seal the cup, who knows maybe I pull out my bet. lol. because that's all that matters.
Meanwhile, if the Oilers sneak a game or two more, and McDavid piles up more points, any shot he's the Conn Smythe from the losing team? It's been a while but it has happened and his point total is historic. The last two times it happened was the aforementioned JSG in 2003 and Hextall in 1987. Only once out of the 5 times it's happened has it been awarded to a non-goalie (Reggie Leach 1976) so it's a longshot.
McDavid already has the 5th highest point total ever in a post-season behind 3 Gretzky's and a Lemieux and the highest post-season point total in over 30 years.
Route 9 : 7:06 pm : link : reply
Wasn't that the case in 93? Gretzky had a shit ton of points in a SCF losing effort and the trophy went to Roy.
Route 9 : 7:06 pm : link : reply
Wasn't that the case in 93? Gretzky had a shit ton of points in a SCF losing effort and the trophy went to Roy.
very similar to this year.
Gretzky had 2 more points that year than McDavid does, but also played 2 more games.
That said, Roy's stats were better than Bobrovsky's are and that Habs team wasn't anywhere close to these Panthers. Loved Damphousse and Muller, but the young guys came up huge in the playoffs (LeClair, Dionne, DiPietro, etc.) and Roy was great. The one game the Habs lost that series was game 1 then they ripped off 4 straight and he stole game 4 - the OT win in LA.
Roy never allowed more than 3 goals in a game that entire playoffs, Bobrovsky has 4 times so far this playoffs.
8pm in FLA.
In other news...
Pascal Vincent fired as Blue Jackets coach. They have a new GM (Waddell from CAR) hired on 5/28 so no surprise just kind of late in the cycle - some names already scooped up.
I was actually surprised by the score the other night, didn't watch one second of it and didn't think Edmonton had that type of game in them. I think they win tonight.
It didn't seem like Kulak even got Stenlund, but either way.
not sure if it was tipped.
EDM up 3-0, maybe Bob gets the gate.
The worse Bobrovsky plays the more I think McDavid has a shot at Conn Smythe regardless who wins.
Barkov has been awesome, but if Bobrovsky isn't Conn Smythe not sure who on FLA would be. I guess maybe Barkov but McDavid is having a historic post season.
The worse Bobrovsky plays the more I think McDavid has a shot at Conn Smythe regardless who wins.
Barkov has been awesome, but if Bobrovsky isn't Conn Smythe not sure who on FLA would be. I guess maybe Barkov but McDavid is having a historic post season.
Bob has given up 11 goals so far in the past 3 games. Do they overlook that?
Quote:
with his 2nd point of the game.
The worse Bobrovsky plays the more I think McDavid has a shot at Conn Smythe regardless who wins.
Barkov has been awesome, but if Bobrovsky isn't Conn Smythe not sure who on FLA would be. I guess maybe Barkov but McDavid is having a historic post season.
Bob has given up 11 goals so far in the past 3 games. Do they overlook that?
I hope not. lol. his numbers overall now are not great. Though hard to ignore how awesome he was in the Rangers series and games 1-3 of the finals. But I have bets on Barkov and McDavid for Conn Smythe.
4-1 EDM.
FLA comes right back E-rod scores 14 seconds later.
4-2 EDM.
And McDavid's PP zone entries are incredible. If you can get a player with that speed to get it in the zone under control and let you set up, it's negates a lot of the PK aggression.
And McDavid's PP zone entries are incredible. If you can get a player with that speed to get it in the zone under control and let you set up, it's negates a lot of the PK aggression.
Yep...bad call.
2 and a half left.
1 goal game.
As fans we deserve an OT.
2 and a half left.
1 goal game.
As fans we deserve an OT.
Lol, no...just end it and guarantee a game 6
Unbelievable effort.
If this goes 7 he can pass Gretzky
Quote:
Was something special.
Unbelievable effort.
In over 45 years of watching hockey that may have been the most impressive effort play I've ever seen
but on replay he definitely did. Like a Don Beebe play.
odds fluctuate but those are close to what I'm seeing for the sites who have updated their odds after last night.
@Canucks
General Manager Patrik Allvin announces that the #Canucks have agreed to terms with defenceman Filip Hronek on an 8-year contract with a $7.25M AAV
Oilers speed on the ice very noticeable now
Panthers forecheck not as dominant as first few games.
McDavid playing like a superstar. Special teams favor Oilers.
This is fun!!!