Official 2017-2018 NHL Thread v. Break the Ice

[mikeyd23]

I fully agree that the torn MCL has no impact on the call, just salt in the wound. And while I can see why they might not have wanted to call it, it was in fact a blatant penalty. And yes, of course the throwing incident was bad. But FWIW 1/3 were probably being thrown at the refs and another 1/3 at the Flyers, so it's not like it was just the usual Penguins hatred.

Like I said, overall I agree with you, that should have been called. And yes, it did seem the hatred was spread out pretty equally in the building, looked like everyone was everything at everybody. I get the frustration, but I just hate to see it happen, could have been bad.

[mike099]

Unlike Gary's Brother in-law, I do not pretend to know a lot about the game of hockey.  What kind of game plan will be effective against the Preds and what team has the best shot against them?

[gmillerdrake]

Unlike Gary's Brother in-law, I do not pretend to know a lot about the game of hockey.  What kind of game plan will be effective against the Preds and what team has the best shot against them?

    I wish he hadn't ruined the Preds for me....they'd been my second favorite team forever.

but my opinion to you question is 'punch them back'. A lot of teams allow the Preds to walk all over them and try to just sustain that and counter attack which rarely works. I think if you get a team....much like the Avalanche did at times....that will take it to them and push them they'd have success.

I think Winnipeg is going to beat them personally. Rinne hasn't been as sharp as he normally has been (I know he just had a shut out) and he's giving up a lot of rebounds. Winnipeg is a team that is not scared of the Preds which is where a lot of teams lose the game. Take the Blues for instance....for whatever reason they Blues can handle a lot of the Western conference teams but when it comes to the Preds they clam up and abandon their game.

I'd be willing to bet the winner of Winnipeg/Preds is the Western Conference Representative for the Cup.

[pg1067]

Unlike Gary's Brother in-law, I do not pretend to know a lot about the game of hockey.  What kind of game plan will be effective against the Preds and what team has the best shot against them?

I haven't seen enough Preds games to speak too intelligently, but here's what can be easily culled from some of the available stats:

Against the remaining Western Conference playoff teams, Nashville performed as follows:

Winnipeg          3-1-1, with an average of 4.4 GF/G and 4.0 GA/G
San Jose           2-1-0, with an average of 4.33 GF/G and 2.67 GA/G
Vegas               1-1-1, with an average of 1.33. GF/G and 2.33 GA/G

Keep in mind that Nashville will have home ice throughout the playoffs.

Nashville is balanced and has no glaring weaknesses.  They had 11 players score more than 30 points this season.  And, of course, they have a perennial Vezina Trophy candidate in net.

[mikeyd23]

I'll probably regret saying this, but I said after the finals last year, I don't see this Preds team going back to the finals and winning it. I think last year was their shot and they came up short. Obviously, they are a good team who had a good regular season, but I still don't see it. The Caps are also a good team who have had several great regular seasons in a row, look how many Cups they have gotten from that.

I know they are a favorite to win it all for a lot of people, so it might not make much sense (and like I said, I might regret saying it) but I just don't see it. For whatever reason, I think they are missing that intangible something it takes, and this is coming from a guy that doesn't put a lot of stock in silly intangible things in sports.

I think the Jets or the Knights will be representing the West in the finals this year. That's based on nothing more than a gut feeling.

[jingle.boy]

I think the Jets are big, tough, and fast enough to contain the Preds.  You luck at Buf, Wheeler, Scheifle ... they're all big dudes.  Hell, even Laine brings a bit of size.  They're balanced offensively, with the ability to be explosive.  I like their chances against the Preds.  I'm gonna be watching that series, for sure - I'm calling the Jets to make it, and win the Cup still.  Hellabucyk looks like he's in the zone - that 6 goal game notwithstanding.

I think the Sharks/Knights is gonna be a helluva goal-tending series.  I take back what I previously said about Jones - he's been stellar, and can/could steal a game or two - from anyone.

[romdrums]

I think the Jets are big, tough, and fast enough to contain the Preds.  You luck at Buf, Wheeler, Scheifle ... they're all big dudes.  Hell, even Laine brings a bit of size.  They're balanced offensively, with the ability to be explosive.  I like their chances against the Preds.  I'm gonna be watching that series, for sure - I'm calling the Jets to make it, and win the Cup still.  Hellabucyk looks like he's in the zone - that 6 goal game notwithstanding.

I think the Sharks/Knights is gonna be a helluva goal-tending series.  I take back what I previously said about Jones - he's been stellar, and can/could steal a game or two - from anyone.

Laine is 6'5" and 206 lbs.  I'd say that's more than a bit of size.  BTW, the Jets roster has 10 guys on it that are at least 6'3" and 200+ lbs, and only 3 guys under 6'0".  Winnipeg Jumbo Jets would be an accurate description of that team.   I'm on their bandwagon though.  They seem to have fun and also have a killer instinct.  The series against Nashville is going to be epic.

[TAC]

Andersson is going to steal another fucking game??

[KevShmev]

Let's hope so.

How Boston didn't score on the last sequence is beyond me.

And the Leafs score as I type this!!

[TAC]

Marner has been great this entire series.

Rask has to make that stop.

[TheCountOfNYC]

Andersson is going to steal another fucking game??

I hope so. The Western Conference results so far messed up my bracket and I need Toronto to pull out a series win to get back on track. If Toronto and Washington win their respective series, I’ll be 6-2 with a perfect Eastern Conference after the first round after starting 2-2.

[King Postwhore]

Feels like the Leafs are taking over.

[TAC]

Feels like the Leafs are taking over.

Not really. Boston has been carrying the play. They could be up by 3 easy if not for Andersson. Bullcrap call on Miller.

[King Postwhore]

Welp.  Game 7 coming up.

[TAC]

I could tell in the first period. Leafs need to thank their goalie.

[KevShmev]

Washington looks like they are going to close out the Blue Jackets, so at least we will get one game 7 in the 1st round.

[jingle.boy]

That's 2 games Andersen has stolen - let's hope it can be a full team effort on Wednesday.  That sequence in the 2nd just before Marner's goal had me yelling at the TV repeatedly - way too many turnovers.  3, 4, 5 attempts to clear the zone every time.  At least they played much more solidly in the 3rd compared to Saturday night.  FFS, Bergeron is a machine on the faceoffs - 23 for 29.  As a team, they were 43-68.  Completely reminded me of Game 7 from '13 in that regard.  Amazing to get the win when you're chasing the puck 63% of the time play resumes.

Hopefully this gives the Bs the yips.  Caps, Sharks, Knights all took 4 straight.... who's to say the Leafs can't take 3 straight!?!?!

Hard to believe there was only one Game 7 last year (round 2 Pens/Caps).  But there were a shit-ton of overtime games - 18 in the first round alone.  Gonna be an exciting one for sure.

[Accelerando]

At first I did not want Tampa to play Boston, but now I’m not sure Toronto are some sneaky bastards! Game 7 is going to be a good one!

[SystematicThought]

Hard to believe there was only one Game 7 last year (round 2 Pens/Caps).  But there were a shit-ton of overtime games - 18 in the first round alone.  Gonna be an exciting one for sure.

Wasn’t Ottawa/Pittsburgh in the East Finals a game 7? My heart is still aching.

[jingle.boy]

Hard to believe there was only one Game 7 last year (round 2 Pens/Caps).  But there were a shit-ton of overtime games - 18 in the first round alone.  Gonna be an exciting one for sure.

Wasn’t Ottawa/Pittsburgh in the East Finals a game 7? My heart is still aching.

Of course!    I was just doing a real quick skim of the final bracket for the 4-3 series'.  Not sure how I could've missed/forgotten that one.

[YtseBitsySpider]

That's 2 games Andersen has stolen - let's hope it can be a full team effort on Wednesday.  That sequence in the 2nd just before Marner's goal had me yelling at the TV repeatedly - way too many turnovers.  3, 4, 5 attempts to clear the zone every time.  At least they played much more solidly in the 3rd compared to Saturday night.  FFS, Bergeron is a machine on the faceoffs - 23 for 29.  As a team, they were 43-68.  Completely reminded me of Game 7 from '13 in that regard.  Amazing to get the win when you're chasing the puck 63% of the time play resumes.

Hopefully this gives the Bs the yips.  Caps, Sharks, Knights all took 4 straight.... who's to say the Leafs can't take 3 straight!?!?!

Hard to believe there was only one Game 7 last year (round 2 Pens/Caps).  But there were a shit-ton of overtime games - 18 in the first round alone.  Gonna be an exciting one for sure.

I don't believe he stole anything last night. The top two lines of the Bruins had severe "Zack Smith Syndrome" as evidenced by Pasta's first official shot on goal coming in the third period. ZSS...also known as "high n wide" syndrome....is when players attempt to hit a tiny little spot with the puck that has little or no chance of going in. The Leafs goaltending has been decent. Their defense is horrendous. Hit the goalie, get rebound. Series over.

[jingle.boy]

But to that end, don't you think it's possible that the Bruins realized they had to make THE perfect shot to beat Freddie?  I mean, his rebound control, positioning, and anticipation have all been stellar the past 3 games (those 2-on-1s were all the fault of Zaitsev/Polak*) .  Yeah, Pasta couldn't hit the broad side of a barn last night, but I believe a big part of that is because he (and the rest of the team) knew that just firing towards the net and praying for the best wasn't going to cut it.  Freddie didn't steal it because of the stops he DID make, but also because of the stops he didn't have to make.

That's what I think.


* - you notice the 2-1's last night... D-man took away the pass; Freddie got the shooter - no goals.

[jingle.boy]

Oh FFS... both Leafs and Raptors play tomorrow night!

[Nick]

Oh FFS... both Leafs and Raptors play tomorrow night!

I fail to see the issue here.

[mikeyd23]

Pens vs Caps yet again! Should be fun!

[jingle.boy]

Pens vs Caps yet again! Should be fun!

Maybe the Caps can break their curse.  I hope Holtby has a stand-out series.  The way the Pens look, the Caps are gonna need it.

[mikeyd23]

Pens vs Caps yet again! Should be fun!

Maybe the Caps can break their curse.  I hope Holtby has a stand-out series.  The way the Pens look, the Caps are gonna need it.

Eh I don't know, the Pens were far from consistent against a Flyers squad they honestly should have looked better against. I think this will be a tough series for both teams, could go either way.

[pg1067]

Yesterday was the first day since the playoffs started without any games on the schedule.  It made me sad.   

[mikeyd23]

Yesterday was the first day since the playoffs started without any games on the schedule.  It made me sad.   

Hah, I just said the same thing to a couple guys at work! Back at it tonight with what should be a good game 7!

Kinda surprised the NHL waited to announce game one of the next round starting Thursday till late on Tuesday. I thought they would have started on Friday and Saturday arena schedules permitting.

[gmillerdrake]

This Leafs/Bruins game is already insane!!

[King Postwhore]

This Leafs/Bruins game is already insane!!

I'm dyiing.

[gmillerdrake]

This tempo is crazy. These players are gonna be cooked after this game.

[SystematicThought]

If the Leafs have to win to ensure that I never have to see Rene Rancourt sing an anthem and do the hand gestures ever again, then so be it.

Also, I think this game is gonna be a lot of fun

[TAC]

This tempo is crazy. These players are gonna be cooked after this game.

I'm already cooked.

[gmillerdrake]

This game is gonna come down to who's goalie wants to start making some big saves. Not to take away from the goals that have been scored because there's been deflections and screen shots and what not....but, it looks like whichever goalie cranks it up is gonna get his team a 'W'