Official 2017-2018 NHL Thread v. Break the Ice

[jingle.boy]

Yeah, he's been pretty solid considering the turd he laid against Chicago a few nights ago.  And this period too.

Tick-tock.

[jingle.boy]

In the famous words of Gorilla Monsoon... stick a fork in 'em, they're done.

[gmillerdrake]

Best of luck to all your teams gents......gonna be rooting for the Leafs to make some noise!

[KevShmev]

Losing Tarasenko early in the game sure didn't help, but the Blues lost 5 of their last 6.  It was there for the taking and they blew it.

[jingle.boy]

Losing Tarasenko early in the game sure didn't help, but the Blues lost 5 of their last 6.  It was there for the taking and they blew it.

8.5 seconds.  That was the the difference.  I'm sure Keith is gonna take some satisfaction from that all summer.

Too little, too late.

[KevShmev]

Actually, getting a point against Chicago Wednesday would have ended up not mattering.  The Avs would have still gotten the playoff spot based on the 4th tiebreaker.  Now, had we won in OT Wednesday...

[jingle.boy]

Both the Kings and Sharks are crapping a turd tonight when they've both got a shot to take #2 with a win.
 
The only other thing to be decided is the Atlantic/East #1 seed.  I'm really torn about who I'd rather see the Leafs play.  I'm sure Boston would rather play the Devils vs the Leafs, so they'll be playing hard tomorrow, and Florida has nothing on the line.

Classy opening at Winnipeg, and both teams wearing Broncos on their jerseys.      Many tears shed tonight - all day really.

[Jarlaxle]

Darren Pang is great, but he was a total homer on that one.  It was very close, but I don't think you could say 100% that it was offsides, so that call on the ice has to stand.  The bottom line is that the Avs look like a team that wants to make the playoffs, and the Blues look ready to go home.

You’re insane. That was 100% offside. Clear white between puck and line. Horrid call in a game like this.

Up until that point Blues had the momentum in the period. That changed everything.

  You might need a new TV or new glasses if you think that was offside.

[gmillerdrake]

Darren Pang is great, but he was a total homer on that one.  It was very close, but I don't think you could say 100% that it was offsides, so that call on the ice has to stand.  The bottom line is that the Avs look like a team that wants to make the playoffs, and the Blues look ready to go home.

You’re insane. That was 100% offside. Clear white between puck and line. Horrid call in a game like this.

Up until that point Blues had the momentum in the period. That changed everything.

  You might need a new TV or new glasses if you think that was offside.

Nope and nope....




It was clear on every replay they used that puck came out. The call completely reversed the momentum of that period, of which the Blues had came out and were controlling for the first six minutes. It's their fault for taking a tripping penalty...but still, that BS non off sides call leads to a goal and from that point on Colorado was in control.

The Blues don't / didn't deserve a trip to the playoffs....I'm not arguing that. But to try and say that play wasn't off sides is just not true. It was and it's baffling how Toronto made that call.

[gmillerdrake]

In case you need more evidence....

https://twitter.com/twitter/statuses/982806996985569281

[KevShmev]

Considering how long the review took, Stan Kroenke probably called Toronto and threw his weight around to get the call to stick, just to stick it to St Louis one last time.

[gmillerdrake]

Considering how long the review took, Stan Kroenke probably called Toronto and threw his weight around to get the call to stick, just to stick it to St Louis one last time.

Ha!

I’m convinced it goes back to the game six months when they called the AV’s guy offside and dis-allowed that goal.....then came out the next day and said the goal should have counted.

Whatever it was it was the wrong call. Period. It’s clearly offside. It was clear to everyone, including the Colorado players who saw it on the bench and were seen mouthing to one another...”it’s offsides”

Changed the whole momentum of the game, but...it also made sure the team with the best chance to upset Nashville will play them. StL would have gotten waxed by the Preds and Colorado might....but at least Colorado has an outside shot at beating them.

[KevShmev]

Tarasenko's arm was in a sling after the game, and Yeo said it would have been a long term injury, so he likely doesn't play in the first round anyway.  And they said Allen pulled his hamstring, which is why he looked to be in such discomfort for the latter part of the game (why the hell did he keep playing??).  It would have been really ugly.  Missing the playoffs is better than getting swept by those buttheads in Nashville. 

[TAC]

Bruins WTF??

[jingle.boy]

It's on like Donkey-fuking-Kong.

The Leafs and the Bruins were the only two teams with three 30-goal scorers.
The Leafs/Wild/Preds were the only three teams with two 50-point D-men
The Leafs PP has been clipping along at almost 50% for the last 5 weeks.
The Leafs were tied for 2nd in the league in total goals; Marner (top point getter) was 37th in the league in scoring.  How's that for a balanced offense?

The Bruins have just as many glowing stats as well, considering how many man-games they lost to injury, it's f'n impressive they were even in the playoff race, let alone 1 game from the Eastern title.

[gmillerdrake]

#anyonebutPreds

Looks to be some good Hockey coming up.

[Accelerando]

Let's go Tampa!

[King Postwhore]

Bruins WTF??

Yup.  You can't show up the last 20 minutes and expect to win.  Such a poor performance when the #1 seed is attainable.

[mikeyd23]

Really looking forward to the first round Pens and Flyers matchup! 

[romdrums]

I have no idea who I want to root for in the playoffs this year, with the exception of the Bruins, the Ducks, and the Penguins.  I hope they get destroyed in the first round. 

Being a Wings fan, I wouldn't mind seeing Steve Yzerman get his first Stanley Cup as GM.  I'd be happy if Babcock brought the Cup back to Toronto.  I also wouldn't mind seeing Petr Mrazek lead the Flyers to the Conference Final so the Wings get a 2nd round pick in the draft this year.  As a hockey fan, I hope Ovi gets past the second round.  Flyers need to do their part and take out the defending champs.

Out West, I can get behind Nashville and Winnipeg, but it's too bad one of those teams is gone by the end of the second round.  The NHL needs to scrap the division playoff format. 

[mikeyd23]

^ Bro, it's okay - you can root for the Pens.

[gmillerdrake]

I'm team Leafs. I empathize with the pangs of no championship in 51 years. And, I think that they have the team that could pull it off this playoffs. A bunch of good teams in it....but should they play their game they'll but just as tough to beat as any other team out there.

#anyonebutPreds

[romdrums]

^ Bro, it's okay - you can root for the Pens.

No! Never! 

[mikeyd23]

^ Bro, it's okay - you can root for the Pens.

No! Never!

 

[jingle.boy]

Out West, I can get behind Nashville and Winnipeg, but it's too bad one of those teams is gone by the end of the second round.  The NHL needs to scrap the division playoff format.

Yeah... I see pros and cons to the divisional format.  I could swing either way with going back to the re-seeding after round 1, or leaving it as is.  I don't think that the current divisional rivalries are like they were back in the 21-team days with the Smythe, Patrick, Adams and Norris divisions.  THOSE were rivalries.

[King Postwhore]

I'm team Leafs. I empathize with the pangs of no championship in 51 years. And, I think that they have the team that could pull it off this playoffs. A bunch of good teams in it....but should they play their game they'll but just as tough to beat as any other team out there.

#anyonebutPreds

You are now my enemy.

[romdrums]

Out West, I can get behind Nashville and Winnipeg, but it's too bad one of those teams is gone by the end of the second round.  The NHL needs to scrap the division playoff format.

Yeah... I see pros and cons to the divisional format.  I could swing either way with going back to the re-seeding after round 1, or leaving it as is.  I don't think that the current divisional rivalries are like they were back in the 21-team days with the Smythe, Patrick, Adams and Norris divisions.  THOSE were rivalries.

Especially in the Norris Division.  Bloodbaths!

I think the current divisions are too big to create any meaningful rivalries, and I really miss the Red Wings playing in the Western Conference.  I could give a rat's ass about playing Buffalo, Ottawa and Florida.  Yawn!  I'd much rather see the Blackhawks, Blues, Preds and Jets.

[gmillerdrake]

I'm team Leafs. I empathize with the pangs of no championship in 51 years. And, I think that they have the team that could pull it off this playoffs. A bunch of good teams in it....but should they play their game they'll but just as tough to beat as any other team out there.

#anyonebutPreds

You are now my enemy.

I like Boston a lot. I just have to throw my support behind a team and fan base who has suffered as much as the Blues. But I'll contend every day of the week and twice on Sunday's that the Blues are far more brutal to their fan base as far as disappointment   

[jingle.boy]

I'm team Leafs. I empathize with the pangs of no championship in 51 years. And, I think that they have the team that could pull it off this playoffs. A bunch of good teams in it....but should they play their game they'll but just as tough to beat as any other team out there.

#anyonebutPreds

You are now my enemy.

Don't sweat it Gary.  He's fresh of the DL... we can take him - with or without TAC.  I mean, how tough can a Disney fanboi really be?

[pg1067]

Out West, I can get behind Nashville and Winnipeg, but it's too bad one of those teams is gone by the end of the second round.  The NHL needs to scrap the division playoff format.

Yeah... I see pros and cons to the divisional format.  I could swing either way with going back to the re-seeding after round 1, or leaving it as is.  I don't think that the current divisional rivalries are like they were back in the 21-team days with the Smythe, Patrick, Adams and Norris divisions.  THOSE were rivalries.

I generally agree, but I would say the Pacific Division rivalries are as strong as they ever were, if not stronger.  Of course, part of that is a result of the addition of natural rivals for the Kings in Anaheim and San Jose.  Edmonton, Calgary and Vancouver had strong geographic rivalries, and rivalries developed with the Kings as a result of numerous playoff battles.  Anyway...

Kings gagged away an opportunity for a better seed on Saturday, so we're off to play Vegas in their first ever playoff series.  I'm honestly not sure how I feel about this match up (as opposed to a match up against Anaheim or San Jose).  I think, however, the Kings' playoff experience will help a lot, although guys like Fleury and Neal also have tons of playoff experience.  Should be a good series.

My assumption is that the Anaheim v. San Jose series will go 6 or 7 games and will leave whichever team that wins in a vulnerable position going into the second round.

I don't see Colorado having a chance against Nashville, and I think Minnesota v. Winnipeg will a relatively short series, but I'm not sure who wins.  For whatever reason, it feels like a series that will go 5 games, but with every game being a one goal game and at least 2-3 games going OT.

I don't have a strong feel for the Eastern Conference series, but I assume Boston v. Toronto will be a bloodbath.  Pittsburgh v. Philly should be good, but I have a hard time believing the Flyers can hang with the Penguins.  Caps should dispatch CBJ pretty easily, which means we'll get the usual Pittsburgh v. Washington series in the second round.  Likewise, I expect Tampa Bay will destroy Jersey.

The first round is always a blast.

[King Postwhore]

I'm team Leafs. I empathize with the pangs of no championship in 51 years. And, I think that they have the team that could pull it off this playoffs. A bunch of good teams in it....but should they play their game they'll but just as tough to beat as any other team out there.

#anyonebutPreds

You are now my enemy.

Don't sweat it Gary.  He's fresh of the DL... we can take him - with or without TAC.  I mean, how tough can a Disney fanboi really be?

*Looks for his McQuaid  sweater*

[gmillerdrake]

I don't see Colorado having a chance against Nashville

While I agree if you compare their seasons and success this series should be a no brainer.....I also believe that Colorado has the quickness and players to pull off the upset. President Trophy winners have historically had issues in the playoffs and the Preds have ALL the pressure of winning this series AND the Cup. Colorado has zero pressure at all and they have nothing to lose. Although this should be a slam dunk for Nashville it wouldn't surprise me if  Colorado threw together a great series and upset them.

At least....that's what I'll be sacrificing my neighborhood stray cats for.

#anyonebutPreds

[jingle.boy]

NEVER write anyone off ... especially before a single puck has dropped.  I remember back in the 2001 playoffs, Leafs vs Sens in round 1.  Sens had a 20 point advantage in the regular season over the Leafs.  A lot of the Toronto media were predicting Sens in 3 

The Leafs swept the Sens.

This millenium, 5 President's winners have lost in the 1st round; 4 more have lost in the 2nd round.

[Nick]

NEVER write anyone off ... especially before a single puck has dropped.  I remember back in the 2001 playoffs, Leafs vs Sens in round 1.  Sens had a 20 point advantage in the regular season over the Leafs.  A lot of the Toronto media were predicting Sens in 3 

The Leafs swept the Sens.

This millenium, 5 President's winners have lost in the 1st round; 4 more have lost in the 2nd round.

I get what you're saying, but at even money you're either a Colorado homer, Nashville hater, or downright fool to bet on the Avalanche at even money.

[pg1067]

I don't see Colorado having a chance against Nashville

While I agree if you compare their seasons and success this series should be a no brainer.....I also believe that Colorado has the quickness and players to pull off the upset. President Trophy winners have historically had issues in the playoffs and the Preds have ALL the pressure of winning this series AND the Cup. Colorado has zero pressure at all and they have nothing to lose. Although this should be a slam dunk for Nashville it wouldn't surprise me if  Colorado threw together a great series and upset them.

The President's Trophy has been awarded 32 times (starting with the 1985-86 season and including the current season).  The winner has won the Cup 25% of the time (most recently the 2013 Blackhawks).  It was really just the stretch from 2006-2012, when four of the seven winners lost in the first round of the playoffs, that gave rise to the theory that winners have a difficult time in the Playoffs.  Also, and for what it's worth, in the 18 post-expansion seasons before the introduction of the President's Trophy (1967-68 through 1984-85), the team with the best overall record won the Cup 11 times.

All that said, nothing that happens in the first round should be truly surprising to anyone, and I don't disagree that Colorado is a dangerous team.