Official 2017-2018 NHL Thread v. Break the Ice

[jingle.boy]

Well, that just fuckin blew.  I turned off the game after the 1st.  I'm fully convinced that if Kapanen had scored (instead of hitting the post) on that s/h breakaway, it would've been a totally different game.  1-1 at that point instead of another quick PPG goal, then two favorable home-ice bounces to make it 4-0 put the game away.  4 goals on 6 shots!  Not a lot of good to take from that game for the Leafs - Haisey and Zaitsev (in particular) were as useful as a Chino-pylon.  Babcock has to take some of the blame too - two of the 1st period goals he was rushing a change to get a line matchup, and it cost the d-pair.

Fuck Pasternak-Marchand-Bergeron are scary as shit, and they are on their game right now.  Offensively, they remind me of Gretz-Kurri-Tikkanen.

My only hope is that Pasternak's fancy-shmancy goal with 100 seconds left to get the hattie stirs up the Leafs the way Sid's hattie stirred up the Flyers.

This will be a sweep if the Leafs don't get their heads out their asses.  Do-or-die tomorrow.... 2-1 is a lot different than 3-0.

[King Postwhore]

After the way the Bruins were playing towards the end the season I didn't expect this kind of play. I'm actually very surprised.

[jingle.boy]

After the way the Bruins were playing towards the end the season I didn't expect this kind of play. I'm actually very surprised.

They're capitalizing on virtually every mistake by the Leafs, and Anderson didn't bail anyone out last night.  And it seems like everytime there's a loose puck, there was at least 1 black shirt in the vicinity - or getting to it before the Leafs do.

[TAC]

Dave Reid, who is way underrated, made good points of showing the Leafs pulling up out of hits.

Matthews standing up straight and letting up on Pasta's third goal is scary. Not good scary.


Chad, what's the deal with Komorov? The way he was trying to skate, it looked like a hip.

[King Postwhore]

After the way the Bruins were playing towards the end the season I didn't expect this kind of play. I'm actually very surprised.

They're capitalizing on virtually every mistake by the Leafs, and Anderson didn't bail anyone out last night.  And it seems like everytime there's a loose puck, there was at least 1 black shirt in the vicinity - or getting to it before the Leafs do.

It really is about the effort to get to the puck first.  Let's see the Leafs energy tonight.

[jingle.boy]

Matthews standing up straight and letting up on Pasta's third goal is scary. Not good scary.

Chad, what's the deal with Komorov? The way he was trying to skate, it looked like a hip.

Matthews simply is not a physical player, and by that time the Leafs had thrown in the towel.  Matthews is actually a very good defensive player.

Komarov... no idea.  Like I said, I turned the game off.  He did miss a few games towards the end of the season after a bad collision that I swore looked like some kind of 'xCL' (ie ACL or MCL) tear.  I would've sworn he was gone for the season, but he came back after 4 or 5 games... so it must've just been a really bad hyper-extension of his knee.  Could be lingering effects of that?

King... game isn't until tomorrow.

[King Postwhore]

Yeah I just saw that watching the NHL channel.

[jingle.boy]

Wasn't expecting CBJ to take two in Washington.  Not looking good for the Caps.  And it's looking even worse for the Kings.  At least those games have been close.

I'm hoping for a Wild-like bounce-back by the Leafs tonight.

[mikeyd23]

Strong response from the Pens in Philly yesterday afternoon, that's the kind of win they needed after a horrible effort and bad puck luck in the second game.

Wasn't expecting CBJ to take two in Washington.  Not looking good for the Caps.

I wasn't necessarily expecting the Jackets to win the first two in DC, but the Jackets winning the series seems about right to me. Watching these games in DC is fascinating, it's like their fan base is waiting for them to lose. It comes across on TV, as soon as they go down you can feel the arena all collectively thinking "oh here we go again".

[dparrott]

WTF Kings???  3 goals in the 3rd at home?? Guess I'm a Sharks fan now.

[Nick]

WTF Kings???  3 goals in the 3rd at home?? Guess I'm a Sharks fan now.

Yeah, I don't want to say this series is over, since the Kings have played it really close the entire series, but coming back from 3 games down is nearly impossible if you're not playing some chump team like the Bruins or Sharks.

[pg1067]

WTF Kings???  3 goals in the 3rd at home?? Guess I'm a Sharks fan now.

UGH!!!  That game was just depressing.  The Kings' performance in game 2 was inspiring.  They were so out-manned but battled to extend the game to nearly 5 full periods.  Quick stood on his head.  They should have ridden that momentum to a game 3 win, and they looked REALLY good with Doughty and Muzzin back in the lineup, which freed up the forwards a LOT.  Now I think warding off a sweep will be tough.

Thankfully, the Sucks are in an even worse position, having dropped the first two games at home.  I guess I hate the Sharts only slightly less than the Sucks.  I think either of them will get spanked by Vegas int he second round.

Minnesota did what the Kings should have done by demonstrating how important home ice really is.

The battle of Pennsylvania is shaping up like the best series of the first round.  Bruins look like they're going to roll over the Leafs.  Columbus over Washington is a bit of a surprise, and I haven't seen a second of Tampa Bay and Jersey.

[axeman90210]

Hopefully the switch to Schneider and the return of Marcus Johansson *glares at Joe* gives the Devils a boost tonight, especially as I'll be there at The Rock

[jingle.boy]

I just hope the Leafs blueliners remember how to play defense.  Hainsey/Zaitsev/Gardiner have been BRUTAL so far, and Pasta/Berg/March have made them pay.  Anderson needs to get his mojo flowing too.

[King Postwhore]

 Bad call in the refs that led to a power-play goal for the Leafs. He cleared that off the the boards.  The replay shows that.  Oh well, 2 periods to go.

[TAC]

Bad call in the refs that led to a power-play goal for the Leafs. He cleared that off the the boards.  The replay shows that.  Oh well, 2 periods to go.

Love how the Penalty Box guy opens the door while the officials are discussing it.

[King Postwhore]

I saw that as well.

[TAC]

Not the Bruins night tonight. Hit two posts on the PP. Ain't gonna happen tonight.

[King Postwhore]

Pasta has to finish that goal and not at the post. There was nothing but net.

[King Postwhore]

Game over.  Great response by The Leafs.

[TAC]

Let's go Celtics!!

[King Postwhore]

Holy s*** what a save!

[jingle.boy]

Anderson brought his mojo tonight and then some.  That last save was out of sight.  D-men played a solid physical game.  Plecanec/Marleau/Marner did a great job shutting down Pasta and crew.

This is the kind of series that we were expecting.

Jersey with a nice response too.

[jingle.boy]

Bruins look like they're going to roll over the Leafs. 

You were saying??     Just need the Leafs to show up like that again on Thursday, and it's a best of 3.

Holy shit Anaheim!  Are the Sharks that good, or the Ducks that bad?

[King Postwhore]

There was no way the Leafs woyld drop an egg in game 3 at home.  That last save on Pastrňák was nasty.

[jingle.boy]

There was no way the Leafs woyld drop an egg in game 3 at home.  That last save on Pastrňák was nasty.

If he doesn't stop that, it's 2012 all over again.  One goal game with 2 minutes to go.  That was just absolutely sick ... and a bit of home-ice luck of course.

[King Postwhore]

You don't win a 7 game series without a little luck.  Makes game 4 real interesting. 

[jingle.boy]

You don't win a 7 game series without a little luck.  Makes game 4 real interesting.

Indeed... and I'm on a plane (on my way home) for most of it.  Gonna record it, and try to stay spoiler-free until I get home.

[King Postwhore]

You don't win a 7 game series without a little luck.  Makes game 4 real interesting.

Indeed... and I'm on a plane (on my way home) for most of it.  Gonna record it, and try to stay spoiler-free until I get home.

No texting you then!

[TAC]

I'm going to miss Game 4 too. It's our anniversary.

[King Postwhore]

I'm going to miss Game 4 too. It's our anniversary.

Priorities right there Tim.  A must there.  Going anywhere for dinner?

[TAC]

I'm going to miss Game 4 too. It's our anniversary.

Priorities right there Tim.  A must there.  Going anywhere for dinner?

At least. We still don't have plans yet...my wife is in No Spending mode bigtime, so she's been hesitating on going away.

[Nick]

Damn, how the hell are the Ducks shitting the bed so badly in both this series and that last game?

[dparrott]

8-1 Sharks!  Looks like that series is over too.

[jingle.boy]

You don't win a 7 game series without a little luck.  Makes game 4 real interesting.

Indeed... and I'm on a plane (on my way home) for most of it.  Gonna record it, and try to stay spoiler-free until I get home.

No texting you then!

I would appreciate that!