Official 2018-2019 NHL Thread - v. Free agents - frenzy and feast

[jingle.boy]

Georgiev stole two from the Leafs this year as well.  56 shots on goal back in Feb; 45 a couple weeks back.  That kid is gonna be a nice replacement for Lundqvist.

[gmillerdrake]

Georgiev stole two from the Leafs this year as well.  56 shots on goal back in Feb; 45 a couple weeks back.  That kid is gonna be a nice replacement for Lundqvist.

He saved at least three 'for sure' goals that game. On top of just being under siege for most of the game. You could 'sense' that was going to be the case all night after a couple of the early big saves that any other night are goals.

All indications are that the Blues/Preds will face each other first round. Just gonna be who has home ice. Sets up another great Brother in Law match up.     

The Miller's are heading to Nashville from April 17th thr the 21st to see Dream Theater on that Wednesday night and spend Easter there. My Bro in Law an I have already floated the idea of 'if' there is a game in Nashville when I'm there that we may just have to get to it. I'm sure it'll be affordable 

[KevShmev]

Win or lose in the shootout, the end of this Blues game has been gross.  As great as they've been since January, they blow way too many 2-goal leads.

[gmillerdrake]

Win or lose in the shootout, the end of this Blues game has been gross.  As great as they've been since January, they blow way too many 2-goal leads.

That had less to do with the Blues blowing a lead and more to do with the Avs freaking pouring it on to get at least a point. (2) deflection goals that Binnington had zero chance on. I don’t think they have anything to apologize for. Just beat one of if not the hottest teams in hockey. Like they did against Tampa.....then Vegas....now the Avs.

[KevShmev]

That had less to do with the Blues blowing a lead and more to do with the Avs freaking pouring it on to get at least a point. (2) deflection goals that Binnington had zero chance on. I don’t think they have anything to apologize for. Just beat one of if not the hottest teams in hockey. Like they did against Tampa.....then Vegas....now the Avs.

I hear ya. I am just aggravated to not get the ROW.  They could have had a 2-game lead in that tiebreaker over Nashville with three to play, but it's still just 1.

[TAC]

So I'm watching the Bruins game tonight and the bottom scroll is showing scores. Seems the Oilers are up on the Avs.
Then I see "Goal: Lucic (6)"

Wait wut??

6 fucking goals for Milan Lucic? Are you kidding me? What a fucking pant load.

[SchecterShredder]

So I'm watching the Bruins game tonight and the bottom scroll is showing scores. Seems the Oilers are up on the Avs.
Then I see "Goal: Lucic (6)"

Wait wut??

6 fucking goals for Milan Lucic? Are you kidding me? What a fucking pant load.

He's paid a million per goal.  I think he needs to give Chiarelli weekly BJs, too.

[jingle.boy]

That was a solid ass-whoopin the Bs laid on CBJ last night.

As opposed to the Leafs who had 2 shots on goal thru the first 1/2 of the game.  Another stinker, and two tough games to finish up.  Right now, I'm predicting the Bs in 5.  At least that'll give Dubas a few extra weeks to figure out how to put all the contracts into place.

Looks like Colorado has locked up the last WC spot in the west.  Montreal's chances are slim - they've got two much tougher opponents than Columbus does.  None-the-less, if anyone can find a way to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory, it's Torts.   

Unreal that the Blues have a chance to win the Central.  Given the way the Jets have been playing lately, I'd say it's a very realistic chance.

[KevShmev]

Looks like we get the Jets in the first round.  Not the best matchup given their size, but given where the Blues were 3 months ago, I will take it.  They have the 4th best odds to win the Cup heading into the postseason. That is wild.

[jingle.boy]

Last place on Jan 3, to almost winning the Division. Damn impressive. And given the Jets play of late, there should be reason for optimism.

I finished 4/140 in my pool - good for $200!

[TAC]

Looks like we get the Jets in the first round.  Not the best matchup given their size, but given where the Blues were 3 months ago, I will take it.  They have the 4th best odds to win the Cup heading into the postseason. That is wild.

I think Blues/Jets is the best matchup in the first round.

[gmillerdrake]

I’m greedy and am lamenting hard the three points we handed away over the past few games. Last Friday in NY losing 4-2 with (47) shots on goal and utterly dominating the game and the lackluster effort in Chicago where we only got a point. There’s your Central Division Championship after being dead last.

As far as winding up with Winnipeg.....could go either way. I think Winnipeg is the tougher of the two teams between they and the Preds.....so let’s just get it on. Blues have been tough the last twenty games or so.....so they’re no push overs. It’ll all come down to goaltending like it usually does in the playoffs so we’ll see if Binnington can remain solid or if he’ll crumble and become yet another goalie in the long string of goalies the Blues have had that couldn’t do the trick for them.

[King Postwhore]

Alright Chad.  Thursday it's on like Donkey Kong.

[jingle.boy]

Yeah... not much of a fight methinks.  Leafs have been horrible since the end of Feb - 29th in GAA and Save %; bottom 1/2 of the league in points.  Not sure they are gonna get their shit together in 3 days.

But anything can happen.

[King Postwhore]

IDK, the leafs fought to a game 7.  Hockey is the one sport where all seeds have a chance.  I'm not taking the Leafs lightly.

[jingle.boy]

If they play like they are *capable* of playing, then there's always a chance.  They've been a wreck for too long, I don't see them righting the ship by Thursday.

Bruins in 5.  I'd love to be wrong though.

[KevShmev]

Best two weeks of the year in sports begins Wednesday! 

[romdrums]

Since I don't have a dog in the fight, I'd like to see Tampa Bay win the whole thing.  Would probably most like to see a Jets-Bolts final.  I think Colorado is most likely to pull the first round upset.  Even though they are essentially a one line team, that's a pretty amazing line they have with MacKinno, Rantanen and Landeskog.  Looking forward mostly to the Draft Lottery tomorrow.  Hoping the Wings get a top-2 pick.

[pg1067]

My daring (or not so daring) predictions:

Tampa Bay v. Columbus
Boston v. Toronto
Washington v. Carolina
New York v. Pittsburgh

Calgary v. Colorado
San Jose v. Las Vegas
Nashville v. Dallas
Winnipeg v. St. Louis

Looking forward to the BOS v. TOR and WPG v. STL series.

[jingle.boy]

East
Tampa Bay v. Columbus
Boston v. Toronto
Washington v. Carolina
New York v. Pittsburgh

West (going complete opposite of you here pg)
Calgary v. Colorado
San Jose v. Las Vegas
Nashville v. Dallas
Winnipeg v. St. Louis

[gmillerdrake]

East
Tampa Bay v. Columbus
Boston v. Toronto
Washington v. Carolina
New York v. Pittsburgh

West
Calgary v. Colorado
San Jose v. Las Vegas
Nashville v. Dallas
Winnipeg v. St. Louis

We will know soon enough but I'm not sure that Winnipeg can just flip the switch back on. They haven't looked very good for a while now. That last game against Arizona 'looked' good on paper....but....the last time Winnipeg played the Blues was December 7th when the Blues were horrid. I know I'm a 'homer' and all but the Blues have been one of...if not the best team in the league the past month/month and a half. They're playing really well and IF they play the way they've been playing they'll be tough to beat.

[romdrums]

East
Tampa Bay v. Columbus
Boston v. Toronto
Washington v. Carolina
New York v. Pittsburgh

West
Calgary v. Colorado
San Jose v. Las Vegas
Nashville v. Dallas
Winnipeg v. St. Louis

[mikeyd23]

East
Tampa Bay v. Columbus
Boston v. Toronto
Washington v. Carolina
New York v. Pittsburgh

West
Calgary v. Colorado
San Jose v. Las Vegas
Nashville v. Dallas
Winnipeg v. St. Louis

I think these would probably be my exact picks too. Can't wait, I'm totally ready for some playoff hockey!

[TheCountOfNYC]

Tampa
Toronto
Washington
New York

Calgary
Vegas
Nashville
St. Louis

[Nick]

East
Tampa Bay
Boston
Washington
New York

West
Calgary
Las Vegas
Nashville
Winnipeg

Would prefer Toronto winning, but unfortunately the Bs and Leafs went in opposite directions while going into the playoffs.

[TAC]

East

Tampa Bay v. Columbus
Boston v. Toronto
Washington v. Carolina
New York v. Pittsburgh

West

Calgary v. Colorado
San Jose v. Las Vegas
Nashville v. Dallas
Winnipeg v. St. Louis

[Anguyen92]

Well, Kings get #5 in the draft.  I'm never felt so sad about a high draft pick until now, given how badly we played all season.  I would have hoped we gotten top 3.  Somehow the Blackhawks jumped nine spots from #12 to #3, which is honestly rubbish.  Amazingly, the Devils got the #1 pick.  Having Taylor Hall on your squad continues to bring the good luck vibes in the lottery if you don't make it to the playoffs.

[TheCountOfNYC]

Number 2 in the draft is awesome! Just wish it wasn’t the Devils who got number 1.

[SchecterShredder]

East

Tampa Bay v. Columbus
Boston v. Toronto
Washington v. Carolina
New York v. Pittsburgh

West

Calgary v. Colorado
San Jose v. Las Vegas
Nashville v. Dallas
Winnipeg v. St. Louis

It pains me to take Calgary in any series ever,  but i think Colorado is put to bed might early in that one.

And , Toronto probably beats Boston. I just really don't want them to

[jingle.boy]

I'll never forget the '93 playoffs, where both the Blackhawks and Bruins were #1 seeds - 21, and 23 points ahead of their round 1 opponents (Blues and Sabres), and both were swept 4-0.  Boston had gone into the playoffs 8-0-0, and won 18 of the final 21 games.

Their season ended with the infamous May-Day goal; Chicago ran into CuJo, and go shutout twice in the sweep.

I also remember the 2001 playoffs, and the running joke around town was that the Leafs were so out-matched that they were gonna lose to Ottawa in 3.  Turns out, they swept the Senators.

Anything can happen.

[TAC]

I'll never forget the '93 playoffs, where both the Blackhawks and Bruins were #1 seeds - 21, and 23 points ahead of their round 1 opponents (Blues and Sabres), and both were swept 4-0.  Boston had gone into the playoffs 8-0-0, and won 18 of the final 21 games.

How do you remember that? I don't even remember that.

[gmillerdrake]

I remember that......it was awesome!!!

[romdrums]

I'll never forget the '93 playoffs, where both the Blackhawks and Bruins were #1 seeds - 21, and 23 points ahead of their round 1 opponents (Blues and Sabres), and both were swept 4-0.  Boston had gone into the playoffs 8-0-0, and won 18 of the final 21 games.

Their season ended with the infamous May-Day goal; Chicago ran into CuJo, and go shutout twice in the sweep.

I also remember the 2001 playoffs, and the running joke around town was that the Leafs were so out-matched that they were gonna lose to Ottawa in 3.  Turns out, they swept the Senators.

Anything can happen.

The 93 playoffs were crazy overall.  28 OT games, and the Habs were part of ten of those.

[King Postwhore]

That team was loaded.  Brian Sutter coached and Adam Oates had 140 points that year.

[pg1067]

Well, Kings get #5 in the draft.  I'm never felt so sad about a high draft pick until now, given how badly we played all season.  I would have hoped we gotten top 3.  Somehow the Blackhawks jumped nine spots from #12 to #3, which is honestly rubbish.  Amazingly, the Devils got the #1 pick.  Having Taylor Hall on your squad continues to bring the good luck vibes in the lottery if you don't make it to the playoffs.

Meh...it's the nature of a random draw.  I'm less worried about having the #5 pick than I am about Rob Blake being sufficiently competent to make a good pick.