NHL (2021-2022) v. Congrats Avs. Jack Johnson is a Stanley Cup Champion.

[King Postwhore]

I might have a moment like this twice this weekend with thr Bruins & Celtics. Lol

[KevShmev]

My hope is always, win or lose, that the officiating does not decide games.  I still have never watched highlights of Game 3 of the 2019 WCF because that might the angriest I have ever been after a sporting event (when the Sharks won in OT due to an illegal hand pass that somehow none of the 4 on-ice officials saw). 

[TheCountOfNYC]

It doesn’t look good after one period. The defense isn’t playing well. The bounces aren’t going our way. The calls aren’t going our way. There’s still plenty of game left but I just have this feeling that the season ends here.

[TheCountOfNYC]

Two periods done. Rangers are back in it and even had the lead but of course Malkin had to tie it up. I’m gonna vomit from the stress.

[gmillerdrake]

Wow. What a weird goal!

[TheCountOfNYC]

THEY FUCKING WON!!!!! GAME SEVEN AT MSG!!!!!

[King Postwhore]

WOOOOOTTTT!!

[TheCountOfNYC]

And the Eastern Conference has its first series final.

[Nick]

YAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAS.

Florida Panthers are onto round two, but of course my main interest is in Giroux.

Some Flyers fans questioned his leadership, despite how many times he carried teams on his back, and he went to Florida, played all around their lineup and showed exactly what he's capable of.

Lots of other fans questioned his ability to play in the playoffs, and now with a team that can elevate with him he continues to impress. Game winner, followed by a game with a huge goal and assist, followed by a series win with yet another huge goal and an assist.

And all while being a PPG player the entire tenure in South Florida.

Fuck the haters, I hope Giroux gets his cup to finally get mentioned alongside your Kanes, Ginos, Backstroms, etc. Guy should absolutely be a first ballot hall of famer who has had that obscured by playing for mediocre Flyers teams for over a decade.

[TAC]

I love Giroux (a family name BTW), but he ain't getting a Cup this year.

[KevShmev]

I can't in good conscience root for Florida because of how lame their crowds are.

It was Wednesday when Game 5s of both Wash at Fla and Pitt at NYR were going, and I was flipping back and forth, and it was stunning the difference in crowd noise. Every time I had the Rangers game on, the NY crowd was loud, and it gave the game an electric feel.  Turning over to the game in Florida was like I also kicked the volume down on the TV like 20 notches.  The crowd was meek and quiet. Even after they scored, it took about a minute for the crowd to get quiet again like they were at Sunday church.  Lame.

[TAC]

Well, I CAN, in good conscience, root against Washington!

[TAC]

Bruins not playing with enough intensity/desperation. Feels like the entire 1st period has been played in their end.

[KevShmev]

I thought both teams played with a lot of energy in that 1st period.  This double minor that carries over into the 2nd period is obviously huge.

[TAC]

Except the Bruins spent their energy defending. Can't score from your own end.

[KevShmev]

Not unless Chris Osgood is in net on the other side, and he ain't coming back.

[KevShmev]

This ESPN crew is not very good.

Steve Levy is terrible at hockey.  "There wasn't much going on for the first 19 minutes."  Right, because in hockey, no scoring means nothing is happening.  Idiot.

And the off-ice reporter Emily Kaplan is about a -4 on the excitement level on a scale of 0 to 10.  She sounds like she'd rather be anywhere else.

[TAC]

Pasta is a fucking disaster on skates. If he was a waiter, he'd drop every tray he was given.

[TAC]

Ok, when is the draft, which we'll undoubtably fuck up.

Also, who's the Captain next year? Marchand? McAvoy?

[Nick]

I love Giroux (a family name BTW), but he ain't getting a Cup this year.

Well, I'd say at the moment it's looking like he at least has a much better chance than the Bruins.

[Hyperplex]

Well, I CAN, in good conscience, root against Washington!

Ditto.

[TAC]

I love Giroux (a family name BTW), but he ain't getting a Cup this year.

Well, I'd say at the moment it's looking like he at least has a much better chance than the Bruins.

[gmillerdrake]

Feel for ya Chad. That was brutal.

[TAC]

Wow, I feel bad for the Leafs. They had the toughest draw in the Eastern Conference. Tampa slept walked through that season.

I had the Leafs in the Finals this year.

So far of the 4 series completed, I am 1-3 in my picks!

[Anguyen92]

That was pretty brutal for them.  Tampa Bay did a great job shutting down the Leafs when it mattered in the 3rd, which seems to be a solid trend given their last couple of series-clinching games.

[KevShmev]

So far of the 4 series completed, I am 1-3 in my picks!

That's what you get for doubting Nick Leddy.

[TAC]

[Anguyen92]

I mean, at this point, I don't know what the heck you can do for the Leafs' offseason to get a playoff series win.

[TAC]

Well, I think they would've beaten everyone other than the Lightning, but if they're gonna take the next step, it's the Lightning they had to get past.

So, was it better to play them in the first round, with home ice, or the second round? The Leafs better win the Division next year.

We may be asking the same of the Oilers in a few hours. Though I'd argue that the Kings are NOT the Lightning.

[SchecterShredder]

I mean, at this point, I don't know what the heck you can do for the Leafs' offseason to get a playoff series win.

I don't think they need to do anything.  Leafs easily could have,  maybe even should have,  won that series.  They could roll that same roster into next season, and i think leaf's fans would be fine with that.  Tampa is still a top flight team,  and undisputed winners of the covid seasons.

[gmillerdrake]

I mean, at this point, I don't know what the heck you can do for the Leafs' offseason to get a playoff series win.

I don't think they need to do anything.  Leafs easily could have,  maybe even should have,  won that series.  They could roll that same roster into next season, and i think leaf's fans would be fine with that.  Tampa is still a top flight team,  and undisputed winners of the covid seasons.

Yep. Maybe tinker a bit…..not sure Campbell is the answer in goal BUT he did play well. A bounce here or there and they win that game and this isn’t a conversation. I think TBs experience was the difference in that game.

[TAC]

I was impressed with Morgan Reilly. He's really grown his game.

[jingle.boy]

First ... the Bolts were the better team tonight.  Leafs had 73 shot attempts, but only 31 made it to the net - most of those non-shots were blocks - probably 30+.  The Leafs will regret laying a turd in Game 4, and not closing out game 6.

Second ... Vasilevsky finally played like the best goalie in the world, and stole a game.  He also had the hockey Gods on his side, with a THIRD save in the series via the shaft of his stick.  It's a game of inches, and any one of those three go in, and the Leafs likely take the series.

Third ... nice of the refs to let them play tonight - only 5 penalties (3 against TB; 2 against Leafs).  However, what wasn't nice was them giving TB a 5-on-3 in the 3rd of Game 6 that produced the game-tying goal.  When TB committed a blatantly obvious trip on Nylander while on their 3rd period PK tonight - right in front of the ref no less - no call.  That could've made as big difference in the game tonight as it did for TB on Thursday.

I do hope they sign Campbell... they can probably get him for about $4m AAV for 3-4 years.  I also hope they can re-sign Gio for something around the $4M range as well.  As for what else they can/need to do ... how do you improve on a team that had the #1PP in the league, your core young players had career years, and were 4th overall in the league.  Tough draw to get the Bolts.

Really not sure what the rest of the answers are.  But when you're team is 0-10 in series clinching games in the past 5 years, something's gotta give.

[TheCountOfNYC]

I know the Leafs choking in the playoffs has become a meme, but you gotta feel for Toronto fans.

[Nick]

As a Flyers fan I have a hard time feeling bad for anyone right now, but year, I do feel for Chad and other Leafs fans. Don't know what the answer is or what you possibly do at this point.