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

[pg1067]

I was texting with a friend while watching the Calgary/Edmonton game.  I suggesting it was a throwback to the '80s or early '90s and reminded her that the scores of the '93 Smythe semis between the Kings and Flames were

6-3
4-9
2-5
3-1
9-4
9-6

THREE of six games where the winning team had NINE goals!

[Anguyen92]

Bolts winning two games already against Panthers away with the Panthers not providing much scoring.  That's a pretty huge sign of concern.  Have to steal at least two away in Tampa to get close to thinking about a 3rd round possibility.  Tough road ahead for them to do that.

Edit: Just saw the highlights now.  The winning goal was in the dying seconds of the 3rd???  That could be the nail for this series.

[faizoff]

That was a crazy goal in the end by Tampa right in the dying end of the game. I think there were <5 secs left on the clock.

[Nick]

Yeah, that was highly demoralizing, even to a bandwagon Panthers fan.

Panthers absolutely need to win the next game or they are toast. No way anyone is coming back from 0-3 against the Lightning, I mean, this isn't the Sharks or Bruins we're talking about.

[King Postwhore]

Nick.  That happened once to the B's. Come on now. Lol

[TAC]

He literally said..

I mean, this isn't the Sharks or Bruins we're talking about.

[gmillerdrake]

Fantastic win by the Blues. Outside of that extremely weak penalty call (touched MacKinnon) Colorado had nothing going. Blues controlled the whole game. Love it.

I just like that they didn’t roll over in the face of being outplayed in game one. Just proved to Colorado they’re going to have to earn this series if they want it.

[KevShmev]

Fantastic win by the Blues. Outside of that extremely weak penalty call (touched MacKinnon) Colorado had nothing going. Blues controlled the whole game. Love it.

I just like that they didn’t roll over in the face of being outplayed in game one. Just proved to Colorado they’re going to have to earn this series if they want it.

Yep, if the Blues can keep up the play like last night, they can absolutely win this series.  As good as the Avs, they are not some unbeatable juggernaut, but don't tell that to Nathan McKinnon, who said after the game that they lost because no one on their team played well.   Heaven forbid you actually admit that the other team simply outplayed you.  He's a jackass.

[jingle.boy]

Fantastic win by the Blues. Outside of that extremely weak penalty call (touched MacKinnon) Colorado had nothing going. Blues controlled the whole game. Love it.

I just like that they didn’t roll over in the face of being outplayed in game one. Just proved to Colorado they’re going to have to earn this series if they want it.

Yep, if the Blues can keep up the play like last night, they can absolutely win this series.  As good as the Avs, they are not some unbeatable juggernaut, but don't tell that to Nathan McKinnon, who said after the game that they lost because no one on their team played well.   Heaven forbid you actually admit that the other team simply outplayed you.  He's a jackass.

I probably don't need to go digging too far back to find you (or Gary) lamenting how bad the Blues played in a loss.  Most times in situations like this, it's a little bit of both.

[gmillerdrake]

True. The AVs could still rattle of three wins and that would be that. All last night did was show them that the Blues aren’t going to roll over.

But I do disagree with MacKinnon. The larger reason why they didn’t get it done last night was everything the Blues did to them, not them not playing well.

Game three should be fun.

[KevShmev]

I believe common sense dictates that fans not giving the opposing team credit by saying, "My team didn't play well," is not the same thing as a player saying it.  I mean, let's get serious. 

[TAC]

Bowness "stepping away"/not renewed as Stars' coach.

Oh and fuck Cam Neely. Bringing back Sweeney while publicly taking Cassidy's legs out from underneath him. What a trainwreck the Bruins management is.

[KevShmev]

Binnington knocked out of the game by Kadri.  Technically a clean hockey play, but that guy never gets the benefit of the doubt.

I never root for injuries, but if a Blue puts him face first into the boards and knocks out some of his teeth, I probably won't feel bad for him. 

[gmillerdrake]

Binnington knocked out of the game by Kadri.  Technically a clean hockey play, but that guy never gets the benefit of the doubt.

I never root for injuries, but if a Blue puts him face first into the boards and knocks out some of his teeth, I probably won't feel bad for him. 

Finally got to see that play. Yeah….that was a well executed old school do nothing to try and stop because the other teams D touched you. Dirty ass play by a dirty ass player.

[KevShmev]

I guess Husso figures he is gonna get his money in the offseason, because he looked like ass tonight.  Head totally up his ass on that 4th goal.  Amazing what a difference a few weeks can make, as they now look dead in the water without Binnington.

[gmillerdrake]

I guess Husso figures he is gonna get his money in the offseason, because he looked like ass tonight.  Head totally up his ass on that 4th goal.  Amazing what a difference a few weeks can make, as they now look dead in the water without Binnington.

Was able to catch the last few minutes…..I think that was more on the bench than anything…..maybe some of him. Bottom line, from what I heard on the radio call and saw it sounds like once Binnington went out the Blues were discombobulated a bit.

Just gotta win the next game and make it a best of three. Kadri’s a POS though…..100% intention to injur on that play.

[SchecterShredder]

Agree 100% on Kadri. I would love to see him pushed out of the league

[jingle.boy]

I guess Husso figures he is gonna get his money in the offseason, because he looked like ass tonight.  Head totally up his ass on that 4th goal.  Amazing what a difference a few weeks can make, as they now look dead in the water without Binnington.

  He was half way to the bench when the play broke out of the Avs zone.  He was in a no win situation.  If he turns and skates back to the net, they simply shoot it past him.  He tried to skate backwards to get in the play, but ... well, goalies can barely skate forwards.

re: Kadri... agreed wholly.  That was an "accidentally on purpose" crash in to Binnington.  SportsNet coverage even pulled Pronger out of the crowd to relive another Blues goalie get crashed in to in the playoffs.

[KevShmev]

Sounds like Binnington is likely out for a few weeks, so congrats to the Avs.  Unless we get a miraculous turnaround from Husso, who has allowed 13 goals in his last three playoff games, it's over.  Sucks to see the season end like this, but it is what it is.

[gmillerdrake]

I guess Husso figures he is gonna get his money in the offseason, because he looked like ass tonight.  Head totally up his ass on that 4th goal.  Amazing what a difference a few weeks can make, as they now look dead in the water without Binnington.

  He was half way to the bench when the play broke out of the Avs zone.  He was in a no win situation.  If he turns and skates back to the net, they simply shoot it past him.  He tried to skate backwards to get in the play, but ... well, goalies can barely skate forwards.

re: Kadri... agreed wholly.  That was an "accidentally on purpose" crash in to Binnington.  SportsNet coverage even pulled Pronger out of the crowd to relive another Blues goalie get crashed in to in the playoffs.

Two years in a row he’s injured one of our players. Just a cheap shot artist who needs to suffer a career ending injury.

I was surprised and elated to see Binnington find that top tier form again……dude was playing great. It is no coincidence at all that Kadri did what he did.  It’s utter crap and I sincerely hope karma deals him the worst possible outcome.

[Anguyen92]

So I read that the Avs' Samuel Girard was also been taken out of the game.  I didn't see the hit, but I thought I want to bring this out there.

[jingle.boy]

So I read that the Avs' Samuel Girard was also been taken out of the game.  I didn't see the hit, but I thought I want to bring this out there.

It was a legit 100% clean hit.  I don't mean to victim blame here, but only bad things often happen when a player leans or bends over a bit when there's an oncoming hit.  I paused it right as his face hit the ledge - I'm surprised he didn't have facial injuries.

Just an unfortunate outcome to a very solid - and clean - hit.

Kadri on the other hand... knew exactly what he was doing.  I don't think he meant to injure Binnington, but he sure as shit meant to collide with him.

[crazy climber dude]

I guess Husso figures he is gonna get his money in the offseason, because he looked like ass tonight.  Head totally up his ass on that 4th goal.  Amazing what a difference a few weeks can make, as they now look dead in the water without Binnington.

  He was half way to the bench when the play broke out of the Avs zone.  He was in a no win situation.  If he turns and skates back to the net, they simply shoot it past him.  He tried to skate backwards to get in the play, but ... well, goalies can barely skate forwards.

re: Kadri... agreed wholly.  That was an "accidentally on purpose" crash in to Binnington.  SportsNet coverage even pulled Pronger out of the crowd to relive another Blues goalie get crashed in to in the playoffs.

Two years in a row he’s injured one of our players. Just a cheap shot artist who needs to suffer a career ending injury.

I was surprised and elated to see Binnington find that top tier form again……dude was playing great. It is no coincidence at all that Kadri did what he did.  It’s utter crap and I sincerely hope karma deals him the worst possible outcome.

What a load of crap. Kadri is very aware of what he did last year.... and how it costs his own team. So he has been playing very cleanly. Most of the analysts I've heard make any comments about the collision was that it's part of hockey (including the guy on NHL Tonight...who picked St. Louis to come out of the West). Even the BLUES RADIO ANNOUNCERS said it wasn't intentional, for chrissakes. Puck was in the clear and he went for it. Both Rosen and he collided with Binnington.

You can't blame Kadri for that play just because of his past....guys crash the net and collide with goaltenders all the time. Sometimes it's deliberate, sometimes it's incidental. He wasn't even called for a penalty, was he? 

I think what's most interesting is that the game was won by the Avs playing a more gritty type of game. Kind of chaotic, sloppy play. Only a couple of power plays. Hardly the "breathe on MacKinnon and he gets a whistle" type affair you were suggesting was going to happen.

It's unfortunate Binnington was hurt....obviously he was playing like he was during the Cup run in 2019....and making a big difference in the series so far. That being stated, we don't know unequivocally if he wins that game if not hurt. Just because he had a 1-0 lead does not mean the Avs still don't score goals the rest of the game.....just like Game 1.

You and other guys in this thread may want to wear some BLUE(S) BLOCKER sunglasses  for the rest of the series, and at least TRY to look at things more objectively. In the meantime you can hope that Husso regains the form he had most of the season, and not give up. Using Binnington as an excuse at this point is not what good hockey fans do. If Kuemper gets knocked out, I will say GO PAVEL and suck it up! 

[KevShmev]

I agree that the Kadri play was an "accidentally on purpose"-type situation.  Plus, when Binnington swiped at him with his stick earlier in the season, Kadri laughed and motioned his stick at him like, "I will get ya." And he did last night. 

But, heaven knows, that true objective analysis on this is going to come from an Avs fan. 

[gmillerdrake]

I mean…..we can argue about this all day. I can post clips and images that clearly show Kadri not only wasn’t bumped or influenced by our D but that he had no intention of stopping and used our D and an excuse to bowl over Binnington. To suggest that he didn’t or that he somehow has changed his game is intellectually dishonest. A zebra can’t change his stripes…..Kadri is and will always be a dirty player who seeks those instances like last night to satisfy the asshole itch in his spirit.

Bottom line is the Blues can use it to rally around Husso…..who has played great this season and try to eliminate a ‘better’ team or they can use it as an excuse to be beat. I’m pretty sure Berube isn’t going to allow them to use it as an excuse so I’m looking forward to the rest of the series.

[TheCountOfNYC]

Well that certainly went better than the last two games.

[jingle.boy]

I guess Husso figures he is gonna get his money in the offseason, because he looked like ass tonight.  Head totally up his ass on that 4th goal.  Amazing what a difference a few weeks can make, as they now look dead in the water without Binnington.

  He was half way to the bench when the play broke out of the Avs zone.  He was in a no win situation.  If he turns and skates back to the net, they simply shoot it past him.  He tried to skate backwards to get in the play, but ... well, goalies can barely skate forwards.

re: Kadri... agreed wholly.  That was an "accidentally on purpose" crash in to Binnington.  SportsNet coverage even pulled Pronger out of the crowd to relive another Blues goalie get crashed in to in the playoffs.

Two years in a row he’s injured one of our players. Just a cheap shot artist who needs to suffer a career ending injury.

I was surprised and elated to see Binnington find that top tier form again……dude was playing great. It is no coincidence at all that Kadri did what he did.  It’s utter crap and I sincerely hope karma deals him the worst possible outcome.

What a load of crap. Kadri is very aware of what he did last year.... and how it costs his own team. So he has been playing very cleanly. Most of the analysts I've heard make any comments about the collision was that it's part of hockey (including the guy on NHL Tonight...who picked St. Louis to come out of the West). Even the BLUES RADIO ANNOUNCERS said it wasn't intentional, for chrissakes. Puck was in the clear and he went for it. Both Rosen and he collided with Binnington.

You can't blame Kadri for that play just because of his past....guys crash the net and collide with goaltenders all the time. Sometimes it's deliberate, sometimes it's incidental. He wasn't even called for a penalty, was he? 

I think what's most interesting is that the game was won by the Avs playing a more gritty type of game. Kind of chaotic, sloppy play. Only a couple of power plays. Hardly the "breathe on MacKinnon and he gets a whistle" type affair you were suggesting was going to happen.

It's unfortunate Binnington was hurt....obviously he was playing like he was during the Cup run in 2019....and making a big difference in the series so far. That being stated, we don't know unequivocally if he wins that game if not hurt. Just because he had a 1-0 lead does not mean the Avs still don't score goals the rest of the game.....just like Game 1.

You and other guys in this thread may want to wear some BLUE(S) BLOCKER sunglasses  for the rest of the series, and at least TRY to look at things more objectively. In the meantime you can hope that Husso regains the form he had most of the season, and not give up. Using Binnington as an excuse at this point is not what good hockey fans do. If Kuemper gets knocked out, I will say GO PAVEL and suck it up!

Look, I've got no dog in this race.  I'l generally lean towards the Blues all other things being equal due to my friendship with Gary*, but c'mon dude.  It's patently obvious Kadri was making zero effort to avoid Binnington - loose puck or not.  Given Landeskog's bump of Binnington in Game 2, it was clearly a team strategy (get in Binnington's space, damned the consequences), and Kadri was more than willing to do the job. Remember, I lived thru Kadri's transgressions for a few years.  Oh, and Kadri can't help himself - two round 1 suspensions while in Toronto that played a meaningful role in those series losses, and then he gets another last year.  You're right, he was well aware of what he did last year - and just as aware of what he was doing last night.  You wanna talk about looking thru homer-lenses, you're doing it bigly. 

*Not that I'm not friends with Kev, just a closer friendship with Gary

[SchecterShredder]

Wow. McDavid and Draisaitl are on another level right now.  At 97's pace, he should probably get Conn Smythe consideration even if the Oil are eliminated this round. With his current point total, he's basically guaranteed to finish atop the playoff leader board

[Anguyen92]

Mike Smith doing it for the people today.  Made roughly 30 saves.  Was briefly taken out by Lucic for a few minutes and was apparently able to get back in.  Now, I thought the Flames was able to figure him out after Game 1 and he didn't look that great in Game 2 early on, but now he's been looking all right.  This 40+ year old goalie is a perplexing case.

[TAC]

Just want to say that that was a bullshit call on Lucic last night. I get that the refs want to maintain order, but if Lucic "charged" Smith, he would've never gotten up.

[Nick]

Even if Florida somehow wins this game, they haven't looked like a team that would take this series even if they reset everything at 0 and started over.

So very disappointed that Giroux got to pick to go to a stacked team, and even if they have the skill they just don't seem to have nearly the cup hunger that Tampa Bay always seems to have.

Going to be rooting for whatever team* Giroux signs with next season.



*Assuming it's not someone ridiculous like the Rangers, Penguins, or Bruins.

[TAC]

I thought the Panthers were fraudulent anyway.

[faizoff]

Vasilevskiy with some unreal saves at the end.

[gmillerdrake]

I thought the Panthers were fraudulent anyway.

Yep. Chad mentioned it……I did, you….a couple others. Lots of points but there was never a ‘fear factor’ with them.

[TheCountOfNYC]

Oh. Okay then.