2023 NHL Playoffs Around the League

[Chapin Landvogt]

It is insane that Boston lost in the first round. Not happy about it for several reasons. First, lets be honest it completely invalidates the NHL regular season. If they didnt win the cup that is fine, but to lose in the first round against Florida, really what does the regular season even matter and that just kind of rubs me the wrong way.
Second, this just opens up a MUCH easier path for the Rags/Devils and Leafs to the cup finals and now I am legit worried about this scenario.

My preseason tip was Dallas vs. Carolina for the Cup.

If Florida kept playing like this they could beat anyone but I always find that after crazy upsets like this, the team usually reverts back to its normal level of play for some reason.
Lastly, with Boston out there is not a single team left in the East that I do not think we could have beaten if we are at our best. Makes the loss that much more heartbreaking.

Well, Carolina...

 

[Chapin Landvogt]

It's really rough seeing that a Boston team with a 3-1 lead in the series loses in Game 7 to a club that was 43 points behind them in the standings.

It makes you feel, in a way, like there's not much advantage to being highly successful in the regular season.

But the Kitty Kats had slightly better goaltending and, well, Matt Tkachuk.

It is simply crazy how much this guy has been right smackdab in the middle of their success for basically all of 2023.

And he's a bi$%& and a half to play against.

SIDENOTE:
Leafs vs. Cats will be highly interesting. Whose Russian goaltender performs better? Whose got the better team D? Whose high octane offense brings it more?

Among other things, Tkachuk and Matthews were linemates for both the U18 Worlds (gold) and the WJC (bronze) a few years back.

 

[Olliemets]

I'll say this. I Wouldnt mind signing Orlov on defense

Have to say he and Bertuzzi were impressive.
Bertuzzi had a rough game 2 but was very noticable rest rest of series. Now THATS a net front presence.

 

[mm11]

If and when we finally fix our PP the next task is to work on our diving skills.

Somehow NBA refs seem way more aware of embellishment (and ignore it) than their NHL counterparts do.

Gotta appreciate your JT photo. The epitome of a player that was relentless. Was in on just about every huge goal for the Isles back then. Need a few more guys like him eh? anyway, LGI

It's really rough seeing that a Boston team with a 3-1 lead in the series loses in Game 7 to a club that was 43 points behind them in the standings.

It makes you feel, in a way, like there's not much advantage to being highly successful in the regular season.

But the Kitty Kats had slightly better goaltending and, well, Matt Tkachuk.

It is simply crazy how much this guy has been right smackdab in the middle of their success for basically all of 2023.

And he's a bi$%& and a half to play against.

SIDENOTE:
Leafs vs. Cats will be highly interesting. Whose Russian goaltender performs better? Whose got the better team D? Whose high octane offense brings it more?

Among other things, Tkachuk and Matthews were linemates for both the U18 Worlds (gold) and the WJC (bronze) a few years back.

Def a cats fan this posy season going forward. Shock the world fellas

 

[Dutch Frost]

The Panthers are a solid team, They had a tough season but kept on fighting. They also won the Presidents trophy last year and lost. So they've been there. This team knows how to play hockey.

The Islanders on the other hand are not as talented. I had the Canes in 5 and I am shocked we went 6. The Panthers were relentless. The Islanders took a 1 goal lead into the 3rd period and refused to attack and let the Canes control the puck the whole period. The Islanders played like little kids excited they actually had the lead.

 

[Doshell Propivo]

The NHL needs a soft cap or an easier way to shed bad contracts. There’s way too much parity between teams at this point, and it’s impossible for teams to improve without multiple years of completely sucking.

Parity, playoff upsets... Why would the NHL want that to change?

 

[Mr Misunderstood]

The Panthers are a solid team, They had a tough season but kept on fighting. They also won the Presidents trophy last year and lost. So they've been there. This team knows how to play hockey.

The Islanders on the other hand are not as talented. I had the Canes in 5 and I am shocked we went 6. The Panthers were relentless. The Islanders took a 1 goal lead into the 3rd period and refused to attack and let the Canes control the puck the whole period. The Islanders played like little kids excited they actually had the lead.

The Panthers traded away their highest scoring player the offseason immediately after winning the President's trophy, They came to grips that the 'core' that they were pushing with was never going to get it done and made a big trade.

This is where the Islanders are, and I'm looking at valuable pieces that need to be used in order to receive something back to switch up the 'core.' This is why I look at Nelson, Pulock (I know NTC) and even Barzal as the trade chips to dangle.

It sucks, but you need to get creative.

 

[Dutch Frost]

The Panthers traded away their highest scoring player the offseason immediately after winning the President's trophy, They came to grips that the 'core' that they were pushing with was never going to get it done and made a big trade.

This is where the Islanders are, and I'm looking at valuable pieces that need to be used in order to receive something back to switch up the 'core.' This is why I look at Nelson, Pulock (I know NTC) and even Barzal as the trade chips to dangle.

It sucks, but you need to get creative.

Do you trust an 80 yr old Lou to get it done? Owners need to step in and clean house from the top.

 

[nyisles]

Man, I was in Confluence Park last night and you could hear a pin drop just after the Avs game. Felt like the whole city had the air sucked out of it. Lots of people walking around with the same face I had on Friday, but more shell-shocked. What a wild first round. Let's Go Devils

 

[Mr Misunderstood]

Do you trust an 80 yr old Lou to get it done? Owners need to step in and clean house from the top.

From a "get it done" standpoint? Yes, I 100% believe Lou could get a big-time shakeup trade done.

My concern is who 80 year old Lou could be targeting considering his philosophy on roster building...

 

[Green]

Wish the Panthers had an extra day of rest, they seem hungry enough to not give a f*** and give their all on every shift and maybe pull another upset, but playing less than 48 hours after a series like that I think is to much, it is reminiscent of the Isles in 93 who had to play in Montreal about 36 hours after that Penguins series.

 

[Lame Lambert]

Parity, playoff upsets... Why would the NHL want that to change?

Because the regular season has become entirely irrelevant

 

[The Real JT]

Wish the Panthers had an extra day of rest, they seem hungry enough to not give a f*** and give their all on every shift and maybe pull another upset, but playing less than 48 hours after a series like that I think is to much, it is reminiscent of the Isles in 93 who had to play in Montreal about 36 hours after that Penguins series.

Logic and common sense would say the Panthers will have a hard time winning game one.

I don’t have stats in front of me but I recall many times seeing teams in that situation come back and surprisingly win the first game of the next series. After that, I’m not too optimistic that they take down Toronto.

 

[Doshell Propivo]

Because the regular season has become entirely irrelevant

Hyperbole much? Entirely irrelevant? Pffft. The NHL set record attendance during the regular season. Games averaged 93% capacity. Alls well as far as the NHL is concerned.

 

[Big L]

Because the regular season has become entirely irrelevant

NHL should just go straight to tournament style playoffs then? Everyone gets in?

 

[Doshell Propivo]

I recall when the first round was best of 5, there were way more upsets.

 

[Lame Lambert]

NHL should just go straight to tournament style playoffs then? Everyone gets in?

Might as well at this point.

 

[NC 1972]

It's really rough seeing that a Boston team with a 3-1 lead in the series loses in Game 7 to a club that was 43 points behind them in the standings.

It makes you feel, in a way, like there's not much advantage to being highly successful in the regular season.

But the Kitty Kats had slightly better goaltending and, well, Matt Tkachuk.

It is simply crazy how much this guy has been right smackdab in the middle of their success for basically all of 2023.

And he's a bi$%& and a half to play against.

SIDENOTE:
Leafs vs. Cats will be highly interesting. Whose Russian goaltender performs better? Whose got the better team D? Whose high octane offense brings it more?

Among other things, Tkachuk and Matthews were linemates for both the U18 Worlds (gold) and the WJC (bronze) a few years back.

It's all about the goaltending and when you get it.

 

[NC 1972]

Seriously, that's why just getting in is worth it sometimes.

I think the Panthers didn't live up to their talent during the season, picked it up in the last 1/3 and are now playing to their capabilities, there goaltending improved and the team was motivated.
There talent and skill dwarfs ours, we have a world class goaltender for sure but its not enough.

 

[Doshell Propivo]

The regular season sucks.
The playoffs suck.
The refs suck.
Lou sucks.
Lambert sucks.
The Islanders suck.

 

[Zeeker]

The regular season sucks.
The playoffs suck.
The refs suck.
Lou sucks.
Lambert sucks.
The Islanders suck.

We get it, all is rosy in Isles world, you’re the perfect fan, and everyone else whinges all day

And no I’m not British, I just think whinges is a cool way of saying whines

 

[NC 1972]

I recall when the first round was best of 5, there were way more upsets.

How about best of 3 NY Islanders beat the NY Rangers on a J.P. Parise goal 11 seconds into OT to take the series, huge upset!

 

[PK Cronin]

I think the Panthers didn't live up to their talent during the season, picked it up in the last 1/3 and are now playing to their capabilities, there goaltending improved and the team was motivated.
There talent and skill dwarfs ours, we have a world class goaltender for sure but its not enough.

I'm not trying to debate which teams are better. It's the never ending goalpost shifting to suit the narrative people want that is annoying.

There are upsets in the NHL all the time. We've seen 8th seeds win the cup. We have now seen two separate 8 seeds knock out historic 1 seeds. An expansion team made it to the cup finals. A second year expansion team just knocked out the defending champions. Anything can, and does, happen in the NHL playoffs pretty frequently.

I still think the goal should be building a team that you know will make the playoffs every year and not struggle to get in. Trying to capture lightning in a bottle once isn't a recipe for long term success.

 

[Skip To My Lou]

The Panthers are a solid team, They had a tough season but kept on fighting. They also won the Presidents trophy last year and lost. So they've been there. This team knows how to play hockey.

The Islanders on the other hand are not as talented. I had the Canes in 5 and I am shocked we went 6. The Panthers were relentless. The Islanders took a 1 goal lead into the 3rd period and refused to attack and let the Canes control the puck the whole period. The Islanders played like little kids excited they actually had the lead.

Honestly, if goaltending were better all season, Florida would've had a much better record. All the numbers say that Florida was a top 10 team, but Bobrovsky and Knight were not good during the season.

 

[MJF]

Do you trust an 80 yr old Lou to get it done? Owners need to step in and clean house from the top.

It has nothing to do with his age. It has to do with his view of how the game is played and how to build a team.

Because the regular season has become entirely irrelevant

It’s not irrelevant for the Islanders. They needed all 82 games just to make the playoffs.