2023 NHL Playoffs Around the League

[Lame Lambert]

What did Gary have to do with anything?

f*** Gary Bettman for propping up teams in non-traditional markets, and also f*** Gary Bettman when these teams succeed because “muh TV ratings!!!”

 

[Osakahaus]

f*** Gary Bettman for propping up teams in non-traditional markets, and also f*** Gary Bettman when these teams succeed because “muh TV ratings!!!”

Vegas has made two finals appearances in 6 years, and FOUR conference finals trips as well. Spoiled rich kids.

 

[doublechili]

Vegas has made two finals appearances in 6 years, and FOUR conference finals trips as well. Spoiled rich kids.

Show Business kids
Making movies of themselves
You know they don't give a f***
About anybody else you know you go to Lost Wages....

 

[xECK29x]

Lost Wages

 

[NC 1972]

Gretzky still looks uncomfortable -- and so serious compared to the relaxed impromptu banter of the others. He constantly seems to be looking off camera also-- like he can't wait for the segment to be over.

I will say that Messier and Gretzky aren't very good analyst they don't project well on TV, however I'm very impressed with Tony Granato !

 

[Strummergas]

I will say that Messier and Gretzky aren't very good analyst they don't project well on TV, however I'm very impressed with Tony Granato !

They're pretty terrible.

 

[Skip To My Lou]

I will say that Messier and Gretzky aren't very good analyst they don't project well on TV, however I'm very impressed with Tony Granato !

Eh Gretzky is just there for the namesake. I actually think he meshes well with Biz, Anson, and Hank who are all laid back guys. TNT does an awesome job with their panel.

ESPN on the other hand try too hard to be like TNT. You can just tell. Messier and Chelios aren't naturally fun guys so they rely extra hard on Subban.

 

[Bones45]

Vegas has made two finals appearances in 6 years, and FOUR conference finals trips as well. Spoiled rich kids.

Looks like their GM knows how to make a winning team.

 

[seafoam]

Messier is junk but I think 99 balances out that desk. The bar is set pretty low, but I enjoy TNT for both basketball and hockey.

 

[doublechili]

Since we're not winning the Cup this year anyway, I'll remind everyone that today is the 43rd anniversary of Henning to Tonelli to Nystrom.

Henning's pass is an all-time underrated great pass.

 

[Big L]

Looked like a clean hit to me. Unfortunate.

 

[Surfrat]

Looked clean

 

[Bones45]

Carolina f***ing blows.

 

[Lame Lambert]

Hahahaha f*** Carolina

 

[The Lighthouse]

Brindamour yelling at the refs is actually 4d chess. It'll help set the stage for their comeback in game 5.

 

[Lek]

I love it!!!!!!

 

[JRD76]

Even though it was a sweep. I thought it was a great series.

 

[Osakahaus]

Canes have lost twelve straight in the conference finals

Couldn't happen to a better fanbase

 

[PK Cronin]

Even though it was a sweep. I thought it was a great series.

Multiple overtime games and this one was closed out in the final seconds. This is a case where the series final doesn't fit how tight it really was.

 

[Big L]

Turned it off after Carolina tied it at 3 late. way too tired to watch another OT game. Wake up, see MT scored with 4.7 seconds to go. I look to see what OT he scored in. Oh.

 

[JKP]

Surprising result, tbh. I can't imagine anyone had FLA sweeping CAR in the ECF on their bingo card...

 

[saintunspecified]

Looks like their GM knows how to make a winning team.

McPhee is an interesting character here. He's made some WILD trades in his days, and some that were *wildly* bad (Jagr trades, Forsberg for Erat, etc.) But he has taken some crazy chances. Even if you don't like Eichel, everyone should know that a healthy Eichel outclasses Tuch... still, McPhee bet on Eichel's health.

Marchessault is one of my favorite players in the league. Not unlike Devils-era Parise. It's pretty shocking the growth from Stephenson in his late 20s. And then Amadio, a quality bottom 6 guy, as a waiver claim. It's almost like McPhee found a way to consistently uncover Devon Toews-like late bloomers. And the Zach Dean / Barbashev trade.... I mean, that is, obviously, infinitely better that Filip Forsberg for Martin Erat, and also better by far right now than NYI's acquisition of Horvat.

At any rate, it's difficult to imagine that VGK can resign Barbashev without making a deal.

Aside - there were comments that Islanders players failed to increase their level of play during the playoffs unlike Florida.... NYI are obviously constructed almost in an opposite way, but that really doesn't matter. They simply don't have a top center like Barkov, and they don't have a top winger like Tkachuk. Otoh, Florida would flounder in the finals if Bobrovsky plays anything like he did in the regular season.

Assuming they meet in the finals, I think Florida's run ends with a whimper. There's too much class on Vegas, and I worry less about their questions in net, because their defense is so good & varied.

BTW, how funny is it that Cassidy gets fired, his leadership gets questioned as the Bruins have a record setting season with... and we saw how that turned out. But Cassidy ho-hums it to 111 points. Their goalie, a 26 year old rookie, gets hurt, and he's likely going to the finals backstopped by... Adin Hill.

 

[saintunspecified]

Surprising result, tbh. I can't imagine anyone had FLA sweeping CAR in the ECF on their bingo card...

No. But it's not surprising that Carolina's lack of goal scoring (particularly with Svechnikov out) finally caught up with them. We also know Bobrovsky can play like this, even if he hasn't often. Still, I think Vegas stomps them.

 

[Doshell Propivo]

Looks like their GM knows how to make a winning team.

I remember during the Snow years I suggested McPhee as a potential new GM for the Islanders. The reaction was pretty unanimous. McPhee sucks.

 

[MJF]

Surprising result, tbh. I can't imagine anyone had FLA sweeping CAR in the ECF on their bingo card...

Of course not silly, because nobody had the Panthers getting past the Bruins on their Bingo card in the first place.

But I hear you. Not a sweep of Carolina, but with the Canes losing the war of attrition and the Bob and Matthew show I did have the Panthers winning the series. They got on a mega roll.