2024 2025 Around the League Part 2

[the_fan]

I thought Dallas was supposed to be great defensive team. They almost choked up a 4 goal lead in the 3rd against the Oilers team which didn’t have Draisaitl and McDavid

 

[Cypher]

We’re supposed to be scared of the Stares?

I'm not.

How do you give up 45 shots to the McDavid-Leon-less Oilers? This team can't defend. Harley and Lindell being driven into the ground because the rest of their dfense is suspect at best. The right side is Ceci, Dumba, Lylubushkin.... I mean, Parker Kelly could probably walk those guys. Add in doesn't sound like Miro will be back by Round 1, they are in trouble.

They'll still finish 2nd in the division cause of their easy schedule, but that all will allow the Avs to rest be ready as the 3rd seed.

The only thing that worries be with Dallas is them gooning it up and injuring our players.

 

[Foppa2118]

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Uh oh. I sense a new 9 20+ goal scorers meme brewing

Did Hintz make this? Why is everyone but him making a weird face here?

 

[the_fan]

Jets are only 6 points up on Dallas, Stars have a game in hand, and Jets have a harder remaining schedule than the Stars. There is still a chance we might face the Jets in the 1st round

 

[Foppa2118]

Jets are only 6 points up on Dallas, Stars have a game in hand, and Jets have a harder remaining schedule than the Stars. There is still a chance we might face the Jets in the 1st round

I feel like when it's two good teams, and there's only a few games left, it's extremely hard to make up 5+ points.

When it's less than 5 points, you have a chance if you get hot and they stay average. Or you stay average and they go in a slump.

But when it's 5+ points at the end of the year, you need both the leading team to go into a slump, and the trailing team to get red hot.

Not impossible but extremely unlikely to get both IMO. The leading team usually just finds a way to pull it together when they need to.

 

[Freudian]

It's a bit annoying that Dallas keep winning but when we look at the league as a whole Central has three of the top five teams in the standings.

Just have to beat them in the playoffs, I guess.

 

[the_fan]

I feel like when it's two good teams, and there's only a few games left, it's extremely hard to make up 5+ points.

When it's less than 5 points, you have a chance if you get hot and they stay average. Or you stay average and they go in a slump.

But when it's 5+ points at the end of the year, you need both the leading team to go into a slump, and the trailing team to get red hot.

Not impossible but extremely unlikely to get both IMO. The leading team usually just finds a way to pull it together when they need to.

Generally this is true, but the thing is with the Jets is that they haven’t gone through any kind of adversity pretty much all season. They’ve been pretty much on cruise control so far, and inevitably they gonna face adversity sometime soon, and have a big let down.

Maybe it comes now before the playoffs, or in the 1st round. For their sake, it’s better be now for them to face some adversity instead of the 1st round, but it’s bound to happen.

 

[Foppa2118]

The thing that makes me cautiously optimistic about the Avs vs Stars, is that the Stars leaned out their roster, and focused on improving their speed.

They're not as physical or hard to play against as they used to be.

The Avs meanwhile got bigger, harder to play against, and improved their goaltending, and from the games this year, including the last one, they're still much faster than the Stars.

They just can't keep up when the Avs are on their game, even when extremely motivated to win.

Goaltending, health, and goon tactics can change anything though.

 

[dahrougem2]

I thought Dallas was supposed to be great defensive team. They almost choked up a 4 goal lead in the 3rd against the Oilers team which didn’t have Draisaitl and McDavid

People keep saying this but if you look at the analytics, the Stars are not a good defensive team. They haven't been a good defensive team all season. It's a huge reason why I want them in the 1st round. To be able to go against the likes of Lybushkin, Dumba, Ceci, and Bischell for over half the game would be unbelievable. Oettinger would have to steal that series for them.

The thing that makes me cautiously optimistic about the Avs vs Stars, is that the Stars leaned out their roster, and focused on improving their speed.

They're not as physical or hard to play against as they used to be.

The Avs meanwhile got bigger, harder to play against, and improved their goaltending, and from the games this year, including the last one, they're still much faster than the Stars.

They just can't keep up when the Avs are on their game, even when extremely motivated to win.

Goaltending, health, and goon tactics can change anything though.

Not only did the Avs get bigger and harder to play against, they didn't sacrifice their speed. Coyle, Nelson, and Lindgren aren't lumbering around the ice and Necas/Drury can fly.

You (God willing) add an insanely motivated Gabriel Landeskog to the mix and look out.

 

[expatriatedtexan]

View attachment 1000209
Uh oh. I sense a new 9 20+ goal scorers meme brewing

Only one who has a Stanley Cup got it riding our colors.

This lineup does not frighten me one bit.

 

[The Merchant]

There is nothing I'd like more than to bounce Dallas in the first round after the incessant circle-jerk they've received all season long and especially after landing Mikko. If the Avs can't get through them while fresh and early in a run then they were never going to claim the ultimate prize anyway. Bring those f***ers on.

 

[JoeSakic13]

It's a bit annoying that Dallas keep winning but when we look at the league as a whole Central has three of the top five teams in the standings.

Just have to beat them in the playoffs, I guess.

 

[Richard88]

I knew Dallas had a weak schedule the rest of the season, but my God... they play just two teams currently in the playoffs the rest of the way. (@ Minnesota and vs. Winnipeg). They get Seattle twice, Nashville twice, and Pittsburgh, along with Calgary, Vancouver, Utah, and Detroit.

Meanwhile, The Avs get The Kings twice, the Blues twice, Vegas, and have two B2Bs (all on the road) left.

They might catch Winnipeg. That would kinda suck as it's probably preferable to take Dallas in round 1 instead of later when Heiskanen is back.

 

[expatriatedtexan]

They might catch Winnipeg. That would kinda suck as it's probably preferable to take Dallas in round 1 instead of later when Heiskanen is back.

Makes no difference what order we knock 4 teams out in.

We are either champions or we aren't, but the minute we start wishing for a certain path is the first sign we don't believe we are champions.

 

[Richard88]

Makes no difference what order we knock 4 teams out in.

We are either champions or we aren't, but the minute we start wishing for a certain path is the first sign we don't believe we are champions.

That's BS. Give me the easier path that's going to let our players get to the later rounds in less games, more rested, and with their spleens intact.

 

[Grigowski]

Jets are only 6 points up on Dallas, Stars have a game in hand, and Jets have a harder remaining schedule than the Stars. There is still a chance we might face the Jets in the 1st round

At this point i kinda want Dallas in Round 1 and be done with them early on.

If the Jets really blow this lead and the 1st seed in the west, well, idiots......

 

[Alienblood]

Just imagine what Foppa could’ve done in today’s NHL and not when you could tackle, slash, grab, and obstruct with abandon. And with the nets moved back to where they are now, no one would be able to stop his signature move of spinning around from behind the net to fire it short side.

He'd be far too slow but I get what you mean.

 

[Tralfamadore]

There is nothing I'd like more than to bounce Dallas in the first round after the incessant circle-jerk they've received all season long and especially after landing Mikko. If the Avs can't get through them while fresh and early in a run then they were never going to claim the ultimate prize anyway. Bring those f***ers on.

It'll be good for the team to get the playoff Stars/DeBoer monkey off their back as well.

 

[Richard88]

He'd be far too slow but I get what you mean.

Lol what?

 

[missionAvs]

That's BS. Give me the easier path that's going to let our players get to the later rounds in less games, more rested, and with their spleens intact.

Agreed. There's being confident and there's also letting that confidence cloud your judgement. You want the easiest path. You want your players fresh. That's the best path. Disclaimer: there's no true easy way to get there but give me the team with the roughed up #1 defender and Loobybushkin covering their right flank any day.

All of this is pointless though, Stars are smoking us in 4. Waste of 8 days.

 

[AvsCOL]

We have to assume that Landy is going to have some pent up aggression. That Landeskog/Coyle/Colton line (if it happens) is going to be a nightmare for opposing defensemen.

I like the Avs chances against Dallas. Avs need to play a perfect series defensively, because the Stars are so opportunistic as we saw last game.

 

[Ararana]

I want Dallas. It's time to finally best that team in the postseason.

I was hoping the Avs could steal the #2 seed from them, but it's looking like that's not going to happen. They're going to have to steal one on the road and they can't let it go to game 7.

But without Heiskanen, the Avs have a much much better shot at taking out the white whale. Dallas is incredibly vulnerable this year.

 

[Bill Peckerskull]

 

[Bill Peckerskull]

 

[RoyIsALegend]

He said two nights ago that at this point in his career, he can't get motivated to coach this type of team at this point of the season.

Pretty much waved the white flag.

He's 66, I wonder if he's done now.