NHL 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs

The NHL is in a difficult place with these playoffs. So little excitement, so little hatred. Tampa goes down without even a whimper let alone a hit.
I personally haven't enjoyed ESPNs broadcasts that much either.

One thing NBC got perfect was integrating the crowd noise.. ESPN has audio peaks all the time and even things like the goal horns cut out.. I also think a decent amount of the broadcast crews are subpar.. Especially on TNT. I wish there was a way I could stream CBC or SportsNet.
 
The NHL is in a difficult place with these playoffs. So little excitement, so little hatred. Tampa goes down without even a whimper let alone a hit.
It’s only one game but the Panthers look like a team that was firing on all cylinders not the team we saw the last few months in the regular season. Tkachuk isn’t that good of a skater , he’s all about puck possession down low and in front of the net so I don’t think time off really hurts him that much . Panthers are deep . Could they go the entire playoffs and not lose a game ?
 
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It’s only one game but the Panthers look like a team that was firing on all cylinders not the team we saw the last few months in the regular season. Tkachuk isn’t that good of a skater , he’s all about puck possession down low and in front of the net so I don’t think time off really hurts him that much . Panthers are deep . Could they go the entire playoffs and not lose a game ?
Not even one patented Kucherov "Crosby" tantrum in this one. Shocking.
 
Not even one patented Kucherov "Crosby" tantrum in this one. Shocking.
Panthers are a bad matchup for Tampa ( and Toronto) . Tampa seems to rely heavily on their skill level . They can’t grind it out against a physical hard working team. It’s only one game though and how often have we seen teams come roaring back ?
 
Who are these people in gold sweaters playing Minnesota? They may be dressed like Vegas, but they sure don't look play like them. Horrible period, sloppy, lazy, tentative at both ends. Some nice passing by the Wild, credit to them, but they had it easy there. Weird.
 
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NHL has an intensity problem. These playoffs can't compete against the 4 nations up to now and that's not good.
The other issue is tied to officiating.

Last night they slapped a 2 min roughing call on Tchachuk early in the game which was ridiculous. It was an edgy, somewhat high hit. Also the kind of hit that for decades has been run of the mill nastiness that the Playoffs should engender and fans love.

But the refs felt like "toning things down" before they even started.
 
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The other issue is tied to officiating.

Last night they slapped a 2 min roughing call on Tchachuk early in the game which was ridiculous. It was an edgy, somewhat high hit. Also the kind of hit that for decades has been run of the mill nastiness that the Playoffs should engender and fans love.

But the refs felt like "toning things down" before they even started.
They also hand out 10 minute misconducts for looking at someone the wrong way in an intense game.
 
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yup

and the forced first round divisional matchups make it a chore. it was a dumb plan from the start to artificially create rivalries through frequent playoff match ups.

I'd much rather watch divisional rivals face each other year after year than random match-ups from a 16 team conference.
 

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