2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs Discussion

[cobra427]

Vegas was 7-0-3 their last 10,Utah 6-4. Like you said, Vegas is a vet team, with tons of playoff experience. Not sure I know what you are talking about Torts not getting a response because the team is older? They just went 7-0-3. Love to see Utah beat Vegas, but I have my doubts.

AI was off with the results I quoted. When you get a new coach the team responds, Vegas did. I am not sure that continues, or it was because of Torts specifically. We will will find out, I like our chances here.

 

[Jamieh]

Vegas was 7-0-3 their last 10,Utah 6-4. Like you said, Vegas is a vet team, with tons of playoff experience. Not sure I know what you are talking about Torts not getting a response because the team is older? They just went 7-0-3. Love to see Utah beat Vegas, but I have my doubts.

Vegas last 10 is smoke and mirrors , 7 of those games were against teams out of tye playoffs. Vegas this season has a very bad record against teams in the playoffs although they finished the season beating Edmonton and Colorado in last stretch, in fairness both were playing short staffed. They are definitely a flawed and beatable team.

 

[Bonsai Tree]

I worry that Vejmelka might not be playoff quality. I watch him and I keep thinking “a top goalie would have stopped that” over and over.

 

[Freakshow]

Mammoth have five guys who’ve won the Stanley Cup on their roster, which surprised me.

 

[Summer Rose]

Mammoth have five guys who’ve won the Stanley Cup on their roster, which surprised me.

One of them is Vitek Vanacek... he sort of counts, I guess.

 

[Freakshow]

One of them is Vitek Vanacek... he sort of counts, I guess.

Six if you count him…

Sergachev
Cole
Maatta
Schmidt
Stenlund

 

[Arizonatah]

Six if you count him…

Sergachev
Cole
Maatta
Schmidt
Stenlund

Maatta is in Calgary now. Part of the Weegar trade.

 

[Freakshow]

Maatta is in Calgary now. Part of the Weegar trade.

I stand corrected, five it is, you are right, good sir.

 

[Freakshow]

Anyone catch that Flyers game last night, good win for the Flyers.

 

[Summer Rose]

Anyone catch that Flyers game last night, good win for the Flyers.

I watched all three games yesterday. Good stuff!

 

[Jakey53]

Vegas last 10 is smoke and mirrors , 7 of those games were against teams out of tye playoffs. Vegas this season has a very bad record against teams in the playoffs although they finished the season beating Edmonton and Colorado in last stretch, in fairness both were playing short staffed. They are definitely a flawed and beatable team.

I would love nothing more than to see Utah beat Vegas. Don't see it happening. Utah is also a flawed team, and the way it looks, are starting the playoffs without McBain, Hayton and possibly Durzi.

 

[Snarky Coyote]

Karlson is out for the series, and it's going to be speed and D against experience and heavy, slow play. Mammoth in 6 if they can adjust to playoff hockey. Very weird not to be getting whiteout facepaint this year. I guess one way or another, we will see if Utah is my new team or just following it till all the OG yotes are gone.

 

[Heldig]

I would love nothing more than to see Utah beat Vegas. Don't see it happening. Utah is also a flawed team, and the way it looks, are starting the playoffs without McBain, Hayton and possibly Durzi.

Pray tell, what is the flaw?

 

[TheLegend]

Black Aces........ assemble!!

 

[sundance74]

Bold prediction, we're making it in 5

 

[Jakey53]

Pray tell, what is the flaw?

Experience, depth and losing leads. PP and PK not a good as Vegas.

 

[Heldig]

Experience, depth and losing leads. PP and PK not a good as Vegas.

Good points for sure.

Playoff experience as a team matters. Especially at goaltending.

But Vegas could point to the fact Utah scored more goal and allowed fewer against. And the PP is typically less a factor in the playoffs.

 

[Jakey53]

Good points for sure.

Playoff experience as a team matters. Especially at goaltending.

But Vegas could point to the fact Utah scored more goal and allowed fewer against. And the PP is typically less a factor in the playoffs.

You think special teams, in a short series is less a factor.

 

[Jamieh]

Experience, depth and losing leads. PP and PK not a good as Vegas.

I'm not sure Vegas is that deep in experience with this lineup? Half their top D came from Calgary. Marner played regular playoff games, are we considering that "experience ". Is Hertl experienced? He's won nothing. You are looking at 4 or 5 key Vegas players who have won the Cup. I don't see a massive advantage there. I'm open to being incorrect

 

[Arizonatah]

I'm not sure Vegas is that deep in experience with this lineup? Half their top D came from Calgary. Marner played regular playoff games, are we considering that "experience ". Is Hertl experienced? He's won nothing. You are looking at 4 or 5 key Vegas players who have won the Cup. I don't see a massive advantage there. I'm open to being incorrect

Vegas also made it to the Stanley Cup Finals their first season. Without researching it, I don't think they had much (if any) more playoff experience than Utah does now, back then on their roster.

 

[Jamieh]

Vegas also made it to the Stanley Cup Finals their first season. Without researching it, I don't think they had much (if any) more playoff experience than Utah does now, back then on their roster.

They had a much stronger and deeper lineup back then as well. As new contracts come around depth gets worse with every signing.

 

[PainForShane]

They had a much stronger and deeper lineup back then as well. As new contracts come around depth gets worse with every signing.

No, they didn't. In terms of depth, Vegas that first year had two lines that could score and after that fell off pretty heavily, which is basically the same as us this year. And I'd argue our top talent is better than theirs was as well. Either way, Fleury carried that team throughout the season / playoffs and rightly picked up a handful of Vezina votes for his efforts

 

[Jamieh]

No, they didn't. In terms of depth, Vegas that first year had two lines that could score and after that fell off pretty heavily, which is basically the same as us this year. And I'd argue our top talent is better than theirs was as well. Either way, Fleury carried that team throughout the season / playoffs and rightly picked up a handful of Vezina votes for his efforts

I would argue that they had 3 or 4 second lines which .makes for a very deep team. They could hold their own against anyone's lines.

 

[PainForShane]

I would argue that they had 3 or 4 second lines which .makes for a very deep team. They could hold their own against anyone's lines.

Well, ok. What's your argument? You can look up their roster any number of places and if you don't remember who was playing with whom you can pretty easily look it up on a site like Natural Stat Trick.

And to be clear, we're talking about their first year in existence, not the year they won the cup

 

[Jamieh]

Well, ok. What's your argument? You can look up their roster any number of places and if you don't remember who was playing with whom you can pretty easily look it up on a site like Natural Stat Trick.

And to be clear, we're talking about their first year in existence, not the year they won the cup

Here's their lines in first year of playoffs:

Marchessault-Karlsson-Smith
Neal-Haula-Tuch
Tatar-Eakin-Carpenter
Nosek-Bellemare-Reaves

IMO those first 3 lines are respectable 2nd lines in that year. 4 forwards between 60 and 78 points and 4 forwards between 37 and 55 points.