Around the League 2018-2019 Part 2- Everyone is having fun except us

[Ziggy Stardust]

I know it's hockey and crazy stuff happens in the playoffs but I don't see how anyone beats this Tampa team in a 7 game series.

But certain fans have been saying they're overrated. Must be another flavor of the month team.

 

[deeshamrock]

I know it's hockey and crazy stuff happens in the playoffs but I don't see how anyone beats this Tampa team in a 7 game series.

If they don't suffer and key injuries, I don't either. They are a machine. Kucherov having 99 pts at the 60 game mark is ridiculous. Just the pace he's kept himself at, almost every shift.

 

[redcard]

I know it's hockey and crazy stuff happens in the playoffs but I don't see how anyone beats this Tampa team in a 7 game series.

Ex-lax in the gatorade.

So Panarin wasn't in the linup tonight vs the Habs and rumors began swirling. Torts didn't mince his words..

See. If the playoffs start today, the Habs get the Lightning in the first round. They tried it out on Panarin.

 

[Ziggy Stardust]

Jake Muzzin just had one of his very special moments.

 

[kovacro]

I know it's hockey and crazy stuff happens in the playoffs but I don't see how anyone beats this Tampa team in a 7 game series.

Ah, the beauty of sports, anything can happen. You just never know.

Got to stay healthy. If they were to lose a guy like Hedman on the backend, all bets are off. He’s a bit dinged up but not serious according to Cooper.

I will be interested to see what they do at the deadline.

 

[deeshamrock]

Bruins tied the game last night vs Sharks with less than 2 minutes left on an odd goal, puck knocked down with a high stick. Stick appears to be above the shoulders

Chris Wagner exploits high-stick loophole to tie game late - Sportsnet.ca

 

[tny760]

there's the muffin we know and love

they're gonna crucify him but where the f*** was everyone else on the backcheck

 

[kovacro]

Bruins tied the game last night vs Sharks with less than 2 minutes left on an odd goal, puck knocked down with a high stick. Stick appears to be above the shoulders

Chris Wagner exploits high-stick loophole to tie game late - Sportsnet.ca

Yeah, apparently that’s not reviewable. Also, the Bruins had a goal that was missed in the first period. It looked to have crossed the line, but for some reason did not get overturned.

There was one specific angle from the NBC broadcast, I believe, that showed it was over the line.

Was a bit of a weird game.

 

[tny760]

i don't like how they call it a loophole.. it's 2 separate calls, there's no exploitation of any rules going on there

they missed the high stick call therefore that puck's the same as any other one on the ground

 

[kovacro]

Who would of thought the Blues would be rolling like this after their poor start.

Binnington has been outstanding and Allen has been much better recently. I believe they are on a 3-game shutout streak. Crazy.

I thought Husso was going to be their future between the pipes. Maybe not.

 

[kingsholygrail]

Blues are peaking too early, but it's fun watching them skate circles around the Leafs.

 

[deeshamrock]

Who would of thought the Blues would be rolling like this after their poor start.

Binnington has been outstanding and Allen has been much better recently. I believe they are on a 3-game shutout streak. Crazy.

I thought Husso was going to be their future between the pipes. Maybe not.

That is the key, you get great goaltending and it picks the whole team, they play with more confidence. Also, ROR has been solid all year, even when they were playing poorly, he was good. I always see the leader in him. But as good as they are playing now, I don't see them keeping up this pace for 2 more months.

 

[KINGS17]

Here is Cherry praising Ovechkin, then criticizing Ovechkin. Just an example of the man praise and criticism for the same man, but different actions.

 

[kingsboy11]

Bruins tied the game last night vs Sharks with less than 2 minutes left on an odd goal, puck knocked down with a high stick. Stick appears to be above the shoulders

Chris Wagner exploits high-stick loophole to tie game late - Sportsnet.ca

Oh darn

 

[Bandit]

I think it's more accurate when people call him Xenophobic, but I could see nationalistic, given his propensity to slam anyone playing the game in a different way than 'the good ol Canadian boys' and his tirades against Russians, Swedes, Finns. Ovechkin could make the same bad play as Crosby but only one of them is going under his microscope.

I like him being colorful. I don't like his generalities, but he's an icon for the right reasons imo, even if I disagree with him 75% of the time

If that's how people want to make themselves feel better then ok, but there is no difference between the two.

xen·o·pho·bi·a
noun
dislike of or prejudice against people from other countries.
"the resurgence of racism and xenophobia"
synonyms: racism, racialism, racial hatred, ethnocentrism, ethnocentricity

Webster defines race:
a : a family, tribe, people, or nation belonging to the same stock
b : a class or kind of people unified by shared interests, habits, or characteristics

Wikipedia:
A race is a grouping of humans based on shared physical or social qualities into categories generally viewed as distinct by society.

So every time he says something about "Typical chicken Swedes" Or "Euros" or "Russians" that "Don't play the game the right way" or "hide behind their visors like cowards" or whatever other endless generalizations he's made in the last 40 some odd years, yup, that's him being a racist.

Whatevs though, I'm not convincing anyone who doesn't already see it and I've expended all the energy I care to on the subject.

 

[kingsholygrail]

The difference is Russians are not considered a race.

 

[GoldenBearHockey]

Here is Cherry praising Ovechkin, then criticizing Ovechkin. Just an example of the man praise and criticism for the same man, but different actions.

That whole criticism, 2:45 or however long, not ONCE did he mention it was because he was Russian.....holy hell, who would have thought?

But thank you for illustrating my point.....

 

[kovacro]

You would assume if the CBC, for the slightest second felt Cherry was even hinting of racism, he would have been shit canned by now, especially considering the current climate of our society.

Grapes giving Sidney shit for being a little bitch. I recall that one.

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

But certain fans have been saying they're overrated. Must be another flavor of the month team.

Strawman? Who the hell says that?

I know I've personally said they're a playoff failure away from being the new-era Sharks and I don't see how that's inaccurate given they've been the favorite several years in a row only to have their best players disappear under physicality. I know they look unstoppable, but I'll still never forget Regehr checking the bejesus out of Kucherov and he wouldn't go within a stick length of anyone the rest of the game...that's the same guy that showedup in games 5-7 last year.

But right now, good lord, they're making a mockery of the league. +80, on pace for 130 points...and I do think is the best team they've had yet. McDonagh and Point are what put them over the top in my eyes now.

 

[kingsfan28]

I know it's hockey and crazy stuff happens in the playoffs but I don't see how anyone beats this Tampa team in a 7 game series.

Yeah, with them it's like you're already down 5-0 to start the game.

 

[kingsfan28]

Strawman? Who the hell says that?

I know I've personally said they're a playoff failure away from being the new-era Sharks and I don't see how that's inaccurate given they've been the favorite several years in a row only to have their best players disappear under physicality. I know they look unstoppable, but I'll still never forget Regehr checking the bejesus out of Kucherov and he wouldn't go within a stick length of anyone the rest of the game...that's the same guy that showedup in games 5-7 last year.

But right now, good lord, they're making a mockery of the league. +80, on pace for 130 points...and I do think is the best team they've had yet. McDonagh and Point are what put them over the top in my eyes now.

This is a good point. They are lauded with praise about drafting and scouting and the right way to manage the cap for years, yet what has it got them? Every Cup winning team has that guy, you know who steps up , puts a hit or makes a play the defines the team. I don't see anyone on Tampa.

 

[kovacro]

Never thought I would say this, but happy the Ducks won tonight. Gross.

 

[Ziggy Stardust]

This is a good point. They are lauded with praise about drafting and scouting and the right way to manage the cap for years, yet what has it got them? Every Cup winning team has that guy, you know who steps up , puts a hit or makes a play the defines the team. I don't see anyone on Tampa.

I mean, they’ve been to the dance before, and they’re close to doing it again. It’s not like these guys are choking in the first round and going years without playoff wins.

So any team that doesn’t win the Cup sucks at drafting and team building? The attempt by certain Kings fans who try to discredit other successful teams is disconcerting. Do you guys not like watching good hockey teams?

 

[kingsfan28]

I mean, they’ve been to the dance before, and they’re close to doing it again. It’s not like these guys are choking in the first round and going years without playoff wins.

So any team that doesn’t win the Cup sucks at drafting and team building? The attempt by certain Kings fans who try to discredit other successful teams is disconcerting. Do you guys not like watching good hockey teams?

Not at all, they've done it right and are in a great position to make a long run to the finals. They just seem, like RJ pointed out to be heading in SJ direction with all the praise without the final result. Seriously, it gets jammed down our throats about their drafting and player management game after game, year after year.

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

I mean, they’ve been to the dance before, and they’re close to doing it again. It’s not like these guys are choking in the first round and going years without playoff wins.

So any team that doesn’t win the Cup sucks at drafting and team building? The attempt by certain Kings fans who try to discredit other successful teams is disconcerting. Do you guys not like watching good hockey teams?

Dude, what is it with you and strawmen lately? Tampa Bay is awesome and they're fun as shit to watch. I'm just sick of people anointing them champs prematurely as I am of people worshipping Stevie Y as if he's infallible.

But to your first point, yes, they have.

For the last decade
-Missed playoffs
-Missed playoffs
-Missed playoffs
-Lost in ECF
-Missed playoffs
-Missed playoffs
-Lost in first round
-Lost in SCF
-Lost in ECF
-Missed playoffs
-Lost in ECF

They've made the playoffs less than the Kings and actually won less playoff series too (surprised me), for all their infallible drafting and team building. They've been a/the favorite each of the last several years and fallen short. At what point do we reconcile expectations with reality? What if they don't win this year?

We'll see what happens next chapter as they've just started moving out top picks. Do they move prospects and picks to win it all? Do they do that to stay on top after they win this year? We'll see. They have some serious asset management to finally do. For all the hemming and hawing people forget that Hedman is only a year younger than Doughty, Stamkos only one younger than Kopitar. They've finally been uber-competitive for a few years--as we all know, that's when the real roster fun begins.