Around the League 36-But Who's Counting...

[DaveG]

Pittsburgh is going to mess around and let buffalo take their playoff spot

 

[Boom Boom Apathy]

Pittsburgh is going to mess around and let buffalo take their playoff spot

Going by Points %, Buffalo is in the final playoff spot over Washington.

 

[Boom Boom Apathy]

I’ll tell you what, it’s all up to them. There’s a certain mentality in the playoffs, which we’ve all seen, that you just have to get it done yourself, no one’s going to roll over and die for you. It’s not roster construction, it’s not a necessary acquisition - this core has to say among themselves, enough’s enough, time to make a statement to ourselves that we can play any type of way to win. Any type of way. It will probably require RBA to get a little more flexible, and the bench managers to trust the 4th line and 3rd pairing more and more - because they’re going to need them to give them great minutes, which they’re fully capable of doing.

that's definitely one piece of it, but talent (roster construction) is another and IMO, this team needs more talent. While we are 2nd in the league in points, a lot of it is coming from OT and SO, which aren't a thing in the playoffs. We are 9th in regulation wins, 12th in goal scoring, and 25th in PP%. Still a good team, but still with needs, particularly on offense. It's why they went after Pacioretty in the first place.

We are winning because we outwork other teams and dominate possession limiting their chances. It become immensely more difficult to win by "outworking" other teams once the playoff comes around since everybody works hard in the playoffs.

I agree with you that this core has to make a statement mentally and RBA needs to be more flexible, but I also think they need to improve the roster to get over that hump. Of course, much of the playoffs is getting hot at the right time and we have some guys (Jarvis and TT most notably) that have the skill to do so.

 

[Discipline Daddy]

that's definitely one piece of it, but talent (roster construction) is another and IMO, this team needs more talent. While we are 2nd in the league in points, a lot of it is coming from OT and SO, which aren't a thing in the playoffs. We are 9th in regulation wins, 12th in goal scoring, and 25th in PP%. Still a good team, but still with needs, particularly on offense. It's why they went after Pacioretty in the first place.

We are winning because we outwork other teams and dominate possession limiting their chances. It become immensely more difficult to win by "outworking" other teams once the playoff comes around since everybody works hard in the playoffs.

I agree with you that this core has to make a statement mentally and RBA needs to be more flexible, but I also think they need to improve the roster to get over that hump. Of course, much of the playoffs is getting hot at the right time and we have some guys (Jarvis and TT most notably) that have the skill to do so.

Agreed, but the flip side of that is also that we don't lose big ever. We are in every game. The team usually scores first and carries that to a "W", but when they do get down 1 or 2 they routinely will come back. The fact that they rely way more on staunch defensive hockey is a better indicator of playoff success than a team that tends to win a lot of 5-4 games. And, we've done that with our 2nd and 3rd stringers playing for 80% of the season.

I agree though that not having as much skill in goal scoring could burn us. I feel like the biggest difference between us and Boston is their skilled goal scoring superstar Pastrnak is scoring at will, and ours (Svechnikov) is having a real down period and a much worse season by comparison. Pasta is on pace for SIXTY FOUR goals. That's just nuts, and it really represents a huge chunk of why Boston is scoring so much.

 

[cptjeff]

Bobby Hull died.
The Blackhawks will wear a red armband with his initials in black inside a large white circle as commemoration.

 

[Blueline Bomber]

Bobby Hull died.
The Blackhawks will wear a red armband with his initials in black inside a large white circle as commemoration.

If you don't have anything nice to say about someone, don't say anything at all.

 

[tarheelhockey]

If you don't have anything nice to say about someone, don't say anything at all.

55 minutes later nobody has posted anything else...

 

[Negan4Coach]

Agreed, but the flip side of that is also that we don't lose big ever. We are in every game. The team usually scores first and carries that to a "W", but when they do get down 1 or 2 they routinely will come back. The fact that they rely way more on staunch defensive hockey is a better indicator of playoff success than a team that tends to win a lot of 5-4 games. And, we've done that with our 2nd and 3rd stringers playing for 80% of the season.

I agree though that not having as much skill in goal scoring could burn us. I feel like the biggest difference between us and Boston is their skilled goal scoring superstar Pastrnak is scoring at will, and ours (Svechnikov) is having a real down period and a much worse season by comparison. Pasta is on pace for SIXTY FOUR goals. That's just nuts, and it really represents a huge chunk of why Boston is scoring so much.

Depth is great and all, but not having a single guy who can put up 40 goals in a season is problematic IMO. Hopefully they can get that guy at the TDL.

 

[Stickpucker]

Smh should've never traded Skinner for poo

Would have that 40 goalman.

 

[MrazeksVengeance]

If you don't have anything nice to say about someone, don't say anything at all.

I disagree. I want to shit on Putin any chance I get.

 

[Blueline Bomber]

I disagree. I want to shit on Putin any chance I get.

Well, when he dies, you’ll only be allowed to discuss his hockey career here.

 

[Svechhammer]

Bobby Hull died.
The Blackhawks will wear a red armband with his initials in black inside a large white circle as commemoration.

 

[MrazeksVengeance]

Well, when he dies, you’ll only be allowed to discuss his hockey career here.

IHMISENÄ TÄYSI PASKA

 

[cptjeff]

Well, when he dies, you’ll only be allowed to discuss his hockey career here.

Yep. The admins here can be morons, but that one's on a whole new level. You fundamentally cannot talk about Bobby Hull's legacy honestly without mentioning the brutally awful aspects of him as a person. If you don't want bad things said about you when you die, don't be a crappy human being. Trying to limit the discussion is nothing less than a deliberate attempt to erase reality.

As always, refer to Hunter Thompson.

 

[Blueline Bomber]

Yep. The admins here can be morons, but that one's on a whole new level. You fundamentally cannot talk about Bobby Hull's legacy honestly without mentioning the brutally awful aspects of him as a person. If you don't want bad things said about you when you die, don't be a crappy human being. Trying to limit the discussion is nothing less than a deliberate attempt to erase reality.

As always, refer to Hunter Thompson.

I got a warning for posting a tweet from Wyshynski's latest article, that pretty much says if you only focus on the hockey side of Bobby Hull, you need to readjust your priorities.

 

[Svechhammer]

I got a warning for posting a tweet from Wyshynski's latest article, that pretty much says if you only focus on the hockey side of Bobby Hull, you need to readjust your priorities.

It always amuses me that the act of censoring that kind of discussion always comes across as being a political statement in its own right.

 

[Surrounded By Ahos]

Yeah, it’s pretty much impossible to discuss Hull and Not Acknowledge Zany Incidents he was involved in.

 

[Svechhammer]

Yeah, it’s pretty much impossible to discuss Hull and Not Acknowledge Zany Incidents he was involved in.

zany is one way to put it. Openly racist and bigoted is another.

 

[tarheelhockey]

zany is one way to put it. Openly racist and bigoted is another.

Was there ever anything to that other than the Russian paper claiming it and him denying it?

 

[sabremike]

If you don't have anything nice to say about someone, don't say anything at all.

His jump to the WHA is a big reason NHL owners ended up having to treat their players better than Nike treats the 8 year olds who make their overpriced crap. But he certainly wasn't a wonderful human being.

 

[chaz4hockey]

Was there ever anything to that other than the Russian paper claiming it and him denying it?

not that I remember.....that aside, although a GREAT hockey player, he wouldn't be the kind of guy that you would want your daughter to marry.

 

[tarheelhockey]

not that I remember.....that aside, although a GREAT hockey player, he wouldn't be the kind of guy that you would want your daughter to marry.

Nope, not if you cared for her safety.

 

[Nikishin Go Boom]

There goes Horvat. At least it wasn’t boston. It will be fun to see Horvat have a 4-8% shooting percentage for the Islanders and their fans freaking out

 

[A Star is Burns]

I guess it's never a bad idea to try to make a big move, but I just don't see it with the Isles. Lou did make my jaw hang open for a second though.

It seems like an interesting deal for the Nucks. They get their younger guy that hasn't fully worked out, Raty seems to have been somewhat on the rise, and well, a 1st is nice.

 

[Lempo]

zany is one way to put it. Openly racist and bigoted is another.

You did maybe not see what.happened there.