Around the League - PLAYOFFS!?

[Evilhomer]

Caps with a -31 goal differential are 1 point out of WC2.

Detroit has lost 7 straight and can't beat the Coyotes at home, instead choosing to beat each other up during practice.

Flyers will 100% be caught by the Isles.

WC2 battle will be between Flyers and Wings with Wings getting the last spot.

This is such a joke chase for the 3rd Metro spot and WC2.

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Things are cyclical. This year, it's the Metro's turn to have some weak teams. Meanwhile, for most of the season the Atlantic still had three of the worst bottom-feeders in Ottawa, Montreal and Buffalo (with the latter now having its usual late-season surge).

 

[BallardEra]

Things are cyclical. This year, it's the Metro's turn to have some weak teams. Meanwhile, for most of the season the Atlantic still had three of the worst bottom-feeders in Ottawa, Montreal and Buffalo (with the latter now having its usual late-season surge).

It would be hilarious if Buffalo somehow pulls off the WC2 spot.

 

[BertCorbeau]

God I'm hating this playoff format more and more.

It's quite possible the Leafs could finish 4th in the conference, and having to play the 2nd and 1st place teams just to make the Conference final.

All for the sake of having divisional "rivalry" matchups. Thing is the purpose hasn't really led to any effect

 

[BallardEra]

God I'm hating this playoff format more and more.

It's quite possible the Leafs could finish 4th in the conference, and having to play the 2nd and 1st place teams just to make the Conference final.

All for the sake of having divisional "rivalry" matchups. Thing is the purpose hasn't really led to any effect

Hopefully Florida doesn't drop down to the #2 spot in the division.

 

[The Management]

I'd like to see the Panthers draw the Islanders. I think that series could take a physical toll on Florida and potentially soften them up for the following round.

 

[Evilhomer]

I'd like to see the Panthers draw the Islanders. I think that series could take a physical toll on Florida and potentially soften them up for the following round.

I think, similar to Boston, the Islanders' reputation no longer matches the reality of what they are. They aren't a big, tough team anymore. That fourth line that was effective years ago is now a liability for them.

 

[ToneDog]

Gotta face reality KB

Mcdavid is the greatest player of this era

Mackinnon and kucherov are having 140 pt years which clears anything matthews has ever done

Pasta is the closest to Matthews. Hes outproducing him on a worse offensive setup.

Matthews is at best 4th this year. Likely lower

MacKinnon 10/67 games without a point. Kutch 11/65. McDavid 9/62. Pasta 18/68. Ranta 17/67. Willie 15/65. Panarin 14/66. Miller 18/67. Draisaitl 18/64. Matty 20/64. Petey 24/67. Marner 18/62.

 

[Seath The Scaleless]

It would be hilarious if Buffalo somehow pulls off the WC2 spot.

You know the race is dusty when Buffalo has clawed their way in it lol. They're at a GP disadvantage, but still have two left against Detroit and Washington each, and one against Tampa

 

[Darcy Tucker]

You know the race is dusty when Buffalo has clawed their way in it lol. They're at a GP disadvantage, but still have two left against Detroit and Washington each, and one against Tampa

Yeah I can't imagine whoever ends up in WC2 does anything other than get Molly wopped in the first round. There will be no Florida this year. Dont have the horses , goalie or coach to pull that off.

 

[BallardEra]

Tim Benz: Kyle Dubas' comment about Mike Sullivan may be more revealing than he realizes

The Steelers’ signing of quarterback Russell Wilson seems to have made a lot of folks in Pittsburgh very happy. Perhaps the two people who are the most excited about it are Penguins coach Mike Sullivan and Penguins general manager Kyle Dubas. Because with everyone talking about Wilson coming to...

triblive.com

 

[DraftSchmaft]

I can't see how the #1 competitor in the league Crosby can be pleased knowing that in a year the WC2 lost 7 in a row in March, his team still isn't in the playoffs

What a fail.

 

[Havoc]

Wild card #2 race featuring a bunch of loser teams.

 

[ULF_55]

Tim Benz: Kyle Dubas' comment about Mike Sullivan may be more revealing than he realizes

The Steelers’ signing of quarterback Russell Wilson seems to have made a lot of folks in Pittsburgh very happy. Perhaps the two people who are the most excited about it are Penguins coach Mike Sullivan and Penguins general manager Kyle Dubas. Because with everyone talking about Wilson coming to...

triblive.com

That was kind of dumb.

A GM is not going to blame the coach during play.

 

[Havoc]

Tim Benz: Kyle Dubas' comment about Mike Sullivan may be more revealing than he realizes

The Steelers’ signing of quarterback Russell Wilson seems to have made a lot of folks in Pittsburgh very happy. Perhaps the two people who are the most excited about it are Penguins coach Mike Sullivan and Penguins general manager Kyle Dubas. Because with everyone talking about Wilson coming to...

triblive.com

"Right. Like, for instance, when you trade Jake Guentzel, you are instantly looking for Jake Guentzel. But I’ll yield to Dubas’ point about the free agent market and salary cap implications on that point."



This part of the article resonates with our "cap casualty" Hyman.

 

[sxvnert]

God I'm hating this playoff format more and more.

It's quite possible the Leafs could finish 4th in the conference, and having to play the 2nd and 1st place teams just to make the Conference final.

All for the sake of having divisional "rivalry" matchups. Thing is the purpose hasn't really led to any effect

The fix was simple and they f***ed it up. The only complaint was the division winner #3 seed having less points than the 8th spot. Ignore division winners (no one cares).

Current matchups based on points %:

East
(1) Panthers vs (8) NYI
(2) Bruins vs (7) Flyers
(3) NYR vs (6) Lightning
(4) Hurricanes vs (5) Leafs

West
(1) Canucks vs (8) Knights
(2) Avs vs (7) Kings
(3) Stars vs (6) Preds
(4) Jets vs (5) Oilers

Far more exciting round one matchups instead of the tired crap they're serving up now.

 

[BallardEra]

I still think it's possible for the Panthers to finish second in the division. They play a lot of hungry teams coming up and still have two left against the Bruins.

Nothing is locked in where the Leafs are concerned.

 

[sxvnert]

Tim Benz: Kyle Dubas' comment about Mike Sullivan may be more revealing than he realizes

The Steelers’ signing of quarterback Russell Wilson seems to have made a lot of folks in Pittsburgh very happy. Perhaps the two people who are the most excited about it are Penguins coach Mike Sullivan and Penguins general manager Kyle Dubas. Because with everyone talking about Wilson coming to...

triblive.com

Dubas would love to fire Sully and trade everyone for returns but instead he'll make playing/coaching for the pens so miserable they'll beg him to leave.
The team will be filled with youngsters (regardless of their long term potential) so he can always fall back on "they need time to develop" defense. That will buy him another few more years.

 

[Gallagbi]

God I'm hating this playoff format more and more.

It's quite possible the Leafs could finish 4th in the conference, and having to play the 2nd and 1st place teams just to make the Conference final.

All for the sake of having divisional "rivalry" matchups. Thing is the purpose hasn't really led to any effect

We'd start on the road today vs. Carolina in a traditional format. New format would be on the road vsm Boston

I'm not sure there's much difference

I like the variety of playoff opponents, so I prefer the old method, but I don't really think it's any tougher

 

[Shooter2x]

Haven't been paying much attention to whatever exists after 3rd place in Atlantic.

Guentzel looks like he should have been a keeper with Wings blowing 7 in a row. Wow. Wtf is going on in Detroit. So many teams just gained playoff hopes in the span of 1 week.

 

[Menzinger]

Haven't been paying much attention to whatever exists after 3rd place in Atlantic.

Guentzel looks like he should have been a keeper with Wings blowing 7 in a row. Wow. Wtf is going on in Detroit. So many teams just gained playoff hopes in the span of 1 week.

They're a very mediocre team. I'm surprised Yzerman was getting so much praise earlier in the year.

Their bigger problem is I'm not sure if they have the higher end talent in their system to help drive the next incarnation of the team. They really could have used a top 2-pick or two

 

[tmlms13]

Things are cyclical. This year, it's the Metro's turn to have some weak teams. Meanwhile, for most of the season the Atlantic still had three of the worst bottom-feeders in Ottawa, Montreal and Buffalo (with the latter now having its usual late-season surge).

The Atlantic has had the President's Trophy winner in every season since 17-18. They're bottom feeders because they have to play every year vs 3 of top 5 NHL team.

Bos, Fla, Bos, TB.... and probably another this year. Ironic thing is the last Pres trophy winner to get to the Conference finals was the Rangers in 14-15


Same reason why the Leafs keep losing in the first round. They matchup they get is always what should normally be a ECF in 1v8.

 

[Dreakmur]

The fix was simple and they f***ed it up. The only complaint was the division winner #3 seed having less points than the 8th spot. Ignore division winners (no one cares).

Current matchups based on points %:

East
(1) Panthers vs (8) NYI
(2) Bruins vs (7) Flyers
(3) NYR vs (6) Lightning
(4) Hurricanes vs (5) Leafs

West
(1) Canucks vs (8) Knights
(2) Avs vs (7) Kings
(3) Stars vs (6) Preds
(4) Jets vs (5) Oilers

Far more exciting round one matchups instead of the tired crap they're serving up now.

What’s more exciting about that? Different isn’t better.

 

[Evilhomer]

The Atlantic has had the President's Trophy winner in every season since 17-18. They're bottom feeders because they have to play every year vs 3 of top 5 NHL team.

Bos, Fla, Bos, TB.... and probably another this year. Ironic thing is the last Pres trophy winner to get to the Conference finals was the Rangers in 14-15


Same reason why the Leafs keep losing in the first round. They matchup they get is always what should normally be a ECF in 1v8.

I don't think Ottawa, Montreal and Buffalo (and previously Detroit) have been as bad as they have been because of Toronto, Boston, Florida and Tampa. There is a reason those teams finished near the bottom of the standings every season. If anything, Toronto, Boston, Florida and Tampa benefitted from playing those terrible teams, the same way Edmonton and Vancouver have benefited from playing San Jose and Anaheim this season.

 

[Evilhomer]

I still think it's possible for the Panthers to finish second in the division. They play a lot of hungry teams coming up and still have two left against the Bruins.

I think it's more likely that the Leafs catch Boston and Florida stays in first place.

 

[Fogelhund]

I think it's more likely that the Leafs catch Boston and Florida stays in first place.