Around the NHL: Part V – Nice Try, Sabres (or, Playoffs?!)

[bl02]

Well Tampa’s 2nd should turn into Adam Fox anyways.

You know what that’s a positive way of looking at it.

 

[trilobyte]

Are the lightning ****ing kidding me right now with this ****?

If, and I do mean if because it is way too soon to draw conclusions, but if the Lightning do not get to the SCF the only conclusion that their front office should make is that Jon Cooper is not closing the deal.

 

[Black Aces]

If, and I do mean if because it is way too soon to draw conclusions, but if the Lightning do not get to the SCF the only conclusion that their front office should make is that Jon Cooper is not closing the deal.

Didn't they just extend him?

 

[94wasagoodyear]

Such bad luck for TB now that there’s a bunch of Rangers fan rooting for them.

 

[Black Aces]

LOL booed off the ice

 

[JT Kreider]

If, and I do mean if because it is way too soon to draw conclusions, but if the Lightning do not get to the SCF the only conclusion that their front office should make is that Jon Cooper is not closing the deal.

They have a ton of dead weight with Palat, Miller, Killorn and Callahan. So those are going to be brutal contracts to try and get rid of.

 

[bl02]

Seth Jones has had a monster game.

Love his game. The jackets won that trade . He has always had the pedigree and raw ability .

 

[Black Aces]

Love his game. The jackets won that trade . He has always had the pedigree and raw ability .

Can only hope K Andre is similar

 

[AIexisLafreniereNYR]

Tampa really tanking for their pick

 

[Ori]

Tampa commentators: "They are skating in quicksand right now" kind of frustrated.
John Tortorella know how to play really hard and good neutral zone defense - this is like a nightmare matchup for Tampa after 1 game + 40 min. of playoffs hockey. The recent CBJ signings start to grow into their game as well this could go really bad for Tampa.

 

[bl02]

Crosby is frustrated . Islanders checking around the net ....glued to the pens

 

[Harbour Dog]

Penguins-Islanders is a much better game. And not just because of the score; both teams care, and the fans are still loud and hopeful.

 

[GoAwayPanarin]

Can only hope K Andre is similar

Will never be as natural with the puck, but he should take notes on how Jones plays defensively.

 

[JT Kreider]

Love his game. The jackets won that trade . He has always had the pedigree and raw ability .

And Johansen hasn't really progressed since that trade while Jones has blossomed into a full blown Norris contender. Between that and drafting Dubois over Puljujarvi, Jarmo had some pretty nice job security to go in and make the risky moves he did at the TDL

 

[GeorgeKaplan]

Will never be as natural with the puck, but he should take notes on how Jones plays defensively.

At the draft he said that’s who he was trying to model his game after, so he might’ve picked up a few things

 

[Black Aces]

And Johansen hasn't really progressed since that trade while Jones has blossomed into a full blown Norris contender. Between that and drafting Dubois over Puljujarvi, Jarmo had some pretty nice job security to go in and make the risky moves he did at the TDL

To be fair, 5 period ago people were saying he was a dead man walking.

 

[trilobyte]

Didn't they just extend him?

Well, would you mark him down for yet another season with a team that is great on paper but couldn't perform to expectations?
Like I say, it is too early to say. Even if the Bluejackets come out of Tampa up 2-0, it means nothing. That's why I paint it as a 'what-if'.
But I do think about what could happen if Cooper does not reach expectations.

Edit: sorry, I didn't even answer your question. Yes, I think they did extend his contract just a month or so ago.

 

[haveandare]

Not a moment of greatness with JT Miller in this game a horrible early shot and this..

I still can’t believe that a team thinking they’re ready to push and win a cup thought adding modern day Girardi and Miller was a good idea. Not terrible players if slotted right but not ideal playoff guys either. G is very clumsy with the puck and Miller has always been a little careless with it.

 

[bl02]

5 penalties in 27 min of hockey for Pitt. Lack of discipline . Lucky it hasn’t hurt them

 

[GoAwayPanarin]

I still can’t believe that a team thinking they’re ready to push and win a cup thought adding modern day Girardi and Miller was a good idea. Not terrible players if slotted right but not ideal playoff guys either. G is very clumsy with the puck and Miller has always been a little careless with it.

Moving Miller was never an issue for me. We got out from under the player at the right time.

I still think we could have gotten a bigger return for him though.

 

[JT Kreider]

Didn't they just extend him?

18 days ago. They're not firing him regardless. Brisebois has a long offseason ahead of him figuring out how to get out Palat, Killorn, Miller and Callahan's contracts off the books though.

 

[trilobyte]

They have a ton of dead weight with Palat, Miller, Killorn and Callahan. So those are going to be brutal contracts to try and get rid of.

I agree. They were built to win right about now. That's what is expected by them, especially after winning 62 games in the regular season, which to me is nice but not so important with the Lightning, I just don't think they have what it takes.

 

[RangerLifer]

Tampa really tanking for their pick

More like choking.

 

[JT Kreider]

Murray putting on a show right now

 

[bl02]

Big goal from the pens and the guy everyone called a scrub. He’s been good these first 5 periods of playoff hockey despite being injured last game