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

[Paulie Walnutz]

Torts’ message before this power play

 

[LeetchisGod]

Isles have some nice pieces already on team obviously led by Barzal. But they also have some real nice pieces on the farm a year or so away....Wahlstrom, Dobson just to name a few. Listen, I hope I'm wrong and you are right and that this is all Trotz driven. But from what I've seen of the Isles, I have to admit that I think they are going to be sticking around and will be pains in the asses for us going forward. Hope I'm wrong but I doubt it...hah

I think we have a more talented and deeper prospect pool than them particularly with Kakko on the way.

 

[Lays]

Problem is it could give Toronto or Boston (two teams hard to digest) a much clearer path to the finals.

I like Boston, Bergeron’s a likeable guy and Marchand is one of my favorite players. I’d be completely fine with Boston winning it all. Not the Leafs though, their fans honestly made me root against that team. So insecure

 

[RangerLifer]

Lol Tampa had 30 more points then Columbus.

Regular season champs. Playoff chokers.

 

[Megustaelhockey]

I like Boston, Bergeron’s a likeable guy and Marchand is one of my favorite players. I’d be completely fine with Boston winning it all. Not the Leafs though, their fans honestly made me root against that team. So insecure

And I don't want the Rangers to own the longest cup drought anymore.

 

[bl02]

I like Boston, Bergeron’s a likeable guy and Marchand is one of my favorite players. I’d be completely fine with Boston winning it all. Not the Leafs though, their fans honestly made me root against that team. So insecure

Bingo. Boston better win tomorrow or Leafs fans will already be claiming the cup.

 

[will1066]

Didn't the lightning go down 2-0 in the first round last year also?

 

[trilobyte]

McDonagh's 2014(?) season has people still thinking that's the player he is. I don't think he has shown one flash of that season since.

Yes, I was much impressed by Ryan McDonagh in 2014. He was looking like a player just finding his stride, with great skating and puck carrying. When he was injured, it seemed to me that he was never on that same trajectory again. I always really liked the guy, and still do.
I recall that when some folks here questioned the wisdom of Ryan being given the 'C' I thought it was overthinking, but in hindsight I wonder if it hampered his game.
He is a very good defenceman but I salute Gorton for the trade he made.

 

[GoAwayPanarin]

Didn't the lightning go down 2-0 in the first round last year also?

They played the Devils, so no.

 

[bl02]

Its a shame 4 of our 6 dmen were basically playing with serious hockey injuries in that game 7 2015 ugh

 

[Levitate]

Didn't the lightning go down 2-0 in the first round last year also?

Columbus went up 2-0 on Washington and then lost the next 4

 

[Leonardo87]

Wow, if Tampa loses this, wow. Don’t have words.

 

[RangerLifer]

Bingo. Boston better win tomorrow or Leafs fans will already be claiming the cup.

I like Boston too this year.

 

[Oscar Lindberg]

Bunch of losers down in Tampa

 

[will1066]

McDonagh is gonna wanna buy one of those things that flashes in your eyes and erases your memory of the what is currently happening.

From Men In Black, right?

 

[RangerLifer]

Wow, if Tampa loses this, wow. Don’t have words.

 

[Leonardo87]

My favorite player is sitting in the press box, so have mixed emotions right now, not gonna lie.

 

[Paulie Walnutz]

 

[Levitate]

Actually wouldn't be surprised to see Columbus get crushed in the next game after Tampa has some time to practice and adjust. They may have choked these first two games away but that doesn't change the fact that they're an insanely talented and deep team. Once they get rolling they'll be very hard to stop.

 

[bl02]

Boy Trotz loves this kid Toews. Playing with lots of confidence.

 

[trilobyte]

This Penguins-Islanders game has a real playoff vibe. All the noise from the crowd and the fact that the game is 1-1

 

[DutchShamrock]

Tampa's problem is they picked up too many former rangers. They blurred the line and adopted the issues a team that can't climb the last hill has.

 

[RangerLifer]

I missed the game, I don't have CNBC.

 

[mike14]

Wow, if Tampa loses this, wow. Don’t have words.

I dunno. THis is the 3rd post-season in a row where the question is "do the Lightning have the mental fortitude/aptitude to deal with on going adversity and pressure?" and we still haven't really seen them ever answer in the affirmative.
They clearly have all the talent, but they've never really looked capable when the other team keeps pushing back, and they don't seem to have addressed this at all throughout the season. They'll win games (and possibly a few series) based on talent, but I just cant see them coming out of the East, let alone winning the Cup.

They seem to be the personification of the saying "a champion team will beat a team of champions"...

 

[Maximus]

I think we have a more talented and deeper prospect pool than them particularly with Kakko on the way.

Agreed. But as the Caps and Pens eventually start to lose their edge and our rebuild starts to come to fruition in 2-3 years, there are going to be other teams that will fill the vacuum and two of those teams IMO will be the Isles and Devils. And that aint a bad thing as I said earlier, cause the metro NYC area would be losing it's collective minds when and if all three teams start to make the playoffs consistently and better yet, play each other....