Around the NHL - Part XLI - (Playoffs Edition)

[RangerLifer]

Are we though?

Technically and officially, yes.

 

[GoAwayPanarin]

Because you know they have a really good chance at it and nobody wants to admit it.

Although, I will say this, if Ruff keeps coaching the way he's coaching, they're a legless man in the middle of the ocean.

I could very much see Toronto beating them. They were under the radar really good all year.

Toronto would eat them. People only underestimate them bc of their meme status. They're good and have been my pick to not only come out of the East but win the whole thing.

Carolina would eat them too if they continue to start Schmid. That team can't score unless you give up a ton of rebounds and their goalie does that.

 

[Machinehead]

The Devils: "But coach, we have more skill and speed than every team in the East and arguably the best player in the East. Why don't we just skate circles around everyone?"

Ruff: "If you're not averaging 30 hits per game you're not doing a playoffs!"

 

[RangerLifer]

Random thought here: I never really let myself think of it because it sucks but it really is a shame how Hank never won the Cup. We see so many plug goaltenders win it who aren't that good but he deserved one.

 

[GoAwayPanarin]

The Devils: "But coach, we have more skill and speed than every team in the East and arguably the best player in the East. Why don't we just skate circles around everyone?"

Ruff: "If you're not averaging 30 hits per game you're not doing a playoffs!"

They don't have Matt Tkachuk.

 

[Machinehead]

Random thought here: I never really let myself think of it because it sucks but it really is a shame how Hank never won the Cup. We see so many plug goaltenders win it who aren't that good but he deserved one.

If we go out tomorrow, there will be very few goaltenders left who aren't plug goaltenders.

 

[will1066]

Let's go to Ron Sullivan who's on the scene in Braintree

Ron?

Yes, Cheryl, I'm here in Braintree and the lamentations of the town folk are so loud, they are drowning out the usual nighttime chittering of insects. The local Dunkin is staying open and passing out hot beverages and doughnuts.

 

[Kakko]

Hockey is wonderful, in large part due to how drastically the game changes in the playoffs. During the regular season, at least the games I watched, Boston never looked unbeatable. They were just getting that extra 10% more often than any team in history. Come playoffs, it feels like everyone has an extra 50%, and everything prior is out the window.

 

[Machinehead]

They don't have Matt Tkachuk.

I said arguably!

 

[GoAwayPanarin]

I said arguably!

It's not an argument!

 

[Machinehead]

It's not an argument!

 

[I Eat Crow]

I guess.

On paper, there's probably only 4 or 5 teams with a worse roster.

Seattle reminds me of the 2012-13 Rangers. Depth for days but no real high end talent.

 

[Machinehead]

Seattle reminds me of the 2012-13 Rangers. Depth for days but no real high end talent.

Nash and Richards had more high-end skill than a couple of Seattle's lines put together.

I would agree that the Rangers during that era were the same concept on steroids - no gamebreakers but three low-end first lines.

But the 2013 and 2014 Rangers legitimately had an elite roster top to bottom.

Seattle's roster is JAG City.

 

[duhmetreE]

Toronto would eat them. People only underestimate them bc of their meme status. They're good and have been my pick to not only come out of the East but win the whole thing.

Carolina would eat them too if they continue to start Schmid. That team can't score unless you give up a ton of rebounds and their goalie does that.

You see Toronto going far with Samsanov?

 

[Leonardo87]

I will throw someone through a wall if Seattle tries to turtle in the 3rd.

If they do, they're going to lose.

I am insulted by this, lol.

 

[Machinehead]

You see Toronto going far with Samsanov?

I see the Devils going far with Schmid.

Goaltending is deep state conspiracy and isn't real.

 

[SeanAveryTheGreatOne]

Random thought here: I never really let myself think of it because it sucks but it really is a shame how Hank never won the Cup. We see so many plug goaltenders win it who aren't that good but he deserved one.

I couldn't agree more.

He also deserved more Vezinas (pretty much every year he was nominated he deserved it). Both his Vezina and Cup losses are because the teams he put on his shoulders were HORRENDOUS. No one really appreciated how terrible they were back then, and they still don't. Put Lundqvist on the Penguins in his years on the Rangers, and they win 7 Cups.

 

[GoAwayPanarin]

You see Toronto going far with Samsanov?

Team have won with less.

 

[duhmetreE]

I see the Devils going far with Schmid.

Goaltending is deep state conspiracy and isn't real.

Schmid is terrible. We were just somehow worse offensively in game 3-5.

 

[LOFIN]

Need florida to stomp Toronto

 

[egelband]

Great to see the Bruins lose. Terrible for the salary cap going up by more than $1MM next season.

Toronto looking good and a wide open field - hopefully with the Rangers too - with a number of southern teams advancing, should generate a lot of attention.

 

[I Eat Crow]

Nash and Richards had more high-end skill than a couple of Seattle's lines put together.

I would agree that the Rangers during that era were the same concept on steroids - no gamebreakers but three low-end first lines.

But the 2013 and 2014 Rangers legitimately had an elite roster top to bottom.

Seattle's roster is JAG City.

I'll give you Nash, but Richards was already a shell of himself but the time 2013 rolled around. I remember him being terribad in the 2013 playoffs. Just checked to confirm. One goal, 0 assists in 10 games.

Those 2013 and 2014 teams were the deepest and best constructed rosters I've seen since the early 90's but don't have half the talent today's roster does.

 

[Machinehead]

Schmid is terrible. We were just somehow worse offensively in game 3-5.

Schmid is a goalie. So is Vanecek. They don't matter.

I think Ruff is more of a concern for the Devils than their goaltending.

Imagine if they face Carolina next round and Ruff slows down his team to get into a hitting contest with Roid Rage Rod and his less talented 2014 Kings.

It would be a sweep.

 

[GoAwayPanarin]

I see the Devils going far with Schmid.

Goaltending is deep state conspiracy and isn't real.

This is true to a certain level.

If you're dispensing rebounds at the rate that he does, you aren't going to go very far.

 

[will1066]

I'll give you Nash, but Richards was already a shell of himself but the time 2013 rolled around. I remember him being terribad in the 2013 playoffs. Just checked to confirm. One goal, 0 assists in 10 games.

Those 2013 and 2014 teams were the deepest and best constructed rosters I've seen since the early 90's but don't have half the talent today's roster does.

Also wasn't Richards scratched for a game because he was so bad?