Around the NHL - Part XLV (Playoffs edition)

[n8]

Batherson lost.

Well that guarantees him as a future Ranger.

 

[ArPanet]

A Stanley Cup Finals of Vagas versus the Devils I’m rooting for the Devils. I can’t stand those league sanctioned cheaters that much.

 

[NickyFotiu]

Beautiful goal by Zooks!

 

[leetch99]

Knies is going to get a big raise....great young player ....maybe an Offer Sheet ?

 

[bl02]

How about Buch score a playoff goal tomorrow for once. 1 goal in 22 games? lol

 

[Machinehead]

I'm really surprised that Dear Leader Chairman Brady allows this on his team

 

[will1066]

I'm really surprised that Dear Leader Chairman Brady allows this on his team

The problem with this play is not Cozens but Batherson as I and others said last night when it happened. Don't agree with this tweet. Benoit surprises everyone making the drop pass but Batherson was the guy who should've planted Domi as he had the best angle.

 

[tiggles]

I don't like having to look at things this way (it's devils fan behavior), but at the end of the day, the Rangers and Devils will end the season both having won zero playoff games. So I'll try to take some comfort in that.

 

[NickyFotiu]

How about Buch score a playoff goal tomorrow for once. 1 goal in 22 games? lol

I had no idea. I did see he has some assists.

 

[Machinehead]

I don't like having to look at things this way (it's devils fan behavior), but at the end of the day, the Rangers and Devils will end the season both having won zero playoff games. So I'll try to take some comfort in that.

They started it

 

[Megustaelhockey]

I don't like having to look at things this way (it's devils fan behavior), but at the end of the day, the Rangers and Devils will end the season both having won zero playoff games. So I'll try to take some comfort in that.

I think we are underestimating how bad CAR is on the road.

 

[tiggles]

I think we are underestimating how bad CAR is on the road.

Yeah, but the Devils are just bad, period. I guess we'll see what wins out.

 

[Machinehead]

It's over

 

[KirkAlbuquerque]

It's over

nobody wants to watch these whack ass teams

 

[Boris Zubov]

It's over

Not surprising. The quality of play, even in the playoffs, has been declining for years. The talent pool has been severely diluted & the league is terrible at marketing itself.

I had trouble staying interested on Saturday when Game 1 of the Winnipeg/St Louis series had the intensity of a Monday night in mid November.

 

[Machinehead]

nobody wants to watch these whack ass teams

Not surprising. The quality of play, even in the playoffs, has been declining for years. The talent pool has been severely diluted & the league is terrible at marketing itself.

I had trouble staying interested on Saturday when Game 1 of the Winnipeg/St Louis series had the intensity of a Monday night in mid November.

Not only the teams that get in the playoffs, but even the talent on some of the top-seeded teams is really stark.

Like, Carolina's not that good! Winnipeg puts me to sleep. Who's on either team that I'm gonna tell my kids about? Seth Jarvis because of how ugly he is. That's it.

I really think the hard cap is an issue. It makes everyone samey.

You have to let the cream rise to the top and let some of the crap float to bottom. It makes it more competitive when there's nothing but the good stuff left. You got the best teams in the league with layers of talent going at it.

Basketball has some dreck in the first round but at least it's the Boston Celtics going off on them. Winnipeg and Washington are your teams taking out the 8-seed trash? They're not that interesting.

The only series I'm looking at where I'm like "man, there are great players everywhere" is Florida and Tampa. And I know that sucked last night but hey Tampa had a stinker. I still think it'll be a good series.

And it's in the first round! And we saw the same matchup last year!

The playoff format is another huge problem.

Tampa vs Florida last night is the only game I've sat down and watched most of so far.

 

[Mandar]

It's over

Listening to Bucch/Weekes causes ear cancer.....no one wants ear cancer.

 

[Machinehead]

Listening to Bucch/Weekes causes ear cancer.....no one wants ear cancer.

Actually, you're not wrong.

I find ESPN's basketball coverage to be quite good. Ryan Ruocco and Mike Breen are awesome.

I can't stand most of the NHL crews now. And it's little things too. It just doesn't feel as big as it did on NBC.

Presentation is definitely an issue for me as well.

 

[will1066]

Actually, you're not wrong.

I find ESPN's basketball coverage to be quite good. Ryan Ruocco and Mike Breen are awesome.

I can't stand most of the NHL crews now. And it's little things too. It just doesn't feel as big as it did on NBC.

Presentation is definitely an issue for me as well.

I felt like with NBC, the NHL was a kind of passion project. TNT does their humorous spin on the sport and tries to make it interesting and link it with pop culture. With ESPN, it's just another league that it's contractually obligated to cover.

 

[Mandar]

 

[will1066]

Listening to Bucch/Weekes causes ear cancer.....no one wants ear cancer.

They're studio guys being assignment stretched because ESPN doesn't want to spend more money on game crews.

 

[Machinehead]

They're studio guys being assignment stretched because ESPN doesn't want to spend more money on game crews.

They should see if Ruocco has any spare time.

"McDavid, on a breakaway...YOU BET!!!"

 

[JimmyG89]

It's over

You have no NY, no Boston, no Chicago, and then add in no Crosby, the US ratings are going to suck.

Nobody wants to watch NJD/CAR. WIN/STL has no juice whatsoever. I've seen enough of LA/EDM. TOR/OTT isn't going to draw US viewers.

So you've got the battle of Florida, which probably isn't a big of a draw as it should be. Ovechkin will draw. VGK/MIN is underrated as a series, but probably not the best draw. Colorado/Dallas is the one big matchup.

It's a very underwhelming 1st round.

 

[will1066]

They should see if Ruocco has any spare time.

"McDavid, on a breakaway...YOU BET!!!"

My high school French teacher was Mr. Roccanova. He probably got some spare time.

 

[80shockeywasbuns]

Listening to Bucch/Weekes causes ear cancer.....no one wants ear cancer.

Two clowns trying so hard and failing so bad