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Biggest Paper Tiger this post season

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I don't think I'd call them a "paper tiger", because they are good, but I'm running with Tampa. I just don't think they're going to get through Montreal so will be deemed as disappointing, when its a pretty close matchup overall.
 
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NikolaTesla said:
MTL had double the scoring chances. They only scored 1 at 5v5, but they had more chances. What the hell do you want? Theres the word "chances" in the expression "scoring chances". You can't always score, but the higher the scoring chances, the more chances you have at scoring. So im not sure what the hell you mean. Do you think Mtl can't score at 5v5 or something?
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Yes I think that without Nick/Cole/Slaf they can't score 5 v 5.
Outside of Demidov the rest of the guys have like 2-5 goals in their last 25 games.
Bolduc had like 2 goals over that stretch. Kap 4. Texier 5 but 3 were in one game. Danault I think its 2 or 3. Anderson same thing 2 goals. Evans had an empty netter and maybe 1 or 2 against an NHL goalie.
Shut down the top line and there isn't much depth especially since the "2nd" line is Demidov having to carry Texier and Newhook.
Nick Cole Slaf are beasts and can dominate and carry the team. The back end can contribute but Dobson is a big part and is missing.
Game 1 the first line didn't do anything 5v5 and was actually a minus in the game and the team needed 3 PP goals to win. If thats how the playoffs are going to go then yes the habs will need a red hot PP, some OT magic, and maybe miracle from a bottom line player to have the playoffs of their lives.
 
ManofSteel55 said:
I don't think I'd call them a "paper tiger", because they are good, but I'm running with Tampa. I just don't think they're going to get through Montreal so will be deemed as disappointing, when its a pretty close matchup overall.
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The thing about TB is they have now lost 10 out of 11 on home ice, Kuch has 1 goal in like 17 playoff games, and they have lost in the 1st round for 3 years running with one of those losses to the Leafs.
I def think they are a paper tiger because of how highly they are rated but if you scratch beneath the surface they are not the same team that won the COVID cup those years ago.
You are not winning a series if you can't win a game on home ice, especially when you have home ice advantage where you literally need to win at least 1 home game.
Still think the series will be too close to call but its not as tilted in TBs favor as a lot think. TB is not a good playoff team anymore.
 
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Hard to call Habs a paper tiger team when I bet most of us probably expected them to be fighting for wild card spot and not 1st place in the East. They're young and to be honest I have hard time seeing them go through the East with Newhook as their #2C or even Kapanen not sure who. Color me shocked if they actually do.

I think Avs on the other end could be seen as paper tiger clearly one of the favorites to win. Having Kadri centering a 3rd line damn. I want to be as confident as I was during our 2022 run given the depth we have but last year kinda tempered my expectations after the Avs lost to Dallas without Robertson and Heiskanen.
 
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NikolaTesla said:
Oh so they need to neutralize 2 lines to prevent goals? Great, let seem them do it for a full serie see if that works. BTW Mtl also neutralized Kucherov's line badly.
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Yes I did say that Kuch line was taken out of the game. Thats why game 1 came down to special teams 3 PPG vs 2PPG. that third PPG literally won the game for the Habs. If they didn't score I am sure that the refs would have given a make up call to TBL in OT and they probably get the game winner.
The series will come down to special teams because both teams do not have great depth and both teams really rely on 3 or 4 top players to carry the load.
Kuch/Hagel/Guntzel/Cirellie vs Slaf/Cole/Nick/Demi. You shut those players down 5v5 it comes down to the PP. Defensivly its pretty even with both teams missing their number 1s.
Vas playoff numbers the last 3 years are not good. Dobes is an unkown its honestly a total toss up.
Whichever team can stay out of the box and when given the chance score on the PP probably takes the series.
I am a huge habs fan watched the team all season long. They are way ahead in their rebuild and have a great young team but there has been massive hole in the top 6 and bottom 6 year round and having a great PP and 2 good rookies and a great first line has carried the team all year.
 
Joe Hallenback said:
Tampa has been there in the playoffs for years now. I mean they have the pedigree and its almost like you don't understand that
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Yes 3 years of first round exits. 10 out of 11 losses on home ice. Vas has like an .880% over the last 3 playoffs.
They literally lost to the leafs in the first round.
this is not the same team that won the COVID cup. They have gotten older and less talented. They don't even seem to have the physicality to match up to Montreal and its not like Montreal are the broad street bullies they are often seen as one of the softest teams in the league.
TBs pedigree is not a cup winning team its a team that losses in the first round and can't win a game at home. If you have home ice advantage the only way you are winning a series is if you win at least 1 game at home.
 
the paisanos guy said:
??
Here are the top 7 5v5 goal scorers for the Habs:

Caufield: 33
Kapanen: 19
Suzuki: 12
Demidov: 12
Slaf: 11
Anderson: 10
Newhook: 10
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OTOH last 25 games
Kap 4 goals
Anderson 3 goals
Newhook 5 goals (actually not to bad)
I am guessing they are all 5v5.

I will give Anderson credit he had a goal the last game. The team will need him to have a big playoff.
You also have Danault/Texier/Veleno/BGalley/Evans/Dach/Bolduc that are close to blackholes offensivly.

Its a running theme with habs fans that we need a 2C and probably another top 6 winger as well and that Galley is done, Danault/Evans have little offense, Dach is always injured living off fumes of his potential and Bolduc has been a big disapointment. Go on the habs board and ask around.

They have a bunch of filler outside the top 4 but there is not a lot of scoring depth once you get passed Demidov and Kaps hot start to the season.
 
It's Tampa to anyone with eyes and a brain.
12-12-2 since the Olympics.
A slow defense.
Playoff shrinker Kucherov.
A coach who will never win the Jack Adams.
Need I say more?
 
BusQuets said:
Meh. Healthy Rantanen and Hintz on the line up Dallas probably steam roll minnesota and once again win against avs.
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as-long-as-there-is-delusion-there-is-hope-v0-staeqx3b96re1.jpeg
 
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My answer was Dallas based on their five on five puck possession (corsi), and they lost in six games in round one.

They did have a great PP, and many of the goals they scored in that series against the Wild did come on the PP. But their PP couldn't carry them to a series win.


I don't think there are really any "paper tigers" left. No one expects much more from PHI. VKG is favored against ANA. I do expect COL to beat MIN. TB and MTL seem to be about equal, and BUF is probably a step ahead of both.
 
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Buffalo beat Boston but they were not that good. We will see in the next round, but I expected them to take out the Bruins a lot easier.
 
Does seem like the clear answer is Dallas now unless you were one of those that expected Tampa to sweep the Habs or something stupid like that.
 
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Mick Riddleton said:
Buffalo beat Boston but they were not that good. We will see in the next round, but I expected them to take out the Bruins a lot easier.
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Your pick is a team that outscored their opponents 13-3 in their own building because Swayman stood on his head a few times?

Boston was a 100 point team in the toughest division this year. A division your pick won. I think you’re underestimating two teams with this line of thinking.
 
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