Does Florida make it to the Cup final for the 3rd straight year?

[bossram]

They're loaded to the gills. But the Atlantic is an absolutely brutal bracket. Tough path.

 

[BB79]

Yup. The east is bad, really f***ing bad. Tampa is the only team that might scare them

The east in general is far more balanced than the west, so the standings are a lot tighter. The west is the haves vs have nots. 4 of the 5 worst teams right now are western teams.

 

[Pablo El Perro]

How would they 3peat? Your options suck.

 

[StrangeVision]

Gonna crap out in the first round.

 

[LEAFANFORLIFE23]

Well I guarantee they won't 3 peat because that's impossible because Vegas beat them.

 

[Iggys Dome]

Tampa will eliminate them

 

[HockeyVirus]

No chance. East goes through the Leafs and Leafs are the better team

 

[pb1300]

No chance. East goes through the Leafs and Leafs are the better team

lol okay.

 

[Strangle]

I think the Panthers go out in the first round

 

[Cats711]

I think they make it 3 straight finals, hopefully win it back to back

 

[Master P]

No chance. East goes through the Leafs and Leafs are the better team

 

[SeanMoneyHands]

How much gas does Bob have left in the tank? He's played a lot of hockey the last two seasons.

 

[Video Nasty]

Eh, the Capitals will get to play through the Metropolitan side of the bracket though. Assuming they win their division (which they probably will), they’ll have a much easier path to the ECF. Regardless of who comes out of either side of the eastern bracket, whether it’s the Capitals or someone else, it’s most likely that they’re knocked out by whoever comes out of the Atlantic side.

I don’t trust Washington at all. It’s a feel good story with Ovechkin chasing down the goals record while Washington is playing like a top team, but you have to bet against them advancing past the second round. After all, they’ve done it just once in twenty years with Ovechkin.

Sprinkle in them owning the top record in the East four times over the last fifteen years, and winning the Presidents trophy three of those times, and I don’t know how there’s any hope.

Wouldn’t surprise me to see a team like the Rangers wake up and bounce them in the first round.

As for the topic, it does feel like either Florida or Tampa Bay, the East’s representatives for the past five seasons.

 

[I am not exposed]

No chance. East goes through the Leafs and Leafs are the better team

Thanks for guaranteeing the Panthers make the finals again.

 

[dirtydanglez]

the only other real competition is the bolts. the east is a cake walk

 

[Coffee]

I remember this guy , lol

 

[HugginThePost]

A Florida team will go to the Finals.......

.......just not sure which one.

Pathetic that they will most likely face each other in the first round. A disgrace!

 

[Laus723]

Well I guarantee they won't 3 peat because that's impossible because Vegas beat them.

How would they 3peat? Your options suck.

3peat to the Final, title doesn’t say 3peat to the Cup.

 

[Laus723]

Ah makes sense. Leaf homers like that don't like me very much so that checks out

he spent the summer of 23 arguing with me about the team and Bob coming together to get the job done. Eventually blocked him, not surprised he’s still carrying on.

 

[Voight]

It’s possible they make it back, though I’d bet on the field. If they do end up back in the Cup Finals though, they’re probably not going to win. They’ve obviously logged a ton of minutes over the last two prior seasons, and that’s going to be a major disadvantage for them as they go deeper into the playoffs. There’s a reason why no team (not counting Tampa with the COVID anomaly situation) has made it to the Finals three years in a row since Edmonton did it 40 years ago from 82-83 through 84-85.

I think people underrated the effect deep playoff runs have on teams. Between the extra games (two cup runs is equivalent to half of a regular seasons worth of games) and the short off season, it takes a toll on players.

 

[bobholly39]

I voted out in first round - could be 2nd if they win division (depending on who wildcard team is).

Look - I've been a long-time critic of Florida, but I gave them their flowers in playoffs last year, they had a great run and unexpectedly came out with a huge game 7 when they looked dead. They deserved to win.

But - I just don't see this team making the finals 3 years in a row. Playoff fatigue . and Tkachuk is injured and out for season isn't he?

I also think Tampa is looking very dangerous right now.

 

[I am not exposed]

I voted out in first round - could be 2nd if they win division (depending on who wildcard team is).

Look - I've been a long-time critic of Florida, but I gave them their flowers in playoffs last year, they had a great run and unexpectedly came out with a huge game 7 when they looked dead. They deserved to win.

But - I just don't see this team making the finals 3 years in a row. Playoff fatigue . and Tkachuk is injured and out for season isn't he?

I also think Tampa is looking very dangerous right now.

I recall you predicted them to lose every series...

 

[AvroArrow]

Tampa or Florida will play eachother in rounds 1 or 2 so your heavy hitters are going to take each other out. Washington is having a good season but you know that team is going to fold in the playoffs.

Bold of you to assume Tampa is walking to the 2nd round. Both teams could be eliminated in the 1st round, nothing is guaranteed.

As for the thread, Florida definitely has a good shot at repeating. They're the best team in the East, it'll come down to the Tkachuk injury. If he misses playoffs or plays badly injured, I don't think they'll go that far. If he's healthy, they probably walk the East.