GDT: Game 1: Carolina Hurricanes vs New Jersey Devils, 3pm ET

[ZachaFlockaFlame]

That was tough to watch as a neutral fan lol. The Markstrom slash was ridiculous but he played a hell of a game and the rest of that team should be embarrassed by the effort.

The GM should be out of a job but that'll be discussed at length after the series or whenever the season ends

 

[syz]

Washington has some of the best finishers in the league, Thompson is also fine, of course he's not the two best goalies in the world? I don't know what that comment even means lol

The Canes historically have not lost to finishers, they've lost because they've been unable to finish. They're perennially near the top of the league for defensive metrics, I don't think they're overly concerned about any team's offense.

 

[HFBS]

4-1, and it shouldn't have been nearly that close. Total domination.

 

[Andrei79]

This is the Rod-est of teams in this era. No Teraivanen playing on the perimeter. No Necas swooping and attacking with speed. Just constant, relentless, straight ahead hockey 1-12.

Yeah, everyone is bought in and in the right chair. What was supposed to be a transition year could actually be a lot more. That was complete domination by Carolina.

 

[ZachaFlockaFlame]

The Canes historically have not lost to finishers, they've lost because they've been unable to finish. They're perennially near the top of the league for defensive metrics, I don't think they're overly concerned about any team's offense.

Both Rags series were lost to them not being able to finish and Andersen/Raanta/Kotchekov being pumpkins. Only series they lost recently were that wasn't the case was 2023 Florida. Maybe even 2019 Boston in the ECF

 

[Junohockeyfan]

Canes are relentless. Can they olay like that without running out of gas along the way in this cup run?

 

[Big Daddy Cane]

I mean it also helps you're probably playing the worst playoff team that will ever win a division spot in history. The issue will be what happens when they play a legit finishing team, the Caps will be a stern test if the series happen the way they should between MTL/WSH and NJD/CAR

Not to say that they’re better. There will times that they’ll miss the skill of the players I mentioned.

That’s just commentary on the team being optimized to do what they did this afternoon.

 

[Three On Zero]

Stankoven coming in clutch for Carolina

 

[ZachaFlockaFlame]

Not to say that they’re better. There will times that they’ll miss the skill of the players I mentioned.

That’s just commentary on the team being optimized to do what they did this afternoon.

Agreed, it won't be this round most likely as much as I thought a hot Markstrom (apparently I didn't think he'd try to kill his teammate today) + timely NJ offense would help this round. They'll probably win this with ease, struggle with Washington and then probably bow out to the Atlantic bracket winner if I had to guess. Long way to go though to there

 

[qcal1427]

Devils looked even more cooked than I could have possibly imagined. Having Stefan Noesen be your fourth best forward is not ideal!

 

[Fatass]

Canes are relentless. Can they olay like that without running out of gas along the way in this cup run?

Imo the Canes will run over a much smaller (especially in how their top minute guys play) Devils’ team. Don’t think Anderson is a good enough goalie to take the Canes past the Conference Final though.

 

[Boss Man Hughes]

Far more talented is a real stretch

There isn't a lot of talent on Carolina. Svech, Jarvis, Stankhoven, Aho and a lot of c forwards.

 

[Junohockeyfan]

Imo the Canes will run over a much smaller (especially in how their top minute guys play) Devils’ team. Don’t think Anderson is a good enough goalie to take the Canes past the Conference Final though.

I don't think the Devils are necessarily small, they are just unnecessarily soft. They play pond hockey.

 

[Fatass]

There isn't a lot of talent on Carolina. Svech, Jarvis, Stankhoven, Aho and a lot of c forwards.

Depends on one’s definition of “talent”. If it’s just puck skills, then the Devils have plenty of that. But imo talent includes more than just skating around stick handling. There’s size, hard to play against (toughness) aggression, and lots more to include. If the Devils were more talented than the Canes, they would not have been so overwhelming dominated today.

 

[Devilsfan118]

Eh it's not over until you lose at home, but the Devils have to start better in game 2 to have a shot.

 

[JeffP]

I know it’s a typo but it’s so fitting for this game lmao.

i said whaddeye meant

 

[Fatass]

Eh it's not over until you lose at home, but the Devils have to start better in game 2 to have a shot.

Devils need to compete on and off pucks. They played soft today. There’s definitely a time for easy-west skating, but the vast majority of the game has to be North-south. 90% of the game is played close to the walls. And all the Devil players need to commit to play that kind of game, like Heischer does. Too many passengers.

 

[The Crypto Guy]

An embarrassment by the Devils on all accounts tonight. I called a sweep and it looks completely possible.

 

[DaveG]

The biggest threat to Carolina every year is a goalie playing out of their mind. Thompson's having a good year but at least he's not Vasilievsky or Shesterkin.

Non-zero chance they'd still end up having to see Vasi eventually though.

The other Cane killer is usually our power play going from decent to dog shit while the opposing power play makes an elite PK look like a bunch of beer leaguers.

Even with no Stamkos this time Tampa still looks like a brick wall waiting for the Canes to run head first into it on the other half of the East bracket even if they were to get past the rest of the Metro, which is hardly a given.

 

[Nicko999]

An embarrassment by the Devils on all accounts tonight. I called a sweep and it looks completely possible.

Tbh, Devils are the worst team of the playoffs. I also called a sweep so I am not surprised.

 

[IceManCat]

Tbh, Devils are the worst team of the playoffs. I also called a sweep so I am not surprised.

I think Minnesota is the worst team, Montreal too

 

[The Last Red]

Tbh, Devils are the worst team of the playoffs. I also called a sweep so I am not surprised.

Without Jack Hughes that’s a given - worst team in the playoffs. Too bad the Canes are so damn boring/vanilla. But they are very good, obviously.

 

[Leonardo87]

Series thread back up