Is an Eastern team finally going to take out Florida this year?

[SeanMoneyHands]

Or are the cup champs, 2x Eastern conference champs going to the SCF for the third time in a row?

I still don't see a threat in the Eastern Conference that can go toe to toe with Florida in a best of seven. Do you?

There is no team in the East that is built like Florida is for playoff hockey, top to bottom., front and back and with that much firepower.

Florida's biggest weakness will be whether or not they will have enough gas. So it should be easier this year for Eastern teams to take them out than in previous years.

Click to read more...

 

[tarheelhockey]

There’s always a threat once the playoffs start.

 

[HabzSauce]

I hate to admit but but TO looks like a threat this year. Their team is tougher and better built for playoffs.

 

[NyQuil]

*if reasonably healthy

 

[Pablo El Perro]

As a Panthers fan, we're a good team, but the question gives the team too much credit. Once the playoffs start, there aren't any sure things. See Boston a couple years ago.

In sum, nobody is the 70s Habs

 

[wickedwitch]

The one major disadvantage for Florida is that it's really rare to go to the finals in three consecutive years -- the extra games just takes a ton out of you. I think Tampa has been the only team to do it since the early 80s and that was with two Covid shortened seasons.

 

[Nogatco Rd]

The one major disadvantage for Florida is that it's really rare to go to the finals in three consecutive years -- the extra games just takes a ton out of you. I think Tampa has been the only team to do it since the early 80s and that was with two Covid shortened seasons.

Plus they had a ton of rest after their 2019 playoffs

 

[SladeWilson23]

There's a handful of teams in the East that can eliminate the Panthers.

 

[Hisch13r]

Yeah the other Florida team will do it.

 

[ijuka]

The one major disadvantage for Florida is that it's really rare to go to the finals in three consecutive years -- the extra games just takes a ton out of you. I think Tampa has been the only team to do it since the early 80s and that was with two Covid shortened seasons.

This is not the correct way to do statistics.

The reason is this: The probability of Panthers having gone to finals the past 2 seasons is 100%.

The population you can compare to is not all teams since the early 80s. The teams also need to have gone to finals the two previous years.

 

[Kalopsia]

This is not the correct way to do statistics.

The reason is this: The probability of Panthers having gone to finals the past 2 seasons is 100%.

The population you can compare to is not all teams since the early 80s. The teams also need to have gone to finals the two previous years.

He’s not talking about the probability of independent events like dice rolls or coin flips, he’s saying the third appearance is rare because the extra games played from first two take a toll. They’re dependent events.

Tampa’s the only team to do it since the Oilers had 3 straight appearances from 83-85. From 86 to now, teams have made the finals twice in a row 9 times (not counting Florida), and Tampa, with the aforementioned COVID caveat, is the only one to extend the streak to three appearances.

 

[John Mandalorian]

Doubtful. Florida’s confidence has to be on a level the other eastern teams can’t touch.

 

[ucanthanzalthetruth]

I think 2 factors will stop Florida from a 3rd straight finals:

1. Too much hockey. It's incredibly hard to make 3 finals and Florida has played so many games the past 2 years

2. The defense has taken a big hit without Montour and OEL. Florida was suffocating all year last year and this year they're playing north-south hockey like they did in '22. That style doesn't bode well for the playoffs. Of course Zito is the GOAT but Florida's limited draft capital will prevent them from the big top 4 dman trade deadline add they need imo.

 

[Xirik]

Not the Devils since they already won their cup apparently.

 

[barkovcanfinnish]

I think we’re a weaker team this year in some ways and a stronger team this year in others. I think there’s quite a few teams that can beat us in the playoffs but it wont be a pleasant series for them either way.

 

[Nogatco Rd]

He’s not talking about the probability of independent events like dice rolls or coin flips, he’s saying the third appearance is rare because the extra games played from first two take a toll. They’re dependent events.

Tampa’s the only team to do it since the Oilers had 3 straight appearances from 83-85. From 86 to now, teams have made the finals twice in a row 9 times (not counting Florida), and Tampa, with the aforementioned COVID caveat, is the only one to extend the streak to three appearances.

This is a great explanation of his argument, although I personally am not convinced of the premise that the extra games played is such a significant factor in the first place.

Is it hypothesized that the same effect holds true for conference finals appearances? What about the effect of the relative length of series played within the same playoffs?

In the Super Bowl era (1967-present) the NFL playoffs typically consist of just 3 or 4 additional games per team. The physical toll of a playoff run is further mitigated by the NFL’s much longer offseason. Yet in 58 seasons only two teams have managed to appear in 3 or more straight Super Bowls. This suggests to me that there are a number of other significant factors at play besides physical attrition.

In any event, it would be an interesting idea to run by some of the posters in the numbers forum.

 

[Dread Clawz]

They need to upgrade their D at the deadline. The goaltending is also slightly weaker than last season.

 

[Panthers Propaganda]

We are looking a little fatigued, and need at top 4D at the deadline.

 

[Luigi Lemieux]

Tampa or Toronto with the right deadline moves could give them trouble. NJ will eventually but they're still a little green and need a butt kicking or two in the playoffs before they're ready.

 

[SheldonJPlankton]

The only Eastern team who is a proven playoff fraud is Toronto. The Leafs are the sum of their parts ..nothing more.

With the rest...given the right combination of a team getting hot and Florida going cold...an upset is possible.

 

[scoopscj]

Florida is fantastic. I see flaws in all the good teams. "Any given day" are words to live by. For my team, Tampa has our number, but we played very well vs Florida. It's going to depend a lot on health and matchups like usual. Long season ahead though. Florida is going to be a tough.

 

[SladeWilson23]

Tampa or Toronto with the right deadline moves could give them trouble. NJ will eventually but they're still a little green and need a butt kicking or two in the playoffs before they're ready.

I think the 2023 Playoffs was that butt kicking. We beat the Rangers by the skin of our teeth, and the Canes humbled us.

I do think the Devils can take down anybody in the East ONLY if a couple of concerns I personally have get addressed at the deadline or sooner.

 

[The Management]

Nobody would blame them if they're fatigued this year, but I still think they're probably the best team in hockey. Telling them how rare it would be to make the finals three consecutive years, seems like just the way to fire them up to make the finals for three consecutive years. They're a battle hardened group.

 

[The Shadow]

I hate to admit but but TO looks like a threat this year. Their team is tougher and better built for playoffs.

I’ve watched almost all their games and that’s my team and I will admit they have a long way to go to be a good playoff team.

They are much better defensively than in a long time but they have a lot of work to do from January to mid April to be a great playoff team

 

[elmaco]

I hate to admit but but TO looks like a threat this year. Their team is tougher and better built for playoffs.

I have to see it to believe it.