NHL: Around the League 52

[crazyhawk]

I like the Cats but being a Canadian and given the drought and also McDavid being who he is and having not won a cup I'll cheer for the Oilers making it all the way! It's time.

 

[Taze em]

I really can’t get over that Trouba play on the goal. Looking like me at the end of a mens league shift. “Yea lemme just skate at him and hope he makes a pass that I can pick off.”

Stop the body or puck… homeboy let two bodies and a puck go in a game 6 of conference final lol

 

[BobbyJet]

I like the Cats but being a Canadian and given the drought and also McDavid being who he is and having not won a cup I'll cheer for the Oilers making it all the way! It's time.

Yeah, me too but in my mind, Oilers (not that they are there yet) beating Florida in the final would take a monumental effort and it would be a major upset. Panthers play a stifling game that I don't much care for but they are the definition of a team "built for the playoffs". I wouldn't be at all surprised if they took the final in 5 games, or even swept the series but I sure hope I'm wrong. I also think a balanced Dallas squad could give Florida a scare and make for a better series.

 

[crazyhawk]

Yeah, me too but in my mind, Oilers (not that they are there yet) beating Florida in the final would take a monumental effort and it would be a major upset. Panthers play a stifling game that I don't much care for but they are the definition of a team "built for the playoffs". I wouldn't be at all surprised if they took the final in 5 games, or even swept the series but I sure hope I'm wrong. I also think a balanced Dallas squad could give Florida a scare and make for a better series.

Yeah, the Oil have another game to win so ir's moot for now but if they do win I can see them giving the Panthers a series ... McDrai plus Bouchard are a pretty potent trio .. the glaring weakness is in net but teams have won it all with average goaltending before!

 

[Wally1112pac]

McDavid just scored a goal that reminded me of the Jagr goal from '92.

 

[Larmer83]

McDavid just scored a goal that reminded me of the Jagr goal from '92.

You had to revisit that heartbreak.

 

[deytookerjaabs]

2-0 Oil.

 

[Hattrick Kane]

Dallas has nothing left.

 

[deytookerjaabs]

Dallas has nothing left.

They're playing well. Edmonton just doing Edmonton things.

Speaking of nothing left, that was the Panthers in the finals last year. Panthers clearly paced their game different this post season. They were pounding bricks every shift in 2023 but much more patient this time around.

Edmonton hasn't had to face a team as good as getting between the dots as FLA this post season and FLA hasn't faced anything like Edmonton either.

Could be a wacky series. I thought EDM could win the cup this year but it will be harder against the Panthers than if a different team came out of the east.

 

[Wally1112pac]

You had to revisit that heartbreak.

True but 10, 13 and 15 helped me get over that goal.

 

[JaegerDice]

Oilers are PKing like the 2013 Hawks. Just overwhelming aggression at the blue-line and outmanning guys on the walls, patient with the puck to ensure the successful dump.

Hard way to PK, but when you have the speed to do it, it's damn effective.

 

[deytookerjaabs]

They keep showing that Nurse highlight of the big hit. But Duchene just got up and walked into a 2 on 1 after the hit cause Nurse read the opportunity rather than read the situation. Dallas will take that all day but tonight they haven't yet capitalized on their opportunities

 

[Hattrick Kane]

They're playing well. Edmonton just doing Edmonton things.

Speaking of nothing left, that was the Panthers in the finals last year. Panthers clearly paced their game different this post season. They were pounding bricks every shift in 2023 but much more patient this time around.

Edmonton hasn't had to face a team as good as getting between the dots as FLA this post season and FLA hasn't faced anything like Edmonton either.

Could be a wacky series. I thought EDM could win the cup this year but it will be harder against the Panthers than if a different team came out of the east.

Florida facing Tampa, Boston and the Rangers is a way bigger test than facing the Kings, Canucks and Stars.

One major difference. The goalies were Vasilevsky, Swayman and Shesterkin vs Talbot, Silovs and Oettinger. It’s not even close really. This’ll be the easiest goalie Florida has faced. And Barkov is easily the best shutdown centre. And nevermind how Forsling is playing.

 

[BobbyJet]

McDavid having himself a helluva game on both sides of the puck.

 

[BobbyJet]

Florida facing Tampa, Boston and the Rangers is a way bigger test than facing the Kings, Canucks and Stars.

One major difference. The goalies were Vasilevsky, Swayman and Shesterkin vs Talbot, Silovs and Oettinger. It’s not even close really. This’ll be the easiest goalie Florida has faced. And Barkov is easily the best shutdown centre. And nevermind how Forsling is playing.

We all know that the NHL playoffs are never a sprint but rather a marathon. If Oilers do advance to the final two, they should be the fresher team.... and the Oilers will need every advantage they can get.

 

[deytookerjaabs]

Florida facing Tampa, Boston and the Rangers is a way bigger test than facing the Kings, Canucks and Stars.

One major difference. The goalies were Vasilevsky, Swayman and Shesterkin vs Talbot, Silovs and Oettinger. It’s not even close really. This’ll be the easiest goalie Florida has faced. And Barkov is easily the best shutdown centre. And nevermind how Forsling is playing.

While the Panthers were almost basically the top of the league...

If you look at goals against during the regular season, Edmonton has beaten the west's #2, #3 and possibly #4 in GA right here (Winnipeg was the top top team).

You act like they've face crappy defense/goaltending up to this point.

 

[BobbyJet]

They keep showing that Nurse highlight of the big hit. But Duchene just got up and walked into a 2 on 1 after the hit cause Nurse read the opportunity rather than read the situation. Dallas will take that all day but tonight they haven't yet capitalized on their opportunities

Sportsnet's hockey analyst, ex-NHLer Luke Gazdic, just did a highlight package on the performance of Nurse in tonight's game. It is far different than what I read here from some folks who like to cherry pick certain plays to try and prove their point. Nurse has had a real good game... but like Seth in Chicago, he gets a lot of criticism based on his contract.

 

[BobbyJet]

Oilers sitting on a 2-0 lead ..... which can often be fatal.

 

[deytookerjaabs]

Sportsnet's hockey analyst, ex-NHLer Luke Gazdic, just did a highlight package on the performance of Nurse in tonight's game. It is far different than what I read here from some folks who like to cherry pick certain plays to try and prove their point. Nurse has had a real good game... but like Seth in Chicago, he gets a lot of criticism based on his contract.

He makes some great plays when he's aggressive that can kick the team into gear. But in doing so he often takes certain chances that players with higher IQ at speed would hold up on because there isn't a matching number back. It's not all or nothing.

 

[BobbyJet]

He makes some great plays when he's aggressive that can kick the team into gear. But in doing so he often takes certain chances that players with higher IQ at speed would hold up on because there isn't a matching number back. It's not all or nothing.

As pointed out by Gazdic, Nurse typically targets the other teams best players and by doing so, slows them down.

 

[deytookerjaabs]

Dallas working hard, 2-1.

 

[BobbyJet]

uh oh.... 2-1

 

[deytookerjaabs]

Oilers going to the SCF.

 

[Hattrick Kane]

Florida in 5. They have the depth but also the high end talent. Edmonton’s depth hasn’t done much all playoffs.

 

[Wally1112pac]

Perry's going to the finals...again.

He's probably going to lose...again.