League News: NHL Talk - (News n' Scores n' Stuff) | 2024-25 Playoffs

[Blades of Steel]

Down to the wire it goes...

Epic choke if the Habs somehow manage to lose. Already lost to the Blackhawks. Now they play Canes with nothing to play for who just called up 4 AHL players and are dressing basically their B team.

you know how pesky those AHL call ups can be when playing for nothing and getting a shot in a NHL showcase game..

hard to say

 

[trick9]

you know how pesky those AHL call ups can be when playing for nothing and getting a shot in a NHL showcase game..

hard to say

They are.

That said... they know what's on the line and the pressure is their biggest enemy.

Huge stakes for them. Home game too. Such a great season for them but that would leave a bad taste if they choked it all away.

 

[895]

My preference is for MTL to lose and then CBJ also lose, setting us up with a Montreal team on a skid.

 

[max21]

I could see NYI wanting to spoil the Jackets chance also

 

[wickedwitch]

On the one hand I do think we match up slightly better vs MTL but on the other it would be hilarious for them to choke away a spot after how annoying their fans have been all season eternity

FTFY. And I agree completely. I like the Montreal matchup batter, but I don't want to have to deal with their fans.

 

[notDkristich]

Habs pre-game thread already at 23 pages. Grab your popcorn! I am rooting for them to lose in the last minute of the game. Gonna be good.

 

[Kazer]

My preference is for MTL to lose and then CBJ also lose, setting us up with a Montreal team on a skid.

Montreal will be on a skid regardless. Even if they win tonight, they go into the playoffs having lost 3 of 4 with the 1 win being Carolina's B-team with nothing to play for.

 

[Silky mitts]

If Philly gets a point at Sabres tomorrow Bruins' 2nd will be 36, otherwise 37.

 

[ovikovy817]

MTL trying to choke. Well well.

 

[um]

Montreal will be on a skid regardless. Even if they win tonight, they go into the playoffs having lost 3 of 4 with the 1 win being Carolina's B-team with nothing to play for.

I don't think it's accurate to say they are in a skid. They've lost 1 game in regulation in their last 9. OT/SO losses are irrelevant in the playoffs.

 

[Kazer]

I don't think it's accurate to say they are in a skid. They've lost 1 game in regulation in their last 9. OT/SO losses are irrelevant in the playoffs.

You're right that using the term 'skid' was probably an exaggeration, but I'm not scared of a team that enters the playoffs at 1-1-2 (counting the 2 as ties instead of OTL/SOL and assuming they beat Carolina's B team). This isn't the 07-08 Caps rolling in having won 11 of 12 games (though several of those were OT/SO wins).

The only teams really streaking right now are Toronto (8-1-1) and LAK (8-2), and I'll include CBJ if they can run off a 6th straight to get in. Everyone else is muddled in the middle (or bad, like SJ and Nashville).

 

[um]

You're right that using the term 'skid' was probably an exaggeration, but I'm not scared of a team that enters the playoffs at 1-1-2 (counting the 2 as ties instead of OTL/SOL and assuming they beat Carolina's B team). This isn't the 07-08 Caps rolling in having won 11 of 12 games (though several of those were OT/SO wins).

The only teams really streaking right now are Toronto (8-1-1) and LAK (8-2), and I'll include CBJ if they can run off a 6th straight to get in. Everyone else is muddled in the middle (or bad, like SJ and Nashville).

Yea I'm not too scared of them either. Columbus's young star goalie scares me more.

I don't put much stock into how teams play right before the playoffs. History indicates it doesn't matter that much.

 

[Misery74]

Carolina dressing a skeleton crew tonight. Aho, Blake, Jarvis, Staal, plus. All out.

No excuses for Montreal.

 

[wickedwitch]

Carolina dressing a skeleton crew tonight. Aho, Blake, Jarvis, Staal, plus. All out.

No excuses for Montreal.

ugh.

I mean, objectively, this is probably better for the Caps, but still....

 

[Misery74]

ugh.

I mean, objectively, this is probably better for the Caps, but still....

I would prefer they play Montreal. There won’t be an empty seat in the house.

 

[Dr John Carlson]

I would prefer they play Montreal. There won’t be an empty seat in the house.

This is where I landed. I can talk myself into or out of either one of CBJ/MTL as a better matchup. Just gimme the Bell Centre.

 

[zappa4ever]

Wouldn't surprise me in the least if MTL blows it tonight, regardless of how many sit out for CAR

 

[Ovechkins Wodka]

Are the Habs still booing the Anthem?

 

[Nice]

If both the Habs and Jackets lose we should get a bye in the first round

 

[Fred22406Capsfan]

Speculating here... all this talk about how tough the West is but they have some crap teams. Did their top teams feast and get inflated numbers? Then there's the East - is it a bunch of 'mediocre/average' teams or is it a DEEP conference and you've had teams battling against quality competition? Guess we'll know when the playoffs are over but choosing to believe our guys can make a run.

 

[PlushMinus]

ugh.

I mean, objectively, this is probably better for the Caps, but still....

I really think Montreal is the better option for Caps in 1st round.

They have stumbled a few times in the final hurdle to secure that last WC spot.

Blue Jackets have not. And they have one helluva reason for the entire league to get behind them. Imagine how inspiring and motivating that is / will be?

No thank you. Give us the Habs.

 

[SherVaughn30]

Tied 1-1 after the 1st period in Montreal. Habs were the better team in that 1st. Only reason it's tied, Taylor Hall scored a bit of a fluke deflection goal on a spin-a-around whip shot of the puck on edge towards the net. It deflected off a Habs d-man knee and in.

 

[tycoonheart]

Montreal does not look interested in winning this game

Someone post that Logan Roy You are not serious people gif

 

[SherVaughn30]

Montreal does not look interested in winning this game

Someone post that Logan Roy You are not serious people gif

Being outshot 7-1 in the 2nd so far. I'm not surprised as Brind'Amour was probably not happy how the Canes played in the 1st.

 

[SherVaughn30]

Shots are now 12-2 Canes in the 2nd. Seems like the Habs are trying to hold on to the tie game right now.