Speculation: Preference: Washington or Carolina

[hawksrule]

Congrats, fellas. And just remember that as this place fills with Johnny-come-lately’s, I was on the bandwagon from the beginning.

Terrific, dominant first round. I think the Isles can go far.

 

[Newsworthy]

I was happy to draw Pittsburgh. Carolina scares me more than the Caps as well.
They are playing well with good chemistry and are young and hungry.
I rather play against the best anyways. The number 1 seed who won the cup. Obviously Trotz has an advantage with familiarity.
We matched up pretty well against the Caps. And won the season finale.

 

[Big L]

Congrats, fellas. And just remember that as this place fills with Johnny-come-lately’s, I was on the bandwagon from the beginning.

 

[Big L]

I was happy to draw Pittsburgh. Carolina scares me more than the Caps as well.
They are playing well with good chemistry and are young and hungry.
I rather play against the best anyways. The number 1 seed who won the cup. Obviously Trotz has an advantage with familiarity.
We matched up pretty well against the Caps. And won the season finale.

I think Isles also match up well vs CBJ. If Isles can advance again, I’d like to play CBJ in ECFs

 

[blinkman360]

Give me Washington and then give me Toronto. I'm all about the storylines.

 

[norwegianislander]

I think Isles also match up well vs CBJ. If Isles can advance again, I’d like to play CBJ in ECFs

I want no part of CBJ. They play like us with elite players.

 

[Uncle Duke]

Well, the Pens are better than the Isles on paper too and look what happened. Canes could be as dangerous as Caps or even more so. They really do remind me of the Isles, to a certain point - pretty young team full of players with the will to win, a chip on their shoulder and something to prove.

Also, completely agree with the last sentence.

The Isles are perceived to be a young team because they have some dynamic young players and they haven't been in the playoffs much so the average fan thinks they must be playing a lot of young draftees and lottery picks, but the Isles are the 7th oldest team in the league with an average age of 28.7 while Carolina is the 3rd youngest at 26.6.

 

[buud]

Since Jan 1

[TABLE="class: brtb_item_table"][TBODY][TR][TD]Team[/TD][TD]W[/TD][TD]L[/TD][TD]OTL[/TD][TD]Pts[/TD][TD]PW[/TD][TD]PL[/TD][TD][/TD][/TR]
[TR][TD]Bolts[/TD][TD]31[/TD][TD]9[/TD][TD]2[/TD][TD]64[/TD][TD]0[/TD][TD]4[/TD][TD]Out[/TD][/TR]
[TR][TD]Canes[/TD][TD]30[/TD][TD]12[/TD][TD]2[/TD][TD]62[/TD][TD]1[/TD][TD]2[/TD][TD]vs Caps[/TD][/TR]
[TR][TD]Bruins[/TD][TD]28[/TD][TD]10[/TD][TD]5[/TD][TD]61[/TD][TD]1[/TD][TD]2[/TD][TD]vs Leafs[/TD][/TR]
[TR][TD]Isles[/TD][TD]27[/TD][TD]14[/TD][TD]3[/TD][TD]57[/TD][TD]4[/TD][TD]0[/TD][TD]Caps/Canes[/TD][/TR]
[TR][TD]Caps[/TD][TD]24[/TD][TD]14[/TD][TD]5[/TD][TD]53[/TD][TD]2[/TD][TD]1[/TD][TD]vs Canes[/TD][/TR]
[TR][TD]Pens[/TD][TD]23[/TD][TD]14[/TD][TD]6[/TD][TD]52[/TD][TD]0[/TD][TD]4[/TD][TD]Out[/TD][/TR]
[TR][TD]CBJ[/TD][TD]24[/TD][TD]18[/TD][TD]1[/TD][TD]49[/TD][TD]4[/TD][TD]0[/TD][TD]Bruins/Leafs[/TD][/TR]
[TR][TD]Leafs[/TD][TD]20[/TD][TD]17[/TD][TD]6[/TD][TD]46[/TD][TD]2[/TD][TD]1[/TD][TD]vs Bruins[/TD][/TR][/TBODY][/TABLE]

the Caps kinda backed in, IMO, and the Canes were battling hard just to get in. i think both are going to be tough, but i would rather play the Canes. Ovi is scary as shit, and Mrazek still hasn't proven himself in the PO's, IMO. plus the home ice advantage thing...

 

[buud]

The Isles are perceived to be a young team because they have some dynamic young players and they haven't been in the playoffs much so the average fan thinks they must be playing a lot of young draftees and lottery picks, but the Isles are the 7th oldest team in the league with an average age of 28.7 while Carolina is the 3rd youngest at 26.6.

agreed that we aren't 'young', but our core is relatively young. Lehner is young for a goalie, at 27. Boychuk SHOULD be replaced soon, in the top 4. Barzal (21), Beau (21), Lee (28), Bailey (29), Nelson (27), Cizikas (28), Pulock (24), Pelech (24), Toews (25). our core is relatively young, IMO.

 

[Instant]

The Isles are perceived to be a young team because they have some dynamic young players and they haven't been in the playoffs much so the average fan thinks they must be playing a lot of young draftees and lottery picks, but the Isles are the 7th oldest team in the league with an average age of 28.7 while Carolina is the 3rd youngest at 26.6.

7th in the league with 28.7 is not old, considering there's more than 10 teams in the NHL... More than 15? I'm sorry, I have no idea how many, being the average fan that I apparently am

So, while I appreciate the information you volunteered, I'm well acquainted with the Isles line-up and know how to Google stats.

 

[leeroggy]

I’d prefer Carolina due to home ice/unproven-ness (like us).

If they beat Washington that second reason kind of goes away, doesn't it?

 

[Uncle Duke]

I think Isles also match up well vs CBJ. If Isles can advance again, I’d like to play CBJ in ECFs

The CBJ we matched up against well is not the same team we would be matching up against now. Obviously the TD moves they made didn't start clicking in right away and it even looked like they might be a disaster for a while, but they sure are clicking now. Not saying we can't take them at all, but a much tougher task. Anyway, a lot has to happen before we, or they, get there.

 

[Islesfan22]

I was happy to draw Pittsburgh. Carolina scares me more than the Caps as well.
They are playing well with good chemistry and are young and hungry.
I rather play against the best anyways. The number 1 seed who won the cup. Obviously Trotz has an advantage with familiarity.
We matched up pretty well against the Caps. And won the season finale.

The last game meant nothing for the Caps and they sat out three of there best players.

 

[Uncle Duke]

7th in the league with 28.7 is not old, considering there's more than 10 teams in the NHL... More than 15? I'm sorry, I have no idea how many, being the average fan that I apparently am

So, while I appreciate the information you volunteered, I'm well acquainted with the Isles line-up and know how to Google stats.

Easy there dude, I wasn't calling you an average fan. I too was surprised by what I found and wouldn't have even thought of it until I heard Ebbs say "we're not a young team" in a post game interview after game 2 or 3, I can't remember which.

Having said that, your logic is flawed, and yes, relative to the rest of the league, we are and old team, particularly relative to Carolina, which is what your original comment was about. In NHL terms, we're old, they're young.

 

[Poliz24]

Just be careful what you wish for, anything can happen in the playoffs, think of how many Pens fans were happy they drew us in the first round. Not to mention all the media pundits not giving us a shot. We should all be hoping for Boychuk and Clutterbuck to be healthy.

 

[Rehabguy]

As long as whoever we are facing are getting beat up right now in a prolonged series the Isles are in a good place.

 

[Big L]

Just be careful what you wish for, anything can happen in the playoffs, think of how many Pens fans were happy they drew us in the first round. Not to mention all the media pundits not giving us a shot. We should all be hoping for Boychuk and Clutterbuck to be healthy.

I doubt there is a single one among us that is hoping JB and Clutter to not be healthy.

 

[MJF]

Who still wants Carolina in the next round? Smh.

 

[Thrasymachus]

Who still wants Carolina in the next round? Smh.

I think that either opponent will be tough

 

[Ned Starks Head]

Who still wants Carolina in the next round? Smh.

I don't. (And I live in NC).

They completely dominated the Caps in the 3rd period tonight; locked down and held on to a 1 goal lead to win.

Sounds kinda like somebody else I know.....

 

[Uncle Duke]

The longer the series goes the more I want to see the Caps. They're older and have a ton more mileage on them then the younger, faster Canes. Caps will not recover from a tough 6 0r 7 game series as quickly or as well as Canes IMO.

 

[Lights911]

I’ll take either because we can beat either

 

[BTrotts19]

 

[DOCHockeyGuy]

Give me Carolina after a 7 gamer. They are banged up right now which is probably why the Caps beat them, but I will hold out hope.

 

[beach]

Give me Carolina after a 7 gamer. They are banged up right now which is probably why the Caps beat them, but I will hold out hope.

The Caps lost last night.