Pre-Game Talk: Round 1 - Canes vs Preds

[hblueridgegal]

Bring the same laser focus, will power and determination as these champs to the task at hand. The talent and confidence is there now...dig deep as Tripp would say.

 

[WreckingCrew]

On main board, a "predict the upsets" thread only took 4 posts for someone to say Preds > Canes. This season would feel like a total waste if that happened especially with how we handled them in every game but the last one. The only 2 things that scare me about Nashville are 1) Saros going on a tear because our 5v5 shooting is abysmal, 2) Suffering injuries when Preds going for blood, because they're a very "low-key" dirty team at times.

 

[Svechhammer]

1 - How injured is Slavin? If he's fine and this really is precautionary - Canes in 5 or 6. If he's really out, this could be Preds in 6.

2 - When is Game 1? A lengthy delay between games cools off teams on a heater more times than not. If we're looking at 5+ days until the start of the series, that could really hurt Nashville's chances to really make some noise in the postseason.

 

[Surrounded By Ahos]

I wouldn’t be shocked at all if the Preds win. They’re a legit team. They actually earned a playoff spot, unlike the f***ing Rangers last year.

 

[Stickpucker]

Stickpucker's keys to the series:

1 - Lets hope Slavin is okay
2 - Svech always gets hurt in POs. We need him to be big here and stay healthy.
3 - Staal had a really nice first half of the season and a pretty meh second half. I hope he was saving himself because WE WANT the MOOSE
4 - The forwards need to be good at defending the point against Nashville
5 - This will be a very blue collar series. If the boys don't come to work they're going to look silly.
6 - Our special teams could win us this series
7 - NSH has the better goalie but I'm not too worried
8 - I want the crazy 8s back. Martinook and Paquette make us harder to play against lets hope they're good to go.
9 - Woop day ASSS!

that is all.

 

[MrazeksVengeance]

NSH has the better goalie

NO.

 

[AhosDatsyukian]

1 - How injured is Slavin? If he's fine and this really is precautionary - Canes in 5 or 6. If he's really out, this could be Preds in 6.

2 - When is Game 1? A lengthy delay between games cools off teams on a heater more times than not. If we're looking at 5+ days until the start of the series, that could really hurt Nashville's chances to really make some noise in the postseason.

Slavin is hugely important for us but not nearly enough to swing a series against a lesser team like Nashville, frankly. We should still be heavy favorites to win in 6 or less games without Slavin

 

[MrazeksVengeance]

Slavin is hugely important for us but not nearly enough to swing a series against a lesser team like Nashville, frankly. We should still be heavy favorites to win in 6 or less games without Slavin

Not to mention... Injured Slavin while a blow to the team on ice IS A HEAVY RELIGIOUS BOON SINCE HE HAS MORE TIME FOR IT.

 

[Svechhammer]

Stickpucker's keys to the series:

1 - Lets hope Slavin is okay
2 - Svech always gets hurt in POs. We need him to be big here and stay healthy.
3 - Staal had a really nice first half of the season and a pretty meh second half. I hope he was saving himself because WE WANT the MOOSE
4 - The forwards need to be good at defending the point against Nashville
5 - This will be a very blue collar series. If the boys don't come to work they're going to look silly.
6 - Our special teams could win us this series
7 - NSH has the better goalie but I'm not too worried
8 - I want the crazy 8s back. Martinook and Paquette make us harder to play against lets hope they're good to go.
9 - Woop day ASSS!

that is all.

In my opinion the single most important thing toward us having success in the playoffs is getting the 2nd line to wake up. Nino-Tro-Nacho need to start pulling their weight, as teams are going to load up to defend SAT. If they can regain their scoring touch, we'll be an absolute beast that anyone will struggle to eliminate. If they don't, goals could be difficult to come by unless we are on the PP (or PK).

 

[tarheelhockey]

This season would feel like a total waste if that happened

I wouldn't go that far. The team took a massive stride forward this season, resulting in arguably the best regular season in franchise history. Next season would be about finding a way to put them over the top for a Cup run, which is a conversation none of us were having in earnest 6 months ago.

A first round upset would suck a lot, but we'd need to take it in the same stride that you see from a lot of championship teams as they suffer disappointments in the runup to their peak window.

 

[The Faulker 27]

If Tampa can do it, so can Carolina. Lose in the first round that is. Shit happens once the puck drops in playoff land.

 

[Svechhammer]

So I just spoke with a ticket rep regarding playoff tickets, and the reason they haven't released any information about Rounds 2-4 is that there is a belief that Cooper might open up everything in full on June 1st, which would allow us to get all 18k fans into the arena.

So that would potentially be a huge shot of adrenaline to the team going into the Florida or Tampa series, should we get through Nashville.

 

[hockeynjune]

So I just spoke with a ticket rep regarding playoff tickets, and the reason they haven't released any information about Rounds 2-4 is that there is a belief that Cooper might open up everything in full on June 1st, which would allow us to get all 18k fans into the arena.

So that would potentially be a huge shot of adrenaline to the team going into the Florida or Tampa series, should we get through Nashville.

Hearing the same rumors in the local business world.

 

[Moosetache]

the issue with this is that The NHL is still mandating the 6 foot rule, no?

 

[cptjeff]

the issue with this is that The NHL is still mandating the 6 foot rule, no?

That's likely evolving behind the scenes.

 

[Svechhammer]

That's likely evolving behind the scenes.

Given the public intentions of Vegas and Dallas (before they were eliminated) to allow a full house in the playoffs, I would not be shocked if the NHL relaxes guidelines to local limits for the playoffs, especially after they've relaxed testing requirements for fully vaccinated teams.

 

[tarheelhockey]

I can only think of one single reason why the NHL wouldn't relax its arena protocols at this point -- that would be if they have good evidence that a full arena would circulate COVID down to the players/officials/coaches at ice level.

Absent evidence of something like that, I can't think of a single reason they would want to continue restrictions beyond the point where the government itself is saying it's safe for people to gather.

 

[Roboturner913]

Prepared to lose. Something just feels off. Bad vibes.

Obviously I hope I'm wrong.

 

[hblueridgegal]

Per SiriusNHL..evidently, over the past weekend, NBC accidently flashed a chryon that said playoff coverage starts on Saturday, 5/15 . They're still saying playoffs start with the East on Saturday, Central on Sunday.

 

[MCB]

Is the bandwagon full? Or can this Ducks fan jump on board?

 

[Svechhammer]

Is the bandwagon full? Or can this Ducks fan jump on board?

Impossible. We accept anyone whos willing to be a part of the F26 sideshow!

 

[hockeynjune]

Is the bandwagon full? Or can this Ducks fan jump on board?

WELCOME ABOARD. We need all the help we can muster.

 

[MCB]

WELCOME ABOARD. We need all the help we can muster.

Thanks! Now to buy a bunch of jerks shirt somewhere...

 

[Svechhammer]

Thanks! Now to buy a bunch of jerks shirt somewhere...

Hurricanes Bunch of Jerks Tee

Thats the website from the team store in the arena

 

[Stickpucker]

the issue with this is that The NHL is still mandating the 6 foot rule, no?

Didn't Nashville have full capacity a couple days ago?