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Florida was the absolute last seed last year. A total Cinderella team then. They won the President’s trophy in 2022.I agree that the "cinderella" team rarely wins.
Habs in 21, Sabres/Caps in 98 and 99, Panthers in 96....probably a few other examples of cinderella teams making the finals and then losing.
But what's this have to do with 2024, or 2023?
Edmonton is sure as hell not a cinderalla team lol. They have the best record in the league since the coaching change in early November.
Similarly - Florida was definitely not a cinderella team last year. They were defending president's trophy champion.
Not sure if they would've done any better against this Florida team.....but Edmonton's looked awful.
The gap is massive and it's on display for everyone to see. Full points to Edmonton and their players for winning the West, can't blame them for the route they have. But these 2 teams don't even look like they're in the same league.Good to know the actual Stanley cup was the ECF. Edmonton stinks
Zito realized the Panthers have been one of the worst in the league at drafting/developing and decided to use the capital he had to make the roster as good as possible now.Florida is a club built on trades and UFA signings. Vegas was built the same way. Winning the Cup now might mean draft picks and prospects are currency for a smart GM.
if it was dallas this wouldve been a 7 game seriesShould've been Dallas.
Goaltending has gotten significantly worse in the last several years. For today, those are Conn Smythe numbers.I'm not sure about Bobrovsky winning the Conn Smythe. He is a .916, while those are solid numbers, they don't scream playoff MVP. Several guys on the team have a case, I don't have a big issue with Bob getting it, but typically goalies who win Conn Smythe are putting up .925-.935.
I do think Dallas would have given Florida more trouble. They're solid top to bottom. Edmonton can be very explosive but they have so many weak links.Should've been Dallas.
Congrats Panthers on your first cup.
Panthers in 4 or 5. Might be the worst matchup in decades.
Bennett and McDavid are also friends from childhoodThe Western Conference is actually terrible from top to bottom?
But seriously, Edmonton's put up about a 1st round Eastern Conference effort. Not sure they'd get past Tampa TBH.
McDavid deserves a statue for the sole reason that he's been able to will this AHL team into the Finals. That alone is an unbelievable feat that cannot be lost in this.
Context: they're buddies from back in the day, Ekblad was just chirping his friend for the hell of it. Thought it was funny with last night's game added to the context
Yep. I agree.I do think Dallas would have given Florida more trouble. They're solid top to bottom. Edmonton can be very explosive but they have so many weak links.
maybe, hard to know what would have transpired in some alternate universe. Florida clearly was the best team and I think it was fairly clear all year they were the one team in the east really built for the playoffs. I expected a cup rematch honestly but Vegas faltered.if it was dallas this wouldve been a 7 game series
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Rewatched the game this morning, this flop at this time of the game was unreal. I’ll shut up after this, but he could’ve raced to the puck on the boards and opened a number of possibilities. Two guys could’ve been fighting for the puck for Edmonton, instead he flops. What is this mindset?
Hard to know how the voting would go, but my top two would be Barkov followed by Forsling. There are lots of contributors, and when that happens, it's credit to the leaders. But Bobrovsky has been big in big spots. I just hope they don't end up splitting the vote so much an Oiler wins.I'm not sure about Bobrovsky winning the Conn Smythe. He is a .916, while those are solid numbers, they don't scream playoff MVP. Several guys on the team have a case, I don't have a big issue with Bob getting it, but typically goalies who win Conn Smythe are putting up .925-.935.
his sv% doesnt tell the whole storyI'm not sure about Bobrovsky winning the Conn Smythe. He is a .916, while those are solid numbers, they don't scream playoff MVP. Several guys on the team have a case, I don't have a big issue with Bob getting it, but typically goalies who win Conn Smythe are putting up .925-.935.
Florida plays a grind style and if you are not willing to work in the trenches you will not beat them.Oilers D hear footsteps steady and we have saw at least 3 or 4 goals off turnovers or unwillingness to be first to pucks .He's not wrong. Oilers have been the better team in 2 out of the 3 games. Oilers have outshot the Panthers 86 to 62 this series
As I said, sometimes the better team doesn't win the series. Luck factors into hockey more than any other sport. The sooner fans realize this the better.
Funny thing though Paul.I thought Boston needed a bit more scoring that series yet Oilers have lots.Its truly does take a balance of grit and scoring and Florida has it.Oilers throw any hits last night?
Great win for Panthers .
Let down of a Stanley Cup final.
Bruins were Panthers toughest opponent on this magnificent run.
Small tweaks to this one.You could hear a pin drop at the Sportsnet.ca desk. Sullen grimaces, downcast gobs, furtive glances at the camera.
Skinnhaus being left out to Crai, your Top-it-the-Knobs refusing to play defence. Kevin Bieksa calling for four mighty wins in a row. "Four I tells ya. Its not impossible lads. Put yer guts into it. McDavid will wake up with a beam of sunlight on his face, realize that its all about the sauce, and all hell will break loose."