GDT: SCPO 2025 ROUND 1 GAME 1 COL vs DAL

[Soedy]

I was cozy in bed and wasn't on here during Lehkonen's goal in the 2nd, but I really need to comment on the broadcast trying to sell that as a "distinct kicking motion". I was just laying there flabbergasted. Dude's getting tackled and the puck happens to come back and deflect off his flailing leg into the net, but to hear Eddie and Boucher you'd think it was Pele out there.
Absolutely bonkers.

If this was scored against the Avs, Eddie O would gave gone off by saying this was the greatest foot eye coordination he has ever seen and what an amazing player Lehkonen is to have such a great body control.

 

[McMetal]

Jesus, I didn't realize that Harley played over 27 minutes in game one. They REALLY need Heiskanen back or that guy is going to burn out by game 4.

 

[AvsMakar08]

Guys just wait until white powder bear Valeri Nichushkin wakes up. Watch out.

 

[benzino]

Guys just wait until white powder bear Valeri Nichushkin wakes up. Watch out.

I just hope they don’t let him sleep alone on the road… Put Miles Wood to babysit him

 

[LOFIN]

Very decent first game. Was surprised how good the Stars looked considering their injuries and lacklustre play before the playoffs. Even still, I thought the Avs matched that and then some, and we just had a week off (and some of the guys had as much as 10 days off). So nothing to worry about. Need special teams to improve, and if Colton is even slightly hurt, put Landy in please. And also, replace EJ.

 

[TruePowerSlave]

The 2nd line kinda did nothing. If they get going and Makar doesn't miss the net on every shot the Avs are rolling.

 

[Miri]

As long as 2 of their best players are out of the series, every thing looks tip top. Just need that luck to carry forward.

Its really only fair they are out. Look at their cap, 96 millions, highest in the league. With Heiskanen and Robertson they have like 7 players earning 8 millions and more.

Its easy to win when you bypass the rules.

 

[Metallo]

Sorry boys, but the amount of complaining on Mansons (legit) penalty shows otherwise lol. All fanbases do it, but it happens here a metric shit-tonne.

On the game itself, I thought it was a good effort overall. Not too concerned how often Makar missed the net but I hope he cleans his dzone play up a bit, I thought he was ok at best there. And Johnson was not good at all, I don’t care what analytics say. He killed way too many plays with poor passes, bad shot selection, and just outright dumping the puck out to the stars so they could reset. I don’t want to punt him to the moon or anything but if he plays like that next game, I think malinski should draw in.

Great game from the keeper, really happy for him.

If Manson is a legit penalty then Marchement is a legit embellishment. I haven't seen a single guy drop like that all year. It was burlesque.

 

[Ceremony]

That Blackwood contract looking like more of an albatross game by game eh

 

[The Merchant]

 

[Metallo]

Maybe an unpopular opinion but Mack lucked in a 3pts night. Fluke goal, assit on fluke Lehky goal and empty netter on a platter by LOC. He was not "dominant".

 

[Tralfamadore]

Jesus, I didn't realize that Harley played over 27 minutes in game one. They REALLY need Heiskanen back or that guy is going to burn out by game 4.

If Harley is going to play nearly 30 minutes than the Avs really need to up the tempo of the game and forecheck. Make his minutes difficult. The stars D looked fine last night despite how weak they supposedly are.

 

[BobRossColton]

This line is hot garbage, but I'm not sure how to change it up. You can't break up 29s line, it was absolutely dominant.

If we're using analytics for choosing our shoot out guys, why can't they pull them up for line combos.

 

[Ceremony]

Maybe an unpopular opinion but Mack lucked in a 3pts night. Fluke goal, assit on fluke Lehky goal and empty netter on a platter by LOC. He was not "dominant".

Rantanen watching this from the bench, sitting there like the Wolverine meme thinking "that should be me"

 

[TruePowerSlave]

Rantanen watching this from the bench, sitting there like the Wolverine meme thinking "that should be me"

Rants has really fallen off a cliff after the trade. From a 100+ scorer to below PPG on both the Canes and Dallas. Wonder how pleased he is with himself.

 

[niwotsblessing]

Maybe an unpopular opinion but Mack lucked in a 3pts night. Fluke goal, assit on fluke Lehky goal and empty netter on a platter by LOC. He was not "dominant".

He learned that from Moose.

 

[TruePowerSlave]

Maybe an unpopular opinion but Mack lucked in a 3pts night. Fluke goal, assit on fluke Lehky goal and empty netter on a platter by LOC. He was not "dominant".

The Avs in general lucked out to a fairly comfortable win. The Stars had a few huge scoring chances, but Blackwood showed up.

Need to step it up a bit next game.

 

[The Pwnerer]

A lot to digest the morning after. Blackwood completely showed out in his playoff debut. Calm, poised and his angles were on point all night. He has the size and agility which is rare for a big goalie to completely dominant and intimidate shooters. Goaltending is no longer a weakness of this team and if he gets hot, we're gonna be in for a fun ride.

Top six looked a little out of sorts. Echo chamber but I hope Bednar makes the move sooner rather then later with the Nuke-Necas swap. A little too much perimeter play for the most part but when the guys had space in transition we capitalized. I'm going to chalk it up to rust and nerves. They'll be better next game.

Bottom six is the engine that will dictate how far this team will go in the playoffs. Coyle was a stud who took on tough assignments all night. Not happy with the Colton injury as he's a solid pest, but we can absorb the injury for now and hope it's minor.

4th line was as deadly as I had hoped for. Hemmed the Stars numerous times in their zone. We need them forechecking hard every single shift. Beauties. I'll 100% agree with Bednar here who always valued smaller faster energizer bunnies in the bottom six over bigger types. Because when it works it works!

Two things we have to clean up. Front of the net play was very loosey goosey. As was the special teams especially PK. Have to tighten up big time. Dallas had little transition game. The only guys off transition who posed a threat were Hintz and Johnston. But whenever they had it below the dot it was butt clenching time. The Duchene line were continuously looking for soft spots or trying to bank off a rebound in front of the net. I can see why Bednar went with EJ over Malinski for this reason alone. Malinski would've been bullied.

 

[The Merchant]

Maybe an unpopular opinion but Mack lucked in a 3pts night. Fluke goal, assit on fluke Lehky goal and empty netter on a platter by LOC. He was not "dominant".

You make your own luck. MacK was fantastic.

 

[Metallo]

You make your own luck. MacK was fantastic.

I can't recall a single great play. Sure he skates fast and has the puck a lot but he was not incisive and mostly selfish.

 

[NMAvsman]

We played decent...kept the intensity and pacing up even when we were under assault for a bit as dallas got desperate. Man...Blackwood...best goalie we have had in a long time. I would agree that the second line did nothing, though Necas played responsibly in the defensive zone. Drouin was the biggest ghost for me on that line. Hoping they slot Landy in for Colton, but Wood is the safer choice. I really want to see if Landy can keep up. Makar.....please get your gun sights checked.....off high the entire night. He gets zoned in and we take this in 5 if Robertson and Heiskanen remain out. Powerplay was looking for the perfect pass again, but with the Cale gun off, understandable. Bottom line, great win. Gutsy and true playoff hockey.

 

[John Mandalorian]

We played decent...kept the intensity and pacing up even when we were under assault for a bit as dallas got desperate. Man...Blackwood...best goalie we have had in a long time. I would agree that the second line did nothing, though Necas played responsibly in the defensive zone. Drouin was the biggest ghost for me on that line. Hoping they slot Landy in for Colton, but Wood is the safer choice. I really want to see if Landy can keep up. Makar.....please get your gun sights checked.....off high the entire night. He gets zoned in and we take this in 5 if Robertson and Heiskanen remain out. Powerplay was looking for the perfect pass again, but with the Cale gun off, understandable. Bottom line, great win. Gutsy and true playoff hockey.

Yeah, Cale's shot was horrendous. Its like. how can anyone who has a reputation as having a good shot and does this for a living consistantly miss so badly.

Hopefully he gets it together next game because his shot was garbage in game 1.

 

[flyfysher]

Anybody else a little concerned with rebounds off of BBW? Some of those sequences were terrifying.

 

[mackinnon29]

Kinda how I figured the first game would go lots of rust to the Avs game with the time off but Blackwood really shined in this game. You need some luck to win 16 in the playoffs I expect a really interesting game 2 the Avs have another couple of gears they can easily get to and the stars don’t want to go into Denver down 2-0 can’t wait

 

[forsbergavs32]

Anybody else a little concerned with rebounds off of BBW? Some of those sequences were terrifying.

Not really. a majority of those rebounds were caused by the D-men playing too soft in front of the net or playing too high up, allowing Dallas players to get in tight too often. If the defense was keeping play to the perimeter then Blackwood would have more opportunity for a clean save. I really hate our defensive scheme sometimes.