Smashmouth hockey reigns supreme in SC playoffs
- Thread starter OrlandK
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Synergy27
F-A-C-G-C-E
I don’t even care what the right answer is. This conversation just reinforces the fact that, despite their entertainment value, the NHL playoffs are dumb. It’s a different game entirely.
No other sport changes to this degree between the regular season and the playoffs. It’s a stupid way to run a league.
No other sport changes to this degree between the regular season and the playoffs. It’s a stupid way to run a league.
But how do you fix that? Is 82 games too long, which in turn has players not give the same effort night to night?
At the same time, if you shorten your schedule and teams get off to a slow start, essentially killing their playoff chances earlier than they would over an 82 game schedule where they have more time to make adjustments and recover, is that any good for the game? We see it all the time, teams start off hot/cold and then reverse. And it could be due in part to a new coach, new personnel, new youth, injuries, etc.
NYSPORTS
back afta dis. . .
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bingo - the season is too long. Cannot play this way every night. The NBA takes a lot of nights off from defense too. Changes come playoff time. Hockey players like Esa Tikkanen made a career out of this approach.
Just to piggyback off of my last post, I like to see the progression/elevation in play in the Playoffs. The increase in intensity. It separates the weak from the strong. It is the ultimate test to determine where your roster really stands. Is your team that good or where they just lucky for certain stretches during the regular season? Do they need to add to the roster.
I think the change in play is what makes the NHL Playoffs so unique, maybe the most intense of any sport.
I think the change in play is what makes the NHL Playoffs so unique, maybe the most intense of any sport.
NYSPORTS
back afta dis. . .
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the reason Rangers fans can “die in peace” is Mike Keenan knew that ‘94 team was not built for the playoffs. That trading deadline changed the team. Some preach the game has changed. Besides eliminating the two line pass, i don’t think the game changed.
dshea19
Registered User
- Jun 9, 2015
- 620
- 686
1000% agree. All the things that are done to improve offense during the regular season disappear during the playoffs. Obstruction is the rule of the day. It gets worse as each round progresses. Little slashing penalties to the hands during the season disappear. Dudes are chopping each other down with crosschecks, people are grabbing and holding constantly. It is the most intense hockey, while also being the ugliest. I have often said, the best teams in the NHL don't win the cup, it is usually the last one standing that does. The NHL, like no other sport, nullifies the most talented players and ends up giving huge paydays to grinders entering free agency.
SA16
Sixstring
The Lightning won last year because of smashmouth hockey from Goodrow/Coleman and not from Point/Kucherov combining for 67 points in 25 games?
NYSPORTS
back afta dis. . .
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how did they do against Columbus the previous year?
Skill is the most important thing but you need the smash mouth aspect to supplement it.
Hire Sather
He Is Our Star
This doesn't mean you are right if you think we should add a below NHL caliber player to play on the 4th line to punch and chirp people.
Its not dumb at all.
Its most pronounced in hockey but every sport has similar things happen.
"Defense wins championships" - Football and Basketball
"Pitching wins championships" - Baseball
It makes sense. Players can't be willing to put everything on the line in the regular season or they will be decimated by the time playoffs roll around.
Mac n Gs
Drury plz
- Jan 17, 2014
- 22,835
- 13,558
I swear, this nonsense wouldn’t even be a topic of discussion if the team had a more active forecheck/neutral zone scheme.
That’s what will fix this team’s issues -and this goes back to when AV was coach- not purposefully adding bad players because they’re perceived as tough.
That’s what will fix this team’s issues -and this goes back to when AV was coach- not purposefully adding bad players because they’re perceived as tough.
HatTrick Swayze
Just Be Nice
It's partially on the league in terms of how games are officiated. But a big piece that is harder to measure is how the mentality of the players changes. Outside of Ryan Callahan, it is really hard and uncommon for players to bring their absolute best compete level on a consistent basis over 82 games. Talk to some NHLers off the record and they will admit this. There is a lot of "self maintenance" that goes on. In the playoffs everyone is pushing to their limits. Every single puck battle. When everyone on the ice is working and competing, the space to work with offensively just naturally shrinks.
Correct you need both and both were integral to winning the cup last year. Not sure why people think just because you want to have the Coleman's of the world who are a pain in the ass to play against means that a Kucherov or a Point isn't necessary?
i can't stand Brooks but I can't argue there, he is 100 % correct
you need grinders along with talent in the playoffs
talent alone in the playoffs gets you swept
you need the grinders, you need guys like tikkanen, matteau, noonan, mactavish,
we have zero grinders, Drury needs to obtain some and grit this offseason
you need grinders along with talent in the playoffs
talent alone in the playoffs gets you swept
you need the grinders, you need guys like tikkanen, matteau, noonan, mactavish,
we have zero grinders, Drury needs to obtain some and grit this offseason
Oscar Lindberg
Registered User
Larry is jacking off Lou in public because he used to be his boss
nothing more, nothing less
Call me in 5 years when the Islanders don’t win the cup, the team is starting a painful rebuild and Lou retires because he’s 1000 years old and why would he stick around for a rebuild
nothing more, nothing less
Call me in 5 years when the Islanders don’t win the cup, the team is starting a painful rebuild and Lou retires because he’s 1000 years old and why would he stick around for a rebuild
OrlandK
Registered User
Playoffs are dumb? They are literally the greatest sports tournament in the world. As the saying goes - "There is nothing like playoff hockey". And there is no way this ramped up intensity could exist in the regular season. As is about a third of the Cup finalists need surgery after the season.
The Rangers have enough (too many) skilled players who thrive when there is little checking and struggle to compete in games with playoff style hockey. Time to focus on grittier players to round out the roster.
haveandare
Registered User
Brooks point was already well established before the playoffs no? Everyone knew and said this team needs to fill out the high motor, hard to play against types.
Anthony5967
Registered User
I find it funny that people want to Rob Manfred hockey now when it’s hands down the best sport for intensity, speed, physicality and everything else come playoff time. Yea, the regular season is a little more open because there’s 82 games and teams need to conserve themselves a bit or there’d be nothing left of anybody come time for game one. There’s nothing wrong with smash mouth hockey prospering and reigning supreme. It’s just that some people want to keep mocking it and think they can NHL 21 a team in real life with four lines of skill guys and a blueline with an average size of 5-11. Colorado won’t win either until they beef up the bottom six with grit, heart and character guys.
Harbour Dog
Registered User
I mean... Tampa won a cup in that two period while Columbus got to the second round once. And Tampa beat Columbus in the first round last year.
I want to get tougher to play against, but deciding to build a team like Columbus or the Islanders instead of like Tampa, Colorado, or Vegas would be crazy.
Anthony5967
Registered User
That’s the thing people can’t come to grips with though. Nobody wants to build the second coming of the NYI. The Rangers can’t do that anyhow. Their roster construction suggests something like Colorado or Tampa. Problem is you need balance and role players too. Rangers’ best role players are...Rooney and Blackwell? That’s a big time problem and reason they’re not a threat yet. They need development from the young guys but also need the Coleman’s, Goodrow’s, Gourde’s, Cirelli’s that don’t quit on any play, forecheck like their lives depend on it, soften the opposing D’s up by throwing hard hits. I mean for Gods sakes, the Isles put Carlo and Miller out and basically ripened McAvoy by the time the final horn sounded. That’s how you wear down opponents and win. Even Sami Girard was exposed and demoralized by the intensity and physical prowess Vegas plays with.
SA16
Sixstring
Colorado's issue was MacKinnon no-showed in games 2-5 not the bottom six. Colorado has great depth anyway.
Anthony5967
Registered User
I don’t disagree, but why did he “no show”? Vegas clamped down on his @$$ and started imposing their physical will on Colorado. Completely turned the tide after game two.
