Pre-Game Talk: So We Meet Again

[ucanthanzalthetruth]

Yeah, I believe Kuch is “extremely” “hurt” LOL.

I watched the series, he can barely move. Obviously point got injured but being in tears on the bench doesn't bode well for him. Trying to look at the positives...

 

[KW]

I watched the series, he can barely move. Obviously point got injured but being in tears on the bench doesn't bode well for him. Trying to look at the positives...

There are a few lying scoundrels I never trust or believe; Kuch is one of them.

Point is defino not faking it; can he heal up in a couple of days?

 

[FrolikFan67]

Verhaeghe-Barkov-Giroux seems to be a thing now, keep it together

4th line would be nice to have Lomberg-Luostarinen-Hornqvist

Middle 6 will be a little more interesting, probably Huberdeau-Bennett together on the 2nd but who will compliment them? Same with Marchment-Lundell on the 3rd. Do they keep Reinhart on the 3rd and try Duclair back on the 2nd to start? If duke isn’t working still, slide Reinhart up and Acciari on the 3rd? Mamin with his speed, skill, and size will also make a case.

D I think we have figured out now. Let’s just hope ek and chiarot are ok and just need a couple days

 

[CHGoalie27]

I really hope Point is ok.

I wanna see the boys kick his f***ing ass too.

 

[FlaPanthers11]

Kucherov is playing extremely hurt. There's little to no chance Point will play/be a factor. I'm already on cloud 9 but why not us at this point?

Problem with Kucherov is he doesn’t even have to move to tear us up. We give him all the time in the world from his office

 

[ucanthanzalthetruth]

Problem with Kucherov is he doesn’t even have to move to tear us up. We give him all the time in the world from his office

It's fair but compared to the a that was very close last year, Tampa lost their 3rd line and is (likely?) without Point, Florida added Giroux and has Ekblad back, I am feeling cautiously optimistic. It's hard to have watched that Leafs series and come away with the opinion that Tampa was the better team at any rate, Leafs lost because the Leafs are the Leafs.

 

[DaveG]

 

[Chessarmy]

Honestly brings me great joy that the Lightning took out the Leafs in seven in heartbreaking fashion (for them). f*** Toronto, f*** their fans and f*** their media. I hate everything about that organization and hope they never succeed.

Would much rather see the battle of Florida in round two anyway, rather than watching us against the always overhyped media circus clownshow franchise north of the border.

 

[BeezKnees]

It's fair but compared to the a that was very close last year, Tampa lost their 3rd line and is (likely?) without Point, Florida added Giroux and has Ekblad back, I am feeling cautiously optimistic. It's hard to have watched that Leafs series and come away with the opinion that Tampa was the better team at any rate, Leafs lost because the Leafs are the Leafs.

We didnt have Reinhart or Lundell either.

 

[Vilam]

Man, I feel bad for Leafs fans...

But goddamn am I excited for The Battle of Florida round 2! After waiting our entire existence for a series with Tampa, we get a second one just a year later? With Ekblad? With Reinart, Giroux, Chairot and more??? **** this is going to be some GOOD hockey!

 

[FlaPanthers11]

It's fair but compared to the a that was very close last year, Tampa lost their 3rd line and is (likely?) without Point, Florida added Giroux and has Ekblad back, I am feeling cautiously optimistic. It's hard to have watched that Leafs series and come away with the opinion that Tampa was the better team at any rate, Leafs lost because the Leafs are the Leafs.

I'm cautiously optimistic too. Biggest concern for me is getting Vasi'd a couple times. I actually expect some improvement on the PK compared to what we saw last year because in round 1 we actually did make adjustments to the PK. We were very aggressive on Ovi and I think we will/should do the same to Kucherov. It didn't work on WSH because Oshie just kept tipping it in but Tampa doesn't use that as much. I think if we limit Kucherov's time we can keep their PP under 30% - especially if Point isn't there to help quickly capitalize on the extra space

 

[FrolikFan67]

Hopefully the boys are hungry, removing guys like Yandle and Stralman on D and adding chiarot and Ekblad back, better goaltending, swapping wennberg for Lundell, adding giroux and Reinhart. If point is out and kucherov is not 100%, I’ll also be cautiously optimistic. I’ll believe tampa can lose a series when I actually see it happen

 

[zeroG]

Tampa saw what worked for Washington. They’ll play a similar game. Slow it down and rely on special teams. We’ll still have the better at 5v5. Have to capitalize on those chances.

Biggest key will be playing smart in two ways: 1. Obviously stay out of the box. 2. Don’t take yourself out of position for hits

Just play our game and try anything different on the special teams

he's only referring to the second half of the third period.

TBL doesn't play a 1-3-1 or 1-1-3 unless they have a lead late.

 

[needforspeed]

We took one huge step already, this is the next one. Will be one hell of a series but I believe on our chances. Tampa looks fully beatable and boys will go after them hard

 

[Vilam]

Leaf fan here. Expected annual chokejob complete. I said I was all in on the Panther train after you dummied us at the end of the season.

All in, baby. f*** it, I might just move there.

Sorry man. You've been a decent guy around here; glad to have you.

 

[FlaPanthers11]

he's only referring to the second half of the third period.

TBL doesn't play a 1-3-1 or 1-1-3 unless they have a lead late.

Yeah I'm moreso just wondering if they'll use it more in neutral game states/earlier in games in our series since they saw Washington slow us down pretty well with it. But we've seen them lock games down with leads before. Can't fall behind by too many in this series. The comebacks won't be as successful against them

 

[CanePanther]

I honestly think we grew up in the Cap series and overcame obstacles. We walk in now confident and determined and having home ice is a blessing. Panthers take out the lightning in 6.

 

[Chaos2k7]

Yep. He was the one saying we would be bounced in the first round and that Giroux would be a bust.

There was more than a few.

 

[CanePanther]

Panthers vs lightning will be the most watched series in the playoffs of 2022. Networks were salivating for Part 2.

 

[Chessarmy]

I think we can take Tampa. We have the energy advantage (Tampa has played a ton, A TON of hockey the last few years) and we had a chance to rest while they played a grinding and exhausting game 7 with Toronto. They're banged up. Meanwhile, we have a much better roster compared to the last time we met (Reinhart, Chiarot, Giroux, Lundell)

 

[KW]

I think we can take Tampa. We have the energy advantage (Tampa has played a ton, A TON of hockey the last few years) and we had a chance to rest while they played a grinding and exhausting game 7 with Toronto. They're banged up. Meanwhile, we have a much better roster compared to the last time we met (Reinhart, Chiarot, Giroux, Lundell)

True; but I always worry about “should win” paper analyses. Because hockey.

 

[KW]

Ross Colton said, “… the Caps-Panthers series coulda gone either way … we can’t overlook them [Panthers] for sure …”

Yeah keep yapping…

Lightning to play Panthers in Eastern Second Round | NHL.com

Tampa Bay eliminated Maple Leafs in Game 7; Florida defeated Capitals in six games for first series win since 1996

www.nhl.com

 

[Jean Luc Discard]

I honestly think we grew up in the Cap series and overcame obstacles. We walk in now confident and determined and having home ice is a blessing. Panthers take out the lightning in 6.

I think it'll go to 7 but the Panthers will proceed to the next round. Bring on the Lomberg Show.

 

[Fern111]

I think this is gonna be our toughest series.

If we manage to pull this out, I think we can carry this momentum all the way. If we don't, then there's no shame in losing to Tampa, we'll have done what we came to do in these playoffs.

It's a win/win.

 

[Jean Luc Discard]

I think this is gonna be our toughest series.

If we manage to pull this out, I think we can carry this momentum all the way. If we don't, then there's no shame in losing to Tampa, we'll have done what we came to do in these playoffs.

It's a win/win.

The 3rd and final rounds will be more about skill game but this next one will concentrate on who can work the refs, chirp the best, inflict more pain via cheap shots and borderline dirty hits, etc. It's gon' be fun. Jumbo vs. Perry.