Stanley Cup Talk

[kihei]

I don't know whom among us are paying a lot of attention to the Stanley Cup this year. But I thought a thread might be fun for those of us who are. Post whatever thoughts come into your pointy little heads.

I'm of course rooting for Toronto, but any Canadian team will do really as a Canadian team has not won the Cup since 1993 (Montreal). It doesn't look like it is going to be Montreal this year either, but their fans are going to have a fun club to watch in the coming years.

Midway through the first round and Washington, Carolina and Toronto have 3-1 leads in the East

Impressively all four Western Conference match ups are 2-2 right now. All have been entertaining dog fights, too.

 

[Fuhrious]

I’m rooting for Winnipeg, the team I’ve supported the longest by far. Unfortunately I think we’re hitting the point where it’s no longer a fluke deal and there is a legitimate argument that Hellebuyck folds under the pressure of the playoffs.

 

[sigma six]

I'm paying casual attention, watching bits of most games. Am impressed by the Wild, and would be good with the Jets coming out of the west also.
Would like to see Ottawa put up a long grueling fight against the Leafs but it looks like they aren't there yet.

Mostly want COL and EDM bounced asap because Philly holds their first rounders.

 

[kihei]

The ancient demons appear to be stirring once again in Toronto. The Leafs ran off to a 3-0 lead in the series but now Ottawa can even it all up at home on Thursday.

Carolina is the first team to advance and they looked very good doing it.

 

[Fistfullofbeer]

The ancient demons appear to be stirring once again in Toronto. The Leafs ran off to a 3-0 lead in the series but now Ottawa can even it all up at home on Thursday.

Carolina is the first team to advance and they looked very good doing it.

Yeah. The Canes and Panthers both look pretty good in the East. The Panthers have this mix of skill and physicality that makes for a real good playoff team.

The Leafs seem to have struggled scoring when not on the PP. They did great the first 3 games but once the PP goals dried up, the games have been closer. They have too much talent to not win this series though and I expect they wrap things up next game. However, it would be a lot more challenging going up against their next team. Maybe they have a chance against the Capitals whose PP and PK have been 3rd worst and 2nd worst through the playoffs?

I may not watch hockey as much as I used to but playoff hockey is so much fun.

 

[The Marquis]

Watch out for Dallas. I think that's a sleeper pick to win the whole thing and it'll destroy me.

 

[RainyCityHockey]

Watch out for Dallas. I think that's a sleeper pick to win the whole thing and it'll destroy me.

I don't think Dallas is a sleeper pick.

I think the winner of that Dallas vs. Colorado series will win the west.

 

[The Marquis]

I don't think Dallas is a sleeper pick.

I think the winner of that Dallas vs. Colorado series will win the west.

I say sleeper, because most people picked Colorado to win. I did not, I felt that Dallas is the better team. I also felt Landeskog coming back wasn't going to help.

I agree that one of those two should be winning the west. I just don't think the rest of the teams have the depth and toughness of those two. I sure wish they'd change up the playoff format a little.

 

[kihei]

I picked Colorado to win this series, and I am surprised that Dallas is doing so very well without Heiskanen...who is due to come back pretty soon, I think, potentially creating another big plus on Dallas' side of the ledger.

 

[Fuhrious]

I don't think Dallas is a sleeper pick.

I think the winner of that Dallas vs. Colorado series will win the west.

I was actually pretty impressed with the Kings chances after Game 2, since then not so much…

 

[Dead Coyote]

I want Ottawa to destroy the Leafs in glorious fashion. It might not happen, but that's what I want.

Also wanted Montreal to lose while we still have the chance. Plus Caps are an easy team to root for with Protas.

Florida/Tampa are the two I'm mostly rooting for this year, though I want to see Colorado and Carolina do well.

 

[Fuhrious]

Man Hellebuyck STILL looked slow and just off tonight, that goal by Snuggerud was a real Grubauer Special...

 

[The Marquis]

Man Hellebuyck STILL looked slow and just off tonight, that goal by Snuggerud was a real Grubauer Special...

He’s got to be hurt. He’s not himself. Does not bode well for the Jets.

 

[Kevinsane]

Man Hellebuyck STILL looked slow and just off tonight, that goal by Snuggerud was a real Grubauer Special...

I don’t know what the Jets were thinking starting him in Game 82 of the regular season. He’s a Vezina goalie, but also a human being, and wear and tear (as you and every netminder knows) is a thing. Muscle fatigue slows done skill sets.

 

[Fuhrious]

Senators can't manage to stay alive. Guessing they're probably a bit disappointed with Ullmark's .883 sv% over the series. Weird first round for most of the league's "elite" goaltenders.

 

[kihei]

Three point night for Nylander, the only Leaf supernova who regularly shows up for big games.

Colorado zipping around with a 2-0 lead after the first period, trying to force Dallas to a seventh game.

 

[kihei]

Henrik Lundqvist always looks like he wears the most expensive, perfectly tailored suits in the world, always impeccably turned out. He makes the other guys on the panel look like they bought their clothes at a Value Village second hand store.

 

[kihei]

What a second period from Dallas, now up 4-3. To add insult to injury, Rantanen scores the late go-ahead goal.

 

[Fistfullofbeer]

Henrik Lundqvist always looks like he wears the most expensive, perfectly tailored suits in the world, always impeccably turned out. He makes the other guys on the panel look like they bought their clothes at a Value Village second hand store.

It also helps that he is a very good looking dude ..

 

[kihei]

Colorado comes back with four goals in the third (two empty netters) to win a wildly entertaining contest 7-4 and take the series to a seventh game. If a Canadian team doesn't win the Cup, I hope the winner of this series does.

 

[Fuhrious]

holy hell Hellebuyck absolutely BRUTAL tonight