Stanley Cup Talk

[Kevinsane]

What a magnificent third period comeback from Dallas after MacKinnon scored in the first minute to make it 2-0. An, oh, the irony, that Rantanen has a hat trick and a four point period to rub salt into the wounds.

Rantanen with salt in the wound and a Game 7 for the ages.

 

[sigma six]

When he's on his game Rantanen is a force of nature, he can wreck teams. Good on Dallas to advance considering they were missing some heavy hitters the whole series.

 

[kihei]

Another unbelievable game. With the goalie pulled, Winnipeg scores twice in the last minute and 55 seconds to send Game Seven into overtime at 3 all. The tying goal was scored with 1.6 seconds left on the clock. Improbable even by fantasy standards.

 

[kihei]

In the second overtime, Adam Lowry, Winnipeg's captain, scores the winning goal on a tip that Binnington had no chance on. What a comeback, the perfect bookend for last night's game, though even a little more far-fetched.

Three Canadian teams in the Conference semis. Can't even remember the last time that happened.

Next day.....and the answer is: 2004.

 

[The Marquis]

I don't hate the Blues at all, but I sure do like the Jets winning that series. I don't see how they beat Dallas in 7 games, but I sure hope they do.

 

[Fuhrious]

Binnington is a pretty polarizing goalie in the league's current crop, but I gotta give him credit for a pretty impressive 1st round effort and a hell of a game 7. Dude stopped 43 shots, one goal bounced in off Suter and both Perfetti tips were incredible. Dont think he's getting enough credit imo.

 

[kihei]

Not even out of the second period of the first game of the series, but Rantanen has another hat trick, eight goals in all so far. I mean, damn, what a time to go on a blazing inferno of a hot streak.

 

[The Marquis]

Not even out of the second period of the first game of the series, but Rantanen has another hat trick, eight goals in all so far. I mean, damn, what a time to go on a blazing inferno of a hot streak.

Seems like Carolina might not have needed him but Dallas certainly seems like they do.

 

[kihei]

Seems like Carolina might not have needed him but Dallas certainly seems like they do.

Carolina kind of came out the loser, though, all things considered. Basically they gave up Necas, Rantanen, a 2nd round pick, and a 4th round pick for Stankoven, two 1st round picks that are likely to be in the mid to high 20s, and a 3rd rounder. Pretty ugly from that perspective.

 

[The Marquis]

Carolina kind of came out the loser, though, all things considered. Basically they gave up Necas, Rantanen, a 2nd round pick, and a 4th round pick for Stankoven, two 1st round picks that are likely to be in the mid to high 20s, and a 3rd rounder. Pretty ugly from that perspective.

Yeah. Feels terrible, but here they are, competing well in the playoffs and getting some assets. It’s weird that they didn’t get any worse.

 

[kihei]

McDavid setting up that winning goal in overtime against Vegas. He really is so special. There are moments, and that was one of them, when he really does seem in a league of his own.

 

[Fuhrious]

What an absolutely insane finish to that VGK/Oilers game. I mean, I wish a hole would open in the world and swallow both those teams, but still...what an ending.

 

[kihei]

Familiar pattern in the Toronto/Florida series. Except for Nylander, who actually shows up in the playoffs, the big money boys aren't delivering the goods. Marner with zero shots in the last two games looks especially weak. Game five may very likely decide the series.

 

[Fuhrious]

Jets look like cheeks on the road, saw a post in their subforum claiming they haven’t won a road playoff game since 2019. Had hoped they had turned a corner with how this regular season went and maybe cemented a fresh culture another year post-Wheeler but they’ve looked shockingly bad in most if not all of these playoff losses.

 

[Kevinsane]

Jets look like cheeks on the road, saw a post in their subforum claiming they haven’t won a road playoff game since 2019. Had hoped they had turned a corner with how this regular season went and maybe cemented a fresh culture another year post-Wheeler but they’ve looked shockingly bad in most if not all of these playoff losses.

It’s absolutely mind blowing. They are simply awful on the road.

 

[Fistfullofbeer]

Familiar pattern in the Toronto/Florida series. Except for Nylander, who actually shows up in the playoffs, the big money boys aren't delivering the goods. Marner with zero shots in the last two games looks especially weak. Game five may very likely decide the series.

I know Nylander is the best of the lot but Marner is not that far behind. Matthews is the lowest playoff producer of the 3 with Tavares further behind. Over the last 5 playoffs, including this playoff season.

Mitch Marner: 42 GP, 8 G, 33 A, 41 TP
Auston Matthews: 40 GP, 13 G, 26A, 39 TP
William Nylander: 39 GP, 21 G, 22A, 43 TP
John Tavares: 36 GP, 13 G, 10 A, 23 TP

 

[Fuhrious]

It’s absolutely mind blowing. They are simply awful on the road.

What's bizarre is how insanely fragile they look. Like as soon as that "kicked" goal was ruled good, you could see them literally just wilt. And I still dont understand how Hellebuyck can come off that great shutout and go right back to playing like an AHL journeyman. Like how as players does your confidence weather that degree of shift in play? It's just crazy.

 

[kihei]

I know Nylander is the best of the lot but Marner is not that far behind. Matthews is the lowest playoff producer of the 3 with Tavares further behind. Over the last 5 playoffs, including this playoff season.

Mitch Marner: 42 GP, 8 G, 33 A, 41 TP
Auston Matthews: 40 GP, 13 G, 26A, 39 TP
William Nylander: 39 GP, 21 G, 22A, 43 TP
John Tavares: 36 GP, 13 G, 10 A, 23 TP

I don't think it is just a number thing, though. I think it is also a "when" thing. My impression--I've never tried to statistically verify it--is that Marner tends to disappear the longer a series goes on--perhaps he is just not very clutch or perhaps greater familiarity makes him easier to defend. Whereas for Nylander an awful lot of his points seem to come in key situations when the Leafs need someone to step up (he has the same number of playoff goals in your sample as Matthews and Marner combined). I think if you took a vote of posters on the Leafs' gigantic board concerning whether Nylander or Marner was significantly the better playoff performer, Nylander would win in an absolute landslide.

 

[kihei]

Edmonton going to the Conference finals with a 1-0 win over Vegas in overtime. Not a lot of excitement in this game until the third period where both teams had good scoring chances.

Toronto loses a blow out at home against Florida. For most of the game, they looked like us at our worst. Do we really see any need for Marner?

 

[sigma six]

Toronto loses a blow out at home against Florida. For most of the game, they looked like us at our worst. Do we really see any need for Marner?

Even with a growing cap, I say no. Maybe if the Kraken were already a solid playoff team, but the timeline doesn't fit his post-prime years.
Then again, the Leafs are already a solid playoff team with him, and still they can't seem to get over the hump.

It's weird, because he has so much talent and he does play defense--why is he such a non-factor during the playoffs?
Let the Kings pay him.

 

[Kevinsane]

Marner struggles when things get physical. He still looks 15 years old, and while I’m sure he has pro athlete strength, he seems to shy away from utilizing it. He makes unforced mistakes, perhaps in fear of being pounded if he doesn’t get rid of the puck.
He’s such an effective player in the regular season, but such an enigma in the playoffs.

 

[Fistfullofbeer]

Marner struggles when things get physical. He still looks 15 years old, and while I’m sure he has pro athlete strength, he seems to shy away from utilizing it. He makes unforced mistakes, perhaps in fear of being pounded if he doesn’t get rid of the puck.
He’s such an effective player in the regular season, but such an enigma in the playoffs.

That's what I have read too. He needs space to work his magic and that is harder to get in the playoffs. You hear the announcers say "pay the price to make the play" all the time and Marner is not willing to commit to that.

 

[kihei]

Marner and Mattews seem to have a malignant symbiotic relationship in the Playoffs. One player's struggle effects the other. Don't know why the Leafs keep them together. Seems just plain, dumb stubborn to me. Sure, Marner isn't known for his chemistry with Tavares, but at this point, what do they have to lose?

Carolina took care of Washington pretty damn easily and looked awfully good doing it. They are in the conference final and have lost only two games so far to get there. That's a team that always seems to fly under the radar. Few fans pay much attention to them, but the Canes keep on track for another Cup run.

 

[kihei]

Well, it's a Cup, not THE Cup, but still good to hear. Tolvanen is tearing up the place at the World Championship with six goals and two assists in just five games.

 

[kihei]

While the narrative in Leafland is going to be how the team fouled the nest when it mattered most once again, the real focus should by on how Florida earned the victory with its smart, intense play (they had the first 25 shots of the game within seven minutes of the first period). The Panthers are a model of the kind of team that it takes to win the Cup, and that shouldn't be lost on the Kraken either.