Teams that will rise, teams that will fall and teams that will self destruct this playoffs

[1specter]

Well tbf the leafs are 13th in NHL in GA/GP, and 7th in the eastern conference of the current playoff teams, only team worse is Montreal.

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Leafs are 4th in the league in 5v5 sv%. Their PK sv% is poor because the PK isn't very good (and a legit concern), and they've also given up a lot of empty net goals this year.

 

[NyQuil]

There are some outliers, mainly we had Hildebe and Matt Murray both let in 8 goals and are I believe the top team with goals against with an empty net which scews the numbers against.

Toronto is tied for 6th with 4 other teams, with 20 ENG against.

The teams ahead of them include Buffalo (24), Chicago (23), NYI (22), Nashville (22) and Seattle (21).

 

[1specter]

Leafs goalie are a product of their D--their D is dangerous part of the team. Leafs are proving yet again they are tied with another Canadian fan base at being thin skinned with any suggestion that goes against what they think.

Probably because you clowns can never get your story straight. First we hear the Leafs D is a joke and they're a product of their goalies. Then we hear their goalies are a product of their D lol. Then we're told the D and G both suck and they outscore their problems. Then we're told the forwards are overrated and can't get it done. So which story is it then?

 

[AvroArrow]

Leafs goalie are a product of their D--their D is dangerous part of the team. Leafs are proving yet again they are tied with another Canadian fan base at being thin skinned with any suggestion that goes against what they think.

I just think it's silly to say Leafs goaltending is an issue when their #1 goalie is literally top 5 in both save percentage and goals against average, but do you my guy LOL

You can bring up choking previous series, poor track record in the playoffs, stars failing to show up in previous years etc. I wouldn't refute any of those because they are valid points.

I mean maybe they lose in the 1st round again, it's very possible. But given I watch games and see how well Stolarz has been playing, I don't think goaltending would be their downfall.

 

[M88K]

Even with Heiskanen fully healthy, I wouldn't take their blueline over anyone but Montreal.

Depends on what you value i guess.
If Heiskanen is healthy there's not many, if any, teams with a better 1-3.
Almost every team has a better 4-6 though.

 

[hangman005]

I feel like Vegas could either go all the way or implode round 1. Their play from their skaters is arguably as good as the year they won the cup. But Hill and Samsonov are just so inconsistent. They'll live or die on how well they can insulate their goalie and how locked in the tender can be.

Pretty much, I'm just gonna go along for the ride and see where it ends up.

 

[X66]

Well tbf the leafs are 13th in NHL in GA/GP, and 7th in the eastern conference of the current playoff teams, only team worse is Montreal.

NHL Stats

The official source for NHL Stats including skaters, goalies, teams stats and more.

www.nhl.com

Stolarz on the other hand is top 5 in the league for GAA

Even then, GAA really doesn't matter that much.

Last year the Panthers had the best GAA and won the cup, but the Oilers were right there and their GAA is similar to the Leafs this year.

Vegas won the cup with the 11th best GAA league wide(similar to the leafs again)

Avs won the year before with the 9th best GAA league wide(similar to the leafs again)

Even if you average out the GAA of the last 5 cup winning teams it comes to 2.69

GAA between Stolarz and Woll(not counting Hildeby or Murray) was around 2.52.

Leafs do have legit concerns, but GAA isn't one of them IMO.

 

[Diglett]

Wouldn't be surprised if Edmittten is a first round exit or makes a return to the finals.

I do think Washington wins it this year.

 

[Golden_Jet]

I am aware. There are some outliers, mainly we had Hildebe and Matt Murray both let in 8 goals

All teams have bad games each year

and are I believe the top team with goals against with an empty net which scews the numbers.

They aren’t leading in empty netters against.
So wrong again, just like Matthews being 22 earlier today.

C’mon man, just start fast checking before you type. It’s never ending, it’s not that hard to check these things.

Lol @ Winnipeg needs to win 5 games to win a series now.

 

[HanSolo]

Pretty much, I'm just gonna go along for the ride and see where it ends up.

I've been riding a "whatever happens happens" mentality with this team since the cup win. The team has already vastly overperformed relative to even the most generous post expansion draft expectations. And I honestly thought with something like 40% roster turnover including some really central pieces, the team would decline hard this year. Them continuing to be this good is just gravy. Another cup would help solidify the VGK's standing as a staple in this city though. They already are but I feel like two championships would go a long way towards cementing more die hards for when the team inevitably has to rebuild.

 

[NyQuil]

Wouldn't be surprised if Edmittten is a first round exit or makes a return to the finals.

I do think Washington wins it this year.

It seems like Washington has been playing playoff hockey all year.

My concern with them is that they might run out of gas, but it doesn't seem that way.

 

[TheGreenTBer]

Wouldn't be surprised if Edmittten is a first round exit or makes a return to the finals.

I do think Washington wins it this year.

Edmonton has two irreplaceable X-factors that make them dangerous in every series.

The problem is that they will only go as far as that duo will take them.

 

[NyQuil]

They aren’t it’s TB and they still have the second best goal differential in the league, that’s crazy.
So wrong again, just like Matthews being 22 earlier today.

It's not Tampa Bay, it's Buffalo. Tampa Bay has SCORED the most empty net goals.

If you read all the posts in the thread, you'll see mine.

 

[inthe6ix]

View attachment 1010675

 

[NyQuil]

View attachment 1010703

I assume they are starting with him then.

 

[hangman005]

I've been riding a "whatever happens happens" mentality with this team since the cup win. The team has already vastly overperformed relative to even the most generous post expansion draft expectations. And I honestly thought with something like 40% roster turnover including some really central pieces, the team would decline hard this year. Them continuing to be this good is just gravy. Another cup would help solidify the VGK's standing as a staple in this city though. They already are but I feel like two championships would go a long way towards cementing more die hards for when the team inevitably has to rebuild.

I've been that way, even going to into the cup win, I was actually somewhat pessimistic that year, last season was frustrating, going out in 7, especially with Stone obviously not ready to be back probably the same with Hertl. I want to win more to see everyone else seethe though... maybe I'm in it for the wrong reasons

 

[Golden_Jet]

It's not Tampa Bay, it's Buffalo. Tampa Bay has SCORED the most empty net goals.

If you read all the posts in the thread, you'll see mine.

Ya I corrected mine, a couple of minutes ago thanks, searched against, no idea why for showed up. I have no issue being corrected.

 

[NyQuil]

I've been riding a "whatever happens happens" mentality with this team since the cup win. The team has already vastly overperformed relative to even the most generous post expansion draft expectations.

 

[kingsholygrail]

Kings getting swept. Same reasons they lose every season, can't score on the PP and can't stay out of the box.

 

[Connor MethDavid]

Dallas is too thin on the back end and I can see them being a fast out. I think Montreal is a fast out this year, too.

 

[TheImpatientBoomer]

How much experience did Matthew Tkachuk have before coming to Florida lol

You should know how important a goalie is come playoff time...
You guys blame them everytime

 

[HabzSauce]

Thank God Stolarz and Woll have lots of playoff experience.

I think leafs are in good hands with Woll. Small sample size but he's already shown he can step up in the big moments.

Stolarz is a wild card but he is just insurance. The net should belong to Woll game #1

 

[AvroArrow]

You should know how important a goalie is come playoff time...
You guys blame them everytime

Go read our old playoff threads lol it's not the goalie apart from Freddy Andersen, our stars always failed to score in the playoffs.

Besides I'm not worried about goaltending, no reason to this year it's been stable.

Question is, can the big guys keep playing well in a more physical, tighter checking game ? Question has always been about Matthews/Marner disappearing in the playoffs.

 

[1specter]

You should know how important a goalie is come playoff time...
You guys blame them everytime

The irony here is that you guys were ready to throw Bob into the ocean before he decided to play good again in 2023 playoffs. Dude was known for being ass in the playoffs outside of the one fluke series against Tampa in 2019.

 

[HockeyVirus]

Probably because you clowns can never get your story straight. First we hear the Leafs D is a joke and they're a product of their goalies. Then we hear their goalies are a product of their D lol. Then we're told the D and G both suck and they outscore their problems. Then we're told the forwards are overrated and can't get it done. So which story is it then?

Good luck getting a straight answer. Been trying for years.