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Post by jkr on May 13, 2016 20:50:57 GMT -5
I haven't seen Pitt make Vasilevsky do anything difficult at all. Crosby etc doing squat.
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Post by NWTHabsFan on May 13, 2016 21:46:12 GMT -5
This Eastern final is tough. Really do not like either team. Cooper is beyond annoying, and who can really cheer for whiney Pittsburgh? Both are playing well, but not easy to take.
Go Sharks!
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Post by seventeen on May 13, 2016 22:43:38 GMT -5
Go Sharks preferably. Go Blues secondly. Anyone but Tampa.
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Post by blny on May 14, 2016 0:18:23 GMT -5
Weber looked completely gassed out there. He was listless and wandering all over. Early in the Sharks series NBC showed a chart listing the amount of miles teams had racked up in just the playoffs. The Preds were far and away at the top with over 20000kms in a two week period. It was more than all Eastern teams combined. I can't recall for certain if it was more than all western teams combined as well, but it was way way more than anyone else. I'm always skeptical of travel excuses. In this case the players didn't have to run 20,000 km, they sat while some plane did all the work. You can't even blame time zones because every opponent would have faced the same issue. The Preds are a good team that just wasn't good enough. There are two key players who weren't at their career peaks...Rinne and Weber. Rinne has been a bit soft since even last season. There were valid comparisons between he and Carey for half of Carey's season of a lifetime, but after that halfway point, Rinne's been going downhill. WRT to Weber, the advanced stats guys have been saying he's not the same player he was in his prime. If he was paired with someone other than Josi, it might have been more apparent. Josi had a bad game yesterday too and perhaps he was worn out as well. When the World Cup of Hockey picks were announced earlier, I was annoyed that Weber was picked for the team, thinking he simply wasn't good enough. I still think that. There's no way he should be an automatic pick and PK be sitting on the sidelines. He isn't the player that PK is any longer. So what's the policy there? Can a player who has been chosen already be pulled off the team? If we go into the WC of Hockey with Weber in our top 4, it's a big problem. He's still a decent player, but he's no longer elite. Without getting into the WC roster debate, jet lag is a real thing. 20000kms of travel through one round was as little, little mind you, as 4 times that of other teams. Ten times others. Add in the extra travel in round, and the fact they're east of teams like Detroit, and it pinpoints an alignment issue in the league. |
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Post by seventeen on May 14, 2016 1:06:26 GMT -5
I agree that I don't like the way the teams are seeded. The team that works hardest in the regular season to succeed, should earn the weakest opponents, natural rivalries be damned. Those change all the time anyway, and usually involve teams that are fairly equal and meet each other often. While I was quite happy to see the Kings eliminated in round 1 it was a travesty that they had to face the Sharks. It just makes no sense, but it's hardly surprising. The NHL always puts what they think will generate more $$ ahead of what is right in sports. Where's a good socialist league when you need one?
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Post by franko on May 14, 2016 8:33:52 GMT -5
not that I'm following (you mean teams are still playing?) it would have been LA-Anaheim, which wouldn't have been an easy match either.
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Post by Deleted on May 14, 2016 10:35:42 GMT -5
Seeing the way Bishop has gone down in these past two playoffs makes me question his athleticism, particularly with regards to flexibility. He's a big body who's oafish in the crease.
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Post by seventeen on May 14, 2016 11:55:44 GMT -5
That's why I'm looking forward to see how he adjusts next year with the smaller equipment. Of all the goalies in the NHL, I think he's the one who's benefited the most from the current rules. Even Vasilevskiy looked awfully big when he came in to take over. He's 6'3", but he looked like a Lacrosse goalie. Funny how some goalies can look huge, while others of the same size don't. Price, to me, doesn't look like a Michelin Man, even though he's 6'2". I really think that's going to cost Tampa a few points next year, justly so.
PS. I agree with you, Mattias, that Bishop doesn't look like the type of athlete most NHL goalies are. He can't be a slouch, since it's still the NHL, but he's not even average in that regard.
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Post by jkr on May 16, 2016 7:45:50 GMT -5
That's why I'm looking forward to see how he adjusts next year with the smaller equipment. Of all the goalies in the NHL, I think he's the one who's benefited the most from the current rules. Even Vasilevskiy looked awfully big when he came in to take over. He's 6'3", but he looked like a Lacrosse goalie. Funny how some goalies can look huge, while others of the same size don't. Price, to me, doesn't look like a Michelin Man, even though he's 6'2". I really think that's going to cost Tampa a few points next year, justly so. PS. I agree with you, Mattias, that Bishop doesn't look like the type of athlete most NHL goalies are. He can't be a slouch, since it's still the NHL, but he's not even average in that regard. Lightning must be very concerned. This is now the 3rd playoff year that he has been injured. |
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Post by seventeen on May 16, 2016 9:51:35 GMT -5
And the latest injury is to his knee, which we know is problematic for goalies.
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Post by CentreHice on May 16, 2016 22:01:25 GMT -5
Vasilevskiy getting the job done, again.
Going into OT in Game 2. 16 saves in the third period.
If the Pens don't win this one...I think it's over....
EDIT: And Crosby with his 1st playoff OT game winner....very early.
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Post by Disgruntled70sHab on May 17, 2016 9:49:29 GMT -5
Not sure what to make of this year's playoffs ... I know I don't want Tampa winning it all ... it's personal in that I just don't like the team ... wouldn't mind seeing Pittsburgh win it all on a Cup-winning goal by Phil Kessel (take that Brendan Shanahan) ... wouldn't mind seeing San Jose win it all ... they've been close a few times now and I'd be pretty happy for Logan Couture and Joe Thornton ... then there's St Louis who are pretty much in the same boat as the Sharks ... wouldn't mind seeing them win it all just because I've always liked St Louis (as far back when my friends and I would refer to them as "Montreal Canadiens West") ...
Cheers.
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Post by NWTHabsFan on May 17, 2016 10:34:06 GMT -5
Although I am not watching much of the hockey right now, I definitely am all in for the remaining Western teams. I like San Jose and am glad to see St Louis finally shaking off some of that choker tag as well. Neither team has won the cup, and they are well built and deep teams. The East is a different story. I am sick and tired of Tampa Bay and Cooper. I have no desire to see them advance any further. Part of the problem is I have no interest whatsoever in seeing Pittsburgh win another cup. Too much Crosby, Malkin and Letang love-in throughout the media for my liking. I know one of the two Eastern teams has to advance, but I want a long and hard series. Given the type of teams left in the West, I really expect that could be a long and hard series as well. Neither team gives much to the opponent all that easily.
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Post by Disgruntled70sHab on May 18, 2016 6:55:20 GMT -5
I started out watching the Raptors but they eventually imploded ... the Blue Jays didn't fair any better ... anyone watch the SJ/STL game ... didn't watch all of the hockey game but SJ was just dominant ... they just seemed to want it more and STL didn't have an answer ... might tune into the game tonight ...
Cheers.
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Post by CentreHice on May 18, 2016 8:33:09 GMT -5
Blues hit a couple of posts….but other than that, the Sharks dictated the vast majority of the game.
Elliotte Friedman, 2nd intermission (paraphrased): I'm worried if I'm a Blues' fan. The Sharks outplayed them in Game 1 and are clearly in control tonight. Going to San Jose, it doesn't look good.
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Post by blny on May 18, 2016 13:07:55 GMT -5
Maybe the NHL highlight package made the game seem closer than it was, but the Blues had some excellent chances. Multiple posts, a big save by Jones on Schwartz, etc. I thought Elliot could/should have had 2 of the three goals he allowed. He got a piece of Wingels shot, but it went between the arm and body. Burns' second goal was a quick accurate shot to the far side of the net, but if Elliot does a better job tracking the puck he's more square to the obvious shooter.
I don't think there's any doubt that the Sharks group is showing more resolve than they've ever shown.
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Post by seventeen on May 18, 2016 13:11:35 GMT -5
The Sharks are definitely firing on all cylinders right now. They have an underrated defense, sort of. It's hard to underrate Burns or Vlasic, but they don't get a lot of exposure out East. Effectively, they're both #1 defensemen with Vlasic being better defensively and vice versa. Martin, Dillon and Braun are solid and Polak is well...Polak. Used in the right role, he's adequate. They're a surprisingly mature team. Their best players are in their 30's and much of the supporting cast is in mid to late 20's. Augers well for the Habs if they can manage the CAP.
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Post by CentreHice on May 18, 2016 16:14:17 GMT -5
Thornton will be 37 this July….if not now, when?
That's what I sense in the Sharks right now. Not "Win it for Joe!"….but the leadership REALLY wants it.
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Post by NWTHabsFan on May 18, 2016 16:59:12 GMT -5
I think the rest of the league's fans are getting a lot more exposure to just how good Jumbo has been with the Sharks and how deep this team is. They tend to play past the bed time of a lot of the casual NHL viewers.
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Post by blny on May 18, 2016 17:29:01 GMT -5
Thornton will be 37 this July….if not now, when? That's what I sense in the Sharks right now. Not "Win it for Joe!"….but the leadership REALLY wants it. Definitely. There's an air about it that if they win he may retire. "Win it for Lanny", as it were. |
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Post by Disgruntled70sHab on May 18, 2016 21:42:05 GMT -5
Pittsburgh is rolling tonight ... two quick goals by the Penguins and it's 4-1 ...
Cheers.
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Post by blny on May 18, 2016 22:28:11 GMT -5
That Pens second was dominant. Tampa could barely complete a pass and getting out of their end was extremely hard to do. Pittsburgh has a lot of speed, they're aggressive on the puck and everyone is committed to the back check - even Kessel.
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Post by seventeen on May 19, 2016 0:37:38 GMT -5
I think Sullivan has done an excellent job. I loved the fact that when he took over, the team didn't immediately do a 180 and start winning. It took a few weeks, meaning he really was making changes and it wasn't just an emotional, short term fix. I read somewhere that he made some adjustmentss after game 1 and we can see what the results are.
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Post by blny on May 19, 2016 5:57:38 GMT -5
I think Sullivan has done an excellent job. I loved the fact that when he took over, the team didn't immediately do a 180 and start winning. It took a few weeks, meaning he really was making changes and it wasn't just an emotional, short term fix. I read somewhere that he made some adjustmentss after game 1 and we can see what the results are. He did load up and put Malkin with Crosby. Kunitz, Sheary and Hornqvist rotated in and out. Kessel's line with Bonino and Hagelin has saved their bacon. It's been largely effective since being put together at the start of the team's run in the season. Bonino isn't a track star, but he's able to keep up with Hagelin and Kessel mentally. The latter two are speedsters. Really, that's the big difference. Sullivan has them skating. They're skating the competition into the ice. |
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Post by Deleted on May 19, 2016 9:40:00 GMT -5
Kessel's been putting points on the board. Tampa defense sleepwalking in this one--don't think this will be over in 5, though.
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Post by seventeen on May 19, 2016 16:21:22 GMT -5
Really, that's the big difference. Sullivan has them skating. They're skating the competition into the ice. The Sullivan comments I found interesting I think that's been a big part of the Pen's resurgence after Johnston. The players are doing what they do best, loving it, and playing hard as a result. |
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Post by CentreHice on May 19, 2016 21:40:46 GMT -5
Blues have been shut-out for the past 6.5 periods...
They haven't scored since the mid-way mark of the second period of Game 1.
What a time to go into a drought....for whatever reason....
2-0 Sharks after 2.
Blues appear rather listless. Came out strong in the first....but no real pressure to speak of.
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Post by blny on May 19, 2016 21:55:13 GMT -5
There was talk in the retool thread about the Blues having more depth in their top 9 than us. More size, yes. More sand paper, yes. Tarasenko aside, it's a team that is short on skill up front imo. The Sharks have the size to compete, and have them beat in the skill department. Steen, Backes, Berglund, Stastny; it's the same story every year. If you can withstand the physical barrage you'll be able to out skill them. It's what the Hawks were able to do in years passed. It's what the Sharks are doing right now.
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Post by Deleted on May 19, 2016 22:14:25 GMT -5
I haven't followed San Jose much, but I'm guessing that their goaltending's better than it's been. That helps.
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Post by blny on May 19, 2016 22:18:21 GMT -5
I haven't followed San Jose much, but I'm guessing that their goaltending's better than it's been. That helps. They got Martin Jones from the Kings. He's been steady, but not spectacular. He hasn't had to be. |
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