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Post by seventeen on Apr 23, 2016 0:56:57 GMT -5
And Doughty only outscores Subban and Erik Karlsson by one point in the playoffs. These trophies are voted on before the playoffs, I believe, but Doughty wasn't the stud they needed him to be in the series. He's a great player, of course, but really isn't that great a scorer.
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Post by blny on Apr 23, 2016 15:57:39 GMT -5
Pens down early to Rangers, but 2-2 after one. Now 5-2 Pens late in second. Rangers can't handle their speed at all. Pens creating lots of chances for the trailer on rushes. They're picking top corners on Lundqvist almost at will. Pens supporting cast has been strong.
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Post by blny on Apr 23, 2016 16:00:21 GMT -5
Malkin to Rust on a 2 on 1. Now 6-2. Up high again, and Lundqvist looks even more defeated than the rest of the Rags.
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Post by blny on Apr 23, 2016 16:20:12 GMT -5
Lundqvist pulled again. Raanta starts third.
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Post by NWTHabsFan on Apr 23, 2016 16:40:30 GMT -5
Game, set, almost match (although I am watching the U18 semi).
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Post by blny on Apr 23, 2016 16:57:40 GMT -5
Pens eliminate the Rags. Final score was 6-3. Murray was forced to make some quality stops in the third as the rest of the Pens definitely let off the gas. Of note, when Sullivan was hired to be coach in December things really turned around. Not only did his star players start performing, but he inserted players from the farm team (of which he was coach) and they definitely injected life. Rust, Sheary, Kuhnhackl, and Murray all made contributions in the second half and certainly in the playoffs.
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Post by jkr on Apr 23, 2016 16:59:19 GMT -5
Eric Staal providing nothing for NY. 6 points in 20 regular season games. Zero in 5 playoff games. Some pundits were saying he needed a change of scenery but it didn't help at all.
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Post by blny on Apr 23, 2016 17:37:21 GMT -5
And Doughty only outscores Subban and Erik Karlsson by one point in the playoffs. These trophies are voted on before the playoffs, I believe, but Doughty wasn't the stud they needed him to be in the series. He's a great player, of course, but really isn't that great a scorer. Some interesting comments from LeBrun. The Kings defense was exposed. They lost Voynov due to his off ice issues. Martinez was lost to injury in game one. That meant that after the first pair of Doughty and Muzzin it gets pretty thin pretty fast. It would explain why Doughty was playing upwards of 35 minutes of a 60 minute game. Also of note, to some that Pierre spoke to, is the Kings lack of speed. They're big. They're bruising. But, they're slow. They lost clutch offense from Justin Williams (and some speed). They're going to have to address their defensive shortcomings and see if there's money to sign Lucic - both sides are interested in a new contract. The Sharks have the size to compete physically with LA, and they have more speed. Pavelski is a beast, and Thornton looked very good. Burns had 8 points. Clutch performances from newcomers like Donskoi and Jones, along with guys that can play "heavy" like Ward, and they have perhaps their best mix. I'm sure they'd love to see Marleau get going. Couture had a somewhat quiet 6 points in the series. They got a huge monkey off their backs winning this series. Credit needs to go to De Boer and Boughner. We'll see how the fair going forward, but they're feeling good right now. |
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Post by NWTHabsFan on Apr 23, 2016 17:42:21 GMT -5
I honestly thought the Sharks were the best overall team that the Habs played this year. Nice to see them drop the choker tag (for now). They are a better puck possession team than the Kings, who like to dump and chase and use their heavy bodies. SJ can do that too, but with an extra step.
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Post by PTH on Apr 23, 2016 18:43:40 GMT -5
Eric Staal providing nothing for NY. 6 points in 20 regular season games. Zero in 5 playoff games. Some pundits were saying he needed a change of scenery but it didn't help at all. I wonder how many million bucks he lost through not contributing in this series... I think many teams on the fence will now tend to back down from throwing a massive retirement contract his way. |
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Post by PTH on Apr 23, 2016 20:58:32 GMT -5
Weise just scored a goal off a Panarin pass.... I couldn't help but think those two could've combined for a few on the Habs this season...
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Post by blny on Apr 23, 2016 21:34:35 GMT -5
No sooner did I comment that if the Hawks lost the series based on losing all three home games, then they stormed back from 3-1 down. They're up 4-3 in the third, but the ice is tilted into their end at the moment.
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Post by blny on Apr 23, 2016 21:45:58 GMT -5
After weathering storms, Shaw has scored on a PP with 3 mins left. 5-3. Looks like game 7.
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Post by CentreHice on Apr 23, 2016 22:01:52 GMT -5
Any chance Hitch gets the axe if the Blues lose Game 7 at home, after having a 3-1 series lead?
I ask because there was speculation of the boot last year, after bowing out to the Wild 4-2 in Round 1.
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Post by blny on Apr 23, 2016 22:36:10 GMT -5
Any chance Hitch gets the axe if the Blues lose Game 7 at home, after having a 3-1 series lead? I ask because there was speculation of the boot last year, after bowing out to the Wild 4-2 in Round 1. Possible. When you look at how the team has performed in the series, there are trends. Pros: Tarasenko. He's the straw that stirs their drink. Pietrangelo. Their best defender. Shattenkirk behind him. Schwartz has had something of a coming out party. He should only get better. Fabbri is engaged enough that you hear his name a lot, but I don't know if that will translate into production. Parayko is a good young player. Could be another Weber. Elliott had a great regular season, and despite the gaa in this series he's made big saves and hasn't given up stinkers. Cons: All of the old guard imo. Backes, Stastny, Steen, Bouwmeester (for all the love that McGuire gives him), etc; they can all go. The team might have a lean year as a result, but I think they'd be better for it. None of these guys are able to raise their game when it counts. None of them. Backes is a UFA, and I'd let him walk. Someone will throw money at him, but in reality he's a 3rd line center making $4.5 million. His whole offensive game is bull in a china shop. If he's not banging and crashing, he's not effective. Come the playoffs, when everyone is banging and crashing, his game becomes less noticeable. If they could find a taker for Bouwmeester, I'd do it. He's 32 and has 3 more years at $5.4 million. The NTC will be tough though. Stastny is almost immovable. $7 million hit for two more years and spiraling production. If they eat half, maybe they find a team looking for a second liner. I'm just not sure what another coach can do with that group. The vets are too comfortable and don't step up. |
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Post by jkr on Apr 24, 2016 7:05:14 GMT -5
Any chance Hitch gets the axe if the Blues lose Game 7 at home, after having a 3-1 series lead? I ask because there was speculation of the boot last year, after bowing out to the Wild 4-2 in Round 1. I think they made it this far in part because of Hitchcock. They lost let year IMO, because Jake Allen was lousy. I think the analysis of BLNY is very accurate. I've always expected more from Backes in the playoffs but never seen it. And I've never understood the love Team Canada has for Bouwmeester. The guy eats minutes but he's not a difference maker. |
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Post by jkr on Apr 24, 2016 7:07:50 GMT -5
After winning the 1st two games, Nashville loses their 3rd game in a row. Will likely be eliminated in the next game.
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Post by CentreHice on Apr 24, 2016 11:00:33 GMT -5
Any chance Hitch gets the axe if the Blues lose Game 7 at home, after having a 3-1 series lead? I ask because there was speculation of the boot last year, after bowing out to the Wild 4-2 in Round 1. I think they made it this far in part because of Hitchcock. They lost let year IMO, because Jake Allen was lousy. I think the analysis of BLNY is very accurate. I've always expected more from Backes in the playoffs but never seen it. And I've never understood the love Team Canada has for Bouwmeester. The guy eats minutes but he's not a difference maker. With a 3-1 lead you HAVE to bury the other team, especially after the regular season the Blues had. It's not as if Crawford has been relied upon to steal games a la Halak vs. Washington. Yeah, I suppose in the Blues' case, you'd have to look at players not rising to playoff height. While the Blackhawks have several players who ARE proven playoff performers…. |
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Post by seventeen on Apr 24, 2016 11:21:34 GMT -5
The Blues are back where they belong...as underdogs. It seems that when expectations rise, they can't seem to push through. Which makes me think they might win back at home now that the media will go all out on the "Hawks are awesome" theme. I'd like to see that. Time for change. (Not to mention the heartburn it would give Bettman if the 3 largest US tv markets are all eliminated).  |
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Post by seventeen on Apr 24, 2016 11:24:50 GMT -5
Any chance Hitch gets the axe if the Blues lose Game 7 at home, after having a 3-1 series lead? I ask because there was speculation of the boot last year, after bowing out to the Wild 4-2 in Round 1. Hitchock doesn't seem to get the goaltending he needs on his teams (except for his Dallas cup win). Having said that, there's a conflict between he and Tarasenko right now. Tarasenko was really miffed at not getting on the PP last night. His ice time is also remarkably (17-18 Min?) given how good he is. Troy Brouwer has more ice time, but that may be a reflection of all coach's love for their defensively responsible players. If you don't take risks, though...you don't win. |
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Post by blny on Apr 24, 2016 11:40:21 GMT -5
Any chance Hitch gets the axe if the Blues lose Game 7 at home, after having a 3-1 series lead? I ask because there was speculation of the boot last year, after bowing out to the Wild 4-2 in Round 1. Hitchock doesn't seem to get the goaltending he needs on his teams (except for his Dallas cup win). Having said that, there's a conflict between he and Tarasenko right now. Tarasenko was really miffed at not getting on the PP last night. His ice time is also remarkably (17-18 Min?) given how good he is. Troy Brouwer has more ice time, but that may be a reflection of all coach's love for their defensively responsible players. If you don't take risks, though...you don't win. Talk on the Blues board at HF was that the Blues went into a shell when they got the 3-1 lead. I didn't notice it, so much as I saw the Hawks wake up. Perspectives I guess. If Hitch was playing Brouwer more in the second, attempting to protect the lead, that would explain the ice time. Hitch certainly wasn't coaching that way in the third. The Blues carried the play for almost 15 minutes (up to the 5-3 goal). |
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Post by blny on Apr 24, 2016 14:17:44 GMT -5
Caps exorcise a demon or two with a 1-0 series clinching win. If the Flyers had any offense at all, they could have pushed it to 7 games. Giroux, Simmonds, Voracek and Schenn had pretty awful series. Flyers' best line throughout was likely their 4th line. As effective as they were, you're not winning a series when that is the case. Couturier was a big loss, but they had 4 guys that needed to step up and they didn't.
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Post by jkr on Apr 24, 2016 17:14:40 GMT -5
Dallas goes into the 3rd with a 4-0 lead & barely hangs on for a 5-4 win to advance. Can't see them going that far with that kind of defense & goaltending.
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Post by folatre on Apr 24, 2016 20:16:23 GMT -5
I have a client who is huge Rangers fan. He is stay the course kind of believer in their blueprint, so it will be interesting if the cruelest month April has shaken his faith.
I would be worried. The core is somewhat older than Habs and there are a few veterans (Nash, Girardi, d-man Staal, and 2016 playoff version of Lundqvist) performing well below the contract level.
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Post by blny on Apr 24, 2016 21:00:55 GMT -5
Huge late goal by Tavares to tie and send to OT. CBC showed two trips by Islanders players on Panthers in the Islanders end and a great play by Leddy to keep the puck out of the empty net and then lead the rush up ice that led to the goal.
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Post by Skilly on Apr 24, 2016 21:20:40 GMT -5
Two things have been brutal the last two games in the FLA-NYI series .... Refereeing consistency and Florida's passing
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Post by blny on Apr 24, 2016 21:43:17 GMT -5
Two things have been brutal the last two games in the FLA-NYI series .... Refereeing consistency and Florida's passing Given what got called in the OT in game 5, and the fact all of this game the players have been allowed to do whatever they want, you can understand why the Panthers might be a bit ticked. That first OT was DOMINATED by the Islanders. I was waiting for the Panthers to score the proverbial ugly one at the other end. |
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Post by blny on Apr 24, 2016 22:09:11 GMT -5
Tavares ties, and wins it. Great goal for the winner too. Islanders first series win since 93.
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Post by Skilly on Apr 24, 2016 22:10:06 GMT -5
Luongo makes a good save and then just watches Tavares corrale the rebound. His reaction was as slow as I've ever seen a goalie
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Post by blny on Apr 24, 2016 22:23:58 GMT -5
Luongo makes a good save and then just watches Tavares corrale the rebound. His reaction was as slow as I've ever seen a goalie I think his reaction had as much to do with the initial shot as anything. Tavares has perhaps the best release in the league. Luongo makes a reaction save off the bottom of his left leg, likely never seeing the puck at all. Tavares is in full stride and the puck comes right back to him. His angle naturally takes him around the net. |
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