Playoffs Discussion 2023-24

[folatre]

I always liked Kulak, albeit in a third pair role.

McDavid has been a little snakebitten in the playoffs in terms of potting goals, so he must have been super relieved to get a redemption gimme on his blade in the second OT because winning game 1 on the road is really big, particularly for the confidence of Skinner.

[jkr]

Rangers score early ronight but Florida ties it on a late PP.

In between a number of big hits. Lol very levelled Zibinajad hard but the biggest was Kulikov on Wennberg when he caught him reaching. I thought it was late but he got away with an interference penalty.

Panthers aren't lettingbupmon the physical approach so I expect Rempe ( yes he's in the lineup) to try something before the game is over.

[jkr]

Still tied at one each.

Rangers at one point went over 10 minutes without a shot. They also squandered an almost 90 second 5 on 3.

Still tied at 1-1. Off to OT.

[PTH]

NYR won in OT.

Patrick Roy's record for consecutive playoff OT wins stays intact, tied but not beaten by Bobrovsky.

[seventeen]

Someone finally listened and roofed it. Bobs is 6',2" but that's about average for goalies today. You have to shoot high 90% of the time to beat these guys, or pick spots under their arms. Caufield is the expert at that and will make a good living off it.

Sure hope both teams have bruises, pulled groins, ligament damage, whatever. I want to see whichever wins arrive at the SC final venue in ambulances. (Where did you ever hear that I was a nice guy?) I am, if you don't cheat and you're not a goon and you have no affiliations with Colon Campbell.

[jkr]

I'm amazed how a douche like Trouba gets away with this crap over and over. He deliberately elbows Rodrigues in the head. He leads with his elbow. It's clearly an attempt to injure. After review - a minor penalty. To make matters worse Florida gives up a shortie on the PP.

Predictably Bieksa will defend it and McLean will agree. Does he ever have an opinion of his own? I hope McLean disappears from our TV screens when the Rogers deal expires. Ive switched to the ABC feed with Subban and Messier.

And please will someone wipe that smirk off Trocheck's face.

[folatre]

In the 2022 playoffs, he did the same thing to thing Crosby and the refs/review concluded oh well nothing to see here, so if greasy Trouba can knock Sid frickin Crosby out a playoff series with impunity then it goes without saying the refs and the league could care less about Rodrigues.

[jkr]

Sad but true. They try to mitigate their terrible call by giving Trouba an extra minor when it should have been 5 and a game.

I foresee open season on the Ranger stars. Panarin and Zibinajad - watch out!

[jkr]

Shot attempts 94 - 35 for Florida.

[folatre]

Rangers are lucky to make it to OT. The Panthers absolutely cratered them in the third. That period looked like Spring hockey last month when my son's team (2012 and 2011 birthdays) went up for a week against the Bantam boys.

[jkr]

Been a long time since my son played. How old are bantams?

[folatre]

New York may now start to feel the whole team of destiny vibe. Hockey is hard to explain at times. Florida was miles better in this one, but Shesterkin was the better man in net.

[jkr]

A deflection by Wennberg wins it for NY.

Panthers keep the Rangers stars in check but give up big goals to their 3rd & 4th liners.

[folatre]

In the US, bantam hockey is basically 13 and 14 year olds.

[jkr]

Bobrovsky allowed 5 goals on just 23 shots. Not often he's been outplayed but this game wasn't close in that respect . A .782 save % is pretty awful. I know there are a couple of deflections today but c'mon man.

[folatre]

Yeah, out of character performance for Goalie Bob.

My son said to me when the Panther had that power play with five minutes left in regulation where they just peppered Shesterkin from everywhere that probably New York will somehow end up winning in overtime. And how about Tkachuk blowing the most glorious scoring chance with under two minutes, man, it looked like he just heeled it.

[CentreHice]

May 26, 2024 18:00:39 GMT -5 folatre said:

Yeah, out of character performance for Goalie Bob.

My son said to me when the Panther had that power play with five minutes left in regulation where they just peppered Shesterkin from everywhere that probably New York will somehow end up winning in overtime. And how about Tkachuk blowing the most glorious scoring chance with under two minutes, man, it looked like he just heeled it.

After the Game 1 shutout, there was some possible Conn Smythe talk.

Back-burner that conversation for now...

[seventeen]

May 26, 2024 16:56:23 GMT -5 jkr said:

Sad but true. They try to mitigate their terrible call by giving Trouba an extra minor when it should have been 5 and a game.

I foresee open season on the Ranger stars. Panarin and Zibinajad - watch out!

So. No change from how the Panthers usually play?

Trouba has been doing this for years and Parros and Campbell have given him a trunkful of get out of jail free cards. He can elbow with impunity. Also, while Florida is a dirty team, they’re not tough. Sam Bennett might be their best fighter but he’s not a heavyweight. Arber eats his lunch every day. Pezzetta is even up with Bennett. Notice no one on Florida did anything to Trouba after an obvious intent to injure? They’re a chicken team.

[seventeen]

Kevin, Kevin, Kevin. Bieksa that is. I loved him as a Canuck dman and he's become a pretty good tv analyst type. But really, Kevin, elbowing is not determined by whether your elbow is going forward or backward, as you clearly showed tonight. That's like saying tripping depends on if the guy falls face first or back of the head first. I'm going to have to speak to that boy.

And the rest of the panel is a bunch of numnuts. Not one of them questioned his interpretation. Kelly Hrudey needs to go. I've been tuning him out for a year or two now. Bring in an entertaining goalie, like Ray Emery, or Ray Emery's ghost.

[jkr]

I can't watch that 1st period intermission show. I knew Bieksa would defend that Trouba play & bend over backwards to justify it. And what's with the panel? I know McLean has no spine but the others just stay quiet while another member of their panel defends a deliberate intent to injure play. Pathetic.

I saw a similar play in the world championships between Czechia and Sweden. As a Swedish player was going past him in the opposite direction Jan Rutta raised his elbow and nailed the guy in the chin. He had to be helped off the ice. After the refs reviewed it, Rutta didn't even get a penalty.

So the officials are clearly part of the problem. Instead of players being protected from predatory head shots, they will give the offender every break.

[Cranky]

Predators you say?

That is why i always recommend heavily deranged X Bros and assorted collection that will retaliate with vigor, passion and love.

[seventeen]

May 27, 2024 9:11:46 GMT -5 Cranky said:

Predators you say?

That is why i always recommend heavily deranged X Bros and assorted collection that will retaliate with vigor, passion and love.

When the 'Authorities" won't help, you have to help yourself. Bring on another X or two and let the other teams know the refs aren't going to help them. There was little reaction from the Panthers to that hit. I guess they 'retaliate' by always playing dirty anyway, so what could they possibly do to avenge the hit. What surprised me was Rodrigues returning to play. But sometimes concussions take a day to show themselves. After that hit, can't imagine his brain is fully functioning.

[jkr]

The "authorities" think the Trouba elbow is only with a $5000.00 fine.

[jkr]

OK, so Skinner has let them down again. Robertson scores a softie from almost behind the net. Stars now up 4-3 with about 7 minutes to go. Brutal.

[IamCanadiens]

May 27, 2024 21:57:53 GMT -5 jkr said:

OK, so Skinner has let them down again. Robertson scores a softie from almost behind the net. Stars now up 4-3 with about 7 minutes to go. Brutal.

And Nurse pitched in by taking an unnecessary penalty. The more things change, the more they stay the same.

[folatre]

Yeah, for sure, Skinner is wearing the goat's horns after that blunder. On the surface, he looks like a really good goalie -- big guy, decently athletic, not much to shoot at when he squares up. Unfortunately, he tends to go down and then stay down without much awareness where the puck is. Whoever is the GM in Edmonton next season, in what could potentially be Draisaitl's last season, needs to get the situation in net up to the level where it can challenge for the Cup.

[jkr]

Well it looks like Holland is there next year and he always seems willing to roll the dice with the most important position on the team. Jeez, how long did he stick with Mike Smith? And he thought Jack Campbell was the answer after he failed in Toronto? He keeps swinging and missing on goalies.

He's been gifted with the two most dominant playoff performers of their generation and it's been nothing but playoff disappointment year after year. If they don't rally and make the Finals I wouldn't be surprised if Draisaitl lets the contract lapse and goes to a team that takes goaltending seriously.

[jkr]

May 27, 2024 22:04:01 GMT -5 IamCanadiens said:

May 27, 2024 21:57:53 GMT -5 jkr said:

OK, so Skinner has let them down again. Robertson scores a softie from almost behind the net. Stars now up 4-3 with about 7 minutes to go. Brutal.

And Nurse pitched in by taking an unnecessary penalty. The more things change, the more they stay the same.

Ya, don't bear down and chase the guy, just stick out your foot and trip him - with time running out as well. Someone please explain to me how Nurse is a 9 million $ D man.

[CentreHice]

Allowing that caliber of goal at that time could very well be the turning point of the series.

Once again in Edmonton, the disheartening lack-of-confidence-in-your-goaltender is front of mind.

One more "gem" like that, and we'll likely see Pickard in the handshake line after Game 5.

[seventeen]

May 28, 2024 6:38:18 GMT -5 jkr said:

Well it looks like Holland is there next year and he always seems willing to roll the dice with the most important position on the team. Jeez, how long did he stick with Mike Smith? And he thought Jack Campbell was the answer after he failed in Toronto? He keeps swinging and missing on goalies.

He's been gifted with the two most dominant playoff performers of their generation and it's been nothing but playoff disappointment year after year. If they don't rally and make the Finals I wouldn't be surprised if Draisaitl lets the contract lapse and goes to a team that takes goaltending seriously.

I just realized recently that Hasek actually played in Detroit and won a cup with them in 2001-02. I was looking to see how many A goalies Holland has acquired or developed. Hasek was really the only one and he played 4 seasons for Detroit, split by one year in Ottawa. In his first Detroit season he was 36, The usual diet was Manny Legace, Chris Osgood and Jimmy Howard. Over his career, Holland has never really put much emphasis on goaltending. Each of those non Hasek guys were ok and Osgood was maybe a little better than average, but none of those non Hasek guys are going to the Hall of Fame.

Holland paid a stiff price for Hasek, obtained from Buffalo. He gave up Vyacheslv Kozlov, a 2002 first rounder and another later pick. But it paid off. Strange. That 01-02 team was loaded. Bowman the coach. They had Fedorov, Shanahan, Hull, Lidstrom, Robitaille, Chelios, Larionov, Yzerman, Holmstrom and a slew of quality depth guys too. In a non CAP world they could have kept that team together, but they didn't win another Cup until 07-08 with not nearly as good a line-up. Given the budget that Holland had to work with and the very lucky drafts of Lidstrom, Datsyuk and Zetterberg, you'd have to say he did a poor job of managing that team, to come away with just 2 Cups. They could have been a dynasty, and weren't.