NHL Playoffs

[Merlin]

Real impressive game thus far between Blues/Preds. Blues had a lot of quality chances early but losing. This series is going to be nasty I think because both goalies are playing very well. Rinne in particular had a record series vs Chicago, his metrics in that one were insane and vs #1 seed. Allen was lights out in a few of the games in the series and the difference vs Minnesota.

Preds starting to remind me of the 2012 Kings squad that ran the table. Should be a really good series though, I expect this one to go 7 games.

 

[Ramhusker]

Enjoying Game 1 of Rangers/Senators as Rangers try to advance to Conference Finals 4 of the last 6 years. Pretty good run by the Rangers!!!!!!

 

[RhodyRams]

I don't want to talk about this anymore

 

[Merlin]

Enjoying Game 1 of Rangers/Senators as Rangers try to advance to Conference Finals 4 of the last 6 years. Pretty good run by the Rangers!!!!!!

Sens have been real consistent with their ability to lock up the neutral zone, Rangers are scrappy and have a coach I think is as good as any. This series is going to be really good.

Really surprised me that the Oilers won the first game of their series, as I have that sinking feeling the Ducks are going to win it all.

 

[Merlin]

I don't want to talk about this anymore

Kings fan here, so my team didn't even get in. All I have left is hate.

And even worse, with Vegas' team loading up I'm slowly realizing I'm going to have to start rooting for my new home team. It's tough man, been a Kings fan since the year they drafted Luc and Jimmy Carson, but the Knights' practice facility will be down the street from my house; it's a home team in every respect.

Kind of makes me wish they had moved another team to Vegas, as I wouldn't have this quandary. But no, they had to give us a brand new team sigh.

 

[Ramlock]

Pens - Caps exactly what you would expect from a Stanley Cup final

 

[Ramlock]

Ladies and Gentlemen, Elvis has just left the building

6-2 ass whipping to the best team in the NHL

Beaten like a rented mule....

 

[T-REX]

Crosby-less PENS showed up and took it to the Caps 3-2 going up 3-1 in the series and headed to Washington to close it out!

They looked good last night but they'll look great once Crosby is back on the ice.

GO PENS!

 

[Memento]

Blues lost. They ran into a tougher goalie than ours. Them's the breaks. At least we have two first round picks this year.

 

[Ramlock]

Blues lost. They ran into a tougher goalie than ours. Them's the breaks. At least we have two first round picks this year.

Good series

Preds are smokin' hot right now

 

[T-REX]

Tough loss for the PENS Saturday night, lost the lead twice and the CAPS put it away in the 3rd. Must win tonight on home ice at the PPG. A loss tonight might be too much to overcome in Washington game 7.

 

[CGI_Ram]

Blues lost. They ran into a tougher goalie than ours. Them's the breaks. At least we have two first round picks this year.

They were fun to watch these playoffs. Like @Ramlock said... Nashville is a buzz saw right now and the Blues gave them a good fight.

 

[Ramlock]

Tough loss for the PENS Saturday night, lost the lead twice and the CAPS put it away in the 3rd. Must win tonight on home ice at the PPG. A loss tonight might be too much to overcome in Washington game 7.

Another tough one tonight.

Penguins haven't been the same team since Crosby came back and the Caps have played well.

Out of rhythm.

Pens have not had enough offensive zone time and the shots against are catching up.

Fleury was good; guys in front of him were not.

 

[Faceplant]

LETS GO CAPS! LETS GO CAPS! LETS GO CAPS!!!!!!!!!

 

[T-REX]

Another tough one tonight.

Penguins haven't been the same team since Crosby came back and the Caps have played well.

Out of rhythm.

Pens have not had enough offensive zone time and the shots against are catching up.

Fleury was good; guys in front of him were not.

It's not looking good for the chance of a repeat. PENS looked sluggish last night and Crosby has been getting punished. They need to regroup and play a solid game Wednesday to have any chance against the hot CAPS. Game sevens anything can happen.

 

[HeiseNBerg]

It's not looking good for the chance of a repeat. PENS looked sluggish last night and Crosby has been getting punished. They need to regroup and play a solid game Wednesday to have any chance against the hot CAPS. Game sevens anything can happen.

7 shots on goal after 2 periods -- are you kidding me?!? They needed to throw everything PLUS the kitchen sink at Holtby.

Hainsey's play is really starting to piss me off, too. I'd like to see Sully give him a healthy scratch in favor of Mark Streit for Game 7.

My thoughts when this series started: Pens need to win it in 6 (or less) or else they're done. Caps have all the momentum now -- and they'll have their home crowd behind them tomorrow night.

 

[T-REX]

Penguins are lucky to escape the first 5 minutes of the game. They came out with a hangover from game 6.

Fleury with a veteran move asking for his skate to be repaired which slowed everything down giving the Penguins a chance to re-group.

They shook off the rust and went to work the rest of the way! The repeat is still in play! Bring on the Senators!

 

[HeiseNBerg]

Thoughts after Game 7:

What's better than a Game 7 win?!? A GAME 7 SHUTOUT WIN!!! Fleury was playing out of his mind last night -- having Matt Murray back, waiting in the wings, might have provided a spark for MAF to step up his game. Whatever the reason, he acquitted himself well after cooling off late in Game 5 and looking dismal in Game 6.

A lot has been made over the absence of Kris Letang -- and the concern is valid. But Brian Dumoulin stepped up HUGE last night -- he made sure Ovechkin had very little space to work with. And the hit he laid on Ovie was a nice bonus -- oh, those crazy 8's.

Sticking with the blue-liners: you know who has quietly been having a monster postseason? Ian Cole -- that's who. With Letang and Daley out of the lineup, Cole has stepped up his game big time. Most of his contributions won't show up on the stat sheet, but he's been consistently doing the little things that set the table for the BIG things to happen. Take Bryan Rust's goal -- that happened because Cole made a great play to keep the puck in, as the Caps tried to clear.

On to the Eastern Conference Final:
DO NOT UNDERESTIMATE the Ottawa Senators -- they're one of those teams that isn't flashy, but manages to do enough to get the win. Here's hoping that Trevor Daley will be able to return at some point in the ECF.

LET'S GO PENS!!!

 

[T-REX]

Sticking with the blue-liners: you know who has quietly been having a monster postseason? Ian Cole -- that's who. With Letang and Daley out of the lineup, Cole has stepped up his game big time. Most of his contributions won't show up on the stat sheet, but he's been consistently doing the little things that set the table for the BIG things to happen. Take Bryan Rust's goal -- that happened because Cole made a great play to keep the puck in, as the Caps tried to clear.

What was your take on Olli Maatas' play last night? There were a few time during the game when I was screaming at the TV to take him out. I agree with you that Ian Cole has stepped up his game and deserves more TOI.

 

[HeiseNBerg]

What was your take on Olli Maatas' play last night? There were a few time during the game when I was screaming at the TV to take him out. I agree with you that Ian Cole has stepped up his game and deserves more TOI.

Maatta was a little Jekyll & Hyde last night -- he had his moments struggling with the puck where it should've been an easy dish to clear it. But then he also had some solid moments where he rode the forward right off the puck.

To me, the weak link on the blue line this postseason has been Ron Hainsey -- dude plays like his elbows are glued to his rib cage. I understand that it can get a little rough in close quarters on the boards, but his puck-handling in OPEN space has been less than satisfactory. If Sullivan was willing to healthy-scratch Tom Kuhnhackl for Carter Rowney (which wasn't necessarily a bad move, even though I like the way Knuckles plays), then he should be willing to give Hainsey the hook and let Mark Streit get some playoff action too.