[TREKER]

Originally Posted by cotmfk

Maybe I am a Wilson homer. He is a nice person IRL and he does a lot for the community.

I guess the CAR-NYR is now an actual series. That's a surprise to me. I thought after CAR was down 2-0 that they were done. I still think Rags win the series, but the Rags path to the Cup is not as clean as people were saying a week ago.

I still think the strongest team in the East is FL, who will lose to whoever makes it from the West...

Bruins put up a good game against the cats last night. Both series 3-2 now in east. Rangers should finish Canes but I think it could take 7.

West, Dallas looks like the best team to me.

FLA or NY will make it a great cup final against the west.

[UncleWede]

Originally Posted by cotmfk

Did you see the wild 3rd period come back (against them) yesterday?!?! 5 goals in a period!

I watched into the 2nd, got bored, and turned on Marco Polo. Then ESPN alerted me to what I missed at the end, even just the last minute or 2

[cotmfk]

Only one game last night - Colo stayed alive. I'm looking forward to the games tonight, and I'm expecting NYR to advance to the next round.

[T0RM3NT]

Originally Posted by cotmfk

Only one game last night - Colo stayed alive. I'm looking forward to the games tonight, and I'm expecting NYR to advance to the next round.

Dallas is pretty deep and well-rounded. It will take everything for the Avs to crawl back into and take this series. I have my fingers crossed for a win on Friday and then I am just hopeful for a competitive game following that back in Dallas.

Regardless of how it pans out, Cale Makar is an absolute freak!

[UncleWede]

Watching OT in Co

If you have enough goalie interference to wave off a goal, why is there no penalty??

[cotmfk]

Originally Posted by UncleWede

Watching OT in Co

If you have enough goalie interference to wave off a goal, why is there no penalty??

The league definitely still hasn't figured out goalie interference. There are some calls where a typical fan is like "yeah, that makes sense..." but there are a bunch still where it's debatable at best, or more likely people thinking it was the wrong call.


That recent Florida goal is a great example...

[cotmfk]

EDM-VAN tonight.... If VAN moves on, the turnaround story continues and the EDM misery tour continues....

If EDM moves on, EDM has a shot at reversing their recent playoff failures while the story isn't so bad for VAN (going from cellar dweller to competitive so quickly).

[cotmfk]

Losing Boeser to blood clots is tough. Still put up a good fight in the end.

[TREKER]

4 teams that should be in CF are there at least. I think it will be Dallas / Rangers in finals. Rangers in 6

[garyfried]

I am wading into this conversation very late but living near Edmonton makes me a huge fan. The Oilers have the oldest skilled team in the league with a will to win and the ability to pull it all off. A 7 game series only makes the team stronger and they are peaking at a good time. The Dallas series will be fun to watch.

[tranquility]

Ofc I wanted the Leafs but they suck, so havta support the last Cdn team.

[TREKER]

Originally Posted by garyfried

I am wading into this conversation very late but living near Edmonton makes me a huge fan. The Oilers have the oldest skilled team in the league with a will to win and the ability to pull it all off. A 7 game series only makes the team stronger and they are peaking at a good time. The Dallas series will be fun to watch.

Oilers weak on goaltending. That could be their undoing.

[cotmfk]

Originally Posted by TREKER

Oilers weak on goaltending. That could be their undoing.

There was a rumor in the DC area that the Oilers were interested in Charlie Lindgren from the Capitals. Oilers backed out because the price was too high (1 1R or multiple 1R picks was the ask, supposedly). If they end up going down due to goaltending, they may regret passing. I would think a 1R pick would have been worth it, but multiple picks maybe not. Maybe it was an escalating ask (conditional), such as: 1R if they are out in the first round of the playoffs, and multiple 1R picks if they win the Cup. Who knows.

[cotmfk]

Originally Posted by tranquility

Ofc I wanted the Leafs but they suck, so havta support the last Cdn team.

So many Marner trade rumors going around right now. I am assuming the ask will be high. Based on his playoff performances (or lack thereof, depending on your POV), plus the chastising he received from Nylander mid-game... I would stay away.

[cotmfk]

Originally Posted by TREKER

4 teams that should be in CF are there at least. I think it will be Dallas / Rangers in finals. Rangers in 6

I am biased towards FL, and I recognize that, but I think FL makes it and loses to whatever team from the West comes out - which I think will be Dallas.

I don't think NYR have played a particularly strong team in the playoffs yet. Caps just squeaked in (but I also think NYR would have cake walked past Pitts, PHI, or DET). Caps didn't hit or wear down NYR at all. Car was a bit tougher series, but even there I don't think NYR had much adversity. FL is a hitting machine, plays tough, and can play the game in different styles successfully. Both NYR and FL have good goaltending, D, and scoring ability. So it will be a good series/fun series to watch, IMO.

DAL-EDM ... Here's where I think EDM will be exposed. But, Connor Mc and Draisatl (sp) could see this as one of their last remaining opportunities to get it done.... and when a high-end, elite player has that mentality, they can get a lot done in a game and really inspire/motivate the rest of the team. I still think DAL gets to the SCF.

[TREKER]

Originally Posted by cotmfk

I am biased towards FL, and I recognize that, but I think FL makes it and loses to whatever team from the West comes out - which I think will be Dallas.

I don't think NYR have played a particularly strong team in the playoffs yet. Caps just squeaked in (but I also think NYR would have cake walked past Pitts, PHI, or DET). Caps didn't hit or wear down NYR at all. Car was a bit tougher series, but even there I don't think NYR had much adversity. FL is a hitting machine, plays tough, and can play the game in different styles successfully. Both NYR and FL have good goaltending, D, and scoring ability. So it will be a good series/fun series to watch, IMO.

DAL-EDM ... Here's where I think EDM will be exposed. But, Connor Mc and Draisatl (sp) could see this as one of their last remaining opportunities to get it done.... and when a high-end, elite player has that mentality, they can get a lot done in a game and really inspire/motivate the rest of the team. I still think DAL gets to the SCF.

Disagree with NYR not facing touch team. Caps,no... Canes were favored to win the cup this year. Rangers have been underdog in last 2 series. Dallas doesn't have the PK needed to go against a Ranger PP. Goaltending I give to Igor over Otter who has shown some weak games these playoffs.

I would like to see Oilers get in just for McDavid to get to the show, but Rangers would shadow him with a smothering D.

Hitting I have to give to Rangers and grit, Rempe sends message early on to FL it can set the tone. Crowd goes wild with him on ice.

But I would also like to see the Cats finally win one. The 96' run was very similar to last year. Being a Vanbiesbrouck fan, I have been to many games in FL and they have an entire area set up for the memorabilia from that run. Pretty cool to see.

[tranquility]

Originally Posted by cotmfk

So many Marner trade rumors going around right now. I am assuming the ask will be high. Based on his playoff performances (or lack thereof, depending on your POV), plus the chastising he received from Nylander mid-game... I would stay away.

You know what, his contract is pretty expensive and now overrated due to his recent playoff woes. However, I think if you look at his overall pts production post-reg season, it's still up there among the 'Core 4', but obviously he needs to be less scared/more physical/play more tenaciously, etc. I dunno anything about budgeting but if the Leafs can improve his game, ofc keep him. Dude is crazy talented and the main playmaker for #34.

[cotmfk]

Originally Posted by TREKER

Disagree with NYR not facing touch team. Caps,no... Canes were favored to win the cup this year. Rangers have been underdog in last 2 series. Dallas doesn't have the PK needed to go against a Ranger PP. Goaltending I give to Igor over Otter who has shown some weak games these playoffs.

I would like to see Oilers get in just for McDavid to get to the show, but Rangers would shadow him with a smothering D.

Hitting I have to give to Rangers and grit, Rempe sends message early on to FL it can set the tone. Crowd goes wild with him on ice.

But I would also like to see the Cats finally win one. The 96' run was very similar to last year. Being a Vanbiesbrouck fan, I have been to many games in FL and they have an entire area set up for the memorabilia from that run. Pretty cool to see.

You are right about the Canes being in the convo for winning the Cup this year. I just never really bought into it. I didn't think they had the goaltending and I didn't think they were tough enough.

The whole Rempe stuff is wild. He is a huge dude, and he just shows so much enthusiasm for the game. I hated watching him against the Caps (my team....ugh...) for obvious reasons, but it is really cool to see how much the NY crowd loves him and how much energy he brings to the game. If he fills out and has a bit more skill than I think he does at the moment, then... watch out. It will be fun/interesting to see how he develops.

Rangers goaltending is awesome right now. Obviously Shesterkin is playing well, but then you also have a completely rejuvenated Quick waiting in the wings...

The own goal last night was tough. I feel for the guy... it's always awful to score on your own team, but to do so in a close game in the playoffs is even worse.

[cotmfk]

Originally Posted by tranquility

You know what, his contract is pretty expensive and now overrated due to his recent playoff woes. However, I think if you look at his overall pts production post-reg season, it's still up there among the 'Core 4', but obviously he needs to be less scared/more physical/play more tenaciously, etc. I dunno anything about budgeting but if the Leafs can improve his game, ofc keep him. Dude is crazy talented and the main playmaker for #34.

Thanks for that perspective. Admittedly, I haven't watched a ton of Toronto games. I agree Marner is super talented.

[UncleWede]

Thru the 2+ periods I watches, F-Cats just were luckier, not better. But on away ice, that works!

[UncleWede]

Call me gay if you want, but Henrik is an good looking man!

[TREKER]

Originally Posted by UncleWede

Call me gay if you want, but Henrik is an good looking man!

Check out his new documentary on Netflix - Open Heart. Pretty incredible what he went through and why he ultimately decided to hang the skates up.