2017 NHL Playoffs

Post by **brian** » Wed Apr 12, 2017 11:16 am

BSF21 wrote:
brian wrote:That is an exceptionally dumb idea for a hockey arena.

I've heard of selling "standing room" for football and baseball, but usually they at least have a dedicated area for standing room people (and a lot more room in the concourses, etc. to support an extra few hundred people who don't have seats.
The UC does this and while I've heard it's not a great way to see the game, it's an actually area for SRO, like a terrace, that everyone goes to. I'm with you guys, this is an exceptionally dumb idea.

Now that I think about I remember Joe Louis did sell some standing room only seats for playoff games, but like you said they had a dedicated "standing room" area and I don't think they sold more than about 50 or 60 of those seats.

sancarlos · Post by **sancarlos** » Wed Apr 12, 2017 12:27 pm

I'm surprised that so many of you guys picked the Sharks over the Oilers. Frankly, I only did so out of my fandom.

Realistically:
1. The Sharks enter the playoffs having lost 9 of their last 12 games.
2. Two of those losses were to the Oilers, one at home.
3. Edmonton enters on a winning streak and have won 12 of their last 14 games.
4. Joe Thornton backtracked on his prediction that he'll be ready today for the start of the playoffs. Now, he's "day-to-day". He's got a fucked up knee, and when he does come back, it's likely he won't be the real Joe Thornton, going hard into the corners.
5. Logan Couture’s mouth looks like a collapsed mine. He will have to face the Oilers with more than the usual hockey dental issues. After the postseason, it’s likely that seven or eight of his teeth will have to be pulled and replaced. He says it is "hard to breathe".
6. Thornton and Couture are two of the Sharks' four best skaters. Couture was the NHL's leading scorer in the 2016 playoffs. The Sharks don't get a lot of scoring from their 3rd and 4th lines.

degenerasian · Post by **degenerasian** » Wed Apr 12, 2017 12:49 pm

Sharks have Jones and Burns. In fact I really like the Sharks defense of Burns, Vlasic, Martin and Dillon. Schelmko is pretty dynamic too.
Pavelski, Marleau, Ward.. so much experience.

Oilers have no goalie and no defense. I think Talbot is on fumes. 73 starts this year!

sancarlos · Post by **sancarlos** » Wed Apr 12, 2017 12:56 pm

degenerasian wrote:Sharks have Jones and Burns. In fact I really like the Sharks defense of Burns, Vlasic, Martin and Dillon. Schelmko is pretty dynamic too.
Pavelski, Marleau, Ward.. so much experience.

Oilers have no goalie and no defense. I think Talbot is on fumes. 73 starts this year!

I really hope you're right!

bapo! · Post by **bapo!** » Wed Apr 12, 2017 1:12 pm

sancarlos wrote:I'm surprised that so many of you guys picked the Sharks over the Oilers.

Part of it is the old-school, sentimental way of thinking, that the Oilers are inexperienced and that the Sharks Have Been There Before. All of these guys have played high-pressure games in juniors and internationals and the NHL, so I don't know how much water that holds. But the playoffs are definitely different than the regular season.

Also, I'm just trying to maintain my expectations/excitement.

Enjoy the series, sancarlos. This is going to be a fun one.

sancarlos · Post by **sancarlos** » Wed Apr 12, 2017 6:35 pm

rass · Post by **rass** » Wed Apr 12, 2017 6:49 pm

Was so confused when I just threw the game on the radio....

mister d · Post by **mister d** » Wed Apr 12, 2017 8:04 pm

Always forget how much I truly don't enjoy this.

rass · Post by **rass** » Wed Apr 12, 2017 8:24 pm

mister d wrote:Always forget how much I truly don't enjoy this.

Hahahhahahaha. Sucks to care!

degenerasian · Post by **degenerasian** » Thu Apr 13, 2017 12:11 am

A good opening night all around.

BSF21 · Post by **BSF21** » Thu Apr 13, 2017 6:47 am

degenerasian wrote:A good opening night all around.

Speak for yourself. I'm a zombie because of that MN/STL game. Jake Allen played the game of his fucking life.

mister d · Post by **mister d** » Thu Apr 13, 2017 8:37 am

rass wrote:Hahahhahahaha. Sucks to care!

J-Lo knows what I mean.

rass · Post by **rass** » Thu Apr 13, 2017 9:11 am

degenerasian · Post by **degenerasian** » Thu Apr 13, 2017 10:00 am

there should be an afternoon game tomorrow, so we don't have to be zombies.

Probably STL-MIN

sancarlos · Post by **sancarlos** » Thu Apr 13, 2017 10:29 am

Pleasantly shocked by the Sharks. After getting beaten twice by the Oilers recently, they outshot them 44-19 tonight enroute to the win. wtf?

mister d · Post by **mister d** » Thu Apr 13, 2017 10:51 am

Yeah, I would love to see an analysis of series prices of teams heading into the playoffs with a key, relatively late season injury. Always seems to overskew, like the Pens roster is trash without Letang or Sharks without Thornton.

(Later on, or if its an unloseable player (say McDonagh for the Rangers), sure, but in a first round series where a favorite should just become a less heavy favorite, I bet there's money to be made.)

Nonlinear FC · Post by **Nonlinear FC** » Thu Apr 13, 2017 10:51 am

Most people looking at that series pointed to the fact that SJ has a lot of playoff experience.

As a Caps fan, I know all too well that a regular season of flying around getting a lot of great looks is fun... But it doesn't mean shit in the playoffs when just about all of that free wheeling stuff gets shut down. Defense is at a completely different level. I know you guys know this, but I think a lot of pundits and casual fans are too quick to port the regular season over to the playoffs and that's just not how this shit works.

Which, btw, is why I think this version of the Caps going up against a Leafs team -- that looks a lot like the 07-08 Caps -- is a favorable match-up for the Caps. Young guys that have not had a lot of playoff experience are in for a rude awakening when the intensity kicks into a higher gear.

There's a lot of pressure on the Caps. They can either take that and play with intensity/desperation, or they will tighten up and let the goalmouth shrink exponentially.

We'll find out in 7 hours and 14 minutes (give or take a minute or two.)

rass · Post by **rass** » Thu Apr 13, 2017 12:16 pm

LBI for Murray, no timetable for his return. In related news:

12:24: But Fleury is human and finally is beaten by an Evgeni Malkin shot. All good things come to an end, I guess.

12:24: Fleury just made a glove save on a Crosby backhand that stopped every player on the ice to let out a yell just now. Goodness.

12:21: So, this needs to be said. Fleury has never been a great practice goalie. It’s just not his thing. But I don’t believe he’s given up a goal so far in today’s workout. He just looks locked in. Just robbed Jake Guentzel, then tossed the puck in the air and punted it 60 feet. He’s feeling good.

mister d · Post by **mister d** » Thu Apr 13, 2017 12:42 pm

04-14-17, 7:19 PM: Dubinsky scores on dump in from opposite blue line.

"Did Fleury Use Up All of His Saves in Practice?"

rass · Post by **rass** » Thu Apr 13, 2017 12:47 pm

Saves are a renewable resource. Like MAF's smile.

sancarlos · Post by **sancarlos** » Fri Apr 14, 2017 6:43 pm

just heard this exchange.

ANNOUNCER 1: Shea Weber joined the Canadiens in the big trade for P.K. Subban.
ANNOUNCER 2: That trade changed the complexion of the team!
[pause...]

mister d · Post by **mister d** » Fri Apr 14, 2017 7:08 pm

18-22 are fucking the Rangers so hard right now. Staal is going to go down as a solid (if local) "what if" guy.

rass · Post by **rass** » Fri Apr 14, 2017 8:39 pm

Stay classy CBJ.

mister d · Post by **mister d** » Fri Apr 14, 2017 8:45 pm

mister d wrote:18-22 are fucking the Rangers so hard right now. Staal is going to go down as a solid (if local) "what if" guy.

Fucking fucking fucking fucking fucking fucking fucking shit.

sancarlos · Post by **sancarlos** » Fri Apr 14, 2017 10:45 pm

At least 4 games for Calvert?

Jerloma · Post by **Jerloma** » Sat Apr 15, 2017 9:25 am

sancarlos wrote:At least 4 games for Calvert?

I have no idea, but that was fucked up.

Calvert isn't on the Rass-approved list of BJs to hate so I blame Torts.

rass · Post by **rass** » Sat Apr 15, 2017 10:12 am

That wasn't a definitive list. These things are fluid, especially during a playoff series.

But always Torts.

sancarlos · Post by **sancarlos** » Sat Apr 15, 2017 12:18 pm

Zack Kassian might get a call too. Charging, left his feet, initial contact with head. Poor Couture and his mouthful of marbles took tihe brunt of it.

Oilers were head-hunting, cheap-shotting and taking liberties all night, but the Sharks' power play was so weak that they didn't care about repercussions. Oilers have big guys like Kassian, Lucic, Maroon, and Nurse going wild, and the Sharks don't have anybody that big except Burns who didn't fight once all season.

govmentchedda · Post by **govmentchedda** » Sat Apr 15, 2017 12:54 pm

Yeah, that Kassian hit looked illegal. Well, regular season illegal anyway. I bet they let that one go though. Calvert though, needs a few nights or more of serving popcorn.

rass · Post by **rass** » Sat Apr 15, 2017 2:07 pm

I can laugh because it sounds like Kuhnhackl is OK. And like Calvert may only get a fine.

rass · Post by **rass** » Sat Apr 15, 2017 5:44 pm

Is PFTC a Swamper?

rass · Post by **rass** » Sat Apr 15, 2017 5:49 pm

And since I'm here and the news just came down:

Probably fits whatever the current conversion factor is for regular season games vs playoff games.

Check their screencap. Bet it would have been nothing if his stick hadn't broke.

sancarlos · Post by **sancarlos** » Sat Apr 15, 2017 8:46 pm

Probably have to kill a guy to get two playoff games.

Post by **Sabo** » Sat Apr 15, 2017 10:29 pm

I'm not much for conspiracy theories, but damn, it sure seems like Ovechkin gets away with a lot of sketchy shit.

mister d · Post by **mister d** » Sun Apr 16, 2017 9:14 am

Yup. He hits a lot for a star and 20% of them are charging and/or leaving his feet.

Love Boyle. Wonder if Toronto will overpay in the short term to keep him around with the kids for a couple of years.

govmentchedda · Post by **govmentchedda** » Sun Apr 16, 2017 1:56 pm

Love Boyle. Would love to have him come back here. Sounds like his wife is from around here, and there's a chance he returns. Don't want to pay him too much though, especially with Adam Erne doing a reasonable facsimile of his work post-deadline.

rass · Post by **rass** » Sun Apr 16, 2017 8:29 pm

The Pens OT goal was just fantastic.

Nonlinear FC · Post by **Nonlinear FC** » Mon Apr 17, 2017 8:27 am

rass wrote:

Is PFTC a Swamper?

I stand by my comment. Too many Caps fans run around with their fucking hair on fire. Embrace this time of year. Enjoy the run. Stop pissing and moaning about everything.

I was with a bunch of folks last night, everyone all bunged up about the current series. Mind you, these people don't really follow the sport, just the playoffs. They had no idea TOR was any good.

Post by **Sabo** » Mon Apr 17, 2017 9:03 am

mister d · Post by **mister d** » Mon Apr 17, 2017 9:03 pm

So if I delete my Leafs follow up post are you guys gonna be dicks or let me bask in my original pick?