I highly doubt the Oilers are gonna roll anybody because their goaltending still sucks and defensively their average.
I think this is Winnipegs year to finally make it to the SCF. Getting Toffoli and Monahan may have done enough. As long as Hellebuyck dosen't give up 6 per game.
It's less about the Oilers to me, and more about the Kings. I like the Oilers in 6, as I just don't trust the Kings. I do agree big picture that the Oilers are flawed, I'm not a fan of their team makeup as they are top heavy with a questionable goalie and D. I think they'll lose to Vancouver in round 2. I like that Jets team also, but as crazy as it sounds given his stats and Vezina win (maybe a 2nd this year), I need to see Helle get it done in the playoffs. After watching the game last night, I think they have a decent shot to beat the Avs because they play no D, and Georgiev is not good, but can they beat Vegas/Dallas in round 2, we'll see. The Jets team is very good though, and they have as good a shot as any in the West.
What a S show by the Isles. One shot in the 3rd period, totally dominated the last 36 minutes of the game, they almost never had the puck or even entered the Canes zone during that time. Give the Canes credit, they are a darn good team, but the Isles went into shell mode big time, and that was 100% the wrong play. They said on the broadcast Isles had them where they wanted them and were playing their game in the 3rd, no they weren't, they didn't play at all really. And then typical Isles after they disgrace themselves in the last 36 minutes with like 3 shots total and falling apart, they resort to cheap stuff. Typical Isles BS. The team that deserved to win that game won it. Now the Rangers have to hold serve as the Canes will be done in 5 tops. Rangers need to win tomorrow night and get it over in 5 tops as well.
The Isles did not play at all in the final 36 minutes. And the Canes are all pressure all the time and get everything towards the net. When we play them in round 2, we need to be on our game 100% and we need to make quick decisions and get the puck out. You do that and you stand a good chance to beat the Canes, if you allow their non-stop pressure all over to dictate the game you will lose to them. Quick decisions and quick puck movement is the key to beating the Canes.
Yeah, they did not do a good job of clearing the puck effectively in the latter half of the game, the forechecking pressure got to them. They pointed it out before the game started how it happened in game 1 as well. That has got to be infuriating to see for a coach standing behind the bench. I'd be shocked if Roy got any sleep last night.
Fun night of games. Isles blow it, Leafs bounce back to make it a series, Stone scores as Vegas gets the early jump, and the Oilers whip the Kings as I expected. On the Leafs, good for them bouncing back. I would like to see them win that series, not sure they can play that way for the remainder of the series, but maybe they can. I think the Bruins can be beat, so we'll see. Vegas/Dallas series is going to be a long tossup series. I saw a lot of people picking the Stars to make the SCF, and that is risky with their path. Vegas, Avs or Jets, and Oliers or Canucks, doesn't get much more difficult than that. I don't see Dallas in the SCF. When I was watching the game, Callahan said Stone looks good and he'll play in all situations Cassidy said even just coming back, I was like yeah because he has been healthy for weeks and was only held out so they could use his cap money to add other players. That was funny. Four more games tonight. Can the Lightning bounce back (teams that go up 2-0 in the NHL playoffs win the series 86% of the time - so game 2 is huge if you lose game 1). Can Georgiev play even a solid game for the Avs to even up the Jets. And the Canucks look to make it 2-0 against the Preds (edit to add: Demko out for Vancouver tonight and is day-to-day questionable for the remainder of the series, very big loss for Vancouver). As for us, go win tonight in a game we have struggled with in the past, winning game 2 after winning game 1. Don't give them life in the series and stay on track for a win in 5 games.
Big finish here as I don't see TB coming back from down 2-0 against Florida. Almost a must win for them, not quite, but almost.
Long way to go in the third period but hoping we get the first OT game of the playoffs with TB v FLA.
Avs and Preds even up their series. I don't trust Helle as I said. The guy is great in the regular season, but still has something to prove in the playoffs IMO. And Vancouver is in trouble without Demko, that is a big loss for them. In the East, Florida winning in OT is going to make it very difficult for the Lightning to win that series now. It is not over, but hard to see them winning 4 of 5. 86% or 89% of teams that go up 2-0 in a series win the series, it is very difficult to come back when down by two games.
The Avalanche are highly talented offensively. The issue they'll deal with in this series is whether or not their goalie can stop enough shots for them to win. The Avs are going to score no matter who is in the net.
Big picture I agree on Tampa, but this is going to be very tough. They are good, but lack depth, and they are playing a tough, deep, talented, experienced team. If they come back from down 2-0 in this series that will be quite the accomplishment. I am rooting for them though. As for the Avs scoring, they are the highest scoring team in the NHL, and will score on any team as stated, but I will also add, soon to be two-time Vezina winner Hellebuyck is not the same goalie in the playoffs, and from where I sit, he has a lot to prove in the playoffs. That series, along with Vegas/Dallas and Toronto/Boston are great series to watch and enjoy. I am very into all 3 of them. Two games tonight from those series, looking forward to watching.
Excellent games last night: Vegas goes up 2-0 on the Stars. A lot of people on ESPN and NHL.com picked the Stars to make the SCF, and they are really up against it now. Series is not over, but it will be really tough to come back and win it. Boston takes back control of the series as the Leafs come up small in a big spot again. And for the record, Montgomery needs to stay with Swayman in goal, forget their stupid rotation. And give the Kings credit for winning in OT and tying that series up. That series should go 6 or 7 now, and the Kings are average, but the Oilers are not a deep or complete team. Quick aside, we are lucky to have Igor in goal. You watch some of these other goalies play, and you shake your head often. They let in some terrible goals, and it shows we are very lucky to have a true # 1 like Igor. Go look around at some of the goalies these other teams are starting in the playoffs. Talbot, Skinner, Samsonov, Georgiev and the list goes on.
