This is both the best and worst part of the season. You have the best hockey ever by teams that are clawing their way into the playoffs and the worst hockey ever from the teams that are already in and just biding time until Game 1.

I love how this feels like the Bruins vs the field going into the playoffs. Realistically, if you had to choose between Boston or the Field to win the Stanley Cup and your life depended on it, you would not feel comfortable going with the field. Yet the field is almost colluding with all those trading for big names at the deadline and it still feels like it won’t matter. I don’t think Boston can be stopped. They’re on some UConn Women’s Basketball dynasty shit right now.

I love how this feels like the Bruins vs the field going into the playoffs. Realistically, if you had to choose between Boston or the Field to win the Stanley Cup and your life depended on it, you would not feel comfortable going with the field. Yet the field is almost colluding with all those trading for big names at the deadline and it still feels like it won’t matter. I don’t think Boston can be stopped. They’re on some UConn Women’s Basketball dynasty shit right now.

Wtf

Oct 11, 2022 18:43:43 GMT Zappy said:

Two games hosted by the Czech Republic in the books with Nashville winning both games over the Sharks.  Tonight, the NHL season begins on this side of the pond.  Three of the top four picks in the 2022 draft make the opening night roster: Slafkovsky, Nemec, and Wright.  Calgary and Florida made the blockbuster trade of the summer and possibly the most important trade in years while Columbus picked up Johnny Gaudreau in free agency.

Predictions:

Eastern Conference:

Metropolitan:

1. Carolina - Modern day NJ Devils from the late 90's/early 2000's
2. NY Rangers
3. Pittsburgh - It is hard to bet against Crosby/Malkin/Letang until they give you a reason
4. Columbus - Well rounded group of forwards headlined by Gaudreau and Laine, Kent Johnson (2021 5th overall pick) starting his first full NHL season, and a bunch of two way forwards.  Defense and goaltending makes this team a question mark.
5. Washington - Backstrom/Wilson/Hagelin injuries
6. NY Islanders - Disappointing season last year.  Did nothing to improve the roster.  Trotz 2.0 is behind the bench.  If the Islanders make the playoffs, Sorokin will be a Vezina/Hart contender.  
7. New Jersey 
8. Philadelphia

Atlantic:

1. Tampa Bay
2. Toronto
3. Florida
4. Buffalo (WC1) - Stacked roster with young talent.  I'm hoping this is the year for them to overcome other veteran teams (Boston, Washington) and make some serious noise in the league. 
5. Ottawa (WC2) - Probably the most improved team on paper.  They got Debrincat for nothing.
6. Boston
7. Detroit
8. Montreal

Western Conference:

Central:

1. Colorado
2. Minnesota
3. St. Louis
4. Dallas (WC1)
5. Nashville
6. Winnipeg
7. Arizona
8. Chicago

Pacific:

1. Edmonton
2. Calgary
3. Vancouver
4. Anaheim (WC2) - Sort of like my Buffalo pick of the Western Conference.  Banking on some young talent to overcome veteran teams of the West.  The additions of Strome and Vatrano makes this a well balanced roster and takes some pressure of the young ones.
5. Vegas
6. LA Kings
7. Seattle
8. San Jose

SCF: Carolina vs. Colorado

Winner: Colorado

Time to talk about where you went wrong (Boston) and where you went right. 

I wonder what changes are going down in San Josee. This season has been brutal!

Mar 27, 2023 3:37:34 GMT RT said:

This is both the best and worst part of the season. You have the best hockey ever by teams that are clawing their way into the playoffs and the worst hockey ever from the teams that are already in and just biding time until Game 1.

I've been paying close attention to the Devils as they are a likely first round opponent for the Rangers and their fans seem to be in an 50/50 split as to whether they are fucking up by experimenting with lines now they've clinched, or they're better off avoiding Sorokin. With the way things are going there's a reasonable chance the Rangers can flip home ice advantage by the end of the week.

Oh and 🤝 to clinching without having to play.

I made 2K last night on Byram/Hyman scoring goals.

Follow me on TikTok before it gets banned. @kootymarks

Mar 27, 2023 14:13:48 GMT KING KID said:

Oct 11, 2022 18:43:43 GMT Zappy said:

Two games hosted by the Czech Republic in the books with Nashville winning both games over the Sharks.  Tonight, the NHL season begins on this side of the pond.  Three of the top four picks in the 2022 draft make the opening night roster: Slafkovsky, Nemec, and Wright.  Calgary and Florida made the blockbuster trade of the summer and possibly the most important trade in years while Columbus picked up Johnny Gaudreau in free agency.

Predictions:

Eastern Conference:

Metropolitan:

1. Carolina - Modern day NJ Devils from the late 90's/early 2000's
2. NY Rangers
3. Pittsburgh - It is hard to bet against Crosby/Malkin/Letang until they give you a reason
4. Columbus - Well rounded group of forwards headlined by Gaudreau and Laine, Kent Johnson (2021 5th overall pick) starting his first full NHL season, and a bunch of two way forwards.  Defense and goaltending makes this team a question mark.
5. Washington - Backstrom/Wilson/Hagelin injuries
6. NY Islanders - Disappointing season last year.  Did nothing to improve the roster.  Trotz 2.0 is behind the bench.  If the Islanders make the playoffs, Sorokin will be a Vezina/Hart contender.  
7. New Jersey 
8. Philadelphia

Atlantic:

1. Tampa Bay
2. Toronto
3. Florida
4. Buffalo (WC1) - Stacked roster with young talent.  I'm hoping this is the year for them to overcome other veteran teams (Boston, Washington) and make some serious noise in the league. 
5. Ottawa (WC2) - Probably the most improved team on paper.  They got Debrincat for nothing.
6. Boston
7. Detroit
8. Montreal

Western Conference:

Central:

1. Colorado
2. Minnesota
3. St. Louis
4. Dallas (WC1)
5. Nashville
6. Winnipeg
7. Arizona
8. Chicago

Pacific:

1. Edmonton
2. Calgary
3. Vancouver
4. Anaheim (WC2) - Sort of like my Buffalo pick of the Western Conference.  Banking on some young talent to overcome veteran teams of the West.  The additions of Strome and Vatrano makes this a well balanced roster and takes some pressure of the young ones.
5. Vegas
6. LA Kings
7. Seattle
8. San Jose

SCF: Carolina vs. Colorado

Winner: Colorado

Time to talk about where you went wrong (Boston) and where you went right. 

Let's focus on where I went right.

Oct 13, 2022 1:38:11 GMT RT said:

My predictions:

Metro

1. Carolina
2. NY Rangers
3. Pittsburgh
4. Washington - Wild Card #2
5. Columbus
6. NY Islanders
7. New Jersey
8. Philadelphia

Atlantic

1. Toronto - President's Trophy winner
2. Tampa Bay
3. Boston
4. Florida - Wild Card #1
5. Detroit
6. Ottawa
7. Montreal
8. Buffalo

Central

1. Colorado
2. Minnesota
3. Nashville
4. Dallas - Wild Card #1
5. St. Louis
6. Winnipeg
7. Chicago
8. Arizona

Pacific

1. Calgary
2. Edmonton
3. Los Angeles
4. Vegas - Wild Card #2
5. Vancouver
6. Anaheim
7. Seattle
8. San Jose - 1st overall pick in 2023

SCF: Toronto vs. Edmonton - Matthews vs. McDavid

Winner: Toronto

I wasn't much better Zappy so don't feel bad. Man, how did Calgary do so bad this year?

At least I was nicer to Boston but that's probably because they are legally Toronto's dad until proven otherwise and I have PTSD.

My 1st overall pick could still hit though!

Man I really want to like hockey but how the fuck do you guys keep up with the puck? It’s just all over the place. Every time someone passes the puck though, I’m amazed. I guess I never really played hockey but the accuracy just blows my mind. I always think bad pass and it’s always perfect.

Mar 28, 2023 13:34:51 GMT RT said:

Man, how did Calgary do so bad this year?

Their season has been truly insane.

Mar 29, 2023 0:55:23 GMT KING KID said:

Man I really want to like hockey but how the fuck do you guys keep up with the puck? It’s just all over the place. Every time someone passes the puck though, I’m amazed. I guess I never really played hockey but the accuracy just blows my mind. I always think bad pass and it’s always perfect.

I don't watch the puck necessarily. I more or less focus on the puck carrier and kind of just watch the flow of the play. One of the coolest things about hockey is how everyone on the ice is part of every play and they move the puck or defend their zone as a unit.

Mar 29, 2023 1:16:56 GMT @admin said:

Mar 28, 2023 13:34:51 GMT RT said:

Man, how did Calgary do so bad this year?

Their season has been truly insane.

A betting cheat code has been to pick the Flames opponents down 1 heading into the 3rd period at + odds this season. 

Right now they’re up 2-1 against the Kings in the middle of the second. They’re at home so I’m iffy if I’ll do it but man is it tempting. 

Also this Oilers/Knights game has been wild in the first period. As soon as one team scores, the other scores a minute later.

Look at this so far:

1:12: Knights up 1-0
1:49: Oilers even it up
8:20: Oilers up 2-1
9:24: Knights even it up
9:48: Oilers up 3-2

This is after they just played an OT game against each other a couple of days ago.

Mar 29, 2023 2:39:51 GMT KING KID said:

Also this Oilers/Knights game has been wild in the first period. As soon as one team scores, the other scores a minute later.

Look at this so far:

1:12: Knights up 1-0
1:49: Oilers even it up
8:20: Oilers up 2-1
9:24: Knights even it up
9:48: Oilers up 3-2

This is after they just played an OT game against each other a couple of days ago.

I love it. Very good chance we get Edmonton/Vegas in the 2nd round of the playoffs and if that happens it’s gonna be a fucking insane series.

For sure. I hope we get that. Something about the Oilers though. I think we’re getting a Bruins/Oilers Stanley Cup Finals. The Almighty Bruins meet the face that runs the place in Conor McDavid. That would be great for the sport, in my opinion. Look at all the attention the women’s NCAA Tournament is getting thanks to stars making it to the Elite Eight and Final Four. A Boston/Edmonton Stanley Cup would be excellent. I like the Avs to bet on but God I don’t want to see them in another Cup. Same goes for the Kings.

I was going to shit on the Sabres for blowing a golden opportunity to be right in the wildcard hunt in the closing games by blowing one last night but the Penguins decided to give them another chance. They gave up a hat trick to Perron in the 3rd period today. Three goals in the final period and they lose to Detroit. Good for the Islanders, but stars need to get into the playoffs for more eyes to get on the NHL.

Believe me when I say this. Gambling becoming legalized is really good for the NHL, but they need to have their stars on the big stages.

Also here we go.

Kings going into the 3rd period down 2-1 to the Flames. Shooting my shot. Go Kings!

Got it at +350. 

Well Flames hold on to win 2-1.

Kopitar had so many opportunities to score and couldn’t. Kempe is a try hard. Blah finish.

Wow Drury managed to get Chytil to resign 4x4.5, what an absolute steal. That's an amazingly team friendly deal to help with negotiating Miller and Lafreniere's extensions.

Buffalo dealt a huge blow to their playoff hopes losing to Florida last night.  They have two games in hand on every team in front of them, but they need to win virtually every game.  On the very bright side, Devon Levi is very impressive.  He is a future Vezina trophy winner.  If he is ready to be a full time starter next year the Sabres will be in a comfortable playoff position.

Mar 29, 2023 23:16:30 GMT @admin said:

Wow Drury managed to get Chytil to resign 4x4.5, what an absolute steal. That's an amazingly team friendly deal to help with negotiating Miller and Lafreniere's extensions.

Good deal.  Chytil's next contract will be his first big boy deal at 27, but the length of the deal affords the Rangers plenty of time to not worry about that.

Rangers put 6 past Vasilevskiy tonight and won the fight at the end of the game, they're definitely a different level of team to last year.

Maple Leafs were in cap trouble and couldn't call up Joseph Woll to replace the still injured Matt Murray.

So they signed EBUG Jett Alexander from the University of Toronto and he was backup to Sammy tonight.

With 1:10 remaining and the Leafs up 7-1, Keefe put him in.

I fucking LIVE for moments like this. He didn't even face a shot but looked so fucking happy. Imagine being that guy tonight, getting to be the goalie on the ice celebrating a dominant win in your hometown (he's from Bloomington, not even 20 minute drive from where I grew up).

I fucking love this game.

But also fuck the refs they screwed Michael Bunting again fucking nerds.

Definitely enjoy hearing some of the Habs whine about the EBUG in net for the last minute.

Apr 9, 2023 14:46:26 GMT Foos said:

Definitely enjoy hearing some of the Habs whine about the EBUG in net for the last minute.

Funny how this exact thing happened with Edmonton last month and everyone talked about how great it was then the Leafs did it and the narrative is the old boomer take of “respect your opponent.”

Fucking nerds.

Any reason why the Leafs sent down Woll when they did not know Murray's status?

Canadiens complaining about a college kid living his dream for 70 seconds need to get their priorities in order. It's an awesome moment.

Zappy I'm sure RT knows better but it's all salary cap gymnastics and injuries. They could have called Woll up, but then only dress 11 forwards. They preferred to dress 12 forwards and use the EBUG

Apr 9, 2023 22:44:08 GMT Foos said:

Zappy I'm sure RT knows better but it's all salary cap gymnastics and injuries. They could have called Woll up, but then only dress 11 forwards. They preferred to dress 12 forwards and use the EBUG

I understand why they were not able to call up Woll. I don't understand why they sent him down in the first place when Murray was uncertain to return. Did they have to send him down due to the cap?

Apr 10, 2023 15:27:08 GMT Zappy said:

Apr 9, 2023 22:44:08 GMT Foos said:

Zappy I'm sure RT knows better but it's all salary cap gymnastics and injuries. They could have called Woll up, but then only dress 11 forwards. They preferred to dress 12 forwards and use the EBUG

I understand why they were not able to call up Woll. I don't understand why they sent him down in the first place when Murray was uncertain to return. Did they have to send him down due to the cap?

If I’m remembering correctly, they had to send Woll down because activating Ryan O’Reilly put them over the cap. Or something like that.

I think Foos is partially right too. Like they could have kept Woll up but they wouldn’t be able to ice 12 forwards against Boston.

I’m not entirely sure but I think those two factors are what made the decision for them. I’m also curious what is going to happen come playoffs if they want to run with Sammy/Woll. I know the cap stops mattering but do they have to call Woll up before the season ends? I don’t know how any of that works. I guess they could just wait until Game 1 and say “yeah Murray still isn’t 100%” and bring in Woll.

Islanders are getting spanked by Washington. All Florida has to do is win to clinch a playoff spot.

Mantour scores late in the 3rd to send the game to OT. The Leafs literally don’t care. They’re getting caved in and Sammy is getting a good pre-playoffs workout. They’re barely trying and somehow it’s only 1-1.

OT hits and right away someone takes Brodie hard into the net. The Leafs decide they care now. OT goes back and forth until Florida has Toronto pinned in their end. After over 2 minutes on the ice, Florida gets their best chance but Sammy makes an incredible save. Play goes the other way and at nearly 2-1/2 minutes on the ice, John Tavares buries a backhand to win the game.

John Tavares might be the reason the NYI make the playoffs.

Guess they need him after all.