LogFAQs > #942887215

I absorbed lots of hockey today. The place I go to normally doesn't have much of a hockey community, so Imma just dump my day 1 thoughts here instead~

The Rangers seemed outclassed by the Hurricanes, and the difference in experience was just as evident. Carolina won most of the "50/50" pucks in the first two periods, and the Rangers missed a lot of passes and had a lot of miscommunication. It felt Carolina was toying with them in the first period. Going 0 for 7 on the power play, with only one generating any sort of pressure at all, is a major concern for a team that was top 10 in the regular season. Carolina felt overconfident at times, and I think it's a factor in the late shorthanded goal. I feel like this is a sweep if Carolina maintains it's discipline. The Rangers were the slight favorite in picks for this series, but healthy Hurricanes team is better than I thought they were, and they're simply the better team here. I've heard some people saying the Hurricanes are a potential sleeper team, and they could well be right.

I feel like Edmonton could be in trouble, and Chicago suddenly feels a lot scarier than it did before. Chicago faltered defensively at the end, and let them back in a game that could've easily ended 10-2, but Edmonton's lack of discipline was glaring. This was a team that made far too many mistakes against a seasoned Chicago team that knows how to capitalize on them. Chicago is an old team on the wrong side of it's window, and it feels like the break definitely helped them. It feels like nobody (including the Oilers) took them seriously enough. The question mark is Crawford, who is going to need to do a better job. Some other vets like Toews have already answered their call The Oilers need to get their act together if they want to win this series and I don't trust them do a good enough job at it. Chicago feels like a good enough team to capitalize on a flawed Oilers team for two more wins. I also feel they could give someone a real run for their money in the next one if Crawford steps it up.

The Islanders had a bad lapse from everyone to start the third period, but they played mostly the game they wanted. Once it got to the second half of the third period, the Islanders clamped down and Florida's normally potent offense couldn't get anything done. This is a team I had been comparing to the Devils of the 90s that usually beats you 1-0 or 2-1 with defense and counterattacks. While the shots ended up even, Florida didn't have a lot of high quality chances. Bob really stepped up in the second half of the game and kept Florida alive, and that's what's going to need to happen for them to be able to win this series. They just don't seem like they'll be good enough to reliably break through without Bob stealing a game or two. The Islanders looked like every bit the tough out they promised to be earlier in the season when their defense was healthy.

Montreal/Pittsburgh was interesting and borderline inexplicable. The Penguins were every bit the Dominant force they were expected to be early, but Montreal had the goals. The Penguins tied the game, but were gradually losing control. Then overtime happened, and Montreal was... Simply the better team in overtime. It's hard to make sense of this game. I wasn't able to watch this one as much as the other 4 because I got pulled away to do things, but it feels like the Penguins really have to be asking themselves how they let this happen. Price weathered the early storm, and It feels like the Canadiens needed to win that game in order to have a chance, but it was always assumed Price would have to flat out steal every game and I can't really say he did. This leaves me wondering: Is Pittsburgh actually in trouble here? It seems asinine to be feeling that way after just 1 game. This didn't seem anything like the matchup expected on paper.

Winnipeg looked bad. Most of the issues the Rangers had, the Jets did it worse. 0 for 7 on the power play with no momentum? Check... But they also gave up a shorthanded goal. Calgary tacked on two power play goals on a PP that had no issue gaining the zone. Really bad play on "50/50" pucks? Check, except it didn't get any better at all at any point. Winnipeg felt lethargic for long stretches at a time during this game, and Calgary simply outworked them and overmatched them. I felt like people were sleeping a bit on Calgary and overhyping the Jets (I picked Calgary to win this series, but 75% of people picked the Jets), but it feels like the Jets barely even belonged on the ice. They were almost doubled in shots, and after two periods I questioned if there was even a point to watching the third because of just how bad the Jets looked. If the Jets continue to play this badly, this series is going to be a walk for the Flames.

Yay hockey is back~

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