Board 8 > NHL Discussion Topic Part 2 - We Didn't Purge Edition

(+) Yeah! (+)

Leafs win their 12th in a row at home.
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At least the Wild figured out how to be the Coyotes somehow. Last thing they needed were more losses.
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The Wild are in a pretty good position right now.

I still think the Kings are going to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory and end up missing.
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Well, the Red Wings, a team that's never won 10 games in a row, have now lost 10 games in a row

oh boy
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https://twitter.com/TheMikes_/status/975512473133617153
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It is the most ridiculous thing that that is the name that got doubled up in this league
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10 minutes into the game and Bishop is out injured.... again

About ready to call the Stars as officially dead. Even if they hang on to a playoff spot, they aren't going anywhere...
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DeBrincat with a third hat trick in his rookie year. One of the few bright spots in this wretched Hawks season.
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One of the benefits of being done in February is that you can laugh off late season blown lead losses like the Hawks just had tonight.

Too bad they had to get a loser point. Can't improve lottery odds like that!
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Man, that Jackets/Bruins game is probably the best game I've seen all year. Despite the TWO times in OT there were blatant and obvious penalties on Marchand on breakaways that they simply refused to call.
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SmartMuffin posted...

10 minutes into the game and Bishop is out injured.... again

About ready to call the Stars as officially dead. Even if they hang on to a playoff spot, they aren't going anywhere...

Yessir. Im ready to throw in the towel. Just not enough depth scoring combined with bishop being done for probably the rest of the regular season...not a good scenario
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Great; a loser point before a week off. Just what the Wild didn't need. Who the fuck makes these "Weeks off early season, weeks off late season" schedules anyway? I doubt teams need 4-5 days off between games.
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Honestly, looks like we're not gonna have much playoff drama. I think the teams in the east are basically locked. Florida technically not dead, but the Jackets and Devils are both still playing well and I think it's unlikely either of them will trip up enough to let the Panthers in. Some jockeying for position in the Metro, but I'm not sure any of that really matters.

In the west, it's basically down to LA/Anaheim competing for #3 in the Pacific, with the loser of that competing with Dallas for the final wild card, and right to lose to Nashville in the first round. I legitimately suspect Colorado and Minnesota will soon start resting guys, because I am completely serious in saying that it's MUCH better to be the WC1 and get shipped over to the Pacific division for Vegas/San Jose than it is to be the #3 in the Central and draw Winnipeg/Nashville.
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Oh and the Leafs should seriously start resting everyone like, right now. They can't catch Boston and they won't be caught by Florida. Why on Earth would you bring Mathews back in just so he maybe gets re-injured?
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During the briefest of periods where it looked like the Hawks could sneak in, my hope was that they nabbed the WC spot that went to the Pacific instead of the brutal gauntlet that is the Central.

Alas, they'll likely be eliminated tonight.
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SmartMuffin posted...

Oh and the Leafs should seriously start resting everyone like, right now. They can't catch Boston and they won't be caught by Florida. Why on Earth would you bring Mathews back in just so he maybe gets re-injured?

Hey, it's not mathematically impossible to catch Boston, especially if they lose their two remaining games against Tampa and Toronto continues the run that they're on.

It's just very very very unlikely.
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Boston is more likely to catch Tampa than Toronto is to catch Boston
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I think I'd prefer that, honestly. Tampa is probably the better team but something about facing Boston in the first round of the playoffs gives me PTSD vibes for a reason I will choose not to remember.
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I don't know how to rate Boston at all. I look at that roster on paper and I think "this is a team that should be fighting for a wildcard spot." They have so many young players who are vastly out-performing their level of expectations. Coupled with some veterans that should probably be declining faster than they actually are (Chara, Bergeron). And one ascended pest who could have won the Hart trophy if he didn't spend so much time injured or suspended.

But then when I actually watch them, they look really fucking good. Like, dominant. I could see them winning the cup, or losing in the first round, just as easily (and that's not because I think all that highly of the Leafs)
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When can I get excited about the Panthers?

Barkov is cool, but I hope the team can make it to the playoffs.
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https://twitter.com/i/moments/972975141859856384

the simple truth is that Detroit is no longer a major city, the small amount of people who do still live around there are out in the suburbs and not in the city proper
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*watches first two periods of Leafs game*
oh hey, they might actually be a conte....
*watches third period*
lolnope
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https://twitter.com/DownGoesBrown/status/976274056076058624

This just about sums it up.
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Toews out for the next couple of games.

Blackhawks tank in full effect.
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JVR has scored from the same spot in his last 5 games. 8 goals total during that stretch and a career high 34 on the season. He is getting paid in the offseason.
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WQj9pAuYyoo" data-time="

goal of the year!!!

(or uh, silliest goal, at least)
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I do like that Jeff Marek is one of the hosts of Canada's NHL redzone or whatever it is
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BTW, Nashville is really good, and I do think they'll beat whoever they play.

But of all the teams in the mix for WC2, I have to imagine they don't particularly want to face the Kings. Not that I think the Kings are that good this year, but that is still a core of a team that's won two cups. I don't think they're serious contenders, but they probably can get themselves sufficiently motivated for one good series...
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Lots of hats on the ice for Kopitar's hat trick... in Denver!
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The Leafs go into Nashville and put up 5 on Rinne. It's crazy how well a team can play when they get their 1C and top 4D back from injury.
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I feel like three days ago they said Laine would be out for 2-3 weeks.

He's playing tonight.
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And I'm not really sure why, because the Jets are basically in the same place as the Leafs... should probably be resting up. Won't catch Nashville, won't be caught by Minnesota.
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Well, at least the Jets held Anaheim to only one point...

They really should have won in regulation though. Weak ass play by Hellebyuck... reminded me of Holtby in the playoffs. If he's gonna pull that shit, the Wild may have a chance.
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Taylor Hall is so damn good.
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xfd

Stars DEAD
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Maybe it was just the injuries...The Wild are likely playoff bound after that horrible 20-30 game stretch. I'll take it.
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Kings doing what they do best - losing to long-eliminated teams down the stretch while trying to make the playoffs...
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SmartMuffin posted...

Kings doing what they do best - losing to long-eliminated teams down the stretch while trying to make the playoffs...

they are done because they draw Anaheim on the back end of a back to back while the Ducks will have fresh legs.

Anaheim gets incredible puck luck to push Edmonton to overtime and then had a hilarious strategy in OT that was actually pretty brilliant. They won the opening draw and then just changed repeatedly for over a minute while holding the puck deep in their own end, not moving forward til McDavid was off the ice or tired(1 minute and 3 seconds was when they finally went forward, and scored, tired was the answer).

Also the Kings' next two games are against teams that are done so I expect them to play like shit and lose at least one of them.
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I get that Winnipeg is a small market, and have only made the playoffs once (and got swept by the Ducks). But seriously, this team gets no recognition. Stastny comes over, centres a line with Ehlers and Laine, and that line starts lighting up every team. Kyle Connor has quietly put together a Calder trophy contending season (though he'll rightfully lose to Barzel of the Islanders). Hellebuyck has put together a Vezina trophy contending season. They had multiple players lose double digit games to injury (Scheifele, Trouba, Lowry, Enstrom) and others stepped up quite nicely. City is buzzing over this team. Again, I understand the market and the fact they've done nothing in the playoffs. But still, a little bit of recognition would be nice!

Also, the Avs were my team for 16 years while the Jets were gone, so I've remained a fan of them. MacKinnon has been incredible. I predicted (about a month and a half ago) that they would miss the playoffs by 3 points, but they may make the playoffs by that spread instead. I honestly think (as has been mentioned by SmartMuffin) that they can beat Vegas. I'm not sure they make it out of the second round, but they were looked at as a bottom feeder, so this season has been quite a success in relativity at least!
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The Jets are in a similar spot as the Leafs where they're going to have to play against the best team in the conference in Nashville in the second round. Unlike the Leafs though, I think they've got a real good shot of getting to the second round and potentially beating the best team in the conference. I think they'd be a lock for the Conference Finals if they didn't have to go into Nashville so early though, so they're a victim of a poor playoff system this year.
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https://streamable.com/gpofn

How to play OT against McDavid. If I was an Oilers fan I'd be pissed but as a neutral fan this is hilarious. The boos really take it to another level.
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That was amazing
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I hate the Ducks, but that is genius-level play right there.
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It was infuriating, my face went from happy "ok fuck they got a point but McDavid in OT they probably still lose".

Then about 20 seconds in everyone realizes the plan and its like "shit".

It was brilliant, but absolutely infuriating.
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they are done because they draw Anaheim on the back end of a back to back while the Ducks will have fresh legs.

No, they're done because they can't beat shitty teams. I fully expect them to beat Anaheim in that game, but they'll probably have lost the previous game, to the Coyotes at home. Their final game of the season is against a crushed Stars team at home - they'll probably lose that one too.
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Pretty sure the Jets can get past the first round and that Nashville / Winnipeg second round match up could be incredible (if it happens)
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Shadow Dino posted...

Pretty sure the Jets can get past the first round and that Nashville / Winnipeg second round match up could be incredible (if it happens)

Nashville/Winnipeg in the west, Tampa/Boston in the east. Caps/Pens probably. Should be a hell of a second round...
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The Wild are that yappy dog that never seems to not make the playoffs despite all logic. They also do absolute jack when they get there. I would have thought it's only Chicago, but getting plastered by St. Louis gives me absolutely no reason to think they do anything except exit early to Winnipeg, unless their whole team gets a sudden catastrophic disease.

Which is a shame, because they should have figured it out after 5 years.
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Eh, with the exception of last year, they haven't really been choking though. They've consistently been a lower-tier playoff team, mainly losing to teams who are clearly better than they are (as they will this year also).

It's not like they're the Caps, who consistently are great and lose to teams a lot worse than them.
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But they have a tendency (like stated above) to play good against good teams, but play like utter dogshit and just whiff on easy victories, which puts them in these Wild card/3rd seed situations, coaching changes be damned. It's all the more frustrating, since they have certainly improved offensively since Staal showed up.

I would much rather be in this situation than 08-12 seasons (when they were outright dogshit), but winning and not having to cringe every second would be nice. You know, "being good" instead of, "good on a good day." Maybe it's because I live in Minnesota: when in doubt, Minnesota always loses, unless it's the WNBA.
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