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

(+) Yeah! (+)

If Colorado was healthier I might buy it, but as is they're missing their goalie and a top-pairing defenseman. Nashville hasn't finished particularly strong, but nah, it's not gonna happen.
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davidponte posted...

TheKnightOfNee posted...

And that's the end for the Blues

Colorado gets to be fed to the Predators now

Remember the last time the 8 seed matched up against the 1 seed in the West?

Oh, I definitely know how a 1 vs 8 matchup can go in the NHL playoffs
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I was joking with that, but I'm sure we were all saying the same thing about the matchup last year as well.

This Preds team is much stronger than last years Blackhawks team, though.

Tonight is the first time in my life that I'll be hoping the Bruins win something. Something about cheering for that team feels wrong.
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Should I wait until this topic hits 500 before making a playoff topic, or just make one when we get the finalized matchups so we can start fresh?
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hoping for leafs/bruins round one
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SmartMuffin posted...

If Colorado was healthier I might buy it, but as is they're missing their goalie and a top-pairing defenseman. Nashville hasn't finished particularly strong, but nah, it's not gonna happen.

Nashville finished strong enough. I was looking at this yesterday re: Colorado, and I know this isn't relevant but it's a fun stat regardless.

Wins vs. teams that are in the playoffs, for Colorado, since the all star break.
February: San Jose
March: Minnesota (x2), Vegas
April: none

So that's 4 wins. Nashville has 3 such wins in the past week alone (Tampa Bay, Washington, Columbus)

Though I still don't understand the Blackhawks' collapse last year, they were so hot after the all-star break and it's like, they used up everything they had. Lost their last 4 games and then 4 straight in the playoffs. Anything really can happen, I guess.

Nashville and Chicago had a pretty good rivalry going, including a couple highly contested first round series in the past few years before that one. One of Chicago's cup years was that year where in the first round, Nashville was like 1 minute away from going up 3-2 and had a power play but then Chicago got a SHG to force overtime, and won, going up 3-2 and winning in six instead and going on to win the cup.

That Nashville team knew that Chicago team and knew they could beat them.

I don't much of that in Colorado this year...
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I didn't think I could hate the Bruins any more than I already did.
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Bruins losing on purpose just to troll Leaf fans?

I'll buy that conspiracy theory!
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MartinFF7 posted...

SmartMuffin posted...

If Colorado was healthier I might buy it, but as is they're missing their goalie and a top-pairing defenseman. Nashville hasn't finished particularly strong, but nah, it's not gonna happen.

Though I still don't understand the Blackhawks' collapse last year, they were so hot after the all-star break and it's like, they used up everything they had. Lost their last 4 games and then 4 straight in the playoffs. Anything really can happen, I guess.

Blackhawks blueline was steadily getting old and slow throughout the year, Predators had the speedy forwards and fast puck moving dmen to punish them.
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Boston is making this interesting.
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Florida playing for pride + the designation of tying for top point-getting team to not qualify for the playoffs, at 96 points... with the 2014-15 Boston Bruins.

Definitely feels like the Lightning are a preferable opponent than the Bruins, so, here's hoping Boston comes back.

Fuck the Bruins.

See you on Thursday.
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2012-13 revenge spectacular?

lets go caps
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Peridiam posted...

lets go caps

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this is a tough first round. not a lot of "for sure" outcomes.
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Yeah. I see Nashville over Colorado and Pittsburgh over Philly but that's about it. Even Lightning/Devils, which I was so sure about, upon closer inspection... isn't as sure a thing, I'm feeling that playoff x-factor with them, they could upset or get swept.

These are going to be some fun playoffs! Who was it that runs the prediction contest? SmartMuffin? looking forward to it going up and throwing down my +8 through +1

https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/boards/8-gamefaqs-contests/76500136

topic up

honestly you guys are cray, I think these are easy predictions and all the favorites win pretty easy in my mind (except in the pacific)
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Round 1

Tampa
Toronto
Washington
Pittsburgh

Nashville
Winnipeg
Los Angeles
San Jose

Round 2

Toronto
Pittsburgh

Nashville
San Jose

Round 3

Toronto

Nashville

Winner: Toronto

Totally unbiased, objective predictions.
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Honestly, Toronto/Nashville is probably Bettman's dream final. The ultimate in tradition and Canadian insanity AND a hot southern market that's actually doing decently well?

(spoilers, the American south beats Canada in seven games)
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SmartMuffin posted...

(spoilers, the American south beats Canada in seven games)

Wouldn't even be mad.
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you would so

toronto probably not badass enough to riot tho
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No one is expecting the Leafs to get that far! I'd be upset, but not angry.

Honestly all I want from the playoffs is to beat Boston. After that, whatever happens is cool.
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davidponte posted...

No one is expecting the Leafs to get that far! I'd be upset, but not angry.

Honestly all I want from the playoffs is to beat Boston. After that, whatever happens is cool.

Winner of Toronto/Boston makes it to the cup finals, calling that now.

So criminal that that's a first round match, and we're stuck with this system for 2 more playoffs after this one. Brutal.

jesus christ, reading up on playoff stuff and come across this article:

https://www.boston.com/sports/boston-bruins/2018/04/09/nhl-eastern-conference-playoff-picture

so boston.com, right? Figure they'll be all-in for the Bruins, but this is how they end their eastern conference prediction:

Toronto over Pittsburgh in seven games. Matthews outscores Crosby and the Maple Leafs make their first trip to the Cup Final since they won it all in 1967.

geez. I like their guts.

Not that our media wont shit all over the local teams, but thats an AP dude. Youll have to find a link to a Globe article if youre looking for our media. I can boil it down for you - Tuukka Rask sucks holy cow
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Caps aren't starting Holtby in game 1.
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Good riddance. Should have been traded 2 years ago.
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Red Wings are bringing back their GM and coach next year. What the hell is wrong with this team?
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TheKnightOfNee posted...

Red Wings are bringing back their GM and coach next year. What the hell is wrong with this team?

"Ilitch Holdings" is probably as loyal to that crew as Mike himself was?

Alternatively, they haven't picked first overall since 1986 so they want to give that another go.

Playoffs!
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go not penguins
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If Elliott wants to let in goals like that we can just skip to the second round with the Penguins.
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3-0 lead probably the worst lead to have in hockey though. I bet this gets to 3-2 at some point.
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I can think of a worse lead.
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Philly getting wrecked. Woooooooof
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Imagine picking Philly.
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We got a game here in Winnipeg.
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and now the Wild take the lead.

What a twist!
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Crossfiyah posted...

Imagine picking Philly.

Philly has beaten better Pittsburgh teams than this!

(Washington, however, has not)
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I'll be going to the square today to watch the Leafs game. Hopefully I can get into the main area.

Last year I watched the overtime of game 1 from afar because I work right next to the ACC at the Rogers Centre and finished at a perfect time, but it wasn't as good as being right up to the screen.
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SmartMuffin posted...

Crossfiyah posted...

Imagine picking Philly.

Philly has beaten better Pittsburgh teams than this!

(Washington, however, has not)

Ahh. Disagree.

Literally every team in the Sully era is better than any team in the Bylsma era. Because Bylsma's not coaching them.
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Solid clean hits from Kadri here in the third.
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davidponte posted...

Solid clean hits from Kadri here in the third.

Give him a 1 game suspension.
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I was really pulling for that 5th goal from the Bruins. I don't think I can handle anymore 4-1 memes.

If the Leafs don't win on Saturday the series is over.
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I believe Tom Wilson scored the first playoff overtime goal last year. Will he do it again this year?!
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Yay, Overtime!
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:(
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Ridiculous goal by Panarin

(Where the hell was that last year?)
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