Current Events > NHLCE - Conference Semi Finals are SET!

(+) Yeah! (+)

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We were spoiled with 2 amazing Game 7's to end the first round of the NHL Playoffs... and the winners of those 2 series face each other next!

We're down from 16 to 8 teams left. Who ya got CE?!?

Eastern Conference Semi-Finals

Toronto Maple Leafs vs. Florida Panthers - The winners of the Regional Battles (Battle of Ontario and Battle of Florida) face each other. The defending Stanley Cup Champions against the longest drought of the Original 6 NHL Teams. Leafs vs. Panthers! Panthers are pretty heavy favorites if you put faith in the betting lines and whatnot, and they made the Bolts look straight up pedestrian in Round 1. The Leafs took 3 shots to eliminate the Sens, but are definitely the best version of themselves they've been in the Core Four era. It's gonna be close, it's gonna be hard hitting, and I think the winner of this game wins the East. Leafs in 7

Washington Capitals vs. Carolina Hurricanes - The Caps were fine against the up and coming Habs, and the Canes took care of a BEAT UP Devils squad. I don't think either team was really challenged all that much, but that will change here. Are the Caps REALLY as good as their record suggests? They were not super great towards the end of the season, while the Canes coasted in as well. I really don't know for sure... but I gotta make a prediction. Caps in 6

Western Conference Semi-Finals

Winnipeg Jets vs. Dallas Stars - The winners of the Game 7's. So much drama, draining the tank. The Stars beat the Avs in a series of Stanley Cup level teams, while the Jets took advantage of the home ice advantage to beat the red hot Blues (Blues won 15 straight at home to end their season. Fuck me). Both teams have a narrative of maybe being a bit of a choker in the playoffs, so we shall see who sheds that mantle off. Dallas is incredibly balanced but have injuries. Jets have the Vezina winner and Hart nominee goalie and a couple injuries, but Hellebuyck got lit up on the road against the Blues. Who moves on?!? Jets in 7

Vegas Golden Knights vs. Edmonton Oilers - The reigning Western Conference Champions looked the part after dropping the first two against the Kings. I don't care what anyone says, beating the same team 4 years in a row is a tough thing to do. The Knights were pushed hard by the Wild, but turned it on the last two games to outlast Minnesota. I think both teams showed in R1 that they are definitely potentially vulnerable. It is gonna be a scoring by committee approach by the Knights against the 1-2 punch of McDavid and Draisitl in Edmonton (with a returned Evander Kane as well). Oilers in 6

Panthers
Caps
Stars
Golden Knights

Im pulling for the Oilers but their inconsistent defense with slow starts worries me. Id love to see Toronto live up to their talent but I feel Florida is just better. Im pulling for all Canadian teams just because I want to see Canada get the cup even as an American.

And Ill always be anti Stars just for Dallas stealing the Minnesota North Stars when I was in high school and grew up on. Minnesota wasnt my favorite team but I liked them and my best friends cousin played for them then and was kind of a stud. Neal Broten.

So yeah fuck Dallas forever.

Leafs in 7 (I'm riding with them until the end, but I know they will make it stressful the whole way)
Capitals in 5
Jets in 5
Knights in 6

Stars in 7
Oilers in 6
Florida in 5
Carolina in 7

Let's go!!!!

Leafs and Panthers are on tonight!

Every one of those matchups is fire

Guys, Marc Andre Fleury has accepted the invite to play for Team Canada at the World Championships.

Flower will retire from pro hockey wearing a Team Canada jersey.

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The Draft Lottery is live.

With one ball left to pick and in commercial break, the Islanders, Pens, Flyers, and Blackhawks have the best chance to get the number 1 pick.

And the winner is..... THE NEW YORK ISLANDERS

Utah moves up 10 spots to 4th overall, which means San Jose has 2nd overall.

Dallas in 6
Oilers in 7
Cats in 5
Caps in 6

Let's fucking go!!!! LEAFS LETS GO!!!!

Nylander!!! 33 seconds into the game and the Leafs are up 1-0!

Bad start for the Panthers

Congratulations to the Jets on the series win. That was a heck of a Game 7, and while I'm a bit disappointed the Blues didn't advance, I didn't really expect them to make it to the playoffs this season.

Nylander AGAIN! 2-0 Leafs.

Also that "crosscheck" call was horse shit.

Nylander

Panthers get one back on the PP, but the Leafs come right back!!! 3-1

Knuckle puck through and it's 4-1 Leafs!

Oh look, absolute scum of the earth Sam Bennett intentionally headshotting an opposing goalie (who is his former teammate btw) because his team is losing and now that goalie just got pulled from the game, no penalty btw, and I'll eat my hat if he catches a suspension. The NHL is a joke and the Panthers are the scummiest team I've ever seen play

Yeah the Panthers do... hmm... play hard? That is the most even way of expressing that. >_>

Couple quick goals by the Panthers. 4-3 now for the Leafs.

5-3 with a Knies goal!!!!

Dont really care who wins this one but put some $ on FL in the second at +1200 and thought I was going to get there. Damn.

Leafs win 5-4! Joseph Woll needing to come in cold in the middle of the game, but the Leafs take it.

Panthers made it close at the end, but no game 1 road win this time. I hope the Leafs starting goalie is okay.

Fucking Sam Bennett...

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Comments are saying he will be out for the next 3-4 games. Fucking hope that's not the case, and that they are just being safe.

Panthers did not make Sam Bennett available for the press after the game. Paul Maurice also tried his best to sorta just deflect the question. Basically, "I coach, refs ref. Let them do their job and I will do mine" and then when asked a second time he walked out.

Cause he knows it was dirty. =/

AuthenticZac posted...

Fucking Sam Bennett...

https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/a/forum/3/3910dd4f.jpg

Comments are saying he will be out for the next 3-4 games. Fucking hope that's not the case, and that they are just being safe.

Disgusting.

Sam Bennett should be suspended for as many games as Anthony Stolarz misses.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BWVCRqIfjhU

Honestly, the logic here is sound. Stolarz did take a wicked puck to the facemask from a shot earlier in the game that may have caused a concussion well before the contact with Bennett. Plus, after re-watching the Bennett elbow a couple of times, it doesn't look bad or all that intentional. These guys are Panthers homers, but one of them says that actually helps their defense, because they know when Bennett is actually trying to be dirty and hurt someone, and he says that elbow didn't look like that. After hearing all of this, I can understand not suspending Bennett. I'm not fully sold on the idea (the fact that Stolarz might miss a few games still makes me think Bennett deserves to be suspended) but I understand it.

Above all else, I hope Stolarz is healthy and gets back in the series soon.

It isn't so much a giant fist or elbow, but what he did do was make sure to make contact with the head.

Jeff_AKA_Snoopy posted...

It isn't so much a giant fist or elbow, but what he did do was make sure to make contact with the head.

It's also a pattern with him. He's the same guy who took Knies out during the playoffs two year ago via a concussion. Then last year, he sucker punched Marchand in the head, taking him out of a playoff game.
All three times, not so much as a penalty, let alone a suspension.

The start of game 2 should be fun to watch.

Not sure about the first game tonight but I think Vegas takes game 1 in the late game.

I have the Caps taking game 1 right now, and the Oilers in the evening game.

AuthenticZac posted...

It's also a pattern with him. He's the same guy who took Knies out during the playoffs two year ago via a concussion. Then last year, he sucker punched Marchand in the head, taking him out of a playoff game.
All three times, not so much as a penalty, let alone a suspension.

Yep, Sam Bennett's history of dirty play means he gets far less benefit of the doubt in situations like this.

The Caps are up 1-0, but getting outshot by a LOT. 26-11.

Carolina and Washington in OT. Knights up early 1-0 on the Oilers after Nugent-Hopkins got a 4 minute double minor for high sticking 90 seconds in!!!

Nevermind, Carolina wins!

Kind of a soft goal for an OT winner. Carolina just had a high volume of shots advantage and got one to fall.

And sigh I dont like the Knights and am pulling for the Oilers but in typical Oilers style they fall down a couple goals early.

archizzy posted...

And sigh I dont like the Knights and am pulling for the Oilers but in typical Oilers style they fall down a couple goals early.

The Oilers let Shea Theodore skate through their entire team and I feel like that's a summation of how this series is going to go

With no dog in any of these fights, I kinda want to see Canada go nuts over a McDavid v. Mathews SC Final

Oilers looking a lot better now, 2-1 in the 2nd and on the PP.

Crazy sequence to get the tie goal. Nice!

archizzy posted...

Crazy sequence to get the tie goal. Nice!

Absolutely! Wow!

So.... an Oiler is pushed into the Vegas goalie and is called for a penalty. Meanwhile Sam Bennett got absolutely nothing when he hit Stolarz of his own accord?

3-2 good guys on top.

What a goal to go up 4-2! Great play. That should seal it.

archizzy posted...

What a goal to go up 4-2! Great play. That should seal it.

Don't say that THIS playoffs. XD