Most Canadians following their local hockey team have renewed hope that there team had a shot at the Stanly Cup. That is new for several teams. This year Ottawa, Montreal, and Edmonton all felt they were contenders out of the gate but now are fighting for a wild card spot. Three perennial flameouts look good this year Winnipeg, Toronto, and Calgary. Vancouver sits in purgatory.
In the US last years winners Pittsburg looks weak out of the wildcard, while Tampa and Nashville look like real contenders.
...and then there is Vegas, an expansion team, almost at the top of the standings. :o Should be a fun going into the playoffs.
Way to early to talk standings.
Come back in March
Go Jackets!!! Sorry Mr. Rhybak....we punked your team good the other night...but lost in a stupid shoot out to the hated, loathed, overrated, crybaby Penguins last night. Every other word is "Sidney Crosby" this and "Sidney Crosby" that when talking to Pens fans...it gets boring.
[That outta get the western PA people going... ::)]
T-Bone - the only time I like hearing "Crosby Crosby Crosby" is when he is wearing a Canadian jersey - then he is the best player in the world! To bad about the Olympics... (grrr... Bettman... grrr)
I am disappointed the senators have fallen so far so quickly - the hatred for their owner (Melynk) here in Ottawa has reached new heights! He made (even more) stupid comments (publicly) last weekend which has created a huge reaction.
I am enjoying watching the Winnipeg Jets get some deserved "top of the charts time" after so many years at the bottom. Also, Vegas continues to impress - I like watching them also - the next Disney movie coming "Vegas Knights - season 1"...lol
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Zw_wkeEAJI
The quiet Mount Torts gives off puff of smoke in shortest press conference ever given. Locals look skywards and wonder if Tortorella to return to former self. :)
So Vegas in the expansion draft, they negotiate to get 2 extra first round picks plus further lower draft picks. They do this by picking good players that the other teams wanted Vegas to pick like Marc Andre Fleury ( got a 2nd rounder). They take a few of these stars that are restricted free agents with the idea to trade them on the trade deadline for possible 1st round picks to build for the future.
Now here they are 2nd overall 1/2 way through the season, beating Tampa the other day who are 1st. They have 8 million in cap space and now the thought is that they could be buyers going into the trade deadline and that they should try to keep their restricted free agents.
They could win the Stanley Cup. 1st round currently would be against the Ducks, and then the second round a team like the Kings or the Sharks. I can see them getting at least to the conference final and being good for years!
No expansion team in any sport has ever done so well.
Yep. I think Vegas will get to 2nd or 3rd round of playoffs - the next Disney movie script is going to unfold in the next 5 months right in front of us.
Wish I put a bet on them to win cup when I was in Vegas a few weeks ago!!
I would like to see my Dallas Stars get to the cup finals.
Sigh, maybe someday...
But when we get to the end of regular season in a couple of months, it could be real interesting
Amazing what smart drafting and coaching can do. They can build a winner with what mostly is "spare parts" The Leafs tried that with Quinn and co. and only got close, but no cigar...
@T-Bone , made me chuckle...
The reality is the Pens have been losers 35 out of 40 years... take some comfort in knowing the Blue Jackets performance is not so bad when viewed from that angle. They have only been losers 20 out of 20 years....
I'm going to leave this here in case you need some motivational wall art for your mancave: http://shop.nhl.com/Pittsburgh_Penguins_Collectibles/Pittsburgh_Penguins_Highland_Mint_13_x_16_Rink_Bronze_Coin_Photo_Mint (http://shop.nhl.com/Pittsburgh_Penguins_Collectibles/Pittsburgh_Penguins_Highland_Mint_13_x_16_Rink_Bronze_Coin_Photo_Mint)
Some dam good hockey going on.....love the Vegas / LA series. Jets and Wild is also great along with Nashville and Columbus. My poor Leafs...growing pains. :( It could be worse, I could be a Capitals fan - #1 seed and they lost the first two at home! :o
Capitals are always there but can’t close the deal.
I’ve said all year, Leafs are not built for playoffs, first two games certainly showing that. They look scared.
you guys can cry and wine all you want but the big question is......"would you bet against Pittsburgh"?
Going for a three peat!
I wont be able to put up with Reggie at 3 Seasons if his Pens hoist the cup once again but even more than that I couldn't handle my best friend and leader of our Coca cola group ,Smurf, if his beloved Loafs make it through . Looks like ,thankfully , at least 1 of those scenarios is dying quickly (Go Bruins) . For the 1s time in 9 years I've had to give up watching my Blackhawks in the post season . Now that all the silly talk about removing Bowman and Quennville has gone away we will return to the post season year next year . As a life long Hawks fan who made it through the success slim Wirtz years I guess I've had my fair share of post season glory for now . LOL One cant be too greedy .
I'd like to see Winterpeg win it . Gerrard Gallant and his team of "also rans " in Vegas deserve to win it as well
Quote from: crackers42 on April 16, 2018, 08:46:51 AM
you guys can cry and wine all you want but the big question is......"would you bet against Pittsburgh"? Going for a three peat!
Well I know one thing...if the Pens win it every single person in the world will hear from every single Pens fan about how many times they've won it, why they're the most-elite franchise and gritty team in the NHL, how great Crosby is and why he is probably the greatest player of all time...blah, blah, blah...yadda...yadda...yadda...makes me want to puke....
Not sure it is possible...yet...but I'd love to see Columbus punk the Pens so hard they lose their arrogance to the degree that they don't make the playoffs for the foreseeable future...and firmly send them packing out of this year's playoffs.
There is always hope...but first...the Caps.
Go Flyers!! Go Jackets!!!
Well I know one thing...if the Pens win it every single person in the world will hear from every single Pens fan about how many times they've won it, why they're the most-elite franchise and gritty team in the NHL, how great Crosby is and why he is probably the greatest player of all time...blah, blah, blah...yadda...yadda...yadda...makes me want to puke....
[/quote]
Old Bruin and Leaf fans HATE Montreal for exactly this reason.
4 goals and 7 points in 3 games is also pretty hard to argue with being 2nd overall in the playoff point picture.
I may agree that Conor McDavid might be the better player but there is a reason a 3 peat is on the table, they are on every highlight reel, and they had 5 players in the top 15 in points.
Just sayin!!
it also could be worse.
Leafs or Red Wings fan!!
LETS GO PENS
Vegas over LA in 4...they continue to amaze. Great hockey. I can see them getting past the Sharks so no real challenge until the Preds or Jets. Penguins look to have a clear path also because it will be through the Capitals ;D
Quote from: chiaro on April 19, 2018, 11:01:39 AM
Penguins look to have a clear path also because it will be through the Capitals ;D
That goal in double OT wasn't even a goal...it was a bumbling puck that happened to careen off a player's skate and it went in. We call that cheap in Ohio...I'm sure a Pens fan would call it skill though...
Big game tonight....
Last nights game was a beauty!
5 - ZERO is again pretty had to argue against.
On to Washington we go!
Quote from: crackers42 on April 19, 2018, 04:00:34 PM
Last nights game was a beauty!
5 - ZERO is again pretty had to argue against.
On to Washington we go!
Crackers, I've been waiting for that all day. Without even knowing you're a Pens fan you can tell this is a comment from a Pens fan; the confidence (arrogance?) to call a series won BEFORE it's even over, and to declare another series won by the statistically disadvantaged team before it's over. It's such a disease...I'm going to have to look it up as I'm sure someone has given it a proper ID by now.
Heard a national sports broadcast talking about it the other day...but with regard to Spittsburgh fans in general. It always goes something like this...in NFL example:
Other Fan: My team is looking like they're going to make the playoffs this year.
Spit Fan: Steelers make the playoffs every year.
Other Fan: My team is going to win the conference championship this year.
Spit Fan: Steelers have won XX conference championships
Other Fan: My team is going to the Super Bowl!
Spit Fan: Call me when your team has been to multiple Super Bowls.
Other Fan: My team is going back to the Super Bowl!
Spit Fan: Tell me when your team has gone to more than 3 Super Bowls.
Other Fan: My team has won its 3rd Super Bowl!
Spit Fan: Big whoop...the Steelers have won six Super Bowls...
And on, and on, and on...
[love ya black n' gold] ;)
99
If you want more let me know.......
Q: What do the Columbus Blue Jackets and the Titanic have in common?
A: They both look good until they hit the ice!
Q: What's the difference between Frequent Flyer Miles and the Columbus Blue Jackets?
A: Frequent Flyer Miles earn points.
Q: Why do Blue Jackets fans drink from a saucer?
A: Because the cup's always in Detroit!
Q: Why did the Blue Jackets enforcer retire early?
A: He was ice fishing and got run over by the zamboni!
Q: Why don't the Blue Jackets drink tea?
A: Because the Canadiens and Red Wings have all the cups.
Q: What do you call 5 Columbus Blue Jackets players standing ear to ear?
A: A wind tunnel.
Q: Why are the Blue Jackets like grizzly bears?
A: Every fall they go into hibernation.
Q: What does a recent high school dropout and the Columbus Blue Jackets have in common?
A: They're both young, have no goals and no good prospects.
Q: Why do the Flyers suck at geometry?
A: Because they never have any points.
Q: What is it called when a Philadelphia Flyers player blows in another Flyers players ear?
A: Data transfer.
Q: What do college students and the Flyers have in common?
A: They've both finished their year by April.
Q: What's blue and orange and goes down the toilet faster than Liquid Plumber?
A: The Philadelphia Flyers
Q: What do a fine wine and the Philadelphia Flyers have in common?
A: They both spend a lot of time in the cellar, cost too much and are only enjoyed on select occasions.
Q: Why did the Post Office recall their latest stamps?
A: They had pictures of Flyers players on them and people couldn't figure out which side to spit on.
Q: Why do people like driving a car with a Flyers fan?
A: Because you can park in the handicap zone!
Q: What do you get when you combine all 23 Philadelphia Flyers with 23 lesbians?
A: Fourty-Six people that dont do dick!
OK... that conversation right there was funny!!! ;D
Wow...I'm speechless at the effort to prop-up your fan pride...and loathing for competition. Funny stuff though...
In the end, I always go back to something my father said to me a long time ago...
"Why do you get so wrapped-up in that shi+? It doesn't make you healthy, it doesn't keep you safe, and it doesn't put money in your pocket. So why?"
In the end, I just like ripping Spittsburgh fans...turning their crank...and listening to the inevitable "we're better than you'll ever be" spew because you know...as sure as the sun will rise and set each day, it's coming with full spit-flying vigor.
No real surprises in the first round. After a slow start Caps with 4 in a row....that is except my Leafs...Game 7!!!
All second round match ups are good! Nashville and Jets, Pitts and Capitals, Sharks and Knights...and Leafs and Bolts? :)
leafs and bolts are a safe bet. The Leafs finally woke up.
leafs are GOING DOWN back in Boston tomorrow... I can't see them making it out of there with a win - but if they do, good on them, they will gain some confidence and momentum to maybe make if to conference finals...
as for other series... sure, they all look good (I have a hard time staying up late watching western conference any more), but Jets vs Predators... that to me will probably be the roughest, most intense & most passionate series of the four... I will make sure I am parked in front of TV for those games... I want Jets to win (Canada team), but I think Predators take it in 6.
as much as I hate to say it the leafs deserve to win that series.
Jets have the size and again as much as I hate to say it Vegas looks unstoppable.
Predict Jets vrs Knights and Tampa vrs Pens coming out of this next round. Pens vrs Jets for the cup....and Pens for the threepeat.
Any team but the Penguins. And though my Jackets got bounced that was some compelling hockey to watch at times. I can't worry about that anymore...the NFL Draft starts tomorrow...I have much bigger fish to fry now than worrying about a group I teams I care nothing about fight it out for the Stanley Cup.
If I had to pick a team to root for, I say GO VEGAS!!!!!
Fleury vs. Murray would be great !
Being a Pittsburgh person I would love to see the 3peat but I just don't think we have enough gas in the tank after the last 2 seasons.
@getthenet I would love to see the Fluery vs. Murray though. And I think Fluery would come out on top. I think the Pens made the wrong move getting ready of Fluery. Should have kept him and then have Jarry and DeSmith as the younger goalies for the future.
As my Hawks are coming off the 18th and have put their skates away long ago I have no place to gloat BUT
GOOD BYE LOAFS !! Thank you Bruins
Question : " How did the Bruins manage to beat the Leafs ? "
Answer : "They took the Gardiner Expressway "
A joke that only GTA (greater Toronto area) residences will get
The Leafs only lost the third period last night. Stock up on defensemen for next year.... They'll make the second round next year lessons learned.
Sharks vs Pens final this year, Sharks take it and Jumbo Joe gets his cup!
Puckster,
if they are getting rid of players Polak should first on the list.
Not sure what he sees in front of the net but it sure ain't the Bruins forwards.
Ya, him and Gardiner. Some good young D in the minors too.
Quote from: Kyle Skelding on April 26, 2018, 02:05:47 PM
Sharks vs Pens final this year, Sharks take it and Jumbo Joe gets his cup!
Penns out, Sharks out. Looking Like Vegas vrs Tampa for the cup?
Meanwhile social media is merciless on Brad Marchand
https://twitter.com/cmm1320/status/992929301082161152
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CRpFUhYOOys
As they should That is embarrassing to the NHL
I wouldn't count Winnipeg out just yet.
I am guessing the winner against Vegas will take it.