Running 2017-18 NHL thread

I heard the interview, it was such a throwaway line. It breaks down to the station that has the rights are homers and the other station attacks.

I think Benning and co are the worst management team in the league but the vitriol is out if control. Benning is so over his head in running a team, he’s a scout at heart he’s not a gm.

 

For those of us in the States who have no idea what youse are talking about.

Friedman sets Canucks Nation on fire after comments on negative Vancouver market

 

People in this market are really sensitive to outside comments and the dreaded Eastern media. Think of 2 million @ChrisLong .

 

And the Predators leave Western Canada behind after three consecutive one-goal, comeback wins.

 

JC -- Does Kesler have "history" with Toews? They fought today. Got tangled on the opening faceoff of the second period, danced for a couple of seconds, then went at it. Looked like a solid victory for Kesler, but he also could have done a lot more but didn't. A friend who sits behind the players bench asked a Blackhawks photog about it. He said he couldn't remember those two fighting, and Toews only fights to try to fire up his team.

 

They battled for years when Kesler played on the Canucks. Kesler gets under his skin.

 

Jesus was that a long read.

 

Down the final stretch here. Some interesting races left to decide.

Atlantic champ: Tampa has a five-point lead now but Boston has two games in hand and they play each other twice in the final few weeks. Could go down to the wire. Toronto seems to be a dead lock for the three seed.

Metro champ: Washington is four points up on Pittsburgh and Columbus, five up on Philly. The Caps are entering a stretch of five straight against non-playoff teams, so they'll have every opportunity to close it out. Columbus is smoking hot, having won nine straight, but the Caps have a game in hand and own the tiebreaker and they don't play each other again. That's a tough ask to essentially make up seven points in the final few weeks. Jackets have a hell of a shot of getting home ice in the first round against Pittsburgh or Philly, though. Pittsburgh, it should be noted, still has three games left where they're playing a back-to-back where the opponent has had at least a day off prior.

East wild cards: Columbus/Pitt/Phila seem to have the inside track on WC 1. Florida is a point back of Jersey for the second WC, but the Panthers have two games in hand. My guess on the bracket: TB/Fla, Bos/Tor, Wsh/Phi, CBJ/Pit.

Central looks close to locked in with Nashville as the 1, Winnipeg as the 2 and Minnesota as the three.

Pacific: Vegas near lock as the 1, SJ probably the 2.

The West wild card race should be fun. The Kings and Ducks will battle it out for the Pacific 3, but the odd team out won't be a lock for a wild card. Colorado, Anaheim, Dallas and St. Louis still alive for a spot, and the Blues and Avs play on the final day of the season. Best guess: NSH/ANA, WPG/MIN, VGK/COL, SJ/LA.

 

Ducks are one point behind the Kings with a game in hand. Ducks play at Calgary tonight (starting a four-game Western Canada trip). A win pushes them into third (and probably finishes off the Flames) while giving them and the Kings equal GPs. Kings and Ducks have similar schedules the rest of the way and play each other at Anaheim on March 30. Sharks are the hottest team in the division right now. Everybody is hoping to avoid being the No. 2 wild card and have to face Nash to open the playoffs. But it beats being No. 3 in the wild card race.

 

Nashville is looking good. Pretty, pretty good.

/Larry David

 

Enjoy that President's Trophy. It's worked out so well in the past for my team. /natch