2018-19 NHL thread

Vegas is slipping ... took them 1:11 to score the first goal of the game.

 

Sharks, outshooting Vegas 18-7, trail 2-0 after one.

 

So, I think I'll watch the Warriors Thursday night. Or read a book. Anything but go through another Sharks playoff collapse. Send the AHL team out there ... they'll at least have an excuse for playing like this.

 

The gak job against the Kings blowing a 3-0 series lead will remain the all time worst but this year has to be top 3 for the Sharks. They aren't just losing, they've given up 18 goals in 4 games. And they won one! San Jose is just getting throttled.

 

The Lightning needed to be absolutely humbled and they got it and then some. That team really didn't want to put in the hard work that's necessary to win in the postseason. When it comes to pretty passes and cutesy one timers off cross-ice feeds they are all about it. But getting in front of the net, blocking shots, getting into passing levels, protecting the puck, managing the puck, fighting through checks...they are way too good to do all that fundamental shit.

One thing great about the Cup Playoffs is that each team generally get the results they work for. The Penguins got swept, they played hard and the Isles were just a little better in each game. The Blue Jackets worked to throttle the Lightning and they did.

 

Bobrovsky actually showed up, too. That's a huge X factor. As good as he's been in the regular season, he's generally been a no-show in the loffs for CBJ. If he's on his game, the Jackets may very well be the favorite in the East. Now I wonder how they'll react to sitting out for a week while Toronto and Boston battle it out for seven games.

Caps fans are happy that the Penguins are gone, but if you asked me, I would have rather they played Pittsburgh than the Islanders in round 2. (Provided they even get there, so let's not get ahead of ourselves.) Imagine an East semis with Columbus, the Islanders, Toronto and Carolina. Doubt anyone saw that coming at the start of the year.

 

Doubt anyone saw that coming at the start of this month.

 

I've always liked Anders Lee. Also, the coach is decent. He's won eight straight games in the playoffs, you know? If the Caps survive, that series is going to be a bunch of 3-2 or 2-1 type games.

 

Oh Columbus played tremendously. They were so much better than the Lightning. And the Lightning gave a shit effort. Both happened. Game 1 is where you can point that they got caught with their pants down and didn't play the correct style of hockey you need to in the playoffs. But then they were dead as fried chicken in Game 2. They had nothing from the time the puck dropped until the end. First 35 minutes of Game 3 they had maybe two scoring chances? And the special teams sucked, .500 on the PK, also gave up a shortie and a 6-on-5 that turned out to be the game winner in Game 4.

It was absolutely a lack of effort. You don't play the way they played for much of the series and claim that it was a good effort. They were waiting for someone to hand them something. Begging for calls in the first two games (legitimate gripes in a couple of situations but whatever). No sense of awareness on defense. They don't have to blow things up in Tampa but they have to do some things with that roster...I love those feel-good underdog stories like Yanni Gourde, and he busts his ass, but 5-9, 175 ain't getting in front of the net during the playoffs. J.T. Miller can go. He's a total waste of a good body.