2021 NHL regular season thread

@Cosmo . ... I am a big Caps fan this afternoon.

 

I like what I've seen of Mantha so far. Maybe it is just the energy of a new team that has a bit of a shot. Or maybe he got worn down by playing on a very shitty team that has no shot? Who knows? Change of scenery may do him some good and Vrana some good, though I'm guessing Vrana shouldn't get too comfortable with the coach there in Detroit.

Not sure what happened to the Flyers, I thought they'd be better this year. Not sure if the Rangers can get into the top 4 this year, hole may be too big. But they'll displace one of the Big Four next season - which one? Though next season things go back to normal (we hope). Point is, I don't think the Rangers will miss the playoffs again (and may make it this year).

Caps have a stretch coming up where they play the Islanders or Pittsburgh like 8 games in a row. Curious to see how they hold up through that.

 

I have watched a bunch of Philly (not just against NY). ... Last season, I thought they were going suck. Then they were pretty good. So this year, I put my disbelief aside and was like you. ... thought they'd be one of the top four.

They have two main problems, and they are biggies: They make no effort whatsoever to play any defense, and they don't have a reliable goalie. Offensively, there is a lot there, but they are flawed -- I think they need to change it up. They never did a complete rebuild when their core with Giroux and Vorachek (who have really declined now) and Simmonds were getting to their prime. Which is why I thought they would suck last season. But along have come Sean Courturier, Travis Koneckny, Joel Farbee and James van Riemsdkyk. ... all really good players (all first round picks, I believe), so there is enough there for them to be pretty good. They added Kevin Hayes (although I thought way overpaid for who he is), too. ... So their offense can do a lot. ... but man do they take reckless chances to try to generate offense, and it kills them. ... Without any defense or a goalie, that is just too tough of a division to cover up the warts.

 

Mantha now has four goals in four games with the Caps. He pops in one per, we'll take it.

 

They have been playing so well. ... but Boston hasn't been cooperating. With 18 games to go and 4 points behind Boston with Boston having 2 games in hand, if you had told me the Rangers would take 11 out of 12 of the points available in the next 6 games, I would have been ecstatic. But Boston won't lose. So, now it is a steep hill to climb. The only thing left making it doable is that the Rangers' last two games are against Boston. By doable I mean possible still, though, not probable.