2022 Stanley Cup playoffs thread

And as a follow up ... um what? Damn that's unlucky, or lucky.

 

When I heard that the sucker puncher was from Staten Island, I could hear a good friend of mine nodding his head and not being the first bit surprised.

 

It is remarkable how a team that put up 6 goals in the first game could barely manage to best that in the next five games. Just amazing to see how Tampa just kept going.

 

Tampa got great production from its stars but what amazed me is after losing Barclay Goodrow, Blake Coleman and Yanni Goude BrisBois put together a third line (Paul, Hagel, Perry) that was very good in its own right
That said, Avs in seven

 

A friend asked me about Staten Island. I said that all I know is when I watch "Blue Bloods," if a NY cop messes up, he is punished by being reassigned to a precinct in Staten Island.

 

Staten Island is white flight for people who ram out of gas before they hit the Goethals.

 

Rangers really gagged this series away. Should have been 3-0 and, at worst, it should have been 3-1. In every big moment, the Rangers shrank away. Shesterkin, for as amazing he was at times in the playoffs, gave up so many soft goals. Game 5 was a disaster, and that goal tonight that he allowed 21 seconds after the Rangers tied the game in the 3rd (when he gloved the puck, but didn't hold it) was a joke.

 

Meh. If not for a dirty hit that took Crosby out for a game and a half, they don't even get out of the first round. They just weren't ready.

Now that this playoff run that they shouldn't have had is over, I can go back to not caring all that much how the Rangers do.

 

The Lightning dominated play in the final four games. Even in Game 3 the Lightning owned the puck, had a clear advantage in zone time and the Rangers got a couple of a quick PP goals. The best team won. Rangers had one even-strength goal in the final 12 periods and if they had more than 10 total scoring chances in the final three games I'd be shocked. Shesterkin is amazing, otherwise ir's a 6-1 game tonight.

 

Perry is technically a fourth liner. He, Maroon and Bellemare make up the bottom line. Paul was a hell of a trade deadline get, especially with Point out. He's been able to play center and wing in more of a top 6 role leaving the Hagel-Cirelli-Killorn line to focus on defending the opposing top line.