2021 Stanley Cup playoffs skating thread

Montreal played about as well as it can play and it’s down 2-0

 

Even with close to 30 shots in 2 periods they had a chance until 2 things happened: the brain fart that let Tampa to score with .3 seconds and that idiotic reverse pass that gifted the third goal. You can’t miss or gift chances against Tampa and expect to win.

 

ESPN will cover the expansion and entry drafts with a little help from Elliotte Friedman

NHL announces broadcast details for 2021 Expansion Draft, Entry Draft

 

So why is Vegas excluded?

 

From the vague bits of info out there, it’s because Vegas doesn’t have enough time in the league. Seems a little messed up they don’t have to lose a player or pay into the expansion fund, but whatever.

 

I think I read that Vegas isn’t participating because they aren’t getting any of the expansion fee.
Or maybe they aren’t getting any of the fee because they aren’t participating,

 

The NHL has made similar or various other concessions during previous expansions.

One unique one I remember for some odd reason, though minor, was in 1974. Because Boston (Dan Bouchard to the Atlanta Flames), Chicago (Gerry Desjardins to the New York Islanders), Los Angeles (Billy Smith to the Islanders) and Montreal (Phil Myre to the Flames) lost goaltenders in the 1972 expansion, those franchises were exempt for losing one in 1974. Kansas City ended up taking Michel Plasse from Montreal anyway, but that was a separate deal agreed upon by Sam Pollack and Sid Abel.

 

This part would not surprise me at all.

 

The Islanders pushed the Lightning to the limit but really won their last two games in borderline miraculous fashion (Pulock's save at the horn in G4, stunning comeback in G6). In between they gave up 12 unanswered goals. If the Lightning can close this out, watching them try to cement their dynasty status by winning a third straight title in a 21-month span is going to be fascinating.