2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs thread

Yeah. Hard to believe they won the Stanley Cup the year I really began following hockey, just before the 1967-68 expansion. We got a huge TV antennae on our house that could pull in Toronto stations clear as a bell and I watched the Leafs on the Ontario version of Wednesday night HNIC broadcasts every single week (and we got the Hamilton Red Wings on Thursdays, and the national HNIC on Saturdays).

When the Sabres were born, they obviously were my top team but I kept my original allegiance to the Leafs. Still waiting for either team to finish the deal.

Something about hockey on TV in the old days really drew me in. Hell I watched the Brandon Wheat Kings when I lived in North Nowhere.

 

Replace "Blues" with "Capitals" and 2019 with 2018, and you've got the same scenario. Outside of the Cup win, only one Cup Final appearance, where they got swept by Detroit. Goddamn Pittsburgh.

 

I got ‘em with four series wins. Two in Winnipeg (‘85 and ‘87) and two in Arizona (both in 2012).

 

They beat Nashville in the qualifying round in 2020 before losing to Colorado in the first round.

 

Gotcha.

 

Mine too! Here’s the kicker: I was there to cover it for the AP and I knew less about hockey than Trump does about haberdashery. I was petrified the whole time.

 

Picking up my blood pressure medicine while listening to playoff hockey feels just a little on the nose.

 

That’s so Preds.

 

He might be the greatest dude on Earth. I don't think that qualifies him for being a national NHL play-by-play announcer.

As for his willingness to do any sport, anywhere, I guess that explains this memory:

Big domestic track meet (might have been Olympic trials), and during the athlete introductions - when they're settling into the blocks or toeing the starting arc - monitor shows an athlete who went to Minnesota. Alberts' contribution: " ... Tony Dungy's alma mater. ..." Well ... he wasn't wrong, but that's the most that can be said about that.

"The [team nickname] have iced the puck" - the EXACT same phrase - gets old after about the 7,500th time, too. Between him and Forslund, my God does the Turner play-by-play tandem ruin things for me.

 

On the radio yesterday they were ripping the Bruins. The hosts came up with the stat the Bruins have the most regular season wins since 1975 and only one Stanley Cup. In every other league, regular season win leaders has at least 5 championships.

I can't vouch for the stats, but the overall point was the Bruins were the most disappointing post-season team in sports. Multiple game 7 losses at home, going nowhere after winning the Presidents' Trophy.

 

I’m indifferent on Albert but it’s good to see there’s somebody else who doesn’t get the love for Forslund.

 

Since ‘72, Orr’s last cup, they’ve made what, eight Finals? Winning once?