Running Stanley Cup Playoff Thread

Maybe Tampa's penalty kill is just *that* good. Because that PK made Pittsburgh its bitch in the first round. And while I didn't watch what little of Tampa-Washington there was, I can't imagine the Caps' PP was much better.

 

Big minutes for Seguin would be a ballsy but risky move. Other than the goal, which was great and very encouraging, I didn't see Seguin do much else, but he is a talent. And/But he's 19.

Gotta get Bergeron back in there. He changes so many things, as you astutely pointed out.

A lot has been made of TB's 1-3-1 neutral zone alignment, and I didn't see that as a big factor in this game. The Bruins were still able to get enough decent offensive chances. Ultimately, that one lapse in the first period was a game-decider.

 

That's fine, but Boston's PP was 5.4 percent in the playoffs BEFORE this game, and included a two-minute PP against Philadelphia in which they not only gave up a short-handed goal but also were whistled for offsides TWICE.

 

Against Philly and Montreal, the Bruins gave up as many goals on their own power play as they scored.

Can't figure out why it's that wretched, but it is.

Tampa's defense doesn't scare me. Their transition and offense does. But this game came down to the Bruins letting down after an early goal, and then laying an egg on three second-period power plays after getting it to a 2-goal game.

 

That's why I'm not panicking, as bad as that was. I thought the Bruins played at least as well and definitely better than TB during certain stretches, but they're just offensively challenged enough that they can't afford to give up a flurry like that first-period nightmare.

 

The first 2 periods of the Canuck Sharks game have been more entertaining than the entire 6 game Preds series. Nice to watch a team that actually tries to score.

 

The Sharks played dreadful.

Once again they cough up a 3rd period lead. Come on you have the lead and you take your foot off the gas pedal?

Canucks are not that good, they can be beat but you need to skate and put some pressure on them; not just be happy with getting it out of your defensive zone.

How about hitting someone? Penalties were undisciplined too.

Worse game I have seen the Sharks play in a while.

They played either tired or scared.

Niemi was great but they need help. Murray is a really weak 2nd defenseman; Boyle is very good but its a steep drop after that, I'm wishing the Sharks had a stud like Pronger or Niedermeyer to get the puck out of defensive zone.

Sharks are okay though, it will be a long series.

 

What makes the Canucks "not that good"?

 

Admittedly, I'm a bandwagoner who has never played the game, but compared to the Red Wings, I think the Canucks can be had, they are not that big, their 3rd and 4th lines are not that good, and Luongo can be very shaky. I acknowledge that they won the President's Cup. The Sharks just need to execute and not play on their heels. Maybe they were tired from the 7 gm. series. Here's hoping they light it up on Weds. night.

 

Atlanta Journal Constitution is reporting that the Thrashers owners are in negotiations to sell the team to True North, which would move the Thrashers to Winnipeg.

 

So does Bettman let this happen because it eliminates the #1 threat to keeping the Coyotes in Glendale, where they can continue to loot the public treasury?

 

I'm parsing, granted, but a) the 4th line never plays anyway, and b) their 3rd line (Torres-Lapierre-Hansen) is a combined plus-8. For a line isn't asked to score, I'll take that.