2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs thread

[Cosmo]

WESTERN CONFERENCE
Dallas vs. Vegas
Winnipeg vs. Colorado
Vancouver vs. Nashville
Edmonton vs. Los Angeles

EASTERN CONFERENCE
Florida vs. Tampa Bay
Boston vs. Toronto
N.Y. Rangers vs. Washington
Carolina vs. N.Y. Islanders

My first-round picks...
Dallas in 7
Colorado in 6
Vancouver in 6
Los Angeles in 7

Tampa in 6
Boston in 5
Rangers in 6
Carolina in 7

 

[The Big Ragu]

Florida vs. Tampa Bay: Florida in 6.
Boston vs. Toronto: Boston in 5.
N.Y. Rangers vs. Washington: not touching this.
Carolina vs. N.Y. Islanders: Carolina in 5.

Dallas vs. Vegas: Dallas in 7.
Winnipeg vs. Colorado: Winnipeg in 7.
Vancouver vs. Nashville: Vancouver in 6.
Edmonton vs. Los Angeles: Edmonton in 6.

 

[MTM]

My Kings get Edmonton for the third season in a row and I don't see a different result. The other option was Dallas and I don't like that matchup either.

The final matchups came down to the final two minutes of the final game of the season. Anaheim won in Vegas meaning LA would get third in the Pacific if they won. As soon as the Vegas game ended, Chicago scored three goals to take a lead over the Kings. LA tied it on a late power play to clinch third place then won 6 seconds into OT.

 

[MileHigh]

Winnipeg is 3-0 against the Avs, outscoring them 17-4. Colorado goaltending is a mess right now.

 

[The Big Ragu]

Winnipeg is 3-0 against the Avs, outscoring them 17-4. Colorado goaltending is a mess right now.

I think Colorado is the most talented team in the NHL. I think you pick against them at your peril. ... but Winnipeg is my (not such a) "sleeper" team to make a run. I love the make up of that team, especially for the playoffs. They have serious size, grit, and veteran players who are good, and one of the 2 or 3 best goalies in the world. It also seems like a group of players that are committed to that particular team.

 

[MileHigh]

I think Colorado is the most talented team in the NHL. I think you pick against them at your peril. ... but Winnipeg is my (not such a) "sleeper" team to make a run. I love the make up of that team, especially for the playoffs. They have serious size, grit, and veteran players who are good, and one of the 2 or 3 best goalies in the world. It also seems like a group of players that are committed to that particular team.

Agree on Winnipeg. Very physical. Colorado is really good but something is just off with that team. We'll see. Hoping for a real good series.

 

[Cosmo]

Caps-Rangers this season, it's been a minute since they've played:
12/9 -- at WSH 4, NYR 0
12/27 -- at NYR 5, WSH 1
1/13 -- at WSH 3, NYR 2
1/14 -- at NYR 2, WSH 1
Total goals: 9-9

EDIT: To add these teams haven't played since the trade deadline and look entirely different than they did in these matchups. Not sure how much to read into them.

 

[garrow]

I've never been to Las Vegas....but go Vegas! (a friend works for the team)

 

[Captain_Kirk]

Florida vs. Tampa Bay: Florida in 6.
Boston vs. Toronto: Toronto in 6.
N.Y. Rangers vs. Washington: Rangers in 4.
Carolina vs. N.Y. Islanders: Carolina in 7.

Dallas vs. Vegas: Dallas in 6.
Winnipeg vs. Colorado: Colorado in 7.
Vancouver vs. Nashville: Vancouver in 5.
Edmonton vs. Los Angeles: Edmonton in 5.

 

[Roscablo]

Agree on Winnipeg. Very physical. Colorado is really good but something is just off with that team. We'll see. Hoping for a real good series.

Wouldn't surprise me if the Avs won the cup. Or lose in five.

The last three games sort of exemplify all of it -- all against playoff teams. Lost 7-0 to the Jets, at home nonetheless, were up 3-0 in the third against Vegas but lost 4-3 in OT, with the tying goals coming on like five shots, then trounced the Oilers.

The firepower of the team will never have them out of it, as long as physicality doesn't make them quit, but the goaltending and maybe defense also means no lead or game is safe.

Bet on them at your own risk.

 

[MileHigh]

Wouldn't surprise me if the Avs won the cup. Or lose in five.

The last three games sort of exemplify all of it -- all against playoff teams. Lost 7-0 to the Jets, at home nonetheless, were up 3-0 in the third against Vegas but lost 4-3 in OT, with the tying goals coming on like five shots, then trounced the Oilers.

The firepower of the team will never have them out of it, as long as physicality doesn't make them quit, but the goaltending and maybe defense also means no lead or game is safe.

Bet on them at your own risk.

Yeah. They are a hard read. The Jets loss was particularly baffling and alarming since it was in effect to decide home ice in the series.

 

[The Big Ragu]

Caps-Rangers this season, it's been a minute since they've played:
12/9 -- at WSH 4, NYR 0
12/27 -- at NYR 5, WSH 1
1/13 -- at WSH 3, NYR 2
1/14 -- at NYR 2, WSH 1
Total goals: 9-9

EDIT: To add these teams haven't played since the trade deadline and look entirely different than they did in these matchups. Not sure how much to read into them.

I don't think it means anything when the playoffs start. But all of those games were clustered in the middle of the Rangers midseason slump. They didn't lose -- like barely at all -- in the first third of the season and the last third of the season.

But they had a stretch in December and January (when all of their games against the Caps were played) where they lost an awful lot. There were 8 losses in 12 games, at one point. Their record in January was 5-7-2.