Official Hockey discussion thread

Round 1(.5?) of the NHL playoffs is over and oof. Carolina losing as bad as they did hurts my soul, but they lost Svech and he is a really important part of their team. If they throw a big deal at Robin Lehner in the offseason look out. Caps went out like a bitch, Lightning rolled over the Jackets but are without Hedman, and Montreal is out at the hands of Philly. Those two games with no goals...oof.

I'd be upset about them not going deep in this run and losing out at a chance at Alexis Lafreniere, but since the NHL rigged the draft lottery I don't need to lose sleep over it for the next 15-20 years.

In the west, Colorado executed Arizona, Vegas stomped Chicago, the Canucks thumped the defending champs, and Dallas overcame a 2-0 deficit to snuff out the Flames.

For me, I think I want...Boston out of the east? I like Big Z a lot, and Bergeron. But out of the west, it's Canucks (Canadian team) - Avs - Knights for me. The only team in the west I don't care about are the Stars.
 
Not shocked the Hawks got bounced ... but glad they played Vegas pretty tough. Good experience for the younger players on the team. Will see how they get out of cap trouble (yet again) this off season. But I do think Matta played his way from buyout candidate to trade candidate at least
 
Boston has been surprise after surprise. First they lose all their round robin games. Then Rask decides to "opt-out" of the playoffs (more on that in a moment), and now they're finally playing like the team that got to the top of the season standings. Line one is clicking again and most importantly Krejci is being his usual postseason beast. I LOVE this guy. I'm glad Charlie Coyle is living up to expectations as a depth player, normally line 3.

Back to goaltending. Ever since 2013 I've wanted the Bruins to win again, "for Rask." The entire team melted down in that game 6, but I'm sure he would've have wanted those 2 goals back. I wanted him to show the fandom that he could win the cup as a starter. He is a really good goalie. But now he up and quits? Don Sweeney said they kinda saw it coming and that management is privy to behind-the-scenes info that the fans are not. Ok... normally they still give hints as to what that is. Apparently it is family related, but unless someone is sick or dying I call BS. He's a professional athelete, he's away from home ALL THE TIME. Two months in Canada shouldn't be that big of a deal. Dude LITERALLY has ONE job. I would be more understanding had he opted out from the start, but right before round one? The fuck? I'm very disappointed in him as a player and a professional. Now I want the Bruins to win without him just to rub it in his face and my new battle cry is, "Win it for Halak. Halak has been one of my favorite goalies for years. Dude is really good and I was super excieted when the Bs signed him as he is basically a 1A starter. He is proving that now, he is one of the reasons (along with those already mentioned) They are doing so well now. I do want them to go all the way.

Out west... oh lord. Vegas. Calgary is out and the Canucks, at least for now, look severely outmatched. I also don't care for Dallas outside of Seguin, Boston shouldn't have let him go.
 
I mean, it looks like the real battle for the cup might be the Knights vs Avs series we're almost certain to get in the west finals.
 
MacKinnon is on fire, peak Cole Harbour going on with him. The Knights holding off Pettersson and co. for a game and pumping in 5 of their own was also really strong. That's Mark Stone being a stone fuckin' wall. He also has 10 points in 9 games and is being an overall beast.
 
Anyone else struggling with the fake crowd sounds during the games? Its just...so depressing.

I've watched some highlights from a couple Bruins games, and haven't been impressed so far. Everything looks a bit sluggish somehow.
As for Rask, I respect his decision. We don't know what's going on with his family and sports comes second to family, especially during these times. I'm sure he'll take a good hard look in the mirror about coming back next year, and probably the Bruins will too. Likely, he's gone.
 
I'm not cranky at Rask at all. Make the call and be there for your family, right?

I don't mind the fake crowd noise. It's fine, I barely notice it in general anyway.
 
Dallas really making it hard on the Avs.... good god.

With Rask, we'll see. I had a bad knee-jerk reaction and I think a lot of it has to do with the lack of info. We normally get more like if a parent passed, birth of a child, in the case of Evander Kane, Varlamov and that L.A Russian defenseman I can't think of his name now, if it was a legal matter, etc. We get something beyond "He wanted to be with family." Yeah... no shit, but WHY? So, maybe after the playoffs there's more on that, we'll see.

I'm liking the series thus far, sure we lost last night in OT, but it was a good game, hard fought. I wasn't upset. I hardly ever mind losing in OT. Series is even, it's first to four so.... let's get back up and keep at it. I think we're playing really well down the line-up. That little triangle Pastrnak, Marchand and Bergeron form is amazing, they got two goals out of it.

Last note: Ovie is going to be on the cover of NHL 2021.... this is his SECOND cover... Crosby has been on exactly ZERO times... WTF? Even Lemieux made the 2000 cover. Gretzky never officially made it into one, but I like to think he's the numberless/nameless L.A player getting past Bourque and bearing down on Moog in the 94 cover
 
So game 3 was a shitshow.... You know it's REALLY bad when the commentators say, "poor kid," when your back-up goalie goes in. I still have faith in Halak, that game wasn't his fault. You could see his frustration and helplessness while on the bench and before the third period when he was talking to the back-up. Just need to regroup.

The NHL supported the players in postponing yesterday's and today's games in support of BLM as all major leagues did. Good on them.

The Avs finally got a win, we got ourselves a series, this should be good.
 
Boston's out, expected. Avs still in, I'm hoping they can win the next two.

In the east i'm rooting for the islanders now.

Honestly, I'm more intrigued by what Toronto will do in the offseason.
 
Well, getting the final I didn't want. Dallas v Tampa. I'll cheer for dallas for Seguin and Khobodin, both ex Bruin's.
 
Throwback: Swedish Elitserien final in 2005 during the lockout.
Frölunda Indians with Daniel Alfredsson and Henrik Lundqvist, vs Färjestad BK with Zdeno Chara, Sheldon Souray and former Mighty Ducks/Hurricanes/Senators goaltender Martin Gerber in net.

The last time Lundqvist played in Sweden before joining Rangers in 2005, won the series in 5 games.
 
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