Running 2018 Stanley Cup playoffs thread

[Sea Bass]

That Crosby fellow knows a thing or two about hockey.



That first one is beyond ridiculous.

The third one ain’t nothin’ either.

 

[JC]

Wonder if Chris Long is going to say the Doughty hit wasn't actually a blow to the head

If he was a Duck he would.

 

[Tarheel316]

They swept the regular season series with Philly, correct?
I don't expect Pens to make it to the Cup Finals.
Just curious to see how Caps **** it away again this year.

Caps are on the way already. Lost 4-3 in OT to Columbus.

 

[MTM]

Seems odd that Evander Kane is playing in his first playoff game. And he scored his first playoff goal

 

[ChrisLong]

Wonder if Chris Long is going to say the Doughty hit wasn't actually a blow to the head

The guys calling the game last night (one of 'em was Ray Ferraro, not sure about the others) were pretty damn sure Doughty's hit was "barely OK." Didn't look much different than Cogliano's. Still, its shocking Doughty got half the suspension Cogliano did. I didn't think Doughty would get suspended at all.
Hell, they let Marchand play for fines. His hits are worse Cogliano and Doughty.

 

[ChrisLong]

If he was a Duck he would.

The Ducks are currently the 15th best team in the playoffs.

 

[Cosmo]

I swear, Caps fans give me more anxiety than the Caps themselves do. It's like they lost four games in one night last night. It's like they're ROOTING for this to happen. Columbus is a good team, they tilted the ice in the third, and the fact that the Caps were down a defenseman reared its ugly head big time in the third. Not to mention Beagle being out. Might be one of the most important fourth-line guys in the league because of his ability to win defensive zone faceoffs on the reg.

Caps lose again Sunday, then I'll start to panic. Not going there after one friggin game.

 

[Moderator1]

They took one of the dumbest penalties I've ever seen in the closing minutes then failed to clear twice - without that they, probably win 3-2 despite being down a D-man and with Beagle out. Columbus is a very good team and has been hot lately. But the Caps turned a W into an L, plain and simple.

Vrana was terrific in setting up the third goal. Not sure why he got less than seven minutes.

The Caps took great advantage of the five-minute major with two goals and then basically didn't do **** except for Vrana's sprint and pass.

No wonder I'm nuts, and yes I realize I'm one of those fans giving you anxiety.

 

[JC]

The guys calling the game last night (one of 'em was Ray Ferraro, not sure about the others) were pretty damn sure Doughty's hit was "barely OK." Didn't look much different than Cogliano's. Still, its shocking Doughty got half the suspension Cogliano did. I didn't think Doughty would get suspended at all.
Hell, they let Marchand play for fines. His hits are worse Cogliano and Doughty.

And there it is

 

[Cosmo]

They took one of the dumbest penalties I've ever seen in the closing minutes then failed to clear twice - without that they, probably win 3-2 despite being down a D-man and with Beagle out. Columbus is a very good team and has been hot lately. But the Caps turned a W into an L, plain and simple.

Vrana was terrific in setting up the third goal. Not sure why he got less than seven minutes.

The Caps took great advantage of the five-minute major with two goals and then basically didn't do **** except for Vrana's sprint and pass.

No wonder I'm nuts, and yes I realize I'm one of those fans giving you anxiety.

Oh, no, I'm with you on breaking down that loss. That penalty was brutal. Wilson did not do a good job of clearing the zone late, but he was hounded. I thought the Jackets did a great job of making clears very difficult late in the game. The Caps should have won, but as they're wont to do, they sort of turtled and played not to lose down the stretch. Thus the result. But the series was not lost last night, as many seem to want to concede.

But Japers Rink and RMNB seem to be taking perverse pleasure in this, to the point where I've basically muted them for the rest of the series. I'm not willing to go full blown negative nancy after one game of a series. Caps fans ought to also stop worrying about what the Penguins are doing against the Flyers. But that's just me.

 

[Moderator1]

Agree on the other series, can't control that. I know the guys who run those sites, they're good folks and very knowledgable. They also want a change, pretty badly, and it is pretty much guaranteed to happen if the Caps go out in one round.

Win Sunday and all is forgotten. But now we get two days instead of one of dissecting the **** ups and wondering if they'll go back to Holtby and all that. They take a dumb major, you make them pay with two goals, you ought to cruise from there. Get a team down, keep it down.

The Caps just don't do that.

 

[Cosmo]

Agree on the other series, can't control that. I know the guys who run those sites, they're good folks and very knowledgable. They also want a change, pretty badly, and it is pretty much guaranteed to happen if the Caps go out in one round.

Win Sunday and all is forgotten. But now we get two days instead of one of dissecting the **** ups and wondering if they'll go back to Holtby and all that. They take a dumb major, you make them pay with two goals, you ought to cruise from there. Get a team down, keep it down.

The Caps just don't do that.

Yeah man, 100 percent agreed. Thought the Caps were in trouble when it got to 2-1 because they needed to take better advantage of the major. And that was a good call, the game misconduct. If he doesn't bring the elbow up to Kempny's head, it's a regular two-minute boarding. Maybe not even that. Curious to see what happens to Wilson. Wouldn't be surprised if he gets a game.

I don't dislike RMNB/Japers. They do a fine job. But you're right, they want Trotz out--it's very clear in the way they write/tweet. I think he's gone unless they win two rounds, and it would be the right move. Need to see what you have with Rierdan. You'll know what you have with Trotz at that point.

 

[albert777]

Not to twist the knife, but that winning goal for Columbus was about as sweet a play as you'll see all year.

 

[Cosmo]

Not to twist the knife, but that winning goal for Columbus was about as sweet a play as you'll see all year.

So was their first goal. Really pretty passing play.

 

[HC]

I have decided that the Leafs were just toying with Boston last night and lulling them into a sense of false security. Yeah. That's it. That's the ticket.

:(

 

[TigerVols]

Sick, as the kids say.



BTW, paging @dixiehack! I feel like @YankeeFan on the politics thread, having to do all this heavy lifting by myself.

 

[Cosmo]

The Kings are right in this but if they score zero goals they’re probably going to get swept.

 

[ChrisLong]

They scored one tonight. Wasn't enough. Close, but not enough.

 

[JC]

East coast bias.

 

[ChrisLong]

Gravel was the replacement for Doughty in the lineup and his goofs contributed to both Vegas goals.
(this post is for the easterners who didn't see this game).