2016 Stanley Cup Playoffs
 

The playoffs begin this week, so I decided to make a thread for discussion on any series or the playoffs in general.


As I Blues fan I would like to see them make it past the first round.

.

Josh,

best of luck. I'll be at game 3. Blues have had success against the Hawks this season, and with a depleted defensive core, I am concerned about the series.

In the other series, I'm excited for Union College alum Shayne Gostisbehre's first playoff run. The Ghost Bear is the reason the Flyers are in the playoffs.

Best of luck! Let's keep this thread alive for at least the nextweek :)

N H L Playoffs
 

As a Boston Bruins fan, can be summed up in one famous Jim Mora quote. " " !

No Canadian Teams
 

I did some research and found out this is the second time no Canadian teams made the playoffs. (The first time was in 1969-70.)

As a Blackhawks fans I would not. :p

I second that.

Don't sleep on my Wild

I'm with them... :D

So...I guess I'm outnumbered. Oh well just more people to trash talk (if the Blues can somehow win.):rolleyes:

Add in another Blackhawks fan.... My unsubstantiated 'fear' is that because the Cubs knocked the Cardinals out of the playoffs last year, that it's St. Louis' turn to knock a Chicago team out.

Playoffs...
 

Go Brooklyn!

LGI

Blues
 

As a St Louis fan in general I fully expect the Blues to bow out in the first round...again :). Plus I would not want to see Josh sad

I'm also expecting a first round exit, but MAYBE this is actually their year.

They are in tough, but Chicago is not the same team as last year.

I think Chicago will still get past them, but I think the Blues have a chance.

I like L.A.'s chances again this year, but imo, they will either exit early or go all the way.

I see a L.A./Washington Stanley Cup with L.A. prevailing, or a Chicago/Washington SC with Chicago prevailing.

With the above being said however, this is one of the toughest years I have had picking who gets by who.

Who ya got?
 

Playoffs start tonight with 3 games:
DET vs TB
NYR vs PIT
CHI vs STL

Full Schedule :https://www.nhl.com/stanley-cup-playoffs

But I don't want to see you sad either my friend

maybe they tie and neither advance :)

All of my picks lost last night.

Took Detroit, NY, and Chicago.

Hoping for a better night tonight.

Took Washington, L.A. Dallas and Florida.

Also who I have winning in round 1. PHI/WSH is the series to watch in the East.

I agree. Philly scares me and Washington has a rep with choking.

In my opinion, an upset isn't out of the question, especially if they dig deep and do it for Snider?

The Panther/Islander's game is pretty good. Back and forth so far.

LA/SJ is is going to be a great series as usual. A very physical game and two goals in 40 seconds

That might have been the craziest 3d period I've seen in a long time.

Sunday will be nuts.

I think the Blues have this one wrapped up. Would love to be wrong, but the Hawks can't score 5v5, and are not deep on the blue line.
Credit to Elliot who has played great, and Tarasanko, who has finally come up big when his team needed him. Great player to watch, except when he's torching the hawks :)

Blues
 

I have complete confidence the Blues can still lose in the first round. They are experienced and dependable in that regard

Red Wings
 

As a Red Wings fan...barely squeaking into the playoffs....I don't expect the Red Wings to last too long.

Z

Al,

You are becoming more pessimistic than usual.

Z

Laughton Injury (PHI/WHS)
 

Laughton was just taken off the ice on a stretcher after he was checked by Carlson and hit the boards awkwardly.

Well, looks like I am officially out of my pool.

L.A.'s loss last night did it for me as I picked them to go all the way and win Lord Stanley.

I also lost Detroit and my other picks are either currently behind or tied where they should be ahead.

Pitts is doing well and I took NY.
Isle's look like they might get by Florida and of course I took Florida.
Minny won and they are playing strong against Dallas. Can see them now winning this series, especially since Seguin won't be playing.

Philly now has a chance over Washington, they have a lot of confidence and are playing extremely well.

Guess it's time to just sit back and hope my Hawks move on but that is not looking good either.

Like I mentioned, one of the toughest years for picking teams.

23 Years...
 

Brooklyn! LGI

Way to go Islanders! Very exciting game.

So the Hawks fought back and forced a game 7. Game 6 was completely insane. This whole series has been nuts.
Very worried that Tarasenko will burn the hawks tonight. They don't seem to have an answer for him. Wonder why Hitch doesn't play him more.

Anything can happen in a Game 7. Looks like I'm not getting any work done today.

Way to go Islanders! Very exciting game.

So the Hawks fought back and forced a game 7. Game 6 was completely insane. This whole series has been nuts.
Very worried that Tarasenko will burn the hawks tonight. They don't seem to have an answer for him. Wonder why Hitch doesn't play him more.

Anything can happen in a Game 7. Looks like I'm not getting any work done today.

They are calling for Hitch's head if the Blues don't win tonight. We are tired of the Blues being the Cubs of hockey.

I saw an article recently about Tarasenko's ice time.(http://www.stltoday.com/sports/hocke...9f5bbc558.html)
I said the same thing last year about Hitchcock, but I think this will actually be the year his job is on the line.

Going to be a great game tonight, but history tells me CHI is going to win.

Here's hoping!

The Tarasenko kerfuffle might actually be a bit of a side/gong show tonight which might allow Chicago to take them easily, but my gut tells me Hitch will cave to Tarasenko's demands and play him more?

I dislike players who show disrespect and what Tarasenko did on the bench the other night was uncalled for. To bad Hitch wasn't in a position to bench him as I certainly would.

The best case scenario would be for Tarasenko to get all the ice he can handle, and then some, and completely blow his opportunity allowing Chicago the win.

That would be sweet justice imo. :D

I guess I should take back everything I said about the Blues failures to beat the Hawks.

That was one of the best series I've seen.

Go blues!!!!
 

Great job Blues on finally knocking off the dreaded Hawks!!!
ON TO DALLAS!!

Great series. Best first rounds in a long long time.
Hawks can't drop 2 at home to a tough St. Louis team and expect to win the series.

Congrats Blues and their fans. On to the next round, best of luck!

Playoffs
 

Very gracious of you Josh.

Stars have throttled Tarasenko so far in this series. He needs to step it up tonight! I think the ice time controversy is overblown, here is the most pertinent quote from Hitch:

“When you view a player ... knowledgeable hockey people don’t look at time, they look at shifts, and shifts matter,” Hitchcock said. “He plays a short-ice game with short shifts and that’s impacts his energy. He’s a big body that plays a lot, he gets leaned on, he leans on a lot of people. It’s very wearing.

“The game he plays is a physical game: it’s at the puck, it’s around the puck, it’s one on one and it’s very demanding. He’s not going to be a 48, 49-second hockey player, not and be effective. He’s a guy that has to play in short bursts and that’s what he does. He plays great in short bursts so his energy stays high.”

The SJ/NSH series is a lot better than I was expecting. That triple OT game last night/this morning was one of the best games so far. I was expecting the Sharks to dominate.

Same. I thought it would be a 4 straight or 4 to 1 series.

Proud of Cuz getting the tying goal, and I hope they can win the series, but their definitely in tough, but at the same time, SJ has been known to choke before. :rolleyes:

Blues are looking tough. Especially on the back end. Elliot not showing any signs of letting up.
A few goalies having huge playoffs. Murray, Elliot, Jones.
Right now Blues look like they can take the whole thing.

Expectations are still low around here. You'd think they won the cup last night.

The 2 teams that won the last 2 nights were expected to win, but no one expected them to go to game 7's.

SJ and St.Louis will be a great series.

I also expect the Pitts and TB series to be as well.

Crap shoot at this point imo who will win Lord Stanley?

tough break for the Blues. Sharks dominated the series. Their defense and goaltending has been lights out.
Pavelski and Thornton finally get to play in a Final.

As a die hard Blackhawks fan, I was pleased with last nights Western Conference Finals game!

Now if Tampa Bay can just take care of Pitt tonight....

And Marleau. :D

I hope that's the outcome but I don't see it happening?

Plus, I think a SJ/Pitts Stanley Cup would be a better series?

It's a complete given that Pitt is winning tonight.
The league has no interest in Finals with 2 unpopular ,unknown teams

I think Tampa Bay is a more exciting team, and it would be nice to see a back to back finals appearance.

I don't disagree with that but it looks like a SJ/Pitts Stanley Cup will begin this coming Monday.

I personally think these 2 teams will provide some for great hard hitting hockey!

Hope SJ gets it done. I want to see Joe and Marleau host the cup!:D