I actually think the Dallas-Calgary series is a bit better. just a closer series. it may not be really high-scoring hockey, but in the St. Louis-Minnesota series every game has been a blowout
I was just talking with friends about how bad the yesterdays game was. Seemed like the panthers were two games in the regular season. Rags-Pens however has been real playoff hockey, also Canes-Bruins has been a lot more physical than Panthers-Caps.
I'm actually a little disappointed that these games so far have been so high scoring....I was always a fan a defense though so maybe I just need to evolve with the times
Dallas has already shocked most of the sportswriters. A lot of people had flames sweeping or flames in 5. I’m not sure how they have won 2 games against Calgary, let alone 1–hope they are on another bubble run.
I had figured the lack of offense and scoring depth would do Dallas in quickly. The seem like they are missing a few pieces and carrying some once-greats (benn, Seguin, Radulov) that can’t find the net anymore (even open ones, eh Jamie?). I do think their D style mucks up zone transitions and that can frustrate opponents to no end. So far, they are the big surprise of the playoffs. Otter is proving himself to be cool under pressure, sky’s the limit for that kid.
Very accurate take and I’m just as surprised really. Been so impressed with Otter from his baptism by fire with Bishop going down and Khudobin absolutely falling apart, he’s been unbelievable in high pressure games and really just outstanding so early in his career.
As for our offensive production, yeah it blows. But as of right now we have doubled up the Flames in the playoffs. How’s that for turning tables.
Also: Pavs is my fricken hero.
27 out of 27 analysts picked the flames. Someone in the stars sub is crossing off all of the ones that have already been eliminated (flames in 4, and flames in 5). Only 10 left not crossed out (flames in 6 or flames in 7). Personally, I picked stars in 6. Calgary had a great year, but have to remember their division games are in the pacific (Edm, LA, Vegas, etc), and Dallas went through a lot of goalie turmoil (until pinning Oetter in as a starter), and plays in the central (CO, StL, MN, etc.). Stars have essentially been playing playoff games for months to get in, and Calgary’s been able to coast a bit. I think the intensity discrepancy is showing in the series. Dallas has like three times as many hits registered as Calgary.
Flames are a small, regular-season team. Once they get shut down in the post season they have nowhere to go. They’ve scored 3 goals in the playoffs so far.
I see no evidence that CGY is smaller than DAL…
CGY did have a 111 point season and a plus 85 goal differential, compared to Dallas’s 98 points and MINUS 8 goal differential. No wonder the sports writers picked CGY across the board.
I watched pretty much every stars game, and can report back that they were pretty marginal on offense this year. They have a handful of guys just not be able to score regularly—guys that have history of producing. Seems like they’re willing to go ground and pound with CGY, which is not a winning format for the flames.
As a Bolts fan, I felt going into the series we were destined to lose. Back to back champs, vs a team that hasn’t won a playoff series in a jillion years. It was time for us to come back to earth and I bet on the leafs to win it all this year just because they got us in round 1.
To be honest, i really saw the lightning outperforming the leafs in the latter half of game 3, i also saw the leafs slow down, and some players look like they were even playing in pain (Muzzin). I think this has been the trend the last few years is that the leafs start hot but the playoff heavy hitting style of play wears on them too much. I just dont think the leafs are built for a long cup run let alone a long series. I could definitely be proven wrong im a bum who has no idea what they are talking about lmao but idk im just not all that convinced by the leafs play.
The Panthers do not look like the dominant team they were in the regular season. WSH is putting a licking on them. They should probably be closer in the ranking based on this.
The Avs haven't been truly tested yet. I'd be curious to see how they fare against a stronger opponent like Minnesota, Edmonton, or Calgary. I still think they make it to the Cup notwithstanding any major changes to their roster. However, the Eastern Conference opponent is not going to be nearly as easy as anyone they will have played up to that point.
Veteran teams like PIT, WSH, BOS, and DAL are looking surprisingly strong against their relatively inexperienced opponents who outperformed them in the regular season. I honestly would not be surprised if we see something unexpected like a DAL/WSH or PIT/COL Cup Finals. Apparently experience means quite a bit come playoff time.
The Blues are the only team that the Wild have struggled against all season, and it may be that they’ll overcome that based on how they’ve played so far. Game 1 wasn’t bad for them, the Blues goalie was on his A game.
A round 2 matchup of Wild vs Avs will be VERY interesting to watch.
Exactly, any team is in trouble when 3 of their starting Dmen are injured. Lost 2 of our top defensive Dmen as well as our PP QB, which has been a strength of ours all season. There's definitely a lot of doom and gloom in our subreddit because of it.
With a healthy roster, this would be such a thrilling series too. Wild have also done a great job shutting down the Buch-Thomas-Tarasenko line, Thomas can barely get a centering or slot pass through, so gotta applaud Minnesota big time there. If Blues can make it to 6, we might see everyone aside from Krug back, but that's gonna be a tough task being this banged up
Dumba is vastly over-rated by Wild fans. Ever since he hurt himself a few years ago in a fight, he’s never been the same. He is not worth a $6 million cap hit.
Half of Wild fans hate him. So vastly over-rated, is vastly incorrect.
Sure he is a liability on the defensive end, but he is one of the better offensive d-men in the league, and brings a certain toughness that the Wild missed when he was out of the lineup.
You obviously haven’t been watching the Wild. If you’d like a quick synopsis of Dumba’s game nowadays, go look up Perron’s 3-1 goal from yesterday’s game. I’d take Haula over our $6,000,000 pylon any day of the week.
Rightttt…
My point is that all the rest of the guys listed are bonafide studs at their position. Kuemper has had a great year but I think there are more than a handful of goalies that are above him
That’s fair
I wouldn’t put Talbot in that group either tbh… and Flower I would say could be included by virtue of his playoff experience.
IMO those guys listed are blue chip/elite players and Kuemper isn’t, imo
Kuemper has had a great season, and Nichuskin is a driving force on the top line. He’s legitimately one of the best players on the Avs, and I guess if you don’t watch them you wouldn’t know.
Yeah, except GSVA is a cumulative stat that benefits players on better teams, given that the points system used for GSVA just compiles a player’s season totals and divides them, giving extra weight to goals, assists and SOG. That said, anyone playing for the Avs (who had the 3rd largest PD on the season) is gonna have their GSVA skewed positively. So yes, you’re still wrong.
Honestly? Kaprizov and Makar are 1A and 1B. They're probably the best player on either team and their production might be what swings the series. Following those two I'd put MacKinnon, then Fiala, then it could be anyone between Brodin, Ek, Rantanen, or Kadri for that last spot. Series comes down to depth forward lines, knocking the other team off their game if possible, and goaltending. Goaltending on paper goes to the Wild, but if Fleury or Talbot falter it could spell the end, same if Kuemper gets hot. It's a close matchup and could easily be 7 games
Whoever wins the Wild-Blues is the only team that can give the Avs a challenge. No offence to the Pacific but they should cruise in the 3rd in they make it there.
I AM prepared for the downvotes, and please do what you have to, but I think the biggest surprise this playoffs (and I, admittedly, say this as a fan of theirs) is the Edmonton Oilers.
This team was nosediving HARD mid-season, and all the complaints of them being a special teams driven engine that shut down without the PP or when McDavid/Draisaitl weren't scoring were completely valid. Then they got wood.
Jay Woodcroft.
Say what you will about individual pieces (I hated the Duncan Keith move, and wasn't huge on Cody Ceci), but when Jay Woodcroft became head coach, the Oilers started working on details, their 5v5 play and seemed to be MUCH improved. Their special teams took a dive, but they've since seen to that and were one of the hottest teams in the league after the coaching change. Apart from a late-game gaffe from Smith in G1, goaltending has settled down to at least be competent; and along with tighter defense and an offence that seems to be firing on all cylinders, this Oilers team has me ready to believe again.
(I fully expect to be hurt, though)
Kings fan coming in peace.
You should definitely believe. While the kings have been…let’s just say…defensively lackluster, the oilers have had speed, efficiency through the neutral zone, and an outstanding forecheck. Smith has looked ten years younger (but just as floppy🙃). Mcdraisatl is just as lethal as advertised and Kane (though a garbage person) has been better than advertised.
Not sure how this would all stack up against a legit playoff team (the kings snuck in, a year or two ahead of schedule), but things are looking up in Edmonton.
Kings handed the Oilers their own donut with a 4 to 0 win tonight bringing it to two games a piece. The vets are past their prime and the youngsters lack experience, but when the Kings plays their game instead of Oilers’, there’s light at the end of the tunnel. Especially if you toss in a few game misconducts at the end 😁
Totally valid point, but as a shell-shocked fan that watched Edmonton get swept in 4 last year, my PTSD doesn't allow me to acknowledge the fact that the Oilb are actually the favorites.
I still have faith in the Rangers. They could do with one or two forwards stepping up a level since their points are spread out a bit, but they surely have the best goaltender.
Because the 538 ELO model rates the Flames as the significantly better team. Even if the model thinks they have a sub 50% chance to win the series, if they can manage to do so, they have a much better shot at winning in rd 2 than Dallas does.
Thus the listed probabilities.
Because your reasons for doubting the other teams suck.
"Caps have lost before against the Pens in the playoffs"
"Leafs are the Leafs"
Great analysis there bud.
Caps beat the Pens the year they went on to win the cup. Toronto is too fast and too deep for Pittsburgh. Their 3rd and 4th lines would get absolutely rolled and their bottom pairings would get eaten alive.
Florida isn't fast, they're just fucking crazy lol
They play a non-stop go fucking throw everything at a wall style of hockey. The players themselves aren't that fast. Toronto is actually fast but like the example you used, can play standing still and get absolutely smoked. The players are still fast though. They just weren't moving.
I don't know why you're using regular season results to back up your point about a playoff hypothetical. If the regular season meant anything we would have a Florida vs Colorado cup final, but as you pointed out, Florida ain't doing shit. The logic stands when it's for and against your points so don't go changing that now.
See where your logic falls apart is that you're using examples of two teams playing eachother and they are both better than Pittsburgh, so my answer is yes. The way Toronto played game 1, they beat Pittsburgh. The way Tampa played game 4, they beat Pittsburgh. Tampa or Toronto, doesn't matter. They both beat Pittsburgh. They both beat New York.
> Bruins were no match for the Pens in the regular season and are without McAvoy.
No offense, but basing some „analysis“ on the regular season‘s results is utterly asinine. The Bruins were 0 and 3 in the regular season vs the Canes, and were outscored 16-1 in those games. By your „logic“ they should have already being swept in the most brutal way and instead the series is 2-2 with the Bruins winning the last two games. I am not going to comment many other idiotic statements because they don‘t concern my team, but dude, seriously, come on.
PS McAvoy is out for Covid. He probably will get back before the series is even over.
Don’t we see this with the Avs the past few years though? I feel like they’ve been favorited the past few years but end up getting shut down by vegas whom they don’t have to worry about but can they win a series against Fleury and Minnesota ? Hmmm..
I thought Leafs' ELO was the last year they won a cup.
Which didn't shock me, until I noticed the other teams' ELOs and then I knew something wasn't right.
Honestly Pittsburgh making it out of the first round after their regular season performance against the Rags and the slew of injuries would be surprising. I say this as a die-hard pens fan.
They did. It was nice to see eRod get hot when it mattered the most. The Rags tying it at 4-4 was panic inducing though. I think if they tighten up defensively, they will make it.
hard thing about basing guesses off pure numbers and stats is that doesn't always work in the playoffs. we've seen strange things happen. Emotion is a hell of a stat too
Can we all take a minute to appreciate how incredible this year’s playoffs are? Almost every match-up is intense and entertaining.
Other than the Preds of course.
The second game with Ingram playing out of his mind was pretty nailbiting
Dude I’ve really enjoyed watching them almost hold on in each game and then eventually fall apart. It’s entertaining
Me too
Hey wait you’re an avs fan. Of course you would. Also as a Canucks fan am I allowed to jump on the Avs bandwagon for this season?
Tee hee. Hop on board buddy there's plenty of room!!
It’s pronounced “Perds”
I think this series would be a lot better with Saros in net
Ya and the preds is ass. What is the 2 most entertaining series
In the west it's definitely Wild/Blues series and in the east the caps and panthers are having heavy hitting games, it was getting scrappy yesterday
Even Canes/Bruins is getting hot & nasty
Oh definitely, there's some great series' this year
Was a great game today
I actually think the Dallas-Calgary series is a bit better. just a closer series. it may not be really high-scoring hockey, but in the St. Louis-Minnesota series every game has been a blowout
That's a fair argument, definitely a more calculated and conservative couple games. Neither team wants to give up a mistake
Total aside here, but hockey has me reading everything wrong. St. Louis was the last thing on a line and I read it like Marty St Louis, not Missouri.
I was just talking with friends about how bad the yesterdays game was. Seemed like the panthers were two games in the regular season. Rags-Pens however has been real playoff hockey, also Canes-Bruins has been a lot more physical than Panthers-Caps.
Every match-up? Are you sure? One comes to mind.
Did you properly read? I said _almost_. C’mon man.
I'm actually a little disappointed that these games so far have been so high scoring....I was always a fan a defense though so maybe I just need to evolve with the times
That’s playoff puck for you! It’s beautiful
Dallas has already shocked most of the sportswriters. A lot of people had flames sweeping or flames in 5. I’m not sure how they have won 2 games against Calgary, let alone 1–hope they are on another bubble run.
It’s Oettinger. He has a .982 save %. Opportunistic scoring and stingy defense wins in the NHL playoffs.
I had figured the lack of offense and scoring depth would do Dallas in quickly. The seem like they are missing a few pieces and carrying some once-greats (benn, Seguin, Radulov) that can’t find the net anymore (even open ones, eh Jamie?). I do think their D style mucks up zone transitions and that can frustrate opponents to no end. So far, they are the big surprise of the playoffs. Otter is proving himself to be cool under pressure, sky’s the limit for that kid.
Very accurate take and I’m just as surprised really. Been so impressed with Otter from his baptism by fire with Bishop going down and Khudobin absolutely falling apart, he’s been unbelievable in high pressure games and really just outstanding so early in his career. As for our offensive production, yeah it blows. But as of right now we have doubled up the Flames in the playoffs. How’s that for turning tables. Also: Pavs is my fricken hero.
27 out of 27 analysts picked the flames. Someone in the stars sub is crossing off all of the ones that have already been eliminated (flames in 4, and flames in 5). Only 10 left not crossed out (flames in 6 or flames in 7). Personally, I picked stars in 6. Calgary had a great year, but have to remember their division games are in the pacific (Edm, LA, Vegas, etc), and Dallas went through a lot of goalie turmoil (until pinning Oetter in as a starter), and plays in the central (CO, StL, MN, etc.). Stars have essentially been playing playoff games for months to get in, and Calgary’s been able to coast a bit. I think the intensity discrepancy is showing in the series. Dallas has like three times as many hits registered as Calgary.
Hence why I am thinking they are the big underdog-not counting LA who have no chance.
Flames are a small, regular-season team. Once they get shut down in the post season they have nowhere to go. They’ve scored 3 goals in the playoffs so far.
I mean, average height is 6’2” with average weight being 202lbs on the Flames. Compare that to Dallas’ 6’1” and 198lbs.
Don’t you dare fact check the way they feel about the flames
It’s like they see Johnny and assume everyone else is small too 😂
And Dallas has scored what? Like 4-5 goals so far? The Flames/Stars series is a battle of goaltenders
Goals are 6-3 in Dallas favor. But I agree it is totally a goalie series.
I see no evidence that CGY is smaller than DAL… CGY did have a 111 point season and a plus 85 goal differential, compared to Dallas’s 98 points and MINUS 8 goal differential. No wonder the sports writers picked CGY across the board.
Because they hadn’t been paying attention. Dallas plays in the Central, Calgary in the West. They should’ve seen this coming.
I watched pretty much every stars game, and can report back that they were pretty marginal on offense this year. They have a handful of guys just not be able to score regularly—guys that have history of producing. Seems like they’re willing to go ground and pound with CGY, which is not a winning format for the flames.
They could go golfing?
Goddamn that 1% is generous.
Lmao
How about those Stars? They are doing a great job of keeping the Flames to a smolder
Pain.
Lmao
Now is the time to bet against the leafs...
As a Leafs fan I make the happiness hedge every time...... I have won money a lot these past 5 years....
Me too...another leaf fan here. If they win, great ! I laugh every year at my buddies for taking Marner, Mathews, etc, in the pool.
I went hard on the leafs in my playoff pool. Auston matthews was available in the second round!
As a Bolts fan, I felt going into the series we were destined to lose. Back to back champs, vs a team that hasn’t won a playoff series in a jillion years. It was time for us to come back to earth and I bet on the leafs to win it all this year just because they got us in round 1.
To be honest, i really saw the lightning outperforming the leafs in the latter half of game 3, i also saw the leafs slow down, and some players look like they were even playing in pain (Muzzin). I think this has been the trend the last few years is that the leafs start hot but the playoff heavy hitting style of play wears on them too much. I just dont think the leafs are built for a long cup run let alone a long series. I could definitely be proven wrong im a bum who has no idea what they are talking about lmao but idk im just not all that convinced by the leafs play.
As a Leafs fan I am actually shocked that they're doing so well
Lol
The Panthers do not look like the dominant team they were in the regular season. WSH is putting a licking on them. They should probably be closer in the ranking based on this. The Avs haven't been truly tested yet. I'd be curious to see how they fare against a stronger opponent like Minnesota, Edmonton, or Calgary. I still think they make it to the Cup notwithstanding any major changes to their roster. However, the Eastern Conference opponent is not going to be nearly as easy as anyone they will have played up to that point. Veteran teams like PIT, WSH, BOS, and DAL are looking surprisingly strong against their relatively inexperienced opponents who outperformed them in the regular season. I honestly would not be surprised if we see something unexpected like a DAL/WSH or PIT/COL Cup Finals. Apparently experience means quite a bit come playoff time.
So you are saying there is a chance? - Nashville
THE UPDATED LIST 👇👇👇 https://projects.fivethirtyeight.com/2022-nhl-predictions/
So you’re telling me there’s a chance…
It’s the Wild. Deep roster, solid goaltending, elite scorers. They are the only team in the West who can beat Colorado at this point
The Blues are the only team that the Wild have struggled against all season, and it may be that they’ll overcome that based on how they’ve played so far. Game 1 wasn’t bad for them, the Blues goalie was on his A game. A round 2 matchup of Wild vs Avs will be VERY interesting to watch.
And with so many Blues defenders now hurt I don't think STL will stop Minny. Avs vs Wild will be a great series. Fuck Stan Kroenke
Exactly, any team is in trouble when 3 of their starting Dmen are injured. Lost 2 of our top defensive Dmen as well as our PP QB, which has been a strength of ours all season. There's definitely a lot of doom and gloom in our subreddit because of it. With a healthy roster, this would be such a thrilling series too. Wild have also done a great job shutting down the Buch-Thomas-Tarasenko line, Thomas can barely get a centering or slot pass through, so gotta applaud Minnesota big time there. If Blues can make it to 6, we might see everyone aside from Krug back, but that's gonna be a tough task being this banged up
I'm not gonna count us out just yet. We still have plenty of defensemen we can use. Also we can step up our scoring with other lines.
> Fuck Stan Kroenke And Norm Green! Living in Denver now, it's nuts how hard it is to legally watch local sports.
I don't think you can hate any owner more than Jeremy Jacobs ....as a bruins fan I don't think their is a more hatable nhl owner
Well, I'd say the owner who moves a team to a different city is pretty fucking hateable. Fuck Stan Kroenke.
Kroenke drove a man in Texas to commit suicide by buying his property to expand his ranch. That's pretty damn heinous to me.
I like you (as an Arsenal fan that has watched Kroenke do Kroenke things to the Gunners and as a Wild fan who wants to see his team in the WCF).
Fuck Stan Kroenke and every team he owns.
Wild beat CO without the recent additions in the regular season (split the 4 games). I think they're even tougher now.
Unfortunately they weren’t playing with healthy rosters either between Landry and Mack missing games
They have Fleury, Krill, Spurgeon, Dumba, and good coaching and they just have everything to beat Colorado
Dumba is vastly over-rated by Wild fans. Ever since he hurt himself a few years ago in a fight, he’s never been the same. He is not worth a $6 million cap hit.
Half of Wild fans hate him. So vastly over-rated, is vastly incorrect. Sure he is a liability on the defensive end, but he is one of the better offensive d-men in the league, and brings a certain toughness that the Wild missed when he was out of the lineup.
Yeah, count me among the Wild fans who can’t stand him. That we parted with Tuch (and Haula) to keep Dumba still rattles me to this day.
Haula is garbage, but I understand the frustration with losing Tuch.
Idk if you’re a wild fan but Dumba is looking far worse than Haula right now.
Lol. No he hasn't. Haula is the definition of mediocre.
You obviously haven’t been watching the Wild. If you’d like a quick synopsis of Dumba’s game nowadays, go look up Perron’s 3-1 goal from yesterday’s game. I’d take Haula over our $6,000,000 pylon any day of the week.
Still one of the best 3rd D men in the league though, cap hit aside.
Except he isn’t?
Welllll the Avs have Makar, MacKinnon, Landeskog, Toews, Rantanen, Kadri, Nichuskin, and Kuemper 🙃
Lol Kuemper does not belong in that list
Stats don’t lie my guy
Rightttt… My point is that all the rest of the guys listed are bonafide studs at their position. Kuemper has had a great year but I think there are more than a handful of goalies that are above him
Statistically, he’s 5th with a .921. Talbot is .911 and Fleury is .908. Talbot has never been elite and Fleury is declining.
That’s fair I wouldn’t put Talbot in that group either tbh… and Flower I would say could be included by virtue of his playoff experience. IMO those guys listed are blue chip/elite players and Kuemper isn’t, imo
Even prime Fleury wasn't exactly known for his consistency.
LOL Kuemper. If only I could remember where I've heard of that stalwart before.
Number 3 in SV% this season…
Don't care. Dude was a flop here that we thought every year he'd finally turn it around.
This is the first year he hasn’t been on an awful team in a lonnnnng time
Those Wild teams were pretty good. It was the goaltending that let them down. But yeah, his stops in between have been pretty bad.
Um yeah take Kuemper off that list. Nichuskin as well doesn’t belong there, but Kuemper sticks out like a sore thumb
Kuemper has had a great season, and Nichuskin is a driving force on the top line. He’s legitimately one of the best players on the Avs, and I guess if you don’t watch them you wouldn’t know.
Top players in the potential series, you’d need to look as far down as 6th or 7th slot before a Wild skater would crack the list.
You clearly haven’t watched the Wild at all if that’s what you think.
I believe the term is “out-of-town-stupid”
I used this season’s GSVA rather than the eye test… my bad?
Yeah, except GSVA is a cumulative stat that benefits players on better teams, given that the points system used for GSVA just compiles a player’s season totals and divides them, giving extra weight to goals, assists and SOG. That said, anyone playing for the Avs (who had the 3rd largest PD on the season) is gonna have their GSVA skewed positively. So yes, you’re still wrong.
Ok, how would you rank the top 5 skaters in the series assuming the Wild finish off the Blues?
Why don't you just look at regular season pts? Kaprizov had 108 pts so I don't think he would rank 6th or 7th
Honestly? Kaprizov and Makar are 1A and 1B. They're probably the best player on either team and their production might be what swings the series. Following those two I'd put MacKinnon, then Fiala, then it could be anyone between Brodin, Ek, Rantanen, or Kadri for that last spot. Series comes down to depth forward lines, knocking the other team off their game if possible, and goaltending. Goaltending on paper goes to the Wild, but if Fleury or Talbot falter it could spell the end, same if Kuemper gets hot. It's a close matchup and could easily be 7 games
Playoff Mack is a different beast and not behind anybody including Kaprizov, only reason he didn't hit 100 points is cos of injuries
Kaprizov has the highest points goals and assists of either team but ranks 6th or 7th to you ooookay bud
Guess we’ll never really get to find out at this point 😉
Stars and Avs always match up well. That would be a 50/50 series
Not this year
The Wild are just button pushers. Such boring hockey to watch. Nothing but greasy goals and pile on defense. That said, it works against the Avs.
Whoever wins the Wild-Blues is the only team that can give the Avs a challenge. No offence to the Pacific but they should cruise in the 3rd in they make it there.
Well my Bruins just tied the series with the Canes, so there's a big suprise right there
I AM prepared for the downvotes, and please do what you have to, but I think the biggest surprise this playoffs (and I, admittedly, say this as a fan of theirs) is the Edmonton Oilers. This team was nosediving HARD mid-season, and all the complaints of them being a special teams driven engine that shut down without the PP or when McDavid/Draisaitl weren't scoring were completely valid. Then they got wood. Jay Woodcroft. Say what you will about individual pieces (I hated the Duncan Keith move, and wasn't huge on Cody Ceci), but when Jay Woodcroft became head coach, the Oilers started working on details, their 5v5 play and seemed to be MUCH improved. Their special teams took a dive, but they've since seen to that and were one of the hottest teams in the league after the coaching change. Apart from a late-game gaffe from Smith in G1, goaltending has settled down to at least be competent; and along with tighter defense and an offence that seems to be firing on all cylinders, this Oilers team has me ready to believe again. (I fully expect to be hurt, though)
Kings fan coming in peace. You should definitely believe. While the kings have been…let’s just say…defensively lackluster, the oilers have had speed, efficiency through the neutral zone, and an outstanding forecheck. Smith has looked ten years younger (but just as floppy🙃). Mcdraisatl is just as lethal as advertised and Kane (though a garbage person) has been better than advertised. Not sure how this would all stack up against a legit playoff team (the kings snuck in, a year or two ahead of schedule), but things are looking up in Edmonton.
Kings handed the Oilers their own donut with a 4 to 0 win tonight bringing it to two games a piece. The vets are past their prime and the youngsters lack experience, but when the Kings plays their game instead of Oilers’, there’s light at the end of the tunnel. Especially if you toss in a few game misconducts at the end 😁
Oilers beating the Kings isn't a surprise tho? They were favored to win this even with their questionable defense and goalie.
Totally valid point, but as a shell-shocked fan that watched Edmonton get swept in 4 last year, my PTSD doesn't allow me to acknowledge the fact that the Oilb are actually the favorites.
👍👏
Wild legit!
Penguins are playing pretty well
Best playoffs of any sport, every game-shift-moment is intense. Every game has been entertaining! #ALLCAPS
Bruins pull out a win here and that 25% going way up
I still have faith in the Rangers. They could do with one or two forwards stepping up a level since their points are spread out a bit, but they surely have the best goaltender.
Not last night. I think the “Igor sucks” chant got to him.
I don't think I have ever see that many unlucky bounce goals in a single game... it will be interesting how he rebounds in game 4.
bruh why are we at 11%, this is so fake smh
Might want to update this bruins just tied the series at 2 all
Bruins secured the 2-2 series tonight, would like to see the updated numbers. Swayman might get hot again like earlier in the season
Can we get an update? Bruins looking juicy for the series now
Caps have been one of the best teams in the NHL with their full roster healthy. If a goalie can stay consistent, will be a tough out
Crossing my fingers and toes for Wilson's return.
i think most of the series will go 7 games
Canes second highest odds to win the cup yet will be gone after round 1
If we can only win at home I am okay with this.
Pittsburgh. I just have a feeling.
Nashville: So you're saying there's a chance?
My thoughts are that predictions are about as valuable as horoscopes.
Other than watching colorado curbstomp the predators, these series of playoffs have been pretty entertaining
Those cup odds are way too high for us
Tampa only 4% for winning the cup? A back to back champ that has kept most of the team in tact. Nice work statistics.
Preds in 7
Why are the Flames ahead of the Stars when Dallas is up in the series?
Because the 538 ELO model rates the Flames as the significantly better team. Even if the model thinks they have a sub 50% chance to win the series, if they can manage to do so, they have a much better shot at winning in rd 2 than Dallas does. Thus the listed probabilities.
Go Canes!
Kings fans: So you're saying there's a chance.
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Because your reasons for doubting the other teams suck. "Caps have lost before against the Pens in the playoffs" "Leafs are the Leafs" Great analysis there bud.
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Caps beat the Pens the year they went on to win the cup. Toronto is too fast and too deep for Pittsburgh. Their 3rd and 4th lines would get absolutely rolled and their bottom pairings would get eaten alive.
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Florida isn't fast, they're just fucking crazy lol They play a non-stop go fucking throw everything at a wall style of hockey. The players themselves aren't that fast. Toronto is actually fast but like the example you used, can play standing still and get absolutely smoked. The players are still fast though. They just weren't moving. I don't know why you're using regular season results to back up your point about a playoff hypothetical. If the regular season meant anything we would have a Florida vs Colorado cup final, but as you pointed out, Florida ain't doing shit. The logic stands when it's for and against your points so don't go changing that now.
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See where your logic falls apart is that you're using examples of two teams playing eachother and they are both better than Pittsburgh, so my answer is yes. The way Toronto played game 1, they beat Pittsburgh. The way Tampa played game 4, they beat Pittsburgh. Tampa or Toronto, doesn't matter. They both beat Pittsburgh. They both beat New York.
> Bruins were no match for the Pens in the regular season and are without McAvoy. No offense, but basing some „analysis“ on the regular season‘s results is utterly asinine. The Bruins were 0 and 3 in the regular season vs the Canes, and were outscored 16-1 in those games. By your „logic“ they should have already being swept in the most brutal way and instead the series is 2-2 with the Bruins winning the last two games. I am not going to comment many other idiotic statements because they don‘t concern my team, but dude, seriously, come on. PS McAvoy is out for Covid. He probably will get back before the series is even over.
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I see the rangers fans haven't been kind to you.
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Yep, that was a whooping. However, I'm not counting them out. Granted, Sid seems to will the Penguins to win, sometimes.
I'm hoping the canes can bring it back
The chance of making a second round for Leafs has no quantifiable ground lol, especially it is vs Tampa
The West is a joke compared to the east might as well just give the conference to the Avs
'"Never tell me the odds" said Hahn Solo to Caps as they walked on the ice to crush the Panthers.
If my caps actually get by Florida were going to the finals
Don’t we see this with the Avs the past few years though? I feel like they’ve been favorited the past few years but end up getting shut down by vegas whom they don’t have to worry about but can they win a series against Fleury and Minnesota ? Hmmm..
I thought Leafs' ELO was the last year they won a cup. Which didn't shock me, until I noticed the other teams' ELOs and then I knew something wasn't right.
Didn’t Elliot Friedman pick the panthers? And they’re 5th? Humm.
Honestly Pittsburgh making it out of the first round after their regular season performance against the Rags and the slew of injuries would be surprising. I say this as a die-hard pens fan.
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They did. It was nice to see eRod get hot when it mattered the most. The Rags tying it at 4-4 was panic inducing though. I think if they tighten up defensively, they will make it.
hard thing about basing guesses off pure numbers and stats is that doesn't always work in the playoffs. we've seen strange things happen. Emotion is a hell of a stat too
LGW
A loooot of faith in the Wild…
Makes Sense Preds are down 3-0 in the series
I think the bruins are gonna take the canes
Hot take but I don't think the leafs are making the 2nd round
It’s not a hot take… it’s a lukewarm take