Official 2015 NHL Playoff Thread

[CJ]

Stats go too far nowadays. Next it will be...rookies with a shot in the first 30 seconds of a period following a veteran scoring a goal in the last 30 seconds of the previous period which was assisted by a goalie and a guy acquired at the trade deadline for a 4th round pick, who was a pending UFA but re-signed for exactly 1 million,1thousand,1hundred and one dollars and 93 cents per year with a cap hit of 15 cents less than that.

Hahaha!!

[A9L3E]

Stats go too far nowadays. Next it will be...rookies with a shot in the first 30 seconds of a period following a veteran scoring a goal in the last 30 seconds of the previous period which was assisted by a goalie and a guy acquired at the trade deadline for a 4th round pick, who was a pending UFA but re-signed for exactly 1 million,1thousand,1hundred and one dollars and 93 cents per year with a cap hit of 15 cents less than that.

I fully agree.

[philou21]

Anyone read about Mark Lazarus (NBC owner or something like that) that wants the players to stop letting their beards grow in the playoffs because it's getting difficult to recognize them? This is hilarious.

[CJ]

Yes I read about it. What a joke.

[philou21]

Hawks are lucky to get away with that game IMO. Now time to be invincible!

[nino33]

Hawks are lucky to get away with that game IMO.

I think I see your point, because the Hawks for sure did not play their best game.....but do you think Tampa Bay played so well? I didn't think they were any better than the Hawks, and in once important sense I thought they were much worse - the Hawks looked like they were trying to play their game but they were mostly having an off night (they weren't "getting the bounces"), while the Lightning looked like they were trying to protect their goalie and offense was secondary (not their style at all)

I think the Lightning missed a critical opportunity because the Hawks didn't play well...a tied series at this point is advantage Hawks IMO
And it looks to me like Stamkos is frustrated/wants the puck more than he's getting it, and Tyler Johnson is seemingly to hurt to be very effective (if he's not hurt, he sure played poorly last night).....I get the impression that the Hawks are "still coming" (their forwards at least, their D is exhausted HaHa) and capable of better play, and the Lightning look tired/spent (though maybe the extra time off will help them)

[philou21]

I agree Nino, the game overall was "bad". It could've gone both ways but last I checked before going to sleep, the Hawks had three shots at the beginning of the second IIRC? That's kinda bad coming from them....we'll see how they play the next games. Statistically after game #4 I think the Hawks are undefeated. They won their two Cups 4-2 if I'm not mistaken. Time to clutch!

[batdad]

I have been very disappointed in the play. TAmpa decides to go into a shell...something they did not do all season. And the Hawks look tired (not shocked the D looks tired but the stud forwards too shocks me a bit). These two teams have the ability to play such a knock down drag em out offensive game and they are playing as though this is 1995 and they are coached by Jacques Lemaire. BOOOOOOOOO. Stupid NHL over coaching.

[Peter_Doherty]

Tampa played that way in both game 5 and game 7 against Rangers where they shut us down completely.

[batdad]

Yep-I know they did. Had to against a team like the Rangers, where the goalie is only going to allow 1-2 goals. These two teams goaltending is the weakest link IMHO. At least the knowledge of the goalies being studs would be less. To me, at least one of the coaches should have the guts to go all out run and gun and try and score 5 on the other one. Last shot wins hockey is what i wanted to see. Because we all know everyone else copies the SC winners. So I wish....we could see that, and it might change the game. But Q and Cooper are instead making these big walls in front of their goalies. Torts appears to have shown up and is coaching against Lemaire. Too bad, not good for the league.

[philou21]

Only 1 left. Come on!

[CJ]

We have a Stanley Cup winner and no replies in this thread?!

Hawks were better, and Duncan got a well deserved Conn Smythe.

[batdad]

I must pat myself on the back. Good to see them win one at home. ANd Duncan for all he is off the ice, is one heck of a hockey player and deserved the C Smythe completely.

That was a horribly played Stanley Cup Final. Other than my prediction (hope) for the two teams to be there, I was seriously disappointed. Not the best 6 games of hockey I have seen.

OH well...on to the draft. Which apparently for some unknown reason is the most exciting day of the NHL Season?

[Peter_Doherty]

I love the draft and the week before the draft, so much fun Well deserved win for Hawks.

[philou21]

Congrats Hawks!! 3 Cups in 6 years, we can call that a dynasty in modern hockey!