Golden-Road.net
Studio 46 - Non-TPiR Discussion => Out In Left Field => Topic started by: mellongraig on April 30, 2022, 05:42:52 AM
-
Well the stage is set for the 2022 NHL Playoffs even though the regular season concludes on Sunday, we've got the first-round series matches all locked up.
Eastern Conference:
(A1) Florida Panthers vs Washington Capitals (WC2)
(A2) Toronto Maple Leafs vs. Tampa Bay Lightning (A3)
(M1) Carolina Hurricanes vs. Boston Bruins (WC1)
(M2) New York Rangers vs. Pittsburgh Penguins (M3)
Western Conference:
(C1) Colorado Avalanche vs. Nashville Predators (WC2)
(C2) Minnesota Wild vs. St. Louis Blues (C3)
(P1) Calgary Flames vs. Dallas Stars (WC1)
(P2) Edmonton Oilers vs. Los Angeles Kings (P3)
Coverage will be split among the ESPN and Turner networks as part of the new media deal, and for Canada it will be on the Sportsnet networks and CBC.
-
I’m prepared for the Capitals to disappoint me again.
-
I’m prepared for the Capitals to disappoint me again.
I actually think they could take Florida out. Florida has had a very easy schedule of late, so it may be more difficult for them than people think.
I get what you are saying though. The team I root for, the Leafs, are in tough against Tampa. Hopefully they win their first series since 2004.
-
Well the Leafs have home-ice advantage, so that could be the difference maker in the series now that the fans have fully come back, but they still have to execute their game plan to win a 7-game series.
I think some could make the argument that this playoff format is flawed and that it should go back to the 1-8 conference format, but others could make the argument that the New York Islanders, Columbus Blue Jackets, Vegas Golden Knights, and Vancouver Canucks should have been in the playoffs this year or at least be in a play-in tournament format like the NBA does after the regular season concludes.
-
I’m prepared for the Capitals to disappoint me again.
Expectations are lower now that they're playing the top seed. Looking at the various predictions, I see quite a few "Panthers in 7" calls. That said, they've finished the regular season with a four-game skid after failing to have a shot at the #6 seed, so I'm expecting them to be out in five, maybe six. One one of 16's NHL.com staff writers predicts the upset. At least there's the title from four years ago to live off of, even if it seems like a rebuild is on the horizon. ESPN's "Breaking all 16 NHL teams" does ironically call for both a first-round loss of both the Panthers AND the Capitals, and if Washington can cape advantage of Florida's shaky defense and goalkeeping, who knows. But Ovechkin is currently questionable for Game 1, and if he's out for longer than expected, don't be surprised at a Panthers' sweep.
-
Here are my first round & Stanley Cup Final predictions:
Florida over Washington in 6
Carolina over Boston in 6
Pittsburgh over NY Rangers in 7
Tampa Bay over Toronto in 7
Colorado over Nashville in 5
Dallas over Calgary in 7
Minnesota over St. Louis in 7
Edmonton over Los Angeles in 5
Stanley Cup Final: Colorado over Carolina
-
Leafs take Game 3 5-2 to take a 2-1 series lead over the Lightning
-
And the Oilers take a 2-1 series lead with an 8-2 win over the Kings in Game 3, with Game 4 going Sunday night.
-
Mixed bag for Canadian teams last night:
Leafs win 4-3 over the Lightning to take a 3-2 series lead and push the defending Stanley Cup champions to the brink of elimination. Toronto has had the history of struggling to close first-round series before, so we'll see if this is finally the year to advance to round 2 since 2004.
Kings win 5-4 in OT over the Oilers despite blowing leads several times during Game 5 to take a 3-2 series lead, and the Oilers have lost 2 games at home in the series which is unusual for them.
In the other games last night, the Blues won 5-2 over the Wild and the Hurricanes won 5-1 over the Bruins to take 3-2 series leads respectively. So far the Avalanche are the only team to advance to round 2 with a 4-0 series sweep over the Predators.
The rest of the first round series so far - Penguins lead the Rangers 3-1, and the Capitals-Panthers as well as the Stars-Flames series are tied at 2-2 with Game 5 going tonight for all of the games.
Finally, the Canadiens who finished last have earned the #1 pick in the Draft Lottery that will take place on July 7-8 in Montreal.
-
At least 3 first-round series match-ups are going to Game 7s, the Lightning force a Game 7 with a 4-3 OT win over the Leafs meaning the Leafs were unable to close the series out again. Also the Oilers force a Game 7 of their own with a 4-2 win over the Kings (they had to do it without Darnell Nurse), and the Bruins with a 5-2 win over the Hurricanes, all going on Saturday. History has shown that Game 7s have not been kind to the Leafs but with home-ice advantage and a full house of fans, maybe this Game 7 will finally be the one to win at home (or the Lightning could win it on the road).
Meanwhile the St. Louis Blues move on to Round 2 with a 5-1 win over the Minnesota Wild, and they will face the Colorado Avalanche.
-
At least 3 first-round series match-ups are going to Game 7s, the Lightning force a Game 7 with a 4-3 OT win over the Leafs meaning the Leafs were unable to close the series out again.
The Leafs did really did just about all they could against Tampa last night, they just couldn't put the game away. That 5 on 3 power play goal really hurt.
-
Yeah, it really does hurt but they do get one more chance at home to close the series out.
Two more games are going to Game 7s - New York Rangers defeat the Pittsburgh Penguins 5-3 and the Dallas Stars win 4-2 over the Calgary Flames, and those games will be on Sunday night.
Meanwhile, the Florida Panthers win Game 6 in OT with a 4-3 win over the Washington Capitals to win their first playoff series since 1996.
Three Canadian teams are at home for Game 7 - Toronto Maple Leafs, Edmonton Oilers, and the Calgary Flames. All three could move on if they win their games at home. There's also the realistic possibility that all three could lose at home, or one or two of them could move on to Round 2.
-
I’m prepared for the Capitals to disappoint me again.
Surely enough, they did.
-
The curse continues yet again... despite the third period being the best chance for the Toronto Maple Leafs as well as the disallowed goal and the home crowd, the Tampa Bay Lightning will move on to round 2 and face the Florida Panthers with a 2-1 win.
Have to wonder if Sheldon Keefe is going to keep his job for next season after this loss...
-
And with that, the first round is officially complete. Despite the Toronto Maple Leafs being eliminated in the first round, two Canadian teams are still in the hunt for the Stanley Cup - Edmonton Oilers and Calgary Flames, both winning their Game 7 series (with the latter being in overtime), and it also means one of these two Canadian teams will move on to the Western Conference Final. Also the Carolina Hurricanes and the New York Rangers won their Game 7s as well (with the latter in overtime).
Here's the second round series match-ups:
Eastern Conference:
(A1) Florida Panthers vs. Tampa Bay Lightning (A3) (Battle of Florida)
(M1) Carolina Hurricanes vs. New York Rangers (M2)
Western Conference:
(C1) Colorado Avalanche vs. St. Louis Blues (C3)
(P1) Calgary Flames vs. Edmonton Oilers (P2) (Battle of Alberta, first time since 1991)
-
The Battle of Alberta should be good.
-
Second round predictions:
Florida over Tampa Bay in 7
Carolina over NY Rangers in 6
Colorado over St. Louis in 6
Edmonton over Calgary in 7
-
Well that was quick - the Tampa Bay Lightning sweep the Florida Panthers and will face the winner of the Carolina Hurricanes-New York Rangers series (in which Carolina leads 2 to 1). Meanwhile the Colorado Avalanche are up 3 games to 1 over the St. Louis Blues, and the Edmonton Oilers are up 2 games to 1 over the Calgary Flames.
-
Well, the Edmonton Oilers win the Battle of Alberta 4 games to 1 over the Calgary Flames and will face either the Colorado Avalanche or the St. Louis Blues in the Western Conference Finals. The Colorado Avalanche are currently up 3 games to 2 on the St. Louis Blues, meanwhile the Carolina Hurricanes are now up 3 games to 2 on the NY Rangers.
-
Calgary Flames fans are going to have to wonder now if Blake Coleman's goal that was waived off because of a distinct kicking motion cost them the game and the chance to stay alive in the series. It possibly could be and I don't know whether if it was the right call or not. I think if they had let it go it probably would have gone in without any issues.
-
The Western Conference Final is set as the Colorado Avalanche win Game 6 3-2 over the St. Louis Blues meaning the Western Conference Final will be Colorado Avalanche vs Edmonton Oilers.
-
Rangers close it out on the road. They'll host the Lightning two days from now.
-
It had to happen someday - the Carolina Hurricanes road woes in the playoffs with them unable to win a game on the road cost them the series by losing Game 7 at home. They survived it through the first round but they really needed to win a game on the road and missed that opportunity in Game 6 (though there were New York Rangers fans on the road).
So therefore, here are the Conference Final match-ups:
Eastern Conference:
(M2) New York Rangers vs. Tampa Bay Lightning (A3)
Western Conference:
(C1) Colorado Avalanche vs. Edmonton Oilers (P2)
-
Conference Finals & revised Stanley Cup Final predictions:
Tampa Bay over NY Rangers in 5
Colorado over Edmonton in 5
Stanley Cup Final: Colorado over Tampa Bay
-
The Rangers and the Avalanche have 2-0 leads in their respective series.
-
We'll see if home-ice advantage for the Edmonton Oilers and Tampa Bay Lightning for games 3 and 4 be able to turn each of their series around and get back in this thing.
-
The Oilers are on the brink of elimination with a 4 -2 loss to Colorado.
-
And that's all she wrote for the Edmonton Oilers - despite them playing I think their best game in the series tonight, they couldn't hold on to the lead and therefore the Colorado Avalanche win Game 4, 6-5 in OT to advance to the Stanley Cup Final. That means 29 years and still counting for a Canadian team to win but make no mistake that the Colorado Avalanche are the best team in the league right now and could be the favorites to win the Stanley Cup.
Meanwhile the New York Rangers-Tampa Bay Lightning series is currently right now NYR leading 2 games to 1. If that series wraps up early in 5 games, the Stanley Cup Final could start a little earlier than usual.
-
The Avalanche are absolutely OP (overpowered). I really can't see Tampa Bay or the Rangers beating them.
The difference between the Avalanche and Oilers is that the Avalanche are a team and the Oilers are just two superstars. Hockey is a team-driven sport and the Avalanche are a complete team.
-
As of today, the Lightning lead the Eastern Finals 3-2 over the Rangers meaning one more win will give them a Chance at a Three Peat for the first time since the 1980-1983 Islanders. Game 6 is Saturday at 8PM ET on ESPN.
-
As of today, the Lightning lead the Eastern Finals 3-2 over the Rangers meaning one more win will give them a Chance at a Three Peat for the first time since the 1980-1983 Islanders. Game 6 is Saturday at 8PM ET on ESPN.
Vasilevskiy is such a good goaltender, and when his team faces adversity, it seems like he's unstoppable. The Toronto series went the same way, they always seem to find a way to win.
-
Well, it's official - the defending Stanley Cup Champions (Tampa Bay Lightning) will face off against the Colorado Avalanche in the Stanley Cup Final where Tampa is looking to make it three in a row, while Colorado is looking for their first since 1996. Game 1 will begin this Wednesday.
I have to wonder now what the Leafs fans are thinking on what could have been had they won Game 6, or even Game 7 against the Lightning...
-
I'm taking Colorado. Ex-Leaf Nazim Kadri got a lot of hate and threats from people on social media during the second round of the playoffs so I'd like to see his team win the Cup to shut his haters up
-
My pick is the Bolts.
-
Stanley Cup Final prediction:
Colorado over Tampa Bay in 7
-
My prediction is the Lightning in 5.
-
The Colorado Avalanche are up 2 games to 0 after beating the Tampa Bay Lightning 7-0. And I don't think I've seen a lopsided score quite like this in the Stanley Cup Finals for quite some time.
-
The Colorado Avalanche are up 2 games to 0 after beating the Tampa Bay Lightning 7-0. And I don't think I've seen a lopsided score quite like this in the Stanley Cup Finals for quite some time.
I believe the last time there was a score this lopsided in a Stanley Cup Final was in 1991 when the Penguins beat the Minnesota North Stars 8-0 in Game 6.
-
After the Tampa Bay Lightning won 6-2 in Game 3, the Colorado Avalanche win Game 4 in OT 3-2 and are one win away from hoisting the Stanley Cup (they'll have three chances to close it out). No one knew that it went in at first... it was a weird goal.
-
No three-peat. The Colorado Avalanche are your Stanley Cup Champions.
-
Congrats to the Avs, and I'm especially happy for Kadri!
-
And they won it for the first time since 2001 - it's their third Stanley Cup in franchise history and they win it in Tampa.
-
And they won it for the first time since 2001 - it's their third Stanley Cup in franchise history and they win it in Tampa.
1996, 2001, 2022. Three trips to the Finals, three Cups.