The other teams thread

[aragorn]

4-1 Edmonton just as Florida pulled Bob for the extra attacker. Now this definitely will go to Game 7. So much for my prediction that the Panthers will win it in 6 games. Thanks for nothing, you listless chokers.

Florida better not choke away Game 7 or else they will become the new 1942 Red Wings and it will stick with them for all eternity. They have no one to blame but themselves as they kept shooting themselves in the foot with those costly, unnecessary blunders. My faith in this team is really starting to crumble.

No chance for Florida in game 7.... they are mentally broken like San Jose was with us in 2014.

 

[Kurisu]

As much as I hate to say it, the Cup seems like NHL destiny for McTalented. He's the Michael Jordan of Hockey. I hate that team but I can respect the level of talent he brings to the league. He's the Gretz or other legacy legend of the current era. It just stings cause they're our rival. Two 4 point games in a row is just Twilight Zone madness. If I'm being unbiased, he does deserve the Conn Smythe and the Cup. It's the Kane's and Perry's that's gonna hurt.

Florida is fumbling this opportunity. It would be amusing to see this backfire on the entitled Edmonton fan base and have their hearts broken after all this momentum and optimism, but the Oil look locked in. Everything that was said that they needed has been happening. Salvation goaltending, depth scoring, and McD God Mode.

I'm glad I'm off Monday. As a hockey fan with no real rooting interest, this has been fun.

 

[Clif]

As much as I hate to say it, the Cup seems like NHL destiny for McTalented. He's the Michael Jordan of Hockey. I hate that team but I can respect the level of talent he brings to the league. He's the Gretz or other legacy legend of the current era. It just stings cause they're our rival. Two 4 point games in a row is just Twilight Zone madness. If I'm being unbiased, he does deserve the Conn Smythe and the Cup. It's the Kane's and Perry's that's gonna hurt.

Florida is fumbling this opportunity. It would be amusing to see this backfire on the entitled Edmonton fan base and have their hearts broken after all this momentum and optimism, but the Oil look locked in. Everything that was said that they needed has been happening. Salvation goaltending, depth scoring, and McD God Mode.

I'm glad I'm off Monday. As a hockey fan with no real rooting interest, this has been fun.

Very well said. I reached a bit of Zen after game 5 that if Oil win this, they deserve to and also FL deserves to lose. The Panthers have played so timid and been anything but dangerous, except to themselves on the penalty kill. At this point hoping for FL feels like hoping against physics. What is in motion remains in motion.

What I am bracing myself for are replays of McDavid after game 3 where he told the fans to keep cheering and not giving up followed up by images of him lifting the Cup. He gave the NHL soundbites they can milk for the rest of eternity provided they close this out. That will take more acceptance still for me as they will likely be trotted out in nationally televised games without warning. Hell, it’ll be the basis for next year’s entire playoff commercial ad campaign.

 

[Rog or Reg?]

Out of curiosity I popped onto a few secondary market ticket seller websites...the cheapest tickets for Game Seven, with service fees, are going for close to $1,500.00 ($1,423.00 thru Vivid).

Wow.

It'll be worth it if the Panthers win. If they lose, it'll be a long ride back home.

 

[SloMo26]

Well I predicted that it would be Kittehs in 7. I just didn't plan on it being 3-0 then 3-3 game 7.

 

[Pevsfreedom]

Out of curiosity I popped onto a few secondary market ticket seller websites...the cheapest tickets for Game Seven, with service fees, are going for close to $1,500.00 ($1,423.00 thru Vivid).

Wow.

It'll be worth it if the Panthers win. If they lose, it'll be a long ride back home.

I think I dropped $3k as a 20 year old in 2012 for games 4 and 6, opening my first credit card to do so. Well worth it.

 

[Rog or Reg?]

I think I dropped $3k as a 20 year old in 2012 for games 4 and 6, opening my first credit card to do so. Well worth it.

Congrats! Color me green with envy.

The last Finals I went to was the first ever played in LA. It cost us 250 bucks for center ice in the colonnade at the Forum.

We went to two first round games in 2012 and 2014. We lost both.

We wanted to go to the Finals both years, but the fact is we were priced out. I tried to talk my wife into it, but it wasn't gonna happen. June is our anniversary month and our annual trip to Vegas. My "Vegas will always be there, but the Kings in the Finals is rare" argument didn't pan out.

 

[05/29/93]

Skinner isn't worthy enough for the Conn Smythe as his SV% is a .909 in the Finals. And besides, he's not been doing enough eye-dropping saves to warrant his performance since, as I've said before, the Oilers' D has been doing the heavy lifting for him. It's most likely McPrincess' trophy to lose.

All true points, and I certainly agree it’s McDavid’s award, win or lose, his zero points in game 6 notwithstanding. Still, Skinner’s record in games 4-7 throughout the playoffs in almost any other year would merit consideration.

As for game 7, everything points to the Oilers winning. Maybe, ironically, that can help the Panther, if they adopt the underdog rule. Either way, this series, and this game 7, will long be remembered.

 

[DryKing]

All true points, and I certainly agree it’s McDavid’s award, win or lose, his zero points in game 6 notwithstanding. Still, Skinner’s record in games 4-7 throughout the playoffs in almost any other year would merit consideration.

As for game 7, everything points to the Oilers winning. Maybe, ironically, that can help the Panther, if they adopt the underdog rule. Either way, this series, and this game 7, will long be remembered.

Skinner has been too up and down to warrant any real consideration. Sure he has played well in certain games, but he has also been a true liability to the team in others. Even in a year in which McDavid and Bouchard are not putting up a crazy number of points, there would be several players who would stand out before Skinner.

Agreed regarding game 7 - we are setting up for Edmonton to make history and Florida to be one of the biggest flop stories of all time. Edmonton's strength this year, beyond talent, has been their ability to adapt in order to win games. Other teams simply cannot adjust as fast which says a lot about their coaching and on ice leadership.

 

[pray4mojo]

The turnaround-collapse has been shocking. Where have FLA's forwards gone? Rodrigues's 3 in the first couple games notwithstanding, other than Barkov and for some of period 3 in Game 5... Tkachuk, Reinhardt and Verhaege have been pretty much invisible. Depending on OEL to spark your offense at this point kind of says it all. 2 total shots in the 1st period of a cup clinching game is just weak.

 

[pray4mojo]

Agreed regarding game 7 - we are setting up for Edmonton to make history and Florida to be one of the biggest flop stories of all time. Edmonton's strength this year, beyond talent, has been their ability to adapt in order to win games. Other teams simply cannot adjust as fast which says a lot about their coaching and on ice leadership.

good points.... Be that as it may, a deep seated flaw in my character, and a well-earned dislike for all things OIL prevents any positive, albeit rational assessment of their play on my part.... I mean, VGK last year, and now this... How much can one man be expected to stomach?

 

[DoubleMinor]

good points.... Be that as it may, a deep seated flaw in my character, and a well-earned dislike for all things OIL prevents any positive, albeit rational assessment of their play on my part.... I mean, VGK last year, and now this... How much can one man be expected to stomach?

An Oiler Cup would only rival the Ducks winning one.
I do not see how FL can regroup and win Game 7. The wheels have completely fallen off. And I’m the guy who has felt all along that the Panthers were too good to lose this series.
After Game 3 I figured there was no way anyone could beat FL four games in a row. That is now out the window.
A nagging thought is that the Oilers have been playing loose after falling behind 0-3. Now that it’s even and the Cup is there with a win, it’s possible the nerves come to the forefront.
I think the first goal in Game 7 is crucial.

 

[hokiecat]

I think I dropped $3k as a 20 year old in 2012 for games 4 and 6, opening my first credit card to do so. Well worth it.

I cheaped out on Game 4 but went to game 6. It was a little bit nerve wracking spending over 2k to get in the door. First I was hoping the tickets were legit (if not my first time using Stubhub, it was one of the first). Then I had the feeling that this would either be "one of the best purchases in my life" or "one of the worst purchases in my life". Luckily the Kings did what Florida could not and took care of business in Game 6. That last 10 minutes was just a Staples Center party.

 

[symbology]

I have brought it up before, but the Oilers Team D is impressive. Puck pressure all over the the place and the Panthers play like they have not time to make a play. Often resulting in turnovers and GA.

Panthers need to play quicker make better decisions. Dump the puck over trying to make a quick touch pass in the neutral zone. If that does not happen, I fear I am going to hate the outcome.

 

[Kurisu]

I had the feeling that this would either be "one of the best purchases in my life" or "one of the worst purchases in my life".

I was refreshing Ticketmaster the night before on a hoping chance they would drop some seats. Sure enough 2 together in 206 appeared at $650 a piece. I thought exactly this as I was getting my credit card out.

Turned out to be the former. And I was making a lot less money 12 years ago so it was a big move.

 

[DoubleMinor]

I have brought it up before, but the Oilers Team D is impressive. Puck pressure all over the the place and the Panthers play like they have not time to make a play. Often resulting in turnovers and GA.

Panthers need to play quicker make better decisions. Dump the puck over trying to make a quick touch pass in the neutral zone. If that does not happen, I fear I am going to hate the outcome.

Early in the series the Panthers touch passes were working, and they were in earlier rounds also. Somehow they aren’t clicking the last few games. I don’t disagree that the defense is part of it, but I also think the Panthers are just off a bit. The plays are there. The passes aren’t connecting.
But, I don’t think I it’s the worst thing to make Bouchard try to make a play with pressure deep in his own zone.

I think the nerves, emotion and distractions of being so close to the Cup got into the heads, followed by EDM getting on a roll.
Panthers are in a bad spot. Maybe Game 7 at home knowing it’s One Game winner take all gets them over the mental hiccup.

If Fl can get a lead I think they’ll be fine. An early deficit and its lights out.

 

[symbology]

Early in the series the Panthers touch passes were working, and they were in earlier rounds also. Somehow they aren’t clicking the last few games. I don’t disagree that the defense is part of it, but I also think the Panthers are just off a bit. The plays are there. The passes aren’t connecting.
But, I don’t think I it’s the worst thing to make Bouchard try to make a play with pressure deep in his own zone.

I think the nerves, emotion and distractions of being so close to the Cup got into the heads, followed by EDM getting on a roll.
Panthers are in a bad spot. Maybe Game 7 at home knowing it’s One Game winner take all gets them over the mental hiccup.

If Fl can get a lead I think they’ll be fine. An early deficit and its lights out.

Agreed, but the way I see it, the receiver of those passes earlier were not being as contested as they are now. They are trying to force those plays and are getting burned.

 

[DoubleMinor]

Agreed, but the way I see it, the receiver of those passes earlier were not being as contested as they are now. They are trying to force those plays and are getting burned.

Yeah that’s true. The defense is tight and the passes being behind or in front of the receiver. But playoff hockey is always about taking away time and space. It’s just tougher to make plays. I’m really not sure that the Oilers D is much different than in the first three games. FL is just not as crisp the last three.

As much as it pains me to admit it we have to credit EDM to some degree.

 

[Clif]

FL was also much better in their own zone to start the series. They played absolutely connected and were very quick to get on pucks to clear. McDavid has taken over now and FL is chasing back there. They’ve got to slow the game down a little.

 

[Rog or Reg?]

Early in the series the Panthers touch passes were working, and they were in earlier rounds also. Somehow they aren’t clicking the last few games. I don’t disagree that the defense is part of it, but I also think the Panthers are just off a bit. The plays are there. The passes aren’t connecting.
But, I don’t think I it’s the worst thing to make Bouchard try to make a play with pressure deep in his own zone.

I think the nerves, emotion and distractions of being so close to the Cup got into the heads, followed by EDM getting on a roll.
Panthers are in a bad spot. Maybe Game 7 at home knowing it’s One Game winner take all gets them over the mental hiccup.

If Fl can get a lead I think they’ll be fine. An early deficit and its lights out.

Yup.

I think it's absolutely critical for the Panthers to jump out to an early lead for psychological reasons. If the Oilers take an early lead in the Panthers barn after winning three straight on the verge of an epic comeback, it will definitely get into the heads of the Florida players. Shoot, you can tell by their body language in the last game that it's already deep in their heads.

Conversely, if the Panthers jump out to a quick lead, it will help them for gain some confidence, which they desperately need.