2017-18 NHL (National Hockey League) Thread 2018

[Joe85]

Anyone here like puck?

 

Why wasn't a thread started (yet)??

[hammy83]

I do but my team is the Sens.... I'm speechless... unlike the owner.

[Joe85]

I do but my team is the Sens.... I'm speechless... unlike the owner.

 

Can you explain to me why they went from almost making it to the SCF to what's going on this season?

[sharkiesj]

There's already a huge hockey thread on here. It's prob a few pages back but it only comes up when the playoffs roll around.

[knock it close]

I do but my team is the Sens.... I'm speechless... unlike the owner.

 

Can you explain to me why they went from almost making it to the SCF to what's going on this season?

Being a bottom 10 possession team will catch up to you, they had exceptional goaltending last year to end the season and through the playoffs (their 5v5 sv% last year was 6th at 92.4%, this year it's dead last at 89.8%) also EK was the best player on the planet last year during the playoffs, now he's just one of the best players in the world (he's having a great year possession wise 54.3%, but the 5v5 sv% when he's on the ice is 85.5%)

 

Also I think Boucher's system doesn't give you a whole lotta room for error when you're goalies aren't making the saves

[hammy83]

I do but my team is the Sens.... I'm speechless... unlike the owner.

 

Can you explain to me why they went from almost making it to the SCF to what's going on this season?

Being a bottom 10 possession team will catch up to you, they had exceptional goaltending last year to end the season and through the playoffs (their 5v5 sv% last year was 6th at 92.4%, this year it's dead last at 89.8%) also EK was the best player on the planet last year during the playoffs, now he's just one of the best players in the world (he's having a great year possession wise 54.3%, but the 5v5 sv% when he's on the ice is 85.5%)

 

Also I think Boucher's system doesn't give you a whole lotta room for error when you're goalies aren't making the saves

 

^ what he said. Add the fact Melnyk is trying budget build the team. Losing Methot and replacing him with Oduya doesnt work. We are relying too much on our prospect/drafting system which we are doing great at but that needs to be supported with a decent vets. Our back end is weak as hell and extremely slow after Erik. To add to the issue we are taking a cap hit on phaneuf of 7m a season and Macarthur for 5m (who should never play again) and bobby ryan at 7m. That ties up a lot of money on an already strained budget thanks to awful ownership.

[Joe85]

Datsyuk and Kovalchuk have been added to the "players from Russia" hockey team.

[ChronicSlicer]

Anyone here like puck?

 

Why wasn't a thread started (yet)??

 

They fight,they curse,they get angry and they don`t tuck in their jersey`s. It`s not a "gentleman`s game". Which is why it`s my favorite sport :diablo:

[Mr_Wolfe]

Big hockey fan here. Pens fan and they had a very slow start. They are just starting to come on which is good. This final push for the playoffs is when I really get into hockey again.

 

Mr. Wolfe

[thug the bunny]

I can't believe Las Vegas is one of the best teams in the league in their rookie season. They are fast and aggressive and they don't really have a top line. Good for them, never would have thunk it.

 

Also can't believe Philly and Pitt came from the bottom to playoff positions.

 

Also can't believe the Rangers cashed in their season and replaced almost their entire lineup. The only players I recognize anymore are Kreider, Zuch, and Hank. Getting rid of Nash, Grabner, McDonagh, and Miller? Whaaa? As a Blue Sweater fan, I almost hope they suck for the next few years for such knee jerk reactions...

 

That would be something if Vegas won the Cup in their first season. As long as the pens get crushed in the playoffs I'm happy...

[HoganApexBlades]

Long time Chicago Blackhawks fan here. Now that they've started to suck, I now follow my second cousin's team, the San Jose Sharks. Yeah, the Polack with the "C" on his chest is my blood cousin.

[Qqq123xx]

Great OT win by Bruins over the dreaded Habs.

[Aaronwilson_95]

Crazy the wild are third in the conference and 8th in the league last I checked . Tough conference & hoping for a better playoff representation this year

[Joe85]

A tradition unlike any other (Minnesota boys state hockey tournament).

 

[Joe85]

I can't figure out the NHL. Too many teams "in the hunt" in this playoff situation.

 

 

Should go to a full 20:00 OT period after a tie after 3 periods, and then a point each if teams are tied after that.

 

 

I know it won't ever happen, but still....

[Qqq123xx]

Great 3-0 win for Bruins at TB.

[Halebopp]

The top point scorers in the last 30 days:

 

MacKinnon, Laine, Rantanen, McDavid, Malkin and Barkov. Oh, how I wish we could've seen those guys in the Olympics.

 

The playoffs will be interesting, that's for sure. I think the east is set, except for the Panthers climbing into the playoffs and either Flyers or Devils dropping out, probably the former. Which ever teams make it in the west will be going in red hot

 

To me Boston and Nashville seem like the favourites but with so many strong teams, it'll be very difficult to make guesses. For some reason I'm not seeing the Bolts winning it. Maybe it's because if my Leafs can't win it, I hope Rinne or Rask get the cup. Of course I hope the Leafs will go all lhe way but I have to wonder how the defense will cope.

 

Vegas has certainly been fun to follow. It just shows how much talent there is in the league, the guys are just asked to play in roles where they don't get to show it. Give them the role and the motivation to show everyone and there's your result.

[Joe85]

You watch the NCAA tournament and it doesn't surprise me that elite hockey players would want to play Junior hockey in Canada. It also makes me shake my head that guys like Brett Hull, Paul Kariya and Jonathan Toews ever find themselves in that league.

 

 

It's great hockey, don't get me wrong, but the NCAA 16 is such a crap shoot it can take the fun out of it, to say the least.

[Joe85]

What a final night to the NHL season...and a UMD second National Championship to top it off.

 

 

Staal tied Gaborik's franchise record (MN WIld) on the last shot of the season empty netter - for 42 goals.

 

 

The Wild will face the Jets in the opening series - the Jets have not won a playoff game since they have moved back to Winnipeg. But the Wild lost their QB, Suter.

[Qqq123xx]

Lightning losing in OT opens door for Bruins to be top seed with win tonight at home.

[Qqq123xx]

Lightning losing in OT opens door for Bruins to be top seed with win tonight at home.

.....And the Bruins only show up for the third period.

[Joe85]

Five Canadian teams miss post season. Crazy - just last year it was almost two in the Finals.

 

 

A Canadian franchise might never bring the Cup back home...

[jgonz69]

Five Canadian teams miss post season. Crazy - just last year it was almost two in the Finals.

 

 

A Canadian franchise might never bring the Cup back home...

It's the curse of the curved stick.

[sharkiesj]

Vegas keeps winning.

 

Love the fight in Philly.

 

Jets looking really good.

[budnc6721]

I know it won’t happen, but I’m hoping the pens close out philly in 5. I had tickets to the game 2 debacle. Game 3 started out the same way, Murray bailed them out in the first. Like to see Vegas keep winning. Anticipating a Vegas Nashville matchup in the West.

[Joe85]

 

Jets looking really good.

 

Not tonight...the record snowfall we had here that kept them in Winnipeg seems to have worked in our favor. I don't expect that the Wild will win this series without Suter, but at least we can make them work for it.

[SilverBullets]

Blue Jackets baby! Cardiac kids!

 

Washington doing their traditional lawn chair fold in April routine.

[Petethreeput]

The Pens seem on.

My guess is ovechkin sits on the left hash for one timers and... SURPRISE... loses again.

[TMadigolf]

Jackets have been so resilient this last month plus. Nothing seems to bother them, they just keep their heads down and play. Stole gm 2 thanks to Bob, Caps could've scored 7-8 goals. Nationwide is gonna be a madhouse Tuesday night.

[thug the bunny]

Some really good hockey being played all around. Except for NJ and Philly.

 

I never payed much attention to the West, but really looking forward to a Preds v Knights matchup. Fleury is plying out of his mind.