sbhatt

I dislike the black and gold as much as anyone, but I don't like any of the Blues players enough to get emotionally invested in the Final.

Another slick goal, banking it in off the goaltender with a backhand last night.

WIth Joe Thornton out of the picture, I'm left not caring about the outcome much. My ideal scenario is that the Blues win in 7, with Boston's top line racking up points for me in my hockey pool on the road to a heartbreaking defeat.

It would sicken me to see Boston win as well, but I think the Sharks will handle them. If St. Louis somehow makes the final though...I will wish Carolina had dispatched Boston.

I like a D-man that drives offense as much as the next guy, BUT, for me they have to be solid in their own end too (not 'great' but generally good at least). It bothered me to see him win that Norris over more reliable D-men, and that soured me on him some. The thought of him winning over Doughty or Weber does not sit well with me. The WAG drama in Ottawa was the icing on my dislike for Karlsson cake, so to speak. The cherry on said cake would be the greasy skid-esque hair.

I am getting very excited about the potential of Suzuki.

I'm ok with Boston taking out Carolina, but then losing in the Final to the Sharks. Seeing Joe Thornton get a cup would offset my disgust at seing Erik Karlsson hoist it, and having Joe beat the team that traded him away in the Final would be poetic.

Agreed. They are a scorer for the 2nd line away from being a top tier team IMO.

Common sense dictated that should have been the way to go. Also, the 'padding your stats in meaningless games angers the hockey gods' factor comes into play. Glad they are being humiliated.

After watching the past two Caps games, they still seem 'hungry ' to me...not always the case with defending champs. This bodes well for them.

I just can't write Crosby off that easily.

The goaltending has been sub-par, but it's not just the goaltending...that team is being outworked all over the ice. They seem to be a mentally soft bunch, and I question Cooper's coaching as he has seemed either too stubborn to make strategic adjustments, or is downright incapable. Epic choke job so far.

Adding a puck moving LHD makes us a playoff team next year by a comfortable margin. Adding that puck moving LHD AND upgrading our top 6 goalscoring (Byron and Drouin each drop a line) would make us a playoff team with the potential to ride a hot Carey Price into a deep run. A lot hinges on this offseason...the usual Bergevin swing/miss where all he has at the end is leftover cap space to show simply will not do.

You couldn't have scripted that any better...wow

I know it's just one game...BUT...I am going to re-order the depth chart for next season in my mind featuring Mr. Poehling in the top 6 and nobody can stop me!