2023/2024 season playoff discussion

[Commandant]

In that stat, yes. 

 

In terms of who is dominating games, Florida is killing them.  Shesterkin is the reason the series is close. 

[Habs Fan in Edmonton]

1 hour ago, Commandant said:

In terms of who is dominating games, Florida is killing them.  Shesterkin is the reason the series is close. 

 

Yes, Florida has been the far better team. Without Shesterkin the series would be over by now.  I just don't see the Rangers coming back. 

[The Chicoutimi Cucumber]

15 minutes ago, Habs Fan in Edmonton said:

 

Yes, Florida has been the far better team. Without Shesterkin the series would be over by now.  I just don't see the Rangers coming back. 

 

The thing about having an off-the-chart goalie is that anything's possible. If a bounce or two go the Rangers way they can win the next one, and then all bets are off. That said, the agreement is universal that FLA has been the better team.

[Habs Fan in Edmonton]

1 hour ago, The Chicoutimi Cucumber said:

 

The thing about having an off-the-chart goalie is that anything's possible. If a bounce or two go the Rangers way they can win the next one, and then all bets are off. That said, the agreement is universal that FLA has been the better team.

 

That's true, if the Rangers win the next 2 games it will likely be because Shesterkin stole at least one of them if not both. It seems like Florida has outshot them badly every game. The Rangers haven't impressed me at all, I thought they had the best group of defensemen in the NHL but it hasn't seemed like it. 

[JoeLassister]

Same here, I thought they were very well rounded à la Dallas Stars and that Shesterkin would put them on top.

 

Some key players kinda dissapeared in 3rd round. 

[Peter Puck]

So what we're saying is that Florida is much better if we ignore the contributions of one of the ranger's best players.

[DON]

Go Nudge, njce! Go Oilers.

[DON]

Oil up 3-0 Nicee!

 

[DON]

3g on 12 shots.. ugg!

[Habs Fan in Edmonton]

3 hours ago, Peter Puck said:

So what we're saying is that Florida is much better if we ignore the contributions of one of the ranger's best players.

 I think Florida has been much better even if you don't ignore the contributions of one of the Rangers's best players. 

[Habs Fan in Edmonton]

Dallas has only 6 shots in half a game. The Oilers have learned to check. 

[Commandant]

5 minutes ago, Habs Fan in Edmonton said:

Dallas has only 6 shots in half a game. The Oilers have learned to check. 

 

I don't know what percentage to assign to each of these two things, but Edmonton is playing fantastic and Dallas is playing like crap all at the same time.

[DON]

Not bad.

McDavid, Draisaitl elevating game for Oilers on verge of 1st Cup Final | NHL.com

"For McDavid and Draisaitl in the Stanley Cup Playoffs, the standard is historically high.

 

Each center had an assist Friday, increasing his incredible numbers. McDavid leads the playoffs with 29 points (four goals, 25 assists) in 17 games. Draisaitl is second with 27 points (10 goals, 17 assists) in 17 games.

Each has 104 points in 66 playoff games in his NHL career. McDavid has 33 goals and 71 assists. Draisaitl has 41 goals and 63 assists. Among players who have appeared in at least eight postseason games in NHL history, McDavid and Draisaitl (1.58) are tied for third in points per game behind Wayne Gretzky (1.84) and Mario Lemieux (1.61)."

[The Chicoutimi Cucumber]

12 hours ago, Habs Fan in Edmonton said:

Dallas has only 6 shots in half a game. The Oilers have learned to check. 

 

That’s what I saw coming out of the Vancouver series. Edmonton has become a team that can play stifling defence. They don’t do it every game, but they seem to have that ability to brutally lock things down when required.

[Habs Fan in Edmonton]

30 minutes ago, The Chicoutimi Cucumber said:

 

That’s what I saw coming out of the Vancouver series. Edmonton has become a team that can play stifling defence. They don’t do it every game, but they seem to have that ability to brutally lock things down when required.

 

Yup, whatever Knoblauch has been selling the Oilers are buying into. 

[Prime Minister Koivu]

Nobody is stopping that offence 

 

 

[DON]

Probably, but i would count Dallas out yet.

 

Go Panthers, finish off the Rangers.

[Habs Fan in Edmonton]

1 hour ago, DON said:

Probably, but i would count Dallas out yet.

 

 

I don't count them out either, they got 113 points this year for a reason. DeBoer sounds really frustrated though. 

 

McDavid and Draisatl are really motivated, as intense as I have ever seen them. 

[Prime Minister Koivu]

Exciting finish in Florida 🎉

 

Shesterkin made a bunch of really outstanding saves. 
 

Florida dominated the entire game and they caused Rangers to turn the puck over in all three zones, over and over again. 
 

Hopefully Edmonton gets it done tomorrow 

[Habs Fan in Edmonton]

I am actually a little surprised at how dominant the Panthers were this series. The Rangers were the number one seed but looked like the inferior team almost every game.  The Panthers lost in the final last year and are hungry. They will be tough to beat. 

[BCHabnut]

Barkov was unbelievable tonight. So many high danger chances foiled by his giant brain. Him and Draisaitl are my mvps so far, now that shesterkin is out. I don't notice a standout in Dallas. Maybe benn?  Maybe Ottinger?

[The Chicoutimi Cucumber]

11 hours ago, Habs Fan in Edmonton said:

I am actually a little surprised at how dominant the Panthers were this series. The Rangers were the number one seed but looked like the inferior team almost every game.  The Panthers lost in the final last year and are hungry. They will be tough to beat. 

 

Hard to know if the Rags have significant lineup work to do, in order to get to that final, top level; or whether this was a necessary learning experience along the path to eventual victory. Probably the latter. 🤷‍♂️

[Dalhabs]

Last year Florida were decimated by injuries in the finals. I think they will win it all now. I hope we can end up a team built like them.

[tomh009]

3 hours ago, The Chicoutimi Cucumber said:

Hard to know if the Rags have significant lineup work to do, in order to get to that final, top level; or whether this was a necessary learning experience along the path to eventual victory. Probably the latter. 🤷‍♂️

As the Rangers beat writer in the Athletic said, the Rangers were very good this year, and sometimes great. But again not good enough to get out of the conference.

 

But improving is not easy, and they don't have much to trade: hardly any prospects or trade picks available. Hence my question recently whether Kakko would be a worthwhile target for the Habs, as he is one of the few decent players that might be available.

[Commandant]

4 hours ago, The Chicoutimi Cucumber said:

 

Hard to know if the Rags have significant lineup work to do, in order to get to that final, top level; or whether this was a necessary learning experience along the path to eventual victory. Probably the latter. 🤷‍♂️

 

They were the best team in the regular season, won two playoff rounds easily and are at worst the 4th best team in the NHL this year. 

 

This sounds like minor tweaks and getting a few breaks.... not exactly the Leafs who have one win in round 2 or later in 9 years with their core.