NHL Playoffs - 2017

[Johnsfolly]

Haven't heard much about the what everyone thinks about this year's playoffs. So I started this thread to see what guys are thinking about this year.

Do you think that the Blues will go farther this year?

Will the Capitals not advance again after securing the best record in the league?

Do you like the playoff format where the 2 and 3rd teams in each division play each other instead of reseeding the teams with the best records once they make it into the tournament?

I have been pretty happy with the play in the couple of games that I was able to watch so far. I am really surprised by the Predators/Blackhawks series. Would love to continue to see if Babcock can get his team into the second round. He has always been a strong playoff coach in my opinion. St Louis looks strong so far. I always love the first series in the playoffs since there are so many games going on.

I will say that this is how I feel so far for my team, especially after their comeback win last night in overtime.

 

[jpb2187]

Lovin the playoffs so far as well. 

I'm liking the Blues chances with how well their D is playing and obviously Jake Allen has been insane. The D has let up a lot of shots, but only about a handful of really juicy chances. Feel like the Blues have been steadily getting better game over game so far. They are getting murdered on the faceoff dot though.. hopefully Stasny can get back in the lineup soon. Really like seeing their younger players playing well. My key guys for the playoffs were Parayko, Schwartz, Tarasenko, and Allen and so far they haven't disappointed. 

The Wild are a team that I told a co-worker earlier in the year that'd I'd like to face in the playoffs. They are a very good team, but don't have the game breakers like some other teams... (Kane, Toews, Keith; Crosby, Malkin, Kessel; Ovechkin, Backstrom, Oshie; Matthews, Nylander, Marner) I feel like the Blues can outwork/neutralize a TEAM, but struggle with those elite talents. (Always seems like Bouwmeester is getting undressed by the likes of Kane, McDavid, Forsberg, Pavelski) 

I want to see Schwartz/Barbashev/Tarasenko really take control of some games here on out. Tarasenko set up the game winner gm 1, Schwartz wins games 2&3. Keep that stuff going. 

For the sake of the Blues, I hope the Capitals get past round one and then we get a better return on the Shattenkirk draft pick. Personally I'd be fine watching them choke again. Toronto is gonna have a hard time keeping up with lack of D-depth made even worse with Polak going down. 

I like the the set-up with the divisional bracketing. I think it intensifies the rivalries. Yes the path to the cup is harder than it would be if reseeded, but playoffs are supposed to be hard right?

I just hope some of the dirty stuff dies down after round 1. Calvert's shot in the Pit/Cbj was uncalled for. Torts probably rubbed off a little too much on him. Also think the refs need to clean it up a bit... I know the game is so hard to call due to the speed, but there were some really weak calls against the Blues in game 3 that really gave the wild some momentum in the 2nd. Can't do that in period 2 and then put the whistles away in period 3. 

 

[Ham]

Blues got it done. Wild had a great season , but they're done.

Habs seem in control all the sudden.

preds putting the hawks in a Big hole. I hope the press can choke them out. 

My Leafs should have the Caps full attention now. I'd love to see the Leags win a round 

im liking the Pens chances against Caps 

Oilers are for real. This might not be their year, but look out next year. 

[Ham]

Oilers vs Penguins would be a Great Finals

[moguy1973]

So many shots are my main concern with the Blues so far.  Allen can't stand on his head all the time and some of those are going to start getting through.  I was a real big Allen opponent halfway through the season and I didn't think this team would be where it is now, but I think the changing of the guard at head coach really lit a fire under this team and really got away from that bump and grind style of Hitch hockey and let these players play with the athleticism and speed that they need to play with to be successful. 

The Predators/Blackhawks series is really surprising me.  Who would have thought that through two home playoff games that the Hawks would not have one single goal.  Rinne has been outstanding for the Preds.  It would be a really interesting matchup between them and the Blues.  They kind of traded games early on in the season (I thought they played each other more than just 5 times), and in the Blues losses the Preds really handed it to St Louis but I think those were when the team was in their funk and they weren't the team they have been for the last 2 months.  The game a couple weeks ago when we were fighting to see who would be the wildcard team the Blues looked pretty dominant.

I'm not a big fan of the seeding they use in the playoffs currently.  I think they need to make the 2nd place team in each division play the 3rd place team in the other division in the conference.  It really hurts the really good divisions like the Metro division had this year and kind of waters down the field some by eliminating at least one of those really good teams in round one.  But it is what it is.  I just wish they would play all the games at the same time so we aren't having to stay up so late when the Blues get screwed with an 8:30pm start.  People have to get up to go to work you know.

I'd really like to see the Senators get by the Bruins so Backes can go suck it...

[Quillback]

Haven't really paid much attention to hockey since the early 70's when I lived near Boston.  This year I watched maybe a half-dozen Bruins games.  Watched them blow a 3-1 lead and lose to Ottowa 4-3.  They play tonight in Boston, I'll be watching.

So much better to watch hockey on a big screen HD than it was back in 1970 on a small TV with reception via antenna. 

[Ham]

2 hours ago, Quillback said:

So much better to watch hockey on a big screen HD than it was back in 1970 on a small TV with reception via antenna. 

So we moved and I upgraded the TV to a Samsung UN50KU6300 LED UHD 4K. It's been a while since I've been anywhere near current TV tech. The games are freaking beautiful. 

[Ham]

I never would have thought Chicago would be down 3-0

[moguy1973]

58 minutes ago, Ham said:

I never would have thought Chicago would be down 3-0

That's pretty crazy.  I saw the score with the Blackhawks up 2-0 and I pretty much thought it would be a 2-1 series when I went to bed last night.

[Johnsfolly]

There have been 9 OT games and now four teams including the Blackhawks facing elimination in the next game. Wow! Never would have predicted this type of playoffs. Can't wait to see what happens tonight!