Heartbroken for Smith & Gio. I'm on a ferry to the island tomorrow. Will try and check in w decent wifi on Friday night. May be dicey. Gfg.
Nothing wrong with the officiating. The playoffs are supposed to be physical hard nosed. Both the Lightning and Flames will be gone because the teams are made up of soft small players with no grit or heart. Iginla and Fleury had 10 times the heart of these bums.
The Rat King shirt is sick af too, not sure I can wear it knowing there’s only one true Rat King though..
Pretty much they were great at the beginning of the year but they've completely unraveled. Hanafin makes Hamilton look like Hockey's Einstein with some of his plays.
Clutching, grabbing, slashing is not hard nosed hockey. It is a way for marginal hacks to remain relevant in a league where speed ruled during the regular season. I have no problems with the big hits... I have no problem increasing the threshold on interference. There is no way there should not have been a penalty when Smith was run skates first. It was all an attempt to injure Smith.
The most frustrating part is that Games 2 and 4 were within our grasp, whether or not we played to our potential. Such similar stories. Had the lead late and couldn't hold it, had great chances to win in OT, and then lost due to the game-breaking talent on the other team. So close, yet it's now so far.
It's not impossible, though.
A lot of knee-jerking, but good teams lose in the playoffs every season. Believe it or not, the same team can have very different results from one year to the next just based on whether playoffs occur during one of their highs or one of their lows.I think the good news is that we're set on D and likely goaltending (for at least a year). Bad news is that I don't have faith in our top forwards anymore.
It’s not impossible, but without a dramatic change, there’s 0 chance we’re running these 3 straight. Zip. Johnny’s probably got his bags packed to head back to NJ already.The most frustrating part is that Games 2 and 4 were within our grasp, whether or not we played to our potential. Such similar stories. Had the lead late and couldn't hold it, had great chances to win in OT, and then lost due to the game-breaking talent on the other team. So close, yet it's now so far.
It's not impossible, though.
The most frustrating part is that Games 2 and 4 were within our grasp, whether or not we played to our potential. Such similar stories. Had the lead late and couldn't hold it, had great chances to win in OT, and then lost due to the game-breaking talent on the other team. So close, yet it's now so far.
It's not impossible, though.
They definitely have the better top guys, without a doubt. But that doesn't decide series.JG/Monahan vs McKinnon/Rantenan
Seems to be deciding this one. That line runs a damn train on us every time it touches the ice. It’s like they have 26 minutes of powerplay time out there every game.They definitely have the better top guys, without a doubt. But that doesn't decide series.
They definitely have the better top guys, without a doubt. But that doesn't decide series.
It's one thing to lose. But we're being categorically outclassed in every department except for goaltending. I think Tampa's problem was arrogance and the face that the fact they never dealt with a cold stretch this season.A lot of knee-jerking, but good teams lose in the playoffs every season. Believe it or not, the same team can have very different results from one year to the next just based on whether playoffs occur during one of their highs or one of their lows.
Does anyone in here, for instance, believe that Tampa has a fundamentally flawed roster? They're completely stacked, but they got swept anyway.
It's one thing to lose. But we're being categorically outclassed in every department except for goaltending. I think Tampa's problem was arrogance and the face that the fact they never dealt with a cold stretch this season.
5-on-5, it's been ugly for us. Our fourth line has more even strength goals than our top line and that just can't be the case when you're 4 games into a series. I also think Peters is a bit shell-shocked right now. It's his first taste of the playoffs and he hasn't been able to prepare this team as best as he could.
To me, it does speak volumes that this core has gotten progressively worse in the playoffs over our last 3 times. The guys seem to be buckling under the pressure
I think with proper preparation, perhaps Johnny can change...he is a competitive guy. Tkachuk, Bennett, Lindholm and the young defense can improve.
Monahan/Brodie/Jank and Neal, I have no hope for. They do not have the competitiveness or too slow to play this game.