GDT: 3/25/23 - 1:00PM EDT - Tampa Bay @ Boston

[bov]

Too little, too late. Aside from early penalty trouble, Bolts had a decent chance at winning.

Dicking around on the 5-on-3 , and passing up numerous shooting opportunities really did them in. Just so many wasteful, low percentage plays instead of just putting it on net.

Ullmark easily saved a goal or two as well.

 

[LTIR Trickery]

Hedman with some more baffling turnovers man

 

[FinnLightning26]

Hedman with some more baffling turnovers man

He used to make smart plays and that's what made him so great. Now it's like he looks for the lowest percentage play and tries it. Maybe he and Sergachev are competing who can make the most brainless plays in their own zone.

 

[Fan from AK]

I am all honest we are all in for that wild card spot xD
Not the worst game I think both teams deserved at least 1 point

I hope they fall into the wildcard slot. Being the team that the Maple Fleas beat to reach the second round would be awful.

 

[Stammertime91]

We wouldn't get an easier 1st round as a wildcard... Carolina and Boston are better than toronto.

 

[FinnLightning26]

We wouldn't get an easier 1st round as a wildcard... Carolina and Boston are better than toronto.

It would suck less to lose to the Canes or the Bruins.

 

[aylib]

It would suck less to lose to the Canes or the Bruins.

Canes-yes.

 

[Sky04]

Canes-yes.

Already lost to the Bruins before though, no team has lost to Toronto in 18 years.

 

[DFC]

Considering it was Boston, in Boston, it probably should have been worse. We did show up, and 5v5 we played like we belonged in their tier. So, while it's not great, it's not as bad as when we look brain dead against Montreal and Arizona or whoever.

 

[JTBF81]

Missed the game(John Wick 4 seemed like the much better option). Another L eh? Not surprised considering the opponent. At least it seems like Vasy and the defense played decent for a change, but in the end, another 0 points and 4 straight losses. 4-5-1 last 10, and an absolutely pathetic 7-10-3 last 20.

 

[Renopucker]

I’m in SOCAL and couldn’t watch the game but the highlights showed 86 with a ringer and another point blank—along with several other point blankers by others. The fact that Maroon tuned up Hathaway was a big highlight. But, its four L’s in a row, so nothing to celebrate.

 

[DaBolts]

I leave for one day and you miscreants let this team fall apart. I'm switching back to my old avatar and praying for playoff Vasy.

 

[Rschmitz]

Who cares, these games are meaningless. We are built to win in the postseason

Some of you just need a few more cycles of Orwellian-esque conditioning to understand that

 

[LightningStrikes]

Who cares, these games are meaningless. We are built to win in the postseason

Some of you just need a few more cycles of Orwellian-esque conditioning to understand that

Proof that the regular season is too long though? I mean the fan experience isn’t the greatest the past few weeks and if (!) the team is just in cruise control what’s the point for casual fans or tourists to go to a game 74 and watch uninspired sloppy hockey?

 

[JoVel]

Proof that the regular season is too long though? I mean the fan experience isn’t the greatest the past few weeks and if (!) the team is just in cruise control what’s the point for casual fans or tourists to go to a game 74 and watch uninspired sloppy hockey?

I'd have zero issues if we dropped the regular season to like 60 games right now. In fact you could go to 62 games and get every team to play each other exactly once, one at home and one on the road.

People will say "why on earth would you want less hockey". I don't want less hockey, I want better quality hockey.

Most importantly it would make playoffs better quality because half the players aren't dead by the end of round 1.

 

[Stammertime91]

I'd have zero issues if we dropped the regular season to like 60 games right now. In fact you could go to 62 games and get every team to play each other exactly once, one at home and one on the road.

People will say "why on earth would you want less hockey". I don't want less hockey, I want better quality hockey.

Most importantly it would make playoffs better quality because half the players aren't dead by the end of round 1.

What an L take from an L member of the forums. Gosh.

 

[JoVel]

What an L take from an L member of the forums. Gosh.

Just wait until the NHL properly adopts NBA's load management and we'll be icing an AHL squad after game 60 anyway.

 

[Stammertime91]

Just wait until the NHL properly adopts NBA's load management and we'll be icing an AHL squad after game 60 anyway.

No difference in what we've been icing since January.

 

[Rschmitz]

Proof that the regular season is too long though? I mean the fan experience isn’t the greatest the past few weeks and if (!) the team is just in cruise control what’s the point for casual fans or tourists to go to a game 74 and watch uninspired sloppy hockey?

I think there is some truth to that, but I also think there are enough teams who are taking these games seriously that they don't want to change anything. Just like the fans of teams like Arizona have to suffer cellar dwelling, and the NHL is ok with that to provide games for the better teams, we have to suffer I guess.

 

[Fan from AK]

Already lost to the Bruins before though, no team has lost to Toronto in 18 years.

That was my reason. The way they are playing, the Bolts couldn't even beat the CBJ's now. I know that isn't true but it is the way I feel.

 

[Felonious Python]

Proof that the regular season is too long though? I mean the fan experience isn’t the greatest the past few weeks and if (!) the team is just in cruise control what’s the point for casual fans or tourists to go to a game 74 and watch uninspired sloppy hockey?

A shorter season is probably out of the question, but the post-deadline lull is still going to be there with any decently long schedule.

 

[DFC]

Who cares, these games are meaningless. We are built to win in the postseason

Some of you just need a few more cycles of Orwellian-esque conditioning to understand that

Most of the games are meaningless overall, but I think this one was a measuring stick and we looked like we wanted to prove something, at least to ourselves. There's good and bad to it, IMO. On the good side, we didn't get outclassed, and looked like we would have a hell of a series vs. Boston. On the bad side, I think a lot of our struggles are more than just motivation issues, and we lost yet again.

Overall I feel kind of positive about this one because we at least showed that some of the poor performances really are a motivation thing. We've shown up for pretty much every game against Boston, and we showed up against Vegas a few weeks ago, and in all three Devils games. I mean, I think it was delusional to believe we were cup favorites coming into the season, so all we can really look for is signs that we are "in the mix." We're getting those signs, but they're few and far between. Hard to feel good about our chances vs. the Leafs, IMO, but we're still on that top tier with them, Boston, NJ, etc.

 

[Rschmitz]

Most of the games are meaningless overall, but I think this one was a measuring stick and we looked like we wanted to prove something, at least to ourselves. There's good and bad to it, IMO. On the good side, we didn't get outclassed, and looked like we would have a hell of a series vs. Boston. On the bad side, I think a lot of our struggles are more than just motivation issues, and we lost yet again.

Overall I feel kind of positive about this one because we at least showed that some of the poor performances really are a motivation thing. We've shown up for pretty much every game against Boston, and we showed up against Vegas a few weeks ago, and in all three Devils games. I mean, I think it was delusional to believe we were cup favorites coming into the season, so all we can really look for is signs that we are "in the mix." We're getting those signs, but they're few and far between. Hard to feel good about our chances vs. the Leafs, IMO, but we're still on that top tier with them, Boston, NJ, etc.

My comment was meant to be tongue in cheek with the reference to Orwell. I agree with you

 

[Pierre Larouche]

I'd have zero issues if we dropped the regular season to like 60 games right now. In fact you could go to 62 games and get every team to play each other exactly once, one at home and one on the road.

People will say "why on earth would you want less hockey". I don't want less hockey, I want better quality hockey.

Most importantly it would make playoffs better quality because half the players aren't dead by the end of round 1.

I couldn't agree with you more. Healthier players, less banged up and ready to withstand the postseason.

 

[Fan from AK]

I couldn't agree with you more. Healthier players, less banged up and ready to withstand the postseason.

Count me in.