Around the NHL #5 (The Mike Smith Tracking Thread Returns)

[Mosby]

Thank phuck

 

[rt]

Never thought I’d be relieved to face the best offense in the West featuring the best player left in the entire post-season. Haha.

 

[rt]

Is the Colorado series going to take place at night time again, or is it going to keep being the middle of the work day?

 

[Tom Polakis]

Should save this comment for the series talk, but I'd be happy to steal one game vs. Avs, and very pleased to win two.

 

[MayDayMayDay]

I almost kind of wanted Vegas because God I hate the Knights and I want to beat them. But I'm ok and still excited for Colorado. Could be the launching point for a real fun rivalry in the next few years once we move to the Central. Them being good could push us to a new level.

 

[rt]

Should save this comment for the series talk, but I'd be happy to steal one game vs. Avs, and very pleased to win two.

Agreed. I’m really hoping this is a hard fought series with lots of bad-blood both ways, and it goes at least 6 games.

 

[XX]

Agreed. I’m really hoping this is a hard fought series with lots of bad-blood both ways, and it goes at least 6 games.

You could almost say it's the perfect measuring stick for management.

They won't see it that way, probably.

 

[Name Nameless]

Colorado it is

I thought it would be the winner of Avs-Knights?

 

[XX]

I thought it would be the winner of Avs-Knights?

Loser. Hawks are the lower seed so they play the winner.

1 vegas vs 12 chicago
2 colorado vs 11 arizona

 

[Summer Rose]

Colorado. Whee.

 

[rt]

I thought it would be the winner of Avs-Knights?

No. The loser. Chicago had a worse record than us. So they play the 1st place team, which is now the Knights because the round-robin re-seeded those teams. Colorado is 2nd place so they play 2nd worst (us).

 

[Name Nameless]

Loser. Hawks are the lower seed so they play the winner.

Of course. Remembered it just when I hit the reply button.

Winner got Chicago. Right.

 

[Foggy1097]

Worked out well for us today. Won’t be easy but we can take COL. Good team play almost always trumps star players...just ask EDM. We were also the least penalized team in the league in the regular season. If we can get back to that level of discipline it’s another layer of protection against Mackinnon and Rantanen.

 

[Foggy1097]

Keys to winning the series:

1. Kuemps maintains MVP status
2. Limit penalties as much as possible
3. Defensemen and centers have to be dialed in and crank it up a notch
4. Special teams dialed in
5. Timely goals from Hall/Kessel/Keller/Garland

Numbers 1-3 key to minimize damage from Mack/Rantanen

 

[Neighborhood Coyote]

Woooo! We now have our first round opponent in the playoffs.

Also hoping for some animosity and some fun games. I'm excited

 

[rt]

Worked out well for us today. Won’t be easy but we can take COL. Good team play almost always trumps star players...just ask EDM. We were also the least penalized team in the league in the regular season. If we can get back to that level of discipline it’s another layer of protection against Mackinnon and Rantanen.

Avs PP scoring was actually less impressive than their overall scoring. Their PP% was actually ranked behind ours during the regular season. Still, discipline is good. Especially if we can annoy them into losing theirs like we did to Nashville. When the Preds got frustrated, they made mistakes and it cost them. Hopefully Colorado can be similarly rattled.

Avs were tied for 1st in the NHL with TBL for 5v5 GF/gp this season. Yikes. Then again, Nashville was ranked 3rd in the West in that category. We made it out alive.

 

[ParisSaintGermain]

Avs with a very skilled and fast team, a young roster that can also make mistakes, particularly at the back.

It will probably be a counter punching strategy for us, trying to absorb their offense whilst capitalising on the chances given. Kuemper absolutely essential as always.

A natural way to play of us anyway.

Should be a fascinating series. Can't wait.

 

[Mangosteen]

We have to have a maintained forecheck and clean break outs. We do, we win the series: )

 

[TheLegend]

Raves is a pos.

And we’d kill to have him on our roster.

 

[lanky]

Haven't played the Avs since beginning of Nov.

Oct 12 @ COL, 3-2 loss
Nov 2 @ ARI, 3-0 win

 

[TheLegend]

We gone way over limit....

Opened a new pre-series thread for the Avs so take all that discussion there.