Series Talk: ECQF: Carolina Hurricanes vs New York Islanders (CAR Leads 3-1)

[saintunspecified]

The pressure is on carolina especially with the expectations of their fans and the statbois. The islanders just need to play their long forgotten heavy game and make carolina beat them by skill and by outworking them. It may not be as easy a ride as some are predicting but carolina should come out on top.

Islanders "heavy game" isn't really a thing anymore.

Canes have the pieces and play style to dominate this. Their mobility and skill on D matches up well vs NYI's poor defensive wing play. A big part of the Islanders resurgence has come from Kyle MacLean becoming the 4th line center, allowing Cizikas to move up the lineup as a winger. NYI's top line is 3 natural centers, which shows how much they lack for good wingers. The wild card for nyi is engvall - he's going to have to find a new level for NYI to keep play close to even on more than one line. He has the tools, but we know how that goes. Dobson not being healthy is, for me, mostly affects NYI's PP. He's looked run down before the injury the last third of the season, a consequence imo of overuse.

Will guess canes in 6, but also that it doesn't feel that close.

 

[hangman005]

Go Jerks, I believe in you!

 

[SeanAveryTheGreatOne]

The Isles have only a 5% chance of winning this series or so I read.

That's better than their 4% chance to make the playoffs on March 28th, so you gotta like those odds as an NYI fan

Sebastian Aho has 58 points in 63 playoff games. That would be the 3rd best point per game pace in New York Rangers playoff history with a minimum of 60 games.

That's a devils fan, not a Rangers fan you're replying to

 

[Rehabguy]

Hurricanes with the only first round sweep.

Sweeping beer mugs off your home ice from disgruntled fans doesn't count.

 

[Nizami Ganjavi]

A Roy-coached team will have issues in the playoffs

Why?

 

[miscs75]

It's matinee hating Canes they're playing, so it'll be a case of stoppable force meeting movable object.

Jerks vs FLIDs, the battle of the afternoon hangover teams.

 

[BelovedIsles]

Being the heavy underdog works in NYI’s favor.

 

[Mandar]

Being the heavy underdog works in NYI’s favor.

not really.....odds have zero to do with what happens on the ice.

 

[Jetcetera]

Incoming snooze fest. Hope I'm wrong though

 

[Riseonfire]

not really.....odds have zero to do with what happens on the ice.

Expectations are heavy though.

 

[BelovedIsles]

not really.....odds have zero to do with what happens on the ice.

From a mental standpoint, absolutely. This group has seen the ice from this POV, and they are led by the gumption of Roy to compound.

 

[Nizami Ganjavi]

Incoming snooze fest. Hope I'm wrong though

Yeah, playoff hockey sucks.

 

[Lempo]

Yeah, playoff hockey sucks.

Everyone hates watching some ahos on skates.

 

[miscs75]

Everyone hates watching some ahos on skates.

This town ain’t big enough for a couple of Aho’s.

 

[Mandar]

Expectations are heavy though.

Sure....but thats for the fans and media. Pressure to win is on both teams on the actual ice.

Is either team gonna change the way they platy due to expectations? Based on both coaches, I dont think so.

 

[saintunspecified]

Incoming snooze fest. Hope I'm wrong though

If snoozes are a lack of shots & goals, that's simply wrong. I wouldn't be surprised if there are more shots & goals per game in this series than any other. Just likely that Canes will get 60%+ of shots, and a similar percentage of goals.

 

[BelovedIsles]

Sure....but thats for the fans and media. Pressure to win is on both teams on the actual ice.

Is either team gonna change the way they platy due to expectations? Based on both coaches, I dont think so.

You are discounting the mental component. The perception of a team relative to their counter in a playoff context plays a role.

 

[Nizami Ganjavi]

Expectations are heavy though.

Being the underdog or favorite can certainly have an impact on a team. Emotion/momentum is a real thing.

 

[miscs75]

I have a feeling this is going to be a similar type of series to last year. All I hope is that the team who lost the series last year comes up on top this time around.

 

[Mandar]

You are discounting the mental component. The perception of a team relative to their counter in a playoff context plays a role.

True, I am....in my opinion, I'm not convinced that perceptions lead to anything on the ice. The Canes arent gonna be all over confident and the isles arent going to just be happy to be there. At this time, the pressure is equal. Of course, after the result of game one....then it gets interesting.

 

[BelovedIsles]

True, I am....in my opinion, I'm not convinced that perceptions lead to anything on the ice. The Canes arent gonna be all over confident and the isles arent going to just be happy to be there. At this time, the pressure is equal. Of course, after the result of game one....then it gets interesting.

I’m arguing that from an NYI POV they will relish in being the underdog, not relish in simply making the playoffs. This group has been the underdog time and time again; it motivates them.

 

[Mandar]

I’m arguing that from an NYI POV they will relish in being the underdog, not relish in simply making the playoffs. This group has been the underdog time and time again; it motivates them.

understood. But its the motivation thing that get me. Its the playoffs....cant really believe that isnt enough to be motivated about. I know that coaches will try to use that to fire up the squad with pregame speeches.

 

[BelovedIsles]

understood. But its the motivation thing that get me. Its the playoffs....cant really believe that isnt enough to be motivated about. I know that coaches will try to use that to fire up the squad with pregame speeches.

Generally speaking, my belief is that some teams thrive in that position, while some teams underperform when expected to succeed.

 

[Nizami Ganjavi]

Generally speaking, my belief is that some teams thrive in that position, while some teams underperform when expected to succeed.

Agree. Also, sometimes teams thrive on being the favorites and conversely, get overwhelmed when they are considered the underdogs.

 

[Lempo]

Jerks vs FLIDs, the battle of the afternoon hangover teams.