Thoughts on TBL drawing Pittsburgh in the first round?

[DFC]

If they're going to win a cup, they have to have the hardest journey, otherwise it was a fluke cup win.

It'll be a fluke win regardless. Not to mention unfair advantages.

#TaxesAndSunshine

 

[Alan Wake]

It'll be a fluke win regardless. Not to mention unfair advantages.

#TaxesAndSunshine

Maybe then they'll earn the title "Golden State Warriors of NHL".

IMO we gotta win at least one cup and sign an all-star caliber player from a different team to a one year discount contract (under 7M) before that comparison can be realized.

 

[ncm7772]

Well Scuderi should count as one too.

Very true!!

 

[snipes]

They’ll have to go through good teams at some point no matter what.

 

[EYEuhFRAYtee]

Nothing would make me happier.


Actually, the Pens missing the playoffs entirely would make me happier.

 

[Hawkaholic]

They're looking good right now. I think it would take some kind of epic collapse or injuries for them to be the 8th seed or miss the playoffs.

That's what I meant though, if they finish 8th, they clearly aren't that good so why would it be an issue? I didn't intend to say they aren't a good team at the present moment, but if they finished 8th..

 

[MartinS82]

Nothing would make me happier.


Actually, the Pens missing the playoffs entirely would make me happier.

You know if they missed they'd be gifted the 1 overall pick, right?

 

[CupsOverCash]

That's what I meant though, if they finish 8th, they clearly aren't that good so why would it be an issue? I didn't intend to say they aren't a good team at the present moment, but if they finished 8th..

If they finished 8th then probably some things went wrong. Although I probably would still be a little worried about them since they are the Pens. I wouldnt be able to bet against them even if they are playing the top seed.

 

[AvroArrow]

This entire playoff format is stupid period.

 

[Hawkaholic]

If they finished 8th then probably some things went wrong. Although I probably would still be a little worried about them since they are the Pens. I wouldnt be able to bet against them even if they are playing the top seed.

If I was a fan of Tampa, I wouldn't be too worried about that matchup. Especially of Letang is out.

 

[Sidney the Kidney]

That's what I meant though, if they finish 8th, they clearly aren't that good so why would it be an issue? I didn't intend to say they aren't a good team at the present moment, but if they finished 8th..

Didn't LA win one of their Cups as the 8th seed? Nashville made the Cup finals as the 8th seed, too, no?

Talented teams who finish 8th can be explained away by either having a sub-par regular season or a bunch of injuries. Doesn't mean that just because a team finishes 8th they should be a cake walk.

 

[CupsOverCash]

If I was a fan of Tampa, I wouldn't be too worried about that matchup. Especially of Letang is out.

I just feel like they could be tough. You can never count out Crosby, Malkin, and Kessel. They did win a cup without Letang too. Dont think you find too many Lightning fans that wouldnt be at least a little worried about that match up. They are one of the few teams that can match their top talent.

 

[TomasHertlsRooster]

Didn't LA win one of their Cups as the 8th seed? Nashville made the Cup finals as the 8th seed, too, no?

Talented teams who finish 8th can be explained away by either having a sub-par regular season or a bunch of injuries. Doesn't mean that just because a team finishes 8th they should be a cake walk.

Sometimes you have a struggling 8th seed who got there because they went on a strong run after acquiring a star player to fill a hole in their lineup.

2011-2012 Kings after Carter trade: 69% points 56.72% 5v5 GF

2018-2019 Penguins after Gudbranson trade: 81% points 63.64% 5v5 GF%

Such teams should not be taken lightly.

 

[Hawkaholic]

Didn't LA win one of their Cups as the 8th seed? Nashville made the Cup finals as the 8th seed, too, no?

Talented teams who finish 8th can be explained away by either having a sub-par regular season or a bunch of injuries. Doesn't mean that just because a team finishes 8th they should be a cake walk.

Didn't say they would be a cake walk. But Tampa is not a smoke and mirrors team like Chicago was when they lost to NSH in the 1st round a few years ago. LA caught fire after the trade deadline and were one of the best possession teams in the league.

But Tampa is a juggernaut, and if PIT were to finish 8th, I wouldn't be too worried in that case because PIT wouldn't have caught fire like LA did. Obviously anything is possible.

 

[Sidney the Kidney]

Didn't say they would be a cake walk. But Tampa is not a smoke and mirrors team like Chicago was when they lost to NSH in the 1st round a few years ago. LA caught fire after the trade deadline and were one of the best possession teams in the league.

But Tampa is a juggernaut, and if PIT were to finish 8th, I wouldn't be too worried in that case because PIT wouldn't have caught fire like LA did. Obviously anything is possible.

But the OP, to me, is about Tampa being worried about playing the Pens compared to the other potential match-ups. I don't think anyone is saying Tampa will be the underdog or anything, but rather if there's one team among the potential first round matches for the Lightning they probably wouldn't want, the Pens likely rank the highest (the others being Columbus, Montreal, Carolina, or possibly the Isles).

 

[sycamore]

Capitals will push. Hope we get a round 2 this year. I don't think the East is going to be a clear sweep.

Teams will be hungry to break the "unstoppable" Lightning.

Caps are the one team who don't fear Tampa, having beaten a similarly powerful Lightning team last year.
Caps have a big psychological edge there. Everyone else is going to play Tampa scared.

 

[Stephen]

Oof, Tampa losing 2-0 to Detroit of all teams.

 

[Zazzaro703]

Caps are the one team who don't fear Tampa, having beaten a similarly powerful Lightning team last year.
Caps have a big psychological edge there. Everyone else is going to play Tampa scared.

Definitely looking forward to the 3 games vs Tampa coming up they will be a good measuring stick for where we are at entering the playoffs.

Exactly what happened to the Caps the other night against the Pens is exactly why I hope they get Tampa and the Atlantic. We dominated them for all but 2 minutes and lost the game. They won’t be getting the 8 seed though anymore they will get a top 3 seed in the metro.

 

[AlphaCatalyst]

Oof, Tampa losing 2-0 to Detroit of all teams.

Detroit is now a Cup favourite.

 

[Empoleon8771]

The Penguins won again tonight in a 5-0 bloodbath against the Sabres, so it's looking less and less likely that the TBL-Pens series happens. The Penguins only have about a 5% chance at finishing in the 2nd WC spot at this point, they're like 4x as likely to win the Metro as they are to finish in the 2nd WC spot.

 

[chethejet]

Pens solid win tonight. Pens won't see Tampa unless they meet in the eastern finals. But if that is the case, how anyone suggests the Pens with Sid , Geno, Letang and Murray with two cup wins is not going to beat a team that hasn't won a cup and isn't proven doesn't grasp playoff hockey. If Pens are healthy, they are the team to beat.

 

[JoVel]

how anyone suggests the Pens with Sid , Geno, Letang and Murray with two cup wins is not going to beat a team that hasn't won a cup and isn't proven doesn't grasp playoff hockey.

I don't know. Maybe the same way as last year?

 

[DMXATF23]

Pens solid win tonight. Pens won't see Tampa unless they meet in the eastern finals. But if that is the case, how anyone suggests the Pens with Sid , Geno, Letang and Murray with two cup wins is not going to beat a team that hasn't won a cup and isn't proven doesn't grasp playoff hockey. If Pens are healthy, they are the team to beat.

How is a team with a Stanley Cup final and 2 Game 7 losses in the Conference Finals in 3 of the last 4 playoffs not proven nor grasp playoff hockey?

Denial isn’t a river in Africa

 

[DFC]

Detroit is now a Cup favourite.

Back to being a contender for Jack Hughes.

 

[Ms Maggie]

How is a team with a Stanley Cup final and 2 Game 7 losses in the Conference Finals in 3 of the last 4 playoffs not proven nor grasp playoff hockey?

Denial isn’t a river in Africa

Pens fan here. If I had to bet significant bucks on which team wins the East, I would go with Tampa. But...

Pretty sure the President's winners have a poor record re winning the Cup.

Re the Pens-- they are getting hot at the right time. And Letang snd Rust will be back before playoffs.

Forget talent etc. IMO winning the Cup is a learned skill. In other words, a team that has done it before has an advantage in the hot and crazy cauldron of the playoffs. Were a a Tampa fan, I'd be hoping for the Islanders in the Eastern playoffs.