I originally said Florida but at this point I think leafs in regulation might be best.Think I'm rooting TO
I’m too superstitious. So I’ll take whatever we get.
It's looking like the Bolts. I don't think you will see much movement with the 8 games left.for the life of me I still have no clue how to figure out who we are potentially playing but for me, I don`t like going up vs teams playing with house money and that`s the Caps/Flyers, I want the Bolts
1.phillyRealistically in round 1 we can face Tampa, Philly, Washington, Detroit, or Toronto.
From teams I most want to face to least:
1. Washington
2. Philly
3. Detroit
4. Toronto
5. Tampa (want them the least)
Any team. If you are worried about who you are facing in the first round then you aren't going to advance very far.
And how did that work out last year? There is no such thing as a "softer" round.And yet, the Vegas odds makers use exactly that in the model to determine cup equity. A bad draw is a bad draw. See World Cup Soccer.
Getting one softer round is useful.
And how did that work out last year? There is no such thing as a "softer" round.
Sure there is.And how did that work out last year? There is no such thing as a "softer" round.
Most in here were picking a sweep of Florida. The only time you can point to a round as soft is after the fact.Florida was not the "soft" round. Florida was injured and underperformed all year, and once they got healthy they were themselves. That Florida team was largely the same team that finished 1st the year before. I know you know this.
I would actually argue that that WAS the bad draw. Almost any other matchup worked better for us last year. We specifically needed to avoid Florida.
Just avoid Vasilievsky in the 1st round. He won't crack 55 appearances this year and will be pretty fresh in the early part of the playoffs. I don't care about the rest of their roster but an early match-up against him right now is terrifying.
I'm also fine not playing the Leafs in Round 1. Not because the Bruins should fear them, but whenever they play a Canadian team in the playoffs its magnified on a entirely different level from a media perspective and you'll never convince me that it doesn't impact how the games are officiated. Those refs feels the intense scrutiny too and you end up with long series and 50/50 officiating rather than just calling what they see.
Detroit shouldn't be an issue but for whatever reason these Bruins seem to struggle against them.
Washington has the Tom Wilson factor. They are beatable no doubt but how many Bruins will Wilson injure taking runs at guys before the series is over and limp into Round 2. Coming off his latest suspension I suspect he's going to take his brand of violence to another level come playoff time.
Philly shouldn't be concerning but regardless of Tortorella's showmanship, he seems able to get his teams to buy-in come playoff time and typically prove to be tough outs.
In a 32-team league where 16 teams make the playoffs, your not getting an easy match-up in the 1st round anymore no matter how you slice it. That 7th or 8th seed no matter who it is are a quality squad.
CorrectamoondoIn a 32-team league where 16 teams make the playoffs, your not getting an easy match-up in the 1st round anymore no matter how you slice it. That 7th or 8th seed no matter who it is are a quality squad.
Most in here were picking a sweep of Florida. The only time you can point to a round as soft is after the fact.
Either way I will stick to my original point that if a team is more worried about one team over another come round 1 then they aren't going far.
Sorry that most posters aren't as smart as you.Most wanted Linus traded and suddenly want him starting the playoffs. Most people don't know what they're talking about. Fwiw I had no issue trading Linus for the right deal (but there was no right deal).
I picked Bruins in 7 vs Florida. My vote is still there.
Sorry that most posters aren't as smart as you.
I'm working on the math of avoiding Vasi. But it's not great. The next Rangers wins and Leaf wins or Bolts loses almost lock us.
Only thing going for avoiding Vasilievsky is TB's schedule the final 7 games looks to be in their favor. Their final B2B game is tonight against the Habs. CBJ, Ottawa and Buffalo in 3 of their final 6 games.
Knowing the hockey gods, it will probably come down to that final Wednesday night TB-Tor game on the 17th before we know for certain.