Pre-Game Talk: Week 13: NYI, @DAL, FLA. The first week of 2024. Let the optimism flow! Or let the pessimism persist. I'm not your mother.

[sethro109]

That Dallas game is where?

It's an away game in Dallas. I don't know why I wrote that it was a home game at first.

 

[niwotsblessing]

It's an away game in Dallas. I don't know why I wrote that it was a home game at first.

Thank you.

Of course it goes without saying: Fvck dallas.

 

[the_fan]

I hate this f***en team

 

[S E P H]

This is by no means an infallible source or anything... but I think this is representative :

NHL Strength of Schedule Rankings

Strength of Schedule Played and Strength of Schedule Remaining for all 31 NHL teams.

powerrankingsguru.com

Hardest schedule remaining after coming off the 2nd easiest schedule to start. The next 2 months are going to say a lot about this team. If they can get through this remaining stretch at .650+ they'll have done pretty well, .700+ would be incredibly good. If they are more ~.600 or below, that would be worrisome (.525 is probably all they need to make the playoffs).

So I guess...

- Avs fall from being challengers for the Division to being a mid-playoff team around 3rd place
- Caps fall from a playoff spot
- Oilers take over Coyotes in wildcard
- CBJ challenge Sharks for Celebrini (while also trading Elvis)
- Kraken make surprising push towards playoffs
- Jets win division

 

[missionAvs]

@nammerus already has his post game messages typed up for after Dallas claps us tonight.

 

[sethro109]

 

[dahrougem2]

6-2 Stars

 

[missionAvs]

6-2 Stars

An optimist. I like it. Any score that has us scoring a goal is a bit homerish to be honest. We're getting blanked tonight and there really is not any other plausible reality.

 

[henchman21]

I honestly expect the Avs to play one of their best games of the season tonight.

 

[LurkerMcgee]

I saw lehky was full participant in practice today? Any chance he plays soon?

 

[The Abusement Park]

I honestly expect the Avs to play one of their best games of the season tonight.

So Georgie’s only letting in 2 softies today?

 

[Muffin]

I honestly expect the Avs to play one of their best games of the season tonight.

Dallas really isn’t that scary without otter

 

[sethro109]

Now RyJo is hurting us with biological warfare.

 

[Metallo]

An optimist. I like it. Any score that has us scoring a goal is a bit homerish to be honest. We're getting blanked tonight and there really is not any other plausible reality.

If the Avs do not end up with a negative goals scored total it's a win. Personally, I just hope Makar's season stats are not all reset to 0.

 

[Raucherhusten]

I saw lehky was full participant in practice today? Any chance he plays soon?

You saw what? When? Where? How? With your own two eyes? Without drugs?

I'm confused because most of us don't expect him back until at least the all star break!

 

[UncleRisto]

The next 6 games go: NYI, @Stars, Fla, Bruins, Knights, and @Leafs... That's a tough stretch, but if this team is really capable... they should be able to grab 8 points and step up to their competition. I expect the Avs will be at their very best against Dallas and Vegas to try to send a message and 4 points there. Bruins and Panthers will probably be stinky losses. NYI and Leafs will probably decide how this stretch goes. Win in both and we're probably a 8-9 points and looking good. Split them and we are looking at more 6-7 points.

That's odd. @Leafs and @Stars haven't been on for a while.

 

[AllAboutAvs]

It would be nice to get some kind of news on Lehky.

 

[henchman21]

That's odd. @Leafs and @Stars haven't been on for a while.

Legendary posters though.

 

[Bill Peckerskull]

 

[Cypher]

If Meyers was sent down, means McDermid is in tonight, which against Dallas, isn't a bad thing. Benn's face could always use a pounding.

 

[dahrougem2]

If Meyers was sent down, means McDermid is in tonight, which against Dallas, isn't a bad thing. Benn's face could always use a pounding.

It's always a bad thing. He'll play 4 minutes then take a seat while lines again get blended.

 

[Pokecheque]

If Meyers was sent down, means McDermid is in tonight, which against Dallas, isn't a bad thing. Benn's face could always use a pounding.

I promise you the chances he's even on the ice the same time as Benn is almost nil. And if he is on the ice the same time as Benn, Benn is likely gonna have multiple scoring chances.

That's the inherent issue with putting these goons who can't f***ing play a lick on the roster, they're literally never able to keep up with the very players they're supposed to deter.

 

[AllAboutAvs]

Dermy in the lineup is absolutely useless especially when you already have Manson in the lineup. Manson has already proven he can handle a POS like Benn.

 

[expatriatedtexan]

Only problem I have with MacDermid really is his speed. He just can't keep up with today's NHLrs, which means he's always chasing in the defensive zone. Offensively, he's got some skill, but the same problem remains, if he's not already in the perfect spot, he's not going to get there in time.

 

[Pokecheque]

Only problem I have with MacDermid really is his speed. He just can't keep up with today's NHLrs, which means he's always chasing in the defensive zone. Offensively, he's got some skill, but the same problem remains, if he's not already in the perfect spot, he's not going to get there in time.

He has NO skill. None.

Don't let the two highlight-reel goals he somehow stumbled into fool you. Dude can't even really effectively clear the puck when it's on his stick. His shot is pretty weak for a guy that big, he can't pass, and he almost never, EVER wins puck battles.

You should have way more problems than just his speed. He also has no hockey IQ to speak of, is prone to really dumb penalties, and for a hulking behemoth of a man is extraordinarily easy to knock down, even without a gallon of liquor in his bloodstream and the Stanley Cup in his hands.