NHL Playoffs 2016 Thread

[kham]

Not yet...
But may as well as get the slot opened up and ready as the season just has a few games to go. Notable this year, for no Canadian teams in the playoffs, which is sort of a different story. Some, we never expected it; others, well.... for all those draft picks , the Oilers producing zip-all. Leafs? Still working out the kinks, but we might get the actual first round pick. There are glimmers of brilliance though. Winnipeg, Calgary, Vancouver all underperformed pretty bad. And then there's Montreal.... I said last year that they were a one-dimensional team needing more offence, And they never addressed it. And then they had their goaltender go down from an injury, and THAT showed just how weak they are. Contrast with the Penguins say; Sid basically sucked for the first MONTH of the season. And naturally all the hater-fucks were busy squeeeing and hoping he was finished. Fucking assholes. He's way too good for that. He's right up again with the leaders in nearly every category. And they also have had to deal with injuries to big names. They still kicking ass and roaring into the playoffs. Be afraid of them this year. Out west you got 3 teams within 4 points of first place and conceivable could end in 3 way tie. Dallas, St Louis, and Chicago. You knew the Hawks were in there ... They, are a machine. But Dallas and St Louis neck and neck? This could be an interesting playoff indeed
It will probably Sunday before things shake out again. Matchups posted when able

[Zorah Valtero]

Go Blackhawks!

...That is all.

[kham]

Penguins almost blew a 3-0 lead tonight to the Caps, but they hung in there and guess who scored in OT for the win. Crosby now 2nd in game-winning goals in the league (9)

Also, Phily is gone. Losing 4-3 to the Leafs in OT. Combined with Boston wiping Detroit 5-1, the Bruins are in.

Sunday closes the regular season

Link to the Penguin twitter shot of the goal, GIF showing the play. This was in the last minute. He just can't resist doing the superhuman and dramatic

[kham]

Actually TSN is busy trying to explain why, exactly, they are such retarded fucking morons, as to post an article that is LITERALLY 180 degrees wrong. With the Bruins sucking ass today, and Phily wins, its the FLYERS who in, and the Bruins out. You know, it used to be a lot fucking simpler matching up. Before the fucking midget tried to pretend he doesn't know shit about hockey, and plays wets pwetend being a hockey guy. Fucking asshole. No matter, sort things out later . And keep hoping he catches a slaphot or a bullet in the throat

[kham]

Playoff Matchups

East
NY Rangers @ Pittsburgh Penguins
Philadelphia Flyers @ Washington Capitols
Detroil Red Wings @ Tampa Bay Lightning
NY Islanders @ Florida Panthers

West
Minnesota Wild @ Dallas Stars
Chicago Black Hawks @ St Louis Blues
San Jose Sharks @ LA Kings
Nashville Predators @ Anaheim Ducks

Here we go

The match ups are yet more product of midget-generated fuck-uppery anyone with a shred of common sense would punch him in the balls until he screamed to die, but whatever

A few different ones, but some that seem all too common. San Jose and LA ? AGAIN. Jesus how many times have we seen this movie? I feel sorry for the Sharks, since out of the gate they get one of the best teams in the league. And they deserve better. Or worse, if you will. And Blues v Hawks. In Round One. Jesus Christ , talk about a fucking war when the bell dings No prediction. Other than, Hawks, because. Flyers scraped in, and should be a practice target for the Caps. Rangers sound good on Paper, but the Pens roared into the playoffs, spitting in the eye of adversity. Cros. Tampa and Detroit they hyping as a rematch of last years series, but frankly, Detroit sucks, and Tampa is missing a lot of key players. Might be ok but also might be boring as hell. Panthers / Islanders? Sorry guys, but this has to be the whogivesafuck series Just your turn

Games start Wednesday

[kham]

Tonight's Games:

Detroit @ Tampa
NY Rangers @ Pittsburgh
Chicago @ St Louis

Game On

[kham]

Tampa takes game one, 3-2, in a bit of a scrambly game, and with some pretty poor officiating. It wasn't atrocious but it wasn't anything to write about either. Bishop was pretty solid in net

Pittsburgh steps on the Rangers 5-2 The score flatters the Rangers; the officials here, did indeed suck. And Hard. Some pretty contrived calls here, especially a 5 on 3 when the score was 2-0 Pitt. With the added bonus of a double minor for on. This killed the rookie goalie's shutout, but the Pens came steaming back and scored a shorthanded goal moments later. Then a PP goal. Added an empty netter. All in all, bad night for NY, limited offence, and their goaltender was injured at the end of the 1st with a stick to just under his eye, from his own teammate no less. And Crosby had a hot night. Pretty much not what they needed happening.

St Louis and Chicago, few min to go in 2nd; no score yet. And living up to prediction so far. This could go seven, or four

[kham]

St Louis wins Game one in OT, 1-0; not QUITE having the puck ricochet off the head of a Chicago defenceman , but pretty close. Elliot was very good, but so was Crawford. This could have been either way, and really, the Hawks only mistake was tightening up a little in the 3rd and in OT. Game 2 however, will be crucial. There is very little margin for error in this series

[kham]

Tonight's Games:

Philadelphia @ Washington
NY Islanders @ Florida
Minnesota @ Dallas
San Jose @ Los Angeles

[kham]

So far this playoffs (and we only 2 days in...) the meme has been "you officials SUCK ...dick" That there is no Billy McCreary any more is VERY evident, and calling the lesser lights lesser would be a colossal understatement. Every single one of them needs to remember a key detail: WE DIDNT PAY 200 BUCKS A SEAT TO WATCH YOU FUCKING ASSHOLES

Now then...

Washington defeated Phily, in a somewhat contentious game, with very uneven calls going either way, but conveniently favouring the Caps at key times. And Phily, to their credit, played a good game. It did get a bit nasty near the end. Stay tuned

The Islanders take game one from Florida; I may have to revise my take on this series Tavares was nothing short of spectacular. Jagr was excellent for Florida (and damned near forced OT with about 10 seconds to go -- plus at 44 he's literally old enough to be the dad of half the kids out there. I wonder if he finds that amusing ) They just flat-out wanted the win more than Florida

Dallas predictably mopped the ice with Minnesota, 4-0. So far the only threat they face is their own overconfidence. But not last night

And in another predictably close series, San Jose edged LA 4-3. Another series that looking to be very closely matched.