2024-25 OOTS: Playoff Edition

[Strangelove]

Oh fuck, the Oil tied it with the goalie out for the extra attacker.

Headed for overtime...

[Megaterio Llamas]

I looked like one of the Kings had the puck on his stick with the Oiler net empty and Bouchard stripped it from him at the blueline just before the tying goal. That bit of soft play might have cost LA the win right there. He needed to make the safe play there.

[Cornuck]

That's exactly what happened, Megs. Now Kemper is keeping the Kings in it.

[Cornuck]

Fuckin oilers....

[UWSaint]

Just a terrible play by Byfield that led to the extended zone possession and Bouchard's tying goal. Never let perfect be the enemy of the good in that situation.

LA had an okay chance at an empty netter earlier, and I had memories of Hansen sending one off the side of the goal in the 2012 (I think) series with LA -- only for LA to tie it up and then win in OT. Yup. Oilers tie.

I don't think I've ever seen a player get called for tripping via leg, when in position, having just played the puck, and from what I could tell (didn't find a replay on a quick look this am) getting turned from behind. Kind of looked like he did hang the leg.... But given the standards in which the 3rd and 4th were called, the debate over the call is whether it was "bad" or "soft," not "bad" or "good."

Brown, Perry, McDavid, these guys were Neymaring all OT. But like Neymar @ his peak when not diving, the Oilers also were very impressive in the 3d and OT. Kings were out of gas, soft on the puck, and indecisive; the Oilers were the opposite.

[Cornuck]

I don't think I've ever seen a player get called for tripping via leg, when in position, having just played the puck, and from what I could tell (didn't find a replay on a quick look this am) getting turned from behind. Kind of looked like he did hang the leg.... But given the standards in which the 3rd and 4th were called, the debate over the call is whether it was "bad" or "soft," not "bad" or "good."

I felt it was a penalty, but not a "OT in the Playoffs" penalty. Such is the NHL reffing system.

[UWSaint]

Interesting that all the western series are tied in games 2-2. Meanwhile in the East 2 of the series are 3-1 and if Caps win today all three series will be 3-1.

I have no idea what it means except maybe more parity in the west?

You posted this before the Oilers/Kings game started... Fortune teller?

I don't know there is more parity throughout the western conference -- its bad teams are pretty bad. But I think only 5 teams in the east look like playoff teams; Ottawa, Montreal, and NJ are not much different than the bubble teams on the outside looking in. NJD is obviously hurt significantly with Jack Hughes being out, but even with him they played most of the year like a bubble team. Ottawa and Montreal both appear on an upward trajectory with their organizational development, but there still remains a large gap between where they are, where the best teams are, and where they want to get to.

I think the same was true last year in the east, though it ran 6 deep in the east and the teams that didn't really belong were the Islanders and Capitals. The Islanders weren't much different this season -- the definition of mediocre. The Capitals had a huge off season overhaul to become what they've become.

In the west, I think it runs 8 teams deep. The final two in -- Minnesota and St. Louis -- are better at this point than their better-than-the-bottom-of-the east records indicate. St. Louis came into the playoffs playing optimal hockey, far better than bubbly; and Minnesota earned a playoff sport with two of their best forwards (healthy now) missing large portions of the season. And last year, the west ran 8 deep with Nashville being on fire over the last couple months, so much so they were a popular pick to upset the Canucks, and freaking Vegas as a wild card team.

[Hockey Widow]

Interesting that all the western series are tied in games 2-2. Meanwhile in the East 2 of the series are 3-1 and if Caps win today all three series will be 3-1.

I have no idea what it means except maybe more parity in the west?

You posted this before the Oilers/Kings game started... Fortune teller?

I don't know there is more parity throughout the western conference -- its bad teams are pretty bad. But I think only 5 teams in the east look like playoff teams; Ottawa, Montreal, and NJ are not much different than the bubble teams on the outside looking in. NJD is obviously hurt significantly with Jack Hughes being out, but even with him they played most of the year like a bubble team. Ottawa and Montreal both appear on an upward trajectory with their organizational development, but there still remains a large gap between where they are, where the best teams are, and where they want to get to.

I think the same was true last year in the east, though it ran 6 deep in the east and the teams that didn't really belong were the Islanders and Capitals. The Islanders weren't much different this season -- the definition of mediocre. The Capitals had a huge off season overhaul to become what they've become.

In the west, I think it runs 8 teams deep. The final two in -- Minnesota and St. Louis -- are better at this point than their better-than-the-bottom-of-the east records indicate. St. Louis came into the playoffs playing optimal hockey, far better than bubbly; and Minnesota earned a playoff sport with two of their best forwards (healthy now) missing large portions of the season. And last year, the west ran 8 deep with Nashville being on fire over the last couple months, so much so they were a popular pick to upset the Canucks, and freaking Vegas as a wild card team.

Yes, tea leaves. Shall I tell you who wins the Cup or do you want it to be a surprise?

[Meds]

Might as well tell us Wids…..that way we can skip watching when the weather is nice.

[UWSaint]

Yes, tea leaves. Shall I tell you who wins the Cup or do you want it to be a surprise?

Only in a pm! The betting markets and all.

[Carl Yagro]

Make it make Sens

[Strangelove]

Leaves behaving very Leavishly.

[Cousin Strawberry]

I'll accept upskirt PMs

[rats19]

Sens win 4-0

Now 3-2 laffs

[Lancer]

Sens win 4-0

Now 3-2 laffs

…and a familiar chill falls over the hearts of leaves fans.