...

All I will say in Tiger's defense is that he holds a pretty unique position in the world...not just the sports world...and the temptations, decisions, circumstances are all unique and unknowable to most of us. There's not one celebrity or VIP with his status who doesn't speak publickly without measured words for many reasons. The dude failed gloriously, but he is allowed, like the rest of us, to regret and learn from his prior mistakes. We're not done evolving until we're dead.

Agreed on coaching. Maybe Murray was right on Lehner; it'll be interesting to see how it plays out for him.

See, I think if they beat TB, that goes a long way in convincing their UFAs to stay. Maybe not all, but most. There's always a money-grubbing loner.

For me, a second round. If they put TB to bed, that's pretty amazing considering TB's record coming in. If they go a second round, the skies the limit for the CBJ unless they start suffering too many injuries. They're facing, ostensibly, their largest hurdle now.

Just a reminder of what Jarmo Kekalainen did in Columbus. https://www.dispatch.com/sports/20190226/michael-arace--jackets-jarmo-kekalainen-rolls-dice-goes-all-in https://www.dispatch.com/sports/20190223/michael-arace--jarmo-kekalainen-positions-blue-jackets-for-playoff-run I haven't found, yet, a meaningful interview with the guy that gives any indication why he went this route and/or what type of info he relies on to find players he wants. I'm very intrigued.

And to think he didn't upgrade his clubs until after they did this - if I have the progression correct. I like the point, too, that if he didn't have his health and personal problems he likely would be far more dominant. It's naive yearning to expect people great at something to have walked out of a storybook but it simply isn't possible, people being what they are. For what it's worth, Tiger's story isn't over.

I think "grit" is too broad a term when we're talking about the characteristics that make the difference between a player that can succeed in a playoff environment versus one who can not. However, it is easier to throw out the word in a general context. I mentioned those three specifically because they're not cowardly players...they give as good as they get and their intensity seems to suck up the game environment. None of them, except Kane, are going to go out and hit any more than usual perhaps, but that's not the "grit" I'm talking about. I don't disagree on Skinner. He definitely has some of this magical grit. He would be a huge target in a playoff series, though.

Depends on how you look at it: The Cup-winning Penguins were, by no means, a soft team. I'm not a fan of their style of play, but it obviously suits them and that's the way it should be. However, Botterill brought us Housley, who from the get-go was accused of being soft and timid due to his pressers and Phil never did anything to counter that. Botterill brought us Sheary, the poster-boy of the hyper-extended poke-check. Botterill got rid of three of some of the grittiest guys we've had in a while in Kane, ROR and Lehner (and I'm sure some lesser names that were pretty gritty, too). Botterill got Montour, who I like, but is not a big, nasty D-man. Botterill brought in Thompson for ROR and kept him up on the big team. Do you really need this one to be qualified? So, if you can lift your eyes from your palantír for a moment to consider the viewpoint of the plebians consuming the output from Harbour Centre, the reaction isn't quite the over-reaction you think it is. I know of this coach, Ted Nolan or something...? Anyway, he always said the same thing.

The microphones at the T-Mobile Arena are ultra sensitive. They must have shotgun mics pointed at the nets. You can hear the pucks hit the sticks in a lot of the areas of the ice, although I think it's the mics on the boards picking that up. Funny thing is you don't catch a lot of the on-ice conversations.

Columbus and Torts. Islanders and Trotz. Turning the NHL upside down. I'm really interested in digging into the CBJ's GM and seeing if he has talked about what he's doing. If they make it past this round, it doesn't matter what happens next, he's already made a huge point.

He wasn't really hit over the regular season. Obviously, that's because he was able to avoid them, but, again, the intensity and speed is up a level in the playoffs. He'd get hit.

I've been saying all season the Sabres need some people who are big and can hit. The likes of Sheary, Thompson, Mitts, Pilut, Montour, Scandella, Sobotka, Gigensons and Angry Larry aren't going to cut it in a series. I hate to say it, but KO will not last through a series and I worry about Skinner.

https://www.diebytheblade.com/2018/9/13/17856062/robin-lehner-mental-health-addiction-bipolar-disorder-issues-athletic-article-sabres-goaltender

Penguins are not playing with urgency. HAH! Four and out for Pittsburgh?

This is like asking if Disco Dan learned anything by watching TV.

So, a sober Lehner looks pretty good. But the entire Islanders team is good. Look for Penguins thuggery in the third.

The spoilt Boston crowd isn't appreciating the game they got tonight.

Kadri. I hope Boston continues to light them up.

After the game ended, Crosby et al started some shenanigans. I hate Pittsburgh.

Okay, I like this Islanders team. Love how they handled that BS from Pittsburgh at the end.

CROSBY IS A PUNK. At his age, really...jeez.

The crowd at The Coliseum is awesome. I'm loving that atmosphere.

I have to admit, I'm enjoying the Islanders' success.

I want the Sabres to offer Torts $10 mil a year.