...

Put 1970s' hockey in a large mixing bowl. In another bowl, pour in the OG Dungeons and Dragons game. With a hand mixer, beat Dungeons and Dragons with variable speeds until it forms hard peaks. Gently fold Dungeons and Dragons into 1970s' hockey. Sprinkle with bits of Intel 8008 and MOS 6510 processors. Place in oven for approximately 4 decades.

I was. Erod is better on a playoff team. Mitts lacks the grit to compete in a game like last night and he was literally a JAG during the Avs playoff run. They limited the minutes his line was on the ice. Sure, that line added some goals, but not critical goals. They weren't particularly stand out in the D zone and they definitely didn't stand out in the O zone with some dramatic puck-cycling. These things are the very definition of a line made up of competent JAG NHLers.

Isn't that what they would be doin': fillin' gaps left by da core guys?

The next game may be a coaches' dual. What adjustments do the Oilers make? The Panthers' defensive structure works just well enough to compliment Bob's strengths as a goalie. And Bob's strengths as a goalie are suited for the kind of game the Oilers brought when the aforementioned defense is applied. The Panthers are masters at taking advantage of mistakes. They can roll more lines than the Oilers and all are effective in their own ways. The adjustment options, as I see them, are: 1. Play the same game but with more intensity. 2. Crash the net. 3. Mix up the lines. What would I choose? I'd blend options 1 and 3, hoping that option 3 begets option 1. Option 2 is the worst because every Panther line can handle that kind of play and can also, again, take advantage when the Oilers are bound up at the Panthers' net. What do I think the Oilers choose to do? My guess is option 1, blaming tonight on puck-luck and other intangibles, plus I can see the hubris of the team leadership thinking the rest of the team has "more" in them.

The officiating is in line with my expectations.

I'm kind of glad it's not the game I thought it would be. At least this way it's far more fun to watch.

Maybe it wasn't. Looked like it, though.

Why wasn't that a tripping call?

That's such a pro-Edmonton call. Yeesh.

Fun first. Typical playoff start for Florida although this time they have the lead. It'll be interesting to see what kind of game both teams settle into now that the opening period of the series is out of the way.

McDavid is the Zuckerberg of the NHL.

The refs have shown their cards early.

Panthers say "that all you got, Canada?"

It's 8:18pm, the game hasn't started yet?

Agreed. There are many roster players I'd trade for him, too, along with prospects. Some of them the Senators might even find worthy of consideration. But Quinn, Benson and Peterka aren't one of those roster players.

We're not talking a Quinn/Tkachuk trade straight up, are we? That'd be a fail. We'd want Tkachuk to be on the same line as Quinn with Cozens in the middle. Now that would be a great second line for the Sabres. Anyway, if the Tkachuk rumors are still alive, so is the effort to quash them: https://bleacherreport.com/articles/10123380-5-dream-trade-landing-spots-for-senators-captain-brady-tkachuk-amid-nhl-rumors https://senshot.com/posts/we-must-talk-about-the-suggestions-that-the-ottawa-senators-are-shopping-brady-tkachuk-01hzgkgnzqsv https://thehockeynews.com/news/nhl-rumor-roundup-latest-on-brady-tkachuk-jonathan-marchessault-and-kaapo-kakko

I just don't think a 1:1 comparison between the two is useful is all. In the end, you're going to rely on them for different roles. Can Quinn be as good as Tkachuk relative to his specific role? I think so, of course. But I'm not sending Quinn out there to crash the net and/or establish a physical presence. You can't ignore this part of the game and the individual roles in that part of the game when assessing "good".

Call me crazy, misinformed, a luddite, but I don't see this as part of Quinn's game. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ofQGfTA680s

Define "good".

There is no "I" in "team". And, coincidentally, there is no "McDavid" in "team", either.

I'm so afraid he may suffer from Connolly-itis. I hope that's not the case because he could otherwise be the next concept-of-Connolly.

I said Panthers in 6 the other day, but my instinct is in 5. However, I just can't imagine the NHL not giving McDavid a little extra chance at hoisting the Cup. Skinner's flaws will be exposed by Florida, but Florida will get a lot more time in the penalty box.

That was satisfying. Florida over Edmonton in six for the Cup?

I mean I'll take a Tarasenko goal, but Kyle should get one, too.