...

I mean, we got to see this filthy, filthy move from Barkov this series. So tasty. I hope the SCFs go more than four games.

Boy, this thread has it all! Just want to point out that every successful team has their vet. Eric Staal - age 38 - regular season 29 points (and a -5). Phil Kessel - age 35 - regular season 36 points (and a -7). We have ours, we know that what he has contributed to the team behind the scenes works, and he wants to be here. I would say, too, as a fanbase we owe him this shot at a playoff season.

That was some good hockey. Was it Carolina that went 3 lines at the end or Florida? It looked like it was Florida but I don't understand why they would have done that (the win notwithstanding).

Going to quote myself from earlier. I think a lot of us called this in some manner or other. "There is absolutely no dismissing how important it is to have that atmosphere in there and my impression is that it took not only Meatballs doing his thing, KA cleaning house of the locker room cancers, but also KO putting his foot down and showing the way. Is that worth giving the guy a shot at a final season of a glorious playoff run for ~$2.5mil for the year? I think so. I think KO has more to teach these guys and he can help make sure there are no embers of locker rooms past. If we carry two goalies there's room for him on the roster and still add a solid player to the third line."

Worthy of its own thread?

Yeah, I just can't abide this perspective. Did we not witness the sh%t-show the Sabres were for the entire time both were here? I'm happy for them to be free of it and having success. It's not like they didn't work hard. All those players work hard to be where they're at. It's just hockey, which is just entertainment. In my view, being humiliated over the poor decisions of a team is putting way too much value into it. Frustrated is about what its worth but not enough to be envious of some kids who walked through the valley to earn the position they're presently in.

Just awful. So embarrassing. The way it's looking, a Panthers/Knights SCF will actually be pretty good.

The lack of attendance should have been embarrassing enough, let alone the play of the Stars, then the fans have get all stupid. Dang.

Oh wait, he just said Kulich and Subban.

The PBP guy doesn't seem to know any of the Amerks names.

I'm with you on not missing the "touch icing" but disagree on the calls. I used to think the calls were bad as well so I paid attention to them over the course of the season and I think they get it right far greater than 66% of the time.

What's interesting to me is that the forward group for the Panthers have the same penchant for attempting those frustrating cross-ice passes in the offensive zone when the better choice was to clearly shoot the puck on net or try and drive in closer. That characteristic hasn't seemed to matter much in the outcome of these games. There are two distinct differences between these two teams: forward skill and goal-tending. We have one of those two covered I think.

By a lot. And this series is only going to get grittier from here.

This is a great series.

You have to admit that was a great play at the end there.

The coffee finally kicked in for both teams in the third. What a weird game. Both teams looked rusty at the start.

You can say the same thing about McDonalds.

That's what they get for a crappy no-goal call in the 1st OT. Gonna make crappy calls? Then, here, suffer for another couple of hours.

Divy dive looked like a dive. Good game regardless.

Looking forward to both series because playoff hockey these days is good hockey and I like to be entertained with good hockey. I'd like to see Florida and Vegas in the finals so I have my good guys and bad guys set.

That was an excellent series. Glad Dallas won. I wish I were the kind of person to play brackets as all the teams I wanted to win have won so far. The Wyatt Johnson goal was, as the kids say, sick. I think we're going to have some really entertaining conference finals on both sides.

Well, so much for my prediction. Surprised Kane had the self control. Very happy for Eichel; he has played extremely well and it must be satisfying to be in the conference finals. I also like the playoff story of Aidan Hill. He's been good.

I predict that in the third Kane amps up on the dirty, receives a penalty and that gives Vegas an insurance goal - maybe even the game-winner.

Enjoy!