...

NJ is in over their heads.

Skinner - Thompson - Tuch Quinn - Cozens - Peterka Mittelstadt - Krebs - Savoie Greenway - Jost - Sprong (SEA) Rousek Kulich (becomes a regular call-up) Samuelsson - Dahlin Power - Bouchard (EDM) Graves (NJD) - Lyubushkin Stillman, Bryson Comrie Levi

This is another manifestation of the "trade up for Bedard" discussion only with a different context and subject.

I haven't listened to the interview yet, so please feel free to let me know if KA addressed the following opinion: The goalie situation will be guided by what KA and crew think led to the high goals against - were it due primarily to bad goaltending or poor defense? Obviously, it's a combination of the two, so let's consider them as a ratio. I have the impression that for KA, the ratio biases significantly toward bad defense. I'm not saying he's right, just sharing my impression of his judgement based on his comments. Supposing that's accurate then I expect him to respond by adding, as @Taro T suggests, a top 4 D. He has goalies already that, after last season (especially), he likely can't move for a reasonable return but also publickly maintains that he believes in them - ignore Levi, this theme applies to UPL and Comrie. There are lots of ways to game this out from here. I prefer the thread where he trades one of them for a vet goalie with a solid record but I don't have confidence Varlamov will leave the Islanders (see attached article). Personally, while a top 4 D man is essential regardless of the aforementioned goals-against-causation-ratio, I'm not sure it's so heavily skewed toward defense as KA seems to think it is. https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/new-york-islanders/features/semyon-varlamov-new-york-islanders-ilya-sorokin-contract

Exactly what I was thinking at the time - last two, goalie pulled - whoa! An unfortunate "mistake" by Florida gives Toronto a PP! Not so tonight. Very gratifying.

Goodness, here we go again.

Is there a deadline?

OWN IT!

NJ is really flat.

Toronto barely showed up for that game. I don't see either of NJ or the Canes giving in so easily. The conference finals will be a brawl if this is how this series is going to go.

Where's the replay on the impossible save?

I think this is where I'm at, too.

That was delicious. Happy for Lindy. Kane was not helping his PR agent by being a doosh in the line. This is going to be an excellent second round. I mean, there's nothing stat-wise to base this on, but I am enthusiastic about the Sabres next season after watching this first round.

We have a better top 2.5 lines in my opinion. Could better forward group altogether depending on what happens this summer. Schmid is definitely a playoff goalie, though, which we haven't seen in Buffalo in many a moon.

Fun period.

They are very Buffalo-like, or Buffalo is very NJ-like.

This Devil's game is awesome. I hope they win, NJ vs Carolina would make a great series.

They're talking about bringing back Lucic.

Among several other things, I think it doesn't take much to conclude that our second line, while skilled and full of heart, simply wouldn't have been physically ready to handle a series with Boston. As mentioned upstream, I also think one of the qualities the Panthers have in their favour is a disciplined game. The Sabres couldn't play a disciplined game with consistency and their free-wheeling style would have opened them up to many hits by Boston. I think these deficiencies will work themselves out over the course of the next season.

If you're right about Boston, then I think the Sabres' timing couldn't be better.

Not so sure I buy into the "it just got easier for the Leafs" narrative. This Boston series showed Florida can hang with a physical team and that they're really disciplined in terms of execution. Toronto is less disciplined, IMHO, which works in the Panther's favor over a 7 game series.

So satisfying. I've come to like the Panthers.

I was so ready to post a "disgusted at the NHL and their refs" rant but I guess I'll take the circumstances. Still disgusted at not only the refs but the broadcast crew as well. Anyway, Montour is a stud and the Panthers are not folding. Surprised the game isn't a bit more chaotic but we're getting a nice balance of grit, skill and strategy.