2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs, Rnd 3

[PerreaultForever]

5 hours ago, Jorcus said:

I agree that the NHL is not a parity league and NMC clauses have something to do with it. I would also add that because players are drafted at age 18 there is a much greater risk that the pick you make in the front of the draft will not turn out to be a very good player. You also have to wait 3 to 5 years to find out what they are. Another issue is that high end players can last a long time in the NHL. Most very good players can remain effective in their 30's. It takes awhile for father time to catch up to these teams for the next group to cycle though and take over. 

I wanted to discuss Washington. Things went well in the regular season for  them but once again they flamed out in the playoffs. They seem to exist in this place of high mediocrity. It was mentioned on the radio the other day that only once since Ovi has been on the team that they have made it past the 2nd round of the playoffs. Of course they Won the cup 2018 but that was the only time they made it to the conference finals. Had they not gotten over that hump in 2018 what would have happened to Ovi? I would guess a free agency walk to another contender. It's interesting to look back at that when Toronto parts ways with Marner. 

Washington had a lot of things go well this year. The had one of the best second lines in hockey with the McMichael and Protas who came through for them in the draft. Dylan Strom finally is living up to his high draft pick status after the Blackhawks let him go for nothing and Chychrun is healthy enough to show what he can do. I just wonder if Washington goes back to being a Pumpkin. Ovi can still shoot but he is getting very slow. Will the goaltending hold up like it did last year. A lot of players had a career years but I think they would have to regress. On the plus side they have been good at managing the cap space so they won't lose anyone. I think they are too good regress out of the playoffs but I would not be surprised to see them fall back in the standings. 

I think Washington has more prospects coming. They have a solid veteran young mix and they did leap the development curve. Getting next level will be harder and some of the vets will age out eventually. 

Carolina's another team that can never get past this round. Meanwhile Florida, who was supposed to have a weakened D this year actually seems to have a better D and they even have a Carolina waiver guy. They are such a disciplined and well structured team they get the most out of everybody they have. The GM built a good team, but they are also an example of why coaching and leadership really does matter. Everybody on that roster plays bigger and everybody knows they all have each other's back. 

[PerreaultForever]

1 hour ago, jahnyc said:

If by some miracle the Sabres make the playoffs next season, I can't see this roster as currently configured as having the ability to play a physical style or match the physical style of a playoff opponent.  This team is not built for playoff hockey (or even regular season success).

This has been my position for years. I hate the 15 years and want the playoffs for sure but I keep seeing a strategy and plan that will fail if it gets there and I don't want to end 15 years of no playoffs with 10 years of first round exits. Sure, it might be better than not getting in, but after a few years it'll be just as frustrating. 

[Pimlach]

Edmonton came to play. 

[...]

Man, I just can not get into this Oilers/Stars series. Especially tonight with the Stars clearly thinking about other things. I could never stand to watch the Oilers, generally, regardless of McDavid and Draisaitl on that team.

I think we already had the best series of these playoffs with Florida vs. Toronto.

[Pimlach]

3 minutes ago, ... said:

Man, I just can not get into this Oilers/Stars series. Especially tonight with the Stars clearly thinking about other things. I could never stand to watch the Oilers, generally, regardless of McDavid and Draisaitl on that team.

I think we already had the best series of these playoffs with Florida vs. Toronto.

Florida v Oilers will be fun. 

[PerreaultForever]

1 hour ago, Pimlach said:

Florida v Oilers will be fun. 

Probably heading to that. Goaltending the x factor for Edmonton so I wouldn't count Dallas out just yet though. They don't really care if it's home or road the way they play. 

[Thorny]

1-1 “series over” lol 

Connor McMouthguard still has a ways to go 

Edited yesterday at 04:58 AM by Thorny

[DarthEbriate]

21 hours ago, shrader said:

I'd love to understand the reasoning of the logic you're running with here.  Is it rock/paper/scissors or something, Florida beats Carolina beats Buffalo beats Florida?

Rock/paper/scissors through the portal of time.

[Gatorman0519]

Edmonton has won 5 of 6 periods so far. Seems to be a much better team. Probably wins this series in 6. 

[shrader]

54 minutes ago, DarthEbriate said:

Rock/paper/scissors through the portal of time.

I’m picturing some Dr Strange portal action going in here. 

[DarthEbriate]

38 minutes ago, shrader said:

I’m picturing some Dr Strange portal action going in here. 

More Beastmaster for Sabretooth purposes.

[K012010]

Goalie change for Carolina. Worked in 2005-06. I don’t think it’s gonna be enough this time.

[...]

The Panthers' PP can be very Sabre-like.

[Forecheck]

Canes are cooked. Florida headed to the finals for the third straight year. Amazing turnaround for that franchise. 

[SabresBillsFan]

And Carolina is going to be ancient history 

Just now, Forecheck said:

Canes are cooked. Florida headed to the finals for the third straight year. Amazing turnaround for that franchise. 

They have depth scoring, great goaltending, and they hit! I don’t want Edmonton to ever win as long as McDavid is there! Let him suffer

[OverPowerYou]

The hurricanes look like the 1980 Russian team. Time to get new helmets/jerseys 

[Gatorman0519]

Florida steamrolling the Canes this series. 

[PerreaultForever]

There's a few injuries now and if they are serious Florida might have trouble repeating against a healthy Edmonton squad (or Dallas) but otherwise this is looking like a repeat in the making. Man is that a well oiled machine that plays as a team. ERod clearing the front of the net! I mean talk about small guys not afraid to play big. Orlov on the other hand played like he wants to go on summer vacation. 

[Taro T]

14 minutes ago, PerreaultForever said:

There's a few injuries now and if they are serious Florida might have trouble repeating against a healthy Edmonton squad (or Dallas) but otherwise this is looking like a repeat in the making. Man is that a well oiled machine that plays as a team. ERod clearing the front of the net! I mean talk about small guys not afraid to play big. Orlov on the other hand played like he wants to go on summer vacation. 

What could've been if they'd've grabbed Zito rather than Botterill.  He likes that same style that Murray was trying to build but unlike Murray he actually factors in the chemistry between the players.

That is a very fun team to watch.  My 2nd or 3rd favorite team at this point.

[Big Guava]

Florida is just running roughshod over the Hurricanes. The series is a joke.

The score is 16-4 over the 3 games and Florida has never scored less than 5 goals in any of the games and Hurricanes have never scored more than 2.

They are getting shellacked.

[FrenchConnection44]

On 5/22/2025 at 9:58 PM, Gatorman0519 said:

Love Floridas game. That’s playoff hockey. We could only dream of a Buffalo team like that. 

It is probably a style of game that our group can’t play well without a lot of change imo. But I think we can move closer to that if we can get some rugged players. Who play hard nosed and create a tougher culture. 

[PerreaultForever]

2 hours ago, Taro T said:

What could've been if they'd've grabbed Zito rather than Botterill.  He likes that same style that Murray was trying to build but unlike Murray he actually factors in the chemistry between the players.

That is a very fun team to watch.  My 2nd or 3rd favorite team at this point.

Agreed, but the problem is Terry doesn't like that style. He said as much early on. I talk about Dudley but I know full well that isn't a direction TP would ever go in. He just doesn't see it as the right way and thus we get what we get. 

Zito's been a great GM and they have a solid management structure. I have to think a guy like Shawn Thornton is also loving how they play. It's a culture.

[PerreaultForever]

1 hour ago, FrenchConnection44 said:

It is probably a style of game that our group can’t play well without a lot of change imo. But I think we can move closer to that if we can get some rugged players. Who play hard nosed and create a tougher culture. 

We have size and speed and could, if we wanted to, play this sort of hard nosed forechecking game. We do not however, have the fortitude, tenacity and aggressiveness it requires. Except maybe Benson. 

[Wyldnwoody44]

Who Y'all got today? Roope Hintz injury lingering, and Marchmant kinda gave the "we won't forget" speech to reporters. 

I think Dallas comes through today for some odd reason. 

[tom webster]

10 hours ago, Taro T said:

What could've been if they'd've grabbed Zito rather than Botterill.  He likes that same style that Murray was trying to build but unlike Murray he actually factors in the chemistry between the players.

That is a very fun team to watch.  My 2nd or 3rd favorite team at this point.

I know people hate what if’s, but that was the biggest turning point of TPEGS tenure. If he picks Zito, who was the other finalist, the legacy is so much different. I’m sure the Pittsburgh connection was the deciding factor.