Rite of Spring 2018-“What happens in the playoffs stays in the playoffs”

[Sport]

Crazy that 7/8 series went 2-0. 

[Morgan33]

Kings/Knights thus far:

 

 

Kopitar!  Not over yet!

[masterchaoss]

Kings are down 3-0 but every game has been close and we've seen them come back from this position before they have this. vegus will pay for their transgressions against the crown and will be taken to the Gallows starting Tuesday. 

[smzimbabwe]

7 hours ago, CRichardson said:

The Leafs' mascot is a polar bear named Carlton.

 

Also, as awesome as the cartoon is, does it bother anyone else that the characters aren't lined up properly? They should be standing next to their opponents.

Thank you, I don't keep up on mascots, though the Aces (before they folded) also had a polar bear named Boomer who came into being after Binky the polar bear attacked a tourist at the Anchorage zoo.

[The Six]

I'll go out on a limb and say we aren't getting Ducks-Kings round 2 this year.

[Still MIGHTY]

17 hours ago, Kramerica Industries said:

 

Well, also because the Ducks seem to do the "lose the first two at home, win the next two on the road" thing all the damned time.

 

Yeah, it's... not fun to experience.

 

I don't know what the hell their deal is, sometimes. Almost like they're weird adrenaline junkies that need to be pushed to the absolute edge to feel anything. Only when their backs are against the wall and in a tough environment, only then can they play to their ability. This will now be the 4th time in five years they've been down 2-0 at home. 2014 vs LA (7 game loss), 2016 vs Nashville (7 game loss), 2017 vs Edmonton (7 game win). See if they can't push it to 7 games again, I guess.

 

But this one is different to me. It's obvious how much this group misses Cam Fowler. Calming presence at the back end that can move the puck out of the zone by himself, find the open man, run a power play even a little bit. The Ducks' 3rd D pairing and 4th line have been eaten alive in this series. And really, at the end of it, San Jose has just been better. The Ducks haven't been good enough and underperformed to be sure, but the Sharks came to play. I've also found a new appreciation for the skills of Brent Burns. Holds that puck at the line and generate blue line offense with the best of them.

 

Can the Ducks come back? Sure. They can. They could even win the series. Not that I was really before, but I'm still not dancing around with any realistic Cup dreams. Carlyle needs to go, and there's some spare parts on this team that could use some stripping off.

[JerseyJimmy]

I'm just gonna dedicate this post to laughing at everyone who was trumpeting about a Kings sweep before the series because muh experience

 

[Sport]

 

9 hours ago, crashcarson15 said:

Don’t think I’ve ever seen a goalie give up four and put in as great of a performance as Bobrovsky did tonight. Didn’t deserve to win the game on the balance of everything else, but he was fantastic (which, to some extent, is always what the Jackets will need to be successful in the playoffs).

 

Best performance I've ever seen by a goaltender who gave up 4 goals. It was pretty ridiculous. 

 

9 hours ago, crashcarson15 said:

I’d almost say Torts should dress a seventh defenseman if Wennberg isn’t good to go Tuesday, given he played Milano all of 3 minutes and 12 seconds.

 

I think Milano was a victim of situation and if there's fewer penalties in game 3 he'll get more playing time even if Torts doesn't fully trust him. Occasionally he'll get second power play unit time, but he's not going to get much in the playoffs, especially when the team is facing a multi-goal deficit. That game had so much special teams play both ways that by the time it got back to 5on5 you want to throw your best 5on5 guys out there to get them back into their rhythm. 

 

Key to the series for the Blue Jackets is stay out of the box and handle business at 5 on 5 which allows them to roll depth and secondary scoring from dudes like Milano. That they haven't done that and still won the first two games is an April miracle. 

[Dalcowboyfan92]

Second verse, same as the first.

 

Good, Washington won't have to get embarrassed by those [CENSORED] Penguins again if they keep this up.

[chcarlson23]

18 hours ago, the admiral said:

 

No they don't, they're rounding out their roster with bums like Nick Seeler.

Seeler > Chiarot 

[Brass]

Frederik Anderson having a big night for the Maple Leafs. He's been there at big moments for Toronto. Bounces just haven't been going the Bruins way and that rarely ever changes mid-game. Toronto earned their win tonight. Going to be an exciting series.

[LMU]

For a series that really has been so razor thin despite the current record can we at least agree that there's a bit of a finger on the scale when Doughty gets a one game suspension yet this doesn't even get a hearing let alone a penalty?

 

 

I mean, I fully admit that the Kings have reverted back to Sutter-era offensive tactics this series but we're really letting this go?

[Bruins]

Andersen made the save of the playoffs, barring importance, robbing Pastrnak blind reaching behind himself and making the stop with the stick about two feet off the ground. The Bergeron line was completely stifled tonight and that's scary considering Toronto seemed to have no answers during the first 2 games. Could be either a potential huge shift in the series or just a quiet game. And yeah the better team, and much better goalie won the game. Game 4 should be a beaut.

[Red Wolf]

The Predators are going to score first at some point. I just know it. 

[FGM13]

New Jersey’s goal song is the Gaslight Anthem’s “Howl” and that pleases me greatly.

[See Red]

17 minutes ago, FGM13 said:

New Jersey’s goal song is the Gaslight Anthem’s “Howl” and that pleases me greatly.

 

I thought I recognized it but couldn't place it.  Never really thought I'd hear the Gaslight Anthem played as a goal song.  I definitely approve.

[Morgan33]

Nashville not exactly looking like the powerhouse they were made out to be.

[The_Admiral]

1 hour ago, Morgo said:

Nashville not exactly looking like the powerhouse they were made out to be.

Most teams are dropping Game 3 on the road, but I had questions about Rinne's mileage that are close to being answered.

[FiddySicks]

Looks like the Ducks pipes may be clogged. 

[Still MIGHTY]

Nope. Just not ing happening.

 

Ducks doing everything wrong. Sharks doing everything right.