Jordan Posted 13 April 2015 Author Posted 13 April 2015 Still can't get my head around the Pens' steady decline this season that started somewhere near the 60-game mark. Can't just be down to injuries. I recall them being top of their division for so long! It's been a transition year, with a new coach, and not everything has gone smoothly.Injuries have been a big problem, and they'll be without three defenseman when the playoffs begin. Injuries are a little bit more of a problem for a team like the Penguins, who don't have great depth throughout the lineup. A few reasons why their form dropped so much was that their power play just switched off. I don't know why that is... Could be bad luck, bad play, poor tactics, maybe Letang was struggling (he's a huge help on the power play but perhaps he's been affected by concussions... Losing him for the playoffs will hurt). They started drawing less penalties, then went ice cold when on the PP. Sidney Crosby still had a nice season, but it's been tough for him. His shooting percentage is lower than usual, and that could indicate poor luck. He's had a revolving door of wingers alongside him, and not everyone has "clicked" with him. He's also deployed on defensive zone face offs more often than his elite peers around the league. And with the Penguins losing their cool and taking more penalties in the 2nd half of the season, they kept Crosby (who isn't used to kill penalties) on the bench more. Still, the playoffs give the team a clean slate and with Geno and Crosby, they will always have a chance.
Jordan Posted 13 April 2015 Author Posted 13 April 2015 Did I hear the Kings locked and then barracaded they're coach out of the changing room? Also special shout out to Jagr for making sure my season finished with a bit of salt in those non-playoff wounds. It was so obvious he'd get the match winning goal. That's the word going around, courtesy of the New York Post's Larry Brooks, who loves to stir the pot. Struggling teams having players-only meetings isn't unusual, but that story sure makes it seem like the players were fed up with Brent!Sutter's a good coach and seems like a decent fellow, and he's also had a great run in LA, so this doesn't seem good for him. The Kings' big problems were things Sutter couldn't control: Slava Voynov being a dickhead and the team losing shootouts. They have the be the unluckiest team out of the mix this season. P.S. Jagr, he's just special
Uncle Phil Posted 16 April 2015 Posted 16 April 2015 If you have an app league I've got a pick on there, if not post them in here?I have... Round 1Blues - Wild in 5 Canadiens - Sens in 5Preds - Hawks in 6 Lightening - Red Wings in 4Ducks - Jets in 5 Rangers - Pens in 6Canucks - Flames in 7 Caps - Islanders in 6 Round 2Blues - Hawks Canadiens - Lightening Ducks - Canucks Rangers - Caps Conference Finals Blues - Ducks Canadiens - RangersStanley Cup FinalBlues - Canadiens I kept messing with the series lengths for R1 so I just turned the app off and left it. Lightening in 4 might be ambitious. Also I didn't want to predict the Rangers reaching the final, let alone winning it.
Jordan Posted 16 April 2015 Author Posted 16 April 2015 I've gotta like my team's chances to lift the Cup Here's my bracket (filled on NHL.com though not in a league) Blues in 5 Blackhawks in 6 Jets in 7 Canucks in 5 Canadiens in 5 Lightning in 6 Rangers in 6 Capitals in 6 Blackhawks def. Blues Canucks def. Jets Lightning def. Canadiens Rangers def. Capitals Blackhawks def. Canucks Rangers def. Lightning Rangers def. Blackhawks Last night's games (with the exception of the Islanders smoking a lifeless bunch of Caps), were a lot of fun, let's see if tonight's can match that standard.
EdinburghFox Posted 18 April 2015 Posted 18 April 2015 Hey, I only just found this thread!! I put down: STL def. MIN 5 games MTL def. OTT 6 games CHI def. NSH 6 games TBL def. DET 4 games (oops) WPG def. ANA 7 games NYR def. PIT 5 games CGY def. VAN 6 games NYI def. WAS 7 games then.... STL def. CHI MTL def. TBL CGY def. WPG NYR def. NYI then.... STL def. CGY MTL def. NYR and finally.... MTL def. STL with 29 goals Ye, I know, this is never going to be even close to happening, but I live in hope (for MTL) and take risks!!
Jordan Posted 23 April 2015 Author Posted 23 April 2015 Looks like my big upset 1st round pick went up in smoke! Jets blew 3 3rd period leads to go down 3-0, and then were put out of their misery by the Ducks last night. That goal by Emerson Etem last night, just, wow
Uncle Phil Posted 24 April 2015 Posted 24 April 2015 Looks like my big upset 1st round pick went up in smoke! Jets blew 3 3rd period leads to go down 3-0, and then were put out of their misery by the Ducks last night. That goal by Emerson Etem last night, just, wow That's a great finish! A big comeback for Tampa last night and a good win for the Caps. Montreal and New York to go through tonight? That'll suit my bracket. Have you been watching many games? Assume you've watched all the Rangers games.
Jordan Posted 27 April 2015 Author Posted 27 April 2015 My bracket is also in tatters! I've watched a lot of the playoffs (of course all the Rangers games), and so far, the parity between the teams that many mentioned before the playoffs started is on full displays. In some of these series, momentum doesn't carry from one game to the next. In others, series that appear to be big wins look a lot closer when you get beneath the surface (like Anaheim needing all those 3rd period comebacks, or the Rangers winning 4 1-goal games--two of which were in OT). When I get home tonight, I'm gonna sit back, relax, and hope the Capitals vs Islanders Game 7 is even nastier than their recent few games, and goes on for a few overtime periods.
David Guiza Posted 14 May 2015 Posted 14 May 2015 The comeback kids! As if the Bruins' season wasn't bad enough. Can see Blackhawks pipping the Rangers in the final, but we shall see.
Jordan Posted 14 May 2015 Author Posted 14 May 2015 As if the Bruins' season wasn't bad enough. Can see Blackhawks pipping the Rangers in the final, but we shall see.It would have been a real nightmare season for the Bruins had Montreal made a long playoff run, as Habs fans expected their team to do this year.
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.