TropicalFruitGirl26

Heh...no worries. The ups n downs of being a pro sports fan. At least I got to see three Stanley Cups from the Lightning in my lifetime (can still get another with the current core!), and now just waiting on the Wild to deliver one....STOP SNICKERING!! As for who for now? I'd like to see Edmonton come out of the West...maybe Carolina or NJ out of the East. I've been saying for years on this site that Edmonton will be the next Canadian based franchise to hoist the Cup....even said that when Vancouver, Winnipeg, and even Montreal were considered ahead of them. As for Dean Evason, well, we will see. If the Wild are to go through this dark period, maybe it is just as well to stay with the same coach and then see where they are when his contract expires. Lots of questions for Minnesota as an organization that need to be addressed coming up.

Bruins do seem in firm control now, however, there IS 11 minutes left for them to still emulate the Caps.

According to capfriendly, he does, although the actual numbers aren't readily available for all coaches. Here is sampling of some of the NHL head coaches, including Dean Evason. As you can see, he has two years left after this one that just finished.

Exactly! Who do they think THEY are? The Tampa Bay Lightning? And thinking they are gonna go back to back?? Pfft...

I hope so. Avs should still be 'favorites' in the eyes of many, but Seattle has played a good brand of hockey all year, not overly flashy, but effective, they have winners on their team, and should, SHOULD, give the Avs all they can handle in G7. Colorado and their 'depleted' lineup will have all the excuses they could possibly need if they do lose. I'd like to see the Kraken released upon them, put them out of their misery, so we don't have to keep hearing about Colorado's roster woes. So yea. Avs series to lose still, but hoping Seattle takes them out and punches their ticket to Dallas, TX!

yea, I know. By their very nature a guy like Brodin and Klingberg are VERY different player types....and of course, Jonas didn't just "become" what he is. It has been a lifetime of work and growth within his chosen profession of hockey. But my point was, if Klingberg can at least embrace the idea of simply BEING a defenseman, and all that goes with that job description, rather than worry about offense, putting up points, showing up on the highlight reels, etc, that he may yet find himself a useful niche in the league, even if he never does reach Brodin-esque excellence in defensive play. The other guy I mentioned, Jan Rutta, was a guy who was always looked at as a fringe NHL'er, but he made conscious decisions to just play the best brand of defense he could, not worry about numbers (even though it kept him from really big money contracts), and just did his part to not hurt his team, and then suddenly, found teams like Tampa Bay and Pittsburgh who wanted his services because they had specific roles for him. He made a conscious effort to transform himself from being an almost NHL'er, to a serviceable NHL'er, and still serves a purpose in the league. Can Klingberg do something similar? Who knows. But it starts between the ears I would think. He just has to accept the fact he is no longer that player he was when he started in Dallas....and the more he tries to "find" that, the longer he is going to take to fit in with a team, with a purpose, if he ever does.

I remember not that long ago, Klingberg was a darling for fantasy hockey players. Then his offense started to disappear, and many, myself included, thought it was the suffocating defensive style Dallas played at the time (under Bowness of course!), but even after moving on, he has proven he has lost.....something. Whether it is nagging injuries (his history is dotted with that stuff, as you know), confidence, failing to make adjustments to the league that the league has made to him, or a combination of all that, he clearly isn't the 'fast puck moving offensive threat' he once was, and I don't know if he will ever be that again. If he can somehow re-invent himself and be more of a standard, responsible, don't-give-up-much type defender, maybe paired with a more offensive oriented partner, he could still be a serviceable NHL D-man. He has to embrace that kind of change....sorta be a Jan Rutta or a Jonas Brodin type. Guys who don't light up the scoresheet, but are good defenders, smart, and don't hurt their teams with silliness. But if he still thinks he is Cale Makar, then he might have trouble fitting into the league again!

Most certainly! The ups n downs of a pro sports fan that we all know we have to deal with at various points, yea? I am just thankful I don't have to wait 20-30 plus years to see winning like some fanbases do! As for this series, and G7 tonight, well, while I WOULD like to see the Panthers pull off the upset, truth is, I think the Bruins would match up better against the Leafs in Round 2 and make for a more competitive series. Florida has played out of their minds to get this series to where it is and not really sure they can continue that should they win. Boston has been consistently good all year, so I expect them, should they win, to continue to do that in Round 2. This goalie switch though......if true, I dunno bout that.....

Juju failure... I will blame the low quality eel scales I ordered. Should have stuck with name brands only...

Certainly was. They don't say Hanes, till Johnny says, they say Hanes...

Would it make you feel any better if it were a bum like Kyle Okposo instead?

Juju working?? Quick...I need more lizard tail...and some eye of moth....

Samsonov has been fantastic. Great. Super. On his freakin game! If the Leaves® win, they can attribute it to him because if it weren't for him, the Lightning likely would be up at least 3-1 by now. This could catapult Samsonov to Conn Smythe status! (Obviously, I am trying to work my TFG mumbo jumbo here )

I can only hope. I am really not ready to give up my patent on "Leaves®" yet

Nail biting first period. My manicurist LOVES hockey playoff time. I keep her in business! Bolts with most of the Grade A chances...BUT, the score remains 0-0 after 1.

Pat Maroon, when asked by TBS if he could elaborate on what he was chirping towards the Toronto bench during warmups: "Well, if I did, we'd get tossed off the air" Yep. Sounds like Maroon alright...starting chit even before the game starts.

@Brewin Flames Well, since I honestly don't care for either the Bruins or the Panthers, whichever gets disappointed more won't phase me either way. In that way, I think I know how Flyers fans feel about the Devils- NY Rangers series. And yea, I know the "crushed feeling" you describe. Felt it with the Wild yesterday.....will see what happens with the Lightning a bit later on. But, since SOMEONE in the FLA-BOS series HAS to win, here is me congratulating the winner

At season's start, I thought the Jets were gonna be a big mess with only Connor Hellebuyck being their one real bright spot. Then, they started winning, made the playoffs, and I got to thinking perhaps I was wrong about them after all. But now, after this playoff loss, the head coach comments, and the general negative vibe that is seemingly around the team, everything looks like it is coming to a destructive head. I would NOT want to be Kevin Cheveldayoff trying to sort through this mess and come out with a competitive squad over the offseason and into next year. If he manages to pull off a miracle though, provided he is still employed by the team, and WPG comes out winning once again next season, then he should be up for GM of the Year! At the VERY least, a new head coach needs to be brought in? I mean, how do you look your players in the eye after the tirade Bowness had? How do you, as a player, feel you would go through a brick wall for that man? Like I said, Cheveldayoff has his work cut out for him.

I think they can still make good playoff runs with Kaprizov on the team, but they DEFINITELY need to get guys to compliment him better. And with the looming cap penalties the team will be dealing with the next three seasons or so, simply signing big name players isn't the way to go. But, all isn't lost. Wild can still get it done with many of the grinders they have, but they MUST make smart decisions on which vets to keep, and be very, very savvy on players they can get on value contracts that have upside no one else sees. Tricky for sure, and any mistakes could blow up in their faces, but not like they have much choice other than do a complete rebuild.....but I don't think a complete teardown is in the works at the moment. I would say another scoring winger, a top six center, and a genuine puck moving, offensive defenseman is needed on this team. Either by development (someone taking big strides), or gotten through the 'value contract' method as I described. Certain vets like Reaves, Zuccarello, Merrill need to not be there any longer. Goligoski and Klingberg? Goligoski is getting way too old, and Klingberg really looks like he's lost everything that made him a threat eons ago with the Stars. Both those guys may need to be either non tendered or moved out as well.

When you've really let your team down, send them a card....say you are sorry...say it...with an Ullmark...

3-0. The fat lady just got off the treadmill, and heading for the ice cream...

If that goal counts, it could be a back breaker. Wow.

Damned good penalty kill. Doesn't do anything for the offense, but, at least they didn't get scored on.

Yep. It would. Who would be our shortie specialist? Do we even have one??

Now, now...let's not jump to conclusions. I got her on the treadmill as we speak. She IS trying