TropicalFruitGirl26

All discussion and game day postings can go here. Lightning trying to continue their path to that elusive Stanley Cup..... Barry Trotz and his NY Islanders though, standing in the way to the Finals. For Trotz, he is attempting to make another Finals appearance with his coached team and putting a blue and orange shaded Cup right next to his Capital red one. Bolts' core is still in their prime, but they've missed opportunities in the past to win. Even though I am obviously biased towards Tampa Bay, I will wish good luck to both teams and looking forward to a very good series with lots of fast play, contrasting styles, some rough n tumble play in the trenches, and outstanding goaltending.

For most of the year, Boston had been a one line team... Bergeron-Marchand-Pastrnak. Get past those guys and it doesn't become overly complicated to shut the team's offense down. Now...when they DID get secondary scoring (on a consistent basis) from guys like Krejci, DeBrusk, and Kase, all of a sudden, the Bruins look a lot more dangerous on offense because the ripple effect there is, the bottom sixers, led by Charlie Coyle would then find themselves with more room and opportunity on the ice when teams were focused on the top six in match ups. Bottom line is, the Bruins are going to need guys like DeBrusk, Kase, Bjork, and Ritchie to ALL step up, and stay stepped up, play smart and provide a sustained compliment to the Boston top line. If that doesn't happen, then Boston will find it hard to keep up with some of their divisional opponents like the Lightning and Maple Leafs....maybe even the Florida Panthers or Buffalo Sabres who look like they may be up n coming. Some smart decisions will need to be made, particularly on the back end and in goal. If I were a Bruins fan, I wouldn't mind Chara coming back for another season, so long as the money is reasonable and he doesn't take up an unreasonable amount of cap space that could be used on younger, faster players. Tory Krug will depend on what his agent is asking for. No doubt he deserves a raise, but how much are they talking? And as Yave mentioned, Pietrangelo is out there now so if Krug is asking for too much and AP's price isn't too dissimilar (or better), then the Bruins may want to try and get him. Goalie-wise, the Bruins BETTER have something in the pipeline. Halak is ok to come back, provided he resumes his role as a backup, or at most, a timeshare goalie. If Boston fans think he can be a starter, game in, game out, over the course of a season, then they are in for a rude awakening. He never was that in his youth...certainly not now in his mid 30's. But then what of Rask? Big, big question marks there..... Overall, I'd say the B's are on a slippery slope......they have the opportunity to maintain contender status, if some of their younger guys step up, Rask come back with a bit of fire, and their vets don't take a nosedive............ but they can just as easily fall off the face of contention if their vets really start showing their age, they make bad decisions on contracts, the blue line and net becomes a hot mess, or are forced to continue to rely on bottom six grinders because the young offensive players still aren't getting it done consistently. Time is not on their side, because again, the rest of the division is working feverishly to improve and many of the Bruin rivals have lots of young talent maturing at good paces, while one team in particular, yes, the Lightning, are still poised to be perenniel contenders. So unless Boston goes into any sort of retooling or rebuilding phase, they need to maintain the good they do have, and improve in areas where they were inconsistent, and do it NOW.

Canucks get their win, shut out style, vs Las Vegas, force Game 7. Now we got Avs, Flyers, and Canucks vying for a spot in their respective Conference Finals when they should have been done.

Vegas on the PP right now, and they are all over the Canucks. They are definitely controlling the play, keeping the puck in the Vancouver zone and making Canuck players skate all over the place. Demko still is keeping his shut out intact, tracking the puck well and making stops and freezing it when necessary.

And the Canucks make it 3-0 now midway through the 3rd. Vegas not going away though, as they are adding MORE pressure to the Vancouver net trying to come up with a goal. Demko is just too good right now...and on top of that, he is getting the lucky bounces too! 38-21 shot advantage for the Knights at around the 10 min mark in the 3rd, but the more important 3-0 score advantage for the Canucks.

Definitely a rough n tumble series. In fact, if I remember right, the teams traded wins and losses....the Bolts juts happened to take away the last one. Classic contrasting of styles in that one.

Mark Stone manages to break away from the Vancouver defense, shorthanded, beats his defender, and gets off a SOG, but Demko was there to deny. And Demko with another stop as the Knights now are putting pressure after their penalty kill. Win or lose in this series, I think Demko may make the decision of whether the Canucks should give Markstrom a big contract or not to stay, an easy one.

And there it is! Apparently, the Vancouver Canucks agree with my previous post. They went and got their young netminder a two goal lead. Hughes to JT Miller, bam... 2-0 Canucks just over a minute into the 3rd. Now.....let's see Vegas' pushback....

Vancouver trying to do what the Flyers did earlier and that is push the series to a Game 7 after being down 3-1 in the series. Difference is, the Vegas Golden Knights look like an absolute powerhouse and the young Canucks seemingly had no chance and just should have been happy with just being there. Not so, if were to ask them. They lead in Game 6 by the slimmest margin, 1-0, but its a lead nonetheless. And young Thatcher Demko coming in place of vet Jacob Markstrom (UFA Markstrom at year's end) and really shutting down this 4-line Vegas attack is beyond impressive. The Canucks as a team could stand to help out their netminder a bit more and cut down on some of the crazy chances against him, but they are doing just enough to compliment Demko's outstanding netminding to this point. 1-0 though is nowhere near safe against Vegas. Not by a short shot. Vancouver could do themselves a huge favor by coming out firing in the 3rd and try to cushion that lead early in the 3rd for their netminder. As good as Demko has been as is, I bet he'd appreciate a two or three goal lead instead of just being up by one. Breathing room is ALWAYS good! Let's see if the Canucks can continue to stifle the Knights in the 3rd....or will the Knights explode and bounce Vancouver finally? Puck drop coming up........

Well would you look at that. Flyers made a mockery out of the Islander 3-1 series lead and tied it up sending this thing to a Game 7 where Philly SHOULD have the momentum, and anything really can happen. And that anything includes the Islanders winning the series after all. But if you are NY, you most definitely did NOT want to find yourself in this spot........Philly on the other hand, should be ecstatic that they were able to push this thing to the final game....and can now go for a win and a date with the Lightning in the East Finals... An East Finals that, if it takes place, would be a rematch from the East Finals of 2004! Does Barry Trotz have any other tricks up his sleeve for just such an occasion? If he does, expect him to empty them all out in Game 7. I actually didn't watch this entire Game 6, so not sure, momentum wise what the teams were doing. I still don't have a preference as to an opponent for the Lightning, but I'd be lying now if I said I maybe, perhaps, can push for the Flyers a bit due to their unpredicatable and exciting nature.....and it doesn't hurt I got a WHOLE BOARD full of Flyer fans I can trade trash talk with..... Game 7 gunna be gud!

Yave is always good for some information about ALL teams across the league. Even he will admit he isn't always right, but even when he isn't, he also isn't far off the mark. But given the amount of goings on in the league, he comes up good more often than not. Which is why it is beyond comical when some imbecile questions his attention to what goes on in the league. I appreciate Mr. Detroit/Columbus as much as you do, Mojo.

Other than the obvious salary cap spending in goal between the two netminders, I actually see this as a low risk/high reward scenario for Montreal. Looking at capfriendly, the Habs still have about 4.5 available in cap space AFTER this trade was made and if they REALLY need more space (Max Domi will require a new contract...their biggest 'gotta get paid guy'), they have a number of moveable contracts on the foward ranks. But Allen will only be a bother to the cap for the upcoming season. If he doesn't do what he was gotten for (spell Price with a reasonable chance of winning that night), Habs could always just wave bye at the end of his contract. Risk. But he could also turn out to be pretty good for them, if unspectacular, and be much better than the carcasses they've had backing up Price before. Reward. Montreal gave up NOTHING of consequence to acquire Allen. Ok. 3rd round pick, and it was Washington's, not their own. They still have their own. Along with an embarrassment of 2nd round and 4th round picks sandwiching their own 3rd. So they are in good shape there. Well, so long as their GM uses those properly that is. St. Louis did well here too. Binnington, for better or worse, IS their guy. They clearly lost confidence in Allen and moving out his contract and recuperating cap space while recovering picks is a nice bit of GM'ing. I think its a win-win on both sides. It will look better for one side or the other depending on what Allen does in Montreal, but I think this is one of those trades where both teams could benefit.

That the game opened up the way it did in the 3rd certainly favored the Flyers I think. I am sure the Isles would have preferred tighter checking...THEN, try to win with a greasy goal. Funny thing is, this wide open play SHOULD have been in effect in the 3rd period. Maybe then, the Isles don't even get to tie.

All true, but even with all that, I have to think Vigneault thought a two goal lead would be enough and didn't have his boys push for more. I would have to look at the TOI numbers, but that showed itself in the ice time given to certain players. Should have been top six guys down the stretch all the way. Especially since guys like Giroux and JVR looked good with their goals. Looked like they are finally waking up...then Vigneault goes with mostly grinders to whittle down clock. But, as you said...a win is a win, is a win. And when you are facing elimination, just getting it done, no matter how dubious, is all that matters.

Flyers blow the lead.... Vigneault fails at turtling...... but Philly, nonetheless, live to fight another day and extend the series. More time for Stamkos and Kucherov to heal up..... GG. I enjoyed this one. Nice to NOT bite nails when you don't have a dog in the fight.

Pretty wide open OT. I am surprised a bit. Might favor the Flyers...this end to end stuff.

OT #1 Puck dropped. Game ON!!!

Looks like Vigneault tried to have his team 'sit' on the lead....turtle, if you would. Just like Trotz would. Thing is, Trotz is a master at that....when Trotz turtles, he is Gamera ....when Vignault does it, he is just a box turtle.

Ruh roh... Flyers getting Trotzed... Tie game.

Adam Pelech levels Joel Farabee....ouch..

TK to Niskanen...BOOM. Flyers starting to skate away with this. Love that TK!

Well, see that's it right there. PickLip's game was all around unaware....unaware where he pushed Barzal...unaware he was still in the crease and should have made it a priority to throw his arse out of there. He didn't do it and left things in the hands of chance and the refs.

WTH is wrong with that PickLip guy??? Involved in another goalie/review call....stop it already....

Another guy who hasn't seen the scoresheet.... You mean...........the Flyers top six are coming alive now??? Hayes almost had one just now...

Holy Gritties, Batman! A Giroux sighting...finally! Tie score.