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TropicalFruitGirl26

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Posts posted by TropicalFruitGirl26

  1. Alright now...so, what is going on with regards to playoff races around the NHL?

    Well for starters, in the East, what looked like would only be one team or the other (one from the Atlantic, one from the Metro) that takes the top spot has now turned into a legit 4 team race for that.
    The NY Rangers, the surging Carolina Hurricanes, the Florida Panthers, and the Boston Bruins can all make a run at grabbing the top spot in the East and having home ice throughout.
    If ya snooze, ya lose.....so we will see which three teams snooze while the 4th grabs home ice!

    Staying in the East, the Leafs looked sorta locked into their third spot position in the Atlantic, meaning, they will visit the loser of the Atlantic division in Round 1 of the playoffs.....so Leafs at Panthers, or Leafs at Bruins is looking likely.

    The Flyers in the Metro, meanwhile, aren't as locked in as Toronto and must play their arses off if they want to hold onto the third spot they currently hold.
    Teams chasing them, the Washington Capitals, New Jersey Devils, and especially, the NY Islanders, have all hit some skids however.
    Doesn't mean The Fly can relax, but it does mean the pressure isn't as great as it was about a week or so ago.

    The Lightning seem to have a pretty good hold on the first wild card....they have an outside chance of possibly catching the Leafs, but not likely.
    The Detroit Red Wings are trying to hang onto that last WC spot, but they must fend off whatever Metro teams don't catch Philadelphia, but are good enough to catch THEM!
    Crazy stuff!

    Out West, there is a FANTASTIC three team tumble for the Central Division between Winnipeg, Colorado, and Dallas. Any one of those three can end up with the division lead and host a wild card team, and any three could be second or third and play each other in a perfect display of why the current playoff format is so flawed:
    Any meetings between any of the Jets, Stars, or Avs should be reserved for LATER rounds in the playoffs...not Round 1...as a good, deserving team will not make it past the opening stanza and people will say, "Meh...they sucked, they couldn't get past the first round".
    Bullshockey!

    The Pacific Division sees Vancouver continue to lead and not likely to be caught by Edmonton for the division....and VAN also leads the aforementioned Central teams for the top overall Western slot.
    Edmonton likely ends up in 2nd, hosting either the Kings or Knights in Round 1.

    The Nashville Predators, meanwhile, have a seeming iron grip on that first wild card with no signs of slowing down.
    All WC teams are being pursued by St. Louis, Minnesota, and Calgary as the outside dark horse (VERY dark horse!), but honestly, it doesn't look like any of those three are gonna catch Vegas, LA...and certainly not Nashville.

    In that regard, the West teams look like they are set as to who will make it in, only changes being, what positions they finish in, while the East still has teams that need to be decided on who is actually in or out!

    Exciting stuff down the stretch!

  2. Didn't get to watch this game live as I was busy with other things, but did record it and watched it as I am up late tonight:

    -- Minnesota had some really, really bad bounces work against them....both in the manner the Kings score at least 4 of their goals, and in the manner in which the puck just would NOT bounce in favor of the Wild when they got their chances.
    I mean, those weird bounces, redirect friendly fire, and tips that altered the puck just enough to where Fleury had no shot to make a save seemed the order of the day!

    -- Having said that, the Wild also were to blame for this poor performance as they simply allowed too many rushes into their zone, didn't cover properly once the Kings established the offensive zone (seriously...leaving the likes of a Kevin Fiala all alone between the circles is downright bungling at its worst!), and did a terrible job on simple basic clears.

    You think the Wild missed the stabilizing presence of one Mr. Jonas Brodin? 
    You bet they did!

    Maybe the Kings still win the game with Brodin playing for the Wild, but I bet the game would NOT be a 6-0 blowout.
    Minnesota looked completely defeated by the second period even though they showed a modicum of pride and fight in the 3rd, but by then of course, things were academic and the Kings simply were happy to keep Minnesota at bay while they collected the 2 pts and the win.

    Do the Wild "burn the tape" so to speak of this game, as it is sometimes suggested teams do when they crap the bed in a game?
    Well, yes and no.
    I mean, there are portions of the game where I think if the Wild players see it on video, they could see just how disjointed they were and what happens when you leave snipers unmolested......if they can see that, be embarrassed by that, and work to not let that happen again, then something could be gained from this horrid loss.

    The rest?
    A collection of good bounces for the Kings, bad bounces for the Wild.....enabled by the aforementioned poor play by Minnesota.....yea, just trash the rest.

    Back to St. Paul, start prep for the St. Louis Blues, FFS....

    • Good Post 1
  3. 22 minutes ago, Icechipper said:

    Are teams 🎯 targeting Brodin and Spurgeon? Crosschecks hard on hips, knees and shoulders.

     

    I haven't seen any hard evidence that teams are particularly going after those players with intent to injure, although I can see how it can be viewed that way.

    I think we all know Jared was a sponge for punishment, given his size and the position he plays on the team.
    As you know, most D-men expect to get smashed in corners, they brace for it, try to avoid it of course, if possible, but it is usually inevitable.
    Spurge isn't particularly big, so throughout his career just more susceptible, IMO, to the grueling position he plays.

    Brodin?
    Hmm...for years he was always that 'quiet guy' no one really noticed.
    But now he has come more to the forefront as the Wild's BEST defensive defenseman, and maybe, just maybe, because of that, teams go at him a bit harder, like they would, say...ohhh, I dunno...a Drew Doughty in LA, an Mikhail Sergachev in TB, or an Esa Lindell in Dallas....guys that teams know, if you slow them down, you slow down that team's ability to defend at their best.

    Still don't think teams are intentionally trying to injure Brodin, but he definitely is on more teams' radars in recent seasons, and he suffers the side effects more now of being higher profile in the Wild's defensive scheme.

    That fall and leg bend he took against Anaheim after that hit was just plain nasty though.....

  4. We see this time and time again with these former enforcer types....doesn't bode well for a young guy like the current 'hockey monster', Matt Rempe.

    I feel bad for that young man because it seems all people care about him is his ability to do what guys like Simon and others did beforehand...not seemingly giving a damned about his hockey ability....and, to keep his place in the NHL, Rempe now has to continue to take the punishment until he no longer can...in which case, no one will give a crap about him after that.

    Chris Simon is a good example of an old school type of player who could possibly make it in today's NHL (minus some of the 'too much' stuff he pulled on and off the ice and between whistles), because he could actually play the game a bit and would be a perfect fit for some team's bottom six, or maybe even as a space maker on a top six role, in 2024.

    Those close to Rempe should take heed, counsel him properly, and encourage him to try to play more, fight less, although I understand that is part of his NHL DNA.
    Otherwise, he could be yet another Boogaard, Rypien, or Simon in the making.

    • Like 3
  5. Jonas Brodin down with injury....means the main component of stability on that blue line will not be available, possibly, for the remainder of the season, pending what is found.

    Jonas Brodin To Have MRI, Avoided ACL Injury (prohockeyrumors.com)

    I suppose the good news is, according to that link, is he doesn't have an ACL tear which could have repercussions beyond this season, but still, it isn't sounding very good for him to finish out this season.

    And frankly, given the state the Wild are in and their less than likely chance to make the post season, I would actually be on board to 'shut him down' for the rest of the season, get him patched up, rehabbed, whatever needs to be done, so he is fresh and strong for next season and not have whatever lingering injury nagging him for the next few years.

    Likely means Goligoski will once again have to lace them up (put down that popcorn tray, Gogs, you are needed now), but perhaps if the Wild really do look like they are slipping away from the wild card spot, with the few remaining games, we may see callups en masse to see what they can do.

    Big loss in Brodin, but at this point, I care more about his health than the Wild's playoff chances as he should continue to be a big part of this team moving onward.

    • Good Post 1
  6. Well well now...
    Big win indeed!

    Don't look now, but these Sabres are just 3 pts out of the final wild card spot....with the Islanders, Captials, and Wings ahead of them...and NEITHER of those teams being a lock for anything!

    Definitely could be an interesting stretch of games for Buffalo as the season winds down!

  7. Very possible the Panthers could be in the Finals again.
    I've always maintained that last year's run shouldn't have been viewed as 'lucky', or that the team had a Cinderella run, as most people tend to think.

    Panthers underachieved last season, then finally got their act together for the playoffs and it took them to the Finals.
    This season's team, IMO, is even better than last year's, and they have been playing during the regular season like they should.
    Of course, that doesn't guarantee success in the playoffs, but right now, hard to bet against them going far or even winning it all.

    As for Bettman's "nightmare"...yea, yea...I get it...ratings, non traditional market, and the attendance at Panther games is very, very underwhelming, but the team making it to the Finals should never, ever be viewed as a worst case scenario.
    Bettman wanted a team in Broward County, he gets a team in Broward County....same with the desert in Arizona, Music City, TN, and the Carolinas, and anywhere else some people think a team shouldn't be due to being non traditional markets.

    Since the teams ARE there....why would the commissioner's office not want success for them?
    Why continue the arse backwards, archaic thinking of the old ways of just northern cities or popular cities, or original six cities and other such similar nonsense?
    I could care less if the Panthers get disappointed again and lose in the playoffs.....because, of course, they are a division rival of my team.
    And I could say the same about the Bruins and Leafs in the East....and the Avalanche, Stars, and Blues in the West.
    But even if I don't care for the team, if they are good enough to get to the Finals, then they deserve respect, promotion, and acknowledgement for doing so, just as much as if it were the Blackhawks, Red Wings, Penguins, or Leafs doing the same.

    All teams in every city currently should be counted on to be just as important as the other.
    And if they aren't (like some mentioned), then the commish needs to DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT!

    Other than that, tough chit for the media and fans who think certain teams shouldn't be in the Finals due to some outdated reason.
    Some complain about the league as a whole not getting the same amount of respect as some other leagues like the MLB and especially the NFL.

    Well, it is backwards thinking that keeps the NHL as the infamous 'red headed stepchild'....and that will only change when the league treats, pushes, and promotes all their teams the same...regardless of how the team actually performs, or how well their merch sells.... ala the NFL, who, in the interest of business, will have you believe that the NY Jets at the Arizona Cardinals is MUST SEE TV....even if both teams are terribly unexciting and have long histories of crappy seasons.
    And people eat it up.

    NHL should take notes....... just sayin....

  8. The Canucks may have had some puck luck this season...hell, they are having some in this game against WPG...but they are also pretty damned good too!

    Some in the media questioned why they "stood pat" on deadline day....well, why mess with a winning formula?
    Besides....they already got their guys (Lindholm and Monahan) well before the deadline, and even signed Pettersson to a new contract to keep him happy and on board.

    They really didn't need to do much at the deadline.

    If the 'Nucks fail in the postseason, then the front office can examine what needs to be fixed then....but right now, they are doing pretty well.

    And leading the J-e-t-s, Jets, Jets, Jets 3-0 at the end of 1.

  9. Also in this Phi-TB game...Mat Dumba.

    Looking pretty good in his debut.
    He won't have to be anything more than a depth guy with the Bolts, don't do anything stupid (yes, I know...a problem for him in the past), and make the safe and hard hitting plays...let the TB stars do their thing while he makes sure no odd man rushes go the other way.

    Again...so far, so good.
    If it works out for him in TB, maybe some reasonable contract could be worked out to stay beyond this season.

    If TB can bring out the best in defensively challenged players like Kevin Shattenkirk, then they might be able to do the same for Dumba.

  10. 15 minutes ago, Jimtown guy said:

    John Tortorella has been ejected from tonight's game between the Flyers and Lightning.  Tonight's game is dedicated to the 2004 Stanley Cup team...so basically Torts was ejected from a game dedicated to him 🤣

     

    I settled in to watch this late in the 1st, so not sure what happened with Torts, but apparently, he isn't a fan of the officiating tonight.

    Also, if Torts getting his arse thrown out for verballing assaulting officials doesn't tell ya he doesn't care about pomp n ceremony, I don't know what will.
    Classic Torts simply focused on HIS OWN team's success....even though revered in Tampa Bay....and not giving a rat's arse about anything but Flyer hockey right now.
    Gotta respect that.

    • Good Post 1
  11. On 3/4/2024 at 5:19 PM, yave1964 said:

    Friday at 3pm is the trade deadline. I will have my binders of hockey cards strewn around me, moving them to and fro. Yes I'm a nerd and proud. 

     Here are my predictions where top rumor suspects wind up where.

     

    Guentzel. Gone to Vegas baby. 

     

    Markstrom. Either stays or becomes a Devil.

     

    Hanifin going to sunrise to lead the Panthers

     

    Wennberg little deal to Motown

     

    Henrique Bean town bound.

     

    Taresenko lightning gets a middle six winger

     

    Walker and Laughton both gone to Toronto.

     

    Vatrano gets a return engagement with the Rangers

     

    Saros stays put. So does Toffoli.

     

    Hugest biggest deal is Buchnevich to play the wing on McDavids line in Edmonton.

     

     Mantha found his game and plays second line with Colorado.

     

    Couture and Hertl are owed too much for too long for a mid season deal.

     

    Eberle rejoins the Isles

     

    Berggren staying put unless he is the wildcard that brings in a bigger non rental

     

     Broberg can be had by anyone anytime anywhere.

     

     

     

    So far, many of these predictions ARE wrong (as per your title...hehe), but I gotta tell ya, Yave...I admire the sheer testicular fortitude it takes to put something out there like this!
    I can always count on 'true to feelings' stuff from you.
    No regurgitated 'insider' crap, or processed podcast canned meat from you....no sir!

    Only authentic, organic, vitamins n minerals postings from you! :bigteeth: 

    As always, thank you for your voicing of opinions!

    • Like 1
    • Haha 1
  12. 2 minutes ago, Buffalo Rick said:

    Well they just traded Middlestadt for a young defenseman.  Not sure what to think.  The Sabres are just young and players in early 20s are not going to win vs 30 plus yr old veterans most of the time.  Luukenen has been a bright spot.  Need a reliable backup as the loss to Winnipeg was first time I think I’ve ever seen Sabres start a goalie back to back nights.

     

    Since the Sabres don't look like they will be making the playoffs, I think they did absolutely wonderfully in that trade.

    Sure, Mittelstadt is having a career year (or close to it....would have to look more closely at the numbers), but how many times  have the Sabres given "the ball" to Mittel, and he hasn't lived up to it yet?
    Your team did what most GM's SHOULD do.... trade away a still good player when he is on a 'high', like Mittelstadt is, if he has shown in the past that he is inconsistent at best.

    And when the return is a potential steal in Bown Byram, well now....like I said...Sabres did wonderfully.

    Dahlin, Power, Byram.
    Those are three very, very dynamic type defenseman who are still very young, and while Dahlin is obviously the most NHL established of the three, once the other two learn to be true NHL'ers, the Sabres will have a very dangerous potential for offense comeing from that blue line to support the forward lines.

    If those three young players can do well as part of the Buffalo defensive core, then all the Sabres would need to do is find established stay at home type defensemen (easier to acquire than dynamic puck movers like those guys), to compliment those young players.

    But I even think those three young players can be more than just offensive types.
    All three can turn out to be very good two way players.
    If that happens, then this is a landslide win of a trade for the Sabres.....and Atlantic division rivals will have nightmares trying to contain the Buffalo top six AND attacks from the blue line, while having trouble getting through the neutral zone past those guys as well.

    Not making the playoffs sucks for your team, I get it, and the regression is disappointing, but I think the team has done very well in trying to reset things moving forward again for next season, and having Byram in there with the two young blueliners you already have helps give optimism.

  13. Sabres at Maple Leafs on at the moment.

    Buffalo isn't making the playoffs, however, they did trade away their leading scorer, Casey Mittelstadt to the Colorado Avalanche earlier today (getting back Bowan Byram....nicely done BTW, Buffalo...), so I am interested to see if the Sabres suddenly get "revitalized" after trading away one of the players that has been with them for a long while.

    Amazing how that works, eh?
    A coach gets fired, or a popular/long time player gets traded away....THEN all of a sudden, the team gets rejuvenated somehow and they start winning (even if only in the short term as is the case most of the time).

    Still makes you wonder:
    Where the H-E- double hockey sticks was all that "energy, jump, and gusto" BEFORE the freakin coach got fired or the player got traded away!!??

    Anyways, Sabres have a chance to add to their locker room culture and try to smooth over the trading away of Mittelstadt with a win against what some are tabbing a Stanley Cup contender (yea, send me what THEY are smoking....and I don't even smoke :bigteeth: ), and also, a border and divisional rival.

     

    Toronto, meanwhile, looks to sharpen themselves up as the season winds down, in preparation for what will be the REAL test, and major nemesis for them, the Stanley Cup playoffs.

  14. Playoffs are definitely looking like an unassailable goal at this point, but this game, with about 20 to go, can be used at the measuring point.
    After what transpired over the last three games or so, if the Wild lose THIS one, to what may be one of the worst teams in the NHL, then Bill Guerin should really start listening real hard on trade offers.

    Even with a win, the Wild will find it difficult to make the post season, highlighted by getting their face handed to them by the team they need to catch, but without a win against the Sharks, well, no amount of 'fixing or tweaking' will help this particular squad.

    Minnesota has some players that post season and Cup contenders would love to have on their much deeper squads....Wild lose here, Guerin should do some dealing.

    Personally...I don't like to watch 'losing'.
    I want to see the team win. As much as possible.
    Just saying...if they can't against SJ, then I won't blame anyone for breaking up this 'vaunted' group....

    • Like 1
  15. Attempting to 'report' on the acquisition of Ilya Lyubushkin by the Leafs, we get THIS moron, Christopher Smith (is that even a real name??):

    Maple Leafs acquiring new weapon to skate alongside Auston Matthews in deal with Ducks (clutchpoints.com)

    Apparently, Lyubushkin has switched from defenseman to center :shifty: 

    This here, people, is why you don't you don't listen to a guy whose 'primary interest is the NBA and long distance running' about anything hockey.

    Seriously though...whatever happened to good, responsible and ACCURATE reporting?
    Seems any ape with a microphone a camera, and/or access to a forum of some sort can run around pretending to be some sort of sports writer now.

    Getting good things to read or listen to is so difficult nowadays, it's no wonder I prefer the good ol bare bones opinions of regular fans over so-called insiders, in-the-knowers, or sports reporters, particularly of the forum or podcasting variety.

    I honestly don't know if they are stupid and/or ignorant, or just plain lazy and just want the "ooo, look at me, I know hockey" attention....

     

  16. 3 minutes ago, BobbyClarkeFan16 said:

    I'm wondering if the Lightning now decide to target Walker and Seeler and to ensure they get them, they offer up Isaac Howard and a bad contract the Flyers absorb. The Flyers did say they were going to weaponized cap space.

     

    I wouldn't mind either of those players.

    Walker, on the Bolts would simply need to mind his own end, but he most certainly will get some offensive opportunity given how the Bolts play.

    Seeler, I remember him from his Minnesota days, and while most find him to be "meh", fact is, he is the type of defensive defenseman who never gets any recognition, but just does the dirty, thankless work of solidifying the defense zone....and can throw some nasty hits now and again.

    While neither of those players is worth the Bolts gutting anything to acquire them, if somehow, some median deal could be reached, I'd be happy with either.

    • Like 1
  17. Sounds like the type of guy the Lightning could have used.
    Then again, the Bolts likely didn't have the picks to make this happen and they likely would have had to part with a current roster player they'd prefer not to give up.

    While Hanifin to Dallas probably helps their offense, it's likely he costs a lot more than Tanev did.

    Pretty sure there are a number of teams circling the Flames about Hanifin....driving the cost of acquisition up as well.

    • Like 2
  18. Good win for your Flyers guys.

    Of course, I would have liked my Bolts to not only win, but show they still have Cup chops left in them, but my team, even as talented as they are still are, are missing ingredients it looks like.
    But that doesn't take away from the heart the Flyers showed not only this game, but in most games I've watched them play this season.

    And I expect nothing less from a Tortorella coached team.

    If the Flyers make the playoffs, I will root FOR them against whomever a division leader is (if they are a WC), or against either Carolina or the NY Rangers if Philly finishes 3rd in the Metro.

    Some good work being done in that front office so far too.
    Interesting to see what will Briere and his administration do over the Summer to increase long term competitiveness from the group.

    • Like 1
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