TropicalFruitGirl26

What will it take to right this ship??

More than just Halak...that is for sure..

Only Game 1 yes, but damn did those Rangers give the Pens everything they could handle...and then some.

Highly energized, the Rangers were, and when the team is getting contributions in the form of goals and assists from a guy like Benoit Pouliot, look out.

Keeping the Pens' big guns basically off the scoreboard was pretty impressive as well, though one can't honestly expect Crosby and Malkin to stay quiet goal-wise for the duration of the series.

Henrik Lundquist looked every bit the Vezina type goale he was before and while guys like Rick Nash and MSL have yet to really 'wake up', for the Rangers and their fans, it is good to see the team take it to the Pens like they did.

Pens did turn up the heat later in the game, but again, with Henrik Lundquist playing at his best, one has to like NY's chances of staying competitive throughout the series.

Hey, it's still possible for the Pens to win the next 4 straight...but for anyone who thought "Pens take this easily"...umm, I think not, at least not if the Rangers play the way they did in Game 1.

LOL...you guys are terrible...FUNNY, but terrible.... 

Very good game played the Wild...honestly, better than I expected...but the Hawks team skill was simply the difference for Game 1.

During the post game, Coach Mike Yeo related he thought the Wild needed to play better, and perhaps, on some occasions, Minnesota COULD have done better (perhaps put more pucks on net instead of clean misses and of course, staying OUT of the penalty box), but really, I thought Minnesota played as well as one could expect given the goaltending and rest issues the team was facing down heading into this 1st game.

I can't really make any excuses for the Wild. The Chicago Blackhawks played like the defending champions, they played like the team that took four straight from the Blues in Round 1, and simply put their skill on display, Patrick Kane in particular, that made the Wild D look like AHL callups.

Patrick Kane. 

That's what he does. 

Scores spectacular goals...and anyone on the Wild who thought leaving him all alone in the zone while he received a skillful deflection, well, they best re-think their gameplans.

I realize the Hawks 4th goal was a slam dunk by Kane, but really, SOMEBODY  had to be on him in the zone to begin with.

Overall though, the Wild weren't terrible, in fact, they carried the play for stretches at a time, Bryzgalov DID look focused, and Clayton Stoner...well, Stoner was a beast today...and not even talking about his mad scramble goal he was given credit for.

He was a hitting machine. He was that big nasty defensemen that every Cup contender needs. He has been that at various times during the season, but it bodes well for Minnesota if he becomes that PERMANTLY for the remainder of the playoffs. Stoner is a UFA at season's end and word in Minnesota that only one of he and Nate Prosser (the other on-the-bubble UFA D-man who plays a somewhat similar style) will be returning to the team. And Stoner is making the case in these playoffs that it should be him.

Ask the Hawks' Andrew Shaw about that.

I expect to see the same energy out of Minnesota for Game 2. There was nothing faulty about that.

But for the love of Lord Stanley, the Minnesota Wild really DO need to stay out of the penalty box.

If fans thought the Avalanche PP was lethal (which the Wild handled pretty well), the Hawks PP, with their skill level just as good BUT with more experience on it, IMO, is even MORE dangerous.

Corey Crawford contributed to the Wild's scoring issues by being spectacular on some plays. He looked ordinary on others, but bottom line was, he made saves when he needed to and his forward lines picked him up by scoring key goals when he did give up some.

Congrats to the Hawks on the series lead, but I am looking for Minnesota to have a better than good chance on tying this thing after Game 2 is all said and done.

I think the Wild look at footage of Game 1 and realize real quick: You DO NOT leave Patrick Kane without an escort in your own zone and you watch your penalties.

As long as the man can play, sure, why not.

Not like the Devils rely on any single one guy for anything they do on the ice. It's always about the team game..they defend as a unit, they play offense as a unit, and they check as a unit.

Jagr is in phenomenal shape and in the system the Devils run, he could theoretically play till he is about 45 or so!

Not so sure he would thrive on a run n gun team, or one who puts a premium on offense (such as the Flyers), but on a defensive minded team like NJ, Nashville, or the Kings? Yea, he can keep going.

I know he did well in Philly, but I also noted that by playoff time, he looked VERY tired. I think the Flyer style, on the whole as a season, may not have been the best fit for him.

Now, if the Devils can get a sniper to add to their ranks, maybe they don't let so many games get to OT's and SO's during the season and they make it to the playoffs.

They best act quick....they are now in Cory Schneider's prime...don't wanna waste that away with mediocre talent up front...

I was.... working on it - deleted mine 

Sorry.... 

Over zealousness on my part...the former admin and moderator in me took over for juuust a split second... I shant doubt your polling abilities ever again...

At any rate, going with Kings in 7.

Anaheim will present more or less the same challenges the Sharks did...although I think the Ducks bring an extra layer of nasty to their game.

Ducks are subject to pressure on their own net, however, the Kings like to play a 'bully style' and well, Anaheim is well versed there.

I think, in the end though, the goaltending and overall defense the Kings can provide will tip things in their favor...also, while everyone talks about LA's goaltending and defense (and rightly so...like I just did   ), the Kings also have some underrated speed.

Those big bodies wearing black n silver move at a rate one would normally associate with smaller, finesse teams...pretty scary....

@TropicalFruitGirl26

Great write up!

I am going simple. Chicago in five. I want to say a sweep but I am giving one game to the Wild for HF and you, lol.

Hah..thanks, Yave...but ONLY ONE??

I thank you for your donation nonetheless...

Didn't see one of these for this series, @hf101 , so I did the honors!  

General discussion for everything California, LA metropolitan area.....oh, and the Ducks-Kings series.

The irresistible force meeting the immovable object here!

Place your votes!

Ok, here goes.... TFG's wall of text....... 

Man, HF, I hated to do it, but I voted Chicago.

I really do think this year's Wild team is much better than last year's, but word today was Darcy Kuemper has another concussion. Yep. Number 2...that we know of.

Of course, that means Ilya Bryzgalov.

Bryz may or may not be up to par...but well, I think we all know better than to hang our hats on Bryz.

On top of that, the schedule is against Minnesota, whereas Chicago is well rested, Minnesota just got done with an exhausting (physically and I am sure mentally) and draining series and have to turn right around, travel, and go play the Hawks tomorrow night.

Even a completely healthy and rested Wild team were going to have their hands full with this year's Blackhawks....but one that is tired and relying on Bryz to shut down the Hawks' scoring chances? Yikes...

I know Minnesota will give it everything they've got, but under the circumstances, I will say Hawks in 6...being generous enough to give Minny 2 wins that perhaps they win with pure heart.

With a healthy rested Wild lineup, maybe I go out on a limb and say Minnesota in 6 or 7....but NOT with Bryzgalov tending net.

And who backs up Bryz? 30 yr old journeyman John Curry? An under 25 yr old Iowa goaltender who would probably look like a deer in headlights facing down Teows and company? Or maybe Minnesota goes to some hockey shop and pulls out yet another long retired former goaltender to sit on the bench....

As you can see, I am NOT liking the goaltending situation the Wild find themsevles in...at all.

Maybe Ilya will surprise the hell out of me and everyone else (I hope he does...makes us ALL look like idiots in fact...I am cool with that), and plays out of his cosmonaut mind being a Vezina look-a-like all of a sudden, but let's just say I ain't bettin ma mortgage money on it....

All is not lost however.

Chicago, while obviously very good, can possibly be exploited.

First, let's start in goal.

Corey Crawford is very good. We all know that. We also know that he can be subject to runs where, for whatever reason, he lets in stoppable goals.

For 6 games, Crawford has looked at a St. Louis team that for the most part, lumbers, crashes, smashes their way towards him.  Minnesota will give him something entirely new to look at: Fast, youthful speed. Hungry guys lead by solid vets like Zach Parise, Mikko Koivu, and Jason Pominville that are a far cry from the bruising players the Blues threw at him.

A Wild defense that can pinch in on a moment's notice to add on to the siege too.

I know the Hawks coaching staff will be prepared and they will prepare the team....but just sayin....Minny will look a lot different to Crawford and his defense than the Blues did.

Another area that can possibly be exploited would be the physicality. 

Sure, the Hawks dealt with that with the Blues, but the Wild have balance between speed and checking....and at times, like I've seen during the season and during the Colorado series, they CAN go all out physical and check the hell out of teams.

I am betting that Chicago, like most speed n skill teams, simply do NOT like to be hit consistently, and that something like that, maybe, can get them to try and retaliate, and get them to do something OUT of their gameplans.

Compared to the 'Lanche, the Hawks are a veteran group, not as easy to bait, but still, if Minnesota finds they can't quite skate with the Hawks, they may consider a more brute force approach.

And finally, Minnesota, at least in their own locker room, may have a mental edge in the sense that they KNOW they've beaten Chicago during the season. So to them, they can look at it as "They are the champs, they are good...but they can be beaten..and we've done it before..."

Obviously, those wins didn't come with Bryzgalov, Curry, or some over-the-hill 40 something former goalie between the pipes, but still, hey.....if Minnesota can keep most of the play on the Hawks side of the ice (like they did several times with the Avalanche), then Bryz or whomever else is in net may not have to see very many SOG...preferably less QUALITY shots on goal...

Tough mountain to climb for the Wild though...no matter how you slice it.

Will root for them for as long as they have fight in them....and I just hope that if this series is indeed the end of the line for Minnesota, that people in the state of hockey (particularly the FO) do NOT hit the panic button and start making crazy wholesale changes for next season.

Hopefully everyone can keep things in perspective and just continue to build.....the Wild franchise is primed to only get better based on current players, their minors system, and their ability now, to attract quality FA players.

Go Wild!!!!   ^_^  

To answer "What does it mean?"

It means the Kings field a damned good team that shouldn't ever be counted out. That's what it means.

Wasn't a mistake they won a Cup just two short seasons ago and made another good showing last year.

They still have the youth, personnel, playstyle, and goaltending to continue to make post season runs....and look out if they can't pull off another Cup while they are at it too....

I, like many, wrote off the Kings once I saw that a very good San Jose team had them down 3-0...but now I see, much like I never really write off teams like the Bruins and Blackhawks, or up until recently the Red Wings with their 20 year run of excellence....to NOT COUNT OUT THE KINGS!

Yet another good capsule, Yave....

I will add as a 'What went wrong' (for the post season anyways).....Matt Cooke.

Even though I do feel Minnesota did deserve to win the series, I still wonder how different things could have been had Colorado had Tyson Barrie, a VERY promising and developing D-man, for the duration of the series.

Sure, Minny lost Cooke for the duration as well, but in all honesty, I think anyone with half a brain can see that trade off was grossly unfair for the Avalanche.

Obviously, having Barrie back to start the season alone next year is an improvement on the defense in and of itself. The team as a whole will certainly get better....lessons learned throughout this season and the playoffs...and like you said, they reconstruct the 2nd line if Statsny does not return and if Parenteau really won't be part of the team moving forward.

Recontructing should not be a problem given how much talent the team has, and I am sure attracting good FA players won't be an issue either.

As a hockey fan, was glad to see the Avs stay with Semyon Varlamov from last season to this....as a division rival fan, perhaps not so much...  ...but crazy as it sounds, there were more than just a few twits at the time of Roy's hiring that suggested St. Patrick would do away with Varlamov and "get a real goaltender".

I argued that Varlamov was pretty good even in the Avs awful 2012-13 season and he should be retained, but I was labeled as "on drugs" and a "ditzy broad who knew nothing of hockey".

Hah...eat THAT doubters... 

In any case, I fully expect this Avs team to come back strong once again (perhaps even stronger) next season.

So you have a talented bunch in the Avs, the by-then grizzled Hawks veteran team, rising stars in Minnesota and Dallas, a still rough n ready and good St. Louis team....and possible improvements from both Winnipeg and Nashville...and that Central Division will be looking like one of the toughest in the league, bar none!

Well, I'll be damned...BRING ON THOSE BLACKHAWKS!

I gotta admit, with Minnesota falling behind 3 times during the game, it started to feel like "oh no, this won't end well"....ESPECIALLY when Colorado started the game out with yet ANOTHER controversial type goal: IMO, it SHOULD have been a no-goal due to goalie interference. They called the Lightning's goal off for less contact (and with the goalie out of the crease), yet allow the Avs' goal in this game while CLEAR contact was made with Kuemper while he is IN his crease....a head shaker.

But despite that, I thought, well, Minnesota just needs to answer.

Well, Minnesota answered three times, tying the game everytime the Avs took a lead....until the game got to 4-3 Avs AND Kuemper had to leave the game with about 8 min to go...and yup...IN COMES BRYZGALOV!

Honestly, I had written the Wild off at that point.

Not so much that I didn't think they could answer the 4th goal, but I wasn't entirely sure Bryz was going to keep FURTHER goals from going past him at an alarming rate!

And even if Bryz let none in and the Wild tie...will he be good enough in OT to hold off Colorado!? Would the refs screw something ELSE UP??

These were thoughts that went through my worn down psyche for the last 8 min of the game.

Jared Spurgeon, the little big man on D, tied things at 4...sending this thing into OT.

Nino Niederreiter, who played a big part in keeping the Wild's momentum when he tied the game at 3 gets the game winner in OT....fan-tastic!

As for Bryz? Hmm..whether by design or just happenstance, Bryzgalov didn't see many shots...Wild kept most of the play on the Avs side of the ice since he was brought in...and when he was asked to make a save, he did. But Colorado seemingly didn't really get many quality opportunities at Bryz.

Perhaps the Wild knew Bryz could be vulnerable simply because he was coming off the bench cold......or that he could just be Bryz and let in some weird goals .......though I am sure, they'd never admit that to anyone outside their locker room...if even that!

In any case, Minnesota did not "go away", didn't fold any tents, didn't throw in any drying cloths, or let any overweight ladies exercise their vocals....they just went to work like they had all series and let the chips (or pucks) fall where they may.

Bottom line:  The Wild will advance in thrilling fashion and meet the defending Stanley Cup Champion Blackhawks in a re-match from last year's Round 1 where the Hawks unceremoniously dumped Minnesota in 5 relatively easy games.

If some thought Minnesota was about on equal footing with Colorado as far as 'favored' status was concerned (I know I saw them that way at the start of the series....meh, perhaps SLIGHT underdogs), well, the Wild will CERTAINLY be underdogs against the Hawks.....despite the fact that Minnesota is vastly improved over last year's team.

Still though, this is the match up I wanted to see and if the Wild bring the same work ethic and intensity they did to the Avs series, well, ya know, beating the Hawks isn't out of the question..........unless of course, Ilya Bryzgalov will need to be counted on for the series......I can only HOPE Kuemper can go Friday for Game 1....Game 2 at the absolute latest (my oh my that short turnaround)...as this Minnesota team does NOT beat Colorado without Kuemper replacing Bryz at the beginning of the series.

As for the Avs team and their fans, disappointment for sure.

Coach Roy didn't come on board to have a great season, win the division, then exit early in the playoffs.

Thing is, his Avs have made a huge jump from where they were in the standings just one short season ago....and it looks like, judging from the make up of his team, they will be back to post season contention not only next year, but for some years after that as well.

And the Wild will have to deal with them as division rivals the entire time.

Great, great series...obviously elated the Wild did pull this off, but I honestly would have said 'great series' even if Minnesota had lost....though, of course, that would have been said with grudging congrats to the Colorado Avalanche.

But like I said before........BRING ON THE BLACKHAWKS!

Hear that, @Chicago Hawkie ?   

Ok, I'll tackle this one a bit....

Uses of a 4th line will vary from team to team.

A 4th line can do everything from giving your main lines rest, to breaking in young guys (and also seeing what some crusty old vets have left), to flat out being goons, or to actually even score goals if you have guys there who are talented, yet not highly regarded by the opposition.

I am sure others can think of more uses for a 4th line as well.

Depending on the team, having that 4th line could be very instrumental on throwing off match ups for the opposition. In reality, there doesn't HAVE to be 4 lines on a team.

Why stop there? Why not 5 lines?

Optimization.

Over the years hockey has been played, apparently it has been discovered that 4 lines is just the right amount to have to get the most out of your players.

A balance of having your main forwards on the ice vs. rest for critical moments later on.

Some teams may run 3 and a half lines.

What I mean is, they run 3 main lines and the only reason a 4th line is used is for rest (and only for that reason), and all the 4th has to do is muck up the flow of the game, don't do anything dumb, while the three main lines are either resting or plotting strategy with the coaching staff on the bench.

Some teams (Boston is a good example) run 4 lines out there REGULARLY and are pretty successful with it.

They play a very demanding style that almost begs for having 12 forwards share the workload on the ice.

Obviously, a team like the Bruins still have their go-to guys, but seems all lines play equal roles in the success of a team.

A team doesn't have to have 4 lines.

There is nothing written anywhere (that I am aware of anyways) that says 'Talented Player A has to play here, and not-so-talented Player B has to play here'.

But again, it's all about optimization. You WANT your best players to get the bulk of the ice time...thus they play on the "top" lines which get run onto the ice more than the others.

Each coach knows (or should know) their personnel. So, he should know which players would benefit from more ice time, which are better playing sparingly, who should be playing with whom (chemistry), and even personalities (will player A be happy with only 10-12 min a game?).

That's really what it comes down to, I think.

I've always thought some thinking "outside the box" regarding lines and who plays on them is a good thing, but overall, I think over the decades the NHL has been around, I think they've got the formula down pretty well.

Game 7.

In Denver.

Where Nate MacKinnon seemingly transforms into 'Beast Mode'.

Wild will certainly have their work cut out for them....especially when you consider that Matt Duchesne will be playing as well.

Minny is going to HAVE to buck the trend of 'home team winning all the games'. Simple as that.

They certainly have played well enough in previous road games to deserve wins, but at the end of the day, for whatever reasons, they just haven't gotten the W's and if that continues, then they will be going home until September exhibition games.

Guys like Zach Parise and Jason Pominville seemingly have woken up a bit lately...Minny will need them to be at their best for tonight's game.

Great to see young star players like Mikael Granlund and Charlie Coyle mature right before Wild fans' collective eyes, but the big money guys have to show up and be big money players.

Match-ups will NOT be in favor of the Wild tonight and that has led to guys like Nate MacKinnon to run loose almost at will...the Minnesota defense will simply have to play their 'zone style' to perfection, while Darcy Kuemper will have to be a wall in order to contain not only Mackinnon, but the rest of the talented Avs forwards.

Very excited and looking forward to this game, but must admit at being a bit nervous about how the Wild will fare. Even though I now they have played well on the road and that certain things didn't go their way that SHOULD have previously, still, Avs are in the driver's seat and it falls on Minnesota to take away any comfort zones Colorado might have.

Easier said than done.

Go Wild!

Game 7 is setup to be a crazy ride for sure.

I think Philly will NEED to be very prepared for New York to come out with lots of fire.

Personally, I didn't see the compete level from the Rangers in last night's game and I have a hard time believing they'd put out two lackluster efforts in a row in a playoff series with a heated rival. Just don't see it and will be very shocked if the Flyers roll through this game tonight.

Granted, Mason was there to do all he had to whenever the Rangers did surge, but like I said, I thought the compete level was decidedly in Philly's favor and the Rangers simply have to turn it up a notch or three for Game 7 if they intend to move on.

Really shouldn't be that hard for them to do that seeing as how the game is at home for them, they have the match-ups advantage, fans will be jacked, it's 'do-or die', and it's against the rival Flyers. If they need any further motivation than that...well, then, they may as well reserve that golf course right now......

As for the Philly goalie thing, cmon now...let's stop the pretending that there is even a question about that.

Steve Mason.

Only way Ray Emery gets the start is if something is wrong with Steve Mason.

Would NY play Cam Talbot over a healthy Lundquist? No.

Would the Pens play Zatkoff over a healthy Fleury? No....ummm, well, maybe if it were against the Flyers, seeing as how MAF gets butterflies the size of choppers whenever he sees orange n black.....but of course, that is me being facetious...

It's Steve Mason people.

The Flyers will live and die with their number one netminder. Bottom line.

Brad Richards, MSL, Derek Stepan, Carl Hagelin, Rick Nash on the forward lines, Girardi, McDonagh, and Stralman on the defense.....some or all of those guys are going to have to put out a much better effort than they did yesterday and be the stars they are supposed to be for the Rangers to solve Mason.

And of course, Henrik Lundquist will need to be in the form that saw him win a Vezina not so long ago.

For me, the schedules work out beautifully.

I can watch this Game 7 in its entirety, and still be able to watch the Wild at the Avalanche for their Game 7 right after that.

Best believe kiddies are getting an early supper, perhaps getting to bed a bit earlier tonight, hubby can have his 'boys night out' ahead of schedule, cuz momma don't wanna be distracted from some epic games tonight! ^_^

Rangers - Flyers have the NHL spotlight all to themselves tonight.

Do the Rangers close out Philly not only being the only playoff game going on tonight, but in Philly's own arena?

Or do the Flyers put together a good effort to push things to a deciding Game 7 back in Manhattan?

I always thought Phi-NY in the 1st round was a bit of an even matchup.

Both teams go about their business different ways, yet I honestly would not call one team here winning an 'upset' over the other.

That being said, it WOULD be a minor upset at this point should Philly win because clearly the Rangers are in the driver's seat...and if they can't put Philly away in either this game or next, then they honestly never did deserve to move on anyways.

I have to agree with the triangle dynamic that was mentioned earlier in this thread.

NY seems to have Phi figured....Phi seems to have Pit figured...and Pit seems to have NY figured... 

Kinda like the NHL version of 'Rock, Paper, Scissors' if you ask me...

At any rate, Flyers have a chance to debunk that entire theory by winning tonight, then taking things to a free-for-all-anything-can-happen final series game 7.

Should be fun tonight!

@TropicalFruitGirl26

 

Thanks!     I would also like to see Minny-Chicago.  It would be a rematch of last year's first round and it will be an easier travel time for the Hawks.  It won't be an easy series for the Hawks, though ... the Avs are a scary team yet you're going to Game 7.

 

I hope that if our teams match up, it will be a well-played series and the Hawks can stay out of the box.

Can't say I am surprised the Hawks won the series, @Chicago Hawkie , however, the MANNER in which they did it...well, pretty damned impressive.

If anyone would have told me beforehand that not only do the Hawks do down 2 games, but come back and win four straight against this Blues team, I would have said, "Impossible"..even for the defending Champs.

But yet here they are....a testament that the Hawks were the real deal last season, any talks of Stanley Cup hangovers is greatly exaggerated, and that their players, coaches, and systems is still amongst the best in the NHL.

Over in California, the Kings are starting to prove the same thing....former champs, discounted by many, and there they are on even footing with a very good Sharks team after being down by 3 games.

Of course, the Kings have yet to pull off the actual series win as Chicago has, but I think you get my point: Can't discount proven winners like recent former SC Champions.

It's why I think Boston is still dangerous (they have been all year), and I think even the Pens with some of their flaws are still dangerous to win it all. All still have their basic cores that won them a championship not so long ago and still have plenty to do it again.

MAN, would I love Minny to beat the Avs...tall order at the Soda Can, I know...but still doable.

Minny is on the rise and the Chicago Blackhawks are STILL a good measuring stick in the Western Conference!

Well, for what it's worth, since the Blues and the Wild are now division rivals (NHL at least got THAT right by putting Minnesota in with natural rivals), if Minny has ANYTHING to say about it, they will KEEP the Blues from becoming full blown contenders..

Minnesota looks like a franchise on the rise with not only some good players on the team now that can get better, but some in the minors as well and they seem to be able to scout and develop well enough to continue that trend for the forseeable future.

So with that in mind, from my 'fan's viewpoint', Minnesota can help contribute to keeping the Blues from taking it all....that goes for Chicago too...

That's why I would LOVE to see a Minnesota-Chicago Semi Finals: I want to know how the Wild stack up against the Hawks. Minny has NOT figured out the Blues as St. Louis had pretty much run over the Wild during the season, but if Minnesota can figure it out before the Blues do, then sure, St. Louis can be that team that makes the post season, gets a couple extra home gates, then makes their exit for all I care.....with some help from the State of Hockey!

TFG

I was with you until the last part. Just my opinion (clearly) but St Louis has never been a legitimate playoff contender. They will forever be a pretender like the capitals (and the Flyers, if we're being painfully honest) until accidentally proven otherwise.

Never a bad idea to bet against any of them.

Big disagreement there.

Now, let's not confuse "playoff contender" with "Stanley Cup contender", as those are two very different things.

The Blues absolutely can return to the post season. Thus playoff contenders.

Now, if you say they aren't legit Stanley Cup contenders, there is a valid argument there. THAT they will need to prove and haven't done so the last three (counting this one) playoff seasons.

To compare the Blues to the Caps seems a bit absurd to me. Very different dynamics at work there, very different organizations, with differing issues....many of which are very fixable the way things stand in St. Louis, while the Caps have LOTS of 're-arranging' to do.

Not even close to the same situations in Cappie Land and Bluesy Land.

Blues, barring major regressions by many of their players should be right back in the post season in an always tough Western Conference, while the Capitals would do well to even find a team identity first.

Unlike some on this board and many others on other boards, I DO NOT place St. Louis amongst the highest echelons of teams competing in the playoffs, but for sure, I do believe they play a very good, tough, defensive style very much geared towards the post season that obviously still needs tweaking to get by some of the NHL's best.

Losing twice to the Kings and now to the Blackhawks isn't as damning as losing to some one hit wonder team. Chicago and Los Angeles field very good teams whom the Blues had the misfortune to match up against early on in the playoffs the last few times.

They have also shown some weakness, particularly this season, to really fast moving teams with real good snipers...such as Chicago, Anaheim, and even the Caps too.

If the team can address that, while still maintaining their defense, they can possibly move past what they are now, which is a good defensive, plug it up, smothering team with some scoring.

Will that be enough to bring them a Stanley Cup? Who knows...perhaps...but it most certainly keeps them in the playoff picture.

Congratulations to @Chicago Hawkie 's Blackhawks.

Hopefully, the Minnesota Wild can pull off two wins in a row and meet those very same Blackhawks for a rematch of last years playoff series.

If Minny can do that, I think Chicago will find a MUCH more game Wild team to play against this go-round!

St. Louis Blues? Oh so close, yet so far....some questions regarding goaltending to answer in the off season and perhaps look into adding another offensive type player to their ranks, but still, they should be back as a legitimate playoff contender next season.

Not expecting too much different from Minnesota when the series resumes tomorrow night.

Other than the obligatory "protect the puck" and "no hapless giveaways", the gameplans they have employed have worked pretty well to this point.

Nate MacKinnon, while obviously dangerous, seems to have that extra gear back in Denver...not so much on the road these playoffs so far.

Again, probably coming down to matchups and Minnesota getting certain guys on the ice at will whenever he is on.

No real need to change very much for Game 6. Home game for Minny, they will have last change, and their structured defense, transition to offense and damned good forechecking game has been the right recipe.

The fact that Semyon Varlamov has been there to foil many Wild scoring opportunities simply should not deter Minny players from continuing to do what they've been doing.

Big difference of course is, they have no room for failure from here on out in the series.

Perhaps they could pick up the physicality just a bit, but really, with the style they have employed against Colorado, even that may not be necessary. Of course, if Wild players get chances to finish big, clean checks on Avs players, they should go for them no doubt....just don't abandon the gameplan in order to do so.

One other thing I noticed in Minnesota's game:

When they have a lead going late into the game, for some reason, they seem to back off just a bit on the Avalanche...almost as if they are content to sit on the lead.

Perhaps a tweak to continue to play the same aggresive puck moving style all the way through...whether up by a goal or up by three goals...can help offset any late game Avalanche heroics.

I think Coach Roy sees that as well and is even MORE confident pulling his goalie early to gain an advantage: After all, if the Wild seem content to sit on a lead, there is less a chance for them to make a quick beeline to the empty net.

Even failing that, he could always send an Avs player to full wrap tackle any Minnesota player attempting to make a first down on the empty net....  ^_^

I guess if Wild fans need to look for a silver lining in this debacle is that they have Game 6 at home and so far, the home team has won all their games. Wild need to make sure that continues to hold true for the next game...although, there is NO way around the fact that even if they do that, they still need to win at Pepsi Center.

Also no guarantees that the refs won't have their collective heads up their asses either....

Lots of theories as to why the home team has won all the games, but I think the biggest one has to be matchups.

Home team gets last change on the ice, and I think that plays real big into what goes on during the game.

Despite what many odds-makers and other various media would have fans believe, the Avs were NOT that big a favorites over Minnesota at the start of this series and the proof is in the playing.

Line matchups are making all the difference in this series.

Minny has played the Avs tough and close, and in many cases, flat out OUT PLAYED them...had it not been for stellar performances by Semyon Varlamov bailing out his swiss cheese defense, Nate MacKinnon putting on individual efforts, and a little overall help from the officials, I have NO problem stating Minnesota possibly could have been up 3-1 at some point, possibly finishing off the series yesterday. 

I know the Wild have shot themselves in the foot on a few occasions too with bad turnovers and Bryz being Bryz early on in the series, but still, I don't see how the Avs can be said to have achieved 3-2 series lead status by being the superior TEAM.

Wild somehow, someway, have to dig deep and overcome the trends....win two in a row (one on the road), and refs be damned, pull out a collective rabbit out of their goalie masks....they simply cannot lose again this series. Bottom line.

Those final non calls were just the nail in the coffin.

I watched the game from start to finish and Colorado got away with a TON throughout the game.

Everything from hacking, spearing and crosschecking on Granlund and Koivu to various interference calls.

I was getting a bit perturbed with Minnesota for NOT retaliating, but I understood they were trying not to get matching penalties on stuff...didn't matter. Refs either let the plays go or called MINNESOTA players on stuff.

Absolute garbage.

And then, when the Wild did crank things up a bit and gave the Avs some of their own nonsense, guys like Gabriel Landeskog get absolutely incensed that Wild players would do such things.

I expect Cro-Magnons like Cody McCleod and Patrick Bordeleau to go around trying to turn hockey games into roller derby/free-for-all events, but when skill players like Landeskog follow suit, well, someone on Minnesota needed to put the young captain on his ass, and put him down hard. 

Nate Mackinnon was unbelievable...but even he on an occasion or two took extra liberties on Wild players (and some in retaliation of CLEAN hits) that weren't called.....hitting guys that didn't have the puck, even going a bit high with some of his counter checks, etc.

As tough as it would have been dealing with the Wild losing straight up, I could have dealt with that, then looked ahead to Game 6.

But losing this way just really irritates the hell out of me.

And yea...I don't care what anyone says, ANY team's fanbase that would have had their team treated the way Minnesota was this game would be absolutely livid about it...bar NONE..

Game 5 has to be the worst ref'd game I've seen thus far.    Call the penalties!  Call the OFF SIDES!

I generally am not the kind who goes on rants about officiating...but that last game WAS horrible!

How many hacks, spears, crosschecks...and the worst..a flippin HOLD/INTERFERENCE on Coyle when the Avs had the pulled goalie, that weren't called!?

Avs got away with ALOT of garbage during the game...starting with guys like Cody McCleod, whom you would expect 'non hockey' from..but it wasn't limited to just him.

Gabriel Landeskog on many occasions was guilty of all sorts of nonsense that he got away with...THEN has the nerve to act indignant whenever a Wild player gave him a bit of his own medicine.

Hey...Minnesota allowed the tying goal and then lost it in OT, but the bottom line was, the overall flow of the game was dictated by the refs non calls...and THAT is a damned shame!

Oh, no doubt. I don't feel bad for McPhee, although I didn't envy his position either. Oates got a bum deal though.

You already agreed with the delusion thing so I don't elaborate since I know you got it

I agree on the bolded.

McPhee's time as Washington's GM has simply run out...time for someone new, with a different approach and fresh take on what that team needs in order to remain competive.

Smarter signings need to be made and it was pretty clear that McPhee just wasn't getting it done on that front.

True, players need to execute on the ice, but really, it falls on the GM to get the RIGHT mix of players so that they CAN execute on the ice.

Which leads me to Adam Oates.

In addition to being a good player himself, the guy was also a team leader when he played. I don't think we have seen all he can do as a bench boss.

Many Lightning players credited Oates with being a positive influence on their careers when he was an assistant coach in Tampa Bay.

He has a very workmanlike attitude towards the game of hockey and just seems like a guy who perhaps just needs a bit more experience as a coach to fully show what he can do.

Tough to do when you have the circus sideshow that is superstar Alex Ovechkin and the 'defense-is-less' Washington Capitals.

Maybe Oates being let go by the Caps is a blessing in disguise for him.

If he wants to continue coaching, he may be able to get a minor league head coaching job, or go back to being an assistant coach for an NHL coach with an organization who has their affairs in order, which in turn, should help Oates' own development as a coach, which should lead to him eventually getting and succeeding in a future NHL head coaching job.