TropicalFruitGirl26

9 minutes ago, FD19372 said:

Florida is my pick to win the Cup, and was at the start of the season. They can beat you any way that you want to play, and they have the goaltending, offense and mobile defense to do so. I'm surprised more so-called experts aren't picking them, to win it all. They can give any team in the league fits, and can answer the tenacity and skill, of teams like the Rangers, Lightning and Bruins.

Putting my homerism aside for a minute (just a small minute!  ), I'd say your pick is pretty viable for the reasons you mentioned.
And  the so-called experts are probably the same people who thought Florida's run to the Finals was a 'fluke' or a Cinderella run LAST season.
It was not.
Panthers underperformed last year during the season, and put it together finally in the playoffs.
They deserved to be in there against the Knights, and this season, they are simply continuing what they started during those playoffs.

Ok...the minute is over, and Homer TFG is back.  
Bolts hold their own destinies in their hands (or sticks).
They look jittery out there, almost as if they are over anticipating the Panthers hitting them, pushing their offense, the whole nine yards.

Once the Lightning realize they can hang with them in those same areas, as they showed late in the first, this series is anything but decided Florida's way.
 

Caps were the winner of the "Flawed Teams" sweepstakes that cluttered the bottom of the Eastern wildcard standings (DET, PIT, PHI), and while they certainly did well to make it in, their reward for their efforts is the highest point total team in the league.

Ovechkin turning into a playoff beast, secondary scoring supporting him accordingly, Caps containing the NY offense, Tom Wilson being his usual rugged and/or cheap self, and President's Trophy curses....all of those things have to go right in order for Washington to have a chance here.

I believe the Rangers can be considered a viable Cup team....however, I also believe they are a tad overrated, and aren't as good as the media hype would have you believe.
I've been saying this for awhile now for the last couple seasons, and have been right so far, as the Rangers have failed when they needed to take "that next step" in the playoffs.

Maybe this is the year that I will be wrong about them, and they get it done?
I believe NY can be exploited in areas of transition offense, battles along the boards, and overworking and overflowing the zone to make Shesterkin's job harder than it needs to be.

But I do not believe Washington is the team to exploit the Rangers, UNLESS, the aforementioned Capitals key points are met and executed to perfection.

Rangers in 5.

There ya go, Bolts!
See that?

Pressure them back, get to pucks just as quickly as Florida has been...pepper Bobrovsky... goal.

1-1 game

Just over 6 minutes left in the 1st, and ZERO shots on goal for the Lightning.
Inexcusable.
They are buying right into what the Panthers are selling, and they ARE better than that!

They need to look at video and see they do have more time than they think they do to make plays, and push back on Florida, at least make them play in their own end for awhile.

I already don't like the way the Bolts have started.

Florida is, correctly, pressuring them on puck retrievals, and the Lightning are biting on the "I better hurry or else" type mentality.
And it leads to a Panther opening goal.

I wasn't going to vote on this one due to my heavy, heavy bias with this particular match up, but, will throw something on here with regards to a pick (and try not to sound TOO homerish in the process  ) 

TB obviously isn't the same level team as when they won those Cups in recent seasons. Salary cap and the shedding of players the team didn't want to shed will do that.
However, their core is still viable, albeit, older, and overall, the team can still score with the best of them and still have Andrei Vasilevskiy in net (such as he is in his recovery year) and still have plenty of guys that know what it takes to win under pressure.
Oh, but the defensive schemes this team now employs....yikes....

Panthers I give much credit and respect for what they are building, continue to build, and in fact, may have already built: and that is a legit Cup contender. And the combo of Bobrovsky and Stolarz in net is simply awesome.

That all said, and here is where my homer nature comes into play, as long as the Lightning aren't a ridiculous "lucky to be there team" (they are NOT), I can feel safe picking them to win.
As good as the Panthers are, and they MAY be better than the Lightning at this point, Florida has yet to prove they can actually beat the Lightning under playoff scenarios.

And if the Bolts find some way to defend better, then this series is all but cinched! 
Could be a surprisingly short series.

But, I won't sell Florida short like that, also, the Bolts haven't proven they can defend at a championship level on a consistent basis.
So homer pick is, and taking nothing away from the considerable capabilities of the Florida Panthers, Bolts in 7, as they make things harder on themselves than they probably needed to be en route to series win.

B's gonna take the opener.

Great all around game by Boston.
Toronto had their moments here and there, with LOTS of help from posts too...but overall, their stars seemed to disappear here, and they didn't play the smartest game they could.

I picked the Leafs to win the series though, but I picked them in 7, so that just means Toronto will need to lose 3.
They just burnt one.  

Kudos to the Bruins....they just came ready to play, and executed about as well as they could have....man, I almost vomited a bit saying that  

7 minutes ago, FD19372 said:

Toronto got the tough one, the first one, out of the way. Now they killed a penalty off. 

Yes, but...the way the Bruins are wearing them out physically this late in the game, it might be their ONLY one today!

That dinosaur Morgan Geekie just crunched someone in the corner.
Great bottom six to have in the playoffs and damned nice get from Seattle for the Bruins.

Geekie won't light up the scoreboard a bunch (although he has streaked on goals here and there before in his career), but he and his suit of armor body will light a guy up physically.

He is listed as 6'3 200....I'm sorry, I may buy the 6'3 part, but he looks WAY heavier than 200!

Former Minnesota Wild Connor Dewar finds David Kampf....and whaddya know, Toronto is on the board!

4-1 Bruins now.

Tavaras in clean on Swayman....but he took the most straight up basic shot that Jeremy easily stopped.
Gonna need more than that, Johnny Pajamas... maybe some shake n bake next time...

Honestly...is Domi REALLY that stupid!!??

Bruins are going to get the penalty, then a small scrum ensues, Brad Marchand starts baiting Domi....and Domi starts to go after him.
Luckey for Domi, ref stepped in...

Oh my... 4-0 Bruins.

DeBrusk gets it...pass from Marchand.
I think they should give Max Domi an assist on that PP goal too....his awful penalty made it all possible...  

6 minutes ago, FD19372 said:

The Leafs are playing well, but they have to be willing to compete more along the boards.. as well as in open ice, for the puck. They're losing their battles and their composure, at times. They are getting their fair share in shots, and have more than Boston.

Definitely a lot  more hustle by Boston all over the ice.

I know Toronto has the talent and firepower to stage a big comeback, but this is a hard way to make a playoff living for them!

Max Domi showing his dad's cement headedness...
Slashing, right off the draw...clear as day....and he complains about it as he goes to the penalty box.

Boston with the PP looking to add to an already solid 3-0 lead.

DeBrusk makes it 3-0 Bruins.

Sure helped having that skating condominium Morgan Geekie screening Samsonov...

Just now, FD19372 said:

No, it was a good save on a big dude.

Yea, yea...ok....if you say so.
Ryan Reaves' ham hocks are good for punching faces...not so much for potting goals, so you can understand my skepticism...  

Jeremy Swayman with a big save to keep Toronto off the board.

Hmm...but is it REALLY such a big save if the guy shooting the puck was Ryan Reaves though?? 

Another puck battle won by the Bruins which leads to the second goal.
2-0 Bears!

Now the Leafs hit a post!

People screaming about goalie pads being too big....I think someone should make those posts skinnier...  

LOL....Mitch Marner is wide open....and he's like, "wait guys....noooo, I'm the PASSER, remember? I don't shoot that crap! Give it back to Auston!" 

2nd period....Game ON!!

Leafs have the PP due to an ill advised penalty during 4 on 4 by the Bruins, so we will see if Toronto can capitalize on this 4 on 3 OT style PP

Period 1 winding down.
Boston certainly won that period, dominated in fact....but only have a 1-0 lead to show for it.

If you are Toronto, you are thanking your lucky posts for only that kind of deficit, then take advantage and come out firing in the 2nd.

And as I finish this, Max Domi taking shots at McAvoy's head in front of the Boston net.....dumb, dumb, dumb....
McAvoy retaliates leading to coincidental minors, but Toronto looks like they are losing their chit a bit.

Those boys need to calm down....again, only 1-0 deficit.
Blue n white need to do their retaliating on the scoreboard with all that firepower they have.

They will get a PP to start the 2nd period.

Toronto survives that penalty kill.
Boston comes up empty, but NOT for lack of trying!

Those posts have kept this game from being 4-0 Kodiaks right now!

And ANOTHER post by Boston.....
Talk about cap circumvention.... those posts definitely put Toronto over the limit.....