Math

As expected, this will go to the ultimate game.

Game #5

Probably the most complete game from the Stars. They dominated in puck possession, scoring chances and special situations. Öttinger allowed a very bad goal for the Vegas tying at 2-2 but then he shut the door. The Stars missed an extraordinary numbe of odd-man rushed and breakaway with Dadonov missing the net on a 3-on-0. Vegas made many mistakes and lacked execution. Terrible game (and series generally by Pietrangelo) who constantly turned over the puck and took stupid costly penalties.

Game #6

No surprises, Vegas came out strong but the Stars did a very good job in defending. A couple of posts on the Knights' side and again, some missed breakaways and wide open net on Dallas's side. All lines seemed to be a tone below but I'm very concerned about the first line: Pavelski is completely invisible (and done IMO, which is sad. He can barely skate), Hintz is apparently injured and isn't involved at all, which causes Robertson to be quite ineffective. Nothing to say about Öttinger, he had a solid game. It could have turned either way but this time it was for Vegas.

Boeser in full Hellebuyck mode, just told that the Canucks had their best game of the series.

That game sucked but the last 45 seconds were fun.

See, I'm telling this from the very beginning that Matthews was anchoring this team. Why put that dude from Arizona as your first-line center?!?

lol, and they also have Ekman-Larsson on the payroll until 2028-2029.

I think there's a project for a new arena and that's should be a done deal once an NHL is there. Bettman knows that the current Delta Center is not a perennial solution, the Smiths were aware of that and that was part of the discussion prior to the move.

I think this team can really take-off. They have now an owner that is willing to spent, the core is talented, they have a ridiculous amount of picks that they can use for further transactions and honestly, I had the then-Coyotes as a WC team but the inconsistent goaltending coupled with an awful 12-game losing streak sealed their fate.

What they need now is the addition of one or two big names though free agency or transaction to help the team on a marketing pespective, and to bring experience on the ice. I'm dreaming but if they could get a guy like Stamkos or trade for Marner, that would have an immediate impact.

Somehow, Hakstol paid for the fact that Seattle came back to normal. On the other I agree: I didn't think we would be the coach for many years. Not in a team that can barely make the postseason.

I don't really bite into these allegations of players wanting him gone. If yes, who could be asking that? In a team without any superstar or dominant player, I don't see anyone having leverage to do that. Not to mention the few kids like Beniers and Wright who haven't proven anything yet. Some players complaining about their ice-time? Seattle has always praised a system with four equal lines playing more or less the same... So I really don't know.

Some huge opportunities for the Stars who dominate the game and had four times more high danger scoring chances. Hope that missed 3-on-0 won't bite them...

There's still a major hurdle, maybe the biggest issue for them: winning a game at home.

They don't have the road ice advantage and this is a huge thing to overcome. 

Well, that was unexpected somehow...

The Stars have been dominated the whole first period and have started badly the second. The stupid back-to-back penalties to Pietrangelo and Stephenson made the momentum shift IMO. Dallas got more confident and Öttinger got better. The turtling praised by Bowness back at the time resurfaced and kept things dangerous but the Stars managed to hold the lead. Thompson has a large responsability though: he really struggles on shots on the glove side and with a tight angle. No way he should have allowed the Dadonov goal and he let a deadly rebound on Johnston's tally. I wouldn't be surprised to see Hill back between the pipes.

I'm still worried about the Stars continuously playing with 5 Dmen. it's obvious Lundkvist is the weakest link there so maybe they will call up someone. 

4 minutes ago, JR Ewing said:

About 20-25 years ago, the Stars made an annual habit of eliminating the Oilers from the playoffs, so it just feels weird to cheer for them.

 

Go Stars!

I have always in mind the OT goal from Marchant in game #7 following a 5.8/6 figure skating by Ledyard lol.

The Boston-Florida series will be a good re-match. Boston will be ready this time.

Actually, they played awfully in this first period and were lucky to be tied 1-1. But again, Hintz is invisible and Öttinger doesn't make key stops...

From an Adams finalist to a fired coach... I don't really know how he could've done better with this squard that came back on earth. Last year was kind of a nice story with a team without real stars. I'm more worried about their prospect pipeline that doesn't seem to be large

Chicago will win the lottery. Book it. No way the League takes any risk with a team like Columbus picking first.

And without any surprise, it's time for Bowness to throw his players under the bus in the typical finest Ricky style. 

Scheifele: "The Avalanche made adjustements compared to the regular season and we didn't". Translation: our dumbass coach didn't do shít when we started to get demolished by Colorado.

Bowness: "Hellebuyck is not the problem. It's the players in front of him".

Ovechkin had his lowest TOI since 2012. I guess it's a good idea to let one of your best sniper on the bench when you trail 3-0 in the series and you have nothing to lose.

That Sandin penalty had a 7/10 on the Marchment retardation scale.

Again, great coaching by Bowness. He inserted Jonsson-Fjällby to "strengthen" the PK (ok, that's the plan. Not to score more goals, not to try to change any momentum, but just defend the best possible way in the given case that the Jets will get penalties because that's so obvious).

Colorado took a 4-1 lead with two PP goals, and Jonsson-Fjällby hasn't got any single second of ice time at that moment. 

But there's progress. He didn't proceed to a goalie change when trailing 12-1 with 2 mins remaining in the game... He did that a bit earlier. So far, 22 goals allowed for a team that relies heavily on defensive tenure and strong goaltending.

11 hours ago, OccamsRazor said:

 

Michael Jordan won a series by himself while dealing with a mix of Ebola, Cholera and a 120°F-hemorragic fever...

(I know, I know...)

Lots of energy, around 10 breakaways, twice more shots on goals and almost five times more significant scoring chance and Vegas making tons of mistakes. Score: 2-2 including a Vegas shortie... And again, no big save by Öttinger to keep his team afloat. Disappointing and frustrating.

If the Stars lose this one, they will be obliterated 8-0 to complete the sweep.

Getting rid of the dead wood surely helped but the Stars should have taken a greater lead.

3 minutes ago, TropicalFruitGirl26 said:

 

This just in....

Nylander wants OUT of Toronto  

The Toronto FC would be a great fit though.

It finally took an injury to finally boot Faksa out of the line-up. Same for Marchment but he can always score on a huge misunderstanding or make a good play by accident... This is forcing DeBoer to make some adjustments: Johnston will replace Pavelski on the invisible first line and Dadonov moves up on the second unit. Dell'Andrea is back with Smith on the fourth line. 

I am so excited... 

Book it, Vegas are the 2024 back-to-back Stanley Cup champions.

They have the best centerline of the league (I mean they can have a 30-goal 60-point scorer to center their fourth line...), their top-4 defencemen are elite, they can have the luxury to scratch a guy that has three rings, their bottom-6 can be part of a top-6 everywhere else. They have complete versatile players than can adapt and play in all situations.

It's the first time of the season that the Golden Knights have a full roster including their new aquisitions, and it's scary. Hanifin and Hertl are perfect fits. The only question mark remains the goaltending but this relative uncertainty is perfectly handled by the best D corps in the League.

That being said, it's a series of details so far. Both teams are really close but DeBoer is completely outcoached by Cassidy and his defensive system consisting in clogging the slot and push forwards to attack from the outside. The Stars just can't handle and they are struggling like hell to get significant scoring chances from close.

I'm not pissed about the Stars being down 2-0, it's the way to get behind 2-0. Öttinger was sub-average in game #1 while having a ****** start and palyed trailing hockey for the rest of the game. The Stars did a good job in game #2, very good first period, Öttinger was solid, the forecheck was good, they did what they had to do but two major pee-wee brain farts led to two Vegas goals. Again, a series of details, but no way you can win when you make such mistakes.

No disrespect to the Rangers, the Panthers and other very good teams but with their full roster Vegas is ahead IMO.