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2015 Stanley Cup Playoffs thread


MadDog2020

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Where is Derek21 right now?! Johnson is on fire!!!

 

I saw it. Johnson has been the best Lightning the entire year. Somehow, he was overlooked for the Selke. Same old script from blind writers who don't do their homework. I'd have put him and Nash in over Kopitar and Bergeron. Not a knock on either. But their teams didn't make the playoffs and neither had great years. 

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The Rangers have not dominated as I expected, but the Pens have pretty much played an all-out defend game as if they were a soccer team.  They know if the game opens up they will get killed.  Rangers have still gotten it done.  Plus, Fleury is playing the best he has played in years.  Win this series first, and then I expect the next series to open up a bit.  

 

Agreed. Before the series, I said the Pens would slow it down. It's the only way they can play to combat the Rangers' speed. So, they're clogging the neutral zone and playing physical. They've made it tough. Even without their top D, they are limiting scoring chances and blocking shots. Plus Fleury has been great. The rebounds are there but hard to get to. I don't have any complaints with where our team is. But they must remember to match the Pens' urgency. Finish them. Or as Mickey told Rocky, "Don't let him them breathe."

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I wouldn't call the Rangers too lucky, or any luckier than they were last year, at least. They're getting way more banged up in this series than they did at any point last year. I think I've seen Girardi hobble off and/or go down the tunnel 2-3 or so times these past 4 games? Staal and McDonaugh are getting beat down too. I think Yandle's gone down the tunnel a couple times too. Yandle and Zuccarello aren't practicing in today's mandatory full practice... Etc., etc...

 

What stood out to me LAST year was how little physical adversity they had to deal with in all of their series, especially how little of it was in the Flyers series. The Flyers barely put the body on and before you know it, the Rangers dominated them. Ditto on last year's Penguins, who were soft as a rose petal. And then Montreal beats Boston somehow and matches up with the Rangers in the ECF and there was absolutely no physical edge to that series outside of a Prust hit on Stepan.

 

This year, we can say what we want about how awful the Penguins are, but they've played them hard and have taken the body. And oh man, if the Isles get them next round, it'll be more of the same, but worse; and against a more skilled team than any of the teams the Rangers faced last season (Isles have their problems, but I'd still rank them higher than last year's Flyers, Penguins with a bad Fleury, and last year's Canadiens with PK/Price and no one else, anyday). The road will be harder this year than it was last year; even the Caps are a tad better than they've been in previous seasons.

 

I've felt all year that the East is better this time. So, it will be a more difficult road. You guys are underrating the Islanders. The biggest reason they're down is due to no Hamonic. He makes a difference. Plus scoring has dried up. Halak has been okay. Last night, the Isles imploded. They are down 2 starting D. Played Reinhart and he struggled. I'd also say this year's Caps are better than previous installments. Holtby is improved and the additions of Orpik and Niskanen have strengthened their D. They're tougher. Kuznetsov had his breakout last night. 

 

Tampa and Montreal are both quality teams. Kinda surprised Detroit is giving the Lightning a series. Credit Mrazek and of course my boy Datsyuk.

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I saw it. Johnson has been the best Lightning the entire year. Somehow, he was overlooked for the Selke. Same old script from blind writers who don't do their homework. I'd have put him and Nash in over Kopitar and Bergeron. Not a knock on either. But their teams didn't make the playoffs and neither had great years.

True, I just thought it was awesome that we were talking about him a few days ago and he basically did it all hinself in that game.
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True, I just thought it was awesome that we were talking about him a few days ago and he basically did it all hinself in that game.

 

Tyler Johnson

 

It doesn't include his 2010 WJC. He went 3-2-5 on Team USA's gold medal winning U20 team. That roster featured Stepan, Kreider and OT hero Carlson. 

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Yea and you would think that with a chance to advance they would be into it. Guess not.

 

A lot of the real fans sold their tickets. We did. We got 200 apiece. For fans, it's a choice between going and getting money back on your investment. Most knew they were winning this series. We went to 1 game. With so much demand because some people "have to be there," you can get 2-3 times worth the price. I spoke to a guy last night at a bar and he said he made big money last year on Stanley Cup tickets and was able to basically pay for this season. The secondary market has become a big factor due to the new arenas. Especially if there's high demand. The Rangers are a hot ticket. Same for the Islanders if they find their way past the Capitals. That will be an expensive ticket.

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Isles will not win this game or the series. They are flat out bad defensively and beat up, and allow late choke goals like clockwork. They would have little chance against the Rangers. Maybe that would be different if they had Hamonic and Visnovsky, but losing Hamonic killed them.

 

Caps-Rangers will be a really good series. Holtby is very good and will give NYR a lot tougher time than Halak who is proving himself to be an inconsistent sieve

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Isles will not win this game or the series. They are flat out bad defensively and beat up, and allow late choke goals like clockwork. They would have little chance against the Rangers. Maybe that would be different if they had Hamonic and Visnovsky, but losing Hamonic killed them.

 

Caps-Rangers will be a really good series. Holtby is very good and will give NYR a lot tougher time than Halak who is proving himself to be an inconsistent sieve

 

What gives me pause is that we've seen the Caps lay down like dogs for the Rags before...God, hope that doesn't happen again.

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hopefully playoffs is a different story, but I can't say you're wrong

 

Yeah, the Rags fans I know are all rooting for the Caps based on those series in the past, so I tend to go the opposite way out of habit.  Hence being thrilled at Tampa's comeback knowing that Rags fans want them out by any means, lol.

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