There are several billionaires who disagree with you and are willing to drop $1.2B on an expansion team.

It might be part of a real estate play, or a long-term franchise value versus minimal annual profit, but there are still buyers out there.

Nashville has a loyal following as strong as any original six team.
The Panthers and Canes have very strong fans in sunny states.
Buffalo commited suicide in the way they handled their team players for years even though they are as close to being a Canuck as any team out there.

Hockey is not dead in the USA.

What is deathly dreadful is the the way the Bruins played tonight. Granted the Leafs decided to show up but the B's didn't match intensity.

The Isles decided to not roll over and let the Panthers have an easy run.

I picked the Preds (not the favorite in the first round) due to their momentum in the end of the regular season. Last night was a good game until they had a 30 second brain freeze and game up two goals to shank a lead.

You GOTTA LOVE playoff hockey.

Why the **** do coaches have to be 'geniuses' and **** with the goalies? Swayman was lights out Saturday, so let's play Ulmark. :rolleyes:

Ulmark was decent, great at times, but the the go ahead third goal was soft.

Who was the last team to win the Cup rotating goalies? Oh yea, I forgot, that never happened.

Playing almost half the game with five defensemen hurt the Bruins, they were all tired in the third. It showed.

How come the losing side always says we played terrible, and not the other team played better?

It's a way of saving face. Saying that "we" played poorly clearly implies that other side played better without actually saying so.

I guess I should have used green type.

Apologies for my arrogance. :o

Because statistics/analytics make a lot of information available beyond a simple eye test.

For example, the Leafs, in theory, should have won game 1. But a couple of stupid penalties, and inferior goaltending cost them the game. With some luck and better goaltending, the Leafs could be up 2-0 in the series.

Last night the Leafs outplayed the Bruins, everywhere. Period. By the end of series, we will know if the Bruins were better, but had a bad game, or if the Bruins are inferior to the Leafs. That's what makes the playoffs great.

Gee guys. My comment was a friendly dig responding to Joe's comment. :D

Oh my God! A very small light at the end of the tunnel. If they can get Mathews going they have a chance. I thought Taravis played like he was 20 again. Go Leafs.
Plus they got robbed on the goal that was in the glove while being in the net

That 3rd goal was a thing of beauty

Someone call hospice for the Caps.

i predict that the curse will descend upon the Rags in the next round.

Certainly for VanRiemsdyk, after the Rempe hit...

I have a feeling Rempe will be getting a call from Player Safety again sometime soon.

In other news, I'm doing well on my Eastern brackets but not looking good in the West.
I figured the Stars to steamroll the first and 2nd round. Nope.
I figured the Oilers to have an fairly easy first round. Nope.
I figured the Preds to carry their month of April momentum into the playoffs. Nope.

Big game tonight for the Bruins. I suspect that March will be public enemy #1. Bertuzzi and Domi have been hacking on him every since the start of game one. Bertuzzi whacked Marchand 3 times at the start of game one and Marchand just skated away - no whistle. They are trying to get him to lose control.

Canucks back up goalie had himself a great game. winning - with a total of 12 shots? wtf? :)

The Isles managed to not get swept. 2 OT win
Suddenly the Panthers forgot how to play

I see "Marchie" is still up to his old antics - going around "low-bridging" guys - talented, but still a cheap shot artist, to wit: a dirty player. Stick a fork in that series - the boys from "Hogtown" are done - Da Broons are just too good for them.

Kinda nervous about the Canucks/Preds game. The winner of that series won't make it through the next - most probably with the "oinklers" (Thanks again to Bill for that one).

Who's got money on the "Cats" taking all the marbles?

Cheers
JB

Funny how no one is screaming about the Leaf who knocked over the Bruins goalie at the end of a period.
Funny how no one is talking about the Bruins record Marchand just broke beating Cam.

Yeah Marchand plays on the edge. So do a lot of other players but the thing that makes him so terrible is HE ISN'T PLAYING FOR YOUR TEAM.

Funny how no one is screaming about the Leaf who knocked over the Bruins goalie at the end of a period.
Funny how no one is talking about the Bruins record Marchand just broke beating Cam.

Even the commentators are commending him for playing within the bounds.

Yeah Marchand plays on the edge. So do a lot of other players but the thing that makes him so terrible is HE ISN'T PLAYING FOR YOUR TEAM.