Stanley Cup Bracket 2018

[Hawkeye's-911T]

I see Marchand is finally getting in touch with his sexuality.

Flat out mean - but funny as hell.

Kadri should get at least 2 for his rather egregious hit. To be sure, Wingels is no angel, but that crap has to go. Broons in 5. - There ya go Joe!

The Kings will be up against it with Doughty's 1 game suspension - it'll still be an interesting series as Vegas is a fun team to watch

Preds have too much firepower for the 'Lanche.

The Hosers looked pretty good even with out "Jumbo" as Kane seems to have found his groove.

"Winterpeg" vs Wild is shaping up to be a good series -Jets will prevail.

Still hoping for another Caps vs Pens re-match.

I now have to ice down a few Heinekens for tonight's festivities.

Have a good one Gents & as always
Cheers
JB

[Por_sha911]

Originally Posted by 911 Rod

I see Marchand is finally getting in touch with his sexuality.

I'd love to see you say that to his (or any of the Bruins team) face...
Personally I thought it was funny. Its Marchand doing what he does best: being an agitator (but he doesn't get penalized for it).

In other news:
-Kadri got 3 games. Frankly I am not surprised. Milbury said it was a cheap shot and he wished they didn't throw him out so that he could get a meeting someone on the ice (I'm sure McQuaid has his number). The Doughty suspension seemed soft to me.
-The Flyers (really it was Elliott!) stood tall in game 2. Cindy had a hissy fit when she missed the goal and skated off with half a stick (that could have been a penalty? - the horn didn't sound for another 2 seconds) she then tossed the other half across the ice just before stepping off the ice for someone to clean up.

I think the Pens will prevail but I'd like to see it go 7.
-Vegas is a strong contender - Nashville looking good.
-The Jets are better than I thought - they may sweep.
-NJ has to show up strong in game 2 or they are toast.

HAS ANYONE SEEN 1990C4S lately? How about Billybek?
They usually add to the mix in hockey talk?

[1990C4S]

Between the boorish behavior, the name calling, the petty politics, and the general decline in civility I no longer log in to PPOT. But I do occasionally lurk.

Carry on.

Thank you for asking. Nice to be remembered.

[flatbutt]

You know I didn't really expect my guys to beat Tampa, and no the series isn't over yet but dang .

[Por_sha911]

Originally Posted by 1990C4S

Between the boorish behavior, the name calling, the petty politics, and the general decline in civility I no longer log in to PPOT. But I do occasionally lurk.

Carry on.

Thank you for asking. Nice to be remembered.

If I promise not to call you Cindy will you post your predictions?
I have great respect for your hockey I.Q.

[Buckterrier]

Brunes look fantastic. Didn't really think they'd handle the Leafs this easily. Serious Cup contenders.
Pens / Flyers is the only series tied after two games. Sidney, (there's that kings english problem again above), showed emotion. Poor guy can't win. Shows no emotions and he's a bore etc. He does and he's whining. Oh well such is life in the fast lane.
Pens need to regroup today. Will need to DVR the Indy car race.

[Por_sha911]

The "problem" with Crosby is that just when everyone is predicting his demise he pulls himself out (the king and his english has nothing to say about the character of a person ). As much as I am enjoying the 2 wins, I don't think that a sweep is a done deal. Yes, the Leafs are a relatively young team and they don't have the experience of the past to pull them up but, Babcock hasn't been a world class coach by not coming up with a plan. Everything resets with a change in venue. At this point the edge is to the Bruins but game 3 will be the nail in the coffin if the Leafs have another monumental loss.
In other news:
-Pastrnak became the youngest player to score 6 pts in a playoff (& a hatty while doing it)
-Nashville and the SHarks seem to have things in hand
-Vegas has beat LA with only 1 goal games. Could be they go long in the series.
-The Caps need to put a stop to the Ovi curse today.
-So far so good for Marchand behaving himself. *I may be wrong: It might be Pastrnak that scores the cup winning overtime goal and takes MVP instead of Marchand.

[Por_sha911]

^^^
Isn't supposed to be in green?

[Buckterrier]

Overcheckin's team floundered again. Holtby will be back in goal and win the next game. Caps will make it a series.
Sid loves the hate. His picture was in all the urinals at the Wells Fargo Center. Joe, maybe you should personally write him a letter with yours. Only scored 4 points yesterday.
Knights look pretty doggone good also.

[flatbutt]

enjoy

[beatnavy]

Well, the Caps may be "giving me back my Spring" early this year. Just as well, I suppose. Then I can watch the remaining games only when I want and then purely for entertainment.

Originally Posted by Buckterrier

Overcheckin's team floundered again. Holtby will be back in goal and win the next game. Caps will make it a series.

Perhaps. But not holding my breath. Holtby looked pretty human all season long, and now Grubie is looking very human all of a sudden.

The one most common thing I observe among Stanley Cup finalists / winners is that they seem to have a goalie that gets and stays hot at the right time. Certainly it's hard to separate goaltending from just solid defense and puck possession, but just great goaltending goes a long way.

Caps never seem to have that in the playoffs.

[flatbutt]

sigh, ok it's only the first period game 3 no score but the Devs have blown so many chances already that I'm going nutz! Maybe I need to switch to decaf.

[Buckterrier]

Oh contrare Flat! You stick with the high test my good man. Never give up the ship.
Leafs finally looked like a playoff team also.

[flatbutt]

Originally Posted by Buckterrier

Oh contrare Flat! You stick with the high test my good man. Never give up the ship.
Leafs finally looked like a playoff team also.

Phew!My guys had a good game. We've beaten Tampa on our home ice three times now.

Many series at 2-1 now but Vegas looks to sweep.

[Buckterrier]

The experts say you're not in trouble until you lose on home ice. Philly is in trouble

[derek murray]

Originally Posted by Por_sha911

... the Jets are better than I thought - they may sweep.

Thank goodness, we lost game 3... I've got tickets to game 5

[flatbutt]

Originally Posted by Buckterrier

The experts say you're not in trouble until you lose on home ice. Philly is in trouble

I do enjoy watching Philly lose.

[Hawkeye's-911T]

I don't know if many you eastern time zone guys are into it with the late start & all, the Knights vs. Kings is a downright nasty series.
I think it's Vegas in 5 - speaking of which - odds-makers had them at something like 200 or 150 to 1 of taking the cup before the season started.
Looking like a 'not-too-bad-bet' right now.

Hey Flat - as you are an esteemed member of the Goaltenders Union - maybe you can shed some light on this - what is it with Rinne during playoff road games?
It appears so far, to be a repeat performance for him; similar to last year when he faltered against the Pens in the 2017 Cup final.

The guy is usually 'lights out' in most games but seems to 'cave' or loses his game on the road come this time of year. I don't think fatigue should be a factor - but yaneverknow.

Some pretty decent hockey going on.

Cheers
JB

[flatbutt]

JB I wish I could because that would mean I'm good enough to be in the NHL!! So speaking as a former D3 college goalie the pressure on a goalie is huge. Everyone says in order to advance you MUST have outstanding goal tending. Maybe he just can't manage the road environment. I can tell you when you come to jersey you get a "very warm" welcome.

[Por_sha911]

Remember the holiday song? "Its the most wonderful time of the year..."
There is nothing like playoff hockey.

Vegas has nailed my prediction of a sweep of L.A. - (step one in my plot for Bruins World Domination mwa ha ha)

Most everyone seems to be following my script as written other than I picked the Caps in 5. Pool Ovi. Just once I'd like to see him make it to the 2nd round.

The Pen's/Flyers is interesting. Just when everyone thought a sweep the Flyers win 5-1 in game 3. Tonight will tell us whether we have a series or not.

The Leafs played a much better game #3. Anderson had an answer to our shots - I think this was due to Babcock finding a combo that would slow down our #1 line. We'll see THursday if "Butch" has a counter-measure answer to get the goals going again. BTW, PASTRNAK is on the leader board with most points and most goal!

Just remember, keep your head up & keep your stick on the ice.