NHL Thread

[numbers]

Pit over nyi 4-0
Ott over Mtl 4-3
Nyr over wsh 4-2
Tor over Bos 4-3

Chi over min 4-2
Ana over det 4-1
Van over sj 4-3
Stl over la 4-3

[MattA75]

Pit over nyi 4-0
Ott over Mtl 4-3
Nyr over wsh 4-2
Tor over Bos 4-3

Chi over min 4-2
Ana over det 4-1
Van over sj 4-3
Stl over la 4-3

So if you're picking Toronto over Boston in seven, if the Broons were playing the Isles, would you have the Isles in five?

[philpritchard]

Pit over nyi 4-0
Ott over Mtl 4-3
Nyr over wsh 4-2
Tor over Bos 4-3

Chi over min 4-2
Ana over det 4-1
Van over sj 4-3
Stl over la 4-3

So if you're picking Toronto over Boston in seven, if the Broons were playing the Isles, would you have the Isles in five?

Is that suggesting the Isles are better than Toronto, or am I missing something?

[Peeps]

so my choices

play the rangers and hear torts whine about the pens starts treatment
play the sens and hear about how cooke is the antichrist and does nothing but hurt people
play the islanders and here about 93

[MattA75]

Pit over nyi 4-0
Ott over Mtl 4-3
Nyr over wsh 4-2
Tor over Bos 4-3

Chi over min 4-2
Ana over det 4-1
Van over sj 4-3
Stl over la 4-3

So if you're picking Toronto over Boston in seven, if the Broons were playing the Isles, would you have the Isles in five?

Is that suggesting the Isles are better than Toronto, or am I missing something?

I'm suggesting that if even Bruins fans don't think they can beat the one team they've absolutely owned the past few years in a seven game series, that their confidence against any other opponent would be even less

[numbers]

I don't think the bruins could win 4 out of 7 against any team in the league right now, the only reason I even have it going 7 is because it's Toronto.

[philpritchard]

I'm suggesting that if even Bruins fans don't think they can beat the one team they've absolutely owned the past few years in a seven game series, that their confidence against any other opponent would be even less

Most non-Leafs fans I've talked to don't think Toronto can do any damage in the playoffs, especially because they're playing Boston. I didn't want to see this matchup, but I don't think it's as bad for the Leafs as a lot of people make it out to be.

BOS 1 - TOR 0
BOS 4 - TOR 2
TOR 3 - BOS 2
BOS 3 - TOR 2 (SO)

The most lopsided game between the teams this year was a 4-2 Boston win that included an empty-netter. I don't think there's any reason to think the Leafs can't at least make it a really tough series for Boston. Sure, Boston owned Toronto last year, but that's unfair to a Toronto team that has addressed most of it's major weaknesses since last season. They now have a coach who knows what he's doing and actually plays a defensive game, a physical game that can match Boston's, two lines that are capable of completely taking over and dominating on any given night, a very good penalty kill, and a healthy young goalie who's at the top of his game right now. They didn't have any of those things last year.

[MattA75]

I'm suggesting that if even Bruins fans don't think they can beat the one team they've absolutely owned the past few years in a seven game series, that their confidence against any other opponent would be even less

Most non-Leafs fans I've talked to don't think Toronto can do any damage in the playoffs, especially because they're playing Boston. I didn't want to see this matchup, but I don't think it's as bad for the Leafs as a lot of people make it out to be.

BOS 1 - TOR 0
BOS 4 - TOR 2
TOR 3 - BOS 2
BOS 3 - TOR 2 (SO)

The most lopsided game between the teams this year was a 4-2 Boston win that included an empty-netter. I don't think there's any reason to think the Leafs can't at least make it a really tough series for Boston. Sure, Boston owned Toronto last year, but that's unfair to a Toronto team that has addressed most of it's major weaknesses since last season. They now have a coach who knows what he's doing and actually plays a defensive game, a physical game that can match Boston's, two lines that are capable of completely taking over and dominating on any given night, a very good penalty kill, and a healthy young goalie who's at the top of his game right now. They didn't have any of those things last year.

The Leafs are better and the Bruins are worse from one year ago, no question. This series would be a whole lot more fun though if the Leafs had gotten Luongo...

[philpritchard]

I'm suggesting that if even Bruins fans don't think they can beat the one team they've absolutely owned the past few years in a seven game series, that their confidence against any other opponent would be even less

Most non-Leafs fans I've talked to don't think Toronto can do any damage in the playoffs, especially because they're playing Boston. I didn't want to see this matchup, but I don't think it's as bad for the Leafs as a lot of people make it out to be.

BOS 1 - TOR 0
BOS 4 - TOR 2
TOR 3 - BOS 2
BOS 3 - TOR 2 (SO)

The most lopsided game between the teams this year was a 4-2 Boston win that included an empty-netter. I don't think there's any reason to think the Leafs can't at least make it a really tough series for Boston. Sure, Boston owned Toronto last year, but that's unfair to a Toronto team that has addressed most of it's major weaknesses since last season. They now have a coach who knows what he's doing and actually plays a defensive game, a physical game that can match Boston's, two lines that are capable of completely taking over and dominating on any given night, a very good penalty kill, and a healthy young goalie who's at the top of his game right now. They didn't have any of those things last year.

The Leafs are better and the Bruins are worse from one year ago, no question. This series would be a whole lot more fun though if the Leafs had gotten Luongo...

Yeah, but Toronto wouldn't really have been any better.

[MattA75]

I'm suggesting that if even Bruins fans don't think they can beat the one team they've absolutely owned the past few years in a seven game series, that their confidence against any other opponent would be even less

Most non-Leafs fans I've talked to don't think Toronto can do any damage in the playoffs, especially because they're playing Boston. I didn't want to see this matchup, but I don't think it's as bad for the Leafs as a lot of people make it out to be.

BOS 1 - TOR 0
BOS 4 - TOR 2
TOR 3 - BOS 2
BOS 3 - TOR 2 (SO)

The most lopsided game between the teams this year was a 4-2 Boston win that included an empty-netter. I don't think there's any reason to think the Leafs can't at least make it a really tough series for Boston. Sure, Boston owned Toronto last year, but that's unfair to a Toronto team that has addressed most of it's major weaknesses since last season. They now have a coach who knows what he's doing and actually plays a defensive game, a physical game that can match Boston's, two lines that are capable of completely taking over and dominating on any given night, a very good penalty kill, and a healthy young goalie who's at the top of his game right now. They didn't have any of those things last year.

The Leafs are better and the Bruins are worse from one year ago, no question. This series would be a whole lot more fun though if the Leafs had gotten Luongo...

Yeah, but Toronto wouldn't really have been any better.

I said more fun, I never said anything about better

[philpritchard]

I said more fun, I never said anything about better

As if there aren't already enough storylines going on in this series... I mean, it'll be the first time an Orr has played a playoff game in Boston since 1975!

[southp]

I love how all the biases come out for the playoffs.
As someone who hates both the Bruins and Leafs, it's pretty clear that Boston will prevail in 6 or 7. There is just too much playoff inexperience on the Leafs to get past the Bruins.

Having said that, I really do hope that Toronto and Montreal get to meet in the 2nd round.

[sportsfreakpete6]

CHI over MIN 4-1
DET over ANA 4-3
VAN over SJ 4-2
LA over STL 4-2

PIT over NYI 4-2
MTL over OTT 4-2
WSH over NYR 4-3
TOR over BOS 4-3

[philpritchard]

I love how all the biases come out for the playoffs.
As someone who hates both the Bruins and Leafs, it's pretty clear that Boston will prevail in 6 or 7. There is just too much playoff inexperience on the Leafs to get past the Bruins.

Having said that, I really do hope that Toronto and Montreal get to meet in the 2nd round.

Of course I have a bias... I would never pick the Leafs to lose a series.

I think the Leafs playoff inexperience is a bit overblown. Kessel, JVR and Lupul (so... three of their top four forwards) have all been there a few times and played really well, while Phaneuf, Liles, O'Byrne and Franson have a lot of playoff experience on the back end. Obviously it's nothing like the Bruins, but I don't think it's enough to say that that is the difference between the two teams.

[numbers]

What difference does it make how much playoff experience a team has if they are playing like shit? The bruins have been awful for the last month, and I think that is much more relevant going into this series than their amount of playoff experience.

[philpritchard]

What difference does it make how much playoff experience a team has if they are playing like shit? The bruins have been awful for the last month, and I think that is much more relevant going into this series than their amount of playoff experience.

Yeah, I'm not a big intangibles guy, so I tend to think the value of playoff experience, while it does exist, tends to be overrated. Whenever a young team goes into the playoffs and struggles everyone seems to blame it on a lack of playoff experience. Is it not possible that they're just a young team that really isn't all that good yet?

I should also mention that the Leafs haven't been playing well lately either.

[@SkitchP]

I am just happy the Wings made the playoffs. I could get used to this.

[philpritchard]

I am just happy the Wings made the playoffs. I could get used to this.

You should probably be used to it by now.

[@SkitchP]

I am just happy the Wings made the playoffs. I could get used to this.

You should probably be used to it by now.

[Chris_H_2]

I'm just happy this will be the last year I have to stay up until 1 am to watch the end of a Wings playoff game.