The Official NHL 2019-2020 Stanley Cup Playoffs Thread

[mercalnd]

Re: The Official NHL 2019-2020 Stanley Cup Playoffs Thread

Niskanen gets a 1 game suspension for a retaliation cross check. Such bull****. Teaching these players to flop.

A cross check to the face is proper and acceptable retaliation for tbe little cross check Gallagher gave him in the back as they battled for the puck? Oh and I guess flopping now incudes having a broken jaw.

[Fiddy]

Re: The Official NHL 2019-2020 Stanley Cup Playoffs Thread

Were the Pens even involved in any of this? LOL

It's odd, the Caps with so many disappointments in the playoffs with their core. If the Pens don't blow two 3rd period leads against them in 2018 they may still be looking for answers. But we all know, "if, if's and buts were candy and nuts we all would have a merry christmas." LOL

[slickdtc]

Re: The Official NHL 2019-2020 Stanley Cup Playoffs Thread

A cross check to the face is proper and acceptable retaliation for tbe little cross check Gallagher gave him in the back as they battled for the puck? Oh and I guess flopping now incudes having a broken jaw.

I thought the 1-game suspension was appropriate. It wasn’t as malicious as “cross check to the face” makes it seem because Gallagher was low, but it was clear intent to rough him up, and he caught him at the right (or wrong, really) moment. I can’t defend it.

Ghost is in for Nisky, who I thought has been bad this series anyway.

[Money99]

Re: The Official NHL 2019-2020 Stanley Cup Playoffs Thread

Of all the stupid things Mike Milbury has said, this tops it.

I don't even watch NBCSN and even I think he sucks and should be fired.

Hockey in general I feel has more analysts than other sports (baseball a close 2nd) where the game and the times have passed guys by. We don't need stupid takes from older guys with outdated mindsets.

The entire sport from league offices, front offices, benches and media are overrun with fist shaking dinosaurs.
I feel like Brian Burke is the physical manifestation of cumgrudgery.
If you were having the best day of your life, 30s with that man will have you thinking about jumping off a bridge.

Why do all these broadcasters think you need the grumpy old man to chime in with his opinion.
Unless people are having their necks broken, Burke thinks it's a boring game.
And if players look like they're having fun, he's ready to slap babies.

This sport needs an enima like no other. Flush out all the backward thinking losers and get some progressive minds in the game.
They can start with hiring Paul Kariya as head of DoPS.

[Majingir]

Re: The Official NHL 2019-2020 Stanley Cup Playoffs Thread

But "hockey culture". Can't change that.

If sports wonder why their demo is aging and they can't get younger viewers as much, maybe stop catering your sport to a demographic who's average age is nearly dead.

NBA does best job of that for the most part, outside of those talking heads used only for ratings and clickbait.

It's why I always embrace anything different. Canes "bunch of jerks" post game celebrations, baseball bat flips, touchdown dances and all that. Its entertaining and drives the old school guys crazy.

[Money99]

Re: The Official NHL 2019-2020 Stanley Cup Playoffs Thread

But "hockey culture". Can't change that.

If sports wonder why their demo is aging and they can't get younger viewers as much, maybe stop catering your sport to a demographic who's average age is nearly dead.

NBA does best job of that for the most part, outside of those talking heads used only for ratings and clickbait.

It's why I always embrace anything different. Canes "bunch of jerks" post game celebrations, baseball bat flips, touchdown dances and all that. Its entertaining and drives the old school guys crazy.

Bingo!

The NBA used to be regional just like the NHL. And it's an easy argument to make that the NHL was more popular than the NBA for many years.
But the NBA cleaned up its act and realized it needed to promote its stars, not teams.
The NHL, and its fans, haven't figured that out. The sport has embraced a bit too tightly its mantra of team first.
If the league promoted its stars, but more importantly, had the games officiated so that the stars could perform on a shift to shift basis without being slashed and obstructed, it would be much better off and have a shot of becoming relevant at a National level.
I'm totally on board with the idea of having two sets of rules to benefit the stars of the game.
I'd call a penalty anytime someone even touched McDavid, Crosby, Matthews or Goudreau.

But I'd be willing to bet a great majority of hockey fans, who are mired in the hockey culture, would lose their minds if that happened.
The sad part is, if the stars could really shine on a nightly basis, even they would love it.
How do I know this? It's exactly what happened in the 80's and early 90's. Lots of offense and nobody ever complained.

[Majingir]

Re: The Official NHL 2019-2020 Stanley Cup Playoffs Thread

NHL does try promoting stars, but the stars don't want to be promoted.

Not to mention it's hard to promote stars when they might not be doing any scoring during multiple games.

It's why the 80s were so popular. How many guys could put up 30,40,50 goals and get 100+ points. Theres seasons where 100 points and 40 goals doesn't even get you in the top 10.

These past 2 seasons were the first 2 seasons since 92/93 and 93/94 where the league average was over 3 goals per game! There were only 2 sessons TOTAL between 95-17 that had over 3.

[mercalnd]

Re: The Official NHL 2019-2020 Stanley Cup Playoffs Thread

I thought the 1-game suspension was appropriate. It wasn’t as malicious as “cross check to the face” makes it seem because Gallagher was low, but it was clear intent to rough him up, and he caught him at the right (or wrong, really) moment.

That's how I see it as well.

[Money99]

Re: The Official NHL 2019-2020 Stanley Cup Playoffs Thread

NHL does try promoting stars, but the stars don't want to be promoted.

Not to mention it's hard to promote stars when they might not be doing any scoring during multiple games.

It's why the 80s were so popular. How many guys could put up 30,40,50 goals and get 100+ points. Theres seasons where 100 points and 40 goals doesn't even get you in the top 10.

These past 2 seasons were the first 2 seasons since 92/93 and 93/94 where the league average was over 3 goals per game! There were only 2 sessons TOTAL between 95-17 that had over 3.

You are my spirit animal.

To add to your first two points;
1. Hockey players have been told by hockey culture that they are never to talk without using tired cliche's.
2. This is something the NHL can absolutely fix. Call the game in a way that the McDavid's can produce every night. Or at least create multiple scoring chances. Especially 5-on-5.
More scoring off the rush, more odd-man rushes.
If the stars could play 30+ minutes a night, this would work. But having 18 skaters on the bench will always prevent this from happening.

[Majingir]

Re: The Official NHL 2019-2020 Stanley Cup Playoffs Thread

I find the issue is simply goalie equipment.

Star players get off enough shots, it's the amount being saved that's the issue. Good goaltending sells as well as a good pitching matchup or old school 79-73 point basketball games. Slam dunks, 3 point shots, home runs, touchdowns, goals, that's what people want to see.

The more scoring, the more excitement, more fan interest, and easier to differentiate the greats from the good.

Having goalies who have jumbo equipment stopping 92% of shots, many times pucks they dont even see hit their equipment, isnt exciting to fans. Shooting on an NHL goalie is like shooting on those cardboard cutouts. They could stand in their net and not move and you take a shot from the circle and still wouldn't score 90% of the time.

I'm surprised no NHL team has even signed some linebacker as a goalie. 6 foot tall 300 pound guy who has equipment covering him, can you even score on that?

[Majingir]

Re: The Official NHL 2019-2020 Stanley Cup Playoffs Thread

Milbury gets off with a warning and that's it?

https://twitter.com/PR_NHL/status/1296868221421854723?s=09

Seems weird NHL is the first one to comment on it and NBC hasn't done anything.

[DrJones]

Re: The Official NHL 2019-2020 Stanley Cup Playoffs Thread

I feel like Brian Burke is the physical manifestation of cumgrudgery.
If you were having the best day of your life, 30s with that man will have you thinking about jumping off a bridge.

You've been missed in this forum, Money.

[Kobalt]

Re: The Official NHL 2019-2020 Stanley Cup Playoffs Thread

Bieber would definitely score on Binnington.

We can also start the Pietrangelo to the Leafs rumor

[rdnk]

Re: The Official NHL 2019-2020 Stanley Cup Playoffs Thread

I'm surprised no NHL team has even signed some linebacker as a goalie. 6 foot tall 300 pound guy who has equipment covering him, can you even score on that?

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/sP8ZVWiZUMA" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>

Ahhhh, I missed Parros' stache.

[bcruise]

Re: The Official NHL 2019-2020 Stanley Cup Playoffs Thread

Blues are donezo. Grats Vancouver. As much as I heard that St. Louis was the favorite to win this series, they sure didn't play like it except for one game. Markstrom stood on his head the few times the Blues were able to get something going.

Blues just never really seemed like they were there in the entire bubble, save for game 4 in which they looked like the Cup-winning team from last year. Credit to Vancouver for neutralizing that style of play before St. Louis could really get on a roll.