The Official NHL 2020-2021 Stanley Cup Playoffs Thread

[Majingir]

Canes vs Preds
Panthers vs Lightning

Pens vs Islanders
Bruins vs Caps

Avs vs Blues
Knights vs Wild

Leafs vs Habs
Oilers vs Jets


Playoffs begin this Saturday with Bruins vs Caps. Despite that, the North Division is still playing the regular season.

Despite all North playoff teams playing their last game by the end of this week, the Canucks vs Flames games next week could delay the start of the North playoffs by 3-4 days. Thanks NHL....

[Money99]

Re: The Official NHL 2020-2021 Stanley Cup Playoffs Thread

All playoff teams have been determined, and some matchups are confirmed.

Canes vs Preds
Panthers vs Lightning

Pens vs Islanders
Bruins vs Caps

Knights or Avs vs Blues
Knights or Avs vs Wild

Leafs vs Habs or Jets
Oilers vs Habs or Jets


Playoffs begin this Saturday with Bruins vs Caps. Despite that, the North Division is still playing the regular season.

Despite all North playoff teams playing their last game by the end of this week, the Canucks vs Flames games next week could delay the start of the North playoffs by 3-4 days. Thanks NHL....

Has the NHL given one good reason why those games can't take place at the same time as playoffs?
They have no bearing on playoff matchups so why wait?

[Majingir]

Re: The Official NHL 2020-2021 Stanley Cup Playoffs Thread

Has the NHL given one good reason why those games can't take place at the same time as playoffs?
They have no bearing on playoff matchups so why wait?

It's the NHL, does the reason need to make sense?

[bhurst99]

Re: The Official NHL 2020-2021 Stanley Cup Playoffs Thread

So it's going to be Toronto vs Montreal in the first round. Don't like it one bit. The Canadiens always play much better in the playoffs no matter how they played in the regular season. It will definitely be a dog fight and I could see the winner getting beaten in the second round just because it could be an exhausting, roller coaster emotional grind. First playoff meeting since 1979.

Edmonton will crush the Winnipeg Jets who have been awful the second half of the season.

[Majingir]

Re: The Official NHL 2020-2021 Stanley Cup Playoffs Thread

So it's going to be Toronto vs Montreal in the first round. Don't like it one bit. The Canadiens always play much better in the playoffs no matter how they played in the regular season. It will definitely be a dog fight and I could see the winner getting beaten in the second round just because it could be an exhausting, roller coaster emotional grind. First playoff meeting since 1979.

Edmonton will crush the Winnipeg Jets who have been awful the second half of the season.

The bittersweet part about playing the Habs.

Beating them will be the best feeling, but losing to them will probably sting more than any playoff loss they've had the last 25 years, and no matter what happens going forward, Habs fans will always bring this series up.

Just hope Price doesn't suddenly go Vezina mode and stop 39/40 shots every game.

Leafs will be playing for the first time with Foligno and Hyman in the lineup together. Lets hope they can finish off the series in under 6 games.

[rdnk]

Re: The Official NHL 2020-2021 Stanley Cup Playoffs Thread

If Toronto loses to the Habs that'll be the end of Dubas and Keefe.

[DrJones]

Re: The Official NHL 2020-2021 Stanley Cup Playoffs Thread

If Toronto loses to the Habs that'll be the end of Dubas and Keefe.

As a Canucks fan, I call dibs on Dubas.

[ImTellinTim]

Re: The Official NHL 2020-2021 Stanley Cup Playoffs Thread

Would really like to not play the Avs in the first round.

[kehlis]

Re: The Official NHL 2020-2021 Stanley Cup Playoffs Thread

Would really like to not play the Avs in the first round.

But I would really like the Avs not to play the Blues in the first round so I suppose we are at an impasse.

[bcruise]

Re: The Official NHL 2020-2021 Stanley Cup Playoffs Thread

Would really like to not play the Avs in the first round.

But I would really like the Avs not to play the Blues in the first round so I suppose we are at an impasse.

Do I get the deciding vote here?

I want the Avs, honestly - and given how the game just flipped, I think the feeling's mutual.

Blues are getting hot at the right time, but a set against either of them is going to be a real battle of a first-round series.

Colorado really went off against Grosenick in that 2nd period.

[Kobalt]

Re: The Official NHL 2020-2021 Stanley Cup Playoffs Thread

Blues aren't scary except when ROR decides to take over and win the game by himself.

Should be a quick series unless Avs get the injury bug again, which is expected.

Edit: Conor Timmins doesn't play in the 3rd period, just when he was playing great too. It has started

[Majingir]

Re: The Official NHL 2020-2021 Stanley Cup Playoffs Thread

I'm avoiding making picks this year. They always end up cursed. I think I picked Tampa to win in 2019, only to see them swept, and my overall bracket I believe was imperfect, which is a feat in its own right to get every single pick wrong in the entire bracket.

But I think this year will be the hardest year to ever make picks, not just because of lack of home ice advantage, but also because your bracket at the F4 has different possibilities. You can't even think the finals will be Vegas or Colorado vs Tampa, because that could be the final 4 matchup.

[DrJones]

Re: The Official NHL 2020-2021 Stanley Cup Playoffs Thread

I'll offer only one defence of my 1996 Redux picks:
They can't possibly be as bad as my Twins/Reds World Series prediction last fall.

Maple Leafs over Canadiens in 6
Oilers over Jets in 6
Predators over Hurricanes in 6
Panthers over Lightning in 7
Islanders over Penguins in 6
Bruins over Capitals in 7
Avalanche over Blues in 6
Wild over Golden Knights in 7

Maple Leafs over Oilers in 5
Panthers over Predators in 6
Bruins over Islanders in 5
Avalanche over Wild in 6

Panthers over Maple Leafs in 7
Avalanche over Bruins in 6

Avalanche over Panthers in 5

[Majingir]

Re: The Official NHL 2020-2021 Stanley Cup Playoffs Thread

They can't possibly be as bad as my Twins/Reds World Series prediction last fall.

I said Lightning vs Pens and Flames vs Jets in conference finals, leading to Lightning vs Flames in the finals just 2 years ago.

Between those 4 teams, they won a TOTAL of 3 games in round 1, 2 of those teams getting swept.

[DrJones]

Re: The Official NHL 2020-2021 Stanley Cup Playoffs Thread

I said Lightning vs Pens and Flames vs Jets in conference finals, leading to Lightning vs Flames in the finals just 2 years ago.

Between those 4 teams, they won a TOTAL of 3 games in round 1, 2 of those teams getting swept.

2019 Stanley Cup playoffs were pretty strong for me: picked Blues over Bruins and Boston to sweep the Hurricanes in the ECF (I think Calgary was my other Final Four team.)

On the other hand, the 2020 Twins and Reds combined for 0 wins and 2 runs in 40 innings.
I was 1-for-8 in the 1st round matchups (Rays over Jays was my only correct pick.)