The Official NHL 2020-2021 Stanley Cup Playoffs Thread

[kehlis]

Quote: Originally Posted by ImTellinTim

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]

Quote: Originally Posted by ImTellinTim

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

Quote: Originally Posted by kehlis

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]

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]

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]

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]

Quote: Originally Posted by DrJones

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]

Quote: Originally Posted by Majingir

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.)

[Majingir]

No surprise, Stamkos and Kucherov will play game 1.

What's the point of a hard cap if teams can just abuse it? It's just an anchor on the league.