# 2017 Stanley Cup Playoffs thread **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [April 11, 2017, 11:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2017-stanley-cup-playoffs-thread/784278 "2017-04-11T23:57:04Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 14
**Author:** ![Rysto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ecccb3/32.png) [@Rysto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rysto)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2017, 12:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2017-stanley-cup-playoffs-thread/784278/262 "2017-05-22T00:27:02Z")
Well, that was disheartening. There goes Ottawa’s chances of winning the series on aggregate. The good news is, if they can just win at home and force a game seven, the franchise has a scintillating 0-5 in those. Maybe it means we’re due? ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2017, 12:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2017-stanley-cup-playoffs-thread/784278/263 "2017-05-22T00:39:08Z")
Losing 1-0 and losing 7-0 still yields the same results: a 3-2 game advantage for Pittsburgh. Ottawa might be able to draw strength from this. ---
**Author:** ![Apocalypso](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f19dbf/32.png) [@Apocalypso](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Apocalypso)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2017, 6:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2017-stanley-cup-playoffs-thread/784278/264 "2017-05-22T06:06:50Z")
Wow. Pens really firing on all cylinders. Hope they can keep it up and put the series away next game. Don’t want to see an anything can happen game 7. ---
**Author:** ![Guest-starring\_Id](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guest-starring_id/32/21736_2.png) [@Guest-starring\_Id](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guest-starring_Id)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2017, 2:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2017-stanley-cup-playoffs-thread/784278/265 "2017-05-22T14:22:40Z")
Wow the Preds might be wrapping it up tonight. Surprised they took the last game in Anaheim, and with tonight’s game in Nashville, well, not a _guaranteed_ win, but with their home play-off record and the famous intensity of that arena’s smaller-capacity crowd, it should be entertaining, and hopefully not a blow-out like some of the Pens/Sens games have been. Without Johansen and Fisher (the latter still questionable for tonight) that would be especially impressive if Nashville can pull this off. Might all come to down to Pekka. ---
**Author:** ![BobLibDem](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boblibdem/32/3149_2.png) [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2017, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2017-stanley-cup-playoffs-thread/784278/266 "2017-05-22T18:16:06Z")
One thing I’ve always loved about hockey is that the playoffs are unpredictable. Nashville was one of the last if not the last team in but they might well wind up in the finals. When was the last time an NBA team came out of nowhere to win the title? ---
**Author:** ![R.P.McMurphy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/7993a0/32.png) [@R.P.McMurphy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/R.P.McMurphy)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2017, 6:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2017-stanley-cup-playoffs-thread/784278/267 "2017-05-22T18:45:08Z")
> [@Apocalypso](#): > > Wow. Pens really firing on all cylinders. Hope they can keep it up and put the series away next game. Don’t want to see an anything can happen game 7. Against the Pens, if Ottawa lets the Pens forwards float around in the slot the way they did, they’re not going to win. They have to glue themselves to those guys. ---
**Author:** ![Guest-starring\_Id](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guest-starring_id/32/21736_2.png) [@Guest-starring\_Id](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guest-starring_Id)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2017, 5:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2017-stanley-cup-playoffs-thread/784278/268 "2017-05-23T05:12:48Z")
How 'bout them Preds, despite getting outshot 41-18! Amazing that Lavoulette is only the fourth coach in NHL history to take three different franchises to the the Stanley Cup finals. Glad to hear Bernier was going to be in net for the Preds - never had much faith in him - just shoot on him, basically. (like, the second goal) The tone was definitely set early in the game when the refs called penalties that in other games they would’ve kept their whistles in their pockets. Interesting seeing Nashville also doing the 1-3-1 thing formation sometimes, but with their offensive breaks and shot-blocking - still entertaining hockey. 3rd consecutive time Nashville has eliminated Anaheim from the play-offs! ETA: Getzlaf played some ASTOUNDING hockey this series. Jesus. ---
**Author:** ![Guest-starring\_Id](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guest-starring_id/32/21736_2.png) [@Guest-starring\_Id](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guest-starring_Id)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2017, 5:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2017-stanley-cup-playoffs-thread/784278/269 "2017-05-23T05:48:15Z")
Missed edit window: oops - that should say “…Bernier was going to be in the net for the **Ducks**.” also - if I hear “Smashville” one more time… ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2017, 12:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2017-stanley-cup-playoffs-thread/784278/270 "2017-05-23T12:42:39Z")
> [@RickJay](#): > > Hey remember when the Canadiens traded PK Subban because they felt he wasn’t enough of a leader and they wanted someone to get them deep into the playoffs? And people said… okay, I’ll get off that topic… no I can’t. I hope Subban scores two overtime winners and rides his stick like a horse and drives racist shits insane, and if Ottawa can’t win the Stanley Cup, I want Nashville to, and Subban to win the Conn Smythe and be given the keys to the city by the mayor of Nashville while adoring fans scream his name and Montrealers march downtown to hang Marc Bergevin while Mike Milbury’s tiny brain explodes. God that would be glorious, wouldn’t it? I’m going to write PK Subban and ask him to actually do a dab every time the Predators score, even if he’s on the bench. I’m a little closer to this joyous occasion (though if Nashville wins the Cups it’ll be Pekka Rinne who wins the Conn Smythe) though my first preference remains Ottawa pulling out a miracle. It would be a miracle, though. ---
**Author:** ![R.P.McMurphy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/7993a0/32.png) [@R.P.McMurphy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/R.P.McMurphy)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2017, 1:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2017-stanley-cup-playoffs-thread/784278/271 "2017-05-23T13:42:29Z")
Adios Anaheim. I hope the door smashes you to oblivion on the way out. What a bunch of thugs! Bieksa has to be one of the most classless pieces of shit in the league. Throwing debilitating cross checks from behind with 7 seconds left and down 6-3. Cummon butthead, get a clue. Then he goes down the tunnel and knocks down all the sticks. Class act! He should get a season misconduct just for being an idiot. Good to see Kesler have to pull out his razor. **Go Preds!** Good for the players, the franchise and mostly the fans. Great article yesterday in the New York Times about selling hockey in Nashville: [https://www.nytimes.com/2017/05/22/sports/hockey/from-hockey-101-in-nashville-to-a-phd-with-predators.html?ref=todayspaper&\_r=0](https://www.nytimes.com/2017/05/22/sports/hockey/from-hockey-101-in-nashville-to-a-phd-with-predators.html?ref=todayspaper&_r=0) There have been some great series in this playoff. A lot of back stories. I don’t expect any less in the finals. Bring 'em on! As Rick said, “one step closer to watching Milbury’s head explode.” ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2017, 12:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2017-stanley-cup-playoffs-thread/784278/272 "2017-05-24T00:32:54Z")
Who the hell decided it would be a good idea to hire Milbury in the first place? Everything that guy touches turns to shit. ---
**Author:** ![Guest-starring\_Id](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guest-starring_id/32/21736_2.png) [@Guest-starring\_Id](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guest-starring_Id)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2017, 12:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2017-stanley-cup-playoffs-thread/784278/273 "2017-05-24T00:51:31Z")
Thank-you, Pens, for having goalie names that rhyme.🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Rysto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ecccb3/32.png) [@Rysto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rysto)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2017, 3:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2017-stanley-cup-playoffs-thread/784278/274 "2017-05-24T03:07:36Z")
Anderson with 45 saves and Ottawa survives another game. Not a great first half of the game, but they were a lot better in the second half. ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2017, 3:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2017-stanley-cup-playoffs-thread/784278/275 "2017-05-24T03:09:52Z")
Well, back to Pittsburgh. Which arm is the one that hurts when you have a heart attack? ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2017, 3:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2017-stanley-cup-playoffs-thread/784278/276 "2017-05-24T03:29:47Z")
I love game 7s. Either way it’s going to be fun! ---
**Author:** ![Guest-starring\_Id](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guest-starring_id/32/21736_2.png) [@Guest-starring\_Id](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guest-starring_Id)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2017, 5:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2017-stanley-cup-playoffs-thread/784278/277 "2017-05-24T05:51:50Z")
Way to go, Ottawa! Claesson’s goal was fuckin eh beauty - round-the-world - those are silly sweet, and insanely rare. (ting ting ting!) There was a particularly nasty cross-check Cullen gave to Karlsson in the second period (nowhere _near_ the net - into the boards, actually) so I just hope next game 65 will have a flying hip-check or something waiting for 7. I figure Murray will be the Sens’ biggest opponent Thursday. The Pens are lucky to have such a valuable young commodity. His style is great - very economical, making it look easy with his limited movements. His even-keeled composure is especially impressive for a young’un! Is it just me, or does Bobby Ryan always have a sort of…spooked\*…look about him? ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2017, 1:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2017-stanley-cup-playoffs-thread/784278/278 "2017-05-24T13:42:46Z")
Claessen didn’t score a goal so that’s confusing. I think you mean Hoffman. The nice thing about that goal was that, in breaking with long franchise tradition, they didn’t try to make three more passes before shooting; Hoffman had a chance to rip one and took it. I also agree with your assessment of Matt Murray, who was a B-level prospect and just sort of emerged from nowhere to become an elite goalie. I’m a die-hard Sens fans but I’ll be honest; the series really should be 5-1 Penguins. Except for Game 3 Ottawa has appeared to be the inferior team in every game (well, you could argue over Game 1) but either the bounces went their way or, in the case of last night, Craig Anderson stood on his head. I fervently hope Ottawa makes it but wouldn’t take them for real money at three to one. If they do pull of this miracle it’ll be exactly that. ---
**Author:** ![Guest-starring\_Id](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guest-starring_id/32/21736_2.png) [@Guest-starring\_Id](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guest-starring_Id)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2017, 2:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2017-stanley-cup-playoffs-thread/784278/279 "2017-05-24T14:19:15Z")
> [@RickJay](#): > > I think you mean Hoffman. Whoa - no idea what I was thinking. :smack: ---
**Author:** ![kayT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayt/32/3633_2.png) [@kayT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayT)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2017, 3:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2017-stanley-cup-playoffs-thread/784278/280 "2017-05-24T15:27:46Z")
If it ends up being Nashville vs Ottawa I’ll have a hard time deciding which underdog to root for. (If it’s Nashville and the Pens it won’t be a difficult choice at all :D) ---
**Author:** ![Doubticus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e56c9b/32.png) [@Doubticus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doubticus)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2017, 4:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2017-stanley-cup-playoffs-thread/784278/281 "2017-05-24T16:33:22Z")
> [@kayT](#): > > If it ends up being Nashville vs Ottawa I’ll have a hard time deciding which underdog to root for. (If it’s Nashville and the Pens it won’t be a difficult choice at all :D) That’s what I’m thinking. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2017-stanley-cup-playoffs-thread/784278.md?page=13) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2017-stanley-cup-playoffs-thread/784278.md?page=15)