# 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:** 3
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2017, 5:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2017-stanley-cup-playoffs-thread/784278/41 "2017-04-17T17:33:58Z")
> [@Rysto](#): > > The answer is that the NHL is more interested in forcing divisional matchups in the playoffs than they are in running a fair playoffs. The theory is that divisional matchups will garner more interest have better ratings. It’s a cynical, marketing-driven ploy from a bunch of businesspeople who have no interest in good hockey. You have every right to be bitter. The NHL is as cynical and as disinterested in its own sport as any professional sports league iin the history of the world, _but I don’t recall people complaining about this back the FIRST time the NHL had an wholly divisional playoff system._ If anything, people fondly remember the Battles of Alberta and whatnot. Unless you play a dead-balanced schedule, eliminate loser points, and just rank the playoff teams 1-to-16 and go from there, no playoff system will be completely “fair” in the sense you’re describing it. I mean, does it suck for the Blue Jackets? Yeah, it does. But look, if they can’t win a single game in their opening series - after losing seven of their last ten regular season games - **how good are they, really?** Great team in 2016, but they’re above .500 in one of their last four calendar months. Maybe they’re not really all that good. Ultimately the Stanley Cup champion will have to bear four teams and win sixteen games. Nobody gets an easy path. If Columbus is a legitimately good team they’ll be back next year. ---
**Author:** ![ThisSpaceForRent](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thisspaceforrent/32/345_2.png) [@ThisSpaceForRent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThisSpaceForRent)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2017, 6:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2017-stanley-cup-playoffs-thread/784278/42 "2017-04-17T18:11:17Z")
> [@kunilou](#): > > That’s because the Blues have taken my advice to roll Jake Allen in bubble wrap and store him in a vault any time he isn’t actually on the ice, to keep him safe. If he should fall out of his zone for any reason, that’s the end of the playoff run. Well then…let’s hope they keep him safe till Wednesday night!! My son just scored us some tickets. I DO NOT expect the Wild to roll over and play dead but it would be GREAT to see the BLUES sweep it at home…We will be one section over from the Towel Guy. ---
**Author:** ![Rysto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ecccb3/32.png) [@Rysto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rysto)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2017, 7:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2017-stanley-cup-playoffs-thread/784278/43 "2017-04-17T19:14:32Z")
> [@RickJay](#): > > The NHL is as cynical and as disinterested in its own sport as any professional sports league iin the history of the world, _but I don’t recall people complaining about this back the FIRST time the NHL had an wholly divisional playoff system._ If anything, people fondly remember the Battles of Alberta and whatnot. It’s before my time, but I’ve heard people complaining in retrospect about how terrible the Norris division was. And while I’m sure Edmonton fans loved the format and neutral fans liked the epic series, Calgary fans probably have a different opinion about having to go through Gretzky every single year. ---
**Author:** ![Barkis\_is\_Willin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a183cd/32.png) [@Barkis\_is\_Willin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Barkis_is_Willin)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2017, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2017-stanley-cup-playoffs-thread/784278/44 "2017-04-17T19:32:53Z")
> [@RickJay](#): > > … > I mean, does it suck for the Blue Jackets? Yeah, it does. But look, if they can’t win a single game in their opening series - after losing seven of their last ten regular season games - **how good are they, really?** Great team in 2016, but they’re above .500 in one of their last four calendar months. Maybe they’re not really all that good. > Ultimately the Stanley Cup champion will have to bear four teams and win sixteen games. Nobody gets an easy path. If Columbus is a legitimately good team they’ll be back next year. That’s all fair and valid, but notching their first ever Stanley Cup playoff series win would have been huge for the CBJ locally. Not that beating Ottawa would have been a foregone conclusion, by the way. I’m certain the CBJ would struggle to beat anyone right now. ---
**Author:** ![Chisquirrel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6bbea6/32.png) [@Chisquirrel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chisquirrel)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2017, 9:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2017-stanley-cup-playoffs-thread/784278/45 "2017-04-17T21:09:53Z")
> [@ThisSpaceForRent](#): > > Well then…let’s hope they keep him safe till Wednesday night!! My son just scored us some tickets. > > I DO NOT expect the Wild to roll over and play dead but it would be GREAT to see the BLUES sweep it at home…We will be one section over from the Towel Guy. Nothing would make me happier in regards to the NHL as for the Wild to end with the same number of postseason wins for the year as the Red Wings. Being a Wings fan in Minnesota is almost as bad as being a Packers fan. They really don’t give a shit about the Timberwolves - I get off easy for the Bulls. ---
**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:** [April 18, 2017, 2:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2017-stanley-cup-playoffs-thread/784278/46 "2017-04-18T02:10:07Z")
Holy shit Toronto. I never expected this. Keep it up boys. You’re playing phenomenally! Brian Boyle, what a great last minute aquisition. Kadri, channeling Doug Gilmour. Kapenen, take that Kessel!! Fun, fun, fun. Sent from my adequate mobile device using Tapatalk. ---
**Author:** ![Ike\_Witt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ike_witt/32/283_2.png) [@Ike\_Witt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ike_Witt)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2017, 2:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2017-stanley-cup-playoffs-thread/784278/47 "2017-04-18T02:17:43Z")
It is a really good thing that I don’t bet on sports. ---
**Author:** ![Rysto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ecccb3/32.png) [@Rysto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rysto)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2017, 3:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2017-stanley-cup-playoffs-thread/784278/48 "2017-04-18T03:08:57Z")
Erik Karlsson is nuts. I seriously have no words for what he’s doing to the Bruins right now ---
**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:** [April 18, 2017, 3:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2017-stanley-cup-playoffs-thread/784278/49 "2017-04-18T03:17:49Z")
> [@Rysto](#): > > Erik Karlsson is nuts. I seriously have no words for what he’s doing to the Bruins right now Karlesson is the real deal. He’s Bobby Orr, and he’s Paul Coffey. He’s that good. Sent from my adequate mobile device using Tapatalk. ---
**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:** [April 18, 2017, 3:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2017-stanley-cup-playoffs-thread/784278/50 "2017-04-18T03:18:51Z")
> [@Leaffan](#): > > Karlsson is the real deal. He’s Bobby Orr, and he’s Paul Coffey. He’s that good. > > Sent from my adequate mobile device using Tapatalk. Sent from my adequate mobile device using Tapatalk. ---
**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:** [April 18, 2017, 3:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2017-stanley-cup-playoffs-thread/784278/51 "2017-04-18T03:19:54Z")
Can’t figure out editing in Tapatalk. Sorry. Sent from my adequate mobile device using Tapatalk. ---
**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:** [April 18, 2017, 12:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2017-stanley-cup-playoffs-thread/784278/52 "2017-04-18T12:17:35Z")
Every team I had any interest in this year, since the Stars already fell on their heads, lost in OT last night. I give up. It’s baseball season now, and the Texas Rangers won 7-0 last night. I think I’m going to let hockey go for the year, as much as it hurts. I do have to say that channel-hopping from a hockey game (wild, heart pounding excitement) to a baseball game is sort of like dropping a quaalude. But restful. ---
**Author:** ![Ike\_Witt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ike_witt/32/283_2.png) [@Ike\_Witt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ike_Witt)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2017, 12:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2017-stanley-cup-playoffs-thread/784278/53 "2017-04-18T12:28:06Z")
Man, the Ducks are in the Flames heads. I can only hope that the experience will serve them well in the future. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2017, 12:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2017-stanley-cup-playoffs-thread/784278/54 "2017-04-18T12:59:55Z")
> [@Leaffan](#): > > Karlesson is the real deal. He’s Bobby Orr, and he’s Paul Coffey. He’s that good. Orr maybe not. But he’s a greater player than Paul Coffey, I’ll absolutely agree with that. If Karlsson had played in the 1980s he’d have scored a hundred points every yea, and might well have won the “NHL Scoring Champion For People Not Named Gretzky” award. In deciding who should win the Hart Trophy, there’s a rather obvious argument for Karlsson; there isn’t a player in the league whose absence would be worse for his team than Karlsson’s. If the Penguins don’t have Sidney Crosby they’d still be a damn good team. If the Senators don’t have Erik Karlsson they would have finished fourteenth. Karlsson is allegedly hurt. That is difficult to comprehend, because it’s hard to believe how one could play more brilliantly. I don’t think Ottawa has one chance in thirty of winning the Stanley Cup - they are up on Boston but are not dominating them by any means, must face vastly superior opponents to get that far, and at the start of the playoffs could have been strongly argued to have been the worst of the 16 teams that made it - but God, I hope they do someday for this guy’s sake. ---
**Author:** ![K364](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/k364/32/5_2.png) [@K364](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/K364)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2017, 1:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2017-stanley-cup-playoffs-thread/784278/55 "2017-04-18T13:47:22Z")
MON, OTT, TOR, and EDM all strike back and lead their series 2-1. CAL loses three one goal games. ---
**Author:** ![Ike\_Witt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ike_witt/32/283_2.png) [@Ike\_Witt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ike_Witt)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2017, 2:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2017-stanley-cup-playoffs-thread/784278/56 "2017-04-18T14:21:14Z")
> [@K364](#): > > CAL loses three one goal games. The way that they have lost the last two games have been just gut wrenching. ---
**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:** [April 18, 2017, 10:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2017-stanley-cup-playoffs-thread/784278/57 "2017-04-18T22:19:21Z")
The Predators have been a joy to watch. They have held the Blackhawks scoreless in 8 of 9 periods plus an OT. Rinne, the goalie, was suppose to be the weak point and has been outstanding. He has as many points (2 assists) in the series as the Hawks have goals. I don’t live in Nashville but have visited and been to a couple of their games. What a job by the franchise to adapt hockey to the community. Clinics and free skates to the youths. A country band behind the goal between periods. This season they sold out every game. This was a place where it was said hockey was doomed to fail. Listening to the crowd, they know their hockey. THAT’S how to build a franchise. The owners knew that a lot of northerners were moving to Nashville and they saw that a market was there. Then they developed and expanded it. The fans are great! If you want to travel with your team what better place to visit than Nashville? Yes, you will see a lot of opponents jerseys but it is all good competition. It doesn’t hurt to have Carrie Underwood step in unscheduled and go full Preds fan by singing the national anthem, wear her husband Mike Fisher’s jersey, and paint her nails in team colors. Go Predators! It’s nice to see a franchise do things right. ---
**Author:** ![Rysto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ecccb3/32.png) [@Rysto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rysto)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2017, 11:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2017-stanley-cup-playoffs-thread/784278/58 "2017-04-18T23:23:58Z")
Rinne? [Yeah, I guess he’s doing okay](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TwMtGBqUqpo). I’m happy for the Predators and their fans. It’s too bad either they or the Blues have to go out in the next round. ---
**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:** [April 19, 2017, 12:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2017-stanley-cup-playoffs-thread/784278/59 "2017-04-19T00:44:48Z")
> [@Rysto](#): > > Rinne? [Yeah, I guess he’s doing okay](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TwMtGBqUqpo). > > I’m happy for the Predators and their fans. It’s too bad either they or the Blues have to go out in the next round. Yea, the punishment of sports. Only one team gets to win the last game of the season. ---
**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:** [April 19, 2017, 3:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2017-stanley-cup-playoffs-thread/784278/60 "2017-04-19T03:08:19Z")
Well, back to Pittsburgh, I guess. _sigh_ [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2017-stanley-cup-playoffs-thread/784278.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2017-stanley-cup-playoffs-thread/784278.md?page=4)