Caps win game six, game seven Wednesday. Once again the question of which “version” of the teams shows up. Each team has seemed overwhelming in three of the games.
I know that I’m in the minority but I don’t like the tendency to not call penalties in the playoffs. I respond to the “let the players decide the outcome” with “make sure they decide a hockey game not a street fight”. It seems like from period to period there is uncertainty as to what will be called which leads to the players testing the limits. It drifts out of control until a relatively minor infraction is called to settle things. It also means that non-judgement calls like delay of game start to have a disproportionate influence.
Tampa Bay coach Jon Cooper thinks I’m right:
Teams are already moving into the 2018/19 season; the Islanders, for instance:
Mr. Lamoriella has some good history:
So let’s see how he does with his first, most important job:
If Tavares signs again with the Islanders, I’ll give Lamoriello all the credit in the world. The Islanders have been a train wreck for over a decade and their constant arena debacles only rival the Coyotes.
The Islanders are the team that gave Rick DiPietro an insane contract. At least if the overpay Tavares, it would be worth it.
Game 1 of round four will be Monday.
Yep. Knights get home ice against the Caps; Lightning get it against the Knights.
I’ve said all along that the Lightning are the #1 top-rated opponent of the Knights. Very similar play styles, very high level of talent and several years experience working together for some of them, especially including the Tampa Bay Rangers contingent.
I’d much rather face the Caps and home ice is just another reason.
Whatever they are paying Holtby, it isn’t enough.
Whatever it is, he’s definitely earning it tonight. (According to this site, he’s earning $7 million this season)
3:43 left but lemme say it: 'grats Caps!
As a DC sports fan I don’t know what to do with these feelings. They confuse mr.
Greatest Stanley Cup final matchup in a long while.
If the Knights win, it’ll be the American version of Leicester City. Well, not quite.
As a Caps fan, it’s about damn time.
I grew up a Caps fan, but i was living in Las Vegas up until a few months ago and adopted the Golden Knights as my local team. I’m equal parts elated and confused. My heart is still with Washington, but I think I’m mostly going to root for fun hockey.
Like, '74-'75 Caps?
Mr. Low would like to have a word with you.
Not that far back. I’m almost as old as the franchise, but I didn’t move to the area until '83, so I missed those earliest years. Never saw Ron Low on the team, but Craig Laughlin rented the house I grew up in for a couple of years.
Interesting stat: Tampa Bay scored 28 seconds into the second period of game 5 and never scored again. 159 minutes of shutout hockey.
Las Vegas sportsbooks are looking at pretty big losses if Vegas wins. They started out at 500/1 and are now 11/10.
I think the odds are stacked against Premier League teams outside of the big ones far more than they are in the NHL. And, of course, Vegas didn’t win the Presidents Trophy, which is the equivalent of what Leicester City did.
Still, I’ll be enthusiastically cheering for Vegas in the Stanley Cup final.
Practice was packed today; standing room only; people were standing at the windows to the rink 3 deep even. Saw Bill Foley (the owner) watching from one of the offices for quite a while. The crowd sang “Happy Birthday” to Cody Eakin. Marc-Andre Furry made an appearance.
The Knights were pretty revved up and in good spirits: lots of energy during drills & lots of smiles during stretches. A couple of the guys looked particularly good, but I’ll save any comments on that until after the season is over. 