# NHL April 2019/ Playoff Thread **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [April 2, 2019, 3:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nhl-april-2019-playoff-thread/831923 "2019-04-02T15:04:43Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Sir\_T-Cups](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ed655f/32.png) [@Sir\_T-Cups](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sir_T-Cups)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2019, 1:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nhl-april-2019-playoff-thread/831923/61 "2019-04-14T13:01:52Z")
> [@DCnDC](#): > > Kucherov suspended for Game 3. Time for the Bolts to panic? Time to panic has passed. It started about the end of the first period in game 2. ---
**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 14, 2019, 2:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nhl-april-2019-playoff-thread/831923/62 "2019-04-14T14:31:40Z")
> [@kayT](#): > > I live in Cedar Park where the Texas Stars AHL team plays and have a very vivid memory of seeing Roope Hintz break loose and fly down the ice to score a tie-breaker goal, and I look forward to many more of those. The kid is FAST. Nice, Cedar Park is a great place. I was just a stones throw from 1431 when I lived in the area. ---
**Author:** ![RitterSport](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rittersport/32/6326_2.png) [@RitterSport](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RitterSport)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2019, 6:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nhl-april-2019-playoff-thread/831923/63 "2019-04-14T18:56:16Z")
Isles up 3-0!!! No offense, **Guin** , but the crowd at the Coliseum is much better than the Pittsburgh crowd. When the Isles were looking to the Pens, they were as loud as ever. During the regular season, when they were losing (and lost) to the Leafs, the crowd was in it the whole time. The Barclays Center crowd, on the other hand, usually has as many fans from the opposing team. Anyway, dare I hope for a sweep? ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2019, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nhl-april-2019-playoff-thread/831923/64 "2019-04-14T19:45:16Z")
WOOT! [We got Gusev](https://www.nhl.com/goldenknights/news/vegas-golden-knights-sign-forward-nikita-gusev-to-entry-level-contract/c-306751654)! If we win tonight (at home), we’ll be up 2-1 in the series when he plays his first game as a Knight. Things are looking _real_ good! ---
**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 14, 2019, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nhl-april-2019-playoff-thread/831923/65 "2019-04-14T19:59:39Z")
Well, it looks like Kadri will be suspended. Five games is my guess. If the Leafs play another five games. ---
**Author:** ![Shoeless](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shoeless/32/7099_2.png) [@Shoeless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shoeless)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2019, 8:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nhl-april-2019-playoff-thread/831923/66 "2019-04-14T20:37:41Z")
OK, somebody 'splain something to me. I have not been paying much attention to hockey this year, but last time I checked (early in the year), my hometown boys the St Louis Blues were doing a pretty good job of holding down last place in the division. How the hell did they manage to get into the playoffs, and how are they up 2-0 in their series? ---
**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 14, 2019, 8:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nhl-april-2019-playoff-thread/831923/67 "2019-04-14T20:46:22Z")
> [@Shoeless](#): > > OK, somebody 'splain something to me. I have not been paying much attention to hockey this year, but last time I checked (early in the year), my hometown boys the St Louis Blues were doing a pretty good job of holding down last place in the division. How the hell did they manage to get into the playoffs, and how are they up 2-0 in their series? I don’t watch a lot of St. Louis games, but from my understanding they had some injuries earlier on, and once the team got healthy they started playing really well. Their play in the last couple of months has been great. ---
**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 14, 2019, 8:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nhl-april-2019-playoff-thread/831923/68 "2019-04-14T20:54:12Z")
Oh. And BInnington has been tremendous ---
**Author:** ![Hampshire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hampshire/32/4887_2.png) [@Hampshire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hampshire)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2019, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nhl-april-2019-playoff-thread/831923/69 "2019-04-14T20:58:30Z")
> [@Shoeless](#): > > OK, somebody 'splain something to me. I have not been paying much attention to hockey this year, but last time I checked (early in the year), my hometown boys the St Louis Blues were doing a pretty good job of holding down last place in the division. How the hell did they manage to get into the playoffs, and how are they up 2-0 in their series? The Western Central was pretty crappy this year. Chicago sucked all year, the Wild turned to crap halfway through the year, Avs never lived up to their potential, and even Nashville and Winnipeg started struggling down the stretch. All a team had to do was play semi-decent hockey to get in and that’s what St.Louis did. ---
**Author:** ![wolfpup](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpup/32/10618_2.png) [@wolfpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfpup)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2019, 9:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nhl-april-2019-playoff-thread/831923/70 "2019-04-14T21:16:05Z")
> [@Leaffan](#): > > Well, it looks like Kadri will be suspended. Five games is my guess. If the Leafs play another five games. In case anyone wasn’t aware of the reason: > **[ANALYSIS | History repeats itself as Leafs' Kadri loses cool against Bruins |...](https://www.cbc.ca/sports/hockey/nhl/toronto-maple-leafs-boston-bruins-game-2-analysis-1.5097401)** > > Nazem Kadri was suspended three games last playoffs for an illegal hit. One year later, on those same sideboards, the Maple Leafs centre is facing another ban after cross-checking Bruins forward Jake DeBrusk in the face. Previous asshole-ism by the same player: > **[Leafs surprised by length of Nazem Kadri's suspension | CBC Sports](https://www.cbc.ca/sports/hockey/nhl/nhl-leafs-nazem-kadri-suspension-reaction-1.4620208)** > > The Toronto Maple Leafs expected Nazem Kadri to be suspended a game or two for his hit on Tommy Wingels in the 5-1 loss that opened their first-round playoff series with the Boston Bruins. ---
**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:** [April 14, 2019, 9:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nhl-april-2019-playoff-thread/831923/71 "2019-04-14T21:50:54Z")
> [@Leaffan](#): > > If the Leafs play another five games. They will. > [@Shoeless](#): > > OK, somebody 'splain something to me. I have not been paying much attention to hockey this year, but last time I checked (early in the year), my hometown boys the St Louis Blues were doing a pretty good job of holding down last place in the division. How the hell did they manage to get into the playoffs, and how are they up 2-0 in their series? Heard a few rumblings that their performance changed thanks to this [Dec. 10 scrap at practice](https://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/nhl/blues-teammates-robert-bortuzzo-zach-sanford-fight-practice/) between Robert Bortuzzo and Zach Sanford. Young vs. old, with the old pounding home the way it’s gotta be. Former player Nick Kypreos tells of how the Rangers’ fortunes picked up sometime in the early 90’s after Messier, in the dressingroom, picked up a player so that his feet were dangling. And then this offering from that nutty character Pat Falloon, about Burtuzzo/Sandord: > [@](#): > > **from link:** Forward Pat Maroon rather enjoyed it. > > “That’s part of hockey, right?” Maroon said. “We’re still teammates. Sometimes people get heated and frustrations build up. I love that stuff. I think it’s great. That’s me though. I don’t know if anyone else likes it.” I can just picture him saying that with his goofy grin. Also, of course: > [@Leaffan](#): > > Oh. And BInnington has been tremendous > [@Hampshire](#): > > All a team had to do was play semi-decent hockey to get in and that’s what St.Louis did. And as it turns out, a lot more than semi-decent: since early Jan., they’ve been the league’s second-most winning team, going 26-9-4 and becoming the seventh team since expansion in 1967 (which was also when the Blues joined the NHL) to make the postseason after being in last place after New Year’s Day. Amazing. ---
**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:** [April 14, 2019, 9:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nhl-april-2019-playoff-thread/831923/72 "2019-04-14T21:58:42Z")
missed edit window: That should be “Maroon”, not “Faloon”. ---
**Author:** ![Shoeless](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shoeless/32/7099_2.png) [@Shoeless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shoeless)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2019, 10:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nhl-april-2019-playoff-thread/831923/73 "2019-04-14T22:36:42Z")
> [@Guest-starring\_Id](#): > > \ > And as it turns out, a lot more than semi-decent: since early Jan., they’ve been the league’s second-most winning team, going 26-9-4 and becoming the seventh team since expansion in 1967 (which was also when the Blues joined the NHL) to make the postseason \*\*after being in last place after New Year’s Day. \*\* > Amazing. My bolding. Yeah, that’s about when I gave up on them. That’s quite a turnaround! They also fired their coach about a third of the way into the season, right? (Of course now I’m afraid to start watching… as soon as I do they’ll surely tank!) ---
**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:** [April 14, 2019, 11:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nhl-april-2019-playoff-thread/831923/74 "2019-04-14T23:03:41Z")
> [@Shoeless](#): > > My bolding. Yeah, that’s about when I gave up on them. That’s quite a turnaround! They also fired their coach about a third of the way into the season, right? > > (Of course now I’m afraid to start watching… as soon as I do they’ll surely tank!) Not even a quarter of the way into the season former Flyer and apparently extreme yeller Craig Berube took over. When he first got there, he had sandpaper-y one-on-one meetings in his office with every player, and got them to toughen up especially with winning more battles along the boards, as well using a more aggressive 1-2-2 neutral zone alignment, encouraging the defensemen to hold their lines, and occasionally move up on the play (to be a fourth offensive player, say, while relying on a forward to pitch back for him, if required). Oh start watching again, for chrissakes. ---
**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:** [April 14, 2019, 11:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nhl-april-2019-playoff-thread/831923/75 "2019-04-14T23:13:34Z")
ACK! Final missed window edit, like, ever: That should say “pinch”, not “pitch”. ---
**Author:** ![dalej42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2019, 1:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nhl-april-2019-playoff-thread/831923/76 "2019-04-15T01:37:31Z")
The Blue Jackets will have the Lightening in an elimination game, who saw this coming? ---
**Author:** ![dogbutler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dogbutler/32/428_2.png) [@dogbutler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dogbutler)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2019, 1:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nhl-april-2019-playoff-thread/831923/77 "2019-04-15T01:49:09Z")
> [@dalej42](#): > > The Blue Jackets will have the Lightening in an elimination game, who saw this coming? Would I believe they and the Pens might lose? Sure. Would I believe they would both be down 3-0? Nah. Kinda wish the Canes had lost(or won) one more game now.😉 ---
**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 15, 2019, 4:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nhl-april-2019-playoff-thread/831923/78 "2019-04-15T04:35:27Z")
Aren’t the Lightning the favorites to win the Cup this year? And the Jackets the underdogs? This is absolutely insane! > [@RitterSport](#): > > Isles up 3-0!!! > > No offense, **Guin** , but the crowd at the Coliseum is much better than the Pittsburgh crowd. When the Isles were looking to the Pens, they were as loud as ever. During the regular season, when they were losing (and lost) to the Leafs, the crowd was in it the whole time. > > The Barclays Center crowd, on the other hand, usually has as many fans from the opposing team. > > Anyway, dare I hope for a sweep? You don’t need to tell me – I was completely disgusted. I hope if we lose on Tuesday, (and we probably will, if we keep going like we are) people don’t desert like that. Ugh. (And usually we don’t! That’s just it. Like last year, when we fell to the Caps, people kept yelling “LET’S GO PENS!!!” I don’t know what the fuck happened. Flyers fans, on the other hand, just kept booing at throwing beer cans at the ice) ---
**Author:** ![scabpicker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scabpicker/32/8268_2.png) [@scabpicker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scabpicker)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2019, 5:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nhl-april-2019-playoff-thread/831923/79 "2019-04-15T05:32:07Z")
> [@Guinastasia](#): > > Aren’t the Lightning the favorites to win the Cup this year? And the Jackets the underdogs? This is absolutely insane! Yep, but that’s really what keeps me with the NHL, the fact that it’s usually insane. Luck figures into ice hockey in a way that it doesn’t in any other sport. To possibly misquote Nate Silver - “It’s not that hockey players aren’t good, but the game keeps how good they are from determining the outcome of a game”. Some nights or weeks a player just isn’t as lucky as they had been before, and no matter what they do, the puck doesn’t go in. It’s harsh, but it’s also why once you get to the playoffs, anything can happen. ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2019, 8:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nhl-april-2019-playoff-thread/831923/80 "2019-04-15T08:17:04Z")
Woot! We’re up 2-1 and next game we get Gusev! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nhl-april-2019-playoff-thread/831923.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nhl-april-2019-playoff-thread/831923.md?page=5)