Exactly, they’ve been under the radar all season with all the attention on Tampa Bay. I’d love to see Columbus take out Tampa in the first round in what would surely be one of the greatest NHL playoff upsets of all time.
I’m amazed how Columbus is handling Tampa. Everything that was good for Tampa in the regular season seems to have evaporated.
Keep in mind it was just game one, though.
From an individual standpoint, kinda pullin for 37-year-old Mike Smith, who got his first play-off shut-out. Who cares about his ugly, mottled face - the league’s best puck-handling goalie will hopefully not get pulled in any of the series he plays.
Missed edit again.
Sorry, I meant to say Mike’s face is pock-marked.
This is NOT funny. Not funny at all. 
Pittsburgh and Winnipeg are crashing.
and Tampa Bay !!!
LETS GO BLUES…St LOUIS BLUES…wooo hooo
Take THAT! 
The Islanders haven’t been up 2-0 in a playoff series since 1983! It will be weird having a few beers around noon on Sunday, but I feel it’s my duty as a fan.
I think it’s funny that there are fewer NHL fans on this board than, for example, fans of some obscure 16th century battle or something. There are so many obscure topics on this board that get more attention than a thread about the NHL playoffs. This place is odd.
I fully admit I only have a passing interest in the Capitals because they are unquestionably the best pro sports team in town, by A LOT, but true to being a native Washingtonian, I naturally just care much more about the shitty Redskins, the shitty Orioles (I grew up with them, and not the Nats), and even the shitty Wizards (DC United is not even on the radar). I can’t help it, it’s how I was raised. 
I do enjoy watching hockey games, even though I don’t always 100% understand what the announcers are saying, but without cable it’s almost impossible to see games on TV. It’s better during the playoffs of course, but even then, I only get the weekend games. If an important game is on during the week and it’s not the finals, I’m most likely shit outta luck.
I’ve never really gotten this either. I grew up in Maryland in the 70s and 80s - not exactly a hotbed of hockey. I think I’ve been ice skating exactly once. But hockey grabbed me like no other sport did. I can honestly take or leave the fighting; it’s the grace, the athleticism, and most of all, the speed of the sport that caught me and didn’t let go. I get different tastes and interests and all, but I will never not believe that playoff hockey is without a question, the most exciting post-season event in all of sports. (And sudden-death overtime postseason hockey just takes it to whole 'nother level).
Yeah, that was a pretty unhinged game, tons of fun to watch.
Aside from that: Wow, Columbus. Never saw that coming.
I’m thinking that because there are so many places to discuss sports online these days that many people just don’t turn to the SDMB or any message board for their sports discussions these days. Even the NFL weekly threads don’t get the attention they would have ten years ago. Whereas there aren’t as many places to discuss obscure 16 century battles online.
I agree with all of this. To which I’ll add that personally I also find the experience of attending a live NHL game to be an event unlike in any other sport. I’m not sure I can pinpoint all the reasons why, it’s just a rock concert kind of atmosphere. I don’t go to games as much as I used to, but there was always this sense of excitement and anticipation.
VGK should be really pleased for getting Mark Stone - great all-around player.
Heh, Sharks going 1 for 8 on the PP - that won’t get you far in the play-offs, and then rubbing salt in their own wound by giving up two shorties.
This and Tor/Bos are the only series I see going 7.
Kucherov suspended for Game 3. Time for the Bolts to panic?
I’m happy with the split in Boston.
When we got him, I texted my friends: Now I have to get another jersey.
The Stars power play picked a bad time to dry up. 0-6, just one would have changed the game.
I decided midway through this game that neither the Stars nor the Preds are going to go far in the playoffs as both of them have terrible power plays. That game should have ended 6 to 5 if they could score on pp. But the Stars are going home having won one and forced OT in one, which is a lot better than I expected/feared before the playoffs began.
I don’t expect us to go far this year but OMG when you see how Heiskanen and Hintz are playing in their first playoffs it certainly gives me hope for next year and the next few years. 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.