NHL Playoffs 2023

Joe Pavelski was a huge part of the Sharks teams I followed religiously like everyone in San Jose. I’m still a fan of his, but I’m so glad his big night was ultimately a losing effort. Go Kraken, let’s keep this thing going!

Depth for the win. Perfect style for a team named for a sea monster.

Wow, was not expecting the Canes to absolutely dominate tonight.

Vegas/Oilers is must see hockey. Vegas up 3-1in a first period dominated by offence.

Back to back 4 goal efforts by a player on the losing team.

Leon Draisaitl, Edmonton, May 3 2023
Joe Pavelski, Dallas, May 2 2023

This is just the Devils luring them into the trap – go down two games to zero, losing by 5-1, then win in 7. If they lose again by 5-1, the Canes really better watch out!

2-0, the most dangerous lead in hockey, right?

Haha! It definitely was for the Rangers.

Speaking of 2-0, Leafs out in force early on against the Panthers.

And now 2-2!

And it finished 3-2 Panthers. I guess the Leafs have the series exactly where they want it, right? Right?

The Kraken couldn’t win a face-off to save their lives and looked tired in general. They split the Dallas games, and that’s pretty good. Taking home-ice isn’t much of an advantage for them, though.

Heh, I was gonna say that the Stars did better away from home this season. I didnt realize the Kraken seem to have around the same ratio of home/away wins.

Previously predicted … :grin:

Now the Leafs may well recover – their traditional chronic laziness can be put aside sometimes when the talent they have is actually motivated – but these first two losses were home games!

NY Rangers ‘part ways’ with Gerard Gallant.

The Oilers seem under-rated this year. I would say they are the odds-on favorite to win the cup this year. Consider:

The Oilers have the best player in the world, and maybe even the best two players in McDavid and Draisaitl, both if whom are having career high seasons, both in the regular season and the playoffs.

Multiple Oilers players are having career-best seasons this year: Zach Hyman, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins (104 pts, previous best, 70), Klim Kostin, Darrell Nurse, a couple of others.

The Oilers have the best power play in NHL history this year.

Draisaitl is on a scoring pace not seen since 1918. The record for playoff goals is 19. After seven games, Draisaitl has 13 goals already. 7 more and he’s the highest playoff scorer in NHL history.

The Oilers have scored more goals than any other team this season - by 24 goals.

The knock on the Oilers was goaltending and defense. But rookie goalie Skinner is playing great and is a candidate for rookie of the year, and landing Ekholm on defense has been a major improvement. After the Ekholm trade, the Oilers went 18-2-1 in the playoff stretch.

And yet, the Oilers don’t seem to get a lot of attention, and are still rated as only 3rd or so to win the cup, even with Boston out. Why? How are they not the favorites at this point?

:grin:

Lots of talent. Infinite money. Zero motivation.

That final Panthers goal in OT was a thing of beauty though.

Holy freaking crap. I think the Kraken has been released.

3 goals so fast I can barely keep track.

Final score, 7-2. Hot damn.

Ooof, yeah, right in the dangly bits. Well, there’s at least a few more games.

The Kraken chased Oettinger, then proceeded to score on their first shot at his backup - shorthanded.

16 different goal scorers for them now. Grubauer may get a goal at this rate.