# NHL Playoffs 2025 **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Tags:** hockey-nhl\ **Created:** [April 18, 2025, 3:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nhl-playoffs-2025/1017160 "2025-04-18T03:06:01Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 11
**Author:** ![mnemosyne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c4cdca/32.png) [@mnemosyne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mnemosyne)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2025, 3:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nhl-playoffs-2025/1017160/201 "2025-06-07T03:19:35Z")
> [@scabpicker](#): > > But I just hate McDavid’s face for some reason, so I can’t root for him. I don’t hate his face, because for some reason I find it completely forgettable. I’m a little faceblind in general, but one thing I know for a fact is that in any context whatsoever I consistently fail to recognize him whenever he’s on camera. Like, _within the same game_ the camera will focus on him and I won’t be sure it’s him. You think I’d learn that He Who I Don’t Recognize is McDavid, but so far, no luck on that. Matthews makes me profoundly uncomfortable. Marchand makes me angry but also has that annoying “you little shit” charm when he does something useful in international play. But while I’m all in on McDavid for his talent, his face is a blank spot for me. I swear during the 4 nations tournament he had a clone on Team Canada. … Corey Perry just sent the game to OT. ---
**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:** [June 7, 2025, 4:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nhl-playoffs-2025/1017160/202 "2025-06-07T04:31:38Z")
> [@mnemosyne](#): > > I’m a little faceblind in general, but one thing I know for a fact is that in any context whatsoever I consistently fail to recognize him whenever he’s on camera. Hehehe, I’m pretty face blind too, but I never fail to recognize him. > [@mnemosyne](#): > > Corey Perry just sent the game to OT. And Marchand just ended it in double OT. Damn, that was another tight game between these two teams, wonderful one to watch. ---
**Author:** ![mnemosyne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c4cdca/32.png) [@mnemosyne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mnemosyne)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2025, 4:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nhl-playoffs-2025/1017160/203 "2025-06-07T04:37:42Z")
I haven’t been watching closely, but flipped to the game after the Alouettes game ended and decided to watch it. Definitely some fun hockey to watch! I’m somewhat “meh” about both teams, but the Canada factor and my nephew idolizing McWhatshisface makes me pull for the Oilers. Tough loss, and I definitely had a reflexive “fuck Marchand” at the end! ---
**Author:** ![Spoons](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spoons/32/3141_2.png) [@Spoons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoons)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2025, 5:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nhl-playoffs-2025/1017160/204 "2025-06-07T05:29:34Z")
> [@wolfpup](#): > > That would be my advice to @Spoons, too, or at least, that’s what I would do. Judging from the raucous crowds inside and outside the arena during Game 1, any sports bar in the area will be a madhouse! I’d turn on the TV, order room service, and invite friends in the area to join me. 🏒 Actually, the hotel bar, while not a sports bar, had the game on. It was surprisingly quiet. Not many people there, so I just went in there. I wasn’t feeling too adventurous about finding a real sports bar, especially after it took my taxi an hour from the airport (construction on Highway 2 northbound; backups for miles), and I just wanted to stop. And the hotel bar was there, it had cold beer and food, and it did the job nicely. The barman was great to talk with; we traded comments about the game. Sad to see the outcome though. I think I’d put it down to fatigue more than anything else. Double overtime between two hard-fighting teams; somebody was going to make a mistake sooner or later. Well, the series isn’t over yet. ---
**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:** [June 7, 2025, 10:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nhl-playoffs-2025/1017160/205 "2025-06-07T10:53:44Z")
That was a great game. Marchand is such a clutch player in these games. ---
**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:** [June 7, 2025, 12:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nhl-playoffs-2025/1017160/206 "2025-06-07T12:51:03Z")
> [@Spoons](#): > > Well, the series isn’t over yet. Very far from over, indeed. Tied 1-1, and both games won in overtime by a lucky bounce of the puck. It’s soon going to tip one way or the other, but the seemingly unstoppable Panthers may have finally met their match. I’ll say one thing though – both Bobrovsky and Skinner are fantastic goalies, well deserving of being on championship teams. I’m fascinated by goaltenders – it’s a unique position on a hockey team, and has its own subculture and superstitions. Back in the days when my son and I were both enthusiastic Leafs fans, he had a big poster of his hero, Curtis Joseph (“Cujo”) on his bedroom wall, and a signed picture of him. ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2025, 1:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nhl-playoffs-2025/1017160/207 "2025-06-07T13:33:47Z")
After he was traded from Boston I wasn’t sure I’d still root for the Little Ball of Hate, but I can’t help it. My 99 year old dad ended up a Panthers fan, so I guess I am now as well. ---
**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:** [June 7, 2025, 4:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nhl-playoffs-2025/1017160/208 "2025-06-07T16:07:22Z")
> [@Telemark](#): > > …Little Ball of Hate… Originally Pat Verbeek. Despite Panthers’ win, had a half-decent overall takeaway in that the Oilers tied it up with with only 17.8 seconds left in regulation, showing Florida that Edmonton can play a full 60 minutes. (well, apart from the second period, which was super duper hard to watch, I must admit, with play in the Oilers’ zone for about oh, 90% of the time? it seemed.) Grossest moment (other than Marchand’s winner) - first period, a replay of our good buddy Sam Bennet in the sin bin, soon joined by Tkachuk, who sits down next to him and then pats the front of SB’s jersey. _In slow motion._ 🤢 ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2025, 6:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nhl-playoffs-2025/1017160/209 "2025-06-07T18:03:11Z")
> [@Guest-starring\_Id](#): > > Originally Pat Verbeek. Sure, but he had a Big Ball of Hate. Marchand did it all on his own. 🙂 ---
**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:** [June 7, 2025, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nhl-playoffs-2025/1017160/210 "2025-06-07T18:29:27Z")
> [@Telemark](#): > > …Big Ball of Hate Ah yes - good ole Ray Ferraro, IIRC. (serviceable colour commentator now) ---
**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:** [June 10, 2025, 2:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nhl-playoffs-2025/1017160/211 "2025-06-10T02:27:17Z")
4-1 Panthers right now and I’ve lost interest. I’m upstairs listening to the action from the TV downstairs, but there’s no way the Oilers can recover this one. **Five** power plays for the Panthers so far, FFS! One of the commentators used a very appropriate word to describe the OIlers’ play in this game: “sloppy”. ETA: Hey, great! 5-1 Panthers now. 🙁 ---
**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:** [June 13, 2025, 7:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nhl-playoffs-2025/1017160/212 "2025-06-13T07:20:30Z")
I know someone started a separate thread about the Oilers, but this is the NHL playoffs thread and this belongs here. What an incredible Game 4! It was 3-0 for the Panthers in the first 20 minutes and I’d pretty much given up. But damn, the Oilers evened it out in the second period and won it in OT, once again with a great goal by Leon Draisaitl. Seems that Skinner was having an off night in goal and got pulled after the first period. It happens. But he’s been fantastic through most of the series and I’d like to see him back on Saturday. ---
**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:** [June 13, 2025, 7:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nhl-playoffs-2025/1017160/213 "2025-06-13T07:28:16Z")
Wow, I was out of town for work this week, but another crazy set of games. I’m still predicting we’ll see a game seven in this series. ---
**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:** [June 13, 2025, 7:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nhl-playoffs-2025/1017160/214 "2025-06-13T07:38:28Z")
> [@scabpicker](#): > > I’m still predicting we’ll see a game seven in this series. We’re now in a best-of-three Stanley Cup final. A Game 7 would be fantastic and seems fairly likely. What a treat for Edmonton, since it would be on home 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:** [June 13, 2025, 8:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nhl-playoffs-2025/1017160/215 "2025-06-13T08:04:12Z")
Yep, game sevens are the best, OT in game sevens are even better, and it is even tastier when it’s the final game for the cup. Since I only barely care who wins, and home ice doesn’t make _that_ much difference most of the time, I don’t care where it is. 🤡 ---
**Author:** ![Spoons](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spoons/32/3141_2.png) [@Spoons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoons)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2025, 8:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nhl-playoffs-2025/1017160/216 "2025-06-13T08:37:34Z")
Well, at the race book this evening, among the TVs that were showing horse racing, one was on the Oilers game. And it was getting more attention than the racing was, to be honest. It was a great game. Edmonton’s comeback from being down three goals, and then winning in overtime—wow! Now, it’s a best-of-three. Yeah, I’ll be watching. Well, I’ll keep an eye on the racing as well. 😉 ---
**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:** [June 13, 2025, 11:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nhl-playoffs-2025/1017160/217 "2025-06-13T11:45:26Z")
That really was an impressive comeback. Pickard has to start game 5, doesn’t he? One last HNIC, and it does not have the potential of a US team winning the Cup in Canada. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2025, 11:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nhl-playoffs-2025/1017160/218 "2025-06-13T11:49:51Z")
> [@Ike\_Witt](#): > > That really was an impressive comeback. Pickard has to start game 5, doesn’t he? I’d be stunned if he didn’t. Skinner has been bad, Pickard was great last night. ---
**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:** [June 13, 2025, 1:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nhl-playoffs-2025/1017160/219 "2025-06-13T13:38:39Z")
> [@wolfpup](#): > > A Game 7 would be fantastic and seems fairly likely. What a treat for Edmonton, since it would be on home ice! > [@scabpicker](#): > > Yep, game sevens are the best, OT in game sevens are even better, and it is even tastier when it’s the final game for the cup. I’ll be happy to see Oilers take the next two games and just parade the damn Cup around the Panthers’ rink, if it came to that. As that second period got under way, I was telling my g/f that the puck needs to stay out of the Oilers zone, and it was a nice sight to them constantly bringing the puck back out of their zone again and again without too much ado. Heh, lucky break for Oils in OT when Pickard just barely got his glove on a Sam Bennet shot that then proceeded to go off the crossbar. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2025, 2:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nhl-playoffs-2025/1017160/220 "2025-06-13T14:34:57Z")
Sportsnet says last night was the first time since 1919 that an away team in the Finals has come back from three goals down to win. That seems impossible to me. 3-goal comebacks aren’t common but geez, it’s been a century. You’d think especially in the goal-happy 80s this would have happened once, right? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nhl-playoffs-2025/1017160.md?page=10) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nhl-playoffs-2025/1017160.md?page=12)