I am thinking two more series end tonight.
I think Carolina easily beats the Caps. I’m a bit more unsure about Stars/Jets but momentum favours the Stars and Hellebuyck hasn’t really stepped up at all.
Welp, your lack of certainty on the Stars was well placed. I wouldn’t say we played a terrible game, but it wasn’t good, and almost no luck went our way. Hopefully it works out better for us on Sat.
I’m not a fan of the Stars getting shut out for a third time… where has all the depth scoring gone? The good news is that the Stars are favoured and the Jets have not won in the playoffs as the underdog, and they have lost 10 road playoff games in a row.
Ok, Leafs, that was impressive! Matthews stepping up exactly when he needed to.
Nice, Game 7 here we come.
I’m pleasantly surprised. However, I am waiting for them to look down like Wile E Coyote.
Pretty good game so far, Hellebuyck avoiding the yips so far on the road.
Yeah. Its been a great game so far.
Stars in conference finals for third straight year.
As a Stars fan I am thrilled with the win.
As a human I really feel for Scheifele.
OK, I had pretty much lost interest in hockey over the past few years, but damn, this Game 7 between the Leafs and the Panthers is definitely worth firing up the TV and some popcorn! For those who don’t subscribe to Sportsnet, according to the NHL site it will also be broadcast free over the air on CBC (7:30 PM EDT).
ETA: And Game 7 will be a home game for the Leafs. This is one I wish I had tickets for.
Man, that was one hell of a defensive battle. As far as figuring out which goalie to use for the US in the Olympics, I think it was a wash. Both came up with amazing saves. Great game.
Scheifele surely had a bad day. If he can take any comfort in it, the penalty he took was surely worth it.
Reminder that Game 7 in the Leafs-Panthers matchup is tonight at 7:30 EDT. For Canadian fans, it’s on SportsNet but I’m pretty sure the CBC will be carrying it, too.
I’m surprised the Panthers didn’t dominate the series. Oh well, if the Leafs follow their historical pattern, they will blow this one. At least I won’t be there in person to be really pissed off once again!
Watching now on CBC. No score after the first period despite the Panthers initially outshooting the Leafs 7-0 in the first half before the Leafs evened it out, and Panthers getting a powerplay in the final two minutes of the period. Bobrovsky is a fantastic goalie for the Panthers. The Leafs got more chances than they deserved and Bobrovsky stopped them all.
That third goal seemed clearly offside. I’m in a bar with no sound - why didn’t the Leafs challenge?
Well, I see that the hapless Leafs are true to form! 
With apologies to all dedicated Leafs fans – I was one once, and just got fed up with all the disappointments.
So, the second period – Panthers outshoot the Leafs 14-1, second period ends with the Panthers leading 3-0, and really should have been 4-0 but the fourth Panthers goal was waved off for what I think were not legitimate reasons. They thought the puck was kicked in, but the replay showed it wasn’t. Paul Maurice was not happy.
I missed that precise moment of the action, but there was nothing from the commentators suggesting it should have been a no-goal.
What happened to @Leaffan?
Sadly, the most predictable Leafs outcome.
That Game 3 blown lead is going to sting for a very long time.
It’s not just that they keep losing; it’s just the nature of large pro sports teams that, mathematically, some have to lose for many decades.
It’s the total lack of heart when crunch time comes.
Another 6-1 loss at home, the fans having already largely left.
I absolutely agree, though what you describe as “lack of heart” I’ve described as a culture of complacency from the top down in an organization that has always been rolling in money and has an unswervingly loyal fan base no matter how bad their performance. If the arena is always completely sold out, and the waiting list for season tickets is measured not in years but in generations, and you always get preferential TV coverage, and you’re making more money than you know what to do with, what motivation is there to be a winning team?
Tonight’s game fulfilled my prediction, and is a perfect example of why I’m no longer a Leafs fan. If I had been, I probably would have pulled all the stops to get tickets to that Game 7. And if I had done that, I would have been among the fans booing and leaving early, bitterly disappointed once again, though I wouldn’t have been among those throwing stuff on the ice.
I remember being at a playoff game where the Leafs were eliminated just like they were tonight and there was a cheerful announcement over the PA: “Thanks for being a fan. See you all next season.” The unspoken part being “… when we screw our fans all over again.”
I’m surprised the Leafs pulled the goalie at around the 4-minute mark. I know they were desperate, but really, what was the point? With a team as strong as the Panthers an empty-net goal was practically guaranteed, and indeed I think it took less than 60 seconds before the Panthers were up 6-1 and Woll was back in net.