GO JETS GO!!!! 
NHL '14/'15 Thread
- Thread starter Jagger69
- Start date
- Status
Seen the final score. Erasing my DVR.
Jagger69
Three lullabies in an ancient tongue
GO JETS GO!!!!
I'm putting everyone here on notice that WHEN (not if) the Jets make the playoffs, they are going to be a handful for whomever draws them in the first round (right now, it's the Blues). They are big, fast, physical and they have a goaltender who is on fire right now. I like 'em a lot as a dark horse to win it all. They need to shore up their discipline as they take way too many penalties and they get a little sloppy on the defensive side from time to time but overall this is a team that was made for the playoffs. They don't get a lot of press since they are the classic prairie wheatfield small-market team but these guys are for real....take it to the bank.
Thank God the Hawks and Preds both stumbled as well yesterday so the division is still in our hands. The Central Division is BY FAR the best in the NHL.
Jagger69
Three lullabies in an ancient tongue
By the way, the disallowed goal by Stastny due to an extremely questionable slashing call in the second period was the definitive turning point in that game last night. Had the Blues scored the typing goal as most of us rooting for the Note believe they should have, the outcome of that game might have been way different. Anyway, no "mights" and "could haves" in hockey so it is what it is and on to Thursday night we go but I felt that a mild protest is definitely in order because the officiating in that game was horrible both ways.
Also, kudos to a gritty Edmonton team for bushwhacking the Kings and putting their playoff hopes in a very precarious position last night. The Oilers haven't had much cause for celebration this season so last night has to be one of the highlights of the year for them. :thumbsup:
Also, kudos to a gritty Edmonton team for bushwhacking the Kings and putting their playoff hopes in a very precarious position last night. The Oilers haven't had much cause for celebration this season so last night has to be one of the highlights of the year for them. :thumbsup:
Jagger69
Three lullabies in an ancient tongue
The Kings miss the playoffs, St. Louis wraps up the Central, The Wings clinch a playoff spot and the Bruins are on the brink of elimination after it seemed like they were going to be a shoo-in a couple of weeks ago. Everything ends tomorrow and the playoffs start next Wednesday. The Blues will draw either Minnesota or Winnipeg, neither of which seem like much of a reward for winning the division. Either one of those teams could take anybody out they way they are playing. Should be awesome....!!
Well, the B's figured out a way to miss the playoffs. They don't need major changes and it wasn't Julien's doing. When the GM gives huge, long-term contracts to players and doesn't allow room to sign impact free agents, i.e. someone who can score, you end up with a team that needs a lot of things to go its way. This year, things didn't and it's time for them to play golf. Including the GM
I live just outside of Toronto. What are these playoffs you speak of?
Jagger69
Three lullabies in an ancient tongue
I live just outside of Toronto. What are these playoffs you speak of?
It's called the "Calder Cup" for you. The Marlies should have a good shot at taking out Iowa in the first round, don't you think??
:jk:It's called the "Calder Cup" for you. The Marlies should have a good shot at taking out Iowa in the first round, don't you think??
You're right Jagger69!! The Leafs are a joke, 1 playoff berth in the last 10 years. :hairpull: There's always the draft lottery to look forward to.
Jagger69
Three lullabies in an ancient tongue
It really is a shame what the mismanagement of that team has done to damage the franchise. The NHL is a better and stronger league when the Leafs are relevant and, as you point out, only a single playoff appearance in the last decade is disgraceful. I hope things turn around for you and all the other devoted Leaf fans who deserve so much better than you have gotten in recent years.
You're right again Jagger69!! The Leafs have about the highest ticket prices in the league, they are the most valuable NHL franchise & some of the most loyal fans in sports. It has been a comedy of errors since Pat Quinn left. There has been some good hockey people here, it's like they lose their brains somewhere over Lake Ontario when they're flying into town.
On a good note, Shanahan has just gassed the whole front office-Nonis on down to player development. Speculation all year has been Mike Babcock coming in as coach/GM. This re-build will take a lot of patience for Leafs fans.
It's that time!!!:
Western Conference (to be known this playoff season as the land of the first-round upsets):
Minnesota over St. Louis in 7
Chicago over Nashville in 6
Winnipeg over Anaheim in 5
Calgary over Vancouver in 5
Yes, that's right, I'm predicting ALL of the lower seeded teams to win their first-round series.
Eastern Conference:
Montreal over Ottawa in 6
Tampa Bay over Detroit in 4
NY Rangers over Pittsburgh in 5
Washington over NY Islanders in 6
Round 2:
Chicago over Minnesota in 7
Winnipeg over Calgary in 6
Montreal over Tampa Bay in 4
Washington over NY Rangers in 7
Conference Championships:
Winnipeg over Chicago in 7
Montreal over Washington in 7
Stanley Cup Finals:
Montreal over Winnipeg in 7
Not only is this my prediction, but it's also EXACTLY what I'm rooting for. Winnipeg is a bit of a long-shot and Montreal does need to get Pacioretty back (their best goal-scorer and they struggle to score goals), but I have faith. Pavelec is on fire and Carey Price has been a god all season long.
That being said, I wanna make a few additional comments: (For the first time since Ovie entered the league) I really think the Capitals are gonna be a dangerous team this postseason and may go deep; Ovechkin had his best season ever as an NHLer (not in terms of the number of goals or points scored, but certainly in terms of being a smart and complete hockey player), Holtby has come into his own and is much more experienced now, and the team has built a pretty nice and balanced roster with some character guys and experienced playoff performers. Also, if it's not gonna be the Jets out of the West, then I really hope that St. Louis does well and goes deep (unfortunately I just don't see it happening with Elliott/Allen in goal). Also, for this round (and this round only) I am a diehard Calgary Flames fan... Yep, you read that correctly, a lifelong and diehard Oilers fan is rooting for the enemy for the first round, why, you ask...? Because they're playing the only team I have ever or could ever hate more than the Calgary Flames, the Vancouver Canucks. I might paint my face with Flames colours for the first round. I am seriously rooting for them so hard in the first round. (I'm also glad that one of those two teams is guaranteed to be knocked out in the first round... almost makes up for the unfortunate fact that Montreal faces off against Ottawa in the first round, thereby guaranteeing a first-round exit for one of them as well).
Awards:
Hart Memorial Trophy: Carey Price (MON) - I shouldn't need to explain this one and there should be no arguments against.
Vezina Trophy: Carey Price (MON)
Calder Memorial Trophy: Aaron Ekblad (FLO) - I really think this should go to Johnny Gaudreau (CGY) with the way that he picked up his game after Mark Giordano went down and played a big part in carrying his team into the playoffs down the stretch, and managing to overtake Filip Forsberg (NAS) for the rookie scoring title (tied with Mark Stone (OTT)). That being said, I think it'll be Ekblad and if not, perhaps even Forsberg or Stone.
James Norris Memorial Trophy: Erik Karlsson (OTT) - offensively, Karlsson hasn't missed a beat and is the best offensive defenceman in the NHL. What's been really impressive from his this season has been his improvements on the defensive end. Remember, he won the Norris a few years back when he was an all-offence no-defence style defenceman. His giveaways have been dramatically reduced and he has played far less time in his own end this season despite playing heavy minutes against stiff competition each night out. That being said, this award could very well go to P.K. Subban (MON) this season and deservedly so.
Jack Adams Award: Barry Trotz (WAS): he has made this team better than ever, especially defensively. There are a lot of deserving candidates for this one this season though, such as Peter Laviolette (NAS), Michel Therrien (MON), Bob Hartley (CGY), Alain Vigneault (NYR), etc.
Frank J. Selke Trophy: Anze Kopitar (LAK) - or Patrice Bergeron (BOS); it's a toss-up.
Lady Byng Memorial Trophy: Anze Kopitar (LAK) - played pretty gritty, hard-nosed, defensive style of hockey and only took five minor penalties all season. Pavel Datsyuk (DET) has a chance, but he missed nineteen games this season, which I think will go against him in the end.
Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy: Kris Letang (PIT) - the guy came back from a stroke and had a killer season (and might've been the Norris winner had he not been concussed yet again and forced to miss the last couple of weeks of the regular season).
Conn Smythe Trophy: Carey Price (MON).
Let the madness begin!!!
Western Conference (to be known this playoff season as the land of the first-round upsets):
Minnesota over St. Louis in 7
Chicago over Nashville in 6
Winnipeg over Anaheim in 5
Calgary over Vancouver in 5
Yes, that's right, I'm predicting ALL of the lower seeded teams to win their first-round series.
Eastern Conference:
Montreal over Ottawa in 6
Tampa Bay over Detroit in 4
NY Rangers over Pittsburgh in 5
Washington over NY Islanders in 6
Round 2:
Chicago over Minnesota in 7
Winnipeg over Calgary in 6
Montreal over Tampa Bay in 4
Washington over NY Rangers in 7
Conference Championships:
Winnipeg over Chicago in 7
Montreal over Washington in 7
Stanley Cup Finals:
Montreal over Winnipeg in 7
Not only is this my prediction, but it's also EXACTLY what I'm rooting for. Winnipeg is a bit of a long-shot and Montreal does need to get Pacioretty back (their best goal-scorer and they struggle to score goals), but I have faith. Pavelec is on fire and Carey Price has been a god all season long.
That being said, I wanna make a few additional comments: (For the first time since Ovie entered the league) I really think the Capitals are gonna be a dangerous team this postseason and may go deep; Ovechkin had his best season ever as an NHLer (not in terms of the number of goals or points scored, but certainly in terms of being a smart and complete hockey player), Holtby has come into his own and is much more experienced now, and the team has built a pretty nice and balanced roster with some character guys and experienced playoff performers. Also, if it's not gonna be the Jets out of the West, then I really hope that St. Louis does well and goes deep (unfortunately I just don't see it happening with Elliott/Allen in goal). Also, for this round (and this round only) I am a diehard Calgary Flames fan... Yep, you read that correctly, a lifelong and diehard Oilers fan is rooting for the enemy for the first round, why, you ask...? Because they're playing the only team I have ever or could ever hate more than the Calgary Flames, the Vancouver Canucks. I might paint my face with Flames colours for the first round. I am seriously rooting for them so hard in the first round. (I'm also glad that one of those two teams is guaranteed to be knocked out in the first round... almost makes up for the unfortunate fact that Montreal faces off against Ottawa in the first round, thereby guaranteeing a first-round exit for one of them as well).
Awards:
Hart Memorial Trophy: Carey Price (MON) - I shouldn't need to explain this one and there should be no arguments against.
Vezina Trophy: Carey Price (MON)
Calder Memorial Trophy: Aaron Ekblad (FLO) - I really think this should go to Johnny Gaudreau (CGY) with the way that he picked up his game after Mark Giordano went down and played a big part in carrying his team into the playoffs down the stretch, and managing to overtake Filip Forsberg (NAS) for the rookie scoring title (tied with Mark Stone (OTT)). That being said, I think it'll be Ekblad and if not, perhaps even Forsberg or Stone.
James Norris Memorial Trophy: Erik Karlsson (OTT) - offensively, Karlsson hasn't missed a beat and is the best offensive defenceman in the NHL. What's been really impressive from his this season has been his improvements on the defensive end. Remember, he won the Norris a few years back when he was an all-offence no-defence style defenceman. His giveaways have been dramatically reduced and he has played far less time in his own end this season despite playing heavy minutes against stiff competition each night out. That being said, this award could very well go to P.K. Subban (MON) this season and deservedly so.
Jack Adams Award: Barry Trotz (WAS): he has made this team better than ever, especially defensively. There are a lot of deserving candidates for this one this season though, such as Peter Laviolette (NAS), Michel Therrien (MON), Bob Hartley (CGY), Alain Vigneault (NYR), etc.
Frank J. Selke Trophy: Anze Kopitar (LAK) - or Patrice Bergeron (BOS); it's a toss-up.
Lady Byng Memorial Trophy: Anze Kopitar (LAK) - played pretty gritty, hard-nosed, defensive style of hockey and only took five minor penalties all season. Pavel Datsyuk (DET) has a chance, but he missed nineteen games this season, which I think will go against him in the end.
Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy: Kris Letang (PIT) - the guy came back from a stroke and had a killer season (and might've been the Norris winner had he not been concussed yet again and forced to miss the last couple of weeks of the regular season).
Conn Smythe Trophy: Carey Price (MON).
Let the madness begin!!!
The Leafs have tons of money-money won't be a factor. He may want to be GM too. Will he be willing to coach a re-build?
Sabres fire coach Ted Nolan
http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/nhl-puck-daddy/buffalo-sabres-fire-head-coach-ted-nolan-232656549.html
That is just SO wrong. Hopefully Ted lands on his feet with a better gig.
http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/nhl-puck-daddy/buffalo-sabres-fire-head-coach-ted-nolan-232656549.html
That is just SO wrong. Hopefully Ted lands on his feet with a better gig.
Jagger69
Three lullabies in an ancient tongue
Kane cleared to return against the Preds in game 1 on Wednesday. Critical for Chicago, who have had a tough time finding the back of the net in recent games, to have any chance of winning the Cup. Key question is....how well will he be able to handle hits? We'll find out real soon.
http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=763111&navid=nhl:topheads
If Pacioretty returns for the Habs, he's a helluva difference maker too. Stay tuned.
http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=763111&navid=nhl:topheads
If Pacioretty returns for the Habs, he's a helluva difference maker too. Stay tuned.
NHL Draft Lottery Day. Who gets a generational player like McDavid. The Sabres have the best odds. If it somehow happens that the Leafs end up with the #1 pick, fans here will have a street named after him by Monday night. He's a Toronto kid & his dream is to play for the Leafs.
I have a feeling Washington is going to make some noise deep into the playoffs. I picked the Islanders to win the series, but watching how the Caps' size is influencing the series already, if they can stay healthy, the Caps are prime to make it to the Conference Finals.
- Status
