43 replies to this topic

[DuffMan]

Pens/Kings

[ChaosLex]

Let's go Bruins!

[You Play to Win the Game]

I love the NHL Playoffs. Seriously, it's epic, it never disappoints.

 

But, 16 teams and 2 months of playoffs is just too damn much.

 

For as physical as the game is, I can't believe they play as many as 28 more games, on top of the 82 they already play.

 

Could any of you see the NHL shortening it's playoffs at some point? Honestly, I don't see it happening, but if it did happen, it'd probably be a concussion type issue, which is going to eventually change the sports landscape universally at some point.

 

What I'd like to see is a 12 team playoffs with the first round being the wild card teams and being a best of 3. The 2nd round should be a best of 5, and the conference finals and Stanley Cup Finals best of 7.

 

Again, I realize it will never happen. Just thought it'd still be fun for discussion purposes.

[You Play to Win the Game]

Hawks win 2-1 and go up 1-0... Bruins dominate the Penguins 3-0 and also go up 1-0.

[Oriole85]

I love the NHL Playoffs. Seriously, it's epic, it never disappoints.

 

But, 16 teams and 2 months of playoffs is just too damn much.

 

For as physical as the game is, I can't believe they play as many as 28 more games, on top of the 82 they already play.

 

Could any of you see the NHL shortening it's playoffs at some point? Honestly, I don't see it happening, but if it did happen, it'd probably be a concussion type issue, which is going to eventually change the sports landscape universally at some point.

 

What I'd like to see is a 12 team playoffs with the first round being the wild card teams and being a best of 3. The 2nd round should be a best of 5, and the conference finals and Stanley Cup Finals best of 7.

 

Again, I realize it will never happen. Just thought it'd still be fun for discussion purposes.

I'd like that as well, like you said it won't happen especially in hockey because they know how much bigger the playoffs are compared to the regular season for the casual fan. Many don't even start watching until the playoffs.

 

I'm not so sure, I'd shorten the series as much as you, aside from maybe the first round, but I like the idea of making it more exclusive.

 

I know many like the upsets, but why not make the regular season more relevant? 

[You Play to Win the Game]

Bruins lead the Pens 5-1 with 4 mins left in game 2, about to take a 2-0 series lead before heading back to Boston. What the hell?

[You Play to Win the Game]

Boston completes the sweep of the Penguins. Crazy. Didn't see Boston having much of a chance, much less to come and sweep Pittsburgh. They just completely stymied the Pens attack, and the Pens defense crapped the beds the first 2 games of the series... which being at home, was pretty much all she wrote.

 

Lots of Pens fans think Bylsma is on the hot seat... and may even be gone this week. 

[You Play to Win the Game]

I mean, Boston goes from being down 4-1 in the 3rd period of game 7 of the 1st round vs. the Maple Leafs, to the Stanley Cup Finals vs. Chicago or LAK (probably Chicago). That's just crazy. 

[Oriole85]

I mean, Boston goes from being down 4-1 in the 3rd period of game 7 of the 1st round vs. the Maple Leafs, to the Stanley Cup Finals vs. Chicago or LAK (probably Chicago). That's just crazy. 

Not a Bruins fan at all, but this is reason #10879779 why I love sports. I remember when their obituary was being read, now pretty close to winning it all.

[Markus]

Just glad the Pens are out. 

[BSLChrisStoner]

Grantland: How disappointing was your team's NHL's team playoff run this year?
http://www.grantland...f-run-this-year

[DuffMan]

Saw an amazing stat last night on the ticker.  Jarmoir Jagr makes a return to the Cup Finals last night for the first time in 21 years.  This is the largest gap in finals apperances by a player in all 4 major sports.

[Oriole85]

Saw an amazing stat last night on the ticker.  Jarmoir Jagr makes a return to the Cup Finals last night for the first time in 21 years.  This is the largest gap in finals apperances by a player in all 4 major sports.

And the Ray Lewis gap seemed like a lot. That is a great stat. Seems like almost every player of my childhood is now retired. Not sure if I really count Moyer since he wasn't exactly a superstar, when Ken Griffey retired it was the end of an era.

[Oriole85]

No one wants to talk about the 3 OT hockey game... that was something. I thought the Bruins deserved to lose, they had more than enough chances (not that the Blackhawks didn't have some earlier).

[DJ MC]

Jaramir Jagr is not allowed to retire. He must continue to play, being that of all the stars of the era I became truly aware of sports (1992, give or take) he is--best as I can tell--the last one standing.

 

Keep going, Jagr! Keep me from feeling too old!

[You Play to Win the Game]

This has been an amazing series so far... 3 of the first 4 games have gone to OT, with the series tied 2-2. Some epic come backs in the 3rd periods of games 1 and 4 to take the game to OT as well. 

 

So it's knotted at 2, effectively making this a best of 3 with 2 of those games coming in Chicago.

 

Who ya got?

 

I'm going to go with the Blackhawks.

[Oriole85]

So Bruins win the next game to force a Game 7?

[mweb08]

So that was an exciting 17 seconds!

[DJ MC]

Oh my God! The Blackhawks just scored two goals in 17 seconds, and with under a minute left may have won the Cup!

[DJ MC]

The Blackhawks win!