Wanna blog? Start your own hockey blog with My HockeyBuzz. Register for free today!
 

Thoughts on the Playoffs So Far

April 19, 2019, 1:48 PM ET [46 Comments]
James Tanner
Blogger • RSSArchiveCONTACT
The Arizona Coyotes did not make the playoffs.

Unfortunately for them, their magic ran out and they lost the season in the last couple of weeks were they just could not buy a goal.

The team clearly needs to get a few top line scorers, but overall, we like where they're at.

In the meantime, the playoffs are ongoing and, as everyone knows, the first round is the best round.

This year's round one has not been disappointing in the least.

The Leafs and Bruins are playing a great series in which the two most evenly matched teams, and the two teams with the most to complain about - format wise - have played (to no one's surprise) an evenly matched four games.

The officiating in this series has been atrocious for it's lack of consistency.

Two main problems being that refs rely far too much on "even-up calls" which really screws over the team that doesn't normally take penalties; and the "let them play" mentality that forces games to get out of control to the point where one of the Leafs best players gets suspended.

Like almost all authority figures, the refs suck!



The Flames are paying the price for not addressing their goalie situation.

The Jets are inexplicably not as good as they are on paper or can be on occasion. This team is a mystery.

There is nothing more I can add about the Lightning that hasn't been said. That's just how hockey goes sometimes, but four games!!!

Just a thought: maybe a team that has a PP shooting percentage in the 20%s (the only team) and wins 75% of their one-goal games (way ahead on that one too) isn't as good as their record suggests.

Not that they're not still the best team in hockey, but just that the difference between them and the Leafs, Bruins, Jets, Flames and Predators is probably overblown.

What else?

Don Cherry used to be my idol, and I still love watching him talk and have massive respect for him, but his ability to obstinately say whatever is on his mind, without any regard for reality, loses some of it's charm in the age of the internet troll.

Still, he's a playoff tradition and I like seeing him in the middle of the week.

The Sharks played game one like a potential cup champion, then completely fell apart. Too bad they didn't get a goalie! I still like them for the series win!

Finally let's talk Islanders, a sweep of the Penguins?

Maybe the Islanders are bette......oh what's that? Robyn Lehner saved 96% of the shots in the series. Nevermind.

It wouldn't be wrong to give the Hart, the Vezina, the Jennings, Calder, Norris and Selke to Robyn Lehner.

Even though I have some serious issues with certain things he has said, let's give it up for the guy who is having the season of his life after finding sobriety. That's something to be proud of and we should all be cheering for him.

And let's give it up also for John Tortorella. Next thing you know, I'll be writing about how much I love Theo Fleury and Dave Poulin at this rate, but like a guy or not, if you're gonna cover hockey, you've got to acknowledge when people do awesome things.

Tortorella deserves the Jack Adams for beating the Lightning. Even though they decide before the playoffs start, they should undecide.
Join the Discussion: » 46 Comments » Post New Comment
More from James Tanner
» I am Just Curious If This Works
» NHL At Least Tries to do the Right Thing
» The NHL Cannot Remain Apolitical and Must Show Leadership
» Time for a New Coach to Go Along with the New G.M
» Coyotes Eliminated Following Severe Beating