The only thing that made it dramatic is that the camera lost the puck. That's it. Chicago was already up in the series. If that puck didn't go in, someone else would have finished. Tonight blows that out of the water.
- buffalofan19

and that was the first buzzer beater in over a decade... it was one of the best finishes ever. No doubt. But many many championship games havent been like that

Who knows maybe we get some good karma for finishing out strong and we get a top 3 pick. This year's lottery nothing is guaranteed. I'm happy with how this team has played the 2nd half
- Smittyx36

Absolutely . Big increase in pts from last season. Add another 10-20 more next season ?

Absolutely . Big increase in pts from last season. Add another 10-20 more next season ?
- cabin

It would be fitting for us to win the lottery now that we've abandoned the tank. You know someone a bit further back will probably jump up into one of those top 3 slots. It would be beautiful if it was us.

Basketball also has the ability to have a 40 point blow out that's over by halftime, which was also featured in the final 4. You rarely see multi goal blow outs in playoff hockey.

That finish was an outlier for the championship game, not the normal
- sbroads24

The 44 point blowout of Villanova over Oklahoma was the largest margin of victory in a Final Four. That's an outlier as well. And it wasn't just the championship game that had this. The UNI-Texas Finish, the Notre-Dame SFA finish, in the first two rounds (among others) rank up there as well.

The 44 point blowout of Villanova over Oklahoma was the largest margin of victory in a Final Four. That's an outlier as well. And it wasn't just the championship game that had this. The UNI-Texas Finish, the Notre-Dame SFA finish, in the first two rounds (among others) rank up there as well.
- buffalofan19

That's 3 finishes out out of over 60 games.

Basketball is a great sport, but it also can be a very boring sport. Considering this is the sport that can take literally upwards of 20 minutes to complete the final minute of a game. That's the only sport you will find that does that.

and that was the first buzzer beater in over a decade... it was one of the best finishes ever. No doubt. But many many championship games havent been like that
- Smittyx36

Like I said, it's not just the Championship game. The entire tournament is good for at least a couple of those every year. They just don't always happen in the Final.

That's 3 finishes out out of over 60 games.

Basketball is a great sport, but it also can be a very boring sport. Considering this is the sport that can take literally upwards of 20 minutes to complete the final minute of a game. That's the only sport you will find that does that.
- sbroads24

Football can do that as well.

Every sport has its boring moments. If buzzer beaters like last night happened all the time, they wouldn't be that special. My point is that the way the game is structured lends itself to the ability to have a finish like that. No other sport is like that.

I still like the Stanley Cup Playoffs better. No team ranked less than 8 has ever won the NCAA championship since they moved to 64(or more) teams. So no team in the bottom half of the bracket has won. But a good number of teams in the bottom half of the bracket in the NHL have won. Only 12 teams ranked lower than 3 have even made it to the championship game since 1985 with only 4 winning.
- Wetbandit1

Yes, but unlike basketball, there are only 16 teams in hockey playoffs. If you took those basketball "top 3" in a 16 team tournament as opposed to 64 (or 68 now), they would be ranked lower.

Football can do that as well.

Every sport has its boring moments. If buzzer beaters like last night happened all the time, they wouldn't be that special. My point is that the way the game is structured lends itself to the ability to have a finish like that. No other sport is like that.
- buffalofan19

Agreed, and it's great when it happens. But half of the games also have terrible, drawn out endings.

Football is nowhere near that extreme. I would actually argue that football has the most exciting finishes of any of the major sports.

Game winning drives are more common, and usually take skill or great play from a QB. It isn't just a sometimes random, lucky shot

I don't think any sport that has a playoff series format is as exciting as those that have a win or go home setup. There's a reason why Game 7's of a series are always so fun to watch, and that's because no matter what one team moves on and the other goes home. That happens in every single game in the NCAA tournament. Ditto the NFL playoffs.

Until NCAA teams (or NBA, MLB, NFL, whoever) have to battle for 2 months, playing nearly every other day while enduring inevitable (often serious) injuries and alternate-travel every other game, with games often lasting 4+ hours, in order to win a trophy...then another sport will match the intensity and drama of the Stanley Cup playoffs, to me at least.

My take on NCAA hoops=too many teams to keep track of to make an investment in, except for rooting for teams in my brackets.
- LandlordTom

The NBA undergoes pretty much the exact same playoff schedule. And the notion that NBA players are wimps and aren't physical is a complete fabrication. I never realized it until I watched a game live. These guys are as big as linebackers, but they can move.

I love hockey. It's my favorite sport, but the badmouthing of basketball from, especially from hockey circles, makes zero sense to me.

Like I said, it's not just the Championship game. The entire tournament is good for at least a couple of those every year. They just don't always happen in the Final.
- buffalofan19

I mean same can be said for NHL playoffs. Game winners in OT happen often. Both are fantastic to watch. For me hockey will always be the best playoffs

The NBA undergoes pretty much the exact same playoff schedule. And the notion that NBA players are wimps and aren't physical is a complete fabrication. I never realized it until I watched a game live. These guys are as big as linebackers, but they can move.

I love hockey. It's my favorite sport, but the badmouthing of basketball from, especially from hockey circles, makes zero sense to me.
- buffalofan19

Yea but they are completely different. In the NBA, there are like 2 maybe 3 teams tops in each conference that have a shot in hell at making it to the finals. The 1st round is usually a joke.

In the NHL the 1st round is a blood bath. It's probably the best round of them all

The 44 point blowout of Villanova over Oklahoma was the largest margin of victory in a Final Four. That's an outlier as well. And it wasn't just the championship game that had this. The UNI-Texas Finish, the Notre-Dame SFA finish, in the first two rounds (among others) rank up there as well.
- buffalofan19

that's a big word for this site

that's a big word for this site
- homiedclown

Carrier+ Baptitste+ 2nd for OEL

Carrier+ Baptitste+ 2nd for OEL
- sbroads24

conditional 7th needs to come back

Justin Bailey has been summoned from the minors.
Ryan O'Reilly is listed as questionable for Tuesday's match, so Baily could play against the Hurricanes. He has produced 19 goals and 43 points in 64 games during his AHL rookie season.

Justin Bailey has been summoned from the minors.
Ryan O'Reilly is listed as questionable for Tuesday's match, so Baily could play against the Hurricanes. He has produced 19 goals and 43 points in 64 games during his AHL rookie season.
- SABRES 89

You mean Devils right ?

You mean Devils right ?
- cabin

we traded Bailey straight up for Bergeron

You mean Devils right ?
- cabin

https://s-media-cache-ak0...c842d7ef21b52539cbc60.jpg

https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/236x/36/37/d4/3637d4c9edfc842d7ef21b52539cbc60.jpg
- homiedclown

Needed that RPG

that's a big word for this site
- homiedclown

$20 says he feels good that you wrote this

$20 says he feels good that you wrote this
- Der Kaiser

$20 + Bailey for Hall?

$20 says he feels good that you wrote this
- Der Kaiser

$20 + Bailey for Hall?
- sbroads24

No way, the $20 is "untouchable"