- AdamFrench

I would have went with all the powerhouses if I could but I don't like the strategy of picking all middle players on good teams.

Someone is always going to chose an upset and that's usually the guy who wins.

So we need a point tonight to guarantee we don’t play the Av’s in the third round, is that correct?
- Canada Cup

If I am mathing correctly:

A win tonight gets us 79 points, tied with Florida. We would win on the first tie-breaker (wins in regulation), meaning we finish fourth. As Vegas and Colorado are 1st and second seed, we would avoid either of them until the Stanley Cup).

A single point tonight drops us to 5th place, but since Carolina and Florida are in the same division, we couldn't finish lower than 3rd seed in the final four.

A loss tonight and Pittsburgh is ahead of us on the 3rd tie-breaker - meaning we could slip to fourth if they are the ones who come out of the East (and one of Colorado/Vegas and one of Carolina/Florida win their divisions).

Regardless of outcome tonight, we finish ahead of Washington (2nd tiebreaker) and Minny if they win tonight (1st tiebreaker).

- AdamFrench

I can see the Islanders beating Pittsburgh.

If Minnesota wins, that would be a huge upset in my book.

I have Carolina facing Colorado in the cup final.

They are quietly very (frank)ing good.
- Scabeh

CAR is a really good team.

Looking at the divisions that's easily the toughest one.

Didn't want to touch Tampa...Florida can beat them

I would have went with all the powerhouses if I could but I don't like the strategy of picking all middle players on good teams.

Someone is always going to chose an upset and that's usually the guy who wins.
- Santo_44

Interested to see Pens vs Isles. Isles were fading down the stretch, but Varly has been a Vezina level goalie all season and that's the type of poop that can derail a run really quickly.

Interested to see Pens vs Isles. Isles were fading down the stretch, but Varly has been a Vezina level goalie all season and that's the type of poop that can derail a run really quickly.
- AdamFrench

Pitt is the poster child of the type of team the Islanders can beat.

During the draft no one was taking Isles guys. At that point I was either to take Foligno type players on the Leafs or Colton type players on Tampa...I went with Isles top players.

Just finished my picks on nhl.com

Toronto beating NYI in finals

I have Carolina facing Colorado in the cup final.

They are quietly very (frank)ing good.
- Scabeh

Every year for the last 3 years I've been a huge fan of the way Carolina plays. The zomboni-driver game notwithstanding, Brind'amour has that team playing a smothering high octane forecheck and great smothering defense in their own zone. They are ON you. As evidenced by David Ayres, the goalie isn't even necessarily important if you can't break through them.

That said, their weaknesses are that their goaltending is a bit unproven (Nedeljkovic could be the real deal - he was always expected to be - but this is the first time he's shown it for any stretch) or below average - but it's supplemented by having one of the best, if not the best, defense group in the league. And that their offense is probably average at best. Aho is probably the closest to a game breaker they have; maybe Svechnikov is there now. I'm not saying they don't have good guys like Trocheck, Niederreiter (is that correct?) or even Necas . . .

Carolina plays a style that smothers and kills fluid offensive teams (Tampa, Toronto, Florida) or teams that don't have players who make quick and good decisions with the puck.

I think the reason the Bruins have beaten Carolina is that they play a similarly smothering game that starts in the neutral zone. They have a less aggressive forecheck, but they are harder to play against. Boston is also a mature team. They don't panic against the high pressure forecheck and they know where each other are, which makes escaping the forecheck with numbers an advantage for them.

Other than being a year more experienced and the possible emergence of Nedeljkovic, what has changed for Carolina that takes them past Boston or a team like Boston?

Every year for the last 3 years I've been a huge fan of the way Carolina plays. The zomboni-driver game notwithstanding, Brind'amour has that team playing a smothering high octane forecheck and great smothering defense in their own zone. They are ON you. As evidenced by David Ayres, the goalie isn't even necessarily important if you can't break through them.

That said, their weaknesses are that their goaltending is a bit unproven (Nedeljkovic could be the real deal - he was always expected to be - but this is the first time he's shown it for any stretch) or below average - but it's supplemented by having one of the best, if not the best, defense group in the league. And that their offense is probably average at best. Aho is probably the closest to a game breaker they have; maybe Svechnikov is there now. I'm not saying they don't have good guys like Trocheck, Niederreiter (is that correct?) or even Necas . . .

Carolina plays a style that smothers and kills fluid offensive teams (Tampa, Toronto, Florida) or teams that don't have players who make quick and good decisions with the puck.

I think the reason the Bruins have beaten Carolina is that they play a similarly smothering game that starts in the neutral zone. They have a less aggressive forecheck, but they are harder to play against. Boston is also a mature team. They don't panic against the high pressure forecheck and they know where each other are, which makes escaping the forecheck with numbers an advantage for them.

Other than being a year more experienced and the possible emergence of Nedeljkovic, what has changed for Carolina that takes them past Boston or a team like Boston?
- Monkeypunk

Considering how young their core is, I think 1 more year of experience and better goaltending can make a huge difference.

Oh and Svechnikov won't be injured by Chara again?

I have Carolina facing Colorado in the cup final.

They are quietly very (frank)ing good.
- Scabeh

I went all in on them last year in a playoff draft pool. Obviously didn't work out but you could see that team was going to be good.

I have Carolina facing Colorado in the cup final.

They are quietly very (frank)ing good.
- Scabeh

Quietly?

They beat the Leafs last year using a boot for a goaltender.

Just finished my picks on nhl.com

Toronto beating NYI in finals
- mr.sir

Isles over Avs. Roger implodes.

Just finished my picks on nhl.com

Toronto beating NYI in finals
- mr.sir

Islanders ain’t going to the finals, they may beat the Pens but I’m not touching that series.

I went all in on them last year in a playoff draft pool. Obviously didn't work out but you could see that team was going to be good.
- Aetherial

Picked 4 players from them.

I wanted more Leafs players but they were getting plucked off like crazy

At one point I had the option between Thornton and Kaprizov.

Every year for the last 3 years I've been a huge fan of the way Carolina plays. The zomboni-driver game notwithstanding, Brind'amour has that team playing a smothering high octane forecheck and great smothering defense in their own zone. They are ON you. As evidenced by David Ayres, the goalie isn't even necessarily important if you can't break through them.

That said, their weaknesses are that their goaltending is a bit unproven (Nedeljkovic could be the real deal - he was always expected to be - but this is the first time he's shown it for any stretch) or below average - but it's supplemented by having one of the best, if not the best, defense group in the league. And that their offense is probably average at best. Aho is probably the closest to a game breaker they have; maybe Svechnikov is there now. I'm not saying they don't have good guys like Trocheck, Niederreiter (is that correct?) or even Necas . . .

Carolina plays a style that smothers and kills fluid offensive teams (Tampa, Toronto, Florida) or teams that don't have players who make quick and good decisions with the puck.

I think the reason the Bruins have beaten Carolina is that they play a similarly smothering game that starts in the neutral zone. They have a less aggressive forecheck, but they are harder to play against. Boston is also a mature team. They don't panic against the high pressure forecheck and they know where each other are, which makes escaping the forecheck with numbers an advantage for them.

Other than being a year more experienced and the possible emergence of Nedeljkovic, what has changed for Carolina that takes them past Boston or a team like Boston?
- Monkeypunk

They have Mrazek too, is he back?

Islanders ain’t going to the finals, they may beat the Pens but I’m not touching that series.
- Garnie

I think they go deep....but I have a hard time thinking they can go to the cup.

I dont like much of the "west" though. VGK is a team I see flopping and I think too many people are sleeping on Minny.

Picked 4 players from them.

I wanted more Leafs players but they were getting plucked off like crazy

At one point I had the option between Thornton and Kaprizov.
- Santo_44

Which 1 did you take?

Ya that’s what I’m thinking. Biggish table. We have the couches all set up and the tv. All the gas fire tables seem to be around 50-65,000 btu which I’m assuming is how much heat it gives off. I just don’t know if that would keep it warm enough to sit around in a week if it cools down to 7-10 degrees at night.
- bryant

Gas tables are pretty weak - not a lot of warm unless your sitting really close. Best heat option (short of burning wood) is the overhead hanging heaters. Get the best BTU you can and hang them above and they'll shoot the heat directly down at the couches. Even the stand up heaters are pretty week unless you get into the big commercial versions.

I think they go deep....but I have a hard time thinking they can go to the cup.

I dont like much of the "west" though. VGK is a team I see flopping and I think too many people are sleeping on Minny.
- Santo_44

I don’t see them beating the Pens and if they do that’s it. Not beating Caps or Bruins IMO

Which 1 did you take?
- Garnie

Kaprizov

I think Minny has a shot against Colorado.

And regardless if he goes 2 rounds he is smashing Thorntons point totals if Leafs go 3 or 4 rounds.

I don’t see them beating the Pens and if they do that’s it. Not beating Caps or Bruins IMO
- Garnie

I just dont think the Pens are good...but I agree with you on the second part.

I just took their players because they were there and saw good value.

I don’t see them beating the Pens and if they do that’s it. Not beating Caps or Bruins IMO
- Garnie

Pens have lost 7 of their last 8 playoff/play in games.

Kaprizov

I think Minny has a shot against Colorado.

And regardless if he goes 2 rounds he is smashing Thorntons point totals if Leafs go 3 or 4 rounds.
- Santo_44

assuming Minny gets past Vegas...

assuming Minny gets past Vegas...
- drexel

They won't.

assuming Minny gets past Vegas...
- drexel

Thats what I meant, not Colorado