2019 Stanley Cup Playoffs Thread

[C-Man 27387]

The Stars are back in the playoffs for just the third time in the last 11 seasons. The Caps are defending champs but can anybody stop the Lightning? Let's get this party started!

 

Edited April 8, 2019 by C-Man

[cactusflinthead 27615]

Will Marchand lick someone this year?

 

[C-Man 27387]

Quote

The National Hockey League's playoff format has once again yielded a postseason bounty of rivalry series, potential thrillers and odd matchups that would otherwise seem like the product of a dartboard and a blindfold.

Which ones are worth your time? Trust the ESPN Hype Rankings.

 

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We rate each series based on several facets: star power, secondary plot lines, the hate factor, the controversy quotient (for potential violent acts or heinous actions), the arena atmosphere, the probability of a Game 7and, last but not least, the "Beardosity" of a series, in which the face shrubbery of players is weighed as heavily as the fame of that series' players.

Each category is given a score of 1 to 10. Now, without further explanation of a completely subjective and arbitrary process, here are the 2019 Stanley Cup Playoff Hype Rankings:

---

8. Calgary Flames vs. Colorado Avalanche

Star power: 7
Secondary plot lines: 2
Hate factor: 4
Controversy quotient: 3
Arena atmosphere: 8
Game 7 probability: 1
Beardosity: 6
Overall hype ranking: 31

The Flames have Johnny Gaudreau (a potential Hart Trophy nominee) and Mark Giordano (the favorite for the Norris Trophy) going against Nathan MacKinnon and one of the best lines in the NHL. What this series lacks, at first glance, is compelling plot lines, although there have been some contentious moments between the two teams over the past two seasons.

The biggest question looming over our ratings for this one: Does the existence of Ian Cole offset the lack of beard potential on the baby-faced Avs?

7. Tampa Bay Lightning vs. Columbus Blue Jackets

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  2019 Stanley Cup Playoffs Central: Schedule, scores, highlights, analysis

  From the first round all the way through the Stanley Cup Final, ESPN has you covered. Check out the full picture and coverage on each team.

Star power: 8
Secondary plot lines: 9
Hate factor: 1
Controversy quotient: 2
Arena atmosphere: 8
Game 7 probability: 1
Beardosity: 5
Overall hype ranking: 34

The greatest juggernaut the NHL has seen in nearly 25 years takes on an interesting, if seemingly overmatched, opponent in Round 1: the Blue Jackets, who went all-in with trade deadline acquisitions of Matt Duchene and Ryan Dzingel, and are poised to lose stars Artemi Panarin and Sergei Bobrovsky to free agency.

The previous four series the Lightning have played outside of the conference final ended in five games. Columbus has never made it out of the first round in franchise history. This could go from "interesting setup" to "wait, it's over already?" pretty quickly.

6. Winnipeg Jets vs. St. Louis Blues

Star power: 6
Secondary plot lines: 3
Hate factor: 4
Controversy quotient: 6
Arena atmosphere: 8
Game 7 probability: 7
Beardosity: 6
Overall hype ranking: 40

Although these teams boast a good number of compelling players -- including Vladimir Tarasenko, Blake Wheeler, Patrik Laine and rookie goaltending sensation Jordan Binnington -- this series has been shuffled off on American television to a network where it will preempt "Shark Tank" reruns.

The arenas will be hopping and the games could get nastier as the series goes on, but this is a series between a team that was in last place in January and a team that people had in the Stanley Cup Final before the season started (and before they tumbled into the No. 2 seed in the Central). Still, a Binnington-led upset bid could make this one interesting in a hurry.

5. Nashville Predators vs. Dallas Stars

Star power: 8
Secondary plot lines: 2
Hate factor: 6
Controversy quotient: 4
Arena atmosphere: 8
Game 7 probability: 6
Beardosity: 7
Overall hype ranking: 41

In The Crease

Postgame analysis and highlight show airing each night throughout the season from Barry Melrose and Linda Cohn. Watch on ESPN+

The Central Division's wacky final days produced this Winter Classic 2020 preview, as the Predators and Stars have a hoedown, er, showdown in the first round. Obviously, there are big names to watch on both teams, especially in goal, as Pekka Rinne and Ben Bishop could determine who advances (for better or worse). Ryan Ellis alone elevates the Beardosity here.

On the downside, there aren't a ton of compelling narratives heading into this series, outside of revisiting the fecal-based criticisms of Stars players by their team president. Given some antagonistic games between these two in recent years, this one could get a little rough, however.

4. Washington Capitals vs. Carolina Hurricanes

Star power: 7
Secondary plot lines: 8
Hate factor: 3
Controversy quotient: 9
Arena atmosphere: 7
Game 7 probability: 2
Beardosity: 6
Overall hype ranking: 42

With due respect to all the other lower-seeded teams, this is your Cinderella series. The "bunch of jerks" from Raleigh take on the reigning Stanley Cup champions, who dominated them 4-0-0 in the regular season. While there isn't much hate between these two yet, the existence of Tom Wilson in any series nearly maxes out the controversy quotient (as does the presence of outspoken Carolina owner Tom Dundon in a playoff series).

It's been a minute since we had a postseason game at the Hurricanes' home rink, so we might have underestimated the arena atmosphere. This could be a fun one. Or a short one. In either case, viva la Southeast Division, and let's watch Alex Ovechkin score more goals.

3. New York Islanders vs. Pittsburgh Penguins

Star power: 7
Secondary plot lines: 9
Hate factor: 5
Controversy quotient: 6
Arena atmosphere: 8
Game 7 probability: 7
Beardosity: 6
Overall hype ranking: 48

Do the Penguins have another Stanley Cup run in them? Their bid for a three-peat was thwarted by the Capitals in the conference semifinals last season, and the coach behind the elimination is now behind the Islanders' bench to step up a classic confrontation: Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin and Phil Kessel against the NHL's best defensive team in the regular season.

Two franchises that have some distinct playoff history, with some players who can bring a little nastiness. Playoff hockey returning to Nassau Coliseum ... if the fans there care one-tenth as much about the Penguins as they did about John Tavares' return to Long Island, it'll be intense.

2. San Jose Sharks vs. Vegas Golden Knights

Star power: 8
Secondary plot lines: 8
Hate factor: 8
Controversy quotient: 7
Arena atmosphere: 9
Game 7 probability: 8
Beardosity: 9
Overall hype ranking: 57

2019 NHL Draft

The 2019 NHL draft is June 21-22 in Vancouver, British Columbia. Get ready with the latest prospect rankings and our mock draft.

• Mock Draft 1.0
• Top 50 draft prospects
» More coverage of the NHL draft

The Golden Knights eliminated the Sharks in six delightfully physical and contentious games last season, and there's no reason to expect anything less in this rematch. There are stars on both sides, two deafening arenas and (of course) some choice playoff beards.

But the underlying plot lines here are just terrific: the Sharks having gone all-in over the past two seasons vs. a Knights team that's significantly upgraded since last season's expansion shocker. Plus, San Jose's league-worst goaltending -- it had the lowest team save percentage in the NHL -- and second-best offense against Golden Knights star Marc-Andre Fleury.

This could be the best series of the first round and perhaps the entire playoffs.

1. Boston Bruins vs. Toronto Maple Leafs

Star power: 9
Secondary plot lines: 8
Hate factor: 9
Controversy quotient: 9
Arena atmosphere: 9
Game 7 probability: 10
Beardosity: 8
Overall hype ranking: 62

There's no logical reason that the second- and fifth-best teams in the NHL should face each other in the first round (and even less logic to have either of them advance to face the No. 1-seeded Lightning in Round 2).

With that established ... how fun is this going to be?

Last year's first-round battle gave us a three-game suspension to Leafs forward Nazem Kadri for boarding in Game 1. It gave us Bruins pest Brad Marchandlicking the face of a Toronto player. It gave us a seven-game series of wild momentum swings between the oldest of old-school rivals. This year, we get John Tavares added to this feud that's produced two straight seven-game series. Let's go!

 

[PittsburghTiger 6245]

Let's Go Pens!

[cactusflinthead 27615]

Might be cooler if we could watch all the games without recording, but I'll take it. 

[UDontKnow 10507]

7 hours ago, PittsburghTiger said:

Let's Go Pens!

[Ogie Ogilthorpe 639]

Round 1               

Flames over Avs

Knights over Sharks

Preds over Stars

Jets over Blues

Lightning over Blue Jackets

Leafs over Bruins

Caps over Canes

Pens over Islanders

 

Round 2

Calgary over Knights

Jets over Preds

Lightning over leafs

Caps over Pens

 

Semis

Jets over Flames

Lightning over Caps

 

Final

Lightning over Jets 4-1

[C-Man 27387]

4 hours ago, Ogie Ogilthorpe said:

Round 1               

Flames over Avs

Knights over Sharks

Preds over Stars

Jets over Blues

Lightning over Blue Jackets

Leafs over Bruins

Caps over Canes

Pens over Islanders

 

Round 2

Calgary over Knights

Jets over Preds

Lightning over leafs

Caps over Pens

 

Semis

Jets over Flames

Lightning over Caps

 

Final

Lightning over Jets 4-1

I don't think the Jets are playing all that great right now. 

WEST

Round 1

Calgary over Colorado

Vegas over San Jose

Nashville over Dallas

St Louis over Winnipeg

Round 2

Calgary over Vegas

St Louis over Nashville

Round 3

Calgary over St Louis

EAST

Round 1

Tampa Bay over Columbus

Boston over Toronto

Washington over Carolina

Pittsburgh over NY Islanders

Round 2

Tampa Bay over Boston

Pittsburgh over Washington

Round 3

Tampa Bay over Pittsburgh

STANLEY CUP FINALS

Tampa Bay over Calgary

[EMAWesome 101]

Barring injuries to Kucherov, Hedman or Vasilevskiy  I don't see anyone stopping Tampa Bay this year.  That team is both loaded and motivated.

[C-Man 27387]

21 minutes ago, EMAWesome said:

Barring injuries to Kucherov, Hedman or Vasilevskiy  I don't see anyone stopping Tampa Bay this year.  That team is both loaded and motivated.

Read today that it's the largest gap between the overall points leader and #2 since 1977's Montreal Canadiens.

EDIT: Looks like that note is wrong. 77 MTL had a 20-point lead over #2; 19 TBY had a 21-point lead over #2

Edited April 9, 2019 by C-Man

[C-Man 27387]

LOL -- Larry Robinson was a +120 that year.

[Ogie Ogilthorpe 639]

3 hours ago, C-Man said:

I don't think the Jets are playing all that great right now. 

WEST

Round 1

Calgary over Colorado

Vegas over San Jose

Nashville over Dallas

St Louis over Winnipeg

Round 2

Calgary over Vegas

St Louis over Nashville

Round 3

Calgary over St Louis

EAST

Round 1

Tampa Bay over Columbus

Boston over Toronto

Washington over Carolina

Pittsburgh over NY Islanders

Round 2

Tampa Bay over Boston

Pittsburgh over Washington

Round 3

Tampa Bay over Pittsburgh

STANLEY CUP FINALS

Tampa Bay over Calgary

Full disclosure, I grew up in Winnipeg so a bit of a homer bias, but Byfuglien is back and healthy and they also get Morrisey back. Both key parts of their defense (and powerplay in Buff's case) that have been missing down the stretch.

1 hour ago, EMAWesome said:

Barring injuries to Kucherov, Hedman or Vasilevskiy  I don't see anyone stopping Tampa Bay this year.  That team is both loaded and motivated.

Agreed the Bolts are definitely the team to beat I don't see anyone taking a best of 7 series from them.

[C-Man 27387]

31 minutes ago, Ogie Ogilthorpe said:

Full disclosure, I grew up in Winnipeg so a bit of a homer bias, but Byfuglien is back and healthy and they also get Morrisey back. Both key parts of their defense (and powerplay in Buff's case) that have been missing down the stretch.

Agreed the Bolts are definitely the team to beat I don't see anyone taking a best of 7 series from them.

I *almost* picked the Stars to upset the Predators. I could see us winning that series or getting beat 4-0 or 4-1.

[cactusflinthead 27615]

Round 1 West

Stars over Predators 

Flames over Avs 

Blues over Jets

Sharks over Vegas

Round 1 East

Bruins over Leafs

Pens over Isles 

Wash over Car

Lightning over CBJ

Round 2 West 

Blues over Stars (I'm a homer, but really)

Flames over SJ

Round 2 East

TB over Bos

Wash over Pens

 

Conference finals

Cal v. StL, Flames win

TB v. Wash, TB wins

TB wins it all and breaks the hearts of Canadians 

 

[Beau Vine 54941]

That draft lottery didn't look rigged at all, no sirreee, no way.  NJ, NYR, and Chicago is something that David Stern wouldn't even have had the cajones to rig up.

 

[C-Man 27387]

ESPN.com expert picks: http://www.espn.com/nhl/story/_/id/26480101/2019-nhl-playoffs-first-round-stanley-cup-conn-smythe-picks

Quote

Eastern Conference

	TB-CBJ	BOS-TOR	WSH-CAR	NYI-PIT
Allen	TB in 4	TOR in 7	WSH in 6	NYI in 6
Arledge	TB in 5	BOS in 7	CAR in 6	PIT in 6
Becquey	TB in 5	TOR in 6	WSH in 5	PIT in 7
Buccigross	TB in 6	TOR in 7	WSH in 7	PIT in 7
Chandan	TB in 5	BOS in 6	CAR in 6	NYI in 5
Cohn	TB in 5	TOR in 7	WSH in 6	PIT in 6
Coller	TB in 6	BOS in 7	WSH in 6	PIT in 5
Crawford	TB in 4	TOR in 7	WSH in 6	NYI in 7
Filipovic	TB in 5	BOS in 7	WSH in 6	PIT in 7
Kaplan	TB in 6	BOS in 7	WSH in 5	PIT in 6
Kavanagh	TB in 5	BOS in 5	CAR in 7	NYI in 7
La Greca	TB in 5	BOS in 6	WSH in 5	NYI in 7
Levy	TB in 5	BOS in 7	WSH in 5	NYI in 7
Masi	TB in 5	BOS in 7	CAR in 7	PIT in 7
Matiash	TB in 6	BOS in 7	WSH in 5	NYI in 7
Melrose	TB in 6	BOS in 5	WSH in 7	PIT in 7
Peters	TB in 5	TOR in 6	WSH in 6	PIT in 6
Wyshynski	TB in 5	TOR in 7	WSH in 5	PIT in 6

Western Conference

	NSH-DAL	WPG-STL	CGY-COL	SJ-VGS
Allen	DAL in 7	WPG in 5	COL in 7	SJ in 6
Arledge	NSH in 7	WPG in 6	CGY in 5	SJ in 7
Becquey	NSH in 6	STL in 7	CGY in 4	SJ in 7
Buccigross	DAL in 7	STL in 7	COL in 7	SJ in 7
Chandan	NSH in 4	STL in 5	CGY in 4	VGS in 7
Cohn	NSH in 6	STL in 6	CGY in 5	VGS in 6
Coller	DAL in 7	STL in 6	CGY in 7	VGS in 7
Crawford	NSH in 5	WPG in 6	CGY in 5	SJ in 6
Filipovic	NSH in 6	STL in 7	CGY in 5	SJ in 6
Kaplan	NSH in 6	WPG in 7	CGY in 6	VGS in 7
Kavanagh	NSH in 6	STL in 6	CGY in 5	SJ in 6
La Greca	DAL in 7	WPG in 6	CGY in 5	VGS in 5
Levy	NSH in 6	STL in 7	CGY in 7	VGS in 7
Masi	NSH in 5	STL in 6	CGY in 5	VGS in 7
Matiash	NSH in 6	STL in 7	CGY in 6	VGS in 7
Melrose	DAL in 7	STL in 6	COL in 7	VGS in 6
Peters	NSH in 5	WPG in 7	CGY in 5	VGS in 6
Wyshynski	NSH in 6	STL in 6	CGY in 6	VGS in 7

Stanley Cup Final

	EAST	WEST	CUP	CONN SMYTHE
Allen	TB	SJ	TB	Steven Stamkos
Arledge	TB	NSH	TB	Nikita Kucherov
Becquey	TB	NSH	TB	Steven Stamkos
Buccigross	TB	SJ	TB	Nikita Kucherov
Chandan	BOS	VGS	VGS	Marc-Andre Fleury
Coller	BOS	STL	BOS	Patrice Bergeron
Crawford	TB	CGY	TB	Steven Stamkos
Filipovic	TB	SJ	TB	Nikita Kucherov
Kaplan	TB	VGS	TB	Nikita Kucherov
Kavanagh	BOS	SJ	SJ	Brent Burns
La Greca	TB	CGY	TB	Andrei Vasilevskiy
Levy	TB	VGS	VGS	Mark Stone
Masi	CAR	VGS	CAR	Petr Mrazek
Matiash	TB	NSH	TB	Andrei Vasilevskiy
Melrose	TB	VGS	TB	Victor Hedman
Peters	TB	NSH	TB	Brayden Point
Wyshynski	TB	STL	TB	Brayden Point

 

[cactusflinthead 27615]

TB lost?

[VirginiaLonghorn 4808]

Great start to the playoffs .... both Tampa and Pittsburgh lose. 

[C-Man 27387]

TB lost?

Unreal. Blew 3-0 lead. Let C-bus tie on a shortie. Couches on fire in Buckeye country.

[cactusflinthead 27615]

7 minutes ago, C-Man said:

 

Unreal. Blew 3-0 lead. Let C-bus tie on a shortie. Couches on fire in Buckeye country.

 

I saw that during intermission. Gonna have to watch the condensed version. Horking up a 3 goal lead can't set well 

[C-Man 27387]

21 minutes ago, cactusflinthead said:

I saw that during intermission. Gonna have to watch the condensed version. Horking up a 3 goal lead can't set well 

Crazy that you don't play a game that matters for a month or more and now you're down 0-1.

[alincoln 2385]

And Columbus has been in must win mode for a while. 7-1 in their last 8 games before the playoffs with a 37-14 GD.  

[vtaenz 602]

Well Chandas prediction of preds in 4 is garbage. Nice call putz.

[C-Man 27387]

Accidentally posted this in the Stars thread -- more appropriate here:

Quote

Four of five games are decided by one goal and one goes to OT. An empty-netter skewed the 5-2 game. The #1 overall seed is shocked in the East, we get Leafs-Bruins tonight -- off to a great start!!!!!

 

[vtaenz 602]

Accidentally posted this in the Stars thread -- more appropriate here:

Four of five games are decided by one goal and one goes to OT. An empty-netter skewed the 5-2 game. The #1 overall seed is shocked in the East, we get Leafs-Bruins tonight -- off to a great start!!!!!

 
It was a couple years ago when almost every game was overtime or a one goal difference.
Then the finals between the pens and preds was just a bunch of blowouts.

[VirginiaLonghorn 4808]

Caps 2-0 ... even and PP goals by Backstrom in P1. 

[VirginiaLonghorn 4808]

PP Ovie ... Caps 3-0 ... first intermission. 

Edited April 12, 2019 by VirginiaLonghorn

[BrickHorn 18333]

On 4/9/2019 at 3:50 AM, Ogie Ogilthorpe said:

Jets over Blues

Fuck you.

On 4/9/2019 at 8:42 AM, C-Man said:

Calgary over St Louis

Fuck you.

On 4/9/2019 at 6:35 PM, cactusflinthead said:

Cal v. StL, Flames win

Fuck you.

Let’s go, Blues!!!

[VirginiaLonghorn 4808]

Caps 3-0, intermission 2. 

[VirginiaLonghorn 4808]

Svechnikov even goal ... Caps 3-1 14:29 left in P3. 

[Pato del Muerto 52902]

Nice start for the B’s

[VirginiaLonghorn 4808]

Svechnikov even goal ... Caps 3-2 12:18 left in P3.

[VirginiaLonghorn 4808]

Eller empty net goal .. Caps 4-2 .. Final

[Firemans4Horn 18314]

That penalty shot by Marner was NASTY!

[C-Man 27387]

Nice win for the Leafs. I pegged them as my Eastern Conference team many, many years ago in the Doug Gilmour-then-Mats Sundin years (late 90's/early 00's) as the storied franchise that hasn't won in a long time. Toronto's blues are the best uniforms in sports IMO.

[Firemans4Horn 18314]

Avs couldn’t get out of first gear tonight. I dig the old school Flames jerseys. 

[alincoln 2385]

Couldn't have asked for a much better start to the playoffs

[vtaenz 602]

The lightning seem like 2000s Ottawa. Dominate the regular season, fold in the playoffs.

[Ghost of LL 15605]

34 minutes ago, vtaenz said:

The lightning seem like 2000s Ottawa. Dominate the regular season, fold in the playoffs.

Down 3-0 now in the 2nd.

What year was it that the Mariners won 122 games in the regular season, only to lose in the ALDS?  Yeah--feels like that.

[Beau Vine 54941]

This CBJ-TB is a little too random to be enjoyable.  Some unpredictability is good.  This is excessive.  

[Beau Vine 54941]

7 minutes ago, Ghost of LL said:

Down 3-0 now in the 2nd.

What year was it that the Mariners won 122 games in the regular season, only to lose in the ALDS?  Yeah--feels like that.

They lost in the ALCS to the Yankees.  They won the first round.  And 116 --  I know that because they hung a banner for that, and I give my friend shit about it when we go to games in Seattle.  

[Ogie Ogilthorpe 639]

Winning the presidents trophy seems to be a curse

[Pato del Muerto 52902]

Was it the early 90s when Detroit has like 120 points, before there were 3 point games, then they couldn’t beat arturs irbe and got bounced in round 1?

[cactusflinthead 27615]

On 4/10/2019 at 11:23 PM, C-Man said:

Crazy that you don't play a game that matters for a month or more and now you're down 

I started to reply to this and let it go. But, two of these in TB's barn pressed me into some looking. 

 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Presidents'_Trophy

8 times since 86 has someone won both. 

[Beau Vine 54941]

The NHL is gonna have to suspend Kucherov multiple games for that hit, too.

Tampa is in trouble.  

[VirginiaLonghorn 4808]

Game 2:  Caps 1-0 .. Backstrom .. P1. 

[VirginiaLonghorn 4808]

Caps 2-0 ... Oshie ... 10:34 P1. 

[VirginiaLonghorn 4808]

Caps 2-1 ... Wallmark goal ... 4:14 P1. 

[VirginiaLonghorn 4808]

2-2 ... Aho ... 3:00 P2.

[VirginiaLonghorn 4808]

Caps 3-2 ... Wilson ... 11:05 P3.