travel_dude

What's up with Klingberg? Why is he a game time decision? He missed game 82 with a suspected LBI, but there is, of course, no deets. Big loss for DAL if he isn't 100%. I am sure that the 4th line and Mr. Tkachuk will introduce themselves to him during the game.

I was so sick of his antics when he was here. Not that I like EDM or think they deserve better, but they at least deserve a better GM. I think the problem goes deeper. Perhaps it's the team and coach just letting Smith decide how he plays the puck. Or perhaps they don't do any analysis on how it impacts the team. All I ever see is Jay W. looking for a challenge opportunity on his I-pad. Perhaps he talks about the play during TV time outs. Doubt it.

That would be fun, exciting and scary.

So many picked Flames players. Glad to see we are all invested in this team. Go Flames Go. Oilers suck.

As expected, zero change to the normal Sutter lines and pairings: Gaudreau - Lindholm - Tkachuk Mangiapane - Backlund - Toffoli Dube - Jarnkrok - Coleman Lucic - Lewis - Ritchie Hanifin - Andersson Kylington - Tanev Zadorov - Gudbranson Markstrom

You just know that if the Kings were down by one and had pulled the goalie, his eyes would light up seeing the open cage 200 feet away. Tunnel vision. It's what burned him last night. The only safe way to make that play is to lob it. But, I don't even see that working because it takes away the speed of Draisaitl standing at the opposing blueline. Smith comes off as less than a team guy and more of one man vs the world. He wants to make the difference. Stick to the blue paint. Nobody cares if you get the A, they want the W.

If he's on a team that goes to the SCF, he will be near the top. I watched most (all) of the Oilers game, mostly with the sound off. I do that because of the annoying talking heads. The Oilers were brutal. Barely won a period and 2/3 of their scoring was dubious PP's. Watched them in one sequence where McD picked two Kings players to allow the Oilers to advance on the net. Yet they found enough to call 8 penalties. I saw 8 others that were more obvious. Seems to me that the standards are not league wide. Typical of round 1. Not sure what to expect in game 1, but I also don't think it will be the same standards each game. Sometimes not even in the same game. If the Oilers think they can play regular season style, with stretching out the ice and highlight reel goals, the series won't last. The Kings reminded me of how structured they are in games. Will be a good test for us if we both make it to the 2nd round.

When he was here, I was really sick and tired of his impact. Does he save the D from punishing hits from time to time? Sure. But, crap on a cracker, all he does is impact the game in the wrong way. Stop the puck behind the net on a dump in is fine 90% of the time. You don't always have to do it, as the D-men know how to play it. Let the D-men take the puck out of the zone. Instead, he thinks he needs to make a pass to a winger and skip the D. Wonders why the ply comes back in 10 seconds or less. Smith adjusting will be Smith trying to put it glass and out. Cringe time. Either he trusts the D, or he doesn't. No way Keith is telling him to bomb it to Draisaitl, who is at the Kings blueline watching. I found it odd that Brandon Lemieux played less that 3 minutes, even with that goal. Must have been a result of Byfield looking lost and being on his line.

It's almost like they just look at it as a giveaway, no different than a D-man making a booboo. Debrusk says that 88% of the time it works out, so you don't change Mike Smith. Hrudey said he needs to apologize to the team. Yeah, as if that somehow makes it right. If they want that kind of goalie, this is what you get.

Had the Leafs lost, the city would be in full panic mode. The players would be doubting the series or the goalie. On the other side of the country, EDM fans are starting to think Smith is a liability. Which is a laugh, since they made their choice and decided Smith would be the wagon they hitched to. Koskinen has played well at times, but overused while Smith was out. Even when he is shutting the door, the team is front is making it hard on him. I didn't think Smith looked at all good last night. Quick looked like he stole the game, but really EDM was sloppy and didn't start on time.

They are by no means done, but they were outplayed 5v5 the entore night. I thought LA was a clog it up team, not a high flying team. Outscored 4-1 at 5v5. What could go wrong.

You would think that someone on the team would tell him to just leave the Blockchaining puck. They didn't need a stretch pass to the F way down the ice. Sure, it would have looked good, but it was a blind pass. I guess the Oilers still need 4 PP's to score more than a goal. They defended well on the PK, but 5v5 is what wins you games.

Smith caused the loss. Typical. Handles the puck way too often for his own good. Selfish play.

When wasn't it? Same OLD Smith. Looks like he's fighting it.

They are trying. Already 3-3.

Heat get a bye past the first round, so no idea how they will set up the lines. I doubt they want to throw Beck in for his first pro experience.

I don't think that is just the Dome. Minny, same thing. The only thing that suggests this is the playoffs is "NHL Bracket Challenge". EDM has nothing. And the ice is like crap there. Spent 5 minutes fixing the ice in the opening period. It's not warm or golf season yet for them.

It's a big ask to have him keep track of all this. May the spreadsheets be with you, my friend. 20 players times 7+ teams. I really hope nobody goes with Oilers. They stink up the pool.

BTW, congrats Conundrumed on winning this and the other pool. I find it odd that TOR is even thinking they need to be ready for a violent series. If that's where they go, they will lose very quickly. Stick to trying to score goals and keeping the puck out of the net.

Can he play in the playoffs as an ATO?

This is to get them ready for the grind. Even if the first round goes easier than expected, round 2 and 3 will be a grind.

I wonder if Sutter feels facing the AVS in 2nd or 3rd round is a waste of 8 days. Or 12? Believe he was just talking about round 1, since you gain experience and put the demons to rest. Poor BSD, having to face 4-7 games against the AVS. He was a good goalie before being ruined by Wardo and TOR coach. Now he has to get the team on his back and hope they play for him.

I mean to say that we are a consistent team. So few teams can say that. Our worst stretch was everyone getting COVID at once. The game play was there before and after, just needed to get back to 100%. February was everything dialed in. That's how I expect the playoffs to be.

Well I was putting in brackets anyway, which is basically the same thing. I like the idea of a no-trade league. I can't screw it up anytime past the first submission. Hope you at least went all in on the Flames and Cats. That would be epic. Excuse the expression the young-uns use.