travel_dude

Some of the shots Darth has faced are super tough. Point blank by Wheeler with no defense. 5 on 3 PK. Amazing.

Rocketman is the man. Vladar showing that he's capable of playing big boy hockey. Glad they gave one of the RD the night off. Stone is no slouch this year. Guddy deserves a night off. Ruzie already looking better than Carpenter, but he won't be in the regular playoff lineup. Tkachuk just loves to score. I see that Sutter is the only coach that doesn't sit the main group. McD and Draisaitl sitting. Marner, Matthews and Tavares. Panarin and Kreider. Half of BOS's opening lineup.

I have heard some musings that Gaudreau might be held out. That's just speculation. There is nothing he needs personally. The team wants a win to ensure home ice through to at least the WCF. There is risk in him playing, but WPG has nothing to play for. It's not like they need to punish us for anything. They can't really be a spoiler. I'm betwixt and between on the idea of sitting players. It's a B2B game, so it makes sense to manage icetime and health. A 4 day break between games if anyone sits. I wouldn't have a problem sitting Ritchie or Lucic. They shouldn't need to fight anyone. Might as well suit up a Stone (or Mackey) and a Rozie.

It's funny because they used to start Backs almost religiously in the D-zone. He's been more in the O-zone. A snapshot of the last 15 games has him with 7 assists (good), +/- of +1 (meh), and averaging about 15-16 minutes of ice. When Sutter calls out his top players for not playing at their best, Backs is one of them. Two lost draws that resulted in goals last night. I will give him the one in OT, but it's a draw you need to win. Same with Lindy on the PK and 3v3. We lost possession in the first draw in OT and promptly took a penalty. It's a nothing game, except for later home ice advantage, but 3 goals on lost draws is bad. Backs used to be the guy you put on McDavid. Like glue. We can all be better. I just want Backs to recover that instinct and game he showed earlier in the season. This isn't the first time Sutter has called out some players. He isn't saying names in the media, but he talks about the situations or player results.

I think it's key that the roster that was here in the loss to Dallas and Colorado despises the idea of losing in the first round. A few guys know what it takes to get past it. A few guys are hungry to show their value. Angry - Tkachuk, Lindy, Gaudreau, Mangiap[ane, Dube, Hanifin, Ras Know what it takes - Lewis, Lucic, Coleman, Jarnkrok, Toffoli Hungry - Kylington, Tanev, Gudbranson, Zadorov, Markstrom Don't know - Ritchie, Backlund I'm not certain about Backlund mostly because he doesn't seem to ramp up in the playoffs. It may be a bad impression, since he seems to have take the foot off the gas. It might be bad usage, since I think he's better with Coleman and Dube.

I had to watch the replay a couple of times to pick out how the puck ended up back with the shooter. Everyone was looking the other way.

Dube was part of the Bennett-Looch line and managed 4 goals last playoffs. If he can keep off the boards on entry, he could be in for a monster playoffs. Dube scored 3 of his 4 last playoffs against Dallas. Gaudreau scored half his 4 goals against Dallas. And that was a far inferior team.

Well, it's come down to this. Game 82 for 2 teams. Dallas needs a win in any manner and a NAS regulation loss to play us. Dallas is rested, while NAS played to OT last night. Dallas is at home to ANA. NAS is on the road against ARI. This is Getzlaf's final game, should he suit up. ANA players are vying for jobs next season or re-signiings. ARI will see a big turnover of players next year. ARI is set at 2nd last overall, so no impact with tonight's game. ANA is in 10th and capable of getting to 11th last overall. No incentive one way or the other. You can jump 10 spots in the lotto.

Yeah, I am actually tired of looking back. I prefer to look at Sutter-Johnny times. It feels different this year. Whether or not his shots from the left circle have any chance or not, he's doing that less. He's finding places where he can set up a pass or sneak in for a close in shot. His goal and near goal both from 2 feet away. He may not find that space as easy in the playoff, but this was a defensive minded team he managed to do it against. Not using Monahan as a scapegoat, but that was first choice. Lindholm more on rush plays as a trailer. If the new line has success it will be because there is three weapons to score, not just one. Tkachuk is good at greasy goals, Johnny from in close and Lindholm from the slot. TBH, they all can get to the slot. Gaudreau's line has really been good at keeping the puck out of our net. They are not the defensive hole they used to be. Basically, with that line on, they are scoring about 2 goals to every 1 against. My math may be a little off, and it may be better than that. If we can get the Backlund line to that same level or even, then we stand a good chance.

Interesting that Sutter talked about lost draws at 5v5 and PK costing us goals. The team was below 50% overall, with only Backlund hitting above 50%. Carpenter 17%, but I don't think he was on for any goals against. Lost draw by Lindhol on the PP goal. Then a loss draw by Backlund on the Freddie goal. Then a lost draw in OT on the PK. Could have used Lewis on the PK, or at least with Rozie being able to provide something.

Players don't play to lose. The coach could have sat the top players, but chose to go with all of them. They were out in OT and in the shootout.

For the top team, COL doesn't look very good. Not the same team that beat us.

NAS wins the shootout. Rittich gets the win. Good on him. I think NAS is faking the Saros injury estimates. He's probably going to be ready for playoffs.

NAS going to OT, now tied wih Dallas, but owning the tiebreaker.

NAS ties it with COL in the 3rd.

The so called 2nd line is minuses these days. Not scoring, not preventing. Mix it up for the final game. And if Lewis is out, get Rozie in. Crpenter was a wasted pick trade. He would be down below Rozie in depth.

I don't think it really matters. They will to with Ingram tomorrow out of need. Or they just go with Ritter. They need to keep DAL in range to take WC1. They don't want to face COL. A point tonight puts pressure on Dallas. Both play lesser teams tomorrow but I would say ANA is easier than ARI. And Dallas is at home. How sucky is it that a top team in the West plays its final games on the road, in a B2B. Sutter was BTCing about it among other parts of the poor scheduling.

Need someone other than Backlund playing top minutes. That guy has bumped down two players that were hot. Can Sutter not see that?

That one gets called about half the time. Initially he covered the puck but moved it. Still a penalty. On the plus side, we are tied for 2nd, but own the tie breaker with Minny. And, Johnny now has 40 goals, is tied for 2nd in points and leads in +/- with +65. Not to mention 90 EV points. Nobody is close. That is insane. Johnny is ahead of Huberdeau by way of goals. FLA is sitting out a few players it seems.

Backlund standing around not looking at anyone.

Dumb penalty. Oh well.

Another exciting game.

Lindholm smokes it.

Th only thing that goes with this game is 2nd in the West. We can lose tonight, but We would be back a single point with both us and Minny playing. STL can get a max of 111, but if tied with Minny, they have the tie breaker.

Carpenter is useless.