2022 Playoffs -Contenders and Pretenders

[tmac70]

19 hours ago, The_People1 said:

We are a two round team right now from what I can tell and we're one piece away from being Cup contenders.  We are easily the best team in the Pacific Division (to be fair the weakest in the NHL).  VGK isn't fully healthy enough to catch us.

 

- We have top 5 goaltending.

- Our #1 line are all point-per-game and arguably a top 1 to 3 in the NHL.

- we've bolstered depth scoring with Toffoli.

- we play playoff hockey and have the sandpaper to go far.

 

I mean, I like our D but we really are one stud D from joining the likes of TBL, FLA, CAR, COL, etc.  We are one "Giordano in his prime" away from having a legit chance at winning the Cup.  Let's go all in for this player.

To add you must remove and that could cause more problems than solutions. I am not sure we are only 1 guy away or more . All I know is we are a better team today than yesterday and far better than the previous years. If we do anything it will be a depth player at best. 

[conundrumed]

2 hours ago, The_People1 said:

 

Chemistry is a good argument.  Our pairings have really come together and Hanifin-Andersson really started to do well together going back a year ago.  Just saying though, if one of our D could be elite, then I think that's the difference.  The biggest thing is we have no true #1 Center and so to offset that, it takes a #1 elite Dman.  When it comes to match ups in the playoffs, we're going to be facing McDavid, Eichel, Mackinnon, etc so if we don't have a #1 Center to match up then having a #1 D really helps.

You don't have to match that way though. Sutter's mentioned a few times that "outscoring the opponent" is not a good longterm plan. So you don't have to have an offset, you need a good mitigation plan. So Backlund should be facing those guys. Backlund plays the Zetterberg role of stick to them like glue.

That'll be Backlund's bread and butter for us. He's very underrated as a D specialist. Mony's D game has improved, Ruzicka gaining his comfort level.

It's all about defending. So in Vegas, you'd try to get Eichel away from Backlund. You don't want it to be much of a fall off from line-to-line.

As I see lots of line rearranging suggestions to increase scoring, I think it's more about consistent lines defensively.

Building from the net out isn't about buying a goalie and defence first, it's structuring a net-out style of play. D first, we'll figure out offence later.

It's working, and Sutter's still trying his best to keep everything low key.

[conundrumed]

Prediction time...

When we clinch, Sutter will slowly turn the script to, "well everyone called us misfits, not a playoff team".

And we will play the victim card.

Everyone will love us.

[travel_dude]

2 hours ago, conundrumed said:

Prediction time...

When we clinch, Sutter will slowly turn the script to, "well everyone called us misfits, not a playoff team".

And we will play the victim card.

Everyone will love us.

 

Sutter likes to insult his own team.  We aren't Vegas with elite players.  W have to do everything perfect.  The last few years we have tried to win by scoring more goals and that didn't work out.  You can't win by doing that.  You don't always score 4 goals.  You have to be able to limit the other team to 2 or less.  So, he's saying that it's nice to score 6, but don't count on it.  And don't give up 4 if you do.  

 

It's so funny listening to him.  He doesn't talk like a coach coming off a 10 game win streak.  You would think we just lost.  Talk about even keel.  Yeah it's nice to win 10 or 7 at home, but we missed out a lot of games due to the shutdown.  We are nowhere yet.  He wanted to make it a tough play to play.  Coming around to it.  Hailey asked him about having this cushion of wins.  He said it takes 100 points to make the playoffs.  A cushion is made of feathers, and you lose a few feathers and soon you are sitting on nothing.  Classic.  

[zima]

I wish we would of had this winning streak closer to the playoffs we have seen to many times this team will kill it for a bunch of wins and when the playoffs come along we seem to lose that puck luck we had before the playoffs start.. I hope 960 is right and we have a total different team and will do way better this yr as apposed to later yrs.  

[The_People1]

1 minute ago, zima said:

I wish we would of had this winning streak closer to the playoffs we have seen to many times this team will kill it for a bunch of wins and when the playoffs come along we seem to lose that puck luck we had before the playoffs start.. I hope 960 is right and we have a total different team and will do way better this yr as apposed to later yrs.  

 

Man I was just thinking this.  Would be great to be on a 10-game win streak heading into the playoffs.  There's too much time between now and the playoffs to cool down before the playoffs begin.

[conundrumed]

1 minute ago, zima said:

I wish we would of had this winning streak closer to the playoffs we have seen to many times this team will kill it for a bunch of wins and when the playoffs come along we seem to lose that puck luck we had before the playoffs start.. I hope 960 is right and we have a total different team and will do way better this yr as apposed to later yrs.  

Honestly you only have to watch to see the difference. The past is the past. We were always capable of this but had a lot of fixing to do in the bottom 6 and D. They're playing a consistent hard-working game. That doesn't just fade away on a vet-laden team.

Post game opponents coaches keep saying we're a good team and hard to play against.

This is us now. Past years are past years. Different teams, different styles of play.

[travel_dude]

20 minutes ago, The_People1 said:

 

Man I was just thinking this.  Would be great to be on a 10-game win streak heading into the playoffs.  There's too much time between now and the playoffs to cool down before the playoffs begin.

 

17 minutes ago, conundrumed said:

Honestly you only have to watch to see the difference. The past is the past. We were always capable of this but had a lot of fixing to do in the bottom 6 and D. They're playing a consistent hard-working game. That doesn't just fade away on a vet-laden team.

Post game opponents coaches keep saying we're a good team and hard to play against.

This is us now. Past years are past years. Different teams, different styles of play.

 

I would suggest that this team is not happy with any loss.  Making the playoffs is not the only goal and once we clinch, that is just Phase 1.  Win the division is Phase 2.  Win home ice through the first three rounds is Phase 3.  A long winning streak going into the playoffs is a mirage.  Teams are resting players.  Non-playoff teams are tanking or playing spoiler.  We want to be tweaking and fixing things going into the playoffs.  We want Sutter to be complaining about little things.  Perfection may not be realistic, but you need to know where you have fault, so you aren't just fixing after a loss in the playoffs.  You should be fixing that in a game.

 

Wardo was incapable of stopping the bleeding.  Had two goalies and didn't understand how to use them.  BP didn't have any answers and we counted on a goalie that pretended he was not the reason for a loss.  Yeah, big deal you were seen by some to be playing out of your mind.  Making the first 2 saves wasn't enough.  Flopping around like a beached whale.  EDM saw that last year. 

 

So, Sutter is of the mind that we are not going to be successful by trying to outscore the other team.  We only will win by preventing the other team from scoring.  That fits well to the playoffs.  We never seemed to be able to win low scoring games in the past.  I'm not worried about OT losses in regular season.  Gimmick.  Holding a lead to the end of 60 is more important to me.  Or getting to OT if we are down a goal.  

[cross16]

1 hour ago, The_People1 said:

 

Man I was just thinking this.  Would be great to be on a 10-game win streak heading into the playoffs.  There's too much time between now and the playoffs to cool down before the playoffs begin.

 

There are 33 games before the playoffs. IMO that's enough games to go through multiple cycles of hot and cold and I think there is still room to make their game better. 

 

I think what isn't getting discussed enough about during this streak is how they are doing it. Typically during a streak like this you get lucky. Your goalie steals you a game, you win off a good/bad bounce or you win a few in OT, something like that. While I am certainly not going to make the case they've been perfect, I do think they've gotten some shoot luck, they've really earned this in streak. IMO there is only 1 game that Markstrom had to steal (Toronto) and the rest I thought they were the better team and really earned the victories. 

 

It feels different. 

[travel_dude]

1 hour ago, cross16 said:

 

There are 33 games before the playoffs. IMO that's enough games to go through multiple cycles of hot and cold and I think there is still room to make their game better. 

 

I think what isn't getting discussed enough about during this streak is how they are doing it. Typically during a streak like this you get lucky. Your goalie steals you a game, you win off a good/bad bounce or you win a few in OT, something like that. While I am certainly not going to make the case they've been perfect, I do think they've gotten some shoot luck, they've really earned this in streak. IMO there is only 1 game that Markstrom had to steal (Toronto) and the rest I thought they were the better team and really earned the victories. 

 

It feels different. 

 

Toronto game was a combination of their bad goaltending and our good goaltending.

They pounded on us for 48 shots, but I would expect a bit of a letdown playing the 2nd in a B2B.

No excuses for sure, we have to be better than that.

And I think we have shown a lot better both before and after that game.

For the most part, we are almost doubling the shot for vs against.

 

[conundrumed]

4 hours ago, cross16 said:

 

There are 33 games before the playoffs. IMO that's enough games to go through multiple cycles of hot and cold and I think there is still room to make their game better. 

 

I think what isn't getting discussed enough about during this streak is how they are doing it. Typically during a streak like this you get lucky. Your goalie steals you a game, you win off a good/bad bounce or you win a few in OT, something like that. While I am certainly not going to make the case they've been perfect, I do think they've gotten some shoot luck, they've really earned this in streak. IMO there is only 1 game that Markstrom had to steal (Toronto) and the rest I thought they were the better team and really earned the victories. 

 

It feels different. 

It really does. I can't wait for this Minny set. Minny's solid, let's throw down with them. I think they're trying to be us. tbh.

I hope we leave neither game uncertain. Should be a great 2 game set.

[conundrumed]

2 hours ago, travel_dude said:

 

Toronto game was a combination of their bad goaltending and our good goaltending.

They pounded on us for 48 shots, but I would expect a bit of a letdown playing the 2nd in a B2B.

No excuses for sure, we have to be better than that.

And I think we have shown a lot better both before and after that game.

For the most part, we are almost doubling the shot for vs against.

 

Frustrate them, play pond hockey. Isn't that TMLs?

[travel_dude]

2 hours ago, conundrumed said:

Frustrate them, play pond hockey. Isn't that TMLs?

 

I always enjoy beating the Leafs.  Maybe even as much as the hapless Oilskids.

In some ways, the refs let us and the Leafs play hockey.

If that's the case, they can't touch us.

The Oils on the other hand rely on chintzy calls.

Or lack of them called against them.

 

[phoenix66]

I can totally see a path to the finals ..

Fun part if we do it, is odds are it will be against Tampa, Carolina or Florida

 

Each of those matchups have great side stories ..

Carolina.. return of Lindholm, hanifin

Tampa, Sutters revenge and Coleman goes for 3 

Florida .. Bennett 

Good chance one of em has Gio as well 

 

 

 

[travel_dude]

46 minutes ago, phoenix66 said:

I can totally see a path to the finals ..

Fun part if we do it, is odds are it will be against Tampa, Carolina or Florida

 

Each of those matchups have great side stories ..

Carolina.. return of Lindholm, hanifin

Tampa, Sutters revenge and Coleman goes for 3 

Florida .. Bennett 

Good chance one of em has Gio as well 

 

 

 

 

The difficult part of winning the Pacific is running into WC1.

It could be a fortunate draw like LA or ANA.

Could be an Ugly one like DAL or MIN.

Round 2 gets harder in worst or 2nd worst of the best.

It's harder to see the matchups right now.

 

But, we have played every playoff team except COL so far.

They are the big unknown for us.

#1 for a reason, yet we have always found a way to beat them.

We should get a better idea of where we lack depth or what we have to work on.

[conundrumed]

48 minutes ago, travel_dude said:

 

The difficult part of winning the Pacific is running into WC1.

It could be a fortunate draw like LA or ANA.

Could be an Ugly one like DAL or MIN.

Round 2 gets harder in worst or 2nd worst of the best.

It's harder to see the matchups right now.

 

But, we have played every playoff team except COL so far.

They are the big unknown for us.

#1 for a reason, yet we have always found a way to beat them.

We should get a better idea of where we lack depth or what we have to work on.

Colorado clearly runs on the, "outscore opponents" method. That's definitely an opponent you slow everything right down for and stay out of the box.

[The_People1]

1 hour ago, travel_dude said:

 

The difficult part of winning the Pacific is running into WC1.

It could be a fortunate draw like LA or ANA.

Could be an Ugly one like DAL or MIN.

Round 2 gets harder in worst or 2nd worst of the best.

It's harder to see the matchups right now.

 

But, we have played every playoff team except COL so far.

They are the big unknown for us.

#1 for a reason, yet we have always found a way to beat them.

We should get a better idea of where we lack depth or what we have to work on.

 

Ya first round matchup could be nasty if we face the crossover team.  It's almost better to finish second in the division.

[travel_dude]

1 minute ago, The_People1 said:

 

Ya first round matchup could be nasty if we face the crossover team.  It's almost better to finish second in the division.

 

I don't think finishing 2nd is any treat either.  Most likely avoids Vegas, but 1st does that too.

LA, ANA, MIN may be the best for us.

Tough but build character and confidence.

EDM, STL, DAL, NAS probably the worst draws for us.

EDM - because the first round can be called by the book, so EDM gets more PP's than us.

STL - just a very tough team all around.

DAL - big, good defensive team and Benn not heating up yet.

NAS - we seem to have trouble with them for some reason.

[sak22]

I don't see an easy matchup regardless of positioning, nor do I predict what teams we would face if we win 2 or 3 rounds.  NHL playoffs is a different beast, the last time there was a full 82 game season all 4 division leaders were knocked off the first round, remember a 62 win regular season team won 0 playoff games.  When you look at recent Stanley Cups in regards to league standing it goes like this 2021: 8th vs. 18th, 2020: 4th vs. 10th, 2019: 3rd vs. 12th, 2018: 5th vs. 6th, 2017: 2nd vs. 16th, 2016: 4th vs. 11th, 2015: 5th vs. 7th, 2014: 10th vs. 12th, 2013: 1st vs. 5th, 2012: 9th vs. 13th, 2011: 1st vs. 7th, 2010: 3rd vs. 18th, 2009: 3rd vs. 8th, 2008: 1st vs. 4th, 2007: 4th vs. 9th,  2006: 4th vs. 14th.  Bolded are winners, Italics is Sutter.  But in the cap world its 16 Stanley Cups top 5 teams have won 8 times and teams out of the top 5 have won 8.  I get the hype with Florida, Tampa, Carolina and Colorado, but lets not right off the Rangers, Penguins, Vegas, Toronto or St. Louis either.

[The_Tribal Chief]

Personally im over the tryin to pick the beat team for us to face we did the with the avs and they smoked us to kingdom come so i dont care who it is Just win the SERIES PERIOD

[travel_dude]

29 minutes ago, The_Snowbear said:

Personally im over the tryin to pick the beat team for us to face we did the with the avs and they smoked us to kingdom come so i dont care who it is Just win the SERIES PERIOD

[CheersMan]

32 games remaining. 3 wins every 5 games is 0.600 hockey and gets us to the post season. That equates to 19 more wins to be a contender. Still lots of work to do, before the real work starts.

[travel_dude]

10 hours ago, CheersMan said:

32 games remaining. 3 wins every 5 games is 0.600 hockey and gets us to the post season. That equates to 19 more wins to be a contender. Still lots of work to do, before the real work starts.

 

Sutter talked about that.  Said in this deivision, you need to play 600 hockey to make the playoffs.  Closest division in the league perhaps.  Only Seattle is really out of contention.