The Official 2022 Stanley Cup Playoff Thread

[ssjones]

Since they took down the Stanley playoffs banner across the highway that runs past the arena in North Carolina about a week ago, I lost track of the finals.

Now I look up and it's Tampa Bay and Denver.

Who saw that coming?

Perhaps you are being sarcastic? The odds makers and analysts favored either TB or the AV's to win the 2021-2022 Stanley Cup, in October and in May before the playoffs started.

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I think Andrei Vasilevskiy will have to steal if if TB is going to beat the Av's

 

[ashdigger]

 

[mso489]

ssjones, I just don't follow NHL closely enough to know what the odds makers were saying in October. In terms of fan base noise, I heard about the local team and the Rangers. So the answer to my question is, ssjones and the oddsmakers saw this coming. Probably a number of others.

 

[Servant King]

Sudden death! Whoever wins...what a great start to the final round.

 

[kola]

Now that's some real hockey. Both teams played great. TB adjusted really well to the speed of the Avs. Colorado outshot TB 40 to 20 or something like that. It means nothing if you have the hot goalie.

I was not happy to see Keumper in the nets. "Frankie" is 6 and 0 for christs sake, they should have played him.. It all comes down to goaltending. May the best team win. Go Avs!

 

[ssjones]

It's good to see Burakovsky contribute, what a beautiful play. (Caps should have never let him go).

 

[Servant King]

Ooof. Bolts should be pretty angry going into Game 3.

 

[leonardbill1]

Avs looked good tonight. Will be interesting to see if they can keep their road unbeaten streak going.

 

[Servant King]

If they do, it'll be fitting. Been nearly a quarter century since the last Finals sweep, not long after the Avs achieved this feat vs. the Panthers in '96. But it'll be tough. As I said, Bolts will be fired up in front of their fans, and looking to even the score at home. Kuemper will have to be uber sharp.

 

[kola]

Wow. I guess the Avs were a bit rusty in Game 1. TB got blown out of the water. A total beatdown. It'll be interesting to see how them Bolts respond in Game 3. GO Avs, we'd love to have a Cup here after a 20 year wait.

 

[kola]

Avs looked good tonight. Will be interesting to see if they can keep their road unbeaten streak going.

Just good? lol. I've never seen a team play like that in my 55 years of watching NHL hockey. Just wow.

OTOH, don't count out TB just yet, I'm still pretty concerned that they can muster up a comeback. But if Avs take Game 3 chances will be slim to none.

 

[ssjones]

If they do, it'll be fitting. Been nearly a quarter century since the last Finals sweep, not long after the Avs achieved this feat vs. the Panthers in '96. But it'll be tough. As I said, Bolts will be fired up in front of their fans, and looking to even the score at home. Kuemper will have to be uber sharp.

Thanks for reminding me - that was Caps vs the Red Wings in 1998, our first Stanley Cup final appearance. I was so excited.....

 

[Servant King]

Thanks for reminding me - that was Caps vs the Red Wings in 1998, our first Stanley Cup final appearance. I was so excited.....

I was thinking this might happen when I posted! Sorry...didn't mean to dredge up that memory. If it's any consolation, something similar happens to me every June 3, the anniversary of McSorley's illegal stick call.

Some wounds never heal.

 

[kola]

Tampa Bay had only 16 shots on goal last night. In Game 1 they had 23. Avs just about doubled those numbers.

TB took bad penalties, including one in the beginning of each game.

The Avs smell blood. Can TB stop the bleeding?

I really like Coach Jon Cooper, he's a class act.

But I still want Lord Stanley in Colorado. Go Avs!

 

[kola]

And TB comes back and gives the Avs a total smackdown. Go figger'... And like I mentioned from the beginning of this series, Kuemper should NOT have been in the nets. He wasn't really tested in the first two games. But tonight he was and got hammered. Kudos to Cooper coaching his boys back, we may have a real slugfest from here on in.

The best Goalie almost always wins the Cup.

 

[leonardbill1]

If the Avs had to have a crappy game in them, this was the game to get it over with. Pivotal game 4 coming up. I'd start Francouz in the remaining games.

 

[ssjones]

Well coached game by Cooper.

 

[leonardbill1]

Shows what I know. Kuemper got tested tonight and came through. Obviously a bonus to get Kadri back. Would be nice to see the Avs close it out Friday on home ice.

 

[ssjones]

That was a satisfying game to watch.

 

[kola]

Avs were on a mission in OT. The "too many men" plea is weak. I lost a bit of respect for Coopers actions regarding it. Late in the 3rd Kadri had the puck all alone in front and was taken down - no call. And on the first TB goal they ripped Kuempers mask off and they allowed that goal. ??

TB has their backs against the wall, don't count them out yet. But Go Avs !