The Syndicate

Hey there hockey fans! I figured we could use a generic thread to talk about the under-appreciated sport of ice hockey. I've been watching hockey for over 20 years now and it is by far my favorite sport to watch. I live less than an hour's drive from an minor league affiliate team (Hershey Bears), so I get more than my share of hockey each year.

Anything strike your eye on the current season (2015-16)? I for one am saddened by my favorite team, Montreal. They started so strong and then the wheels fell completely off.

On a side-note, this year I plan to grow a playoff beard. I'll post pictures of my facial hair progress (or lack thereof) when the playoffs arrive.

The playoffs are approaching! Sadly, this looks like it will be the second time ever where no Canadian teams make the playoffs. Five of the seven Canadian teams have been eliminated as of last night's games. Here are the standings:

ATLANTIC
1. Florida
2. Tampa
3. Boston
Detroit
Ottawa
Montreal
Buffalo
Toronto

METROPOLITAN
1. Washington
2. NYR
3. Pittsburgh
W1 NYI
W2 Philly
New Jersey
Carolina
Columbus

CENTRAL
1. Dallas
2. St. Louis
3. Chicago
W1 Nashville
W2 Minnesota
Colorado
Winnipeg

PACIFIC
1. Los Angeles
2. Anheim
3. San Jose
Arizona
Calgary
Vancouver
Edmonton

At least the Bruins are in the playoff picture. My Habs went from awesome to suck early on and never looked back.

Buffalo and Montreal were eliminated from the hunt last night. Now that Montreal is out, Ottawa is the only Canadian team with a chance to make the playoffs. Too bad they're dead last in the Wild Card chase. Woe, Canada.

Chicago and San Jose are now locks for playoff spots. The East is still wide open, so at least there is some excitement remaining.

ATLANTIC
1. Florida
2. Tampa
3. Boston
Detroit
Ottawa
Montreal
Buffalo
Toronto

METROPOLITAN
1. Washington
2. NYR
3. Pittsburgh
W1 NYI
W2 Philly
Carolina
New Jersey
Columbus

CENTRAL
1. Dallas
2. St. Louis
3. Chicago
W1 Nashville
W2 Minnesota
Colorado
Winnipeg

PACIFIC
1. Los Angeles
2. Anheim
3. San Jose
Arizona
Calgary
Vancouver
Edmonton

Tampa Bay looks plenty capable of winning this series. Seems like everyone wrote them off when Stamkos got hurt but these guys are holding it together well.

Bass_the_Clever wrote:If the caps don't win the cup this year I don't think we ever will.

They won't. The Caps are notorious choke artists in the playoffs and the President's Trophy winner usually doesn't win the Cup. I'm all for those trends continuing. :P

So the 2nd round of the playoffs looks like this:

NY Islanders v. Tampa Bay Lightning
Washington Capitals v. Pittsburgh Penguins

Dallas Stars v. St. Louis Blues
San Jose Sharks v. Nashville Predators


I'm for the Lightning and the Penguins in the East. As for the West, it's hard for me to get excited there. I guess I'll pull for the Blues this round but that just because I'm not a Dallas fan. I am totally neutral on the Blues and will support whoever they play next. I'm fine with either the Sharks or the Predators. I guess I'm pulling for the Preds just because they're such an underdog. The Sharks are more choke artists than underdogs.

The NHL heads are probably miffed about only having one high-profile series right now. Without Chicago or LA alive in the West, the league has to invent new storylines to make it sound exciting. Kind of a shame. No Canada, no Chicago, and no LA. Plus the Pens and Caps are playing now means the conference finals and possibly the Cup finals will see lower viewership numbers.

Oh totally the Lightning. I've got nothing specific against the Islanders but they're not a team a cheer for unless they're playing a team I dislike.

Tampa just scored off a defender's skate. That seems to be happening quite a bit these playoffs.

After losing Game 5, I really did not think that the Penguins were going to win the series. They're my #2 team, so I'm glad they made it. I think Tampa Bay is going to be right back in the hunt again next year if they can hold their roster together. For all the injuries they had late in the season and through the playoffs, they're performance was remarkable.

Now I'm spoiled by being content with either team winning the Stanley Cup. I'll be cheering for Pittsburgh but I'm happy for the Sharks. They spent so many years as playoff choke artists, so it's nice to see them make it to the Cup Finals for a change.

As for minor league action, my 'local' (if you consider a 30-minute drive local) team, the Hershey Bears are up 3-0 in their conference finals series. If they win tonight, they'll get to play for the Calder Cup! Bears Bears Bears- WOOO!

We're already ten or so games into the 2016-2017 season! Once again, Montreal is off to an amazing start. I'm wondering what will happen to derail them again this year. After last season's meltdown, I have to be cautiously optimistic.

Okay, football is over and baseball hasn't begun yet, so it's time for... basketball!

Just kidding. Time for some hockey talk. If the NHL Playoffs started today, here are what the match-ups would be:

ATLANTIC*
1) Montreal Canadiens v. WC1) New York Rangers
2) Ottawa Senators v. 3) Boston Bruins

METROPOLITAN*
1) Washington Capitals v. WC2) Toronto Maple Leafs
2) Columbus Blue Jackets v. 3) Pittsburgh Penguins

Right now, the Rangers are a wildcard team but they have more points than Montreal. Seems like the Atlantic Division may be the weak link of the league this year. Thoughts on the Capitals? Could this really be their year or is another playoff choke looming around the corner? Also, I'm still not used to seeing the Blue Jackets being so good.


CENTRAL*
1) Minnesota Wild v. WC2) Los Angeles Kings
2) Chicago Blackhawks v. 3) St. Louis Blues

PACIFIC*
1) San Jose Sharks v. WC1) Nashville Predators
2) Anaheim Ducks v. 3) Edmonton Oilers

For me, it's hard to know what to expect out of the West. Good to see the Oilers in the hunt. They've been terrible for so long.

Note- the * means that the wildcard teams are showing swapped into the other division for these projections because the best team in the conference plays the lowest wildcard.

Still two months of hockey to go before the end of the season. I'll give updates about every two weeks.

Also, what do you think of the upcoming 31st NHL team- the Vegas Golden Knights? Check the spoiler for the logo:

Oops! I forgot to keep up with the playoff death-watch. Oh well. The playoffs begin tomorrow!

Here are the match-ups:

EASTERN CONFERENCE:
1) Montreal Canadiens v. WC) New York Rangers
2) Ottawa Senators v. 3) Boston Bruins

1) Washington Capitals v. WC) Toronto Maple Leafs
2) Pittsburgh Penguins v. 3) Columbus Blue Jackets


WESTERN CONFERENCE:
1) Chicago Blackhawks v. WC) Nashville Predators
2) Minnesota Wild v. St. Louis Blues

1) Anaheim Ducks v. WC) Calgary Flames
2) Edmonton Oilers v. San Jose Sharks


My predictions for Round 1:
-Montreal and New York could go seven games. I'd love to see the Habs win but the Rangers match up pretty well against them. The goalies will be the difference-makers here. (Toss-up)

-Ottawa is the one Canadian team I'd feel blah about winning the Cup this year. Even though the Bruins are rivals to the Habs, I grew up away from the influence of that rivalry. Ottawa has the fewest goals scored of all 16 playoff teams and they have a negative goal differential. It's the playoffs. Those things matter. (Bruins in 6)

-I can't stand the Capitals and the Maple Leafs have the longest active Cup drought in the league (50 years!). That being said, I don't see the Capitals choking this early. (Capitals in 5)

-Pittsburgh scored more goals than any team this season. Columbus allowed the second fewest number of goals this season. This series will be a doozy. Lots of hate. (Penguins in 7)

-Chicago and Nashville are two teams I like, so I won't actively cheer for either team. This should be another fun series to watch. (Blackhawks in 6)

-Wild-Blues is such an unexciting sounding match-up that I probably won't even watch unless it's overtime. The Wild seem to have more pieces together though. (Wild in 6)

-Calgary used to be my #3 team for years. I love seeing them back in the playoffs and I hope they can play spoiler here. I don't see it happening though. (Ducks in 5)

-Normally, I would cheer for San Jose but it's nice to see Edmonton come back from years in the basement. I think they're a legitimate contender this year. (Oilers in 7)

STANLEY CUP PLAYOFFS FUN FACT #1:

It may be the last day of the regular season, but the teams making the playoffs are all known now. The only Original Six teams in the playoffs this year are the Boston Bruins and the Toronto Maple Leafs. Since the NHL moved to a 16-team playoff format in 1980, this is only the fifth time that only two Original Six teams made the playoffs. It happened previously in 2000, 2001, 2007, and 2018.

Sloonei wrote: ↑Thu May 16, 2019 10:49 pm oh look, a boston team is going for a league championship

Fun fact- Boston has a chance at joining a very exclusive club if they win the Stanley Cup this year. In the history of the four major US/North American sports (baseball, basketball, football, and ice hockey), no city has ever boasted a champion in all four sports in a 12-month span of time. Plenty of cities have double-dipped (as Boston currently enjoys via the World Series and Super Bowl) but a triple-dip has only occurred twice, and you have to go back before the NBA existed to find both instances.

October 8, 1927: The New York Yankees win the World Series (their 2nd WS title ever)
December 4, 1927: The New York Giants clinch the NFL championship (their first NFL title)
April 14, 1928: The New York Rangers win the Stanley Cup (their first NHL title)


October 7, 1935: The Detroit Tigers win the World Series (their first WS win)
December 15, 1935: The Detroit Lions win the NFL Championship game (their first NFL title)
April 11, 1936: The Detroit Red Wings win the Stanley Cup (their first)

Epignosis wrote: ↑Wed Oct 02, 2019 9:54 pm Doing DFS hockey all season this time around. Let's go.

Good luck. Hockey is a very tricky sport to predict.

Epignosis wrote: ↑Mon Oct 07, 2019 8:15 pm

G-Man wrote: ↑Mon Oct 07, 2019 6:55 pm

Epignosis wrote: ↑Wed Oct 02, 2019 9:54 pm Doing DFS hockey all season this time around. Let's go.

Good luck. Hockey is a very tricky sport to predict.

I don't try to predict.

How are you doing with this so far?

Epignosis wrote: ↑Sat Oct 19, 2019 9:14 pm

G-Man wrote: ↑Sat Oct 19, 2019 9:08 pm

Epignosis wrote: ↑Mon Oct 07, 2019 8:15 pm

G-Man wrote: ↑Mon Oct 07, 2019 6:55 pm

Epignosis wrote: ↑Wed Oct 02, 2019 9:54 pm Doing DFS hockey all season this time around. Let's go.

Good luck. Hockey is a very tricky sport to predict.

I don't try to predict.

How are you doing with this so far?

Down a little bit. I've been somewhat unlucky- had a late scratch hurt me last night and there was an injury another night that cost me.

Tonight I have Morgan Rielly who is putting together a nice performance, but I have him with Auston Matthews who has just one shot on goal.

Have the hockey gods been kinder to you lately?

112 wrote: ↑Sat Feb 29, 2020 12:57 pm My Canucks are looking GOOD.

I share a birthday with Quinn Hughes... little known fact.

Jack Rathbone is going to take this team to levels unheard.

I am looking forward to that Cup. I am looking forward to that celebration.

-Florence of Vancouver

The Canucks have 74 points right now. That might be good enough in the weak, weak, West, but that won't even land you the last wildcard spot in the East. Don't plan that parade just yet...

They’re the NHL team of the future and they always will be.

Just saw this headline...

Blue Jackets Will Play Home Games Without Fans

...and I wondered how that was any different than before.

Anyone else been watching Bubble Hockey?

JaggedJimmyJay wrote: ↑Thu Aug 20, 2020 8:15 pm I watched the CBJ games. Now that they're out I'm not sure I'll have time to stick around.

That quintuple overtime game is easily the most exciting and newsworthy thing the Columbus Blue Jackets have ever been a part of. Tough break for your team, but this might (finally) be the Lightning's year. Tampa is one of the ten or so teams in the league that I find it easy to cheer for, so I am excited for them.

Nah. Nobody remembers the first round, but everyone remembers a historic OT game.

I haven't gotten into hockey much yet this season, which is normally the case. Once the Super Bowl has passed, I switch to hockey. I hear there will be some outdoor games coming up. Always fun to watch.

The bubble was pretty amazing, especially because it was the playoffs. It was like March Madness, but for hockey, so it was even better than March Madness.

The realignment makes sense for this year. Once fans are able to fill the arenas, bubbles won't make sense. What could be cool is if they do a short bubble tournament someday mid-season. All 32 teams, four bubble cities (narrowing down to two, and then one), and non-stop hockey. That would be cool.I'd rather watch that than All Star Weekend, though a bubble tourney would take longer.

Buffalo is the first team eliminated from playoff contention. I feel bad for their fans. Every time the franchise shows promise, it never pans out and is followed by a period of basement-dwelling.

It looks like New Jersey is the net closest to being eliminated. If New Jersey can't match Boston's next six points, it's over for them as well. I've never been a Devil's fan, so this one doesn't have any sting to it.

On the flip side, Colorado is only six points away from clinching a playoff spot. I liked them back in the day when they first moved to Denver from Quebec, and their colors and logo are excellent. I have no idea who is on their roster right now (East Coast bias alert), but I'm happy to see them building off of last season.

As much as I love my Habs, I have to pull for Toronto in the North this year. Canada's Cup drought and especially Toronto's Cup drought need to end. Why not this year?

JaggedJimmyJay wrote: ↑Sun Apr 18, 2021 2:31 pm

JaggedJimmyJay wrote: ↑Tue Jan 19, 2021 8:48 pm go blue jackets

blue jackets suck

blue jackets trade everyone

blue jackets suck more

Don’t feel too bad. Nobody but Columbus fans ever expects much out of the Blue Jackets.

Syn wrote: ↑Mon Apr 19, 2021 4:20 pm Toronto is going to get embarrassed in the first round, as per tradition

Which team(s) do you gravitate towards?

Vegas is in the playoffs. ESPN has Colorado as locked in, even though by my spreadsheet they could miss if they lose all their remaining games and St. Louis wins all of their remaining games.

Columbus is the latest team eliminated from playoff contention, with Detroit a loss away from suffering the same fate.

Carolina looks to be the next closest team to clinching a spot.

Time for another update:

EAST:
No one has clinched yet. New Jersey and Buffalo have been out, and Philly is closing in on the final nail in their coffin.

CENTRAL:
Carolina, Florida, and Tampa have all stamped their tickets for the playoffs. Columbus has been out. Detroit is out now to. I remember it like it was only yesterday when Detroit fans snickered that they would have their way with the Eastern Conference when they were moved over from the West. I'm still waiting to see that happen. *snicker(

NORTH:
Ottawa is on the verge of being eliminated. Otherwise, this is still a bit of a grab bag. Vancouver playing catch-up on postponed games complicates things.

WEST:
Vegas, Colorado, and Minnesota are all in. Anaheim is a point away from being sent to the golf course.

Here's the latest:

EAST:
Washington and Pittsburgh clinched playoff spots, and Philly completed their slide into irrelevance. Better luck next year, Flyers (actually, just keep sucking please). The Rangers have an outside chance at sneaking into the playoffs, but it's looking unlikely.

CENTRAL:
No new changes. It's really a toss-up through the end of the season as to which meh team limps into the 4th seed.

NORTH:
Toronto clinched, and Ottawa is still treading just above elimination. Beyond that, it's still somewhat wide open. Vancouver slipped to last place in the division, but they have enough games to make up that they could still take the 3 seed.

WEST:
The Ducks are not mighty this year, and have been knocked out. It's a toss-up still between St. Louis and Arizona for the #4 slot.

Even though it may be Leafs vs Habs, this will be a year where I don’t want my Habs to win. They’re just not good enough this year for a deep run. I don’t want to deprive a better Canadian team a shot at the Cup Finals.

Update update update!

EAST:
It's all settled now except the seeding. Washington, Pittsburgh, Boston, and NY Islanders are in the playoffs. Technically, any one of these four can clinch the 1-seed still.


CENTRAL:
Chicago has been eliminated. The next few days should firm up the 1-3 seeds. Dallas needs a lot of help from the hockey gods to steal the 4-seed.


NORTH:
Edmonton is in and Ottawa is out. Calgary is one game away from being knocked out. Vancouver had a chance, but their margin for error grows narrower every game. Toronto is inching closer to securing the 1-seed.


WEST:
San Jose has been eliminated. Both Arizona and LA need St. Louis to lose out to have a chance at the playoffs.

It's almost playoffs time!


EAST:
Nothing too new here. Pittsburgh, Washington, and Boston are all still in the mix for the #1 seed. New York Islanders can only clinch 3rd or 4th. Honestly, I'd rather let Boston and Washington bloody each other up in the first round.

CENTRAL:
Carolina has clinched the #1 seed. Tampa and Florida are neck-and-neck for #2, but are bound to face each other in the playoffs no matter what. Nashville and Dallas are in a tight race for the #4 seed.

NORTH:
Toronto is one point shy of clinching the #1 seed. Montreal needs another win to lock up the fourth available playoff spot.

WEST:
St. Louis clinches the #4 seed, eliminating Arizona and LA. The top three spots are still in flux though.


Lots of games today, so we'll see how that changes the playoff picture. The North has a lot of delay thanks to Vancouver's COVID shutdown earlier this season. If Montreal can lock up the 4th playoff slot, then it's possible that the North could start their playoff series while Vancouver and Calgary play their last few make-up games against each other.

Playoff update # ??


EAST:
Pittsburgh has locked up the #1 seed. Washington has locked up the #2 seed based on regulation wins. The Islanders need to win their last game and have Boston lose their last two in order to steal the #3 seed. Boston and NY Islanders play each other tonight, so it's a critical one.


CENTRAL:
Nashville clinched the #4 seed this weekend. Florida and Tampa play each other tonight and the game will determine who will be the #2 seed and who will be the #3. They should make for a heck of a playoff series!


NORTH:
Toronto locked up the #1 and Edmonton will be the #2 seed. Winnipeg punched their ticket to the playoffs, but aren't locked in at #3 just yet. Montreal can't quite figure out how to get that last win to secure a playoff spot. Both Calgary and Vancouver could steal the #4 seed if Montreal loses out based on regulation wins. Montreal has to play Edmonton tonight, which isn't a likely win for the Habs. The Canucks are playing the Jets tonight, and a loss to Winnipeg would knock them out of the playoff hunt.


WEST:
The battle for the #1 seed is between Vegas and Colorado. Minnesota can't claim the #1 seed, but they could steal the #2 from Colorado if the Aves fall apart in their last three games. Colorado and Vegas play tonight, so it's an important game. If Vegas wins, they will lock up the #1 seed.

Just a few more days! All 16 slots have been claimed:


EAST:
#1 Pittsburgh Penguins vs #4 New York Islanders
#2 Washington Capitals vs #3 Boston Bruins

Go Pittsburgh and let's hope for a grueling multiple multi-overtime period seven-game series to drain whomever wins between Boston and Washington.


CENTRAL:
#1 Carolina Hurricanes vs #4 Nashville Predators
#2 Florida Panthers vs #3 Tampa Bay Lightning

I've always had a soft spot for Nashville, but Carolina's ascendancy is too feel-good to cheer against. Also, I am more partial to the Lightning.


NORTH:
#1 Toronto Maple Leafs vs #4 Montreal Canadiens
#2 Edmonton Oilers vs #3 Winnipeg Jets

As much as I hate to cheer against my Habs, they limped into the playoffs and aren't capable of a deep run. Don't spoil a legit Canadian contender this year. By that same logic, I guess I have to support the Oilers, even though I've always been neutral about them.


WEST:
Vegas and Colorado still have to settle the #1 seed, and potentially Colorado and Minnesota may have to settle the #2 seed. If Vegas and Colorado both win their very winnable games tonight, this division will be locked in.

Master Radishes wrote: ↑Sun May 16, 2021 6:06 am I hope all four Canadian teams lose, somehow.

The whole 'cheer for Canada's team' thing is stupid. I don't want anyone else to be happy whilst I remain unhappy.

Go...iunno, Florida.

Who is your team again?

Also, I love that the first three games of the NHL playoffs all went to OT. Silly Lightning ruining the streak last night.

Master Radishes wrote: ↑Mon May 17, 2021 5:32 pm

G-Man wrote: ↑Mon May 17, 2021 5:17 pm

Master Radishes wrote: ↑Sun May 16, 2021 6:06 am I hope all four Canadian teams lose, somehow.

The whole 'cheer for Canada's team' thing is stupid. I don't want anyone else to be happy whilst I remain unhappy.

Go...iunno, Florida.

Who is your team again?

Canucks.

Hence why I want everyone else to suffer - because I suffer.

G-Man wrote: ↑Mon May 17, 2021 5:18 pm Also, I love that the first three games of the NHL playoffs all went to OT. Silly Lightning ruining the streak last night.

And the Lightning-Panthers game was best of the bunch anyway. I hope that series goes the distance.

I can’t fault you for the sour Canadian grapes. I cheered for the Bruins against your Canucks when they were in the Finals. For whatever reason the Canucks and the Senators are the two Canadian teams that I can’t support for the Cup.

This Leafs-Habs series has me so torn!

Carey Price pucks the strangest times to stand on his head.

I have to wonder if Montreal wins this series if Tavares didn’t get hurt.

That Scheifele hit on Evans after the empty-net goal was brutal as hell. I don’t want to sound biased since Montreal is my team, but I should think he’ll be getting a sit-down with the league and probably deserves a game suspension.

Syn wrote: ↑Wed Jun 02, 2021 11:51 pm

G-Man wrote: ↑Wed Jun 02, 2021 10:25 pm That Scheifele hit on Evans after the empty-net goal was brutal as hell. I don’t want to sound biased since Montreal is my team, but I should think he’ll be getting a sit-down with the league and probably deserves a game suspension.

Yeah but Parros tho

Suspended for four games. Pretty harsh for a first offense, but it was a doozy of a first offense.

The Habs are up 2-0 in the series, but I’m still tempering my enthusiasm. Even if they win this series, they’ll have to play Colorado (or maaaaybe Vegas) in the next round.

Habs up 3-0 in the series. They’ve won six games in a row! I can’t help but geek out just a little tonight.

Syn wrote: ↑Mon Jun 07, 2021 11:23 pm SO HOW ABOUT THEM HABS

I know, right? I’m on such an emotional roller coaster with these playoffs, but I’m still tempering my expectations. They will play one of the two best teams in the league next series, possibly with a good bit of rest before that series starts. Rest is just one letter away from rust.

Master Radishes wrote: ↑Tue Jun 08, 2021 4:25 pm [quote=G-Man post_id=785343 time=<a href="tel:1620837503">1620837503</a> user_id=383]
As much as I hate to cheer against my Habs, they limped into the playoffs and aren't capable of a deep run. Don't spoil a legit Canadian contender this year.

You were saying...?
[/quote]

I hope to eat my words, because they will be delicious.

With Boston eliminated, I can now be content at worst with any of the remaining teams winning the Cup. My order of preference being:

1) Montreal
2) Tampa Bay
3) Colorado
4) Vegas
5) New York

Which player critical to Vegas’s success will get hurt/suspended Game 1 tonight, thereby allowing the Habs to win the series?

As one of the top teams in the league this season, Vegas showed that they have an extra gear in them that Montreal lacks. The Habs tried to compensate for this by plays high-tempo hockey, but they were too undisciplined and spent too much time in the box. They can still make it a series with a few adjustments, but I won’t be surprised if they lose in four or five if they repeat last night’s game plan.

Glad they got the win tonight, but my goodness! For the last 10 minutes of the game Montreal looked like a flag hanging on for dear life in the middle of a hurricane.

Whether the Habs win or lose this series, Cole Caufield has made a name for himself these playoffs.