We are now down to four.
Now for some thoughts.
The most pathetic aspect to the Toronto Maple Leafs 6-1 loss to the Florida Panthers in Game 7 was their lack of fight. They didn’t push back at all. They accepted their fate. Max Domi was the only Leaf who had vinegar. It must be in his genes. His Game 5 crosscheck and Game 7 goal were the only times Toronto had a pulse in those games.
Hard to believe the Leafs were up 2-0 in the series and 3-0 in Game 3.
Mitch Marner lost tens of millions of dollars last week. Who cares what he does in the regular season.
Leafs Captain Auston Matthews said there were too many passengers. They were all passengers. There were no drivers. The Leafs were a driver-less car going over a cliff.
Florida Panther GM Bill Zito got the two best players at the deadline after Mikko Rantanen. Brad Marchand and Seth Jones were the best skaters on the ice in Game 7.
Sergei Bobrovsky showed once again why he’s lock for the Hall Of Fame.
Why did Craig Berube never split up Matthews and Marner?
The Washington Capitals and Alex Ovechkin looked worn out vs the Carolina Hurricanes. The All Time Goal record chase took its toll on the team. The Montreal Canadians also gave Washinghton more trouble than an 8th seed should to dispatch them.
I hope Rod Brind’Amour will accept getting beat this year by Florida. Remember 2 years ago when he lost the series in 4 but claimed it wasn’t a sweep.
Miro Heiskanen returning to Dallas gives the Stars another dimension. He can pair with Thomas Harley and give Dallas a sublime top pair.Heiskanen and Harley can also be split up and one of them will be on the ice for ¾ of the game.
I’m usually not a fan of 11 forwards and 7 defensemen but double shifting Mikko Rantanen with either Wyatt Johnston and Jason Robertson or Roope Hintz and Mikhail Granlund gives Dallas two number one lines.
Sergei Bobrovsky is in 2nd place.
Jake Oettinger should be the starting goalie for the USA in the Olympics. Matthew Tkachuk should be the Captain.
Edmonton coach Kris Knoblauch is underrated. Outcoaching Jim Hiller of the Kings is easy but out coaching Vegas Knight coach Bruce Cassidy is impressive.
Connor McJesus received a lot of help from his apostles vs the Golden Knights. Who thought Evander Kane could pull a Nikita Kucherov. He missed the entire regular season and has played great in the playoffs.
I don’t think anyone on the Leafs roster has the mental toughness of Oilers goalie Stuart Skinner
Joel Quennville is in the perfect spot in Anaheim. It’s a great place to live and it’s out of the media spotlight. Anaheim has a talented young roster that needs guidance .
As a Penguin fan watching Mike Sullivan coach the long standing division rival New York Rangers will be difficult. It’s like your girlfriend moved in across the street with a new guy who is better looking and makes more money than you.
Watching Sullivan coach the Rangers is difficult. Watching Rick Tocchet coach the Philadelphia Flyers is gut wrenching awful. The Flyers are the Penguins most hated rival and whoever is second is not even close. Tocchet won 3 Stanley Cups as a Penguin. One as a player and two as a coach. Tocchet became a Pittsburgher. . Tocchet returned home to Philly as one of the only two people loved in both cities. The other being the man who was traded to get him. The Wrecking Ball Hall of Famer Mark Recchi.
Whoever Kyle Dubas hires to replace Mike Sullivan needs to be from the NHL or AHL. A man who is used to coaching paid professionals. Not a college coach or even worse from juniors. College coaches rarely make a successful jump to the pros in any sport. Yelling at homesick teeneager in junior is not a skill set an NHL coach needs.
Use CodePHN15. OK, how much longer are you going to procrastinate? Father’s Day is coming up. WHy not get a chair with Joe Bartnick’s PHN logo on the seat back? Sure, it’s gonna scare some people, but Joe will always be close.
Final 4 Predictions.
Florida > Carolina
The Big Cats have 9 forwards that can score. Carolina has 4. Carolina goalie Freddie Anderson will be hurt sooner than later.
Dallas> Edmonton
It’s not wise to pick against Jesus and Leon but Dallas Head Coach Pete DeBoer does not lose Game 7s
