2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs

[spndnchz]

15 minutes ago, PerreaultForever said:

The hockey is decent but it's disappointingly tame overall. Winnipeg and St. Louis are trying to hurt each other but otherwise it's been pretty tame. I thought Florida and Tampa were supposed to hate each other? Gonna be a war? Looked more like they were getting ready to go golfing together. 

Maybe the 4 Nations spoiled me but so far the best hockey of the year was in that not this. 

I disagree 

[PerreaultForever]

46 minutes ago, spndnchz said:

I disagree 

You think it's physical? I'm not saying it's not fast and skilled. Just that it's not as physical as I expected. 

[HumanSlinky39]

9 hours ago, PerreaultForever said:

You think it's physical? I'm not saying it's not fast and skilled. Just that it's not as physical as I expected. 

I've only been able to watch the Habs/Caps game on Monday. That game was really physical. Can't speak to the others, but I really enjoyed that game.

For most of the game, the Caps looked much bigger/stronger than the Habs and it looked like they were gonna boat race them. But the Habs kept fighting and eventually forced OT. I don't like their chances in that series at all, but MTL is a well coached team with a roster that doesn't get rattled and plays well together. They did their rebuild right and should have a bright future.

Edited Wednesday at 04:58 PM by HumanSlinky39

[Crusader1969]

And there it is Jeff Skinners NHL playoff career has stopped at 1 game   He's a healthy scratch tonight 

is it wrong that I take joy into his failure ? 

[Porous Five Hole]

28 minutes ago, Crusader1969 said:

And there it is Jeff Skinners NHL playoff career has stopped at 1 game   He's a healthy scratch tonight 

is it wrong that I take joy into his failure ? 

Old “friend” Evander Kane draws into his spot. I like him a lot less than Skinner.  

[OverPowerYou]

On these nice warm, sunny spring days I have flashbacks to moments in my youth when the Sabres were in the playoffs. I can almost smell it in the air. 
 

I am starting to forget the euphoric feeling. Even if we make the playoffs next year we are looking at a first round 4-1 series elimination. At least these playoffs have been entrertaining. It really does help that there is no Boston Bruins hockey in the first round 

 

 

Edited Wednesday at 10:54 PM by OverPowerYou

[Pimlach]

The Blues and Jets are playing a very physical series so far.
 

Jets have more speed and skill, but St Louis has been working very hard.  

[Wyldnwoody44]

Landeskog returning tonight

[Pimlach]

Landescog playing tonight for Avs 

30 minutes ago, Wyldnwoody44 said:

Landeskog returning tonight

You beat me to it as usual 

[SABRES 0311]

Kane in and Skinner out for EDM.

[Wyldnwoody44]

Looks like changes for both the above teams, did them no favors lol 

[Archie Lee]

9 hours ago, SABRES 0311 said:

Kane in and Skinner out for EDM.

The series is far from over, but going with Skinner, Arvidsson, Henrique  over Holloway, Foegele, McLeod, is looking like an epic level failure. Not that we are where the Oilers were or are, but it is perhaps a cautionary tale about moving on from younger players for veterans. It has to be the right veterans.  

 

[DarthEbriate]

33 minutes ago, Archie Lee said:

The series is far from over, but going with Skinner, Arvidsson, Henrique  over Holloway, Foegele, McLeod, is looking like an epic level failure. Not that we are where the Oilers were or are, but it is perhaps a cautionary tale about moving on from younger players for veterans. It has to be the right veterans.  

I’m pretty sure I remember a graphic that Edmonton had the oldest roster in the league last season. And that was before losing Holloway, Broberg, and McLeod. There’s a balance.

And goaltending. 

[Archie Lee]

26 minutes ago, DarthEbriate said:

I’m pretty sure I remember a graphic that Edmonton had the oldest roster in the league last season. And that was before losing Holloway, Broberg, and McLeod. There’s a balance.

And goaltending. 

Yeah, it’s almost like the Oilers did the opposite of what we have done. We have been relying on internal growth, without having the veterans around to provide balance to the roster. The Oilers had 3-4 younger guys poised to take the next step in their careers and likely could have improved by relying on internal growth. Their roster mistakes might cost them a lot more than one playoff series. 

As an aside, three players who are in the playoffs with their new teams who we easily could have outbid their new teams for in trade or UFA cost, are Logan Thompson, Cody Ceci, and Warren Foegele.  They are collectively what we needed instead of Reimer/Levi, Jokiharju, and Aubé-Kubel. 

[Pimlach]

Dallas is refusing to yield to the Avs.  I watched that game and it is very hard to imagine the Sabres getting to the level that these two teams are playing at.  

Canes look like they woke up, they were coasting in the final weeks of the regular season. 

The Kings look big and kingly.  

Montreal looks like an 8th seed.   Sadly, they swept the Sabres.  

[That Aud Smell]

16 hours ago, OverPowerYou said:

On these nice warm, sunny spring days I have flashbacks to moments in my youth when the Sabres were in the playoffs. I can almost smell it in the air. 

I am starting to forget the euphoric feeling.

There's just nothing like it.

I'm a big Bills fan. STH since 2020 (the Allen effect). But my fan experience with the playoffs is so different with the Bills than it is (or was) with the Sabres.

With the Bills, home playoff games occur right in the teeth of winter. Prior to those playoff games, I've found myself a bit stadium weary from cold (or otherwise unpleasant) home games in November, December (and, honestly, the whole season (it takes energy to devote a day to a game)). Of course, once I'm in my seat for the playoff game, I'm amped up and ready to go. But I've had to give myself a few pep talks over the years in the days and hours leading up to those playoff games. There's part of me that just dreads slogging out to the stadium in January.

With the Sabres (and the NHL), the vibe is so, so different. Winter's over. Warm, sunny days are vibe- and mood-boosters. Whether I'm at the arena, in the plaza, or at a bar with opened garage door windows and a crowd spilling out onto the street, the vibe leading up to and then surrounding a Sabres playoff game is just pure anxious joy.

And if you're really lucky, you'll see Ken Hitchcock taking a walk around the Erie Basin Marina during your lunch break and you'll scream "EFF YOU, HITCH!" and get a friendly middle finger in return.

I miss that stuff so much.

[JP51]

So this is pathetic... but I dont want to see Toronto win it so their misery in drought continues... Or the Oilers, somehow I like the notion of McDavid not winning one, Or the Knights... because Eichel with 2 and Oloffsson getting a cup I hate...  Carolina, nope just because... Dallas... no for obvious reasons...  Florida no because they are near Miami LOL...  LA no way, I hate LA.. in fact the entire state... LOL... which brings me to Colorado... I still harbor Vesey shunned us so no...  Stl... still mad about Orielly, Winnipeg no... I just don't want another team off the list that hasnt won one... NJ Devils... too close to NYC... 

Ottawa I am torn here between hating them, having another team that hasnt won a cup in recent history and having Cozens win a cup to futher illustrate how horrid this Front Office is with player development etc... 

Mtl - again torn.. Hate them... but could really illustrate how incompetent Adams is as they we in last place and would have come back to win it... but not happening... 

Min - I kinda would like Foligno to get one... I always liked him

Tampa - Well I live 60 miles from Tampa so in theory they should be my home team... but just cant bring myself to root for them and not the Sabres...  but the way its going I might have to take them on as a 2nd team...  So, I guess I am gonna go with the lightning, it may be nice to be in a town when something was significant was won just to see what its like... 

So there is my well thought out in depth impartial non emotional analysis LOL..  😆

 

 

[Crusader1969]

3 hours ago, Pimlach said:

Dallas is refusing to yield to the Avs.  I watched that game and it is very hard to imagine the Sabres getting to the level that these two teams are playing at.  

Canes look like they woke up, they were coasting in the final weeks of the regular season. 

The Kings look big and kingly.  

Montreal looks like an 8th seed.   Sadly, they swept the Sabres.  

Sure but Buffalo swept Ottawa and if Ottawa and Toronto switched goalies, it would be Ottawa up 2-0 

[...]

On 4/23/2025 at 3:38 AM, PerreaultForever said:

You think it's physical? I'm not saying it's not fast and skilled. Just that it's not as physical as I expected. 

It's the first few games of the first round. The games I have watched have been sufficiently physical and interesting. I have not watched a boring game yet.

[Pimlach]

5 hours ago, Crusader1969 said:

Sure but Buffalo swept Ottawa and if Ottawa and Toronto switched goalies, it would be Ottawa up 2-0 

I doubt that but I do agree that Linus is choking. 

[Believer]

Lightning may have a worse PP  than the Sabres.

 

[Pimlach]

Minnesota jumps to a lead. Kaprisov. 

[Broken Ankles]

Ulmark

[Crusader1969]

Wow Ullmark. - Make. A. Save

It's pretty sad when an .850 save percentage is considered a good game for him 

Ottawa should have gone with Forsberg.   Too late now.  
 

 

[KC Scouts]

Fast start for the Blues.......