SCF: Game 1

[dhsux]

Tkachuk has made at least 3 outstanding defensive plays where he totally reads the play.

Each FLA player sure knows which role to play when needed.

All in all I thought a pretty quiet game for him.

[dhsux]

Oilers got it done.

After playing as well as they did they had to find a way win this one a loss would have really stung.

[TheJackBurton]

really surprised the Edmonton upped their physicality. I had assumed even with the cup being within sight that they'd continue their normal style and get pushed around, but they about matched Florida's (stats suggest it was even, i think i'd disagree by a little bit there i still think florida was punishing more often but meh). Good for hockey that this was a really compelling game 1.

Yeah I think that caught Florida by surpise.

Won't happen in game 2.

[icon]

Evan Bouchard is so skilled, but he is a pinhead far too often.

At least 2 really bad giveaways.

[Frank Underwood]

Credit where credit is due…..I thought Edmonton played a great game. Still, I think they lose that game if Bob doesn’t give up that soft 2nd goal. I hope this series goes 6 or 7 games. It’s going to be a good one.

[Frank Underwood]

Evan Bouchard is so skilled, but he is a pinhead far too often.

At least 2 really bad giveaways.

He’s like Al MacInnis but with no brain!

[moose-and-squirrel]

Evan Bouchard is so skilled, but he is a pinhead far too often.

At least 2 really bad giveaways.

someone's gonna WAY overpay for him.. pass

[theograce]

Tkachuk has made at least 3 outstanding defensive plays where he totally reads the play.

Each FLA player sure knows which role to play when needed.

Bieksa called tkachuk a lazy player on National TV. Loved that. He bullied him bad in real life too lol

[SRV1990]

Tkachuk has made at least 3 outstanding defensive plays where he totally reads the play.

Each FLA player sure knows which role to play when needed.

He's such a good player, would have loved to see him a Blues uniform. Oh well...

[Blues Dave]

I hate that reviews end up a penalty. All goals should be reviewed.

Love the start by the Oilers. But man, FLA just easily came back.

I agree 100% on reviews and the penalty. Eliminate the whole thing. The officials should get the call right no matter how they have to do it. It's either a goal or it isn't. Teams shouldn't have to pay extra if the officials make the wrong call originally.

[TheJackBurton]

Evan Bouchard is so skilled, but he is a pinhead far too often.

At least 2 really bad giveaways.

someone's gonna WAY overpay for him.. pass

Yep. Edmonton

[TheJackBurton]

I hate that reviews end up a penalty. All goals should be reviewed.

Love the start by the Oilers. But man, FLA just easily came back.

I agree 100% on reviews and the penalty. Eliminate the whole thing. The officials should get the call right no matter how they have to do it. It's either a goal or it isn't. Teams shouldn't have to pay extra if the officials make the wrong call originally.

That's the way it used to be, problem was it clogging up the game because of all the challenges on a replay for a skate a millimeter off the ice.

I like it as there should be a penalty assessed for challenging a goal and it wasn't overturned. Now you have delayed the game.

Quite frankly unless the player absolutely barrels into the goaler unimpeded or there's under a minute to go in the game and that could potentially be the game winning goal, I'm almost never challenging goaltender interference as it is one of the worst interpreted calls out there.

[Blues Dave]

I hate that reviews end up a penalty. All goals should be reviewed.

Love the start by the Oilers. But man, FLA just easily came back.

I agree 100% on reviews and the penalty. Eliminate the whole thing. The officials should get the call right no matter how they have to do it. It's either a goal or it isn't. Teams shouldn't have to pay extra if the officials make the wrong call originally.

That's the way it used to be, problem was it clogging up the game because of all the challenges on a replay for a skate a millimeter off the ice.

I like it as there should be a penalty assessed for challenging a goal and it wasn't overturned. Now you have delayed the game.

Quite frankly unless the player absolutely barrels into the goaler unimpeded or there's under a minute to go in the game and that could potentially be the game winning goal, I'm almost never challenging goaltender interference as it is one of the worst interpreted calls out there.

Excellent points TheJackBurton. And that's why I feel there shouldn't even be a challenge allowed. The war room in Toronto can review every goal (the most important part of the game), so it's officially called correctly. It's on the officials to get it right. That's their job. I don't care about the time used on such an important part of the game.

[Harry York 37]

Tkachuk has made at least 3 outstanding defensive plays where he totally reads the play.

Each FLA player sure knows which role to play when needed.

All in all I thought a pretty quiet game for him.

If he doesn't have an injury, he might be tempering his game as he did last year in the playoffs. The year before, his first SCFs, he led the playoffs in penalty minutes and was much more noticeable offensively. He is performing at a very similar rate as he did last year, in scoring and in PIMs, when they won the Cup.
I reckon if the Panthers lose the second game, or are trailing near the end of it, he might unleash his feistier side. And maybe not.

MT is incredibly savvy about Ice Hockey, much more so than most all who criticise him.

[dhsux]

Tkachuk has made at least 3 outstanding defensive plays where he totally reads the play.

Each FLA player sure knows which role to play when needed.

All in all I thought a pretty quiet game for him.

If he doesn't have an injury, he might be tempering his game as he did last year in the playoffs. The year before, his first SCFs, he led the playoffs in penalty minutes and was much more noticeable offensively. He is performing at a very similar rate as he did last year, in scoring and in PIMs, when they won the Cup.
I reckon if the Panthers lose the second game, or are trailing near the end of it, he might unleash his feistier side. And maybe not.

MT is incredibly savvy about Ice Hockey, much more so than most all who criticise him.

Hope you know I wasn't trying to criticize just an observation.

Also, I barely heard his name but a few times or so it seemed.

[Harry York 37]

Tkachuk has made at least 3 outstanding defensive plays where he totally reads the play.

Each FLA player sure knows which role to play when needed.

All in all I thought a pretty quiet game for him.

If he doesn't have an injury, he might be tempering his game as he did last year in the playoffs. The year before, his first SCFs, he led the playoffs in penalty minutes and was much more noticeable offensively. He is performing at a very similar rate as he did last year, in scoring and in PIMs, when they won the Cup.
I reckon if the Panthers lose the second game, or are trailing near the end of it, he might unleash his feistier side. And maybe not.

MT is incredibly savvy about Ice Hockey, much more so than most all who criticise him.

Hope you know I wasn't trying to criticize just an observation.

Also, I barely heard his name but a few times or so it seemed.

Of course, Man- you are too classy.
I was out of it most of last night. I had a surreal day and fell asleep in the OT.... that ain't ME!
I will be more aware on Friday. I think MT has realized he doesn't need to push the team like he used to. These guys are scary good.
So are the Oilers and they are the more interesting story in my opinion.
It's almost boring waiting for one of these highly seasoned teams to make a dumb mistake. That's why I always notice Bouchard. He hasn't learned very much since last year, sadly.