EDM/DAL

[TheJackBurton]

The Pete Deboer slide has begun.

Expect Dallas to take a step back next season as that's what Deboer teams do.

[theograce]

The Crane is just the best hockey player I’ve ever watched.

Never heard that nickname. What does it mean or how did it come to be?

He steals food from the boys on planes and when out. He’s a poacher so they call him the crane sometimes.

[dr0zombie]

I really feel like Dallas keeps doing a disservice to Edmonton. Dallas looks like a junior team out there and doesn't prep Edmonton for the games. Florida plays a tough series and dominates with a great ending to their series. I have a feeling we see a repeat as Edmonton just isn't in the same competitive space Florida is in right now. Not trying to be pro-Blues crazy, but Edmonton really needed to be playing a team like the Blues or Jets in the conference finals to be mentally ready to challenge Florida.

[somni]

I really thought Rantanen might be able to push enough to expose Skinner. But he really disappeared. Plus, it seems like Edmonton really found their confidence as the series went on. It'll hopefully be a good SCF.

[theograce]

I really feel like Dallas keeps doing a disservice to Edmonton. Dallas looks like a junior team out there and doesn't prep Edmonton for the games. Florida plays a tough series and dominates with a great ending to their series. I have a feeling we see a repeat as Edmonton just isn't in the same competitive space Florida is in right now. Not trying to be pro-Blues crazy, but Edmonton really needed to be playing a team like the Blues or Jets in the conference finals to be mentally ready to challenge Florida.

Dallas coaches and players publicly stated that the Oilers were a much better team than the Oilers team they faced last year. They beat the wheels off the Kings, Vegas and Dallas.

The oilers won’t be losing to the Panthers because of the reasons you discussed.

[BluesDom]

Dallas couldn't even get a shot off. Hintz and Rantanen and others were misfiring like crazy. Edmonton played awesome.

[netboy65]

The Crane is just the best hockey player I’ve ever watched.

Never heard that nickname. What does it mean or how did it come to be?

He got him confused with Daniel LaRusso who won a controversial decision with what some call an illegal kick to the head

[somni]

The Crane is just the best hockey player I’ve ever watched.

Never heard that nickname. What does it mean or how did it come to be?

He got him confused with Daniel LaRusso who won a controversial decision with what some call an illegal kick to the head

Yeah, but it was a make up non-call after they missed the sweeping of the leg.

[theograce]

Dallas couldn't even get a shot off. Hintz and Rantanen and others were misfiring like crazy. Edmonton played awesome.

The last 3 3rd periods Dallas had 12 shots combined (I think I heard that). That’s crazy. I also don’t think they played with a lead since the 3rd period of Game 1. They were destroyed.

[Clark Kimble]

In the first, it was so strange watching Ferraro talking about the Oettinger pull, while sitting right next to Oettinger.

That was a first for me for sure. And Oettinger was right there for all of Ferraro's commentary after his too-early pull, so one wonders if he told his coaches and teammates what Ray was saying about them. Kinda creepy, eh?

I'm curious what the Dallas hockey media is saying today about that short leash on their #1 goalie.

Goalies for every team are so quick to drop and butterfly --- even with the puck in the corner--- but forgetting to put the stick blade down first that they're getting burned in the 5-hole.

And you know how much that hurts, being burned in your 5-hole.

[Clark Kimble]

Stars could barely get a shot on goal in the last 10 minutes. Totally outclassed by the Oilers.

Same SCFs as last year.

Ferraro said just two SOGs in the final 19 mins...at home in an elimination game.

Had Edmonton not taken 2 stupid penalties right after Dallas goals in Game One, this would have been a sweep.

I just love the Sean McDonough (Will's son)/Ray Ferraro/Emily Kaplan broadcast team, though I hope adorable Emily brings back her blond look, even though she struggles with hair loss (I can relate).

I know a lot of guys can't stand to hear and see women on pro sports telecasts, but all three this postseason--- Jackie Redmond (38); Leah Hextall (45), and Kaplan (34) --- have been really good.

Speaking of which, whatever happened to Alexa Datt (39), who handled pre- and post-game TV stuff for Cardinals baseball last year?

[dhsux]

Stars could barely get a shot on goal in the last 10 minutes. Totally outclassed by the Oilers.

Same SCFs as last year.

Ferraro said just two SOGs in the final 19 mins...at home in an elimination game.

Had Edmonton not taken 2 stupid penalties right after Dallas goals in Game One, this would have been a sweep.

I just love the Sean McDonough (Will's son)/Ray Ferraro/Emily Kaplan broadcast team, though I hope adorable Emily brings back her blond look, even though she struggles with hair loss (I can relate).

I know a lot of guys can't stand to hear and see women on pro sports telecasts, but all three this postseason--- Jackie Redmond (38); Leah Hextall (45), and Kaplan (34) --- have been really good.

Speaking of which, whatever happened to Alexa Datt (39), who handled pre- and post-game TV stuff for Cardinals baseball last year?

Hopefully out buying more tight sweaters.

But seriously.....I mean further serious.....she's good at what she does.

[thegibby.]

Kinda surprised Edmonton is the favourite; I'd probably have Florida a slight favourite. IMO we'll know a lot after the 1st two games.


edit: Actually looked today and it's closer to a toss-up series. Edmonton very slight favoured now.

[renostl]

Kinda surprised Edmonton is the favourite; I'd probably have Florida a slight favourite. IMO we'll know a lot after the 1st two games.


edit: Actually looked today and it's closer to a toss-up series. Edmonton very slight favoured now.

Hyman was a large loss to Ed IMO.
Enough to change it from ED slight to
FL and Bob is better in goal.

[TheHighHat]

Before the playoff started I only gave 5 teams a chance at winning the Cup.

Always had the big 3 (Edmonton, Vegas, and Dallas in that order) out west.
I never considered the Avs or Jets as a threat because of lineup holes.

I only had the 2 Florida teams as true Cup contenders out of the east.
Toronto still has holes and Washington vastly overachieved and weren't going to win the Cup with Strome and Dubois as their top 2 centers. The Canes still have that gaping 2C hole they have never addressed. No Hughes, no chance for NJ.

I was dead wrong about Tampa and the Panthers series.
I had the Lightning losing to the Oilers in the Cup finals.
I thought the Panthers would be out of gas because of their 2 previous June runs coupled with the amount of their players that played in 4N. I also thought that Vasilevskiy would shine since he had a major bounce back regular season. Wrong.
Florida dismantled Tampa easily to make my Lightning prediction in the finals look rather foolish.

I believe I'll be proven correct about the Oilers though.
They completely destroyed the only other top contenders (Vegas & Dallas) in the west.
They did so with their best d-man playing only 1 game. That should be an eye opener.
Brett Kulak has really stepped up and given the Oilers solid play on the back end. You never hear about him.

The finals may come down to the Oilers great power play vs the excellent PK of the Panthers.

In the end I believe the year 2025 will go down as Connor McDavid's year in Canadian lore.

[dhsux]

If both teams come out and play their best hockey I see a toss up, 7 games.

But if either finds a weakness shown in the others play the series can be over in 4-1 or 4-2.

Coming in they are both looking deadly.