2023-24 NHL Season

[EagerBeaver]

Can you believe it, Lindy Ruff hired back in Buffalo! Yes- the same team that canned his ass in 2013!

Lindy hop: Sabres re-hire Ruff after Devils exit

Over 10 years since his departure, Lindy Ruff is back in Buffalo as the Sabres coach. Ruff is the last coach to lead the team to the playoffs.

www.espn.com

Have any of you guys ever gone back to a job from which you were fired? I did go back to a job from which I quit to accept what looked like a better job, but was not. The former employer heard about my unhappiness with the new employer 2 years later, called me and offered me my old job back, and I accepted. But difference is I quit and Ruff was shown the door and told not to let his ass hit it on the way out..........

 

[gaby]

IMO very very bad decision.....this young team needs new blood/energy around...not someone non inspiring and from another era.....my 2 cents..

 

[Cap'tain Fantastic]

Have any of you guys ever gone back to a job from which you were fired?

Nope, never! But no one ever accepted to pay me $5M a year neither!

 

[ThunderLipps]

Thought the Islanders had that one, Leafs rebound, McD 5 assists for the win, lost my bet on Dallas.

 

[EagerBeaver]

Thought the Islanders had that one

Not sure why- what happened last night has been a recurring problem this year for the Islanders, who have been unable to protect leads and close games. The Islanders had 1 shot on goal in the final 33 minutes of this game. There is really nothing more that needs to be said.

 

[gaby]

Yep...what a comeback by the CANES with 2 big goals in last 2 min....plus empty net.....a thriller fun to watch....and big win also for the LEAFS/MATTHEWS with 3 pts and his 70th goal....lolllll.
Super McDavid with 5 pts/evening and impressive win.......VEGAS is hot.....won't b easy for DALLAS/my pick.

 

[Cap'tain Fantastic]

Not sure why- what happened last night has been a recurring problem this year for the Islanders

Yeah they are very inconsistent, truth is they stopped attacking, 5 shots on goal in the last 2 periods, unacceptable.

 

[Cap'tain Fantastic]

Matthews ignited the turbo last night, my guess is that he has to keep it on because I feel like Nylander is not in great condition, even if he might make a comeback soon.

 

[Cap'tain Fantastic]

Side note about McD, yes 5 assists but he ended up with only +1, so he was on the ice for 4 goals against!!!

 

[EagerBeaver]

Side note about McD, yes 5 assists but he ended up with only +1, so he was on the ice for 4 goals against!!!

He assisted on all 3 Zach Hyman hat trick goals. Hyman quietly had a 50 goal plus season at LW, while benefitting from the McD assists. I thought Kane would be the beneficiary but he is playing on a different line and had a modest 24 goal season.

 

[EagerBeaver]

Tonight the early games are Rangers-Caps at 7 pm and the Battle of Florida resumes at 7:30 pm. I am hoping the Rangers continue the stellar, tough play shown in their first game and stifle the Caps offense.

 

[EagerBeaver]

Ref Steve Kozari, who got laid out in the TB-PItt game a couple weeks ago, is back to ref the playoffs:

Referee Kozari returns to ice, works playoff game

Referee Steve Kozari, who left the ice on a stretcher earlier this month after colliding with Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman Haydn Fleury during a Pittsburgh Penguins' 5-4 victory, returned to the ice Sunday, working 137th career Stanley Cup playoff game.

www.espn.com

 

[gaby]

Oups...DEMKO out tonight with knee issue....not a good news for VAN....DeSmith gets the call....à suivre.

 

[EagerBeaver]

Laviolette Revenge Discussed:

Peter Laviolette coached the Caps -- now he's trying to eliminate them

This is the eighth time in history that a fired coach has faced his former team in the ensuing Stanley Cup playoffs; previously, those coaches went 6-1.

www.espn.com

 

[EagerBeaver]

You guys were worried about the Rangers taking penalties going after or trying to neutralize Wilson, but if you are watching the game, the Rangers aren't concerned. When they can't send Rempe after Wilson they will send Trouba. They don't care if Trouba takes a penalty because the Rangers are very confident in their penalty kill. 5-10 years ago you never wanted to put the Caps on the PP because Ovechkin has the most PP goals in NHL history. And a dangerous slapshot that was painful to block or stop. But Ovechkin isn't the same player, and the Rangers PK is very dangerous with Zbanejad and Kreider, and you could see it. They almost had 2 shorthanded goals on that PP. Zbanejad and Kreider are maniacs in open ice and the Rangers almost want to take penalties so they can unleash those 2 on the PK.

 

[EagerBeaver]

Hits are 16-10 in favor of NYR

 

[EagerBeaver]

Denver Media Very Very Down on Georgiev!

Alexandar Georgiev shouldn't play another game for the Avalanche

If Justus Annunen is still sick, it's time to switch to Ivan Prosvetov; if he has an NHL jersey, he can't be worse than Alexandar Georgiev

denversports.com

 

[EagerBeaver]

If this game was called honestly, the Rangers would be on the power play all night. I have actually lost track of how many PPs they have had already.

 

[Cap'tain Fantastic]

If this game was called honestly, the Rangers would be on the power play all night. I have actually lost track of how many PPs they have had already.

I »ve watched the half of the first period and, seriously, I felt for the Caps! They are way too slow to compete, imo this series is wrapped, I switched to Florida state series.

Now, in the first period the Bolt’s execution was really off but we are used to that kind of slow start from them.
The second was a total blast from both teams. Great playoff hockey and both goaltender up to their reputation. Trust me EB. Shesterkin has serious competition there!

 

[EagerBeaver]

Ind was a total blast from both teams. Great playoff hockey and both goaltender up to their reputation. Trust me EB. Shesterkin has serious competition there!

2 very tough losses for TB. Since you mentioned the goaltending, Vasilevskiy really had to perform because his regular season save % (.900) was the worst of his career and the only time in his career he has been below .910. Which is pretty remarkable in the NHL goaltending world. And Solarz of Florida led the NHL in save % ahead of Hellebuyck, so that the fact we are seeing good goaltending in this series should not be a surprise. I would not be surprised if the Lightning take 2 in TB, this is going to be a very tough battled for the State of Florida but I expect the Panthers, the East Coast champions, to prefer over the West Coast Champions.

Meanwhile, Ovechkin held to 1 SOG second game in a row. Just like the aging hobbyist who only can muster 1 SOG, Ovechkin turned in another feeble performance,. He is not the player he once was.