Haven't had a chance to see as much of the Avs this postseason as I wanted, but given the hype and highlights, plus what I know of Tampa, here's how I see the matchup. Avs fans and those who know the team, what do I have wrong here? Coach - Advantage Tampa Defense - Best Player - Advantage Colorado Defense Overall - Advantage Tampa Offense Overall - Advantage Colorado Offense Overall - Advantage Colorado Power Play - Advantage Colorado Penalty Kill - Advantage Tampa Goalie - Advantage Tampa To beat the Avs, Tampa has to play the defense they played late in the Leafs series, all series against Florida, and from Game 3 on against the Rangers. If they play the DGAF defense they showed in the first two games against the Leafs and Rangers, they are going to get run out of the building. And Vasy will need to have the series of his life. Tampa can definitely win but they aren't the best team on the ice.
Pretty good summary. I’m actually not sure Tampa’s defense overall is better tbh, Colorado has been very good there too but Edmonton series was just wild and Oilers are tough for anyone to stop defensively. Biggest disparity where Tampa has the advantage is goaltending.
Definitely true about goalie, though there's no denying the Avs goalies did a decent enough job (except for Game 1) handling the Edmonton offense. You may be right about the overall defense, that's a lot of what I don't know about the Avs. Tampa's entire team is willing to block a shot with their face if they have to, their stickwork has been impeccable for most of the playoffs, and their forechecking is typically excellent. That may all be true about Colorado too, I just haven't seen it. Tampa has bought into defense-first and letting the offense develop from there, which they can do with the players they have. Colorado certainly could too but my feeling is they prefer to outscore teams than to grind out a close one.
Tampa’s defensive depth wins it for them. I don’t think Colorado can win a low scoring checking game if they need to, when Tampa can. And Tampa can win a high scoring game if they need to if Point is back.
Makar is slightly better offensively than Hedman. Hedman is slightly better defensively than Makar. Not sure you can definitively give the nod to Makar. The difference between Vasi and Kuemper is ginormous. That, and Tampa’s experience at this stage and Colorado’s lack there of, I think will be the difference.
I’m sure I’ve got some posts from around that time that haven’t aged well. I thought they’d blown their chance and the window was going to close.
I mean last year was some legal bull shit, but this year’s team is not only cap compliant, but missing their #1 center.
https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/edmont...buyout-candidates-ahead-of-nhl-buyout-window/ Good God @ that potential Vlasic buyout.
The cap loophole could've been fixed after the 2015 playoffs when the Blackhawks used it to acquire Vermette(who had two GWG in the final against the Lightning that year BTW) and two other guys while Kane was on IR, but the rest of the league is fine with it. It must be a successful strategy any team can use, just ask Vegas how well it worked out for them. The Lightning got no benefit from the pandemic considering they won the cup with Stamkos playing a handful of shifts. Everyone played under the same circumstances, some teams just lost to mediocre teams in the first round.
Yeah I get the debate on putting an asterisk for the last two Don’t see an argument about this year if they win it again
I like the lightning but come on the bubble was a joke. Last year sure teams definitely cared. And the loophole is lame and easily fixed so since it isn't its whatever. Take advantage where you can.
It just wasn't real. Half the teams clearly didn't give a shit. Teams got wildly different experiences in hotel and food and everything as well. It was fun to have sports but not a real title.
1/2 the teams didn’t actually want to win the Cup apparently. I put an asterisk on every season the Lightning didn’t win it because the food quality was lower on the road and they can’t be expected to care about championships when you’re paying prime level prices and getting choice level steaks.
So we should put a half asterisk for covid year, and another half asterisk for cap shenanigans last year! So the two cups equal one legit cup and no they are going for back to back?
Last year was legit but it actually felt like the bubble win was anticlimactic. You work your whole life, overcome that embarrassing sweep, and this is how you win it?
Was in Toronto many years back with my buddy and his roommate. His roomie owned half the bars in Toronto… this is London, Barracuda, Money, the Easy, the Fifth. Standing outside London one night with JR and Oliver and the lineups were all over the place. I see Clement walking up to the bar with a crew and I said I think that’s Bill Clement from ESPN. Clement looks at the bouncer, the bouncer looks at Oli who nods his head yes. Clement and his gang stroll right into the bar. Feel like he owes me a drink.
Why would he need a roommate if he owns that many bars? Toronto real estate is pretty crazy but still
They played football at Bishops and roomed together there. Went my buddy moved to Toronto they were both single and Oli had a 4 bedroom house. Why wouldn’t you want to live with a guy that ran that many bars?
He’s gonna squeeze everything out of that roster for a year or 2 before it all blows up catastrophically.
they should just fire Fletcher, no idea what the point of keeping him around is if you don't trust him to hire the next coach.