As a lifelong Islanders fan who was born long after any sort of success with the franchise, it’s going to be a fun postseason. Usually I can just watch any game and enjoy it as long as the Bruins don’t win, but now the Isles are up 2-0 on the Penguins and I’m starting to have some hope.
Also, the Islanders went from most goals allowed in the league last year to the least goals allowed this year - one of the most remarkable turnarounds I’ve ever seen in professional sports.
Isles up 3-0. Robin Lehner saves a puck with his head - in a deliberate move, not just being hit with a puck. This guy hits home with me - he’s dealt with addiction issues that almost ruined him. Hell of a goalie and a guy.
Lifelong Leafs fan. So far they’re doing better than I thought they would against the Bruins. I truly believe whoever wins game 4 will win the series. Toronto can’t compete with Boston when the Bruins start throwing their weight around. Likewise, Boston can’t keep up with Toronto’s speed and skill level. In the first 3 games, the team that established their style of play onto the game was the team that won.
My only explanation for the Isles’ turnaround is Trotz. The guy knows what he’s doing. And Eberle is a beast. I think they are this year’s Vegas. No real star power (possible exception of Eberle and Barzal although they are kind of second tier stars) but they are definitely greater than the sum of their parts.
And if anyone can explain to me what the hell is going wrong with Tampa…
I have no idea but if the Isles shut out the Penguins and Tampa gets shut out, there’s a real path to the cup there. And I’m definitely taking the leafs over the bruins.
Re: Lehner… I used to really dislike the guy back when he broke into the league with Ottawa. He struck me as kind of a punk, always complaining to the refs at every whistle, bad mouthing opponents etc. Kind of a spoiled brat. Then he went to Buffalo and then he disappeared. I guess we now know why. What I’ve seen of him lately, he definitely seems to have matured. Pills and years will do that to most people I suppose. I’m firmly on his side now. Nothing better than when someone with troubles takes ownership of their life and gets their shit together. I wish him all the best, professionally and personally. Everyone deserves a second chance.
You are about 3 years late to the party. Them and the Penguins have literally owned the Stanley Cup for the last decade. However, their core guys are getting old and they’ve lost the quality supporting players you need to win championships so they didn’t make the playoffs this year. However, I’d give my left teste to have won all the cups they have over the last few years. So, in summary, if I were you I’d still wear the shit out of that shirt.
Also, they have probably the sweetest logo and colour scheme of any team in the league so from a fashion standpoint, I’d also wear it. You pretty much can’t go wrong with wearing that shirt on any level.
I love seeing this thread here. I tried getting one started years ago. Nice to know I’m not alone.
Long story short, I moved around so much as a kid, that I never really latched on to a team (except for the AHL Portland Pirates; they have had my heart since they became a team).
However, my wife is from Ohio, and we moved back here a year ago. I got her into hockey, and she is now a rabid Blue Jackets fan. She’s in shock right now. That was definitely some wild hockey to watch.
Side note: My alma mater just won the NCAA hockey championship too. Go Bulldogs!
I can’t believe Tampa… seems like no one understands what happened or how this could happen. They’ve made it into the record books for the second time this season and this time for being the only league winners to ever get swept in the first round. Ouch.
The only explanation I can come up with is that due to their almost complete lack of adversity throughout the regular season, they weren’t able to respond effectively after they got down by a couple games. Especially after blowing that 3 goal lead in the first game. I think they only lost 2 games in a row twice during the whole season so maybe they couldn’t shake it off quickly enough to regain their composure. The schedule is so condensed in the playoffs that you have to rebound really fast and if you can’t you’re done. But still, there’s no reason that they shouldn’t have won a single game. With the firepower they have on that bench it’s amazing they couldn’t score more than they did. Congrats to Columbus on their first playoff series win. So far their deadline acquisitions are looking like money well spent, especially Duchene.
Now that I think about it, I feel that I’m responsible for both Tampa and Pittsburgh getting swept. The only 2 NHL games I attended this year were 1 in Tampa and 1 in Pittsburgh. Obviously my presence in both arenas was enough to have serious playoff implications, unbeknownst to me.
First year in a while for me I didn’t attend any NHL games. For one, I moved to Virginia a few years ago, where professional sports go to die, but Ive still made it up for an Isles game once a year (a rangers one once too, despite not being a fan).
Also, Trotz beat Pittsburgh last year. And Tampa. Honestly, I know coaches aren’t everything, but Pittsburgh has 3 cups in the last decade and he beats them two years in a row with different teams, the second team coming off of a league worst goals allowed season? I can’t say enough about this guy, or enough about how the Capitals should have thrown money at him.