If Shesterkin was on a team other than the Rangers, I would legitimately feel bad for him. Much like Carey Price last year, he did everything he could, carrying the Rangers on his back to get them this far. He was TERRIFIC tonight-just watch the highlights, it could've been a blowout Lightning win if not for him. But, as every non-Ranger fan (hopefully) knew throughout...
VASI'S BETTER *clap-clap-clap-clap-clap*
VASI'S BETTER *clap-clap-clap-clap-clap*
VASI'S BETTER *clap-clap-clap-clap-clap*

Also had Crosby injury, Jarry injury, Freddie injury, Point injury

I hate to say it’s luck but everything happend right for the rangers

what do you mean? Kaapo Kakko is a wonderful, homegrown 4th liner

2019: Bruins beat the Leafs and made it to the cup finals
2021: Canadiens beat the Leafs and made it to the cup finals
2022: lightning beat the Leafs and made it to the cup finals

They're a good team

Paladin = superstar + Zibenajad = fringe 1C + Vatrano = played well, 2nd line caliber since coming
Kreider = played well. 50 + goals. Yes he overachiever, but he can get 40 next year + Strome = great 2C + Copp = played amazing since coming , he maybe unlocked something. Was always underrated and good
Lafreniere = played well these playoffs, can only get better + Chytil = was very clutch, maybe unlocked something that's been hidden for a while + kaako = I think he'll be traded for someone like Dach, who has potential

Lindgren = Your classic 2nd pair dman + Fox = superstar dman
Miller = probably unlocked something too, he's been improving alot this year + Trouba = he plays well, a very good 2nd pair dman

Shesterkin = top 3 goalie in league, he won't regress

It's a good team, in my head, I had this team going to the finals, no joke.

We probably see next year:

Paladin + Zib - Chytil
Kreider - Copp - Lafrenière
Goodrow - Dach - ???

Lindgren - Fox
Miller - Trouba

Shesterkin

This team is very much ahead of the Devils
And still has a chance to compete.
I'm telling ya, it wasn't a fluke

So using simple Bill Nye the Science Guy metrics in 2023 winning by logic gets either team straight to the finals


Seems easy enough now its just a matter getting that last piece to the puzzle solved as we are on the verge of something big.

In both of those years they lost, here's hoping tampa loses too!
Columbus in 2020 didn't make the finals though

"Bill Nye" and "logic" do not belong in the same sentence (and for that matter, neither do "Leafs" and "finals" )

something is just off about the makeup of the rangers idk. Don't think Krieder scores 40, i think 30 is realistic. i def dont think strome is a "very good 2c", but i doubt hes on the team next year anyway. Laf looked good these playoffs, but theres no telling if hes gonna improve. Same thing with Chytil. Trouba is overrated, hes a dirty scumbag who takes too many dumb penalties, hockey ability wise, hes an overpaid 2nd pair dman. i definitely think theyre a playoff team next year, but theyre a 1st or 2nd round exit in my eyes

Gonna ignore the silliness and just post a simple message

Never say Never

Every team has a chance of being in the finals

And Bill Nye and Logic always go together as Science involves logic and equations and so many other complicated things

Without getting into the specifics and starting a political firestorm, IMO Nye often greatly exaggerates the data and/or completely ignores basic logic in order to further his political agenda (the environmentalist Michael Shellenberger has a good book debunking much of Nye's claims).

In regard to the Leafs, it's more of a joke at this point (their consistent losing in the first round) than anything else, I'm not being serious. They'll make it eventually. But I do honestly believe there's a mental component of "God, when will this misery end" in the organization's heads that they need to get over-once they get past the first round, I see no reason why they can't contend.

One thing I noticed is the similarity of injuries between the 2 sides

Both Colorado and Tampa dont got their 2c's

Would have liked to have seen 2 healthy teams battle but hey cant control that

But man Kuemper gonna have to step it up big time as Vasi just be looking likes hes back on track letting those first 2 games against NYR slip under the rug

Per Cooper, Point is "extremely probable" to play "at some point in the series", possibly even Game 1, which makes sense, as Seravalli said this earlier:

Sources say #GoBolts Brayden Point not expected to play in Game 6 tonight.No doubt Point is getting close. Fair to surmise he plays next game, whatever round that’s in for Tampa Bay.@DailyFaceoff

— Frank Seravalli (@frank_seravalli) June 11, 2022

Whereas Kadri's almost definitely out for the first 3 or 4 games of the series, and is questionable for the rest.

I feel both Kadri and Point will be back game 2 or 3 unless something significant happens. As rn no need to rush either guy back unless we see a spanking occur.

I'd be shocked if Kadri's back that early. I mean, the man broke his thumb a week and a half (by the time Game 1 rolls around) ago, I don't see how he could possibly get back to the point where he can grip a stick normally in that amount of time. There's a reason why Darren Dreger reported that Kadri is "likely done" for the playoffs.

I think you're underrating Zibby, imo he's established himself as a definitive 1C. Over a point per game the last 4 years (cumulative) and he doesn't play with Panarin at even strength. Scheifele and Tavares have put up similar point per game numbers throughout their career and always been considered 1Cs, and Zibby is miles better everywhere else on the ice than Shuffles, plus he PKs which even Tavares doesn't do.

On the other hand you're overrating Strome, he's a low end 2C at best, he was literally a throwaway journeyman until Panarin, and while having chemistry with a superstar is valuable and can make a career (see: Kunitz, Dupuis, Okposo, etc.), he's not that good without him. I also think he's in line for a payday (arguable whether it's deserved or not, but it's coming, and if it's somewhere else he probably isn't living up to it), so he might not be there next year.

Which leads me to the next thing you overrate: their ability to keep this team together. In my eyes they can keep Copp OR Strome, not both, because both will want raises and top 6 minutes, so they pick one to be their 2C and let the other walk. Especially if they wanna hang onto Vatrano. If they buyout Nemeth, they get ~15.7mil to sign 10-11 guys. If they commit 5.5mil to a 2C (Strome or Copp), 2mil each to a decent backup and Vatrano (discount btw, so maybe not even realistic), ~1.5mil each to Blais (would suck PR-wise for him to walk and they probably don't want that anyway) and Kakko (1 year prove it deal, don't think he gets dealt, they probably run the kid line as line 3 next year), then league min to a 3LD, 3RD, 4C, and spare, they can fit a 21 man roster. But that means they lose one of Copp/Strome, lose Motte, lose Georgiev for a cheaper backup, and might even have to trade Reaves (one of Blais or Goodrow would be at 2RW in this hypothetical).

Kreider-Zibanejad-Vatrano
Panarin-Copp-Blais
Lafreniere-Chytil-Kakko
Goodrow-Rooney-Reaves

Good team, still needs a top 6 scoring forward though. And the 3rd pair will likely be a weakness unless 2 of Jones/Schneider/Lundkvist step up big.

I also don't think 40 is realistic for Kreider, he might get there but he's been a fairly consistent 30 goal pace guy his entire career (despite never actually hitting it until this year) so that's probably closer to the right ballpark.

Let’s also not forget next year they’ll have to sign K’Andre, Laf and Chytil with no significant money coming off the books

I would just like to point out if Tampa wins the cup I win the CapFriendly bracket challenge so you know what that means... Go Tampa ( Go Avs, beat Tampa but also if Tampa wins, i win the bracket challenge so whoever wins, i like the outcome )

Congrats to all the TBL fans, what this team has achieved in the last three years is crazy impressive.



Seeing the two best teams make the Stanley Cup final is refreshing. This is going to be an awesome series!

What does championship hockey look like? ⬇️ This was all in the final 5 minutes while Tampa Bay was protecting a 1-goal lead in an elimination game. Lightning gave up 2 shots on goal, both from the perimeter. pic.twitter.com/lfwkQj4Vlv

— Mike Kelly (@MikeKellyNHL) June 12, 2022

As a Leaf fan, this looks very familiar

Corey Perry is the second player in NHL history to reach the Stanley Cup Final in three straight years with three different teams.The first was Marian Hossa (2008 - PIT, 2009 - DET, 2010 - CHI)Perry also hoping third time will be the charm. pic.twitter.com/x1R28ivmzL

— Kevin Michie (@KevinMichie) June 12, 2022

The five worst 5v5 playoff performances during the analytics era in terms of expected goals:2022 Rangers: 39.16%2018 Wild: 39.05%2010 Avalanche: 38.55%2020 Blackhawks: 37.87%2008 Predators: 36.27%

— Brandon Holmes (@BHolmes_Hockey) June 12, 2022

Shesterkin effect

13/14 on my playoff predictions

Go Avs Go

Last night he wasn't even a 4th liner haha. He was a wonderful, homegrown, healthy scratch!!!