(Luke has officially signed)

Calling all playoff teams!!!

This post is for any fans of teams who will be in the playoffs, or teams who still may get in. Florida, Pittsburgh, Winnipeg, Calgary. I'm excluding Nashville and anyone else in the east because I don't think they have any real shot of getting in, and if they did, I think they'd be one and done.

I'm going to be doing a playoff preview/prediction post that is equivalent to a novel. I have to wait until matchups are determined before I post.

I would really appreciate feedback for this.

I only want to hear factual things. Don't bother responding and giving comments about teams that you know nothing about or hardly watch and don't truly know their game.

If you have the time or inclination, I would like the three biggest factors for _____ teams success in a series/playoffs. Example- Having an effective powerplay, not letting a game turn into a track meet, locking down star xyz on the opposing team, an individual players role in the series, goaltending, penalties, 5v5 play, coaching, home ice, etc.

I also would like 3 factors that would lead to the downfall of ______ team in a series/the playoffs. For example- taking bad or too many penalties, letting games become too high scoring, playing against a team that is too physical for them to handle, letting star xyz walk all over you and put up great numbers, etc.

It obviously can be something other than I listed. You guys know your own teams better than casual fans. It doesn't have to be 3 of each. It could just be anything you could add and tell me about your team that could give me a deeper understanding of said squad heading in to the playoffs.

Any insight would be greatly appreciated and I will tag everyone who helped out in the process.

Thanks for reading.

Devils

1. Momentum: The Devils worst games are when they get hung up on a bad call or fold if their goalie lets in soft goal. Their best hockey plays through these things. Especially when they can maintain edge on speed / transition. On both offense and defense, if Devils are playing with pace through all zones, they are nearly impossible to beat. They don’t have the size up front to pound dmen. They have to wear them down with movement.

2. Contributions from secondary guys - The scoring cannot all come from Nico, Jack, Jesper and Dougie. They need some secondary guys to step up (Tatar, Palat, Mercer, Severson, and BMW line)

3. Response to the inevitable run on Hughes: it’s the playoffs and our best player is probably 160 lbs soaking wet. In most games, teams will take their shots at him. But in 7-game series, they’ll be trying to end his season. Protect the player, but don’t get dragged down by an event we know will happen.

And the usual things
- Hot goaltending
- Good special teams
- Stars step up

Apparently Taylor Hall is in the lineup for the Bruins tonight. My question is how? I though they didn't have the money to activate him?

Overpay

Per CF, both Forbort and Foligno are hurt, I’d imagine 1 or both going on LTIR gets it done

Vegas can clinch the Pacific, Sabres can be mathematically eliminated today, it’s coming down to the wire and it’s a close race for those WC spots

Sid is putting the Pens on his back and guiding them to the playoffs. Never bet against the greatest athletes. FLA will be the odd team out.

I sure hope so. Unfortunately the playoffs aren't in Pittsburgh's hands anymore. They have to hope NYI or Florida start to lose.

isles are out of the playoffs for now. W

Canucks defense depth charts:

Hughes-Hronek
OEL-Bear
Dermott-Myers
Wolanin-Poolman
Brisebois-Burroughs
Rathbone-Juulsen
Hirose-McWard


Canucks defense today:
Hughes-Bear
Hirose-Myers
McWard-Burroughs

They are currently playing their 1LD, 2RD, 8LD, 3RD, 8RD, 5RD
Canucks icing their 15th and 16th defensemen

McDavid 149

150

MiDavid getting carried by elite Warren Foegele

I hope he doesn’t hit 65 goals. Let that be Ovis thing

151

Big OT shootout win for Dallas over Vegas!

Broberg has 2 career goals, both versus the sharks late in the season

I’m scared of McDavid

With the way their depth is scoring and getting offense from Bouchard, there's no reason to believe they aren't Stanley Cup contenders, perhaps even favorites at this point.

Ekholm Bouchard is an insane pairing

Holy sh*t, guys, I have some great news to share with you in my notes post tonight.

Let’s hope we can make this a good show out on the ice…

Jake McCabe honestly has been a nice Muzzin replacement

He doesnt play that physical game Muzzin did but man such a nice defender for only 2mill

Very happy with him and Brodie being the shutdown pair.

Thanks for Joey Anderson who has more points with us then he did in every leafs season he played combined