Quoting: LordStanlersCup
"stop blaming refs" kinda hard to do when they directly impact the results of the games. Dallas is the 2nd best team in the west behind VGK imo, insane depth that only VGK can rival and they may not have that number 1 but they have at least 6 elite players, they would beat any other team in the west. EDM's defense and goaltender is not good enough like always(just wait until round 2/3) and COL doesnt have good enough goaltending. I would consider eichel to be a franchise guy for VGK he is at the very least a top 32 player in the league. NYR have no chance against FL their roster isnt as deep and they arent as fast or good at forechecking.
Eichels always hurt and barely a point per game player. That's not exactly franchise level in a league where 100pts is nothing to some of these guys. He does elevate in the playoffs though I do have to give him that.
I don't know, Crosby doesn't get 100 pts anymore either, but who in the hell is going to argue against that. Not me.
The refs are what they are, they even things out and usually the other team complains just as much. The better teams just push though it.
We'll see on DAL and VGK. Looks like they will have to go through both COL and EDM. History is against them. 7 of the last 10 cups are won by franchise level player forwards. They probably have to go through 3 of them to win as it is right now. I don't think those are good odds for either team. Especially when McDavid looks like he's on a tear. That's 25 minutes every game of being on the wrong side of the ice when it counts.
Rangers have a better shot than you think. But we'll see. That will be an interesting match up. NYR are built for playoff hockey. They can get into the mud. It's not always about being faster. Hockey is short distance game at times. It's better to be quick than fast. That's kind of Panarin's thing. He's never been blazing, but you just don't want to cover him. He'll shake loose and make it hurt. He did that to a much faster and better TB team. No one gave them a chance.
I think the rangers match up well. It's a 50/50 game for me.