2023-2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs

[Fabresque]

Alright, time to make a new thread. We’re still using the 21/22 thread for this current season lol. Matchups down below:

EAST
(A1) Florida vs. (WC1) Tampa Bay 4-1
(A2) Boston vs. (A3) Toronto 4-3
(M1) NY Rangers vs. (WC2) Washington 4-0
(M2) Carolina vs. (M3) NY Islanders 4-1

WEST
(C1) Dallas vs. (WC2) Vegas 4-3
(C2) Winnipeg vs. (C3) Colorado 4-1
(P1) Vancouver vs. (WC1) Nashville 4-2
(P2) Edmonton vs. (P3) Los Angeles 4-1

Round 2 (Division Finals)
EAST
(A1) Florida vs (A2) Boston 4-2
(M1) NY Rangers vs (M2) Carolina 4-2

WEST
(C1) Dallas vs (C3) Colorado 4-2
(P1) Vancouver vs (P2) Edmonton 4-3

Conference Finals
EAST
(A1) Florida Panthers vs (M1) New York Rangers 4-2

WEST
(C1) Dallas Stars vs (P2) Edmonton Oilers 4-2

Stanley Cup Finals
(A1) Florida Panthers vs (P2) Edmonton Oilers 4-3

My initial thoughts and predictions: East R1’s look kinda boring. I think the Rangers sweep. Washington hasn’t been playing that surviving hockey we’ve seen WC’s play in the past, they just limped over the line. Pittsburgh would’ve been a much stronger opponent for NY. Carolina also probably beats the Islanders just like last year, probably in 5/6. Tampa is a shadow of their former selves and Florida is one of the leagues best. Save some mental blocks, I think it’s Florida in 5. Toronto/Boston is the most interesting. I think it goes to a game 7. Don’t know who goes through. Lots of history in that matchup.

West R1’s look pretty solid. Dallas is one of the best teams in the league going up against the defending champs. Vegas knows how to win, they’ve proved it. Gonna be interesting, I think Dallas takes it. Winnipeg/Colorado is a sad series, since one of these great teams is going home R1. Both have been among the leagues best this season, serious fireworks can happen but I lean towards Colorado. Vancouver has a tough one against Nashville who’s played some tough hockey lately. I actually think Nashville in 6/7. Vancouver has been coasting too much lately, I think they fall asleep and lose it. Edmonton/LA could be interesting but Edmonton always beats them come playoff time so I gotta go with the Flying Connor McDavids.

Congratulations to the Florida Panthers, your 2023/24 Stanley Cup Champions! Their route to glory is down below

East R1: 4-1 vs Tampa Bay Lightning
East R2: 4-2 vs Boston Bruins
East Finals: 4-2 vs New York Rangers
Stanley Cup Finals: 4-3 vs Edmonton Oilers

A great run capped off with a thrilling SCF. Hockey’s post season and championship series once again outshined the NBA’s this year. Nothing beats the Stanley Cup Playoffs!

 

[Fabresque]

Not a whole lot of change between the teams from last season to this which isn’t super surprising, lots of these teams are gonna be contending for a long time to come. In the East, Washington replaces New Jersey. In the West, Vancouver and Nashville replace Minnesota and Seattle.

Also, since this is current news: RIP to the Arizona Coyotes.

 

[Fabresque]

Bruins take game 1 over Toronto. Carolina takes game 1 over the Islanders.

 

[Larry Duff]

If Colorado had a goalie they would win the Cup pretty easily. Sadly, they don't.

 

[Deleted member 758560]

If Colorado had a goalie they would win the Cup pretty easily. Sadly, they don't.

to be greedy is not a good thing, you tasted it and give others to taste that wonderful ice cream

 

[Fabresque]

If Colorado had a goalie they would win the Cup pretty easily. Sadly, they don't.

Yeah. That’s what pushed Vegas to the cup last year

 

[Fabresque]

Rangers easily beat the Capitals to take a 1-0 lead. Florida beats Tampa to take a 1-0 lead. Canucks beat Preds in game 1. Jets beat Avs in a blockbuster game 1.

Leafs bounce back and take game 2 vs Boston. Carolina takes a 2-0 lead over the Islanders. Looking like that’ll be over and done with quick. Islanders held a 3-0 lead… lol. Carolina 5 goal blitz ended that. Some PP units

VGK, the cheaters, take game 1 over Dallas. Oilers currently leading LA 5-2 in the 3rd period.

 

[Fabresque]

2026, we will be there.

 

[Fabresque]

McJesus 5 assists LOL. Hyman hatty. Oilers are having fun.

VGK first team to win a road game in the playoffs this year.

 

[Fabresque]

VAN just lost Thatcher Demko potentially for the whole series. Uh oh.

 

[Fabresque]

Rangers beat the Capitals 4-3 to take a 2-0 series lead.

Cant help but think Pittsburgh would’ve been a much tougher R1. They were the ones really winning out and trying to dig themselves into the WC2 spot. Philadelphia, Detroit and Washington were hanging on losing most games hoping they’d back in by dumb luck. Well, here we are.

Lightning/Panthers going to OT, deadlocked 2-2. Winnipeg takes an early 1-0 lead over Colorado in game 2, hmmmmmmmm.

 

[Fabresque]

Avs come back to win and tie the series 1-1. Panthers win in OT for a commanding 2-0 lead over the Lightning.

Preds in a 3-1 lead over the Canucks in the 3rd period. DeSmith having an awful game.

 

[Federer and Del Potro]

The medical marvel Mark Stone and the 20 mil over the cap Vegas Knights. Incredible underdog story.

At how to cheat and get away with it.

 

[Federer and Del Potro]

Stars really won the West just to get trolled by this team that abused the cap worse than TB did a few years ago. Sickening.

Vegas is going back to the final man. Nobody in the West is stopping this team. Colorado has the talent but their goalie is buttcheeks. Canucks are cooked without Demko. It's so Joever. So depressed.

 

[Fabresque]

The Vegas Golden Cheaters… sorry the Bettmann Golden Knights… ok, the Vegas Golden Knights take out the Stars for a 2-0 series lead… jeez. They might go back to back if they take Dallas out. Bruins beat the Leafs 4-2 in Toronto. Big win. 2-1 series lead.

Oilers-Kings deadlocked 4-4 in OT #woah

EDIT: As I say that, Kopitar nets the winner. Series tied 1-1.

 

[Fabresque]

Stars really won the West just to get trolled by this team that abused the cap worse than TB did a few years ago. Sickening.

Vegas is going back to the final man. Nobody in the West is stopping this team. Colorado has the talent but their goalie is buttcheeks. Canucks are cooked without Demko. It's so Joever. So depressed.

Only 1 man can stop this Vegas superteam

 

[Fabresque]

I really do think Vancouver’s season is de facto over. No shot they’re surviving Nashville without Demko. If they do they might make the SCF.

 

[Federer and Del Potro]

Only 1 man can stop this Vegas superteam

Problem is Vegas seems to have their number just like they have ours

 

[Fabresque]

Panthers and Canes both up 3-0 in their series’, looking for the sweep. Sorokin has had a bad playoffs.

Rangers currently leading Capitals 2-1 after 1 period. Would give them a 3-0 series lead if they win today. Canucks-Predators locked at 0-0, series tied 1-1. Jets-Avs and Kings-Oilers on later tonight, both series are tied 1-1.

 

[Federer and Del Potro]

Much better from DeSmith tonight - cmon Canucks. If Vegas completes their cheating arc, I need you in their way.

 

[Fabresque]

Much better from DeSmith tonight - cmon Canucks. If Vegas completes their cheating arc, I need you in their way.

Canucks do indeed take game 3, huge one. DeSmith looked night and day.

Rangers take a, very unsurprising, 3-0 series lead over the Caps.

In other news, a VGK traveling fan was sadly assaulted by a Dallas fan after the conclusion of game 2. More details below. Just terrible to see, this doesn’t belong in sports.

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1783977730624643114

 

[Federer and Del Potro]

Canucks do indeed take game 3, huge one. DeSmith looked night and day.

Rangers take a, very unsurprising, 3-0 series lead over the Caps.

In other news, a VGK traveling fan was sadly assaulted by a Dallas fan after the conclusion of game 2. More details below. Just terrible to see, this doesn’t belong in sports.

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1783977730624643114

That guy actually looks injured unlike Mark Stone.

 

[Kralingen]

I’m so over the NBA. When LeBron gets swept tonight it’s over. It’s Canes time. Tell me experts do they have a real shot?

 

[Federer and Del Potro]

I’m so over the NBA. When LeBron gets swept tonight it’s over. It’s Canes time. Tell me experts do they have a real shot?

They entered the playoffs as the #1 betting favorite. But Kral team so...no shot.

 

[Federer and Del Potro]

Beat the Cheaters. Need game 4 too

 

[Federer and Del Potro]

Filthy.

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1784467116755755289

 

[Federer and Del Potro]

Canucks having to go with their 3rd string goalie today. Oof.

 

[Fabresque]

I’m so over the NBA. When LeBron gets swept tonight it’s over. It’s Canes time. Tell me experts do they have a real shot?

They are probably favored out of the East but since you’re supporting them they’ll bottle it.

 

[Federer and Del Potro]

Yep just like me with the Stars. If I didn't support the Stars, they'd have 2-3 Cups this decade already and be contending for another this year. Instead, going to lose in the first round after finishing first in the West.

 

[Fabresque]

Canucks look good. It might be them out of the west at the rate Dallas is going (yikes). Vegas just knows playoff hockey, man.

Rangers complete the sweep of the Capitals. So boring, everyone knew it was happening.

Colorado has just pummeled Winnipeg in this series. Sad to see.

Panthers put the finishing touches over the Lightning and win 4-1. Onto R2 where they’ll probably play Boston.

Toronto superstars mailed it in yet again. Getting ready for the golf tournament.

Oilers up 3-1 on the Kings. Kinda shaky though… not liking their R2 odds vs Vancouver.

Islanders survive vs Carolina but probably just delaying the inevitable.

 

[Federer and Del Potro]

The problem with Dallas is Oettinger. He had the one elite series against the Flames and it was all downhill from there. He sold multiple games in the Vegas series last year and has done it again this year. How do you lose a game where you score 3 goals and your opponent has 15 shots? Oettinger used to put up 40 save games regularly. Dude's cooked . He got injured and wasnt never the same.

Their other problem is too many old men. Time to give Pavelski the axe. He's ancient and useless.

 

[Fabresque]

Yep just like me with the Stars. If I didn't support the Stars, they'd have 2-3 Cups this decade already and be contending for another this year. Instead, going to lose in the first round after finishing first in the West.

If I didn’t support Columbus we’d still be mediocre and the worst franchise in NHL history.

24 years. 1 season over 100 points. 1 season over .600 points percentage. 1 season where they pushed all in for the cup. 1 season where they won a round in the playoffs.

Lots of “1 season” occurrences with this useless team. And those 1 seasons were between 2017-2019. They’re so sh1t it’s hilarious.

 

[Federer and Del Potro]

Even with Vegas' Cap Cheating Dallas wins this series in 5 games if they had Swayman, Bobrovsky, Shesterkin or Demko in net. But instead we are stuck with Jake who hasn't been able to stop a beach ball for 2 years.

Hate it because I love Jake, but he's been a huge part of why Vegas has constantly gotten the better of them.

Don't get me wrong it would be nice if Duchene or Hintz decided to do literally anything. It isn't just Jake but goalies pretty much get all of the glory or all of the blame in playoffs.

Wyatt Johnston trying to carry this teams carcass

 

[Fabresque]

Even with Vegas' Cap Cheating Dallas wins this series in 5 games if they had Swayman, Bobrovsky, Shesterkin or Demko in net. But instead we are stuck with Jake who hasn't been able to stop a beach ball for 2 years.

Hate it because I love Jake, but he's been a huge part of why Vegas has constantly gotten the better of them.

Don't get me wrong it would be nice if Duchene or Hintz decided to do literally anything. It isn't just Jake but goalies pretty much get all of the glory or all of the blame in playoffs.

Wyatt Johnston trying to carry this teams carcass

Eichel is a beast, bro. People spent years claiming he was a bozo but he’s a certified playoff superstar. If he leads them back to back, we’ll have to start holding the HoF discussion.

 

[Federer and Del Potro]

Eichel is a beast, bro. People spent years claiming he was a bozo but he’s a certified playoff superstar. If he leads them back to back, we’ll have to start holding the HoF discussion.

Yeah he's been killing them. Thompson has been bailing Vegas constantly too.

 

[Fabresque]

Yeah he's been killing them. Thompson has been bailing Vegas constantly too.

Two years in a row now Vegas finds Vezina-calibre goaltending at just the right time, playoffs.

Not only are they cheating worse than Tampa used to, but they’re INCREDIBLY lucky. They can’t keep getting away with it.

 

[Poisoned Slice]

Can't be missing those again! ffs.

Oh, sorry, wrong thread. I don't watch ice hockey. Pardon the interruption.

 

[Federer and Del Potro]

Can't be missing those again! ffs.

Oh, sorry, wrong thread. I don't watch ice hockey. Pardon the interruption.

It was a correct comment cuz Dallas is missing open nets by net elevating

 

[Fabresque]

Columbus really let Marchessault and Karlsson go for fvck all… lol.

This is a franchise that could’ve had a cup window of Nash, Kopitar, Voracek, Couturier, and Jamie Benn, then had a window later with Gaudreau, Laine, Marchessault, and Karlsson.

Instead, PRIME NASH got to play with 50 year old Sergei Fedorov and 30 point producers on the top line, meanwhile Gaudreau now gets to play with Boone Jenner while Laine is in the PA program.

I’m tired, Robbie.

 

[Federer and Del Potro]

 

[Fabresque]

Feeling better, pal?

 

[Federer and Del Potro]

Feeling better, pal?

A little bit, still feels like they are up against it a little bit though. Losing those first two games makes the margin of error zero, and it feels like game 5 is a must have as well. All in all I think the 2-2 series score is pretty fair. This series has been very even, I feel like Dallas got away with one tonight but felt like Vegas got away with both of the first two.

Man game 5 is big. Can't afford to go back to Vegas down again. Going to need to give themselves two shots to take this team out. This is genuinely one of the hardest teams to beat in the whole playoffs, just a brutal first round draw (Thanks Blackhawks, all they had to do was hold a lead with an empty net and the crappy Kings would have been the reward). No free wins in the West like the Capitals/Islanders. Kings aren't so bad they're free but there's no way they hold a candle to Vegas.

 

[Federer and Del Potro]

I did enjoy this very much though

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1785166582454399400

 

[Fabresque]

A little bit, still feels like they are up against it a little bit though. Losing those first two games makes the margin of error zero, and it feels like game 5 is a must have as well. All in all I think the 2-2 series score is pretty fair. This series has been very even, I feel like Dallas got away with one tonight but felt like Vegas got away with both of the first two.

Man game 5 is big. Can't afford to go back to Vegas down again. Going to need to give themselves two shots to take this team out. This is genuinely one of the hardest teams to beat in the whole playoffs, just a brutal first round draw (Thanks Blackhawks, all they had to do was hold a lead with an empty net and the crappy Kings would have been the reward). No free wins in the West like the Capitals/Islanders. Kings aren't so bad they're free but there's no way they hold a candle to Vegas.

Vegas has been getting away with solid goaltending. When that happens, long playoff runs are bound to happen. Dallas is doing well to even get it back to 2-2. But I don’t think they survive a Game 7 situation, feels like they need Game 5 to stick the nail in, and Game 6 to hammer it home.

Kings aren’t a total freebie but the way they’ve played in recent playoffs… I would think Dallas gets them in 5/6.

The Caps/Islanders were probably the worst possible R1. Metro division sucked this year. The top 2 were good but the 5 in the middle fighting for the playoff spot were pathetic. And then there’s you know who somehow outdoing them and being the worst by a mile. Pittsburgh, if they didn’t mentally fall off after the Guentzel sell, would’ve been a way better R1. Washington was kinda playing the string with 0 expectations. Don’t even think their team believed either, just keeping everyone together for the next 2 seasons so Ovi breaks the record then tear it down. Gonna be sad to see, Caps just dying out. Just trying to be a .500 team before blowing it up. But they won the cup, all that matters tbh. San Jose and Ottawa still have regrets…

 

[Fabresque]

Hurricanes take out the Islanders. Set up the divisional final vs NY Rangers. Big series there.

Leafs survive with an OT win over Boston. Now 3-2 series lead.

Avs leading Jets deep into game 5, series up 3-1. Jets have 10 minutes to save their season.

Canucks have shown a lot of resilience to claw a 3-1 series lead. Now deadlocked in game 5.

Stars have leveled the series 2 apiece with the VGK. Huge fortitude.

 

[Fabresque]

Just as I sent that… Avs take a commanding 2 goal lead in the 3rd.

I feel for Winnipeg. They were one of the best teams in the league all season, if not the best team at times. They’ve been way better than last year, but the end result is still a first round loss…

Reminds me of Columbus in 2017. One of the best teams in the league and led the NHL from December-January. Finished 4th in the overall standings… 3rd in the Metro, had to play Pittsburgh R1 who was 2nd in Metro, 3rd in the overall league standings. It was a damn shame one of those teams had to go home and of course it was Columbus, where we can’t have nice things.

 

[spystud]

Ship it, ladies.

 

[Federer and Del Potro]

That final minute took 20 years off of my life

 

[Federer and Del Potro]

 

[Fabresque]

SALAD! BAR!