Hockey Thread! (NHL etc.)

[Kong Wen]

Very close pool this year! Pittsburgh and Washington both have a really good chance to make a run at the Cup, too. Matthews has the Calder locked up. If not, that's criminal.

Life Pro Tip: Connor McDavid doesn't have an 's' in his name.

[SkyPikachu]

Very close pool this year! Pittsburgh and Washington both have a really good chance to make a run at the Cup, too. Matthews has the Calder locked up. If not, that's criminal.

Life Pro Tip: Connor McDavid doesn't have an 's' in his name.

Yeah they both look really good. Also oops

[Kong Wen]

Time to make our playoff picks!

Eastern Conference

Canadiens de Montréal (A1) vs. New York Rangers (WC) — These two teams had a close season. The Rangers won one more game, but the Canadiens are ahead in the standings because more of their losses were in overtime. Still, I have to give the slight edge to the Habs here.

Ottawa Senators (A2) vs. Boston Bruins (A3) — I want the Senators to win, but I suspect the Bruins will be able to take this series from them. The silver lining is that hometown instigator Brad Marchand (who earned career highs in goals [39] and points [85] this season) will get to advance.

Washington Capitals (M1) vs. Toronto Maple Leafs (WC) — The Caps are going to utterly destroy the Leafs, as much as I would dearly prefer the opposite to be true.

Pittsburgh Penguins (M2) vs. Columbus Blue Jackets (M3) — Columbus had a good season, but they're not going to be able to beat this Penguins team this year.

Western Conference

Chicago Blackhawks (C1) vs. Nashville Predators (WC) — Sorry Clay.

Minnesota Wild (C2) vs. St. Louis Blues (C3) — Sorry Kreegs.

Anaheim Ducks (P1) vs. Calgary Flames (WC) — I would love to see the Flames somehow scrape their way out of this round, but that's not looking too likely.

Edmonton Oilers (P2) vs. San Jose Sharks (P3) — Even though I don't think this season's Oilers are all they're cracked up to be, I do think McDavid will at least be able to help carry them out of the first round.

[SkyPikachu]

I'm really liking the new faces in the playoffs this year.

I started watching in 2011-12 and since then Calgary, Toronto & Columbus have only made the playoffs once and Edmonton haven't at all. (prior to this season)

Sadly there's still teams like Chicago, St. Louis, Rangers and Pittsburgh who haven't missed a single playoff since I started watching and Minnesota, Anaheim, San Jose and Washington whom have made it 4 of 5 times. (prior to this season) So it's still about half the playoff teams are regulars which sucks but it's lovely to see team like Detroit and LA not make it.

[Kong Wen]

So much overtime!

Glad to see Ottawa, Toronto, and Nashville win their games last night. Too bad about the Flames. I don't know if I'm too happy about how the second round is going to stack up if all the teams I'm cheering for end up winning their brackets...

[VictorViper]

Fucking Maple Leafs, guys!! Holy crap! My friend and I said right from the beginning it would be amazing to win a game, or at least not be a total embarrassment. Three awesome playoff games is a treat, going up 2-1 against the Caps is... unbelievable.

[Kong Wen]

Fucking Maple Leafs, guys!! Holy crap! My friend and I said right from the beginning it would be amazing to win a game, or at least not be a total embarrassment. Three awesome playoff games is a treat, going up 2-1 against the Caps is... unbelievable.

Crazy overtime craziness! Had no choice but to wear my jersey to work today. Fun to think they were functionally in last place last year (winning the Matthews sweepstakes) and now they're a game up on the President's Trophy winners.

[Claytone]

Crazy overtime craziness! Had no choice but to wear my jersey to work today. Fun to think they were functionally in last place last year (winning the Matthews sweepstakes) and now they're a game up on the President's Trophy winners.

Not wearing my Preds jersey unless we win the finals.

Although Forsberg did score 2 after I put my #9 jersey on last night...

[Kong Wen]

Not wearing my Preds jersey unless we win the finals.

Is this a superstition of yours? I'll break out a jersey for any small celebration, since there're scant few other reasons to don the Leafs shirt.

[VictorViper]

Not wearing my Preds jersey unless we win the finals.

Is this a superstition of yours? I'll break out a jersey for any small celebration, since there're scant few other reasons to don the Leafs shirt.

I legitimately can't believe you own a single piece of Leafs paraphernalia. Surely a freebie from a 2-4 or something.