2018-19 Hockey Megathread: Lightning-Proof Jackets

[Shofercia]

Calls aside, that article spells bullshit to me:

1) SKA Sankt-Peterburg is a very good team with very good players. Their fanbase is strong (ofc having only one team in that big of a market would do, unlike Moskva where there would be 3).

2) SKA were beaten before and could be beaten in future: CSKA's done that 2-3 seasons ago (I forget what year, because that's the year CSKA lost to Magnitogorsk in Gagarin Cup final after 7 games) back when they had Radulov. They were just beaten lot more before. The same logic can be applied to the team I cheer for CSKA Mosvka : they got outcoached by Keenan or his successor in that Gagarin Cup Final and lost to Lokomotiv Yaroslavl the year before....and CSKA by talent level was favoured that year (to my memory at least).

3) The key issue I have with KHL is the nonexistence of salary cap and top teams pretty much poaching talent from smaller teams to no end- I have less issues with Eastern Conference powers (Kazan, Ufa, Magnitogorsk, etc) than SKA/CSKA doing that simply because the extent just.....gets out of hand. Of course, it's partly to do with SKA being the new powerhouse and CSKA BEING CSKA FUCKING MOSKVA but there needs to be a much better job done on revenue sharing and salary cap, not to mention entry draft system.

4) The claims seem to be not as substantiated given the way this guy tweeted it all out.

If we apply Malmoud's logic to figure skating, why aren't Peterburgian coaches headed by legendary Alexei Mishin getting better skaters and producing better skaters than the CSKA Moskva legion led by legendary Tatiana Tarasova and up-and-coming Eteri Tutberidze? Such logic of SKA getting all the support because it's StP is just ridiculous.

The lack of parity is an issue, especially when you have teams like SKA with unlimited funds. On the other hand, it's also a benefit, because it makes it easier to recruit players for other teams that want to play against SKA, CSKA, etc. It's like the Spanish Soccer League playing against Real Madrid, or Barca, or Atletico Madrid. So it's both, good and bad. Spartak fell out due to mismanagement. The management fucked up the main sponsorship - that's really bad. At the same time, we get teams like Chelyabinsk, that goes toe to toe with the giants, the Leicester City of the KHL, so that's always fun to watch.

Atlant was out due to competition being very tough in Moscow. The others, CSKA, Dynamo, Spartak, all have Soviet Histories, and generational fan bases. That said, the KHL needs a revenue sharing structure that's more equitable, at least when it comes to broadcasting and sponsorship. The stadium construction costs are also an issue - HC Sochi thrives because they got a free 12,000 seat stadium.

It is less so the case when their opponents don't have the financial foundation nor the developmental system nor enough ability to poach players from other teams' developmental systems. It's like with baseball, but worse- even with Chelyabinsk such case would be one-year wonder to the point where we know it's to going to happen again due to lack of revenue sharing, salary cap.

CSKA's fans were promised a new stadium, they were super excited, but it didn't pan out. So the team lost an average of 1,000 fans per game over that. That's a huge hit for any team, even the ones playing in the NHL. CSKA desperately needs to revive their fan base, rather than adopting the current "if we play, they'll come" approach that they have. But look at how well Spartak rebounded. 2013-2014 season - 3,521 fans. 2014-2015 - on hiatus. 2015-2016 - 6,193 fans. And last season - 7,288.

Exactly what I thought (was gauging your response). Moscow is an excellent hockey market, but right now their barn....is just a big no-no and they aren't doing enough. It's disgraceful especially in comparison to SKA, Jokerit and even Dynamo.

Kunlun played in the KHL for only a year. Can't build a fanbase that quickly. Keep in mind - most of those teams are generational teams. It's too early for Kunlun. Dinamo Riga got hit hard, lost over 1,000 fans, going from 5,780 in 2015-2016 to 4,457 in 2016-2017. But they might be able to recover, especially since the 2021 World Championship is being shared between Minsk and Riga.

Sometimes I feel you are being too optimistic on the possibility of hockey developing in China. Korea and Japan, especially Japan, has had longer history (and in Japan's case, actual wins when they mattered) but China's had next to no history with hockey and their initial attempt at a semi-pro hockey team was China Dragon based in Harbin. It went terribly and nobody went to watch their games. What is there to suggest that Red Star Kunlyn is going to do better? Even fanbases on challenging markets survive because they show their support in early years - see Las Vegas, Tampa Bay, Nashville, etc. There's already way too many competing teams and sports in Shanghai or Beijing.

One of the things they have going for them - is national pride. Belorussians rally around Minsk, because they're Belorussians. Easiest marketing ever. Same with Slovan, Bratislava. And yes, both teams have generational roots. Jokerit benefits from being the only Finnish team, but their ability to seize on being the first Finnish team to market in the KHL, certainly helps. Astana is on a slow incline, and I think that Almaty also has the capacity to join the KHL. They both have amazing venues.

I would say in 5-10 years it would be possible to see another Kazakh team. Almaty would have been a better pick to join KHL back when it came down to Astana or Almaty, due to economics and whatnot.

The only downside with having a second team in Kazakhstan is the team depth and the players' talent depth from Kazakhstanis alone (not BBD line btw). The pipeline needs to continue or do better than right now because if they keep on declining (we don't see that many NHL players hailing from Belarus, Kazakhstan or Ukraine these days), having a second team would not help either on competitive basis.

The Korean Hockey Experiment failed. But if China and Japan develop their leagues, then Korea might join. The East Asians are fairly competitive with each other. Norway and Denmark won't join in the near future, but they might join later on. They need the sport's popularity to grow. German teams might join the KHL, they need it. DEL only gets you so far. Lev did a bad job at marketing for the attendance. Another team might be able to take advantage of the KHL, and be their nation's first to market team.

I don't buy the argument that just because you have a good national league, your team won't join the KHL. The Finnish SM-Liiga is the third strongest in Europe, behind the KHL and the SHL, and yet, Jokerit is thriving in the KHL.

Once again, you're being too positive with Asian market for hockey. Korea and Japan, as well as Sakhalin province specifically in Russia, have their own league named Asia League Ice Hockey. The quality of hockey there is not as bad as either of us would initially expect it to be, and the fan support is there (esp. with Anyang Halla and the Japanese teams - not sure about Sakhalin but I assume they do as well). Also the "East Asians are competitive with each other" won't work if the sport's interest and priority in the eyes of the people are much lower than the usual sports (e.g. basketball, volleyball, etc)- heck the interest in Korea-Japan basketball match would be much lower than Korea-China simply because Japan has been largely irrelevant in Asian basketball scene.

Agreed about Norway and Denmark, they have a small but solid league anyway. Norway they already have a good senior level team, while with Denmark they have promising juniors already coming up to NHL (e.g. Nikolaj Ehlers, whom I had pleasure to watch few games streamed back when he was lighting QMJHL up). DEL and National League have the size, capacity and interest to have a KHL team, it's just I said that it would be unlikely for German NT to repeat such success on international basis. As for the team itself, it's more likely to be on DEL because a) National League is very well established and b) there is no clear standout club that may join the league (e.g. CSKA Moskva, Jokerit, etc). In addition the lack of cultural connection to Russia would not make it particularly feasible.

I'll wait for the TG

BTW, do you know where I can watch the KHL playoffs, and the Euro Hockey Tour live, if I'm living in California? Has to be live, that's the trick.

I'm in Eastern Ontario, Canada, so I won't be able to answer for bars or anywhere....I won't be watching a lot of KHL games for while due to schoolwork.

But back when I used to watch more, it's goatdee.net that I used. Very effective if you ask me on that! They do it live too!

I completely agree with you on this part. Families should be accommodated, especially when it comes to schools. Most clubs do a great job with it, but it has to be a league-wide effort, rather than just efforts by individual clubs.

Yeah. If done on league basis, like how CHL promises its juniors an educational package should they go to university after their last season in juniors hockey (usually meaning their 20th-21st year), I think KHL will have better luck drawing FAs. While Moskva and StP are both very expensive cities to live, I have heard from many sources that at least the food supplies and whatnot are way cheaper than in Canada. So the cost of living is not the issue. Education is another story and that's where KHL really needs to do some work.

That very true, the History matters, and I think that KHL needs to take advantage of the generational aspect of hockey, and get more teams from Sweden, Finland, Czech Republic, etc. The CSSR had an amazing hockey team. Slovakia might also get another KHL team in Kosice going. Setting up these rivalries can aid hockey's development in Slovakia as well; they need it.

I would actually recommend KHL teams to be more active in Champions Hockey League. By having KHL teams play in CHL, one can promote such national / international rivalries within and outside- heck, Jokerit can play JYP, Karpat and Espoo Blues as an interleague, domestic contest and that can draw very well in terms of attendance. Right now, expecting more teams from teams out of former Soviet nations may be a bit stretch anyway.

Well, Red Star Kunlun had one season. Let's not rush to judgement. South Korea failed because they had the Olympics. During the time in Sochi, every time the Russians played, it was practically a sellout. The Canadians averaged over 80% of a 12,000 seat stadium. The Czechs were at 70%. Even the qualification playoffs were around 7,500. Semi-finals and the Gold Medal Game, even though the Russians lost - over 10,500 on average. Those are great numbers. That was Sochi.

Enter South Korea. Their group averaged 6,000. The US-Russian group averaged 5,000. Group C - let's not mention them. The qualification bracket - 5,500. Finals and Gold Medal Game? 4,500. What does this mean? There were very few Koreans rooting for their team, and they didn't give a shit about great hockey. NHL or not, the semifinals and Gold Medal Game are always exciting. When your stadium is at 55% capacity, for the most important game of your team, and half of those are Finns...

I've already stated on reasons above that I do not expect any higher or more commercially viable numbers if in China, Shoferica. Hockey game attendances in Korea was lot higher than what I had expected simply because hockey's nowhere near the top sport in terms of Korean public's minds. What is there for you to suggest that China, where people give even lesser of shit about the sport they barrreeeeely know, is going to give a shit about hockey? And I do not mean in attendance basis- think of it in long term. It's more than just 'build/host it and they'll come' because we're talking about a different continent here (and that's the one I'm very familiar about, myself being a Korean-Canadian with a decade of my life spent there).

Sochi's another story of course- it's in fucking Russia of all places! If you don't sell out key games in Sochi, I would have been disappointed.

Thank you for the response. It appears that I'm being optimistic, and you're being pessimistic about expansion, but we seem to agree on just about everything else. I agree that KHL needs a hard salary cap, rather than one where teams are simply penalized at 20% for going over the salary cap. The only thing I would add is the three player rule - the salaries of the top three paid players don't county against the cap. Otherwise - hard cap and revenue sharing all the way! I would also support long term contracts for young players to prevent poaching, or some other anti-poaching measures, but I agree with you - poaching's messed up in sports.

Anyways, the KHL player salaries were leaked, and were kindly grouped for us by conference; keep in mind the salaries are around 50%-60% of the KHL budget. The leaks:

West: https://www.championat.com/hockey/artic ... encii.html
East: https://www.championat.com/hockey/artic ... encii.html

These are in Rubles:

СКА - 2 589 000 000 (West)
ЦСКА - 2 258 000 000 (West)
«Ак Барс» - 1 671 918 922 (East)
«Металлург» - 1 569 378 000 (East)
«Салават Юлаев» - 1 370 115 849 (East)
«Авангард» - 1 270 317 623 (East)
«Автомобилист» - 1 241 626 662 (East)
«Локомотив» - 1 202 000 000 (West)
«Динамо» М - 973 000 000 (West)
«Спартак» - 970 000 000 (West)
«Трактор» - 947 875 291 (East)
«Йокерит» - 770 000 000 (West)
«Амур» - 774 968 053 (East)
«Сибирь»- 772 806 459 (East)
«Куньлунь Ред Стар» - 772 438 857 (East)
«Динамо» Мн - 726 000 000 (West)
«Торпедо» - 707 000 000 (West)
ХК «Сочи» - 645 000 000 (West)
«Витязь» - 624 000 000 (West)
«Барыс» - 595 720 113 (East)
«Нефтехимик» - 472 032 015 (East)
«Югра» - 471 419 835 (East)
«Северсталь» - 470 000 000 (West)
«Слован» - 461 000 000 (West)
«Адмирал» - 460 237 789 (East)
«Лада» - 394 831 521 (East)
«Динамо» Р - 327 000 000 (West)

While you have SKA and CSKA on top, their salaries aren't twice higher than the average of next six teams. Also, the addition of Pavel Datsuyk probably cost SKA the difference between SKA and CSKA. The six are followed by the remaining two Muscovite teams, and by Traktor from Chelyabinsk. All of these teams have over a million fans in their fan base, with the fan bases of SKA and CSKA having at least ten million fans. Nor do I think that KHL players are overpaid - $4 mil for Datsuyk is a steal! I think Kovalchuk's and Datsuyk's contracts expire at the end of the 2018-2019 season, so it'll be interesting to see what they do.

Now as to our disagreements. Kunlun - we'll have to see how they do in the 2018-2019 and the 2019-2020 season before one of us has bragging rights on that issue. And if Kunlun does well, Tokyo might join, which might give Pyongchang another shot. Granted, we're talking about at least a decade. And even if Japan and South Korea don't join, the Chinese Market will still be quite amazing.

I agree with the five year assessment for Almaty. They have to develop their talent first. But Kazakhstan wasn't a hockey country under the USSR. They never had a powerful team that was local. Belarus needs to improve its hockey system. They're still as good as they were in the 1990s, but because hockey is developing so rapidly, 1990s good is no longer enough; not even enough to be in the top ten. That speaks to the powerful development of hockey, and potentially more KHL markets. Ukraine fucked up its hockey production. After its independence, hockey development schools were destroyed.

Sakhalin is too tiny a market for quality hockey. Regarding Switzerland and Germany - I can think of at least two markets apiece for the KHL: Bern and Zurich from Switzerland, (look at their attendance at Swiss prices, and keep the Swiss Franc-Russian Ruble exchange rate in mind,) and from Germany - Berlin & Cologne. I'm going by attendance: http://www.iihf.com/home-of-hockey/news ... 2016-2017/

Thank you for the link - I'll give a slap shot. I want KHL teams playing against CHL teams. However, because KHL is more dominant, on ice, than the CHL teams, I would suggest something like a one versus one between the top 8, (or top 16,) CHL and KHL teams. Winner of CHL plays winner of Gagarin Cup. Second place of CHL places loser of Gagarin Cup. And so on. KHL team plays CHL team on CHL home ice, then they go to the KHL's home ice, and if it's a split decision, (CHL team wins one, KHL team wins one,) then the goal differential comes into play, and if that doesn't work - either 4 on 4 overtime, or shootout.

[Idzequitch]

Hey look! The Sharks aren't sucking. And Evander Kane nabbed his first career hat trick. Now if we could just catch up with those daggum whippersnappers in Vegas. Who told them expansion teams can start off winning?

[Tarsonis]

Hey look! The Sharks aren't sucking. And Evander Kane nabbed his first career hat trick. Now if we could just catch up with those daggum whippersnappers in Vegas. Who told them expansion teams can start off winning?

You all told me I was crazy.

[Shofercia]

League Rankings - what do you guys think?

1. NHL
2. KHL
3. SHL (Sweden)
4. SM-Liiga (Finland)
5. NLA (Switzerland)
6. DEL (Germany)
7. AHL (US Second Tier)
8. VHL (Russia Second Tier)
9. Czech ExtraLiga (Czechia)
10. EBEL (Austria Second Tier)
10. Slovak ExtraLiga (Slovakia)

IIHF Attendance Link: http://www.iihf.com/home-of-hockey/news ... 2016-2017/

[Gim]

League Rankings - what do you guys think?

1. NHL
2. KHL
3. SHL (Sweden)
4. SM-Liiga (Finland)
5. NLA (Switzerland)
6. DEL (Germany)
7. AHL (US Second Tier)
8. VHL (Russia Second Tier)
9. Czech ExtraLiga (Czechia)
10. EBEL (Austria Second Tier)
10. Slovak ExtraLiga (Slovakia)

IIHF Attendance Link: http://www.iihf.com/home-of-hockey/news ... 2016-2017/

I think AHL is on top of NLA and DEL.

[Idzequitch]

The Sharks have clinched a playoff spot.

Happy happy joy joy and whatnot

[Shofercia]

League Rankings - what do you guys think?

1. NHL
2. KHL
3. SHL (Sweden)
4. SM-Liiga (Finland)
5. NLA (Switzerland)
6. DEL (Germany)
7. AHL (US Second Tier)
8. VHL (Russia Second Tier)
9. Czech ExtraLiga (Czechia)
10. EBEL (Austria Second Tier)
10. Slovak ExtraLiga (Slovakia)

IIHF Attendance Link: http://www.iihf.com/home-of-hockey/news ... 2016-2017/

I think AHL is on top of NLA and DEL.

Hmm, now that I think about it - you're right.

The Sharks have clinched a playoff spot.

Happy happy joy joy and whatnot

Sharks usually can make it to the playoffs. Their problems start after they make it.


Also, if St. Louis beats Chicago, and Colorado beats San Jose - wouldn't their game on Saturday technically qualify as a game seven of the playoffs?

Oh, and a new poll's needed. And we could do brackets - if you guys are up for that.

[Pope Joan]

I follow the Pens and the Blue Jackets, and they always seem to face each other at playoff time

[Gim]

I follow the Pens and the Blue Jackets, and they always seem to face each other at playoff time

I don't see the Penguins going far this playoffs. Fleury bailed them out last season in a few playoff games. They don't have that mainstay anymore this season.

[Elejamie]

I follow the Pens and the Blue Jackets, and they always seem to face each other at playoff time

I don't see the Penguins going far this playoffs. Fleury bailed them out last season in a few playoff games. They don't have that mainstay anymore this season.

No, I can't see the Pens going far, either. Mostly because of those disappointing-if-you're-a-Pens-fan-hilarious-for-everyone-else losses against Chicago, Winnipeg and Tampa Bay back in October as well as that brief disappointment in December where, apart from the two games against Buffalo and the 4-2 win against Arizona, they either lost or won by a single goal (or in the shoot-out). If they're lucky, they might make it to the second or third round after beating the Capitals (after all, "WHADDAYA KNOW, THE FUCKING PENGUINS!") but a three-peat would be wishful thinking in my opinion. Still, just wait and see.

Oh, and a new poll's needed. And we could do brackets - if you guys are up for that.

Slight problem, though: Kaboomlandia CTE'd a while back and I'm not sure if anyone else (other than the mods and, even then, I'm not really sure) will be able to do something about that.

Also, some sad news for you guys. RIP to those killed, may the injured get well soon.

[Pokey Oaks]

Colorado goes from 22-56-4 to the playoffs in one year flat.

(Also someone could probably ask for an OP switch, I retired from the game in January and then just decided to come back.)

[Kaboomlandia]

followup: or I could just bring back my main instead

[Gim]

No, I can't see the Pens going far, either. Mostly because of those disappointing-if-you're-a-Pens-fan-hilarious-for-everyone-else losses against Chicago, Winnipeg and Tampa Bay back in October as well as that brief disappointment in December where, apart from the two games against Buffalo and the 4-2 win against Arizona, they either lost or won by a single goal (or in the shoot-out). If they're lucky, they might make it to the second or third round after beating the Capitals (after all, "WHADDAYA KNOW, THE FUCKING PENGUINS!") but a three-peat would be wishful thinking in my opinion. Still, just wait and see.

At least, they have insurance until Round 2. #Philadelphiahaha, #Elliottinnet

[Shofercia]

Welcome one, welcome all, to Shof's Bracket Challenge. Here are the rules:

1. All entries must be submitted prior to start, (puck drop) of the first game of the series
2. Round 1 victories are worth 10 points, round 2 - 20 points, round 3 - 40 points, and the Stanley Cup Winner - 80 points, for a possible total of 320 points, that I'm sure no one will get
3. You could cite the team and the reason for winning, and you can enter at any time

The point structure is designed to give everyone a chance to win

The candidates:

Predators v Avalanche
Jets v Wild
Golden Knights v Kings
Ducks v Sharks
Lightning v Devils
Bruins v Maple Leafs
Capitals v Blue Jackets
Penguins v Flyers

My Predictions:

Predators - Preds have more experience, and both teams are equally energetic
Wild - they do quite well in the first round
Kings - the Kings are a playoff team, and the Golden Knights surprised everyone in the season - but I doubt they can repeat in the playoffs
Ducks - the Ducks do better in the playoffs than in the season; the Sharks are the opposite

Lightning - more experience, quality, class, you name it
Bruins - it's Toronto, they'll find a way to mess up
Capitals - high octane offense, good defense, and desperation - they won't have this kind of quality next year, and they know it
Penguins - they usually beat the Flyers

[Kaboomlandia]

Might as well just enter my real bracket into this:

First round:

Devils vs Lightning: I'm taking Devils. This might be a huge upset, but the Devils have some nice talent in Hall, Hischier, Bratt, and Wood, and Vasileyskiy has been looking overcooked lately.
Bruins vs Leafs: I have to go with Toronto. It's probably going to go to 7 games either way, but Andersen is also something like 10-1 against the Bruins in his career.
Penguins vs Flyers: Pittsburgh. Just too much top-end talent.
Capitals vs Blue Jackets: It's Columbus for me. The Caps are being basically carried by top-end talent, Holtby has struggled, and Columbus is entering the playoffs on a roll.
Knights vs Kings: This is also an upset, but I'm taking the Kings. Vegas doesn't have playoff experience and I like the odds with Kopitar and Quick.
Ducks vs Sharks: This is a pick-em, but I'm going with Anaheim.
Predators vs Avalanche: As much as I like MacKinnon, Nashville is just too good right now.
Jets vs Wild: Minnesota is missing their best two defensemen and Winnipeg is one of the deepest teams in the league. Jets for me.

[Maineiacs]

Predators v Avalanche -- Nashville; the Avs are vastly improved, but they had nowhere to go but up. They're not ready for the next step.
Jets v Wild -- Minnesota; Haven't seen a lot of either team, so this is just gut feeling.
Golden Knights v Kings -- Vegas; Cinderella will turn in to a pumpkin at some point, but not yet.
Ducks v Sharks -- Anaheim; I can't bring myself to pick against them, even though their recent playoff track record would suggest otherwise
Lightning v Devils -- Tampa Bay; Jersey's the fluke of the East as Colorado is in the West.
Bruins v Maple Leafs -- Toronto; Just because there should be a Canadian team here.
Capitals v Blue Jackets -- Washington; this might be the year they get over the hump, but I won't stake actual money on it. They'll beat Columbus, but then all bets are off.
Penguins v Flyers -- Pittsburgh, and it likely won't be close; it will likely be ugly, though.

[Elejamie]

Colorado goes from 22-56-4 to the playoffs in one year flat.

(Also someone could probably ask for an OP switch, I retired from the game in January and then just decided to come back.)

followup: or I could just bring back my main instead

First of all, welcome back. Secondly, sorry for not requesting an OP switch.

Anyway, time for me to join in and give my wildly inaccurate play-off predictions. Just a reminder, if it's in bold and green, it means they're my pick to win.

Predators vs Avalanche: While I'm definitely sure they were tanking last year (possibly tanking a little too well and the NHL caught on), the Avs have made a massive improvement since last season. I can't imagine them making it past the Preds.
Jets vs Wild: I know the Wild are probably going to take this series but, in all honesty, the Jets have been fairly good this year so I wouldn't be surprised if they take it instead. That and it would be funny if this ended up like Loyola Chicago vs Miami and everyone's March Madness predictions got fucked as a result.
Golden Knights vs Kings: You all saw how they were their first season. How well they did with an ECHL-level goalie in net. I think they can pull this off.
Ducks vs Sharks: Partially because I've got to have one away series win but also because the Sharks have won more games against the Ducks this season. It'll still be tight, though.
Lightning vs Devils: I've always thought that the Lightning were one of the better Sun Belt teams. And while the Devils have won all three games against Tampa Bay here, I'm pretty sure the Lightning will bounce back.
Bruins vs Maple Leafs: Same logic as the Ducks/Sharks series but also because, while the Bruins seem to have shown a mass improvement this season, I'm not seeing an easy win for them here. Plus my half-brother supports the Bruins so nerr.
Capitals vs Blue Jackets: While the Blue Jackets seem to be showing a bit of improvement and the Capitals' best are getting old or not performing as well, there's still plenty of petrol left in the tank.
Penguins vs Flyers: For the same reasons as everyone else, really.

If I had to guess at the number of games, just for an extra wrong bonus: Preds in 5; Jets in 6; GKs in 5 or 6; Sharks in 7; Lightning in 5, maybe a 6; Leafs in 6; Caps in 5; and Pens in 5, though I won't rule out a sweep. Either way, part of me wishes it would be a Jets/Leafs Stanley Cup Final this year, if only because it would be funny to see how Bettman would screw over Canada.

Meanwhile over here across the Pond, the EIHL (the top ice hockey league over here in the UK) had its own play-offs over the past couple of weeks. The Cardiff Devils beat the Sheffield Steelers 3-1 to win the play-offs, whereas the Nottingham Panthers beat the Fife Flyers 8-2 to take the bronze. My local team, the Coventry Blaze, lost both games to Cardiff (4-2, then 4-3) back at the end of last month which was a slight bugger.

[Shofercia]

The Playoffs start tomorrow, so get your brackets in today! Once that puck drops, the cut off's in effect, whether I post it or not.

[Impaled Nazarene]

As much as I want the PENS to three-peat my blood pressure likely can't handle it. Let the Sharks or Bolts win. They deserve it... actually no fuck the Sharks. I hate any team Metallica bandwagons except the raiders but that's only for one more season because they're scum to me once they move to Vegas. Also fuck that hack Gruden has 1 playoff appearance after winning the Superbowl and coaching like shit the rest of the decade, takes 9 years off and then people treat him like he's the 3rd coming of Dick Vermeil and he gets paid like he just won the Superbowl.

Back to hockey though, if the bolts win maybe Tampa will stop spending all their booze money on depression alcohol instead of party booze and maybe there won't be a state wide shortage of salt anymore.

[Kaboomlandia]

Penguins curbstomp the Flyers 7-0 in Game 1. Wow.

Also, Winnipeg got their first-ever playoff win since the move.

[Gim]

Penguins curbstomp the Flyers 7-0 in Game 1. Wow.

Also, Winnipeg got their first-ever playoff win since the move.

Murray's diving save was unreal.

[Impaled Nazarene]

I don't see the Penguins going far this playoffs. Fleury bailed them out last season in a few playoff games. They don't have that mainstay anymore this season.

No, I can't see the Pens going far, either. Mostly because of those disappointing-if-you're-a-Pens-fan-hilarious-for-everyone-else losses against Chicago, Winnipeg and Tampa Bay back in October as well as that brief disappointment in December where, apart from the two games against Buffalo and the 4-2 win against Arizona, they either lost or won by a single goal (or in the shoot-out). If they're lucky, they might make it to the second or third round after beating the Capitals (after all, "WHADDAYA KNOW, THE FUCKING PENGUINS!") but a three-peat would be wishful thinking in my opinion. Still, just wait and see.

Oh, and a new poll's needed. And we could do brackets - if you guys are up for that.

Slight problem, though: Kaboomlandia CTE'd a while back and I'm not sure if anyone else (other than the mods and, even then, I'm not really sure) will be able to do something about that.

Also, some sad news for you guys. RIP to those killed, may the injured get well soon.

thank you for introducing me to urinatingtree

[Kaboomlandia]

Kadri, what the hell was that?

[Elejamie]

thank you for introducing me to urinatingtree

No worries. In fact, I got into him when I saw the Hater's Guide to last season's playoffs on my YouTube home page, checked it out, liked it and made me want to watch his other stuff. My personal favourites from him are the Congrats, Steelers! video, the Hater's Guide to this NBA Season, the Congrats, Indians! video and the Caps legacy of failure one, which I linked to earlier. Shame he's so Americentric (with the odd Canadian team) because there are so many bad teams around the world that I feel he could pick apart: Arsenal, Aston Villa, Coventry City (sadly), the England national soccer team (who would qualify for legacy of failure status if it weren't for the World Cup win back in 1966) and the Bradford Bulls, as well as a legacy of failure for the New Zealand Warriors. Oh, and a lolcow video on Gary Bettman because, let's face it, he deserves one.

Alright, plug over, let's get back to the ice hockey.

Kadri, what the hell was that?

Agreed. He definitely deserved to be suspended for that one, especially since it looked like he could've stopped in time. Still, let's hope the Leafs can soldier on without him and win at least one game this season he says, starting to regret picking Toronto now.

Penguins curbstomp the Flyers 7-0 in Game 1. Wow.

Also, Winnipeg got their first-ever playoff win since the move.

Congratulations Winnipeg, here's hoping that you don't get cocky and hope you end up taking the series. Not necessarily the next three games, that's nice but wishful thinking, but three of the next six would be good.

Oh, and a begrudging congratulations to the Pens for that massive win. I bet it feels nice to be on the winning side of a blowout for a change (other than that time you beat the Hurricanes 6-1).

[Impaled Nazarene]

thank you for introducing me to urinatingtree

No worries. In fact, I got into him when I saw the Hater's Guide to last season's playoffs on my YouTube home page, checked it out, liked it and made me want to watch his other stuff. My personal favourites from him are the Congrats, Steelers! video, the Hater's Guide to this NBA Season, the Congrats, Indians! video and the Caps legacy of failure one, which I linked to earlier. Shame he's so Americentric (with the odd Canadian team) because there are so many bad teams around the world that I feel he could pick apart: Arsenal, Aston Villa, Coventry City (sadly), the England national soccer team (who would qualify for legacy of failure status if it weren't for the World Cup win back in 1966) and the Bradford Bulls, as well as a legacy of failure for the New Zealand Warriors. Oh, and a lolcow video on Gary Bettman because, let's face it, he deserves one.

Alright, plug over, let's get back to the ice hockey.

He's really good because despite the fact he probably uses Liburals and variations of such unironically because he's not as bigoted as most people in his position are. He's like a less shitty Act Man.
Also I now use the term Full Capitals to describe things. Such as the HOI4 AI.
I hope the Flyers play well this series. It's about time Philadelphia abandons all ties to Lolcowdom