There were pros and cons
A big con being the career ending injuries way too soon for gifted players.
But call me mad but I'm a sucker for a 2-1 or 3-2 war of attrition type of game over a 6-5 shootout result where you watch both sides pulling back in their zones and killing the clock.
I love goalie battles.
Gold medal game 2010, 3-2 in overtime. Two star studded teams held in check by two great defenses and elite goalies. Hard fought all the way to the end peoducing the golden goal moment. Chef's kiss.
More recently Dallas-Calgary in 2022 was a throwback series in a way. Highly physical and two goalies playing out of their minds. Made for a can't miss 7 game series.
Contrast that with round 2 against Edmonton which turned into an amalgamation of everything that's wrong with today's game. Constant penalties, constant diving, not physical, 9-6 games, terrible goaltending and defense. Just awful. Sucked the tension right out of it.
And the oilers are the poster boys for this type of glorified "right of way" pond hockey. Not only are they a repulsive team but they represent what's broken about the league right now.
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