R3 - Series Thread - Jets (C2) vs Golden Knights (P1) Vegas Wins 4-1

[JohnnyB]

Originally Posted by Cecil Terwilliger

I predicted the Knights would be 1st round fodder so I don't want to cast too much doubt on them but let's not forget that we've seen countless teams in the last 10 years have one great season and then regress for several years afterwards.

Colorado a few seasons ago comes to mind. The Oilers last season. Florida a couple seasons ago.

Obviously not every situation is the same, but I don't think it is crazy to suggest that there'll be some sophomore slump and regression closer to career averages for several of Vegas' key contributors. They had career seasons from 8 of their top 10 scorers. That's not all just good coaching and that type of chemistry, IMO anyways, is unlikely to last forever.

I'm not saying their run isn't impressive or that GMGM didn't do a masterful job regardless of their results for next season, or the next 5 seasons for that matter. Just a reminder that these types of runs do happen from time to time and Vegas got the perfect mix of those factors this season.

Yep. Makes this ride they're on all the more fun and special. This could well just be lightening in a bottle. If that's what it is, the chance to cheer on an expansion team that plays such a fun style going on a storybook cup run to end a season that was started with a horrific mass shooting in the city is a bandwagon I'm happy to have the chance to jump on. Everyone who's a fan of VGK is a new fan this season. It's great.

[White Out 403]

One game at a time. Win tomorrow and the pressure shifts immensely on to Vegas.

[Oling_Roachinen]

Either way the pressure shifts to Vegas tomorrow.

[Textcritic]

Originally Posted by White Out 403

One game at a time. Win tomorrow and the pressure shifts immensely on to Vegas.

Why?

This makes no sense. Win tomorrow, and Winnipeg still needs to run the table the next two games. Win tomorrow, and the Jets have to actually win a game in Vegas where the Knights are 6–1 in the playoffs.

I would say the pressure is indelibly fixed on Winnipeg until this series is over.

[White Out 403]

Originally Posted by Textcritic

Why?

This makes no sense. Win tomorrow, and Winnipeg still needs to run the table the next two games. Win tomorrow, and the Jets have to actually win a game in Vegas where the Knights are 6–1 in the playoffs.

I would say the pressure is indelibly fixed on Winnipeg until this series is over.

The pressure will be on to win at home and prevent a game 7 in Winnipeg. Not really rocket science.

[ForeverFlameFan]

Originally Posted by White Out 403

The pressure will be on to win at home and prevent a game 7 in Winnipeg. Not really rocket science.

The pressure is on Winnipeg. One screw up and Vegas will make you pay for it. You’re down 3-1 in the series, there’s no room for error. You’ve lost 3 games in a row, the pressure is all on you.

[Tsawwassen]

Game three final score


2 at 4

http://scores.nbcsports.com/nhl/reca...=28&final=true
http://sportsstats.cbc.ca/hockey/nhl...cap120194.html
https://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/nhl/ill-timed-mistakes-cost-jets-game-3-loss-golden-knights/

Three stars:
1. Fleury
2. Marchessault
3. Neal
__________________________________________________

Game four final score


2 at 3 in regulation

http://scores.nbcsports.com/nhl/reca...=28&final=true
http://sportsstats.cbc.ca/hockey/nhl...cap120195.html
https://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/nhl/...nine-times-10/

Three stars:
1. Smith
2. Fleury
3. Karlsson

[JohnnyB]

Yeah, the pressure is all on Winnipeg, and it's not even close. Vegas is already achieving way beyond what anyone could have expected in their first season. Whatever happens with them from here on out, they have made a tonne of new fans and nobody is going to be disappointed in them. They're also not in a traditional hockey market for media attention.

On the Jet's side, Winnipeg's playoffs run is probably by far the biggest thing happening in Winnipeg right now. They not only have the pressure of being scrutinized by local media, they are carrying the torch as "Canada's team" for these playoffs and if they don't make it past Vegas their performance will be broken down and critiqued for months on the national stage as them having possibly missed their best chance by losing out to an expansion team made up of misfits.

[White Out 403]

The pressure today is on Winnipeg. I'm not saying otherwise. I said IF they win, the pressure would then be on Vegas to pull out the win at home to prevent a game 7.

I don't know if anyone recalled but the Jets were predicted by most to finish at the bottom of the central here. They generally speaking weren't expected to do well either. This year has been gravy so far and if the season ends tomorrow its an overwhelming success for a season to make the west final.

[JohnnyB]

As the playoffs go on, the pressure is always greater on a Canadian team. It's probably a factor in why no Canadian team has won it in the last 25 years.

[Tsawwassen]

Originally Posted by Strange Brew

Anyway no expansion team in my memory has had a goalie play this well. And in the NHL, that can mean instant contender.

Checked the history on NHL expansion teams and goalie Glenn Hall led the expansion Blues to the SC Finals 50 years ago.

[tfi racing]

Originally Posted by JohnnyB

As the playoffs go on, the pressure is always greater on a Canadian team. It's probably a factor in why no Canadian team has won it in the last 25 years.

What pressure? Any Canadian team should know as long as the current regime is in charge at the NHL, no Canadian team will be allowed to win the Stanley Cup.

[Tsawwassen]

Originally Posted by Caged Great

I personally find it a bit ridiculous that Vegas has gone this far and will probably win the cup.

Originally Posted by Enoch Root

Players aren't children that you love equally. They are assets to their respective teams. Each team was allowed to protect 10 or their most prized assets, along with their young players and prospects. Anything beyond that is, more or less, expendable (in relation to the ones that were kept).

Vegas wasn't given a stacked deck, they were given a bunch of players that were (in fact) deemed expendable, relative to the better players on their teams. The fact that Vegas has turned that into a cup run is astounding. It is borderline miraculous. All I can do is tip my hat to them.

But suggesting they were gifted this is a terrible take, IMO.

Originally Posted by cannon7

The Knights are a shining example of how much of a team game hockey really is. You will have more success with a roster full of middling NHLers than you will a top heavy roster where your depth is subpar. If you can't legitimately roll your lines, you'll be vulnerable to a team that can. There's nothing embarassing about this run. If anything, this run will solidify a fanbase in LV for years to come. Lord knows the Raiders aren't going to bring a whole lot of winning to the desert.

The Blues turned their expansion draft into a 1968 Stanley Cup final run followed by making to the finals again in 69 and 70 losing all 3 times.

[Inferno]

The pressure is all on Winnipeg until game 7 if they manage to tie it up. Then there would be extra pressure on Vegas to not be another team that choked away a 3-1 lead.

Even if they lose tomorrow they still go back home where they won both games feeling pretty good. The Jets on the other hand go to place where they threw everything they had at Fleury in the 3rd of both games and still couldn't win. No matter how much they and their fans try to deny it there has to be a bit of doubt creeping in the back of their minds wondering if it's going to happen again.

[Poe969]

Oh Jets fans....down 3-1, we got 'em right where we want them! We just need to win this one, then one more and then the last one!

The pressure isn't anywhere near Vegas and it won't be for a long time. Vegas is an expansion team and no one thought they'd do anything...at all. Even when they made the playoffs, people thought they'd fold like a cheap suite. They're Rudy. They're the underdog. The season is already a HUGE success for them. I'm sure they want to win but if they don't it'll still be an amazing accomplishment.

The Jets are "Canada's team" and will let down thousands of fans if they don't win...the next 3 games. The jets have a bunch of kids that'll need new contracts soon, their window is only going to be open for so long. Vegas has a new house with new doors and windows.

Vegas can lose the next 2 games and still not feel pressure. If the jets win the next 3 games and make the finals, they'll be under so much pressure they'll poop diamonds! Vegas is on a free ride in a fancy car.

[Oling_Roachinen]

Originally Posted by Tsawwassen

Checked the history on NHL expansion teams and goalie Glenn Hall led the expansion Blues to the SC Finals 50 years ago.

There was 2 divisions that year. The original six division and the expansion six. No matter what an expansion team was making it to the finals only to lose to an original six team.

St. Louis played the Flyers and North Stars before being swept by the Canadiens. Hall had a 0.916 save percentage in those playoffs. Maniago had a 0.918 save percentage for Minnesota, Parent had a 0.963 save percentage. Parent also bested them both during the regular season with a 0.925 save percentage (compared to their 0.912 and 0.911). If the argument is about which expansion team had the best goaltending, I'm not seeing how Hall beats out Parent. His team was just overall better which gave him the honour of losing to the Canadiens. And because he wasn't swept by the powerhouse team, they decided to give him a Conn Smythe consolation prize.

[DazzlinDino]

Originally Posted by White Out 403

The pressure will be on to win at home and prevent a game 7 in Winnipeg. Not really rocket science.

Well..., If the Jets don't win this next one the one in Vegas doesn't matter. The pressure is squarely on the Jets and looking ahead to the game Vegas would be a mistake. Vegas right now has been taking numbers and I am pretty sure they are quite focused to end this series asap. The pressure is squarely on Winnipeg right now or they are going to be just another domino.

[442scotty]

As a Jets fan, after game 2 I thought they were done. The Vegas Knights have exposed all of the Jets flaws and old bad habits from years past have come back to play a part. Dumb penalties .... undisciplined play and taking too many risky chances on offence. Vegas has been playing about as good as they can.

One thing... and I hope its youthful inexperience, the fancy guys like Ehlers and Connor are not getting it done. How would Johnny fare against teams like Nashville and Vegas I wonder.... I'm thinking maybe not so good....

[Sylvanfan]

Originally Posted by Tsawwassen

The Blues turned their expansion draft into a 1968 Stanley Cup final run followed by making to the finals again in 69 and 70 losing all 3 times.

As mentioned above that had more to do with the expansion division and original 6 division. Had the original 6 teams been mixed in they would have been lucky to make 1.

[Strange Brew]

White Out is just saying exactly what we would be saying if it were the Flames in the Jets position. You want the other team realizing they have only have one home game left to win the thing. You win game 5 and that atleast makes them think a little. Maybe he the word immensely is a little strong strong but it’s obvious the leading team feels more pressure the longer it goes.