WCF - Vegas Golden Knights (1) vs. Dallas Stars (3) - Stars Win Series 4-1

[CalgaryFan1988]

Not sure why so many are giving props to Dallas. Yes they are winning, but they have looked lousy doing so.

Outshot, Outchanced, etc...

Having watched all the games, imo the only reason Vegas isn't winning is because their players can't even hit a wide open net and because Khudobin has outplayed Lehner.

[Flamenspiel]

^^There are no style points in hockey. Furthermore the lack of scoring has become a trend for the Vegas team that goes back to the Vancouver series. Maybe they just flatter to deceive.

Jamie Benn and Radulov have looked outstanding, right now the pair are looking like the most effective big players in the playoffs. More then any other year, the number of injuries is making this into a “last man standing” competition.

[CalgaryFan1988]

Originally Posted by Flamenspiel

^^There are no style points in hockey. Furthermore the lack of scoring has become a trend for the Vegas team that goes back to the Vancouver series. Maybe they just flatter to deceive.

Jamie Benn and Radulov have looked outstanding, right now the pair are looking like the most effective big players in the playoffs.

I disagree, they have scored goals. Which is the most important thing in hockey, but looked outstanding? Maybe if you only watch a highlight package.

[Textcritic]

Originally Posted by CalgaryFan1988

I disagree, they have scored goals. Which is the most important thing in hockey, but looked outstanding? Maybe if you only watch a highlight package.

Radulov in particular has been outstanding. If the Stars find themselves in the Finals I would bet he gets Conn Smythe votes.

Sent from my SM-G960W using Tapatalk

[blender]

One of the frustrating byproducts of the popularization if advanced stats is that they are so often used as a qualification for winning or losing. As in the current case of Vegas; advanced stats are good therefore they are the better team... But advanced stats don't show which team is better. That is reserved for winners, especially in a 7 game series. If you lose a best of 7 you are the worse team, end of story.

IMO Vegas has been a bit of a smoke and mirrors team this season. They were average at best for the first half of the season (goaltending issues were a big factor for sure), then when they turned it around before the pause everyone piled back on the bandwagon, but are they really a great team? They nearly lost to Vancouver who is on the rise and was playing well, but still not an elite team by any means. Now they can't score against Dallas which is a team with warts, but for my money has a better roster player for player than Vegas.

Fans want to jump onto any bandwagon that looks sexy and Vegas is that, mostly due to novelty and the fact that when they are playing well their style is exciting, speed up the middle and all that. That said, Dallas is winning and they look good doing it. Vegas didn't have a shot in the last few minutes of the game last night. Dallas smothered them and looked very in control. Dallas put on a clinic killing the 5 on 3.
Dallas is playing better hockey and Vegas has no game breakers.

By the way, anyone seen Mark Stone lately? I thought he was one of the best skaters in the NHL when Calgary didn't land him and sign him for 10m season. I wonder if he is getting roasted on Vegas fan forums right now.

[Mathgod]

Is it just me, or does it kind of feel like the dead puck era has returned? Over the past 9 NHL playoff games, the losing team has averaged 1.1 goals per game. Teams know that the key to winning in the playoffs is to go into a defensive shell and count on your goaltender to outduel the opposing goaltender. Get a 1 goal lead and nurse it all the way to the end of the game. Dallas has rode this strategy to within 5 wins of a SC title, and now has a solid chance of winning the whole thing.

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by Mathgod

Is it just me, or does it kind of feel like the dead puck era has returned? Over the past 9 NHL playoff games, the losing team has averaged 1.1 goals per game. Teams know that the key to winning in the playoffs is to go into a defensive shell and count on your goaltender to outduel the opposing goaltender. Get a 1 goal lead and nurse it all the way to the end of the game. Dallas has rode this strategy to within 5 wins of a SC title, and now has a solid chance of winning the whole thing.

I think it's a playoff thing.

1) there is WAY more shot blocking (block that many shots in the regular season, and you'll be decimated by injuries)

2) way more clutching and grabbing (which the refs won't let you get away with in the regular season)

One key component of having playoff success is being able to adapt your style to the playoff rule changes

[blender]

Originally Posted by Enoch Root

I think it's a playoff thing.

1) there is WAY more shot blocking (block that many shots in the regular season, and you'll be decimated by injuries)

2) way more clutching and grabbing (which the refs won't let you get away with in the regular season)

One key component of having playoff success is being able to adapt your style to the playoff rule changes

All true.
Good players of all sizes and styles have success in the post season, but big players with wheels are always at an advantage when the whistles go away.

[GreenLantern2814]

Originally Posted by Mathgod

Is it just me, or does it kind of feel like the dead puck era has returned? Over the past 9 NHL playoff games, the losing team has averaged 1.1 goals per game. Teams know that the key to winning in the playoffs is to go into a defensive shell and count on your goaltender to outduel the opposing goaltender. Get a 1 goal lead and nurse it all the way to the end of the game. Dallas has rode this strategy to within 5 wins of a SC title, and now has a solid chance of winning the whole thing.

I think you write some of that stuff off to playing in the bubble. Without home crowds to give teams that extra surge to come back, players have to entirely manufacture their own emotion.

Couple that with the knowledge that once you’re done, it’s back to the hotel room with your Frasier re runs, and little to no opportunity to capitalize on the celebrity that usually comes with a deep playoff run, and you’ve got teams that are easily demoralized once they’re down.

I dunno, maybe I’m just talking nonsense, but I certainly wouldn’t worry about dead puck era comparisons just yet - they didn’t even play a full season and still had 17 PPG players and nine guys with 80+.

That’s a far cry from Jamie Benn winning the Art Ross with 89 points a few years back.

[Scroopy Noopers]

Originally Posted by blender

All true.
Good players of all sizes and styles have success in the post season, but big players with wheels are always at an advantage when the whistles go away.

That, as well as just being less beat up from it over 21 games than your smaller peers who you’ve been slamming into.

[Mathgod]

Originally Posted by GreenLantern2814

I think you write some of that stuff off to playing in the bubble. Without home crowds to give teams that extra surge to come back, players have to entirely manufacture their own emotion.

Couple that with the knowledge that once you’re done, it’s back to the hotel room with your Frasier re runs, and little to no opportunity to capitalize on the celebrity that usually comes with a deep playoff run, and you’ve got teams that are easily demoralized once they’re down.

I dunno, maybe I’m just talking nonsense, but I certainly wouldn’t worry about dead puck era comparisons just yet - they didn’t even play a full season and still had 17 PPG players and nine guys with 80+.

That’s a far cry from Jamie Benn winning the Art Ross with 89 points a few years back.

Fair. There is plenty of scoring in the regular season, but it seems like the playoffs have turned into a nightly defensive grind. Not the most entertaining thing from a fan perspective...

If it is a Stars-Bolts final, we obviously cheer for the Stars, and I think they have a solid chance grinding out four 2-1 wins by playing the way they've been playing (and obviously Khudobin has to keep playing well).

[ernie]

Originally Posted by CalgaryFan1988

Not sure why so many are giving props to Dallas. Yes they are winning, but they have looked lousy doing so.

Outshot, Outchanced, etc...

Having watched all the games, imo the only reason Vegas isn't winning is because their players can't even hit a wide open net and because Khudobin has outplayed Lehner.

Game 4: the ES scoring chances were 17-14 in favor of Vegas. High danger 8-7 in favor of the stars. Vegas excelled with the man advantage so the final tally all situations was 30-22 but still close in high danger 15-12.

Game 3: ES 19-17 Vegas. High danger 12-6 Vegas. 30-20 and 16-8 Vegas.

Game 2. ES 20-17 Dallas. Hugh danger 11-8 Vegas. All situation 23-22 Dallas. High danger 15-9 Vegas.

Game 1: large advantage to the Stars everywhere.

Essentially, game 1 and 3 went the way the underlying stars would suggest. Games 2 and 4 were not that lopsided with scoring chances. The difference is the Knights lack some finish right now and the stars are on a hot streak. This isn’t the same as the Canucks vs Vegas where Demko was channeling several hall of fame goaltenders at once while seeing 50 scoring chances.

[dino7c]

Originally Posted by CalgaryFan1988

Not sure why so many are giving props to Dallas. Yes they are winning, but they have looked lousy doing so.

Outshot, Outchanced, etc...

Having watched all the games, imo the only reason Vegas isn't winning is because their players can't even hit a wide open net and because Khudobin has outplayed Lehner.

Vegas deserves to win because their players can't hit the net and their goalie is playing worse? Lol

Last I checked it's about scoring more goals than the other team. I get the feeling people don't want to give Dallas any credit for fear of making the Flames look slightly better and we can't have that.

[CalgaryFan1988]

Originally Posted by dino7c

Vegas deserves to win because their players can't hit the net and their goalie is playing worse? Lol

Where did I say Vegas deserves to win??

Originally Posted by dino7c

Last I checked it's about scoring more goals than the other team.

No Kidding?

[TheIronMaiden]

Does the Stars advancing to the finals ( if they do) make Fans feel better or worse about the Flames getting knocked out in the first round by them?

[the-rasta-masta]

Originally Posted by TheIronMaiden

Does the Stars advancing to the finals ( if they do) make Fans feel better or worse about the Flames getting knocked out in the first round by them?

Well always good to be beaten by a team that goes far rather than swept the next round.

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by TheIronMaiden

Does the Stars advancing to the finals ( if they do) make Fans feel better or worse about the Flames getting knocked out in the first round by them?

I say generally yes, but would also say that you need to look at how Dallas beats the GKs and if it looks similar to how they beat the Flames (IMO it doesn’t look similar at all).

[Robbob]

To me, it has always been that the Flames were knocked out by Dallas by more self inflicted issues. Credit Dallas for for capitalizing and battling hard.

It will always be a 'what if' thing with that series, and it is a very optimistic point of view. A bunch of one goal loses where, after everything, they were an event or two away from winning a game. Getting scored on with seconds left and the broken stick in game 4. Bad turnover on a line change in game 2, the melt down in game 6. All that with Tkachuk out and the first line not playing well.

Playoffs are weird where a team can catch lightning in a bottle and become more than the sum of their parts. Funny what confidence, even at the highest level, can do. To the Stars credit, they are a very good sound defensive team.

[djsFlames]

Flames absolutely self sabotaged where sustained focus and a couple better decisions could have easily led to at least three wins if not a fourth and the series. Twice late they were pedestran with getting rid of the puck and it was the dagger.

Even though they let off the gas for full periods through the middle of the series they still had every chance to steal it, but shot themselves in the foot at key moments instead.

[SuperMatt18]

Originally Posted by TheIronMaiden

Does the Stars advancing to the finals ( if they do) make Fans feel better or worse about the Flames getting knocked out in the first round by them?

A little bit better about the current make up of the team especially considering we were missing Tkachuk (but still concerned that the top line was dominated).

But even more frustrated that they were 12 seconds from going up 3-1 up on Dallas in round 1 but couldn't close out that game.

Honestly think it shows how fine the line is between winning and losing in the Stanley Cup playoffs.

In Pittsburgh in 2017 they needed game 7 double OT against the Senators to advance in the Playoffs.

Two years ago Washington was down 2-0 in round 1, and were close to going down 3-0 in a double OT game against Columbus but came back to win, and were down 3-2 against Tampa but were able to come back to win.

Last year St. Louis was down 3-2 to Dallas and needed double OT in game 7 to advance (If my memory is right Dallas hit a couple posts in OT too)

This year Dallas was 12 seconds from being down 3-1 in round 1, and needed OT and a Kiviranta hat trick to advance in game 7 against Colorado.

Winning and losing in the playoffs is just that close sometimes.