[PST] Stanley Cup Final: Montreal Canadiens vs. Tampa Bay Lightning---Bolts win the Cup 4-1

[Goriders]

I think the habs only chance is what got them here:

- get early lead
- smother other team
- price plays lights out.

[Huntingwhale]

Originally Posted by blender

This is when we say "nice Cinderella run, but it's over now," right?

How often do "Cinderella" runs ever come to fruition to win it all? More often than not, it ends up in disappointment.

Just looking over the list of recent teams with a Cinderella label, most never end the run winning the Cup. Recently it was Vegas and Nashville all losing in the end. Most notably the '03 Ducks, and of course '04 Flames and Oilers in '06. I guess you could make a case for the the Blues (given their regular season) being a Cinderella team who won it all. I would say the 2012 Kings for sure were a Cinderella team who pulled it off as an 8th place seed and all their series comebacks and game 7 wins.

But I think it's fair to say overall, 'justice' prevails in the finals and the better team more often than not, always comes out on top.

I just don't see the Habs winning this series, and I'm a fan of usually avoiding making predictions like this. But to win it, Price will literally have to play the best hockey of not only his career but likely in Habs' team history, to win this series. TBL is just too strong with too many weapons, and a goalie of Price's caliber on the other end.

If the Habs win a couple games, let alone the series, it likely won't be from hard work or the team rising to the occasion. It will be from TBL being too cocky and shooting themselves in the foot to lose.

[Erick Estrada]

I think it's too early to write off the Habs as they also lost game one to the Knights. That said the Lightning are simply the best team in the league and are on another level than Montreal who have overachieved to get to the finals. Also it's the first series they have played where Price isn't the best goaltender. It's really all up to the Lightning as if they put in the effort every game it could be quick but if they let down their guard it could be a series.

[Mull]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

than Montreal who have overachieved to get to the finals.

I don't quite get this. They beat 3 other teams and made it. How do they overachieve? I sound sarcastic, but not trying to be.

To me it is more, they were underestimated, but they didn't under or overachieve, they are exactly where they should be, same with any team that won or lost?

[habernac]

They got smoked last night. But they also did the same, really, in the last series. Let's see if they can make the adjustments for the next game.

Gotta get the first goal and get the other team playing on their heels a little.

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by Mull

I don't quite get this. They beat 3 other teams and made it. How do they overachieve? I sound sarcastic, but not trying to be.

To me it is more, they were underestimated, but they didn't under or overachieve, they are exactly where they should be, same with any team that won or lost?

IMO they have overachieved because I don't think the team itself is that great and the style they have had to play to get this far is not sustainable long term. Also the beat a Leafs team that are first round doormats, and a Jets team that wanted hit the golf course badly. They were full marks for beating the Knights though.

[tvp2003]

Originally Posted by Huntingwhale

How often do "Cinderella" runs ever come to fruition to win it all? More often than not, it ends up in disappointment.

Just looking over the list of recent teams with a Cinderella label, most never end the run winning the Cup. Recently it was Vegas and Nashville all losing in the end. Most notably the '03 Ducks, and of course '04 Flames and Oilers in '06. I guess you could make a case for the the Blues (given their regular season) being a Cinderella team who won it all. I would say the 2012 Kings for sure were a Cinderella team who pulled it off as an 8th place seed and all their series comebacks and game 7 wins.

But I think it's fair to say overall, 'justice' prevails in the finals and the better team more often than not, always comes out on top.

I think you're confusing the 2012 team with the 2014 team that had all the game 7 wins. I agree the 2012 team was a "Cinderella" after finishing 8th in the conference, but when the playoffs started they steamrolled everyone. Lost only 4 games that entire run.

To the point, it's tough to win four rounds when you've had to beat the odds just to get to the finals. Most years, injuries and fatigue often play a factor, so the better, deeper team definitely has the advantage.

[Toonage]

Weirdly enough despite the loss, history is on their side. Though they'll need to beat Tampa twice in a row, which is recent history not on their side lol.

[SuperMatt18]

The one thing that I think you can say has been lucky for the Habs has been injuries/suspensions to the other teams.

Leafs are top heavy and losing Tavares hurt.

Jets had depth at center but losing Scheifele still hurt them a ton.

And even though he's maybe not a household name Stevenson has been great for Vegas and that top line didn't look the same without him.

Montreal just needs Point to miss a couple games and they will be fine

[dino7c]

Originally Posted by Mull

I don't quite get this. They beat 3 other teams and made it. How do they overachieve? I sound sarcastic, but not trying to be.

To me it is more, they were underestimated, but they didn't under or overachieve, they are exactly where they should be, same with any team that won or lost?

They have certainly had lots of breaks...so you expect Montreal to be a top team next season?

Seems like one of those runs to me. Dallas was in the Finals last season and missed the playoffs this year.

[transplant99]

Originally Posted by dino7c

They have certainly had lots of breaks...so you expect Montreal to be a top team next season?

Seems like one of those runs to me. Dallas was in the Finals last season and missed the playoffs this year.

Might have a little bit to do with missing their top forward for 95% of the season on top of which they got hit hard by covid a couple times which really compacted their schedule. I certainly expect them to rebound next season.

Will Montreal be a "top" team next year? Maybe, maybe not. I will say this though that if they get to the playoffs and are relatively healthy, then they could easily do what they are doing once again.

not sure why people can continue to discount how playing defense first can be just as effective as any other way to play the game. Especially when everyone is pulling in the same direction like the Islanders and Habs have been.

The Bolts are able to do both and thats why they should be winning this thing again.

[Pizza]

This meme is awesome

https://streamable.com/rmh87z

[dino7c]

Originally Posted by transplant99

Might have a little bit to do with missing their top forward for 95% of the season on top of which they got hit hard by covid a couple times which really compacted their schedule. I certainly expect them to rebound next season.

Will Montreal be a "top" team next year? Maybe, maybe not. I will say this though that if they get to the playoffs and are relatively healthy, then they could easily do what they are doing once again.

not sure why people can continue to discount how playing defense first can be just as effective as any other way to play the game. Especially when everyone is pulling in the same direction like the Islanders and Habs have been.

The Bolts are able to do both and thats why they should be winning this thing again.

I'm not sure they even make the playoffs next season...bubble team IMO. They had a nice run...they were also a post away from losing in game 5 of round one. A lot of things have bounced their way lately but I think it's midnight.

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by Mull

I don't quite get this. They beat 3 other teams and made it. How do they overachieve? I sound sarcastic, but not trying to be.

To me it is more, they were underestimated, but they didn't under or overachieve, they are exactly where they should be, same with any team that won or lost?

I don’t get the confusion. To overachieve, you usually have to win. Against favoured opponents.

Underestimation is another possibility but if so, it would be based on stats and facts. Like their won loss record in the regular season, the way they limped into the POs, their goals for and against going in, etc.

[dino7c]

Price being well rested has also been huge...how often are you gonna get Price in the playoffs only having played 25 games

[stemit14]

Originally Posted by SuperMatt18

The one thing that I think you can say has been lucky for the Habs has been injuries/suspensions to the other teams.

Leafs are top heavy and losing Tavares hurt.

Jets had depth at center but losing Scheifele still hurt them a ton.

And even though he's maybe not a household name Stevenson has been great for Vegas and that top line didn't look the same without him.

Montreal just needs Point to miss a couple games and they will be fine

This. I can’t remember such a run of crazy luck for a team. They have also played extremely well of course but absolutely everything has gone their way to this point. If their luck continues, watch for vasilevsky and/or Point all of a sudden having to miss the rest of the series.


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[Coach]

Originally Posted by stemit14

This. I can’t remember such a run of crazy luck for a team. They have also played extremely well of course but absolutely everything has gone their way to this point. If their luck continues, watch for vasilevsky and/or Point all of a sudden having to miss the rest of the series.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I think Kucherovs really hurting. You can tell by how gingerly the teammates greet him after his goal, and his little movement on Stamkos’ goal. The guy is in pain and I think MTL is targeting it too.

[Barca]

I don't really care who wins, but I hope this series don't drag on too long. I'm ready for signings, trades and the draft.

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by dino7c

Price being well rested has also been huge...how often are you gonna get Price in the playoffs only having played 25 games

The entire league will reset once this season ends. There were so many anomalies this season that there's not a lot that's going transfer over to next season. Teams like the Islanders and Habs won't have the fresh legs of a short 57 game season to flip the switch and grind out playoff series next season as they will have the legs of players 82 games into the season. Teams like the Oilers won't be able to bank 18 points against the Senators as this year's schedule was brutal for teams that didn't match up well against certain teams given the percentage share of their schedule against those teams. Teams will be travelling all around the continent rather than travelling once or twice in a week or spending weeks at home. Home teams will once again have a home ice advantage. There's just so many factors at play that led us to where we are today that will be impossible to repeat under a longer schedule with all 32 teams playing each other.

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by Coach

I think Kucherovs really hurting. You can tell by how gingerly the teammates greet him after his goal, and his little movement on Stamkos’ goal. The guy is in pain and I think MTL is targeting it too.

Took a pretty good slash to the calf at the end of the game. The dude’s a gamer, no matter what else the complaints may be about his season.

Just saw Weber got fined for the slash. $5K (or .0006% of his salary).