ECQF: Boston Bruins [ATL1] vs Florida Panthers [WC2] - Panthers Win 4-3

[dino7c]

Tkachuk is good obviously but with his amazing season they were 17th overall and don't have a first for 3 years

I can't see how they get back to being a top team anytime soon...I dont think Tkachuk will have a shot at a long run for a while. Other top players on the Panthers are too inconsistent and too often injured.

Can we stop calling Barkov the most under rated player in the league?

[GioforPM]

Tkachuk is doing well in the POs. He's been their best player.
Tkachuk still has bad plays and reactions sometimes.
Panthers are overmatched against Boston.
Panthers aren't much better than Flames if at all. Flames beat them twice, one was close. But it's moot.

[FanIn80]

Originally Posted by Johnny Makarov

Fanin80 hasn't fangirled on him since game 1... lol

Quit being a dick.

[Hockey_Ninja]

Originally Posted by dino7c

Can we stop calling Barkov the most under rated player in the league?

There’s been people saying that Huberdeau was just a “product of Barkov” all year, yet I saw a lot of Panthers fans online criticizing Sasha for how he was playing for a lot of the season. Last year Huby was mostly playing on a line with Bennett and Duclair 5v5. Also correct me if I’m wrong Cali Panthers Fan, but I’m pretty sure Tkachuk and Barkov didn’t play together all that much this year 5v5 and yet Chucky still got over 100 points. Barkov is clearly one of the best all-around players in the league, but I really think those people who make the “Huberdeau sucks now because he doesn’t have Barkov anymore” arguments are reaching

[Cali Panthers Fan]

Barkov and Tkachuk almost never play together 5 on 5, but on the PP they were usually together, and it's a pretty good PP.

Barkov had a tough year. He was injured off and on throughout the year and struggled to produce offensively, but still managed 78 points in 68 games, so it's not like he was bad or anything. Still incredibly strong defensively and handles a heavy workload on that end because the rest of the team is fairly mediocre on defense, and over a point per game offensively. My one critique is that he's shied away from contact a little too much this year, but that's probably protecting an injury that he's still nursing.

I think I'd like to see more passion and emotion from Barkov at times to really lead this team, but he does everything else you want from a player. The narrative that he isn't that good that seems to be surfacing is ####ing laughable and comes from the usual suspects that love to #### on the Panthers.

Huberdeau will be a lot better next year, especially if they get a powerplay that actually works. I'd love to see a full healthy season from Barkov just to see how good he could really be when not nursing an injury. Both players are in the highest tier in the NHL.

[Vinny01]

Originally Posted by dino7c

Tkachuk is good obviously but with his amazing season they were 17th overall and don't have a first for 3 years

I can't see how they get back to being a top team anytime soon...I dont think Tkachuk will have a shot at a long run for a while. Other top players on the Panthers are too inconsistent and too often injured.

Can we stop calling Barkov the most under rated player in the league?

You have been watching the Flames through the Treliving era and you can’t see how a team’s performance can fluctuate year over year? Look how well Florida played down the stretch they were a solid team in the second half and took off once they got some goaltending. Cap flexibility opens up in a couple of years and they will be able to make moves. The bulk of their roster is in their mid-20’s.

You can’t see how they get back to a top team because you are a blind hater ever since they fleeced us on the trade. You proclaimed when the deal was made you would have done that trade even if Tkachuk wanted to stay here. It was a great trade for Florida. I am not going to say it was a bad deal for Calgary because they had no choice in the sense they had to move Chucky but Florida knocked it out of the park.

[Saqe]

Originally Posted by Cali Panthers Fan

Barkov and Tkachuk almost never play together 5 on 5, but on the PP they were usually together, and it's a pretty good PP.

Barkov had a tough year. He was injured off and on throughout the year and struggled to produce offensively, but still managed 78 points in 68 games, so it's not like he was bad or anything. Still incredibly strong defensively and handles a heavy workload on that end because the rest of the team is fairly mediocre on defense, and over a point per game offensively. My one critique is that he's shied away from contact a little too much this year, but that's probably protecting an injury that he's still nursing.

I think I'd like to see more passion and emotion from Barkov at times to really lead this team, but he does everything else you want from a player. The narrative that he isn't that good that seems to be surfacing is ####ing laughable and comes from the usual suspects that love to #### on the Panthers.

Huberdeau will be a lot better next year, especially if they get a powerplay that actually works. I'd love to see a full healthy season from Barkov just to see how good he could really be when not nursing an injury. Both players are in the highest tier in the NHL.

I've been fairly critical of Barkov this year, I think between the off ice stuff, his injuries and the big changes during last summer have taken a toll. Still doesn't mean he isn't elite and what makes him elite is consistency (and why I don't put e.g. Huberdeau in the same tier as him because he can go MIA for a month). I can't remember the last time Barkov had a bad game, it almost never happens. It's always between good to great. But this is also where my criticism towards him comes from, there have been far fewer "great" games from him this year than normal and in the playoffs he hasn't reached that level at all imo.

Now there is something to be said about who they are going up against so his lack of production isn't that surprising but this has more or less become a trend from him in the playoffs, only 6 goals in 30 games throughout his career. I really hoped he would elevate his game this year but looks like he can't do it. But yes, still an elite player. My expectations are just super high for him so therefore the critique.

[Saqe]

Originally Posted by Vinny01

You have been watching the Flames through the Treliving era and you can’t see how a team’s performance can fluctuate year over year? Look how well Florida played down the stretch they were a solid team in the second half and took off once they got some goaltending. Cap flexibility opens up in a couple of years and they will be able to make moves. The bulk of their roster is in their mid-20’s.

You can’t see you they get back to a top team because you are a blind hater ever since they fleeced us on the trade. You proclaimed when the deal was made you would have done that trade even if Tkachuk wanted to stay here. It was a great trade for Florida. I am not going to say it was a bad deal for Calgary because they had no choice in the sense they had to move Chucky but Florida knocked or out of the park.

Wow, an unbiased post! Very good points about their second half. This year was expected to be a rough one for them and Zito has a work to do to patch up the defense but they have the cap flexibility to do it. Also if they can get Knight back and back to what he was before, watch out, I think they'll be right back at the top. Good goaltending is such a big factor like we saw with the Flames this year too.

[activeStick]

Beautiful! Bergeron back in tonight? Say goodnight, Panthers.

https://twitter.com/user/status/1651355783706099715

[midniteowl]

Let's Go BBBBB's!!!

[JohnnyB]

Hoping the Panthers can push this to game 6, but it's going to take basically everyone on their team stepping up with their best games to have a chance. One more good game to test the Bs on their march through the post-season would be nice.

[Saqe]

Originally Posted by JohnnyB

Hoping the Panthers can push this to game 6, but it's going to take basically everyone on their team stepping up with their best games to have a chance. One more good game to test the Bs on their march through the post-season would be nice.

Bobrovsky in net so it's going to be a #### show!

[Saqe]

Microcosm of Bob in Panthers jersey right there on the first save. No idea where the puck is. Next up some flopping around the crease.

[JohnnyB]

Nice! Panthers with the lead!

[FanIn80]

Verhage Verhaeghe with the patience! Not sure if he was trying to Gaudreau that one in off of Ulmark, or put it out front for Duclair, but it sure is nice to see someone not just swing blindly at a puck in front of the net.

[Saqe]

Hahaha Boston broadcast just said that the Panthers are hoping Bobrovsky gets back to the same form as he was when Columbus beat Tampa. Yeah, that's great, it was four years ago... lol

[JohnnyB]

This has been a great period. The Panthers have come to play for their post-season lives.

I expect we'll see some more pushback from the Bruins in the second.

[JohnnyB]

Boston has come to play in the second...

[Saqe]

nice goal Benny

[FanIn80]

Playoff Bennett is Playoff Bennett!!