That's why they're getting in all their speaking points about EDM now. They know the Oilers are the weakest of the 4 teams remaining and are the closest to elimination.
Such a great series so far. 3/4 games in OT. Whoever is the Eastern finalist, they’re going to be really tired. Depth is going to have to come in clutch.
The story of the series. The Rangers have been extremely opportunistic and Shesterin has been unreal.
Which is funny...
Because it's actually the opposite Panthers-Hurricanes last year...where Bobrovsky was unreal and the Panthers were extremely opportunistic. Multiple OT games last year too.
2023 Round 3:
Carolina: 58% xGF - Florida: 42% xGF
2024 Round 3:
Florida: 56% xGF - New York: 44% xGF
Not that it means anything...but it's just funny how hockey works sometimes. IMO this Panthers team is actually better than last years Panthers team, but they might lose in round 3 this year because of getting goalied.
Last edited by SuperMatt18; 05-29-2024 at 09:55 AM.
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I don't think this has been a great series at all, it should be over actually if not for a goalie playing out of his mind.
New York has been handled in 3/4 games so far. Rangers have been getting timely goals, but they really should be eliminated by now, at best 3-1 Florida.
Goalie is part of the team...you were good with it last year
What is... "People who don't read the post they're quoting before replying?"
Edit: Sorry, it turns out I was wrong in saying that FLA outplayed CAR. I didn't realize how lopsided it was (maybe I did at the time, but like anyone, I only really remember from the point of view of the team I'm cheering for?).
You might be right, but I hate it. It's a team game. A goalie shouldn't decide a series. I'll be bummed if that's the outcome.
Quote:
Originally Posted by FanIn80
Game 5 vs BOS was 1000% Bob, but outside of that, Florida outplayed their opponents from Game 6 vs BOS to the end of Game 4 vs CAR.
Florida has absolutely dominated this entire series. They should be celebrating a sweep right now instead of being 2-2. Completely the opposite.
But they didn't outplay their opponents last year...Bob had goalied both Toronto and Carolina. Goaltending 100% is what got the Panthers past both the Leafs and Hurricanes last year...but suddenly this year it's an issue if a goalie decides a series.
The stats show that Florida was more fortunate vs Carolina and Toronto last year than New York has been this year.
2023 Round 2 vs Toronto:
47.1% xGF - 15.8 xGF, 17.8 xGA - 14 GF, 10 GA - 154 Shots For, 174 Shots Against (-20) - 7.8 Goals Saved Above Expected
2023 Round 3 vs Carolina:
42.1% xGF - 13.7 xGF, 18.9 xGA - 10 GF, 6 GA - 127 shots for, 174 shots against (-47) - 12.9 Goals Saved Above Expected
And then New York's stats in this series:
44.4% xGF - 10.3 xGF, 12.95 xGA, - 9 GF, 11 GA, - 100 Shots For, 132 Shots Against (-32) - 1.9 Goals Saved Above Average
Bobrovsky goalied both the Leafs and Hurricanes last year a lot more than Shesterkin has goalied the Panthers this year. The goals saved above average isn't even close.
It's funny seeing the Florida fans on the opposite side of the argument this year after arguing all last season that the Panthers were doing something super special that overcame the large possession and shot discrepancies last year.
But this year it's just New York getting lucky and being carried by Shesterkin.
Last edited by SuperMatt18; 05-29-2024 at 01:31 PM.
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1. Reinhart takes the faceoff, but Barkov wins it. Nothing else about this play happens without that. Best guess is Reinhart tries to wheel it to the opposite half wall. Barky is just an absolute beauty.
2. Tkachuk and Barkov will often cycle positions between the two of them. They really play so well together. Typical PP1 formation starts with Chucky down low and Barkov QBing from the near wall. This means the typical rotation off the draw is for Tkachuk to head to the net and then "get lost" behind the net, while Barkov plays catch with Montour from the wall to the point. Once Chucky's in position down low, Reinhart will move towards the bumper. Not this time, though. I can't tell if this is planned, or just smart players reacting to what needs to be done. I think if Reinhart wins it straight back to the point, it would have been a status-quo formation, as I described above, but I think Barky on his backhand sending it to the point opened up the door for a counter rotation, and I think Chucky saw that. Part of me also thinks they have an order of neccessity in terms of setting up, and they needed a QB on that wall turned around and facing the point. Tkachuck rotates high, pivots and establishes that important piece while Reinhart backs in to the bumper... because of the slight delay off the faceoff though, Montour and Verhaege are the ones distracting everyone, and Reinhart quickly moves over to establish a QB on that side. Barkov sees this and quickly moves to the middle to offer Verhaege a bumper target, but when Verhaehge moves it down to Reinhart, he cycles low to provide an outlet along the boards. It goes back up to Verhaege though, and over to Monty which allows Barkov to disapear behind the net (taking Tkachuk's usual route). Now they're set up and NYR has had to adapt to two different possible formations already, including an opposite side inverse formation... and now Monty sends it down to Tkachuk in the real QB position. This is where good, smart players are so valuable. Instead of trying to force it through the defender down low to Barkov, he uses his body to protect the puck and just gives it right back to the point. Montour sees the opening that created and just sends it right down to Barkov (bypassing the QB), who is now in a 2-on-1 with his bumper vs an incoming (early/panicked) block attempt. From there, it's just "aim for the bottom of the bar" to make sure it clears the block.
This PP1 unit has been together now for 2 seasons and 2 playoffs. The entire strong side is like a who's who of hockey IQ titans in Barkov, Tkachuk and Montour... and Verhaege/Reinhart are just both clutch and super low-maintenance. They can read and respond to anything the big three are doing out there. Some PPs just have a McDavid who can make anything out of anything, and they just need a helper or two and the rest are just told not to screw anything up. Personally, though, the beauty of a 5-man unit like Florida's... just inject that right into my blood please.
Edit: Excuse the wall of text in my second point. I meant to break it up, but just didn't stop typing lol.
Last edited by FanIn80; 05-29-2024 at 01:44 PM.
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But they didn't outplay their opponents last year...Bob had goalied both Toronto and Carolina. Goaltending 100% is what got the Panthers past both the Leafs and Hurricanes last year...but suddenly this year it's an issue if a goalie decides a series.
The stats show that Florida was more fortunate vs Carolina and Toronto last year than New York has been this year.
2023 Round 2 vs Toronto:
47.1% xGF - 15.8 xGF, 17.8 xGA - 14 GF, 10 GA - 154 Shots For, 174 Shots Against (-20) - 7.8 Goals Saved Above Expected
2023 Round 3 vs Carolina:
42.1% xGF - 13.7 xGF, 18.9 xGA - 10 GF, 6 GA - 127 shots for, 174 shots against (-47) - 12.9 Goals Saved Above Expected
And then New York's stats in this series:
44.4% xGF - 10.3 xGF, 12.95 xGA, - 9 GF, 11 GA, - 100 Shots For, 132 Shots Against (-32) - 1.9 Goals Saved Above Average
Bobrovsky goalied both the Leafs and Hurricanes last year a lot more than Shesterkin has goalied the Panthers this year. The goals saved above average isn't even close.
It's funny seeing the Florida fans on the opposite side of the argument this year after arguing all last season that the Panthers were doing something super special that overcame the large possession and shot discrepancies last year.
But this year it's just New York getting lucky and being carried by Shesterkin.
Yeah that's fair. I forgot just how insane that round against CAR was for Bob.
I guess thing that kinda mitigated it a but was how cluth Tkachuk was in the series too. I remember now that lots of people focused on Bob, but I think the counter argument to that was "don't forget about Chucky's two OT winners and the series winner with 4 seconds left in game four."
Whereas this year, NYR doesn't have anyone else that stands out. Like it's just "hold the fort until something happens." vs "Bob standing on his head and Tkachuk taking care of the rest of it."
I do get your point though, and it's a fair one. I'm just saying if I'm CAR last year... yes I'm mad at getting goalied, but I'm also mad that we didn't have a Tkachuk to win any games for us.
