[ECF] Carolina Hurricanes [MET1] vs Florida Panthers [WC2] Panthers win 4-0

[CalgaryFan1988]

Originally Posted by tvp2003

Puck hits the ref and seconds later ends up in the net for the GWG. Florida now 5-0 in OT in the playoffs.

Team of dynasty vibes are definitely strong.

The puck didn't hit the ref, Bennett stopped it before it hit the ref.

[GordonBlue]

Originally Posted by tvp2003

Puck hits the ref and seconds later ends up in the net for the GWG. Florida now 5-0 in OT in the playoffs.

Team of dynasty vibes are definitely strong.

Once Bobrovsky got locked in you knew they had a great chance.

I'm one of the people that believes you have no chance to get to the cup finals if you don't have your goaltender playing above average, and these playoffs have really proved it.

Bobrovsky over anyone else on the Panthers for Conn Smythe, so far.

[tvp2003]

I stand corrected. I read in the NHL.com recap that it hit the ref, good play by Benny to create the turnover.

Agreed about Bob. It's funny to see all of the random backups and third stringers seeing action in the playoffs, whereas Bob is the only former Vezina winner still standing and standing tall.

[Vinny01]

Originally Posted by Cycling76er

At what point was this possible?

I seem to recall that the only reason he was bridged was because signing him meant trading players away to create cap space. Matthew said in his presser that he did not want to have any of his team mates traded just so they could sign him to a bigger contract.

What was the failure here?

they desperately needed to keep Frolik so they gifted Tkachuk a path to getting out after 3 years. Treliving was the guy who thought he had the cap space to give Neal 5.75x5 despite all of the contracts that were coming up the following year.

[Strange Brew]

Originally Posted by Cycling76er

At what point was this possible?

I seem to recall that the only reason he was bridged was because signing him meant trading players away to create cap space. Matthew said in his presser that he did not want to have any of his team mates traded just so they could sign him to a bigger contract.

What was the failure here?

Well if you believe this, why should Tkachuk make decisions about who to keep and who to trade?

We’ll never really know if it was truly on the table, but locking up Tkachuk for as long as possible should have been a priority over another year of a rapidly declining Frolik.

I tend to believe Tkachuk would have signed a max term deal at that time but it would have been pricy. And I’m guessing Flames liked the idea of keeping his AAV down during the window of Gaudreau also being on a value contract.

[CalgaryFan1988]

Why did Tkachuk skate away from from everyone like that? He wasn't that close to being offside (posters reasoning). Reminded me of Fleury, just missing the slide.

[Jiri Hrdina]

Originally Posted by GordonBlue

Once Bobrovsky got locked in you knew they had a great chance.

I'm one of the people that believes you have no chance to get to the cup finals if you don't have your goaltender playing above average, and these playoffs have really proved it.

Bobrovsky over anyone else on the Panthers for Conn Smythe, so far.

One of the narratives re. Bobrovsky is that he plays worse when fatigued, but that certainly wasn't the case last night!
I don't know that a goalie in the league has had such an up and down career. Dizzying highs and terrible lows.
But it's a compelling storyline for the playoffs for sure. I think if folks were better on which goalie would take them on a run, the answer would have been Spencer Knight.

[cam_calderon]

Originally Posted by CalgaryFan1988

Why did Tkachuk skate away from from everyone like that? He wasn't that close to being offside (posters reasoning). Reminded me of Fleury, just missing the slide.

They've just played 140 minutes of playoff hockey, probably wanted to get to the hotel and get some sleep.

[Toonage]

Originally Posted by CalgaryFan1988

Why did Tkachuk skate away from from everyone like that? He wasn't that close to being offside (posters reasoning). Reminded me of Fleury, just missing the slide.

Walk off, like a game winning hit/ homerun in baseball I suspect

[Hemi-Cuda]

Originally Posted by Hackey

Don't blame Tkachuk. He saw where the team was heading and got out while he could. Why on earth would he want to stick around for the next 8 years playing meaningless hockey and living in -30? Treliving royally screwed up giving him a bridge deal. Then he further screwed up trying to "win now" instead of getting futures and cap flexibility. The team is handcuffed by bad contracts and any good young players like Lindholm or Hanifin are likely going to want to leave the first chance they get just like Tkachuk. This organizations lack of foresight is insane.

Yep, there is no plan for long term success in the Flames organization, and there hasn't been for over 30 years. I have zero animosity towards players opting out of that and looking out for themselves

[topfiverecords]

Originally Posted by FormerPresJamesTaylor

Matthew Tkachuk gave the Flames exactly what they were owed. Treliving had an opportunity to lock him down to a long term deal and failed to do so, instead giving him a contract that walked into to UFA status.

This isn’t true. He was RFA.

[topfiverecords]

Originally Posted by GioforPM

Funny thing was, Tkachuk was completely missing for the whole game (looks hurt). But he did a Klima in OT.

But honestly folks, talk about that play all you want, but there’s a dozen threads about Treliving, Tkachuk, Bennett, their trades. Can’t this one be about the game and the series?

The way people are talking it’s like THEY ARE the series. When the reality is Tkachuk was invisible for all but two seconds of the 6th longest game in history and Bennett took two terrible penalties that almost cost them the game.

[Sainters7]

Meh, yeah I wish we had signed him longterm earlier, but given what happened, I have a feeling he would've left us after that contract anyway. It just would've meant we get him for another 3 years or so, he would've ditched us regardless. Just 2026 instead of 2023. I really don't think he wanted to spend his career here, as we've seen.

[dustygoon]

Originally Posted by Strange Brew

Well if you believe this, why should Tkachuk make decisions about who to keep and who to trade?

We’ll never really know if it was truly on the table, but locking up Tkachuk for as long as possible should have been a priority over another year of a rapidly declining Frolik.

I tend to believe Tkachuk would have signed a max term deal at that time but it would have been pricy. And I’m guessing Flames liked the idea of keeping his AAV down during the window of Gaudreau also being on a value contract.

Going by what Tkachuk said and rumours at the time that they were exploring a variety of contract lengths including longer term ones it seems like signing him longer than three years could have happened.

"The best-case scenario happened where there isn't one guy that had to be moved in this process," Tkachuk said. "That was a fear. You never want to see that happen. We had such a great team last year and we brought in pieces that made us that much better and can be more successful in the postseason.

"We could've done a longer term, however many years, but this was the deal that was going to keep the number within the [$81.5 million NHL salary cap], and to me, we have such a great group here, so many great guys. I want to win with this group.

[EldrickOnIce]

Originally Posted by Toonage

Even Mario didn't want to be a Penguin so even before that

So in the '50s then, before the PA. Like when the Wings paid Howe 9k per season and told him he was the highest paid player in the league (which was a flat out lie), and Howe just trusted them and made the owners very rich.
Like those good old days, I guess.

[Jiri Hrdina]

The one thing about this run is it certainly isn't going to do much to persuade the Flames that the "get in and see what happens strategy" isn't valid.

[Fan in Exile]

Originally Posted by topfiverecords

The way people are talking it’s like THEY ARE the series. When the reality is Tkachuk was invisible for all but two seconds of the 6th longest game in history and Bennett took two terrible penalties that almost cost them the game.

That's not completely true. Bennett was dangerous throughout overtime and Tkachuk created a few good chances right from the start of that 4th OT period. Just needed 120 minutes to warm up. And what an impact Lomberg had! Never expected him to stick like he has.

I also must say that as much as I grew tired of Daryl Sutter hockey, the Canes looks like they're playing it the way it's meant to be played.

[GioforPM]

^ yeah I thought the same about the Canes

[Beninho]

Originally Posted by Jiri Hrdina

The one thing about this run is it certainly isn't going to do much to persuade the Flames that the "get in and see what happens strategy" isn't valid.

Maybe it can persuade them to start a “pay their stars before they can bend the team over strategy” too

[EldrickOnIce]

Originally Posted by Jiri Hrdina

The one thing about this run is it certainly isn't going to do much to persuade the Flames that the "get in and see what happens strategy" isn't valid.

Just need great goaltending.
Bob's 0.901 regular season is 0.927 in the playoffs