ECQF: Florida Panthers [ATL1] vs Tampa Bay Lightning [WC1] - Florida wins 4-1

[Saqe]

Originally Posted by GioforPM

Duclair is almost PPG with Tampa. He was misused in SJ.

And I'll be ready to watch him disappear again in the playoffs, like he does. Meanwhile Verhaege is an absolute playoff stud.


It's a totally absurd take.

[agulati]

Panthers in 7. Battle of Florida should be fun

[Lewis_D]

[Cali Panthers Fan]

Originally Posted by GioforPM

Barkov and Tkachuk, yes. Reinhart has had a great season but I'm not convinced yet. The rest are OK depth. Bob is the wild card.

Kucherov > Tkachuk. Point = Barkov. Stamkos > Reinhart. Hedman > Forsling. Vasilevskiy > Bobrovsky. Hagel > Tarasenko. Duclair = Verhaege. Bennett = Cirelli. Raddysh > Ekblad.

Top end plus goaltending is going to usually win out.

Is this evaluation based entirely on points? Yikes. Thinking Point is even close to the all around player Barkov is....I don't know what to say.

And you should see Reinhart as one of the most lethal goal scorers in the game today. He's always been good for around 30, but took it up another notch again.

I'll also say this: Verhaeghe is a fantastic playoff performer. He always kicks it up a notch come playoffs. Equal to Duclair??? *shakes head*

[activeStick]

Tampa is one of those teams you do not want to face in the playoffs. I'm smelling an upset in this one.

[dino7c]

There really aren't any easy outs in the playoffs anymore...maybe the caps

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by Cali Panthers Fan

Is this evaluation based entirely on points? Yikes. Thinking Point is even close to the all around player Barkov is....I don't know what to say.

And you should see Reinhart as one of the most lethal goal scorers in the game today. He's always been good for around 30, but took it up another notch again.

I'll also say this: Verhaeghe is a fantastic playoff performer. He always kicks it up a notch come playoffs. Equal to Duclair??? *shakes head*

No. It's based on Point being better offensively versus Barkov being better defensively. IMO it's a wash at the end of the day.

Bottom line, you can disagree on a couple players but IMO TB has more top end players and more PO experience. And this is their last kick at it, so they are going to be more desperate.

[Gaudfather]

Originally Posted by Cali Panthers Fan

I hope everyone can get on board the Panther train for this one.

We all hate Tampa (it was in), and we all have a soft spot for former Flames (Tkachuk, Bennett, Lomberg) and the sons of former Flames (Reinhart).

Don't make me beg. Let's go Panthers!

We got your back Cali - Let's Go Panthers!

[bdubbs]

Panthers in 7.

[Cali Panthers Fan]

Originally Posted by GioforPM

No. It's based on Point being better offensively versus Barkov being better defensively. IMO it's a wash at the end of the day.

Bottom line, you can disagree on a couple players but IMO TB has more top end players and more PO experience. And this is their last kick at it, so they are going to be more desperate.

Barkov is miles better defensively though, and offensively it's probably a wash (their point per game rates are virtually identical). Barkov is a +33 and Point is a -14.

I disagree on almost every player you compared, except Kucherov. Most of these guys have good offensive numbers because they've sacrificed their defense this year to produce. The Panthers are putting up similar numbers, but are the best defensive team in the league, and have TWO goalies that put up great numbers this year. Vasy's numbers aren't great, but I don't put a lot of that on him. That Tampa team is really weak defensively.

But then look at the depth between these teams and it's not even close. At both forward and defense, the Panthers are far more effective on their lower lines and defense pairings.

Yes, they have playoff experience, and they do still have some talent, so the Panthers will still have to play their best game to beat them, but if they play like they've played all year, it will become obvious pretty quickly that they are the far better team.

[FanIn80]

Tampa may have won the two COVID Cups, but they haven't won anything since Blake Goalman left town.

[CSharp]

Lightnings in 7. Or, Tkachuk's gonna get hurt again and Panthers going down in a sweep next round.

[transplant99]

Since the calendar flipped to 2023, the Panthers have won 4 of 5 against the Bolts while outscoring them 26-11.

Panteros in 6.

[dino7c]

regular season is irrelevant

[FanIn80]

Originally Posted by dino7c

regular season is irrelevant

Weird. Last season the Panthers were gonna lose every playoff round because they sucked in the regular season, and only made the playoffs with one more point than Calgary.

[dustygoon]

Bennett = Cirelli?

playoff Sam Bennett? It's not a myth.

[dino7c]

Originally Posted by FanIn80

Weird. Last season the Panthers were gonna lose every playoff round because they sucked in the regular season, and only made the playoffs with one more point than Calgary.

LESS, one LESS

Get it right, and I'm talking about a head to head regular season record, it's not relevant. You expect the Jets to beat the Avs 7-0?

And we all can't be Notrodomus going 2-2 on Panthers series last playoffs like you

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by dustygoon

Bennett = Cirelli?

playoff Sam Bennett? It's not a myth.

Cirelli produces nicely in the POs as well, and his similar stats are from the 3C position, not the 2C. Plus he's a better defensive player.

[Tsawwassen]

Game 1
Sunday, April 21, at Florida on Sportsnet, ESPN, and TVA Sports 1030h Mountain time

The rest of the series is TBA/TBD

[Cali Panthers Fan]

WTF? A noon start time? The other game is at 3 and there's nothing in the evening. Why? Why schedule it like this?