NHL 2020 Stanley Cup Playoffs

[John Wick]

When he returns to the bubble does he have to quarantine for 4 days, like Jake Muzzin?

He apparently will not be back for the balance of the playoffs, whatever that turns out to be for MTL. Muller is in as coach now for the duration.

 

[superstar_88]

Matthew Tkachuk may not play after being knoced out of game by Benn with clean hit.

 

[Robert 21]

NHL Saturday & Sunday's Schedules

https://www.nhl.com/schedule

Eastern Times (Check Local Listings - Times Subject to Change)

First Game from Toronto
12:00 BOS vs CAR (Let’s Go Bs) Series Tied 1-1 - TV NBC
Game 2 from Edmonton 15:00 COL vs ARI - COL Leads 2-0 - TV CNBC
Game 3 19:30 TBL vs CBJ - Series Tied 1-1 - TV NBCSN
Game 4 20:00 VGK vs CHI - VGK Leads 2-0 - TV NBC

Sunday 8/16th
Game 1 12:00 WSH vs NYI - NYI Leads 2-0 - TV USA
Game 2 14:00 DAL vs CGY - CGY Leads 2-1 - TV CNBC
Game 3 18:30 VGK vs CHI - Game 4 - TV NBCSN
Game 4 20:00 PHI vs MTL - Tied 1-1 - TV NBC
Game 5 22:30 STL vs VAN - VAN Leads 2-0 - TV NBCSN


3 Keys: Bruins vs. Hurricanes, Game 3 of Eastern First Round
Pastrnak game-time decision for Boston with series tied
https://www.nhl.com/news/boston-bruins-carolina-hurricanes-game-3-preview/c-318496244

"David Pastrnak will be a game-time decision for the Boston Bruins against the Carolina Hurricanes in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference First Round at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto on Saturday.
The forward was unfit to play in Game 2, which Boston lost 3-2 on Thursday. Pastrnak did not participate in an optional practice Friday, Bruins coach Bruce Cassidy said.
As part of the NHL Return to Play Plan, a team is not permitted to disclose player injury or illness information.

Teams that win Game 3 after a Stanley Cup Playoff series is tied 1-1 are 215-106 (67 percent) winning a best-of-7 series...."


Let’s Go BRUINS....



***WHO DOESN'T LIKE A LITTLE PASTA***

 

[Darts]

One of the problems with the "bubble concept" is that there is little or no ice time for practices as interim Canadiens coach Kirk Muller pointed out in last night's post game press conference. No, he wasn't trying to rub it in.

BTW: Claude Julien is recovering nicely.

 

[gcostanza]

Tuukka Rask has left the NHL Playoff Bubble, to be with his family, including his 3 month old baby.

 

[Valcazar]

The intelligent and rational members here agree with you. The OT rule right now is unlimited which means OT can theoretically go on forever if no goal is scored. The rule needs a tiebreaker at some rational point.

The tiebreaker is when someone scores to break the tie.
5 OT games are RARE - There have been 5 that have gone that long (2 went to 6) in the 100+ years of the NHL.
The last time I saw any analysis on this, something like 10% of OT games go longer than 10 minutes.
The system is fine.

 

[glamphotographer]

Tuukka Rask has left the NHL Playoff Bubble, to be with his family, including his 3 month old baby.

4 day quarantine when he returns, he may miss his the whole series.

 

[gcostanza]

4 day quarantine when he returns, he may miss his the whole series.

From what I've been reading, he gone.
Ain't comin' back to the bubble.

 

[Darts]

The system is fine.

There are people, not only here, but in the broader hockey society that think it is not fine. Same with unlimited innings in MLB and they are trying something new this season to accelerate the tiebreaker. Tennis introduced the tiebreaker years ago because some sets were becoming ridiculously long.

Anywhere I respect your opinion whether I agree or disagree.

 

[Valcazar]

There are people, not only here, but in the broader hockey society that think it is not fine. Same with unlimited innings in MLB and they are trying something new this season to accelerate the tiebreaker. Tennis introduced the tiebreaker years ago because some sets were becoming ridiculously long.

Anywhere I respect your opinion whether I agree or disagree.

The primary driver has almost always been TV revenue because going long screws with schedules.
I appreciate that Tennis went to the tie breaker long ago, but final sets in many tournaments still have them.

I am ok with overtime being limited in the regular season but unlimited in the post season.

The less things are decided by a skills competition instead of real play the better. To me that means if you want to cut things down with some kind of tie breaking mechanism in a season that's fine, but leave it as close to "play the game out" as possible in the playoffs.

The other side of things is that the length of seasons has been extended. They are already risking the players by pushing them into more and more games and longer and longer post-seasons. That changes the calculus.

 

[Darts]

The other side of things is that the length of seasons has been extended. They are already risking the players by pushing them into more and more games and longer and longer post-seasons. That changes the calculus.

The best way for a player to prolong his/her NHL career is to play for the Leafs because their post-seasons are so short. Ok, I kid (maybe).

 

[Robert 21]

4 day quarantine when he returns, he may miss his the whole series.

From what I've been reading, he gone.
Ain't comin' back to the bubble.

Rask opts out of Stanley Cup Playoffs with Bruins
Goalie cites desire to be with family, leaves hub city in Toronto
https://www.nhl.com/news/tuukka-rask-opts-out-of-postseason/c-318514766

"Tuukka Rask has opted out and will not play for the Boston Bruins for the remainder of the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

The goalie's decision was announced Saturday less than two hours before the Bruins played the Carolina Hurricanes in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference First Round at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, the hub city for the East. Boston, with goalie Jaroslav Halak, won 3-1 and leads the best-of-7 series 2-1.

"I want to be with my team competing, but at this moment there are things more important than hockey in my life, and that is being with my family," Rask said. "I want to thank the Bruins and my teammates for their support and wish them the best.".....


Yes, when I heard this News just before Game 3, I was like are YOU KIDDING ME!
Especially from Rask's Post Game 2 comments the other Day ...


“You’re trying to play as hard as you can,” he said. “Obviously, you’re playing a best-of-seven series so there’s going to be some battles going on and whatnot. But when you play at your home rink, you play at an away rink, and there are fans cheering for you or against you, and that creates another buzz around the series.
“There’s none of that, so it just feels dull at times. There are moments that, OK, there are little scrums and whatnot. But then there might be five minutes, and it’s just coas-to-coast hockey and there is no atmosphere. It just feels like an exhibition game.”
https://www.boston.com/sports/boston-bruins/2020/08/14/tuukka-rask-playoff-atmosphere-comments


With COVID, we ALL have to make tough Decisions....
Stay Home (in My Bubble)...Go Out....Go Visit Family & Friends (?)....

IT sounds like Rask picked His Health & Family over Hockey.
GOOD for Him....


Rask opting out doesn't change Bruins' goal to go deep in Playoffs
Ride new No. 1 goalie Halak to defeat Hurricanes in Game 3 of Eastern First Round
https://www.nhl.com/news/boston-bruins-move-forward-without-tuukka-rask/c-318527178

"The Boston Bruins were set depart from Hotel X to Scotiabank Arena in Toronto on Saturday when they heard that goalie Tuukka Rask had decided to opt out of the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

He would not start for them against the Carolina Hurricanes on Saturday, he would not play for them again in the playoffs this season.

Still, so much remained the same: the plan against the Hurricanes, the goal to win a Stanley Cup, the immediate needs for a noon start in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference First Round against Carolina.

Most everything, other than the name on the back of the starting goalie's jersey: Jaroslav Halak, instead of Rask.

"The message -- we're not going to change the way we play, no matter who's in nets," coach Bruce Cassidy said. "We've proven that with Jaro here for the last two years and now the playoffs. We know he's a capable goaltender. The only issue for us is, Jaro hasn't played a lot. So you want to make sure you allow him a reasonable time to get back into game mode. So that was the message."....



YES, the Show must go On....
Halak played ok (IMHO).... Saved 29 out of 30 Shots...
https://www.nhl.com/gamecenter/bos-...e_state=final,lock_state=final,game_tab=stats


He did have the one miscue (Only Goal by CAR)...CAR on the Power Play. Halak went behind His Net to clear the Puck, and He passed it right to CAR #21 Nino Niederreiter ("Gift Wrapped") who Scored Unassisted (unless you count Halak) with 13:30 left in the 3rd Period BOS 2 CAR 1
https://www.nhl.com/video/niederreiter-nets-ppg-on-turnover/t-318385218/c-5404243


He is (was) the backup Goalie.....The Bruins are Up in the Series 2-1.


The below Link says "Veteran Jaroslav Halak got the win Saturday in Game 3 of Boston’s first-round series against the Carolina Hurricanes, with 22-year-old Dan Vladar the backup. Max Lagace did not dress..."
https://www.boston.com/sports/bosto...oslav Halak got the,old Dan Vladar the backup.





***BE SAFE, STAY SAFE***

 

[glamphotographer]

I'm not a fan of the bruins and this good news to me but the Bruins tend to play better when key players go down.

 

[Darts]

At some point the NHL will be dragged kicking and screaming into the 21st century. It's call evolution.

IIHF approves rule changes to OT, shootout - TSN.ca

The International Ice Hockey Federation approved rule changes on Friday for its overtime and shootout format in the upcoming season.

www.tsn.ca

 

[Robert 21]

NHL Monday & Tuesday's Schedules

https://www.nhl.com/schedule

Eastern Times All Games on NBCSN (Check Local Listings - Times Subject to Change)

First Game from Toronto
15:00 TBL vs CBJ - TBL Leads Series 2-1
Game 2 from Edmonton 17:30 COL vs ARI - COL Leads 2-1
Game 3 20:00 BOS vs CAR (Let’s Go Bs) BOS Leads 2-1
Game 4 22:30 STL vs VAN - VAN Leads 2-1

Tuesday 8/18th
Game 1 15:00 PHI vs MTL - PHI Leads 2-1
Game 2 17:30 CGY vs DAL - Series Tied 2-2
Game 3 20:00 WSH vs NYI - NYI Leads 3-0 (Will NYI Sweep?)
Game 4 22:30 CHI vs VKG - VGK Leads 3-1

Pastrnak might return for Bruins against Hurricanes in Game 4
Forward unfit past two, could help Boston try to extend lead in Eastern First Round
https://www.nhl.com/news/boston-bruins-david-pastrnak-status-update/c-318546124

"David Pastrnak could return for the Boston Bruins against the Carolina Hurricanes in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference First Round at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto on Monday (8 p.m. ET; NBCSN, CBC, SN, TVAS, FS-CR, NESN).
The forward was on the ice for part of the Bruins' optional practice Sunday after being ruled unfit to play the past two games of the best-of-7 series, which Boston leads 2-1. As part of the NHL Return to Play Plan, a team is not permitted to disclose player injury or illness information.
"[Pastrnak] skated today briefly," Bruins coach Bruce Cassidy said. "He did some work after in the gym, so that's encouraging. He's got his skates on out there.
"How does that bode for tomorrow? Not sure yet. Probably a little premature. Let's see how he does in the morning. So I'd put him at, let's say 50-50 at best right now. Of course, that could change over 24 hours.".....

So, 50-50 for Pasta to Play tonight (Game Time 20:00)....I say Yes, He will play tonight...

Let’s Go BRUINS.



***PASTA HAD 95 POINTS THIS SEASON***

 

[catherinetog]

Kadri scored twice today. Go Kadri!

 

[superstar_88]

Carolina up 2 nothing after 2 periods.
Reimer in net.
Boston comes back to win it in the 3rd.

 

[gcostanza]

Not 2020 playoffs related, but NHL great, Hall of Famer Dale Hawerchuk passed away today.
57, cancer.
Terrific player, gone far too soon.

 

[superstar_88]

He was a superstar in the likes of Ron Francis, Daryl Sittler, Bryan Trottier.

 

[superstar_88]

JVR healthy scratch. If you think Leafs offense is deep imagine Leafs scratching a player like JVR.
In hindsight Leafs passing up on Travis Konecny was a bad move. Played in the 2020 All Star Game.
That play by Cale Makar flying past the defenseman to score on goalie was astounding.