KarateKen

Right. The home team has won every game in the Leafs/Panthers series, which is the opposite of the Knights/Oilers series. Meaning that the road team has won every game in the Knights/Oilers series.

I've learned to accept that I will be around alcohol and people who are drinking my entire life. Restaurants, live music, holiday parties, etc., drinking is deeply rooted in the social aspect of American culture. Just have to say no and always be a non-drinker. I find riding the fence doesn't work. Not only am I opening the door to falling back into excessive drinking, but once the drinkers see you drink, they pressure you to drink next time. At least that is my experience. However, if you are not a drinker and stick to that, they tend not to pressure at all. I'm pretty much over the bar scene, which is where most of the pressure takes place, so that makes it easier.

Panthers have evened up the series with the Leafs after a 2-0 win, now they go back to Toronto. It is the complete opposite of the Knights/Oilers series, every game has been won by the home team. Both home teams win today, Stars beat the Jets and lead the series 2-1. Two game fours on Monday, Knights at Oilers and Capitals at Hurricanes. In either series a team can have a big 3-1 series lead, or they will be tied 2-2. Mood: Drop the puck!

Fight of flight time.

The Art of Winning by Bill Belichick

Tough loss for the Knights, they had chances. They killed off a 5-minute power play in overtime, impressive, but then the two big guys for the Oilers got a fast break. As I saw that develop, I thought to myself "it's over" and a moment later it was. Also, a big missed penalty by the refs on the Oilers right before that, should have been an OTPP for Vegas, clearly a trip. McNabb might be out for a while too. Roy was fined over 7k for his cross check in the game, he was not suspended. Your Knights will get a chance to win on Saturday but will have to do it on the road. It appears no lead is safe against the Oilers, who have come back to win six games in a row. Panthers are back in the series against the Leafs, though it wasn't looking great for a while. They were down 3-1 and came back to win 5-4 in overtime. Leafs lead the series 2-1, game four Sunday. Jets beat the Stars to even that series at 1-1, game three on Sunday.

The Browns have four or five QBs right now, so if Sanders does not make the final cut maybe the Cowboys will pick him up. Deion won a Super Bowl down there, so it would be a big story. Jerry would want to do it just for the headlines.

They need to generate more offense if they are going to win this series, they had the same issue early on against Minnesota. I expect Vegas to have a strong performance tonight. Enjoy the game!

This brings up a good point. I also think that kind of training is likely to create a bad habit of defending only the body, so if a real encounter happens, they could be more vulnerable to head strikes. I have seen many fighters, of various experience and skill levels, go for head shots first.

It's been a full year now without a drink. I promise this is the final update

Dallas joins the group of three teams that won the opening game on the road in the round. Toronto won against Florida and has a 2-0 lead in that series. Capitals and Golden Knights try to even things up on their home ice Thursday, Hurricanes and Oilers try to go up 2-0 before heading back home. Big games! Mood: Excited

You don't have to wait for the other person to attack you for it to be a legit self-defense situation. If someone is threatening you and is withing striking distance, you may need to throw the first punch.

The Utah Hockey Club is now the Utah Mammoth. Pretty good name, great color combo and I like the logo. The NHL more than other sports has a trend of team names that do not end in S, we had a new one with the Kraken a few years ago and now another new one with the Mammoth, which is an upgrade from Hockey Club, also lacking the S.

Game one road wins for the Hurricanes and Oilers. Games on Wednesday are Panthers/Leafs game two, and game one of Stars/Jets.

Aaron Rodgers is still available though I am guessing that the Cowboys salary cap situation makes that impossible. For a cheaper option, maybe Jerry can talk Brett Favre out of retirement.

Ravens have released Justin Tucker.

Looked like Toronto was going to turn game one into a blowout, they had a 4-1 lead after two, but it got interesting. They did win it 5-4. Two game one's on Tuesday, Carolina Washington and Edmonton Vegas, both on ESPN. The NY Islanders, with a three percent chance of getting the top pick, got it. Followed by the Sharks, Blackhawks, Utah, and Preds for the top five. The Sabers, after another tough year, pick ninth. That franchise can't catch a break.

One of the craziest games I have ever seen. The Blues got up 2-0 early and it felt like they were going to win, even when the Jets cut it to 2-1, the Blues quickly bounce back to make it 3-1, and I thought it was over. Then a truly insane turn of events late in the third, sending it to overtime, then double overtime. This is what makes the Stanley Cup playoffs the most amazing sporting event in the world. A fantastic second half of the season by the Blues and they pushed the President's Trophy winner to the absolute limit. Nothing to be ashamed of. Heck of a great run and series.

The NHL draft lottery is today at 7pm eastern, to see who gets the #1 pick. Then at 8pm Eastern Florida and Toronto play game one. Game one of Dallas and Winnipeg will be Wednesday.

Sorry @aurik tough way to end the season.

Stars advance, beating the Avs in game 7 by the score of 4-2. They will face whoever wins game 7 on Sunday between the Jets and Blues. All other matchups are set. Second round games start on Monday, Panthers at Leafs, and Tuesday is Hurricanes at Capitals. No dates yet for the western conference, they will be announced after game 7 on Sunday, which is at 7pm eastern. Just a few days after spilling ways with the Penguins, head coach Mike Sullivan has been hired by the NY Rangers. Teams still looking for a head coach are the Ducks, Canucks, Penguins, Bruins, Flyers, Blackhawks, and Kraken.

Sounds interesting.

Congratulations

Well, here we are, about as well as predicted. The Wild played tough in this series but lost three one goal games, two in overtime, to Vegas. The last time the Wild won a playoff series? 2015. That will last at least another year as Vegas wins it in six. The good news is the team is set up to be good next year and the best is yet to come. I think. Anyway, the offseason has started for Minnesota. It also started for the LA Kings who lost four in a row after winning the first two. Oilers advance, and so do the Maple Leafs. The Avalanche beat the Stars to force a game seven on Saturday. Only one game coming up Friday, game six of the Jets vs Blues and it will be in St. Louis. Mark Scheifele will miss game six due to injury, which lead to some back-and-forth talk among the two coaches. Jets win and they advance, Blues win, and it forces a game seven. Mood: Disappointed yet optimistic.

Suddenly three teams have advanced to the second round, all from the east. The Capitals will face the Hurricanes, and the Panthers will face either the Leafs or Senators, Leafs up 3-2. The Jets have taken a 3-2 lead in the series, a series where the home team has won all five games. Four closeout games on Thursday. The Knights, Leafs, Stars, and Oilers can all advance with a win. Mood: worn out