The Official National Hockey League Appreciation Thread

[KarateKen]

On 10/10/2024 at 10:55 PM, KarateKen said:

Minnesota Wild win their season opener! A 3-2 victory at home over the Blue Jackets.  I do not have high expectations for the Wild this season, they are likely a borderline playoff team.  They missed the playoffs last season and what is probably best-case scenario for this year is making the playoffs but having another first round exit. 

 

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. 

[sensei8]

The ice finally melted for the Wild. 

Another hard fought battle between my Knights and The Wild as my Knights have advanced to Round 2 of the 2025 NHL Playoffs.

My Knights will now face the Oilers in Round 2, which is surprising to me because I thought that the Kings would’ve beat the Oilers.

Round 2 schedule has not been announced.

GO KNIGHTS!!

[KarateKen]

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.  

[KarateKen]

Sorry @aurik tough way to end the season.  

[sensei8]

Round 2 of the NHL 2025 Playoff schedule has been announced.

My Knights are seed 1 VS 3rd seeded Oilers, and here’s their round 2 playoff schedule…

The Golden Knights will face the Oilers in a best-of-seven series beginning May 6 at T-Mobile Arena.

Puck drop is at 6:30 p.m. PT.

***Below is the full second-round schedule (Times are PT):

Game 1: Tuesday, May 6 at 6:30 p.m. at
Las Vegas | ESPN

Game 2: Thursday, May 8 at 6:30 p.m.

at Las Vegas | ESPN

Game 3: Saturday, May 10, TBD at Edmonton | TBD

Game 4: Monday, May 12, TBD at Edmonton | TBD

*Game 5: Wednesday, May 14, TBD at Las Vegas | TBD

*Game 6: Friday, May 16, TBD at Edmonton TBD

*Game 7: Sunday, May 18, TBD at Las Vegas | TBD

(* if necessary)

If you teams made it to round 2, what’s their schedule??

If your team didn’t make it to round 2, and IF you’re rooting for a team, what’s that team’s schedule??

GO KNIGHTS!!

[aurik]

14 hours ago, KarateKen said:

Sorry @aurik tough way to end the season.  

No kidding.  They were -><- this close to closing out the W, and the Jets scored with 2.2 seconds left in the game.  They stayed with them through the first OT, but the second OT they fell back to the "dump and chase" that wasn't working for them.  It's like they'd dump the puck and wouldn't get it back, so that was most unfortunate.  But they overachieved in a big way, so I can't complain.

[KarateKen]

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. 

[KarateKen]

4 hours ago, aurik said:

No kidding.  They were -><- this close to closing out the W, and the Jets scored with 2.2 seconds left in the game.  They stayed with them through the first OT, but the second OT they fell back to the "dump and chase" that wasn't working for them.  It's like they'd dump the puck and wouldn't get it back, so that was most unfortunate.  But they overachieved in a big way, so I can't complain.

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. 

[KarateKen]

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. 

 

[KarateKen]

Game one road wins for the Hurricanes and Oilers.

Games on Wednesday are Panthers/Leafs game two, and game one of Stars/Jets.