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Skipper

Burnt Ends
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  1. Yeah, it really did seem to be snowballing. Their goalie was giving up rebounds that just never found our stick, not finishing plays, not getting calls, just seemed like everything kind of working against us and it gave them all the confidence for what ended up being a defensive masterpiece down the stretch. I saw we didn't even get a SOG the last 5.5 minutes which I didn't realize at the time, but yeah, seems right. Absolutely everything is going right for them in this series and most of that has to do with their play. We've been a great road team all year so maybe we can win game 3 and it gets interesting again but definitely walked out of that building last night fully realizing may not be back for a hockey game until next October.
  2. I said 90% not 100%. And I didn't expect most cloak room posters to be in the 90%. Just stating reality.
  3. LOL. Newsflash. 90%+ of alumni and donors don't give a fuck about the West Mall and whatever flavor of the month protest is in the news even if this was mishandled. Most of us saw it and rolled our eyes every time we walked past when we were on campus. Hartzell and Eltife paved the way to the SEC and a competitive football team. They have kept UT a respectable institution of higher learning for those that want to get educated and get a good job. They are golden.
  4. I mean I think it was desperation. Had to try something to jump start our offense.
  5. The Knights didn't tank the end of the regular season. This side of the bracket is a much tougher path for them. But I also think they just flipped the switch in the playoffs (combined with the whole magically healthy complete roster thing). Not much else to be said. It's bullshit we are playing a roster way over the cap, particularly in the first round, the refs have done us no favors and we really have not had any puck luck, but none of that matters because we are flat out getting outplayed. They took our best shot in the first period, got it back on a 2-0 fucking rush, then just settled in and completely outplayed us the last 30 mins of the game. I thought Otter played great and kept us in the game. They could have easily blown it open and we just flat out didn't execute at the net on our best chances. We should absolutely win every game we give up 2 goals or less with the offensive firepower we have (that has looked absolutely non-existent against this Vegas D). Hintz is completely MIA and has been for a month. He's in his prime and being paid like an elite player and has disappeared. Pavelski finally looks his age. The Duchene/Seguin line isn't doing anything. Stankoven has looked like our best skater from my eyes which should not be the case. Hell Marchment has flashed more than our big names (and now hurt). It's a bad matchup but still a disappointing performance. Hopefully they can somehow find their game in Vegas (have been a better road team than home this year) and we can do a reverse of the '21 Mavs/Clippers, but all my optimism pretty much went out the window as I sat and watched us flat out get our ass kicked during the 3rd in what was clearly the biggest period of the season. Having never played I certainly don't know hockey X's and O's like other sports but starting to think all of the Vegas fans that had confidence Deboer's system is a terrible matchup against what Vegas does knew what they are talking about after the last 11 games. They own us.
  6. I thought he should have stopped the 2nd shot from the arena although was a clear defensive fuck up that put him in that situation. Never saw a replay so maybe not as bad as I thought live. I never saw a replay of the 4th either but heard that point made by someone either post-game or yesterday on the ticket. Otter also had some good saves after they let in 4 that kept us in the game. I'm feeling a bounce back performance across the board for this team tonight. Hopefully from the refs as well.
  7. I cussed PJ on my text chain as well at a point where we had nobody but Luka/Kyrie in double digits, then I think he made like 4 straight shots so you all weren't the only ones. They clearly need him to win this series and he came up big on O down the stretch (and yes, great D throughout).
  8. The defense was a weak link pre trade-deadline so that is a big part of it. Tanev has helped significantly but let's not pretend we are 'elite' there. After the NJ debacle in March, Otter gave up 2 or less goals in 10/11 games to end the season (not counting the empty netter against the Jets). The Jets game was the only loss (we won at Col 7-4). That level of play got us the 1 seed. We almost certainly would have finished 3rd in the division with average goalie play down the stretch. So I agree with your bottom line but we frankly need better play out of anyone to win this series and every series hereafter. I guess I have equal concerns about top line play, defense and goalie right now. It's kind of bullshit we can't ease into the playoffs against the Kings which i think would have gone 5 at worst. Our side of the bracket, in my view, has 4 of the top 5 teams in the West, but it is what it is. I think very likely this suddenly healthy Vegas team makes it out of the other side of the bracket had Chicago not choked last Thursday so from that perspective, I think better to get them now. But need to pick our play up significantly starting tonight or this run will be over quickly.
  9. You guys act like there are Vezina trophy winners just sitting around waiting to be picked up LOL. Otter is easily a top 10 goalie when he's on his game. This team clearly needed defensive help in front of him and they got that at the deadline. I personally have absolutely zero issues with the way the team was constructed this year given contract/cap limitations. And now we have a "slumping" Otter after one poor game where he had shit help in front of him. They had like 3.6 expected goals and he gave up 4 so now he sucks forgetting he was absolutely a key (if not the key factor) in winning the west the last month. If any part of this team is slumping it's our top line. Helleybuck has given up 11 in 2 games so guess he sucks now as well. I'm not saying he doesn't need to play better to win this series, he absolutely does, but so do our top guys and defense. Harley has been great this year but had a really poor game Monday as well.
  10. They pretty much doubled us up in hits. It was pretty damn clear in the arena that Vegas came to play playoff hockey from the puck drop. Obviously that will never be the Stars style and we don't have their size but I was rooting for someone to risk a boarding call just to send a statement. The start from the Stars seemed similar to the Mavs game where they thought they could just ease into the playoffs. We played better as the game wore on and advanced stats had it as pretty much a 50/50 game from an expected goals perspective but obviously need a better start on Weds. Also, special teams was supposed to be a big Stars advantage in this series statistically and that clearly didn't play out last night. But yeah - I definitely recall losing game 1 at home to both MN and Seattle last year then playing much better game 2. Hopefully that repeats.
  11. Frustrating start to the playoffs. Refs were a joke, Harley played terrible, Otter off night, etc. etc. Not sure we were ready for their physical play. Played better as the game went on so hopefully a big wake up call. Sidenote - fuck 9PM weeknight starts. Damn near 1AM before I got in bed. Ridiculous.
  12. I had already pegged this as the series to watch (not only because if Stars win they get the winner) but just seemed like a great matchup. Game 1 did not disappoint. I think common thought is to root for the Jets as a Stars fan but they have been so damn hot to end the season either matchup would be extremely tough if we get past Vegas. I'm just rooting for it to go 7.
  13. The good thing is that whether you lose by 1 or 20 it's only one game. But can't believe this team showed up to game 1 with a Tuesday night regular season against Charlotte mindset. That is primarily on Kidd for not having them mentally ready to play. Did they even have a hard practice during this layoff? In the first half they looked exactly like a team that had done nothing but play a couple of meaningless games and take shootaround for 10+ days.
  14. What in the absolute hell was that. Mavs did not show up remotely ready for playoff basketball. Embarrassing.
  15. Yeah, I don't think you can take much away from the early games. Have not played in '24 and really different teams. I was at the game they smoked us. It was just one of those games. Saturday afternoon game where our entire team looked hungover and Otter had a god awful first period. It was just one of those games every team has similar to the March NJ debacle. They are a solid team, and yes, they will get Stone back which helps, but we are a better team. If Otter plays well we should win the series. Even with the crazy run we've had we haven't had too many games where top 3 lines have all had solid nights. More than anything that speaks to the depth as 3rd line has been our best line the last month and the 4th line has played great. If we can get Robo/Roope/Pavelski + Duchene/Seguin back on top of their game we'll smoke them.
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