Playoff Talk

[Zeke]

There's not enough interaction in the hockey thread. Hell in general this game doesn't get enough love. This sport is second to none in intensity come playoff time.

Any thoughts, leans, systems, etc. lets throw them in here for discussion.

This could take a sizeable bankroll to make worthwhile profit but if any series get to 3-0 I'm all about betting that team to sweep then chasing until they close it out. How many times in history has it NOT happened? I like my odds.

I envision SJ, MN & possibly Pitt with early exits. The first two are playing like shit & the latter missing Malkin & Letang will hurt them.

 

[Zeke]

Sticking with teams who have something to play for today. Too many other teams are playing with rosters filled with AHL guys.

BOS
NYI
OTT
NSH
STL
EDM (parlayed with DAL cause I can't stomach laying over 200)

 

[dg84]

I agree. Best playoff sport there is & the regular season is also underrated. I like Calgary to give the Hawks all they can handle, the NYR to "upset" Montreal & Toronto to steal a series if they can get the three seed & face Ottawa instead of the Capitals. I still like the Pens to get by Columbus, but fall in the second round. West is pretty wide open & the Caps are likely coming out of the east.....finally. I like your Edmonton pick tonight & plan on parlaying that with the Leafs. GL!

 

[Zeke]

Can't disagree with any of your playoff predictions. Afyer watching Boston play the Caps yesterday in a game that meant a good deal to Boston & nothing to the Caps, I realized how good the Caps are.

Taking Toronto again tonight. Unlike my fuckin Bruins I think they will realize the importance of avoiding Caps in round one. Plus Columbus has been limping in.

 

[dg84]

I was mistaken about Chicago drawing Calgary. I still like the Flames to possibly pull off an upset against Anaheim though.

 

[Lareux]

The NHL needs to scrap their playoff format with the divisions playing each other in the first 2 rounds. Right now the #2 overall and #4 overall seed are playing each other in the first round, while in the same conference the #12 and #13 overall seeds are playing each other. Whomever thought it was a good idea was wrong and should be fired.

 

[dg84]

No doubt about that. There's a damn good chance we're going to see the top two teams in the entire NHL, at least from a point total standpoint, playing each other in the quarterfinals.

 

[Lareux]

No doubt about that. There's a damn good chance we're going to see the top two teams in the entire NHL, at least from a point total standpoint, playing each other in the quarterfinals.

Right. It's just fucking asinine. They claimed they wanted to "create rivalries" by changing up the format, which really makes little sense. Rivalries are created over years and years, and playing an opponent 6-9 times a year (or whatever it is for inter-division rivals now) can do just that. If they happen to meet in the playoffs at some point, it would just enhance that rivalry.

Not to mention the NHL easily has the best, and most intense playoffs...which can/will create rivalries on its own. Either you think your playoffs are the best or you don't...apparently the NHL doesn't, or they wouldn't have come up with some ridiculous gimmick that really does nothing but punish the better teams if they happen to be in a division full of better teams (or even have 1 other "better" team).

We can also talk about how dumb the NHL is in the first place with their 3 point system for games that go to OT, but only having a regulation win worth 2 points. It makes zero sense to have some games worth more points than others. Either you get rid of the loser point (which you don't need to do), or you just make a regulation win worth 3 points (and keep the 2pt/1pt system for OT games)...which anyone with even a basic concept of fucking math would be able to figure out and come up with.

 

[dudleysdad]

Larry
lol that scoring is insane, I barely pay attention to hockey.
common sense forgotten in the NHL high ups

 

[dudleysdad]

I win 5-1 in regulation is worth less than winning 2-1 in OT?

 

[GWarner27]

agreed the system is terrible, but i'm pumped to watch as it's the most interesting playoff format across the major sports

 

[Lareux]

I win 5-1 in regulation is worth less than winning 2-1 in OT?

Not necessarily, but yes. Each team would get 2 points for the win in your scenarios...but the losing team would get 1 pt for the OT loss, so that game is actually worth 3 pts total (2 for the winner and 1 for the loser). That makes no sense to have some games with 3 points up for grabs and then others (that don't go to OT) only worth 2. The easy fix is to just make regulation wins worth 3 points and keep the OT/Shootout points the way they are. That would be too easy and make too much sense though.

 

[chancedog]

Or don't award the the losing team a point

 

[Zeke]

Or don't award the the losing team a point

In general I agree with this but if it were the case, the B's would be playing the Caps tomorrow night. That OT loss to OTT Thursday night tied them with TOR. So for this year I'm okay with that rule.

 

[Lareux]

Or don't award the the losing team a point

Right, or that. But they wouldn't ever do that now that they've already been awarding it for as long as they have. Just go back to having games end in ties if they're going to do that. No need for the shootout, just end it in a tie after OT.

 

[Lareux]

In general I agree with this but if it were the case, the B's would be playing the Caps tomorrow night. That OT loss to OTT Thursday night tied them with TOR. So for this year I'm okay with that rule.

That isn't the only OT loss they had all year was it? It also would have changed the points total for every other team in the league so it's nowhere near a lock they'd be playing Washington anyway.

 

[Zeke]

I think they've had plenty of OT losses. I just mean recently if all things were even & they didn't get a point Thursday they would be #8.

 

[Lareux]

I think they've had plenty of OT losses. I just mean recently if all things were even & they didn't get a point Thursday they would be #8.

Well sure, but that's not how it works. Lol. I was just having some fun anyway, no biggie.

 

[gsro]

Understand the Boston love, but Ottawa is 4-0 against the B's this year and have beat them each time twice with Julien behind the bench and twice with Cassidy back there...

Ottawa under Boucher have become a very defensive team and lack a scoring punch and their special teams are mediocre; however if the money continues to come in on the B's and the price gets there I may have to consider Ottawa from a value standpoint. Their biggest relief was not having to face the leafs the first round.

 

[GWarner27]

Understand the Boston love, but Ottawa is 4-0 against the B's this year and have beat them each time twice with Julien behind the bench and twice with Cassidy back there...

Ottawa under Boucher have become a very defensive team and lack a scoring punch and their special teams are mediocre; however if the money continues to come in on the B's and the price gets there I may have to consider Ottawa from a value standpoint. Their biggest relief was not having to face the leafs the first round.

agree and with no Krug

 

[Zeke]

Holy shit the B's series price is climbing, seeing -210 now. I just don't get it. Am I a pessimistic fan or are the books fucking retarded?

Regardless, playing all the unders in every game one & likely every under of Bos/Ott series.

Considering taking all games 1st period to end in draw. This for the same reason I like the unders, see tight defensive games coming out of the gate. Yes there will be exceptions but these props average about +150.