RD1 GM2 04/19 vs Wild (8:30PM-ish CT) - THE TORTOISE AND THE HARE

[ToddM]

[slaps]

Have we ever had a hat trick in the playoffs? I can't remember.

This is the first playoff hat trick on home ice.

[SaintAngerBH]

I wonder if that was Fleury's last game in the NHL. Dude's 38.

[Math]

He's still under contract for the next season but Gustavsson will likely be the starter. At least he should be.

On a side note, what a bad trade make by the Sens and Dorion. Talbot won't be back with the Sens while Gustavsson is going to be a legit NHL starter.

[slaps]

On a side note, what a bad trade make by the Sens and Dorion. Talbot won't be back with the Sens while Gustavsson is going to be a legit NHL starter.

Counterpoint - Gustavsson could just have a few good games then fade away. Goaltending is voodoo.

[SaintAngerBH]

On a side note, what a bad trade make by the Sens and Dorion. Talbot won't be back with the Sens while Gustavsson is going to be a legit NHL starter.

Counterpoint - Gustavsson could just have a few good games then fade away. Goaltending is voodoo.

Like Lalime. Didn't he win like 16 in a row and then fade into obscurity after that one year?

[Math]

Correct, goaltending is such a versatile position. Seems like the Wild's plan is still to shift him to the starting job after letting Kuemper go and trading Kähkönen away.

[Math]

Like Lalime. Didn't he win like 16 in a row and then fade into obscurity after that one year?

I think he came out of nowhere and was walking on the water with the Pens, and then still had some good seasons with the Senators.

Funny thing, he's now at the game description on TVA Sports and is commenting some of the Stars games. He's very good at it and brings and interesting perspective from the goalie job in both mental and technical aspects.

[The Frugal Gourmet]

On a side note, what a bad trade make by the Sens and Dorion. Talbot won't be back with the Sens while Gustavsson is going to be a legit NHL starter.

Counterpoint - Gustavsson could just have a few good games then fade away. Goaltending is voodoo.

Also, I'm not saying Gustavasson wasn't amazing but the games were different.

In the two OT periods where we "outplayed" the WILD, we had about 2 quality chances each period.

We had more chances of that caliber or higher in just a few moments at times in the game yesterday.

In fact some wide open chances were actually missed or saved.

I honestly don't know if Gustavsson in that situation gives up fewer than 4 with those quality of chances. Hard to assume that either.
...


This happens sometimes in the playoffs where a brutal slugfest of a game is followed by one where no one can keep the same defensive coverage.

We'll see what happens next.

[ToddM]

Last time I checked, Lalime had the best playoff save percentage in NHL history. And yet he's generally known as a choker.

Gudtavsson didn't impress me. There were four Stars game winning shots in the third and OT that were saved by the width of a stick, two for defenders and two for him. That's insane levels of luck. If you think that that level of luck is repeatable a minimum of three more times, well, you're probably a Wild fan.

Speaking if Wild fans, theyre going apeshit on twitter right now.

[The Frugal Gourmet]

It's a little sad to me that Roope Hintz is overshadowing the best performance I've seen by Jamie Benn in about 5 years.

Every time the Wild finally mustered a good shift, that guy would come in and change momentum back. Easily responsible for 3 goals himself.

But not that sad.

[B Kat]

Everyone played well. Seguin filled in well for Pavs. Dadanov with 2 goals, Domi mixing it up. Kiviranta had a great game. Good to see.

[slaps]

Eh, this is Hintz's and Robertson's team now. Hintz is a legitimate #1 center and deserves all the credit for that performance. Everyone who matters knows what Benn is doing. But it was a great game from him, too.

[SaintAngerBH]

Eh, this is Hintz's and Robertson's team now. Hintz is a legitimate #1 center and deserves all the credit for that performance. Everyone who matters knows what Benn is doing. But it was a great game from him, too.

It's nice that we don't have to rely on an aging Benn/Seguin to get it done now.

[The Frugal Gourmet]

Eh, this is Hintz's and Robertson's team now. Hintz is a legitimate #1 center and deserves all the credit for that performance. Everyone who matters knows what Benn is doing. But it was a great game from him, too.

i said i was a little sad. obviously not that sad though

[Archangel972]

Every time someone praises Benn a little piece of Scuba dies.

[ScubaSteve]

Every time someone praises Benn a little piece of Scuba dies.

[ToddM]

Is it too early to pencil in Benn for the Conn Smythe?

[slaps]

Eh, this is Hintz's and Robertson's team now. Hintz is a legitimate #1 center and deserves all the credit for that performance. Everyone who matters knows what Benn is doing. But it was a great game from him, too.

It's nice that we don't have to rely on an aging Benn/Seguin to get it done now.

Not relying on them actually freed them up for a reduced role, less ice time, and made it easier for both of them to actually do better.