2016 Stanley Cup Playoffs

[Young Grasshopper]

@LHoffman:

@Young:

Was talking to a buddy at work who is also in a “pick a player in each box” type of pool, and I was telling him how I picked Anaheim’s goalie Gibson, but was pissed when I found out it was Anderson who got the shutout last night. He told me that in his pool, you pick two teams and you get the goalie points for those teams no matter who is in net. This made a lot of sense to me considering that only half the teams in the playoffs have bonified #1 goalies while the rest have starters on short leashes, and equally capable backups ready to jump in, not to mention an early injury to a star goalie that might kill any poolies hopes.

I have gone back and forth on this issue myself, because there have always been (and will always be) goalie controversies when doing this pool.

Currently, in the pool I run the assumed “starting” goalie for each playoff team is listed and you get to pick two… as you well know. I do my best to pick out who that goalie will actually be, especially given how reluctant teams are to publish that if there is anything approaching a “controversy”. If one of the goalies listed ends up not playing for any reason, you are kinda SOL. Which sucks. I do understand that.

It would be easier for me definitely) and for all of the pool players to just list the teams, say pick (2) of them and you get points for that team’s goalie(s) regardless of who it is or why they are playing.

However, my rationale for not doing so is this:

• Everyone has the same choices and is therefore on equal footing. The same, obviously, can be said of the picking by the team method. But anyone can just pick two teams that they think are good or were in the regular season. The only two parts of my pool that really benefit from some level of NHL knowledge are the Wildcard and Goaltender boxes. This knowledge can be gained by anyone though, it just is usually had by those who pay attention to the league and are up on current happenings.

• Simply picking goalies by teams (rather than by individuals) becomes more like a bracket and less like the type of pool that I find interesting.

• Goaltender performance is an enigma and challenge to predict; that is true of most all teams, but definitely so for some teams in particular. This may be the result of long team history of goalie drama, goaltender inexperience, injury and poor late season performance, reputation as a playoff choker, among other factors.   I believe that a pool such as the one I run, is simultaneously the most stressful and the most rewarding when you as the poolie have to weigh the factors of the individual goaltender you are choosing. This really makes you think about what teams you assume are going to do well.

• Take last year for example… I was one of the people who picked Corey Crawford and began cursing myself for doing so when Crawford had multiple terrible performances in the first round, to the point where he got benched and Scott Darling came in and began winning games. I very nearly thought I was ruined then and there, but fortunately they ended up starting Crawford for the rest of the playoffs. It was pretty inexplicable, but in hockey random stuff like that happens.

• Continuing from above, if only about half the teams in the playoffs have true No. 1 goalies who can be implicitly trusted as being “THE guy”, it forces you to predict what you think will happen. It is a hard thing to do, for sure, and most times it will be chalked up to a lucky guess, but you look really smart if you play it right… not to mention that your decisions can distance you from your competitors in a way that would be less possible if it was ‘pick by team’.

Ultimately, I think it more challenging and more interesting to weigh the pros and cons and play it safe on a reliable No.1 or gamble on a team/goaltender you just are not totally sure of. But like I said, everyone has the same choices, not everyone has the same knowledge or insight. That is where a degree of skill can benefit a longstanding hockey fan. There is a lot in hockey that is a crapshoot.

Shut up… you had me at hello  :cry:

[LHoffman]

@Young:

Shut up… you had me at hello  :cry:

:wink: I know.

[axis_roll]

@SS:

Axis roll looks like are Hawks are done. But we know they seem to like being down 3 to 1 first round.  :x

Nice move by Shaw.  :x :x :x :x

Will be a tough climb back, if at all possible since St Louis looks to be a different team than in past seasons.  Tarasenko is tough with that wrister.

[John Brown]

Woohoo, Dallas pulled out of Minnesota with a win. Tough win. At one point it was 6 on 3, because one guys stick broke. Intense!!! :-D

[Young Grasshopper]

Got 9 points tonight from my Anahiem players, which also tells you how screwed I’ll be if they don’t advance 😁

[John Brown]

@Young:

Got 9 points tonight from my Anahiem players, which also tells you how screwed I’ll be if they don’t advance 😁

I’m worried about Dallas getting out of this first round now. They really messed up not closing this series. Their defense and goal tending is not as good as other teams. :-(

[LHoffman]

@John:

@Young:

Got 9 points tonight from my Anahiem players, which also tells you how screwed I’ll be if they don’t advance 😁

I’m worried about Dallas getting out of this first round now. They really messed up not closing this series. Their defense and goal tending is not as good as other teams. :-(

They made it! By millimeters! This would have been a 5-5 tying goal had it fully crossed the line:

That is nuts. Glad Dallas advanced, but they are going to have a heck of a time with either Chicago or St. Louis. Minnesota surprised the heck out of me that they could give Dallas such issues and score so much without Parise or Vanek.

[John Brown]

Believe me, I was sweating the whole time, LOL. Dallas has to play San Jose next, I believe. That is going to be a tough series for sure. :-)

[John Brown]

LHoffman, it is Chicago or St. Louis. Either way, it is only going to get tougher in the West. :-D

[Young Grasshopper]

Dallas is the ugly girl with the big jugs at the prom, of course someone’s gonna ask her to dance… but she ain’t getting prom queen.

[John Brown]

@Young:

Dallas is the ugly girl with the big jugs at the prom, of course someone’s gonna ask her to dance… but she ain’t getting prom queen.

LOL, I hear you, but I can hope. Like I said in an earlier post, their defense and goal tending is suspect. Chicago and St. Louis has a better defense and goal tending, and that is why I’m worried.

[LHoffman]

Dallas’ defense and/or goaltending has been disturbingly porous in the Minnesota series. They allowed even more goals than I thought they would, and I thought they would allow a few. Chicago and St. Louis are much tighter defensively and much more talented than Minnesota offensively. I don’t see Dallas besting either team. But it should be entertaining. I am a fan of Jamie Benn and Co.

[John Brown]

@LHoffman:

Dallas’ defense and/or goaltending has been disturbingly porous in the Minnesota series. They allowed even more goals than I thought they would, and I thought they would allow a few. Chicago and St. Louis are much tighter defensively and much more talented than Minnesota offensively. I don’t see Dallas besting either team. But it should be entertaining. I am a fan of Jamie Benn and Co.

Yes, it was disturbing for sure, but it is my team, so I got to pull for them. :-D

[LHoffman]

http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/nhl-puck-daddy/bruce-boudreau-fired-by-ducks-after-early-playoff-exit-165715925.html

Ha. Well that was fast.

[Young Grasshopper]

@LHoffman:

http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/nhl-puck-daddy/bruce-boudreau-fired-by-ducks-after-early-playoff-exit-165715925.html

Ha. Well that was fast.

They should have done it before the third period of game seven. What an overrated coach… there are many great coaches out there that would have won if they had the king of star power he has enjoyed in Washington and Anaheim. Buyer beware on this guy.

[LHoffman]

@Young:

They should have done it before the third period of game seven. What an overrated coach… there are many great coaches out there that would have won if they had the king of star power he has enjoyed in Washington and Anaheim. Buyer beware on this guy.

I didn’t watch the game, so I can’t really comment there. I hear Ottawa is in the market for a higher profile coach and Boudreau may be on top of the list.

[axis_roll]

Looks like SJ and Pitts are starting to hit their groove(s)…

That would be a pretty good Finals Series

[LHoffman]

@axis_roll:

Looks like SJ and Pitts are starting to hit their groove(s)…

That would be a pretty good Finals Series

I definitely agree. Besides San Jose going I don’t really care too much who from the East makes it. In Pool terms, it would be better for me if it is Tampa. However, I would rather see Pittsburgh go on a personal level. I just have really come to dislike Tampa Bay. More so than Pittsburgh.

[Young Grasshopper]

@LHoffman:

@axis_roll:

Looks like SJ and Pitts are starting to hit their groove(s)…

That would be a pretty good Finals Series

I definitely agree. Besides San Jose going I don’t really care too much who from the East makes it. In Pool terms, it would be better for me if it is Tampa. However, I would rather see Pittsburgh go on a personal level. I just have really come to dislike Tampa Bay. More so than Pittsburgh.

At this point, the Blues would be my choice to win it all as I think their history in the League deserves it, and it would be good for the hockey culture in St. Louis. However, that would be a tall order to get past SJ and than maybe to face Pitt.

[LHoffman]

@Young:

At this point, the Blues would be my choice to win it all as I think their history in the League deserves it, and it would be good for the hockey culture in St. Louis. However, that would be a tall order to get past SJ and than maybe to face Pitt.

I actually really like St. Louis and think it would be great, as you said, considering their history and for their fans if they finally won.

However, I also like the Sharks a lot. They haven’t been around as long as a franchise, but there are a number of different compelling reasons that people would like to see them win. Thornton and Marleau having never one a cup and being in the later stages of their careers. And the fact that this team has been so hyped in the past, but always failed to deliver. It would be a feel good story for sure.

If the West Champ goes on to win the Cup, whoever that is, I will be happy.