The Official 2023-24 Season Talk Thread

[DrJones]

My predictions for tomorrow:

1. Caps/Flyers are tied late in regulation
2. Torts does what Minnesota should've done previously: pull the goalie in a tied game before OT
3. Caps make the playoffs by scoring the game winner into the empty net
4. Pens and Wings fans are hella mad

[slickdtc]

Wild, I don’t know how or why the Flyers will make the playoffs if we all (PHI, WSH, PIT, DET) end up with 89 points but I’ll take it!

Todays my birthday, let me have this!!!

[Majingir]

I'm all for seeing the craziest clinch scenario ever. Clinching a playoff spot on a game winning empty net goal!?

https://twitter.com/FriedgeHNIC/stat...wKNed1TWw&s=19

This would be another reason why game 82 needs to be all at the same time. Knowing this much in advance what will or won't clinch you a spot because some teams have or haven't played yet, imagine losing out on a playoff spot because the team you're in a playoff race with won on an empty netter because their opponent can't have the game going to OT.

[DrJones]

Quote: Originally Posted by Majingir

I'm all for seeing the craziest clinch scenario ever. Clinching a playoff spot on a game winning empty net goal!? https://twitter.com/FriedgeHNIC/stat...wKNed1TWw&s=19 This would be another reason why game 82 needs to be all at the same time. Knowing this much in advance what will or won't clinch you a spot because some teams have or haven't played yet, imagine losing out on a playoff spot because the team you're in a playoff race with won on an empty netter because their opponent can't have the game going to OT.

I want it on the record that I posted about this scenario 8 hours before Friedman did.

[DrJones]

Quote: Originally Posted by slickdtc

Wild, I don’t know how or why the Flyers will make the playoffs if we all (PHI, WSH, PIT, DET) end up with 89 points but I’ll take it! Todays my birthday, let me have this!!!

FYI Pittsburgh's final game is tomorrow, so your birthday could still be ruined after the fact.

[slickdtc]

Well that’s much less exciting. Lol

My gut tells me PIT pulls it out with some help by Philly tonight. I wasn’t even thinking about those guys for most of this playoff chase. I wouldn’t mind a little run for either Crosby or Ovechkin. Blasphemy coming from a Philly fan, but greatness is greatness.

[DrJones]

Quote: Originally Posted by Majingir

Speaking of which, how did Lemeiux get over 80 goals and over 100 assists that season and NOT win MVP!? Even Gretzky wasn't as good that year.

Quote: Originally Posted by DrJones

Mario got robbed - it was clear then as it is now. There was an extremely bogus "Gretzky has revitalized the NHL in LA (and the USA!), therefore he's the real MVP" media narrative. Much easier to peddle BS like that in 1989 than 2024 - no social media firestorms to worry about.

The Athletic covers it here. I'd forgotten that neither Mario nor Gretzky won the Pearson that year - it went to Yzerman!

https://theathletic.com/5408343/2024...biggest-snubs/

BTW, one of my hottest NHL takes is that Jose Theodore was deserving of the Hart Trophy in 2002. My roommate at the time was a huge Habs fan, and I probably watched a full 60+ of Montreal's games that year on RDS (French-language TSN). Strictly based on the eye test, it was the best single season of goaltending I've ever seen. The Canadiens defence was absolutely putrid, and Theodore Halak'd opponents with regularity. I understand why him winning the Hart was so weird at the time and looks bad in retrospect (and yes, Iginla likely would've won without shenanigans from Quebecois Hart voters), but man, Theodore was amazing (and I'm neutral at best towards the Habs). Through some deal with the devil, he briefly channelled Peak Hasek in front of a team even worse defensively than Buffalo.

[slickdtc]

Quote: Originally Posted by Majingir

NHL needs to take a page (and then some) out of NBA and MLBs playbook with the schedule. Buffalo, NJ are done their season today. Meanwhile many teams still have 2 more games to go. Luckily those ones don't impact standings, but in the NHL more than other sports you know over coaching could change the way games are played when you know ahead of time how many points you need to make the playoffs because others already finished their year. If all you need is 1 point, you will start playing extra defensive and would be fine with the game going to OT because you get your point there.

Would be super cool if that National broadcast (espn) of TOR/FLA tonight could get flexed out for one of these other games.