2021 STANLEY CUP FINALS! HABS/BOLTS | MONDAY JUNE 28 | 8pm

[lecoqsportif]

KK's been very solid defensively too.

He’s getting more consistent, but I still have some doubts. Would love to be proven wrong.

 

[Krustchev]

I just don't see us winning there without playing a perfect defensive game. And cooper isn't an idiot like Keefe he'll take advantage of the last change. When we're chasing the puck, Cole isn't an asset. I expect we'll do quite a bit of that.

Anyway . . .

 

[Krustchev]

I don’t fully trust Kotkaniemi. He’ll start the series, for sure. But Evans could take that spot...

No, he won’t. We need KK’s size against Tampa’s huge D.

 

[lecoqsportif]

That’s a good point.

 

[Sal_Butera]

Why is there such a defeatist mindset amongst the fanbase? Glad the actual players on the team look to be on a mission

 

[CH1]

Here’s my take on the matchup ahead. Looking at the rosters and having watched a lot of Tampa games this playoff, this is what I see:

Tampa has better forwards; more star power and depth

Tampa’s top 4 D is better than ours; more talent while being just as playoff/physical as ours

Habs PK has been perfect but Tampa’s is fine (2nd after the Habs) and their power play is record settting. So, I give the specialty team nod to Tampa

One position left: Goaltending. Price has been great. But so has Vasilevski. No real edge there.

So when I crunch the numbers and weigh the odds, I have only one prediction: Habs in six.

 

[Habspatrol]

The math checks out.

 

[Krustchev]

That’s a good point.

Why is there such a defeatist mindset amongst the fanbase? Glad the actual players on the team look to be on a mission

The team that wants it more is the one that will win this series. The Islanders, without Anders Lee, and with a good but not great goalie, took them to seven games.

 

[CH1]

The Islanders wanted it more — the Bolts won last year and slightly less hungry for it.

 

[Sal_Butera]

The Islanders wanted it more — the Bolts won last year and slightly less hungry for it.

Yeah but TBay players also know there will be wholesale changes next season - Johnson likely gets shipped out to his hometown Kraken, Coleman, Goodrow and Savard are all UFA and unlikely to be back. Kilorn who was almost dealt to Preds prior to Kucherov’s surgery needs will likely be shipped out like TJ for cap reasons.

 

[Sal_Butera]

 

[LenPa]

Not sure but if I see the preview image I get scared.

 

[Sal_Butera]

 

[Fred the Man]

 

[Sal_Butera]

Evans back in I guess

 

[Habspatrol]

Ugh! Armia is not the guy you want to lose.

Nice to have Evans to slot in.

 

[Sal_Butera]

 

[Rolex]

Crazy how only Canadian teams are on COVID protocol and US teams are fully open and nothing ever happens…do they even test US teams (just kidding, of course they do, i think)

Besides, Armia already caught Covid….

 

[wiseguy1]

Why is there such a defeatist mindset amongst the fanbase? Glad the actual players on the team look to be on a mission

This is the first time I 100% believe we have no business winning this series. Other series I thought we were not winning, but wasn't overly convinced. Our D showed signs of fatigue near the end of the Vegas series, I think they are on the brink of collapse. Richardson has to be creative to keep them fresh. No offense whatsoever from Petry is concerning.

A good handful of breaks have to happen to win this. Their goalie is mediocre, injuries to key players etc...

 

[wiseguy1]

Jesus, that means he caught it twice, this time the variant. Dude is not careful at all?