The Finals are slated to start June 3rd, so assuming the league wants to allow enough time for potential seven-game series without back-to-backs and at least a day between a conference final game 7 and game 1 of the Finals, they'll need to get the later of the conference finals (presumably the Western) started by Saturday. With that in mind, I wouldn't be shocked if our series starts with Friday and Sunday games this week.
Well that would be awesome, because I’m out of town Tuesday-Friday, so I’d get at least 1 game.
Last year the conference finals started the day after the 2d round ended. Then there was like a month and a half break before the final. If past is prologue then the ECF won’t wait til Friday most likely. Tuesday would be too soon. So realistically it’s Wednesday or Thursday.
No. It’s not in Brind’Amour’s DNA.
The question to me is if he can sustain it or if he reverts to his regular season form from the last 3 years. He didn’t win 2 Vezinas by accident but the most recent was 6 years ago.
That's been everyone's question but people forget he sat behind Lyon for the last 5-6 weeks of the season. He is rested and doesn't want to sit again.
Bob sat for a little less than a month, his last regular season game was March 27, he relieved Lyon on April 21 and started every game after.
Nope.
Bob was sitting already half the time before Lyon took it.
I don't point to regular season success. Means nothing in the playoffs as the game literally changes, especially officiating.
I mean, yeah ... but with goaltenders it's pretty doggone rare to see somebody who has scuffled as comprehensively as Bob has over the last four years suddenly find his game in the playoffs. Especially one without a history of doing so. Bob had one decent playoff showing in his whole freaking career before now. It's not like he's Carey Price or somebody with a pretty good track record of doing this. What he's doing is legit surprising, trending towards shocking.
Definitely. And the day before the first game one of the Canes will say something completely disrespectful about the Panthers. I’m sure the social media team is drafting something as we speak. Then it will leak out the Canes cancelled their video coaching session in favor of a discussion about whether to touch the Prince of Wales Trophy.
Carolina doesn't have the guns to take anybody lightly. Also, their games with the Panthers over the last two years have been absolute dogfights. They know this is no picnic.
OTOH, Andersen’s playoff history is pretty solid. Except for his first year in the playoffs with Anaheim and one of the three years in TO his numbers are very good. The question with is more of durability.
Yeah, and one thing in Carolina's side of the ledger is that the Canes have zero reason to be concerned if they have to go to the backup now that Raanta's healthy again. Lyon is a quality No. 3, but nothing more. We know that from first hand experience.
