The Final

The Napkin

wise ass al kaprielian
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Jul 13, 2002
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right here
2 teams separated by a whole lotta miles...

Florida Panthers (1A) vs. Edmonton Oilers (2P)
Complete Panthers - Oilers coverage

Game 1 -- Oilers at Panthers: Saturday, June 8, 8 p.m. | TV: ABC
Game 2 -- Oilers at Panthers: Monday, June 10, 8 p.m. | TV: ABC
Game 3 -- Panthers at Oilers: Thursday, June 13, 8 p.m. | TV: ABC
Game 4 -- Panthers at Oilers Saturday, June 15, 8 p.m. | TV: ABC
Game 5* -- Oilers at Panthers: Tuesday, June 18, 8 p.m. | TV: ABC
Game 6* -- Panthers at Oilers: Friday, June 21, 8 p.m. | TV: ABC
Game 7* -- Oilers at Panthers: Monday, June 24, 8 p.m. | TV: ABC
 

NYCSox

chris hansen of goats
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The first four picks of the 2014 draft are playing in this series (Ekblad, Reinhart, Draisaitl and Bennett). That draft also had a decent pick at 25. :)
 

RG33

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I really dislike the Panthers (although I will LOVE Reinhart on the Bruins!) but feel like this team is going to easily handle the Oilers. They obviously got the experience last year, have been playing Maurice’s system really well, and just seem like a team of destiny to me.
 

cshea

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Nov 15, 2006
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I think the Panthers are the better team.

Edmonton basically treads water at 5x5 and goes nuclear on the power play. If Florida stays out of the box that will neutralize Edmondon's biggest advantage. Edmonton can score at any strength but they give up a lot at 5x5. In the playoffs, they have scored 39 goals at 5x5 and allowed 38. The 39 for is good, the 38 against is bad. They are going to need Skinner to up his game, IMO. Florida has been excellent at shot supression and has almost a 58% shot share throughout the playoffs. If Edmonton's going to hang they're going to need to get more saves.
 

NYCSox

chris hansen of goats
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I don't have much faith in the refs calling a lot of penalties but that's what the Oilers need. Yeah the Panthers may score on the PP as well but more chances still work in their favor.
 

tonyandpals

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This matchup spoiled my son's near perfect bracket. Was 2nd out of 500k heading into the conference finals. Didn't bother to look now that he lost on NYR and DAL.

That aside, Oilers in 6 (please).
 

jmanny24

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Feb 6, 2003
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Gonna need guys like Kane and Perry to play with an edge in this series. Also worth noting that Edmonton knows how to deal with the shenanigans of Tkachuk and Bennett from their time in Calgary and I think Kane and Perry in particular will help mitigate that.
 

Boston Brawler

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Really pulling for Edmonton, but sadly I think Florida in 6. Edmonton won’t get the calls needed to go on the PP and win.
 

sfmainer

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Oct 8, 2005
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If one believes in such things, The League will want their best player on display for as long as possible. Maybe Florida's tactics of "you can't possibly call ALL the penalties we commit" will finally backfire? A boy can dream... If Bennett or Brady's Brother run one of the stars, I'll bet it doesn't get ignored by Toronto. Either way, I predict Connor and his mates will get a (comparatively to the Bruins anyway) very favorable whistle. Whether that makes up for the overall talent disparity is probably debatable.

When Oilers win in 6, it will be because Mr. Nurse is in the Conn Smythe discussion but loses it to Skinner because the horseshoe currently lodged inside him doesn't fall out.

(Apropos of nothing, the fact that Florida has Bruins fans rooting for The Oil, is really quite something.)
 

DennyDoyle'sBoil

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A friend had a $50 free bet to put on NHL champion at the start of the year and he doesn't know shit about hockey. I told him to go with the Oilers if he wants the bigger pay out and the Avs if he wants something closer to a favorite. He took the Oilers and so I have a nice dinner riding on the series.

I've been picking the Oilers since this started. They are up and down and hard to figure out, but I think they have figure out how to win. I think the 31 year drought for Canadian teams ends this month.
 

durandal1707

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Apr 18, 2007
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Skinner is far and away the worst starting goalie that the Panthers will face in these playoffs. Goals saved above expected per 60 numbers so far:

Swayman +1.144
Shesterkin +0.786
Vasilevskiy +0.262
Skinner +0.137

If the Cats keep getting the curious benefit of postseason officiating despite leading the league in PIM during the regular season (2nd the year prior), I think it's going to be a short series.
 

NYCSox

chris hansen of goats
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Gonna need guys like Kane and Perry to play with an edge in this series. Also worth noting that Edmonton knows how to deal with the shenanigans of Tkachuk and Bennett from their time in Calgary and I think Kane and Perry in particular will help mitigate that.
I'm not sure what prepares you for having your defenseman cross-checked into your goalie with no penalty and then have the goal count. :mad:

On another note, do you think Carrick gets some run now because of the numerous dickheads on Florida. Same question re: Desharnais though I can see the tradeoff of using Broberg to beat the forecheck given his puck moving skills.
 

jmanny24

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I'm not sure what prepares you for having your defenseman cross-checked into your goalie with no penalty and then have the goal count. :mad:

On another note, do you think Carrick gets some run now because of the numerous dickheads on Florida. Same question re: Desharnais though I can see the tradeoff of using Broberg to beat the forecheck given his puck moving skills.
Yeah my guess is you see Carrick and Ryan split time. Broberg is an absolute yes, they'll need his skating and ability to move the puck.
 

LogansDad

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Do they always line the players up for the Finals by the amount of time they have been playing? That's a pretty solid touch.
 

OfTheCarmen

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Jul 18, 2007
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Should have been a slash on that breakaway. Stick up into hands, but we don't call that on FL in the playoffs.
 

jmanny24

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Even down 1-0, that's a good road period and they'll solve "Bobby" and his extraordinarily large pads. Tkachuk needs to be planted badly.
 

LogansDad

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Oilers are going to score zero goals in this series if they can't start getting the puck up high. Bob is unbeatable low.
 

LogansDad

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-15 is an impressive season without being sent to the minors.

-15 in the playoffs is kind of hilarious.

I know it's an outdated stat at this point, but still....
 

Salem's Lot

Andy Moog! Andy God Damn Moog!
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Jul 15, 2005
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So...Ullmark and Jake to the Oilers for whoever we want except McDavid?
Ullmark’s no move says “hell no, you ever been to Edmonton in January?”

NHL no move clauses might as well be called “you’re not sending me to Alberta” clauses.