Re: The NHL Thread
 

The Lightning power play is an absolute mess right now.

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Playoffs have been...underwhelming.

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It’s about damn time!

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Generally curious. What would have made them more whelming for you?

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Probably his awful team being in them.

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Much better result. 3 more of that please.

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I don't know. For like 20 years I've watched every single playoff series I could even though I only watch my team during the year and I am just not feeling it. Maybe it's no crowd or the season shift. Just not feeling it.

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Through the first two games the team that won expected goals has lost the game...

http://moneypuck.com/g.htm?id=2019030411

http://moneypuck.com/g.htm?id=2019030412

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The officiating gets worse every year. I feel like that's the case for every major sport. Instead of the competition being the focal point, it's always missed calls and what not.

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I'm sorry you feel that way. I'm loving it this year. Even the absolute dick way the Stars play is still kind of fun to hate.

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As stated earlier in this thread, my issue is the teams that are in the finals. No disrespect to their fan bases, because their fans are fine, but I just cannot get into Dallas vs Tamp Bay for the cup. I have tried to watch some of the first 2 games, but my attention is lost after like 2 minutes and I switch to something else.

The hockey has been great, but like, it’s Tampa Bay and Dallas. I just don’t care. I don’t associate them with hockey and traditional hockey markets so I cannot find that extra once of caring that I usually can when teams like Toronto, Boston, Pittsburgh, New York are in it.

To me this is a worst case scenario. To clarify, if either one of these teams were playing are more traditional hockey market I would probably be much more interested. Dallas vs Detroit or Boston would be fine, or Tampa vs Colorado or Edmonton would still work for me. It’s just Dallas vs Tampa Bay doesn’t get me there.

Anyway, some exciting stuff this week with buyouts coming!

Re: The NHL Thread
 

I understand where you are coming from, especially being a fan of a big-market team. I guess for me it's just not about "markets", it's about the play I'm seeing on the ice. Dallas is chippy as hell, borderline dirty but with some excellent skill players. Tampa is more skill-oriented, but can answer the physical bell too. Both teams have great goalies. Regardless of the crest on the sweater or the city they're traveling from, that's good hockey to me.

Carolina? Small market team, great brand of hockey. Detroit? Big-market team, boring-ass hockey. And I'll even concede it goes the other way. Boston? Great hockey. Winnipeg (yes they are in Canada but still small market IMO)? Kill me now.

I guess it comes down to preference and all of us enjoying what we enjoy. I wouldn't try to change that about any of you.

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I'll get over it.

Even though I watch zero NBA at all I always watch the conference finals and final but this year I haven't watched any either.

I don't really care much for Dallas but I am interested in how Tampa does. Gonna suck when Tampa wins the Cup and the SB this year.:)

Re: The NHL Thread
 

Stamkos back in the lineup for the first time since February. Not sure they should be throwing him cold into Game 3 of the SCF.

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Well Stamkos just scored so I guess it’s working out well so far. :lol

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seems like it worked!

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haven’t posted in here in quite some time, i’ll just say, tampa is small market, but the city absolutely loves their hockey, and the fan base is great. they’ve sold out amalie for 231 consecutive games, and have been among the most consistent franchises of the past decade.

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Sold out is a very loose term there. I've been to several games that had plenty of empty seats. Maybe the tickets were all "sold," but they weren't full. Great atmosphere and a LOUD arena, though.

Having said that, the Lightning are very popular around here, mainly because people don't give a shit about the Rays and the Bucs are awful.

Re: The NHL Thread
 

fair, but if it was that easy to sell all the tickets, every team would have a streak like that.

but yeah, the games are fun and the area around the arena is a nice set up. nashville has probably benefited similarly with the titans being pedestrian as hell for the longest time.

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Stamkos not on the bench to start the 2nd, but now it's 3-1!

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Amalie is a great arena and they've done a lot to revitalize the areas around it over the last several years. We've also seen a bunch of concerts there, as well, always a good time. :thumbsup

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Really hoping the Lightning close this out in five so I can celebrate Saturday night without having to worry about the alarm going off. :bounce

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absolutely

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Even when the Rays are good I still don't care because baseball is boring as hell.

The Bucs were awful ;)

GO BOLTS! 2 MORE!!!

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I'm thinking they did it so that if they win he can get his name on the Cup (must have played either half the season with the team or appeared in at least one Finals game).

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CORRECTION: Stamkos played 57 regular season games, so he would get his name on the Cup anyways.

In any case, I wonder if it was more of a symbolic gesture for both him individually and for the whole team to have their captain back and contributing, even if for a moment.

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I think I read that 35% of hockey results is luck.

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Sports, baby.

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Stamkos is done for the series. At least he picked up a goal in his less than 3 minutes of ice time! :lol

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If TB finally wins, Stamkos can say he contributed, from a player perspective that's huge.