Ryan Wilson: Are the Penguins getting screwed? That's a hard NO Are the Penguins getting screwed? That's a hard NO

Too jinxy of a feel on this one RW....man...

Im starting to get playoffs tummy reading all this stuff guys...I'm getting stoked now. I cant believe they'll play the f'n Habs in the 1st round...so many friends and family are serious Habs fans....fvck, this isnt gonna be pretty for me.

I blame the refs.

From last blog:

Nice to have a reason to get back on here!

Anyways, if you want to get down to brass tacks about the format itself, I don’t think it’s the best overall. I think the play in round should of been for the wild card spots, so the four teams currently occupying the wild card spots and the next four in. Then it’s business as usual. I don’t like the fact that we’re not in a wild card spot and still have to play a play in. But the league decided to prioritize inclusivity to account for the jockeying that happens down the stretch, so this is what it is. Although if we must have a 24 team playoff I would have preferred the NBA format of conference seeding with 1 playing 12 and so on.

But all that is just semantics. We’re (probably) getting hockey back, and that’s all that matters!

In response to this blog: Yeah I'd definitely much rather play the Habs than any team that would have made the normal playoffs. If Price steals it, he steals it, but any goalie can get hot and do that in any short sample size. With the fire power we have I'd rather play a team who's biggest strength is their goalie than a complete team that's deep up and down. Like I said in the last blog, what I dislike is that there are bye's in this format and that some teams that aren't in wild card spots aren't getting said byes.

From last blog:



In response to this blog: Yeah I'd definitely much rather play the Habs than any team that would have made the normal playoffs. If Price steals it, he steals it, but any goalie can get hot and do that in any short sample size. With the fire power we have I'd rather play a team who's biggest strength is their goalie than a complete team that's deep up and down. Like I said in the last blog, what I dislike is that there are bye's in this format and that some teams that aren't in wild card spots aren't getting said byes.
- Victoro311

But is the bye a good thing? These players probably have some rust and it almost feels like playing in the first round is more of a benefit for a chance to get back into the swing of things and get your legs, timing, etc. I know I wouldn’t want the bye.

Weird... page stops loading after the JR comment... can't scroll or view past that.

But is the bye a good thing? These players probably have some rust and it almost feels like playing in the first round is more of a benefit for a chance to get back into the swing of things and get your legs, timing, etc. I know I wouldn’t want the bye.
- rbaurle51

You realize that the teams on a "bye" will be playing the same 3 games, but against better (statistically) teams, right? In fact, if a team wins the first 2 games, they'll play fewer games than the "bye" teams will. Whatever teams comes out of the play-in round will probably be much more rested than the "bye" teams.

Personally, I'd rather playoff the series than getting a bye. Going a few weeks without a game wouldnt be easy, especially when going against a team who just won a series and has already played a few games.

The Penguins arent getting screwed, we are lucky. The Crosby/Malkin era is closing down and we need every shot we can get at winning another Cup. I'd much rather see a dysfunctional playoff than no playoff.

My hope is that when we get down to 16 teams, it is a normal playoff, 4 best of 7 series. The closer they can keep it resembling the normal playoffs, the better. Personally, i would've liked a more olympic-style Round Robin before taking the top 8 in each conference, but it could've been worse.

Meanwhile, Price gets blazing hot and pitches three shutouts in a row to start the playoffs.

Personally, I'd rather playoff the series than getting a bye. Going a few weeks without a game wouldnt be easy, especially when going against a team who just won a series and has already played a few games.

The Penguins arent getting screwed, we are lucky. The Crosby/Malkin era is closing down and we need every shot we can get at winning another Cup. I'd much rather see a dysfunctional playoff than no playoff.

My hope is that when we get down to 16 teams, it is a normal playoff, 4 best of 7 series. The closer they can keep it resembling the normal playoffs, the better. Personally, i would've liked a more olympic-style Round Robin before taking the top 8 in each conference, but it could've been worse.
- SuperHenderson13

The teams getting a "bye" will be playing 3 games against the other top-4 teams while the play-in round is happening.

Meanwhile, Price gets blazing hot and pitches three shutouts in a row to start the playoffs.
- GalacticStone

Who's he playing against in the third game?

You realize that the teams on a "bye" will be playing the same 3 games, but against better (statistically) teams, right? In fact, if a team wins the first 2 games, they'll play fewer games than the "bye" teams will. Whatever teams comes out of the play-in round will probably be much more rested than the "bye" teams.
- jmatchett383

Counter point: These teams are basically playing exhibition games that they get to use as tune ups. I guess it all comes down to how intense these bye series are, but my guess is that they won't be typical playoff hockey.

Counter point: These teams are basically playing exhibition games that they get to use as tune ups. I guess it all comes down to how intense these bye series are, but my guess is that they won't be typical playoff hockey.
- Victoro311

Yes, I'm sure that all teams will be healthy scratching their best players and just pass the puck back and forth to each other during every "exhibition" game. I mean, no way a game between Philly and Washington would ever be played with any sort of intensity if all that's at stake is an easier path to a Stanley Cup.

Also, if one play-in team wins the first 2 games, they'll actually play fewer games than the "bye" teams will (best-of-3, right?).

If you want to think Pens are getting "screwed" fine, but just remember this:
Had the Pens not fell off a cliff late in the season they would be one of the top 4 playing the Bye Round Robin instead of worrying about Carey Price.
End of the day, the Pens did this to themselves by playing soo poorly in the last 13 games so they have no one to thank but themselves. So I cant say they got screwed because its their own fault they are here and not where Philly is.

Yes, I'm sure that all teams will be healthy scratching their best players and just pass the puck back and forth to each other during every "exhibition" game. I mean, no way a game between Philly and Washington would ever be played with any sort of intensity if all that's at stake is an easier path to a Stanley Cup.

Also, if one play-in team wins the first 2 games, they'll actually play fewer games than the "bye" teams will (best-of-3, right?).
- jmatchett383

Man for a guy that gets on people for misconstruing what they say, you really just took my point, reductio ad absurdumed it and built a big old straw man, didn’t you?

Man for a guy that gets on people for misconstruing what they say, you really just took my point, reductio ad absurdumed it and built a big old straw man, didn’t you?
- Victoro311

I just thought it was a bit absurd to refer to games used for playoff seeding as "exhibition games." Would you say the same if it was the Pens and Flyers or Pens and Capitals, teams that would try to kill each other over a game of Checkers or Parcheesi if they played?

Hahahah I missed all you idiots...the good posts, the sh!t posts and all the bickering in between...

Just need to see Feds ripping someone apart now to really feel like we're back...

Yes, I'm sure that all teams will be healthy scratching their best players and just pass the puck back and forth to each other during every "exhibition" game. I mean, no way a game between Philly and Washington would ever be played with any sort of intensity if all that's at stake is an easier path to a Stanley Cup.

Also, if one play-in team wins the first 2 games, they'll actually play fewer games than the "bye" teams will (best-of-3, right?).
- jmatchett383

Isn't it best of 5?

Hahahah I missed all you idiots...the good posts, the sh!t posts and all the bickering in between...

Just need to see Feds ripping someone apart now to really feel like we're back...
- MattStrat

Same. I smiled seeing you already complaining about a jinx blog.

I just thought it was a bit absurd to refer to games used for playoff seeding as "exhibition games." Would you say the same if it was the Pens and Flyers or Pens and Capitals, teams that would try to kill each other over a game of Checkers or Parcheesi if they played?
- jmatchett383

Pretty big leap from me saying it won’t be playoff intensity since elimination isn’t at stake to scratching star players and playing no contact hockey, don’t you think? I could very well be wrong but I think there’s enough logic in my assumption that I’m comfortable with the prediction.

Hahahah I missed all you idiots...the good posts, the sh!t posts and all the bickering in between...

Just need to see Feds ripping someone apart now to really feel like we're back...
- MattStrat

We need sammy to come tell us what a great year MAF is having.

Hahahah I missed all you idiots...the good posts, the sh!t posts and all the bickering in between...

Just need to see Feds ripping someone apart now to really feel like we're back...
- MattStrat

Ha! How’s it going dawg?

Pretty big leap from me saying it won’t be playoff intensity since elimination isn’t at stake to scratching star players and playing no contact hockey, don’t you think? I could very well be wrong but I think there’s enough logic in my assumption that I’m comfortable with the prediction.
- Victoro311

Of course they won't treat them as throw away games; it was intentional hyperbole not meant to be taken literally.

I get what you mean, obviously. I just don't think you'll see teams letting up on each other, especially the division rivals. Like I said, it if was Philly and Pittsburgh, you think they'd take it easy on each other? I don't.

Edit: It won't be Game 7 desperation level, but it won't be players letting up, either. Better?

Montreal is a great town with ton of history and a rich heritage of hockey. I am happy about the matchup and for the life of me can't imagine why anyone is upset. I mean, didn't we all miss hockey? Aren't we damn luckey to see a great sport coming back? Well, I am.

Of course they won't treat them as throw away games; it was intentional hyperbole not meant to be taken literally.

I get what you mean, obviously. I just don't think you'll see teams letting up on each other, especially the division rivals. Like I said, it if was Philly and Pittsburgh, you think they'd take it easy on each other? I don't.

Edit: It won't be Game 7 desperation level, but it won't be players letting up, either. Better?
- jmatchett383

I could actually totally this version of the Flyers and Pitt going through the motions of a five game series with nothing a stake. A few years ago? Probably not.