Michael Stuart: Thumbs Up, Thumbs Down: Lightning Stun Stars in Stanley Cup Final Rematch

I know Dallas is missing several key players, but they just looked off last night. Like somebody slipped roofies into their Gatorade bottles. Yes, the Bolts were on their game, but the Stars just seemed lost at times. Their power play was impotent.

Man, Palat is playing the best hockey of his career. He looks faster and sharper than ever before. Palat has flown under the radar for a long time, but he'll start getting the recognition he deserves if he keeps this up.

And how about Sergachev? Wow. That guy is really coming into his prime and his confidence is off the charts. He looks like a foward out there at times, and yet he makes very few mistakes. Drouin who?

I know Dallas is missing several key players, but they just looked off last night. Like somebody slipped roofies into their Gatorade bottles. Yes, the Bolts were on their game, but the Stars just seemed lost at times. Their power play was impotent.

Man, Palat is playing the best hockey of his career. He looks faster and sharper than ever before. Palat has flown under the radar for a long time, but he'll start getting the recognition he deserves if he keeps this up.

And how about Sergachev? Wow. That guy is really coming into his prime and his confidence is off the charts. He looks like a foward out there at times, and yet he makes very few mistakes. Drouin who?
- GalacticStone

Yeah, what a trade that turned out to be, hey? Makes not taking Seth Jones worth it.

Michael, Vasy is the best goalie and their is a gap to the next one. It's his consistency since the beginning of 2020 and his ability for situational saves that set him apart. His play with the puck has been good this year as well.

Hedman-Sergachev has been a cheat code for the Bolts these past few games but can they sustain a playoff run with a bottom pair of Rutta-Schenn/Foote? Good thing is the top 4 D can play 100 to110 of the 120 minutes if needed I guess.

The Lightning are so solid even without Kucherov. I still can't believe the Stars made the Kung Flu finals last year. They just aren't that good, Last season or now.

Yeah, what a trade that turned out to be, hey? Makes not taking Seth Jones worth it.
- Michael_Stuart

I’d rather Seth

The Lightning are so solid even without Kucherov. I still can't believe the Stars made the Kung Flu finals last year. They just aren't that good, Last season or now.
- Shady1962

Everything came together for the Stars to make a deep run. The Lightning had to crash and burn in 2015 to finally get on track to winning it all. If I was a Dallas fan, I'd be unhappy about how that run ended, but I would be happy about almost everything else. And the Stars did it without Bishop - being biased for Bishop, I thought he was the key to Dallas making a deep run. I was wrong.

I’d rather Seth
- Justbecause

Most people probably would. But, the gap is slowing closing. Serg will never be as solid as Jones overall, but they play different games. If I was a coach and could only pick one of them, I would go with Jones for now. But, it wouldn't be an easy decision like it would have been a season or two ago. And if Serg keeps up his progression (has he peaked yet?), he will be a true force in another season or two.

I was unsure about the Drouin trade at first. I had visions of Drouin feeding Stamkos on the top line. (DRAMKOS!)..... but alas, it never happened. I'll gladly take what we have now. We might have missed out on Seth Jones, but Sergachev is a heck of a consolation prize. We should send a thank you card and fruit basket to Bergevin for that one. LOL.

Most people probably would. But, the gap is slowing closing. Serg will never be as solid as Jones overall, but they play different games. If I was a coach and could only pick one of them, I would go with Jones for now. But, it wouldn't be an easy decision like it would have been a season or two ago. And if Serg keeps up his progression (has he peaked yet?), he will be a true force in another season or two.

I was unsure about the Drouin trade at first. I had visions of Drouin feeding Stamkos on the top line. (DRAMKOS!)..... but alas, it never happened. I'll gladly take what we have now. We might have missed out on Seth Jones, but Sergachev is a heck of a consolation prize. We should send a thank you card and fruit basket to Bergevin for that one. LOL.
- GalacticStone

Yes much better Serg than Drouin. But Jones is just a perfect defensive player puts up goals and takes the body! Rarely makes a mistake since he entered the league. That draft I was jumping up and down that he was falling to Tampa...then Stevie “no trade clause” Yzerman said NO!

Michael, Vasy is the best goalie and their is a gap to the next one. It's his consistency since the beginning of 2020 and his ability for situational saves that set him apart. His play with the puck has been good this year as well.

Hedman-Sergachev has been a cheat code for the Bolts these past few games but can they sustain a playoff run with a bottom pair of Rutta-Schenn/Foote? Good thing is the top 4 D can play 100 to110 of the 120 minutes if needed I guess.
- stammerman

Hedman - Sergachev is a dangerous combo. But it seems the team needs Hedman to haul around a plug or pylon at all times. Whether it's Girardi, Dotchin, Rutta, or whatever warm body is the flavor of the month for the d-corps. Poor Hedman. He's so good, that he guarantees himself a crappy partner.

If we put Sergachev with Hedman fulltime, then where would we slot Rutta in? Chain him to McDonagh - hasn't that guy suffered enough in NY with Girardi shackled to him? Cernak is good, but not good enough to carry a bunch of dead weight on his pairing. There is a Shattenkirk shaped hole on that right side, and Schenn/Rutta/Foote are not able to fill it at this time.

Yes much better Serg than Drouin. But Jones is just a perfect defensive player puts up goals and takes the body! Rarely makes a mistake since he entered the league. That draft I was jumping up and down that he was falling to Tampa...then Stevie “no trade clause” Yzerman said NO!
- Justbecause

Drouin seemed like a spoiled brat. He had (has?) so much promise, but something is lacking. Work ethic or something. Not sure what. As time goes on, he is looking more and more like a bust. Not that he's entirely terrible, but you hope to get more out of a 3rd overall pick. Stevie Y. always took the player with the most "skill" in the draft. He misjudged on Seth Jones. Imagine having Seth Jones playing alongside Hedman.

Drouin seemed like a spoiled brat. He had (has?) so much promise, but something is lacking. Work ethic or something. Not sure what. As time goes on, he is looking more and more like a bust. Not that he's entirely terrible, but you hope to get more out of a 3rd overall pick. Stevie Y. always took the player with the most "skill" in the draft. He misjudged on Seth Jones. Imagine having Seth Jones playing alongside Hedman.
- GalacticStone

Jones and Heddy that’s what I’m talking about!

Actually I watch games from all around league. Drouin is more responsible defensively and new coach he knows from Junior he is playing really well. No bust was overrated. He was a product of Mackinnon and then the year Mackinnon was in nhl and Drouin raked it he was a product of the Q...was a good first round 2013...

The Lightning are so solid even without Kucherov. I still can't believe the Stars made the Kung Flu finals last year. They just aren't that good, Last season or now.
- Shady1962

Last playoff showed how irrelevant the election infection tournament was in gauging where teams are. I mean, TBL was a viable winner so there's no argument there, but Vancouver's antics, Dallas making the Final, MTL beating the Pens etc etc... Lots of teams aren't what we thought they might be after last years' bubble.

Last playoff showed how irrelevant the election infection tournament was in gauging where teams are. I mean, TBL was a viable winner so there's no argument there, but Vancouver's antics, Dallas making the Final, MTL beating the Pens etc etc... Lots of teams aren't what we thought they might be after last years' bubble.
- DeuceNine

Pens overrated deserved to be beaten. Canucks had goaltending, Dallas had a ton of injuries. Colorado had injuries and no goalie, even if they are healthy.
We have Vasy so easy peasy.