05/26/2021 Puck Talk

Morning Gentlemen and Jules 

Canes are in a battle. Thursday's game in Smashville should be entertaining. Leafs are not in a battle, but wait till they face a healthy Thrasher team. We have seen some good young goaltending in recent nights, hats off to the youngsters, Knight, Sorokin, Ned and the elder statesman of the group,  Soros. 

Should be a great night. 3 games with every team facing elimination. 2 of the 3 facing elimination on the road. 

Pens/Isles: EARLY START  Really don't want to talk about it. Pens 3 losses have been to Sorokin and take a guess who will be in net. Isles have score 3 or more in 4 of the 5 games played so far (because Jarry is not very good, thanks Jim). Sorokin beat the Pens the other night, can he stop 50 shots again tonight? Due to my homerism, YES, I will be taking the Penguins but looking at the over as well. Think this might be a shoot-out before it's said and done, Jarry has proven he can't stop the puck. Pens have scored a total of 6 goals vs Sorokin in 3 games, you do the math. 

Cats/Bolts: Can Spencer do it in consecutive games and on the road? I placed a bet with Tampa ML last night, saying he can't. Through 5 games, O/U is 3-2. Tampa has scored 20 goals (4.00/gm) and Florida 17 goals (3.4/gm). Just a stat to throw out, the previous 2 games in Tampa, the Bolts have scored 5 and 6 goals. 

VGK/Wild: Wild won with what? 14 SOG? vs 40 for Vegas. Previous 2 meetings in Minny, the Knights have scored 9 goals. Thinking Vegas realizes that the Avs are sitting at home, resting and getting healthy. 

3 elimination games- how many does Gary want to go to a game 7? I think we get at least one game 7 out of the 3, but which one. If I had to rank confidence of closing out tonight, Tampa, Vegas, Isles. 

What do you want to talk about? 

Jarry blew the game last game. No way he will be emotionally ready. Guy has been shakky all series. IMO there is maybe a 10% Penguins win. Islanders should be -135 faves at least. Penguins are slow and old. While the Islanders are young and defensive minded who do not cause penalties. They have given Penguins on avg 2 Power Plays per game. Thats why Crosby has 2 assists all series. Islanders staying out of the box and focusing on shutting down Crosby is why they are winning. Sorokon as well tho. The guy looks so calm and cool where as when u look at Jarry, guy looks shaky AF. 

No value at all on Penguins. They couldnt score on 50 shots and Sorokon is 3-0 vs them now. He got the momentum, the confidence and the timely scoring from his team. 

For The Panthers Game. An interesting stat. If a team wins the first 2 games of a series they go onto win the series 87% of the time. I know its tough, but I think Florida wins today to cause a game 7.

No lean on Wild/Vegas

Agree with you on TB, can't see a veteran/championship team like TB letting this go back on the road for a game 7.  Florida finally has a path forward though starting next season with Spencer Knight.  It takes physicality & goaltending to make a serious run at the greatest trophy in sports and the Panthers now have that goalie to back a very good offense.  

Isles style of play is brutal in the playoffs, they just wear teams down over the course of 7 games & the Coliseum will be bonkers tonight.  Pens have that championship pedigree as well to lean on in these moments, but unless Jarry stands on his head I believe it's over.  The home/road splits for both these teams is pretty wild and it is very odd that this is currently sitting at -110/-110.  Really like the Isles to seal it here.

Wild & Knights.  Again agree with you Vegas was significantly better last game & would love to end these asap with Colorado resting.  The wild have had loads of success vs Vegas this year, do we really expect that MN is going to lose all 3 games at home? Very tough one to call as you'd expect the puck luck to be a little better for the Knights tonight but something tells me to just sit back and enjoy this one (maybe a flier on the over in a close out game?).  

Tampa & NYI seem like strong plays 

 Pens now moved to the favorite and Tampa line dropping....

Vegas cannot get worse puck luck tonight than they did Monday. I’ve never seen a period like the second for them, and they only managed one goal?!?! They seal the deal tonight 

Good stuff. Go AVS...rest up baby.

Isles close it, I’m on -1 line for value as their will be a couple ENGs in the end, sorry Doc

alao leaning Fla, think knight has given them a spark, not sure if I’m on the over or not

Think min wins at home also 

what do you guys think is the best bet on the board tonight?

Vegas outshot Minny 30-6 in the final two periods Monday...do we see game 7?

Can Tampa close out the cats?

Pens/Islanders is a toss up coin flip IMO 

@tone79

 Nothing personal I understand.  Tough card. I just have to go with Tampa at home.  Spencer,  was impressive but it's a small sample size. Honestly agree with your assessment with Isles.  Jarry can't do the job.  

Isles TT

Bolts ML maybe over as well

cant decide whether to take Vegas or not

really like vegas and tampa.....knight is the wildcard in the tampa game

isles/pens is a toss up, pens wont go easy, isles play the better playoff-style game though which obviously favors them in a playoff game

Tampa ML - It's called gambling. Spencer Knight was pretty good the other night. Tonight, this is away vs the defending Champions. I'll gamble and say  he doesn't do it twice. 

Speaking of doesn't happen. Sorokin was superb the other night. Betting it doesn't happen again tonight. Pens tt over. 

That's it for the time being. Contemplating Vegas/Wild. 

GL tonight gents/Jules. 

I don't profess to be an X's and O's expert in hockey like the other major sports I played all my life. But 4 of 5 of these games have been decided by 1 goal, 2 in OT, the Penguins have won 6 of the last 10 this season/calendar year and you're asking the Isles to win 3 in a row? No ez task for anyone in any sport, I don't care where they're playing. This has 7 games written all over it.

Knight was outstanding vs TB, in one game. Not really surprised the Lightning were a little flat, even veterans like they have are human too. The championship pedigree comes out tonight, they'll probably PL the kid and the rest of the Panther defense. Lightning roll tonight, they know what they have to do and they're the better team, make no mistake.

Having some fun tonight, house $$$, so why not

Penguins -115

TB PL +175

TB TT over 3.5, -115

But most importantly, Thunder Alley!

3 team close out night

no game 7s

One thing I have learned, Line movement doesn't mean much in pucks. But with that said, Pens jumped from -110 to -120 in 30 minutes. Headed home to watch the game. 

And that's how you calm the crowd down

And that's how you give it right back

I’d put anyone in net over Jarry. Not that it was really his fault there but he has to be shook and the team could use a temporary change.

So, walk in the door and see the Pens have allowed a goal on a single shot . Like I said, I am a fan, but a realist. This team doesn't have what it takes. Walking the dog, be back by 2P and hope to see my tt hit by then. 

@GASportsDoc

 Clearly the Pens have to outscore them. But its certainly feasible, 2-1

How many do you guys think the Pens need to win this game? I don’t think this scoring pace continues obviously but Jarry needed a chance to settle in so he’s gotta be rattled by this start. I’m not sure 4 would win it for the pens 5 maybe ?

2-2 this game is hilarious

@Bosshogg99

 This coming from a Leaf fan..

(You wanted the trash talk )

At this point,  Lagace wouldn't hurt could he?

Gladio, Games can change 180 degrees just like that. That's the beauty and unpredictability of sports. But kinda looking like at least 4-