8-25-20 puck chat

Isles just stone the Flyers and epic 2nd period collapse by the Avs.  So what was all the talk about the Avs just crushing the Stars I was reading in here so much ???

Should be another great one with the B's and Bolts tonight.

Can the Nucks get the ship right tonight ?  Lots of work they need to do.

What do you want to talk about ?

Even though VGK outplayed the Nucks in game 1, I think the Nucks will adjust and play a much closer game tonight. At +190 it has tons of value and it is also a play for the Lippsman Split!

Avs played a much better game than the Stars, but the Stars are extremely physical and get their goals the rugged way... right on top of the goalie.

Avs looked much better than they did in the first game but still lose. Happens.

I think the Flyers should put out an "amber alert" for Claude Giroux. At least Hayes, Voracek and Konecny are getting chances but the captain is nowhere to be found in the postseason.

The Islanders are an awful matchup for Philly imo.  Thought the Flyers looked pretty slow vs Montreal, not sure they're 100% engaged anymore & NYI look hungry as hell.  Like Dallas they have some sneaky good offensive talent for a team otherwise known for it's style of strong D / goaltending.  Should be solid value on the Isles + over 5's since Vigneault doesn't care either pulling the goalie with 8 minutes left.

Colorado is in trouble.  Mackinnon is averaging around 24 minutes per game.  He's the best all around player on the earth, but that's unsustainable in the NHL playoffs. I thought it was very noticeable on some of the 3rd period PP's & when the goalie was out that Mackinnon was gassed.  Couldn't get over to keep the puck in the zone on a few instances, errant passes, etc.  They're getting absolutely nothing from lines other than Mackinnon's.  Some of the calls against Dallas and no-calls on the Avs in that 3rd period were a total joke too.  Francouz looked terrible & Khudobin played his best game of the post season.  Avs looked very frustrated last night -- the 1st period of game 3 is huge for them... could spiral on them.  The way Dallas plays it's going to be really tough for any team to win 4 of 6 not even considering a team that doesn't have a goalie.

Vegas should continue to beat up on the Canucks.  They give up a stupid amount of high danger scoring chances & shots.... and Markstrom isn't very good. The speed of Vancouver that opened up the game vs the Blues is completely offset here.  Vegas physically punished the Canucks too so don't expect any "next level" improvement from Vancouver tonight imo. I think Vegas TT over 3.5's at plus money should be on everyone's radar all series long. I do think Vancouver has too much skill to get shut out like that, so like over 5.5's too but I don't think they're good enough on the back end to give Vegas any real trouble. 

Tampa & Boston is just a great series.  Both would represent the East well & can win it all. I'd expect a bounce back from TB tonight.... think if you're betting this series it's all about situational spots. 

Just my observations & thoughts. Good luck with your bets!

That third goal by Dallas literally broke Colorado's spirit.  Already reeling from the 2nd period comeback to tie at 2, and then that fluke goal just totally deflated them.  The 4th goal was inexcusable.  A shot on a 2 on 1 and the shooter follows up rebound and is all alone on top of goalie to whack at it.  Don't care if it crossed goal line or not, you just cannot let that happen.  Regardless of replays, it should be a goal for a total breakdown of Col. Defense.

I agree with Hockeynight - 1st period tomorrow in that series is the series.  Colroado gets down, they won't dig out of that hole.  I am loving the Over in next couple games.  Dallas is just dumping/chasing and crashing the net and getting goals.  I don't see them not scoring 2-3 goals with the way Col playing right now, and Avs are playing for their playoff lives, so they will push for goals early to get the lead.  I see lots of 4-3 type scores in games 3 & 4.

After winning game one, Boston is still a slight favourite tonight.

I will make this short and not so sweet. As a Flyer fan I could not believe we were a favorite. I get the #1 seed and i guess that's why, but the Isles are much better then us. They are quicker, better on defense, have more scoring power and much better at moving the puck. Last night, every time it was a race from generally the same spot the Isles won. If not for Hart it would have been 5-0 at the end of 2. The flyers don't what every other team seems to have and that is that big name. Giroux is good but he is not a top level guy. You look at the Stars and they have Seguin, Pavelski, Radulov and then you add Perry, Klingberg and Benn, that is a ton of top notch players. That kind if experience and top talent makes all the difference. I actually took the Isles last night ( like I always say gotta get the money when you can and the Flyers do not pay my bills). If the Flyers get behind 2-0 or more they just really have the fire power against this good of a team who holds leads.