Last year I said that too and it was a good news/bad news scenario. Great for Benn that his line was the best line for the entire playoffs, bad news that the first line wasn't the best line.
I will continue to give thumbs up to the Rantanen deal. That dude is a gamer. AS both you and David have said, he is MORE than a scorer. He puts in the work and doesn't check out.
1) I feel like this W makes it less likely that Dallas forces Heiskanen into the lineup on Saturday. I mean, if it's borderline, surely they will err on the side of caution and wait until Monday.
I'm old enough to remember when the Avs won 3 OT games....including back to back wins....to end the Stars' 2006 season. I remembered how painful it is for your team to be good enough but NOT make the plays when it counts.
Delicious to be on the other side of that equation.
Remarkable to me that a team that was giving up 5 goals per game just shut down MacKinnon and company and gave up 0 goals across 6 power plays.
Those uncalled pick calls on the Avs drive me crazy but, as Robert says, if the refs don't call it what are you gonna do?
Similar to how it took Miro being knocked out of the lineup for many people to understand his value, Esa Lindell is doing amazing work. Were he not out there the difference would be huge.
The Stars getting to 2-1 after game 1 and with no Miro, no Robertson and no Lundquist....not many teams could miss such pieces and still hang with a quality opponent.
I remember one was a Saturday day game and I was so pissed after the OT goal I went out and worked on digging holes on a backyard project. It started raining...harder and harder and I was just kept digging bc I needed to get the anger out.
I was musing about this last night and obviously this is not a super pressing problem, but through the first three games who do you sit in favor of Miro coming back? Without watching the games, you would probably say Bichsel or Petrovic just given their stance but IMO, this avs team has exposed Cody Ceci a little too much. And I've lost count of how many of his turnovers led to QSC for the Avs.
I cant lie Ceci, whose was free lunch for most of his tenure here. Has tightened down his game significantly, And while hes not that shutdown RHD monster that Tanev was, His play has elevated significantly through 3 games
Oh I think it's almost a certainty that Petrovic will sit, Miro will play with Harley, and Lyubushkin with Bichsel. But there could be some mix and matching, too.
I think they'll use Miro and Harley with different partners depending on the situations, so you could see those at times. But I think Bichsel and Lyubushkin probably are a more steady pairing. Ceci is a little more dynamic (for better or otherwise), so he works better with a partner like Lindell.
My only concern would be that Ceci really isn't a stay-at-home type, not really. He's chaotic, and that can work if you know it and plan for it. But I don't know if that would complement Bichsel as much. But who knows, really, in this modern world of ours.
The last play should be shown to all young hockey players. My 13 year old son did not watch the whole game but when he woke up I asked him to watch the last play and tell me what he saw: using their body. When Seguin scored, I turned to my wife and said this does not happen without Mikko (he has earned a goal or two for next game right?) Game 2 winner shows how to never give up on a play and the Game 3 winner shows young kids that even an offensive player with the puck can be physical.
Just noticed a typo in my comment, so thanks to you too. Was gonna offer my services as a proofreader but I think I just disqualified myself lol. Typos notwithstanding, the point remains!
Stayed up just to read this. Excellent as always. Loved the Brendan Morrow reference.
Thanks, Cathy! Now go to bed!
Kevin’s chili… LOL. Brilliant.
Wonderful as always Robert, I feel Petrovic has been super solid since being in the lineup which is a great sign
Also, Benn was arguably our most consistent forward last playoffs and has stepped it up in a big way this year again. What a leader
Last year I said that too and it was a good news/bad news scenario. Great for Benn that his line was the best line for the entire playoffs, bad news that the first line wasn't the best line.
Pete DeBoer said after the game that he
He what Rob? The suspense is killing me!
Ugh these games are too late.
I will continue to give thumbs up to the Rantanen deal. That dude is a gamer. AS both you and David have said, he is MORE than a scorer. He puts in the work and doesn't check out.
1) I feel like this W makes it less likely that Dallas forces Heiskanen into the lineup on Saturday. I mean, if it's borderline, surely they will err on the side of caution and wait until Monday.
2) Benn & Seguin man...
I'm old enough to remember when the Avs won 3 OT games....including back to back wins....to end the Stars' 2006 season. I remembered how painful it is for your team to be good enough but NOT make the plays when it counts.
Delicious to be on the other side of that equation.
Remarkable to me that a team that was giving up 5 goals per game just shut down MacKinnon and company and gave up 0 goals across 6 power plays.
Those uncalled pick calls on the Avs drive me crazy but, as Robert says, if the refs don't call it what are you gonna do?
Similar to how it took Miro being knocked out of the lineup for many people to understand his value, Esa Lindell is doing amazing work. Were he not out there the difference would be huge.
The Stars getting to 2-1 after game 1 and with no Miro, no Robertson and no Lundquist....not many teams could miss such pieces and still hang with a quality opponent.
I was just talking to someone with the Avs about that 06 series on Monday! So maddening, and so disillusioning for a great Stars team that fell flat.
I remember one was a Saturday day game and I was so pissed after the OT goal I went out and worked on digging holes on a backyard project. It started raining...harder and harder and I was just kept digging bc I needed to get the anger out.
Yes, I'm immature.
Healthy outdoor catharsis is anything but immature. Diggin' holes, aw yeah man, dudes rock.
Great work as always Rob.
I was musing about this last night and obviously this is not a super pressing problem, but through the first three games who do you sit in favor of Miro coming back? Without watching the games, you would probably say Bichsel or Petrovic just given their stance but IMO, this avs team has exposed Cody Ceci a little too much. And I've lost count of how many of his turnovers led to QSC for the Avs.
I noticed Ceci for the wrong reasons last night. I agree, sit Ceci. Bichsel has had his "young" moments as well but I love his physicality.
I cant lie Ceci, whose was free lunch for most of his tenure here. Has tightened down his game significantly, And while hes not that shutdown RHD monster that Tanev was, His play has elevated significantly through 3 games
Oh I think it's almost a certainty that Petrovic will sit, Miro will play with Harley, and Lyubushkin with Bichsel. But there could be some mix and matching, too.
how insane/Plausible would
Lindell-Miro
Harley-Lyubushkin
Bichsel-Ceci
be in terms of pairings
I think they'll use Miro and Harley with different partners depending on the situations, so you could see those at times. But I think Bichsel and Lyubushkin probably are a more steady pairing. Ceci is a little more dynamic (for better or otherwise), so he works better with a partner like Lindell.
Well....he's ALSO playing with Lindell on all those PKs and that PK has been excellent so I think you need to give him some credit for that.
I think Ceci would be better as a 3rd-line DMan with Bichel than Petrovic. He logged 24 minutes on ice compared to Petrovic's 13 for a reason.
I'd be happy to roll with Miro / Lindell, Harley / Lybushkin, Ceci/Bichel.
My only concern would be that Ceci really isn't a stay-at-home type, not really. He's chaotic, and that can work if you know it and plan for it. But I don't know if that would complement Bichsel as much. But who knows, really, in this modern world of ours.
Good point. I didn't really think about that. So....thinking Lybushkin with Bichel? That's a beefy 3rd pair.
That is my current guess, yeah.
The last play should be shown to all young hockey players. My 13 year old son did not watch the whole game but when he woke up I asked him to watch the last play and tell me what he saw: using their body. When Seguin scored, I turned to my wife and said this does not happen without Mikko (he has earned a goal or two for next game right?) Game 2 winner shows how to never give up on a play and the Game 3 winner shows young kids that even an offensive player with the puck can be physical.
Morning reading with Tiffin. A high quality breakfast of observation and insight.
Love this, Robert! And I’ll just go ahead and say it, I love Mikko! Oh, and I love Jim Nill!
That bit about Mason Marchment might be my favorite few paragraphs I've ever read from you. Great work as always!!!
I appreciate that! Also, this led me to find a few typos I missed last night in my haste to publish, so thank you for that, indirectly, too.
Just noticed a typo in my comment, so thanks to you too. Was gonna offer my services as a proofreader but I think I just disqualified myself lol. Typos notwithstanding, the point remains!
You're too kind! I'll have my people contact your people re: proofreading negotiations.
I said it last night and I will say it everywhere...
The Stars last night didn't run a penalty kill. They ran a penalty serial murder escapade.