As a Kings fan, I never understood why anyone ever thought McDavid was/is overrated. The dude is a monster. I've got no love for the Oilers, but McDavid is, in fact, the best player in the league. There's no question. You don't have to like him to acknowledge that.
Edmonton oilers fan here. Thank you. Very insightful and fair.!! We appreciate it Same goes for you sir. Kopitar is probably the best leader and centre piece of a successful NHL team. You had him for many years what a blessing for kings fans. Cheers
I can't understand anybody that bad mouths any of the top guys, like McDavid....MacKinnon.....Matthews. But then I can't understand people who hate a player just because he wears a particular jersey...I think they would sing the praises of all these people if they were on their team.
Unintelligent people have this notion, that is they simply claim something over and over and over, and if they refuse to acknowledge something, then it will simply be true. When someone calls out McDavid as a loser, or unimpressive, or below average, or any other type of bottom feeding insult, I just disconnect right there. There's no point in continuing the conversation, because that person is disconnected from reality, and anything you say to them, will be dismissed in favour of their fantasy. This doesn't just apply to McDavid either, it's the same thing as THG said at the start of the video here. 0:32 Anyone who talks like this, just disconnect. They aren't worth your time.
As a Boston fan I see a lot of hate towards Marchand. But people seem to collectively agree that they'd take him on their team in a heartbeat. I'm sure it's the same thing with McDavid, he sucks because he doesn't play for whatever team people root for. But it's just straight up delusional to think that McDavid is overrated. The guy is a wizard on the ice.
I been watching this channel since right before it really took off. To this day shannon never fails to seriously impress me with the work and love put in to the content. Thank you THG !
This is perhaps the most rattled I've seen you. I appreciate all you do. I've been watching you (from 3 different profiles) for about 7 years. Keep up the great work. You're the go to Hockey guy
I think this is Maurice's best coaching of his career. It also helps having an absolute beast in net to. He's gelled really well with his players and they bought into his system. Nice to see the panthers winning. Two minutes for bleeding had laughing. Spot on with your assessment. Really enjoy this channel.
Good vid. I love hockey! Got started watching with my dad in the 80's, when Gretzky played for the Oilers. Now I'm a die hard Florida fan, and after watching this team lose for most of the 30 years I've been a fan, it's good to finally have some success. I still don't think they get the respect they deserve, but that's changing. Watching the Panthers hoist the cup is a bucket list item and I hope it's this year! Edmonton looks like a heck of a team and I expect an amazing series, but I can already tell my stress level will be high! If Barkov can do to McDavid and Draisaitl what he's done to Kuch/Pasta/Panarin then we'll have to admit he's the best two way player in the game right now. Thanks for all the detailed analysis during these past rounds. I learned a lot.
yes, the washington capitals are your evidence! they are so good im not sure how they just made it! they should have been stanley cup favorites! one of the best teams ever to barely make it!
I feel like your statement may be true starting from the second round. There were definitely some pretty big gaps between teams in the first round though.
yea but theyre not really low event hockey. Compared to their old selves sure, but within the context of the wider league...theyre still top quartile for event hockey
@@anubisgod23 probably not considering they’re in the…wait for it…STANLEY CUP FINAL. They’re allowing few goals, few chances, and playing a sound smart game on the offensive side. I know it’s tough to admit, but they’re doing the dang thing.
@@krabkrabkrab I KNOW MATH!!! You know they say that all men are created equal, but you look at me and you look at Samoa Joe and you can see that statement is not true. See, normally if you go one on one with another wrestler, you got a 50/50 chance of winning. But I'm a genetic freak and I'm not normal! So you got a 25%, AT BEST, at beat me. Then you add Kurt Angle to the mix, your chances of winning drastic go down. See the 3 way at Sacrifice, you got a 33 1/3 chance of winning, but I, I got a 66 and 2/3 chance of winning, because Kurt Angle KNOWS he can't beat me and he's not even gonna try! So Samoa Joe, you take your 33 1/3 chance, minus my 25% chance and you got an 8 1/3 chance of winning at Sacrifice. But then you take my 75% chance of winning, if we was to go one on one, and then add 66 2/3 per cents, I got 141 2/3 chance of winning at Sacrifice. Señor Joe! The numbers don't lie, and they spell disaster for you at Sacrifice.
add that to the things I would change in 2024-2025 rules. If you bleed on the ice you get a penalty for delay of game because they have to clean it up. There's no bleeding in hockey - Tom Hanks.
Can you imagine if Hughes was called for bleeding while McDavid still gets nothing? Ha... The amount of dread I have knowing that the NHL could very well do that in the future.
RE, point 9: inaction also constitutes an action. I've noticed for quite a while that the number of power plays teams get per game goes down by about 1 per round. It's 2-3 PPs most games this round, and it'll be 1-2 in the SCF until the Cup itself is on the line, then it'll go down to 0-1. PPs almost always end up even unless one team commits an "automatic" penalty (e.g. puck over glass).
To Point 2 about “shots don’t matter” - please tell this to ESPN. Literally every game of the ECF they were constantly bringing up Shot *attempts*, not even shots on goal, as the end-all-be-all stat. Like, i’m not saying it’s a worthless stat, but treating it like the holy grail of offensive stats then claiming the Rangers had no business winning Game 3 because of it was ridiculous.
Good point. Thats ESPN for ya. They wanted the league back so bad but truly show what they think about hockey. And now they unfortunately get the entire Cup Final
Especially when some teams like the Oilers heavily value possession. Like I see Van fans saying Demko would have made a difference with his .920 but no goalie is getting a .920 in a series vs the Oilers based on how they play. They wait for high danger chances, their powerplay is historically good and their top players all have high shooting%.
Whats the shooting % of McOverrated? Whats he got? 2 goals in the playoffs? Yesterday's was an absolute thing of beauty, but still, if im going to claim someone to be "the best in the game" I'd expect to see them lighting the lamp consistently. I'm very unimpressed with him overall. He's fast, good puck skills, but hasn't shown any form of dominance. He looks scared when defenders are near, takes cheap shots and never gets called for any penalties. Spoiled, coddled, league protected no show@CC-of5xl
We were robbed of Skinner and Silovs dropping the gloves, resulting in Silovs being out for the playoffs and resulting in Vancouver winning their first cup off the backs of the local emergency backups.
And as far as refs not calling penalties goes, I feel like Vegas in 2018(?) Against the Sharks, that major being called, and league coming out and removing those officials from the post season, and then apologizing to vegas(which I still think was ridiculous) made a lot of refs afraid to make big calls. It seems like since that year, the refs have really let way too much go, but then at the same time, they just make some really tick tacky calls. Like yeah, that guy cross checked a player into the boards, but that's fine. But that little hook that didn't prevent a scoring chance? Nah, gotta call that! It's just the ever present issue of consistency, and seems like ever since that major penalty against Vegas, refs are afraid to make the calls.
And to add to that, the amount of full power cross checks, some multiple times, right in front of the refs are ridiculous. Like THG said, delay of games and too many men on the ice (which are ridiculous sometimes) are getting the calls.
@@stevenschryer4629 that kind of makes sense. Of course there’s way too many too many men penalties and delay of game, but those are the ones that aren’t the refs call as to whether it is a penalty or not. Those calls are completely what happens, not the refs decision
I still can’t believe the league apologized to Vegas, like the refs scored the goals themselves or ended the game at the time of the penalty and awarded SJ the win. It’s nobodies fault but their own that they couldn’t play defense, or stop a 4th liner in OT.
Preds fan, super impressed with the teams performance this year all things considered. Feels lucky to have Forsberg and Josi continue to peak and I'm hoping Evangelista keeps getting better. Oh, and another thing. I have you to thank for getting me BACK into hockey. I've been away for a few years, completely checked out, and a guy I watch on Twitch mentioned your channel, and thanks to your videos the fire was lit again and I'm back to watching as many games as possible! I was a rangers fan as a wee lad, then Nashville ever since my hometown got a team. Thanks mr guy! You rock.
Controversy due to the players? Never mind that, bud. There will be controversy no matter which team wins. If Edmonton wins, then "Bettman wanted McDavid to win". If Florida wins, then "Bettman wanted to make sure a Canadian team didn't win". The fans of this sport sometimes...... absolutely hilarious. 🍻🍻
or more like, Hey, why didnt Bennet get suspended for sucker punching the rat? Why is this goaltender interference but the same exact play in another game wasnt? Why is this one team allowed to throw late and controversial hits and not the other in the same series?
I think the league needs to have a sit down with the referee committee of whatever and impliment some new policies or format for reffing games. Someone like Kelly Sutherland should be on the hot seat for all he's missed this season.
Mcdavid will never fight again or atleast not until he wins a cup. He broke his hand in his draft year fighting and it cost him a historic pre draft legacy.
1. Absolutely 2. Agreed, but I still feel like some goaltenders are more susceptible to high volume, and some you need to get quality. In fact I think Skinner in his true Jekyll and Hyde has been both these playoffs 3. I've been saying this for years. A 4th liner is not a player who was not good enough to make the 1st line, they are a completely different type of player. If you Suddenly Connor Brown was scoring more goals and generating more offense, I would not for a single second think, give him 3rd line minutes. He is a 4th liner. His value is in shutting guys down, out working the other team, and shaving minutes off of opposing teams players that are better goal scorers than him. To get really extreme I don't think Brown can't do what McDavid does, and I don't think McDavid could do the things that brown does. The Gap between 1st and 4th line is not that of Skill but of playing style. 4. Half agreed part but there is sometimes shades of game to game momentum. Not nearly as big as people make it to be 5. Disagree, but more to some and less to others. For example, I think some players actively feed on the hate, but being cheered for is a massive factor for some guys IMO. Skinner goes unreal mode in game 6 and hearing the fans scream stuuuuuuu over and over again, I can't believe that doesn't feed a player like Skinner who has been a bit of a HOT and COLD guy. 6. 100 percent. The only option is the Gas pedal. You need to step on the fucking gas. In the regular season I think you are looking at an 5 goal lead before you can start to say okay lets hang back and weather the storm. IN the playoffs it's never. You need to keep scoring. 2, 3 4, 5, 6, 7, none of it is enough. One good bounce, one good deke, and a couple of other factors and any team in the NHL can come roaring back. 7. I'm an Oilers fan. Agreed. If I got into it I'd be talking about it for ever. I will say this. I don't think this playoffs has been so much Connor McDavid Arriving, as it has been Bouchard Arriving, who I think is quickly showing the rest of the league that he should be in top 5 conversations. 8. Haven't watched enough to know that but probably agree. The Rangers series was looking like it might be close and then the panthers just took it by the throat 9. Agreed. Call the infractions as you see them. I think game management is nonsense. 10. Agreed. I don't for a single second expect to see a "clean" finals.
I think instead of making a blanket statement like 'Shots don't Matter" a better, more accurate way to say it is, Shots are not necessarily a measure of success during a game. Because of course shots matter, without shots, there would be no goals. But how many shots there are, is not automatically a measure of a team's success during the game. That is true.
These playoffs have been great, best ones I've watched in a while. I feel as though we're seeing a transition in front of our eyes with the league right now, similar to the mid 2000s Thanks for all the hard work you do, and keep up the great videos!
As a Capitals fan,I witnessed many games they won this year where shots did not matter.The goaltender and defense were more important over the course of the season.Great list !
Heard Ranger analyst Brian Boyle say there were 3 covering the hand with the puck plays in the third period one after the other by the Oilers in game 6. He couldn't believe it.
In 1980, it was an earlier goal that was offsides, not the overtime winner. All that stuff is irrelevant because it changes the game. The Islanders went up by two goals and tried to sit on the lead in the third. If they aren't ahead by two goals, they are not sitting on the lead so it's impossible to say what would have happened.
@@Angela-zp2gy I still haven't gotten over the loss to Edmonton that stopped the 'Drive for 5'. Back then home ice was a huge advantage. When Isles lost that 1-0 game in game 1, I was very worried. I had a gut feeling that they might not get back home and they didn't even come close to winning any of the 3 games in Edmonton.
I was never a D C fan, was always on the "dreaded 2 goal lead." Shots aren't a big deal. Montreal's hay day, quality over quantity. Fourth line Riseborough, Lambert and Tremblay. They drove opponents crazy. Momentum change was their calling card.
Oilers are the biggest proof of the quality over quantity point. Their biggest difference under their new coach at both ends is limit high danger chances against and let teams take low danger shots and gain possession off of those shots. On offense it's don't throw the puck away on low danger shots.
Assuming all those technical things between the teams are about equal, player skill, goalies, coaching, game strategy, player size and speed etc. etc. After that it is about SHEER DETERMINATION, "who wants it most", and who will play 60 minutes of Hockey with the pedal to the metal with no let-up. Physical fitness and injuries also play a part in this. Then after that it is "fortune favours the bold", or just being plain old "lucky".
Gotta follow some of Shannons advice.. find myself getting so pumped when my team scores, only to be let down 2 minutes later. Fluctuating emotions so abruptly doesnt feel great haha
Nobody really mentions it but I believe the reason that home ice doesn't mean as much anymore is the teams are just better and deeper on average. It used to be more about matchups but now a lot of these teams have 4 lines that can play so it isn't as noticeable if they get caught in a "bad" matchup.
I agree. Ive been saying 4th lines are key for over a decade. All the teams that win have that, its so important to be able to roll lines in the playoffs for a number of reasons. The devils in 2012 we’re basically carried to the finals by their 4th line lol.
#2 and #6 Contradict each other. Teams get up by a couple and play suffocating hockey, but then leads aren't safe lol . Also rocking the Shore Jersey today!
I think 1 and 9 are joined at the hip. When defense means you can clutch grab board and cross check and the worst you worry about is 4 on 4 defense is going to win
Defense is fun to watch when it's aggressive defense like Florida brings. They don't get a lead and then go into a shell. That would be boring. They are intense and intensity is really what's entertaining. I like top notch hockey, and lets be honest, a 6-5 game is not top notch. Defensive blunders lead to that type of game.
The lack of penalties has realy helped Florida considering how much they were penalized in the regular season. It doesn't matter because FLA was going to win the series against the Rangers anyway not based on special teams play but just the consent forecheck that rattled them to no end.
Yep, gooning is in again. They monkey-saw-monkey-did and surpassed big bro Tampa (Perry and Magoon, among other lesser offenders), who had likewise surpassed Boston in gooning. Don't get me wrong--skill and speed and size still are big ingredients--but the gooning sets Florida apart, and the mandated lenient officiating style and Department of Player Endangerment lack of punishment let the coach laugh in press conferences about setting back the game 45 years.
@@closethockeyfan5284You are not wrong, but if every game, the goals are all scored on the PP, it becomes nothing more than a glorified popularity contest, and the meaning of hockey is lost.
Evan Bouchard got the Oilers into the Finals and everyone's all "Nuge is great!" & "Skinner was amazing!". Bouchard assisted on both goals, nearly got a 3rd assist too and was pretty solid in his own end yet he's still the Invisible Man.
@@Razahoo7 The Oilers wouldn't have even been in the playoffs or made it past each round without him. Go back and rewatch his games, the forwards would have nothing without his plays, no breakaway passes, not backchecking turnovers, no jumping up, no pinching, sure the D is 6 guys but Bouchard is leading by example and the best of the bunch, he's been consistent all season and throughout the playoffs, look at his numbers, ice-time +/-, he's the total package. He's even been killing penalties in the playoffs, that's not something he did in the regular season. And don't take it so literal. He's as integral to this Oilers team as Gretzky was to the 80s Oilers teams.
I was at the game and had no clue about the offsides as there was no technology in the arena at the time. I'm sure many of the fans saw it. It wasn't even close. Nystrom's goal was good as gold.
Keefe didn't roll 4 lines and when things went south, he loaded up the tiop line a double shifted them. Every year. Hope Berube can stay on top of things.
Oilers definitely felt like they had momentum once they tied the Dallas series 2-2. Same for Florida tying up the series 2-2. Both teams down 1-2 and then went on to win next 3. I'd call that momentum .
Excellent discussion. Points seem valid, except #6, which seems a little weak. Can't wait to see how the Oilers handle the stifling forecheck of the Panthers,
We cannot forget that Maurice last time he faced Edmonton they had no problem winning in 4. This will be a better battle than that series was but if Edmonton cannot adjust after game 1 they gotta be careful!
11. Faceoffs matter. A LOT. With the increasingly possessive style of gameplay we’re seeing in the league, winning face-offs has become so essential to winning games. Watch the Panthers series against Boston & NYR and you’ll see how the Panthers weakness at the dot was one of the main reasons either series went to 6. Rags especially killed them on special teams with face-offs, killing so many of their penalties against the Cats and scoring multiple short handed goals cuz they would win the face-off to start off and never let FLA establish the zone after that first easy clear. Big concern for the Cats heading into the cup IMO, especially up against a nasty Oilers PK.
I lmao in the 3rd, when the linesman didnt drop it, and mcdavid fell on his face. Can you imagine someone tearing an acl because they dont drop the puck? Its gonna happen they keep that crap up.
They matter very little infact. If you lose a faceoff, you often juat have to retrieve the puck which is not a hard task for a good team. The only time faceoff matters a lot is if you're losing by one with few seconds on the clock, your goalie is pulled and you're trying to tie the game. And if you're in that situation, there's many things to worry about before winning faceoffs becomes a priority.
Also, the Panthers had no trouble with Rangers. Rangers got to game 6 because they had Shesterkin. They had absolutely no business hanging in there to game 6.
Thank you for the 'lack of power play' section, it's just ridiculous. I can't think of ANY other pro SPORT, of ANY kind, where the standards for penalties completely change from the regular season to the postseason. Even ups too, that definitely occurs. It never changes and it's so frustrating.
The 2 goal lead has always been said is the worst lead a team can have. I heard that from the early 70’s when I was playing minor hockey and ended my playing and coaching career teaching that same saying.
I totally see that too! 1 team will get a 1-2 goals ahead and then the refs will call a penalty during against the team currently winning. Especially during the Vancouver/Edmonton series.
Shots do matter. Maybe not in a single game but over a series they do. Florida simply wore down Shersterkin and I'm sure Skinner is feeling a little shell shocked after Dallas and now he has to go in facing a Panthers team that likes to shoot, a lot.
Another thing, does goaltending matter in the playoffs as much as its thought? Shesterkin and Swayman both outplayed Florida and still got let down by their teams, meanwhile you have Skinner (no disrespect to him by any means, but he's not Otter or Demko or Hill) in the finals with a team that plays such good defense that as long as he plays decent, that they can win.
Shots on goal go hand in hand with save pct. Neither are completely created equal. I feel like some goalies get destroyed for have a sub .910 save pct but their teams only give up 15 to 20 shots all game and most are decent, Kuemper in 22 and Bob this year are perfect examples. Then some teams play more passive so they give up 30+ bad looks so a goalies numbers are kinda inflated.
Here's a crazy video idea; who does the Stanley cup champion team move in off season in an effort to repeat? You said McDavid and Draisital aren't moving on if they win a cup, which is totally fair but..... if they win a cup what players does Edmonton immediately look to move so they don't have to pay (soon to expire contracts) or because they can get a kings ransom for (because he just won a cup and is on a good contract)???
There needs to be more penalties called during the playoffs next year. It's crazy how all season players are told they're not allowed to do certain things, but then come time for the playoffs - not a big deal.
I think the "Controversy is guaranteed" point is a great one, and is a big problem for the NHL. It's hard for a mainstream audience to get very invested in a sport if it doesn't seem "fair." I put fair in quotes because you can argue that if mistakes go both ways, then that is fair, but the problem is the perception and the way it makes fans feel when their team loses. They definitely need to update officiating and rules to take advantage of modern technology to reduce error while ensuring player safety if they want the appeal to be on the level of NBA/NFL/MLB.
As a Kings fan, I never understood why anyone ever thought McDavid was/is overrated. The dude is a monster. I've got no love for the Oilers, but McDavid is, in fact, the best player in the league. There's no question. You don't have to like him to acknowledge that.
indeed , as though one's fandom doesnt allow for rational thought and concession.
Edmonton oilers fan here. Thank you. Very insightful and fair.!! We appreciate it
Same goes for you sir. Kopitar is probably the best leader and centre piece of a successful NHL team. You had him for many years what a blessing for kings fans.
Cheers
I can't understand anybody that bad mouths any of the top guys, like McDavid....MacKinnon.....Matthews. But then I can't understand people who hate a player just because he wears a particular jersey...I think they would sing the praises of all these people if they were on their team.
Unintelligent people have this notion, that is they simply claim something over and over and over, and if they refuse to acknowledge something, then it will simply be true.
When someone calls out McDavid as a loser, or unimpressive, or below average, or any other type of bottom feeding insult, I just disconnect right there. There's no point in continuing the conversation, because that person is disconnected from reality, and anything you say to them, will be dismissed in favour of their fantasy.
This doesn't just apply to McDavid either, it's the same thing as THG said at the start of the video here. 0:32 Anyone who talks like this, just disconnect. They aren't worth your time.
As a Boston fan I see a lot of hate towards Marchand. But people seem to collectively agree that they'd take him on their team in a heartbeat. I'm sure it's the same thing with McDavid, he sucks because he doesn't play for whatever team people root for.
But it's just straight up delusional to think that McDavid is overrated. The guy is a wizard on the ice.
I been watching this channel since right before it really took off. To this day shannon never fails to seriously impress me with the work and love put in to the content. Thank you THG !
That Sudbury blueberry bulldogs sweater is perfect!
Good video, THG. Let's see if you can carry this momentum to the next one.
Good observations - And knowing he watches every game - 100% credible
Gary Bettman photo in the back looks like a picture of the High Chancellor in V for Vendetta
😂
Oh God you're right
This is perhaps the most rattled I've seen you. I appreciate all you do. I've been watching you (from 3 different profiles) for about 7 years. Keep up the great work. You're the go to Hockey guy
I think this is Maurice's best coaching of his career. It also helps having an absolute beast in net to. He's gelled really well with his players and they bought into his system. Nice to see the panthers winning. Two minutes for bleeding had laughing. Spot on with your assessment. Really enjoy this channel.
Good vid. I love hockey! Got started watching with my dad in the 80's, when Gretzky played for the Oilers. Now I'm a die hard Florida fan, and after watching this team lose for most of the 30 years I've been a fan, it's good to finally have some success. I still don't think they get the respect they deserve, but that's changing. Watching the Panthers hoist the cup is a bucket list item and I hope it's this year! Edmonton looks like a heck of a team and I expect an amazing series, but I can already tell my stress level will be high! If Barkov can do to McDavid and Draisaitl what he's done to Kuch/Pasta/Panarin then we'll have to admit he's the best two way player in the game right now. Thanks for all the detailed analysis during these past rounds. I learned a lot.
No team is bad imo. You need a good team to make it into the playoffs in the first place.
yes, the washington capitals are your evidence! they are so good im not sure how they just made it! they should have been stanley cup favorites! one of the best teams ever to barely make it!
Washington being the exception that proves the rule I guess
The redwings should of made it instead of the Caps
Especially in the 30+ teams era.
I feel like your statement may be true starting from the second round. There were definitely some pretty big gaps between teams in the first round though.
One thing we have not learned in these playoffs:
What is goaltender interference?
What is a hand pass?
@@heathclark318 what is offsides?
@@lankancheetah What is embellishment?
@@heathclark318what is closing your hand on the puck
What is tripping?
Wild to hear "Edmonton" and "low event hockey" in the same sentence. Talk about a team that's matured and changed their game.
yea but theyre not really low event hockey. Compared to their old selves sure, but within the context of the wider league...theyre still top quartile for event hockey
@@anubisgod23 probably not considering they’re in the…wait for it…STANLEY CUP FINAL. They’re allowing few goals, few chances, and playing a sound smart game on the offensive side. I know it’s tough to admit, but they’re doing the dang thing.
@@Logarythm12 being in the final doesn't disprove my point lmao
@@Logarythm12 I've been dying for them to do this for years >.>
I’d like to note that based on the games I’ve watched, moneypucks deserve to win-o-meter is about as reliable as the fuel system in a 1976 Ford Pinto.
I see this mostly stated by people who don't know any math.
@@krabkrabkrab I KNOW MATH!!! You know they say that all men are created equal, but you look at me and you look at Samoa Joe and you can see that statement is not true. See, normally if you go one on one with another wrestler, you got a 50/50 chance of winning. But I'm a genetic freak and I'm not normal! So you got a 25%, AT BEST, at beat me. Then you add Kurt Angle to the mix, your chances of winning drastic go down. See the 3 way at Sacrifice, you got a 33 1/3 chance of winning, but I, I got a 66 and 2/3 chance of winning, because Kurt Angle KNOWS he can't beat me and he's not even gonna try!
So Samoa Joe, you take your 33 1/3 chance, minus my 25% chance and you got an 8 1/3 chance of winning at Sacrifice. But then you take my 75% chance of winning, if we was to go one on one, and then add 66 2/3 per cents, I got 141 2/3 chance of winning at Sacrifice. Señor Joe! The numbers don't lie, and they spell disaster for you at Sacrifice.
@@schmuelgoldstein Best possible response in history. That deserves a Dramatic Reading.
@@schmuelgoldstein 🚨🚨🚨🚨🚨
@@schmuelgoldstein the perfect reply. Hats off to you sir.
I can’t wait to hear a referee say “2 minutes for bleeding” 😂😂
add that to the things I would change in 2024-2025 rules. If you bleed on the ice you get a penalty for delay of game because they have to clean it up. There's no bleeding in hockey - Tom Hanks.
Nobody makes me bleed my own blood.
Can you imagine if Hughes was called for bleeding while McDavid still gets nothing? Ha...
The amount of dread I have knowing that the NHL could very well do that in the future.
For “giving him the business”
RE, point 9: inaction also constitutes an action. I've noticed for quite a while that the number of power plays teams get per game goes down by about 1 per round. It's 2-3 PPs most games this round, and it'll be 1-2 in the SCF until the Cup itself is on the line, then it'll go down to 0-1. PPs almost always end up even unless one team commits an "automatic" penalty (e.g. puck over glass).
Love the asmr touch with the squeeky sounds by the markers on the board, dramatic professionalism by the Hockey Guy as always
To Point 2 about “shots don’t matter” - please tell this to ESPN. Literally every game of the ECF they were constantly bringing up Shot *attempts*, not even shots on goal, as the end-all-be-all stat.
Like, i’m not saying it’s a worthless stat, but treating it like the holy grail of offensive stats then claiming the Rangers had no business winning Game 3 because of it was ridiculous.
Good point. Thats ESPN for ya. They wanted the league back so bad but truly show what they think about hockey. And now they unfortunately get the entire Cup Final
Especially when some teams like the Oilers heavily value possession. Like I see Van fans saying Demko would have made a difference with his .920 but no goalie is getting a .920 in a series vs the Oilers based on how they play. They wait for high danger chances, their powerplay is historically good and their top players all have high shooting%.
ESPN wants the stat-head basketball/football gambling crowd, that's the end goal of everything with them.
Whats the shooting % of McOverrated? Whats he got? 2 goals in the playoffs? Yesterday's was an absolute thing of beauty, but still, if im going to claim someone to be "the best in the game" I'd expect to see them lighting the lamp consistently. I'm very unimpressed with him overall. He's fast, good puck skills, but hasn't shown any form of dominance. He looks scared when defenders are near, takes cheap shots and never gets called for any penalties. Spoiled, coddled, league protected no show@CC-of5xl
@@winkletown8828If you don’t watch the games you can just say it instead of spouting a bunch of nonsense.
I'm hoping for a goalie fight. Nobody else on the ice fighting, just standing there trying to understand how it happened.
"Why the Hell is Skinner going to centre ice?"
"OH!!"
@@Ramuh.Skinner and Bobrovsky fighting would be magnificent, hilarious, and also probably not a very good fight, but have been wrong before.
We were robbed of Skinner and Silovs dropping the gloves, resulting in Silovs being out for the playoffs and resulting in Vancouver winning their first cup off the backs of the local emergency backups.
And as far as refs not calling penalties goes, I feel like Vegas in 2018(?) Against the Sharks, that major being called, and league coming out and removing those officials from the post season, and then apologizing to vegas(which I still think was ridiculous) made a lot of refs afraid to make big calls. It seems like since that year, the refs have really let way too much go, but then at the same time, they just make some really tick tacky calls. Like yeah, that guy cross checked a player into the boards, but that's fine. But that little hook that didn't prevent a scoring chance? Nah, gotta call that! It's just the ever present issue of consistency, and seems like ever since that major penalty against Vegas, refs are afraid to make the calls.
And to add to that, the amount of full power cross checks, some multiple times, right in front of the refs are ridiculous. Like THG said, delay of games and too many men on the ice (which are ridiculous sometimes) are getting the calls.
@@stevenschryer4629 that kind of makes sense. Of course there’s way too many too many men penalties and delay of game, but those are the ones that aren’t the refs call as to whether it is a penalty or not. Those calls are completely what happens, not the refs decision
I still can’t believe the league apologized to Vegas, like the refs scored the goals themselves or ended the game at the time of the penalty and awarded SJ the win. It’s nobodies fault but their own that they couldn’t play defense, or stop a 4th liner in OT.
Preds fan, super impressed with the teams performance this year all things considered. Feels lucky to have Forsberg and Josi continue to peak and I'm hoping Evangelista keeps getting better. Oh, and another thing. I have you to thank for getting me BACK into hockey. I've been away for a few years, completely checked out, and a guy I watch on Twitch mentioned your channel, and thanks to your videos the fire was lit again and I'm back to watching as many games as possible! I was a rangers fan as a wee lad, then Nashville ever since my hometown got a team. Thanks mr guy! You rock.
Little known fact ...
Controversy Smythe is the actual full name of the trophy ! 🏆
Controversy due to the players? Never mind that, bud.
There will be controversy no matter which team wins. If Edmonton wins, then "Bettman wanted McDavid to win". If Florida wins, then "Bettman wanted to make sure a Canadian team didn't win".
The fans of this sport sometimes...... absolutely hilarious. 🍻🍻
or more like, Hey, why didnt Bennet get suspended for sucker punching the rat?
Why is this goaltender interference but the same exact play in another game wasnt?
Why is this one team allowed to throw late and controversial hits and not the other in the same series?
1980 Stanley Cup Final, many thought Bob Nystrom was off side, but those complaints came from the Flyers not the Islanders
have you ever saw the benefitted team complaining?
Excellent video, THG. Agree with almost everything you said.
I think the league needs to have a sit down with the referee committee of whatever and impliment some new policies or format for reffing games. Someone like Kelly Sutherland should be on the hot seat for all he's missed this season.
They are instructed by the league office to officiate a certain way. These referees are there BECAUSE they officiate in such a way.
they have a rulebook #NHLisNotRigged
I love the Shorsey jersey!
The Hockey Guy, I loved this video so much, I had to hit the like button!
Glad Gary got his FLA vs EDM final. Can’t wait to see those ratings.
Sudberry blueberry bulldogs!!!!!🎉
Here is some controversy: Barkov and McDavid gets into a fight!
Mcdavid will never fight again or atleast not until he wins a cup. He broke his hand in his draft year fighting and it cost him a historic pre draft legacy.
Never going to happen. If Barkov just looks at McJesus funny he will get the gate.
McDavid learned not to fight ever again after breaking his hand in the OHL. Hes too valuable to his team to be fighting
Sounds like you'd like for kids to get involved in fights with the tooth fairy as well.
1. Absolutely
2. Agreed, but I still feel like some goaltenders are more susceptible to high volume, and some you need to get quality. In fact I think Skinner in his true Jekyll and Hyde has been both these playoffs
3. I've been saying this for years. A 4th liner is not a player who was not good enough to make the 1st line, they are a completely different type of player. If you Suddenly Connor Brown was scoring more goals and generating more offense, I would not for a single second think, give him 3rd line minutes. He is a 4th liner. His value is in shutting guys down, out working the other team, and shaving minutes off of opposing teams players that are better goal scorers than him. To get really extreme I don't think Brown can't do what McDavid does, and I don't think McDavid could do the things that brown does. The Gap between 1st and 4th line is not that of Skill but of playing style.
4. Half agreed part but there is sometimes shades of game to game momentum. Not nearly as big as people make it to be
5. Disagree, but more to some and less to others. For example, I think some players actively feed on the hate, but being cheered for is a massive factor for some guys IMO. Skinner goes unreal mode in game 6 and hearing the fans scream stuuuuuuu over and over again, I can't believe that doesn't feed a player like Skinner who has been a bit of a HOT and COLD guy.
6. 100 percent. The only option is the Gas pedal. You need to step on the fucking gas. In the regular season I think you are looking at an 5 goal lead before you can start to say okay lets hang back and weather the storm. IN the playoffs it's never. You need to keep scoring. 2, 3 4, 5, 6, 7, none of it is enough. One good bounce, one good deke, and a couple of other factors and any team in the NHL can come roaring back.
7. I'm an Oilers fan. Agreed. If I got into it I'd be talking about it for ever. I will say this. I don't think this playoffs has been so much Connor McDavid Arriving, as it has been Bouchard Arriving, who I think is quickly showing the rest of the league that he should be in top 5 conversations.
8. Haven't watched enough to know that but probably agree. The Rangers series was looking like it might be close and then the panthers just took it by the throat
9. Agreed. Call the infractions as you see them. I think game management is nonsense.
10. Agreed. I don't for a single second expect to see a "clean" finals.
I think instead of making a blanket statement like 'Shots don't Matter" a better, more accurate way to say it is, Shots are not necessarily a measure of success during a game. Because of course shots matter, without shots, there would be no goals. But how many shots there are, is not automatically a measure of a team's success during the game. That is true.
amount of shots, and basically every other stat, is a mean to an end. The end being amount of goals
Edmonton has a new strategy. Draw a couple penalties and get a couple goals. Then make the rest of the game as boring as possible.
These playoffs have been great, best ones I've watched in a while.
I feel as though we're seeing a transition in front of our eyes with the league right now, similar to the mid 2000s
Thanks for all the hard work you do, and keep up the great videos!
Thats gonna end in a dud because east is better than west
Player A 2 minutes for high stick.
Player B 2 minutes for being high sticked.
actually bleeding onto the ice could be considered a delay of game perhaps
As a Capitals fan,I witnessed many games they won this year where shots did not matter.The goaltender and defense were more important over the course of the season.Great list !
I've learned that Sprite Zero tastes best after a team you dislike gets eliminated
Sprite zero has aspaetame and is bad for your health
But hey keep on dreaming
Fourth line, thanks Scotty.
Dope sweater. Been looking for a nice hat.
Barkov is a top 5 center that’s what we learned
Hey Bulldog, great review. Get a fingertip tape on eraser....BTW loooove your ssssstanly cup
I learned that Buffalo needs to move to Florida, they’ll be in the Finals in no time.
Heard Ranger analyst Brian Boyle say there were 3 covering the hand with the puck plays in the third period one after the other by the Oilers in game 6. He couldn't believe it.
Great video, nice jersey 👍
In 1980, it was an earlier goal that was offsides, not the overtime winner. All that stuff is irrelevant because it changes the game. The Islanders went up by two goals and tried to sit on the lead in the third. If they aren't ahead by two goals, they are not sitting on the lead so it's impossible to say what would have happened.
They went on to dominate the league and win 19 straight playoff series. The most in any professional sport.....thats what happened
@@Angela-zp2gy I still haven't gotten over the loss to Edmonton that stopped the 'Drive for 5'. Back then home ice was a huge advantage. When Isles lost that 1-0 game in game 1, I was very worried. I had a gut feeling that they might not get back home and they didn't even come close to winning any of the 3 games in Edmonton.
@@jcg9998Bossy said if they got back they would have won it. That 1-0 loss was a killer.
Insightful!
I was never a D C fan, was always on the "dreaded 2 goal lead." Shots aren't a big deal. Montreal's hay day, quality over quantity. Fourth line Riseborough, Lambert and Tremblay. They drove opponents crazy. Momentum change was their calling card.
Oilers are the biggest proof of the quality over quantity point. Their biggest difference under their new coach at both ends is limit high danger chances against and let teams take low danger shots and gain possession off of those shots. On offense it's don't throw the puck away on low danger shots.
Love your impartial jersey 🐶🫐🩵💙
Assuming all those technical things between the teams are about equal, player skill, goalies, coaching, game strategy, player size and speed etc. etc. After that it is about SHEER DETERMINATION, "who wants it most", and who will play 60 minutes of Hockey with the pedal to the metal with no let-up. Physical fitness and injuries also play a part in this. Then after that it is "fortune favours the bold", or just being plain old "lucky".
Gotta follow some of Shannons advice.. find myself getting so pumped when my team scores, only to be let down 2 minutes later. Fluctuating emotions so abruptly doesnt feel great haha
I was today years old when I learned Shannon was a lefty. It all makes sense now.
Youre either new, or just havent paid attention. Maybe you just watch the recaps? He doesnt write on those but every video like these, he is a lefty.
@@anthonyfaccaro7118 Both: I'm new(er), started watching this season, and also I don't pay attention 😂
#8 on your board is huge in the playoffs imo. Great point.
my take away is depression as a canes fan
Another playoff series win, you poor thing
Nobody really mentions it but I believe the reason that home ice doesn't mean as much anymore is the teams are just better and deeper on average. It used to be more about matchups but now a lot of these teams have 4 lines that can play so it isn't as noticeable if they get caught in a "bad" matchup.
On number 9.
Shannon: number 10.
😂
I agree. Ive been saying 4th lines are key for over a decade. All the teams that win have that, its so important to be able to roll lines in the playoffs for a number of reasons.
The devils in 2012 we’re basically carried to the finals by their 4th line lol.
I love that photo of the GM in the background. that's fun! :D
Do you mean the commissioner?
@@RorschachqpNo, the GM, or in other words - the Gary Man
@@chrismdb5686 I see. I guess not the best acronym to use.
#2 and #6
Contradict each other.
Teams get up by a couple and play suffocating hockey, but then leads aren't safe lol .
Also rocking the Shore Jersey today!
How do they contradict eachother? Teams have been going up and then playing lockdown hockey. That doesn’t mean it’s always successful.
Nice Sudbury Blueberry Bulldogs jersey!
Love setting the tone with the sweater!
I think 1 and 9 are joined at the hip. When defense means you can clutch grab board and cross check and the worst you worry about is 4 on 4 defense is going to win
Defense is fun to watch when it's aggressive defense like Florida brings. They don't get a lead and then go into a shell. That would be boring. They are intense and intensity is really what's entertaining. I like top notch hockey, and lets be honest, a 6-5 game is not top notch. Defensive blunders lead to that type of game.
Gooning is not top-notch either, but Panthers are getting rewarded like it is.
@@closethockeyfan5284 You seem bitter. Florida is far from a gooning team anyway. But that is fun to watch too.
quicker transition passing into offense zone for scoring chances?
Nice threads!
The lack of penalties has realy helped Florida considering how much they were penalized in the regular season. It doesn't matter because FLA was going to win the series against the Rangers anyway not based on special teams play but just the consent forecheck that rattled them to no end.
Yep, gooning is in again. They monkey-saw-monkey-did and surpassed big bro Tampa (Perry and Magoon, among other lesser offenders), who had likewise surpassed Boston in gooning. Don't get me wrong--skill and speed and size still are big ingredients--but the gooning sets Florida apart, and the mandated lenient officiating style and Department of Player Endangerment lack of punishment let the coach laugh in press conferences about setting back the game 45 years.
@@closethockeyfan5284You are not wrong, but if every game, the goals are all scored on the PP, it becomes nothing more than a glorified popularity contest, and the meaning of hockey is lost.
@@anthonyfaccaro7118 or perhaps they should simply not play in a way that would result in penalties being called against them?
Tell ESPN that shots don't matter, it seems to be the only stat they use to determine who is going to win the Cup
THG towers above ESPN.
I hope we’re not heading toward another dead puck era.
Evan Bouchard got the Oilers into the Finals and everyone's all "Nuge is great!" & "Skinner was amazing!". Bouchard assisted on both goals, nearly got a 3rd assist too and was pretty solid in his own end yet he's still the Invisible Man.
Hockey is one of the most team oriented sports out there so its never just 1 man doing anything.
Not in Edmonton.
@@Razahoo7 The Oilers wouldn't have even been in the playoffs or made it past each round without him. Go back and rewatch his games, the forwards would have nothing without his plays, no breakaway passes, not backchecking turnovers, no jumping up, no pinching, sure the D is 6 guys but Bouchard is leading by example and the best of the bunch, he's been consistent all season and throughout the playoffs, look at his numbers, ice-time +/-, he's the total package. He's even been killing penalties in the playoffs, that's not something he did in the regular season. And don't take it so literal. He's as integral to this Oilers team as Gretzky was to the 80s Oilers teams.
Fourth line was a factor last year. Golden Knights fourth line was huge to their success.
Duane Sutters goal was offside . Really by a lot im old I remember .
I was at the game and had no clue about the offsides as there was no technology in the arena at the time. I'm sure many of the fans saw it. It wasn't even close. Nystrom's goal was good as gold.
Keefe didn't roll 4 lines and when things went south, he loaded up the tiop line a double shifted them. Every year. Hope Berube can stay on top of things.
As a Bruin fan, I also learned how my team got absolutely bullied by the Panthers.
Oiler fans dont seem to get this concept. East is just different.
If you don't buy point 2, just look at the canes the last 4 years in the playoffs...
Oilers definitely felt like they had momentum once they tied the Dallas series 2-2. Same for Florida tying up the series 2-2. Both teams down 1-2 and then went on to win next 3. I'd call that momentum .
Excellent discussion. Points seem valid, except #6, which seems a little weak. Can't wait to see how the Oilers handle the stifling forecheck of the Panthers,
They adjusted very quickly to the way Dallas forechecked which is very similar to what the panthers have
We cannot forget that Maurice last time he faced Edmonton they had no problem winning in 4. This will be a better battle than that series was but if Edmonton cannot adjust after game 1 they gotta be careful!
11. Faceoffs matter. A LOT. With the increasingly possessive style of gameplay we’re seeing in the league, winning face-offs has become so essential to winning games. Watch the Panthers series against Boston & NYR and you’ll see how the Panthers weakness at the dot was one of the main reasons either series went to 6. Rags especially killed them on special teams with face-offs, killing so many of their penalties against the Cats and scoring multiple short handed goals cuz they would win the face-off to start off and never let FLA establish the zone after that first easy clear. Big concern for the Cats heading into the cup IMO, especially up against a nasty Oilers PK.
I lmao in the 3rd, when the linesman didnt drop it, and mcdavid fell on his face. Can you imagine someone tearing an acl because they dont drop the puck? Its gonna happen they keep that crap up.
They matter very little infact. If you lose a faceoff, you often juat have to retrieve the puck which is not a hard task for a good team. The only time faceoff matters a lot is if you're losing by one with few seconds on the clock, your goalie is pulled and you're trying to tie the game. And if you're in that situation, there's many things to worry about before winning faceoffs becomes a priority.
Also, the Panthers had no trouble with Rangers. Rangers got to game 6 because they had Shesterkin. They had absolutely no business hanging in there to game 6.
Thank you for the 'lack of power play' section, it's just ridiculous. I can't think of ANY other pro SPORT, of ANY kind, where the standards for penalties completely change from the regular season to the postseason. Even ups too, that definitely occurs. It never changes and it's so frustrating.
The 2 goal lead has always been said is the worst lead a team can have. I heard that from the early 70’s when I was playing minor hockey and ended my playing and coaching career teaching that same saying.
I totally see that too! 1 team will get a 1-2 goals ahead and then the refs will call a penalty during against the team currently winning. Especially during the Vancouver/Edmonton series.
Nice bulldogs sweater
offense zone cycle to shoot at goal?
"I'm gonna make Gretzky's head bleed for superfan 99 over here"
Shots do matter. Maybe not in a single game but over a series they do. Florida simply wore down Shersterkin and I'm sure Skinner is feeling a little shell shocked after Dallas and now he has to go in facing a Panthers team that likes to shoot, a lot.
Shots did matter in the Canucks - Oilers series
Saw that a lot in the memorial cup. Refs just swallowed their whistles
The framed Gary easter egg 😂
I love you Shannon
Shannon bro I don't find it boring at all
Another thing, does goaltending matter in the playoffs as much as its thought? Shesterkin and Swayman both outplayed Florida and still got let down by their teams, meanwhile you have Skinner (no disrespect to him by any means, but he's not Otter or Demko or Hill) in the finals with a team that plays such good defense that as long as he plays decent, that they can win.
Never noticed before that you're a fellow lefty
Shots on goal go hand in hand with save pct. Neither are completely created equal. I feel like some goalies get destroyed for have a sub .910 save pct but their teams only give up 15 to 20 shots all game and most are decent, Kuemper in 22 and Bob this year are perfect examples. Then some teams play more passive so they give up 30+ bad looks so a goalies numbers are kinda inflated.
I've learned Joe Pavalski's age finally caught up to him
In the playoffs it hit like a brick shithouse
Here's a crazy video idea; who does the Stanley cup champion team move in off season in an effort to repeat?
You said McDavid and Draisital aren't moving on if they win a cup, which is totally fair but..... if they win a cup what players does Edmonton immediately look to move so they don't have to pay (soon to expire contracts) or because they can get a kings ransom for (because he just won a cup and is on a good contract)???
Bleeding is actually a double minor. So the high sticker ends up with a power play.
quicker shooting?
There needs to be more penalties called during the playoffs next year. It's crazy how all season players are told they're not allowed to do certain things, but then come time for the playoffs - not a big deal.
It all adds up to "You must be a complete team!".
I think the "Controversy is guaranteed" point is a great one, and is a big problem for the NHL. It's hard for a mainstream audience to get very invested in a sport if it doesn't seem "fair." I put fair in quotes because you can argue that if mistakes go both ways, then that is fair, but the problem is the perception and the way it makes fans feel when their team loses. They definitely need to update officiating and rules to take advantage of modern technology to reduce error while ensuring player safety if they want the appeal to be on the level of NBA/NFL/MLB.