[paran falcon]

Brayden Point likely to play for the Lightning tonight after missing the last 2 series plus. That's nothing but good for TB!

[Malankazooie]

One down.

Man, this Stanley Cup finals looks like it is fixing to be one for the ages. Some of the goals scored were straight up video game level fantastic.

This post has been edited by Malankazooie: 16 June 2022 - 04:34 PM

[paran falcon]

Indeed. I was a little surprised that TB was the team that looked off in the 1st period. Slim chance Vasilevskiy gives up 2 easy-ish goals like that again, as he showed the rest of the game. I'm thinking 7 games...

[Malankazooie]

Halfway there. Ooof, seven biscuits in the basket. The Avs can pour it on like that. Worried now because that could have been demoralising enough to stir TB's championship muscles from last two years to respond.

[paran falcon]

I don't know why TB has dropped the first 2 road games of both the last 2 series but its not something they should make a habit of. They didn't have 9 days off when the Finals started in CO. They looked like they were skating in mud and CO wasn't. Thankfully, the Lightning showed up last night. Even managed to chase a goalie. They cannot do less than they did last night again, or they will lose the Cup. Colorado is terrifyingly good. But the Lightning CAN do this.

[Vengeance]

Colorado all the way. I don't expect another game like that from Colorado. I expect them to clean up and to finish the series back in Denver for the Cup.

[Malankazooie]

I mean, a case was made Lighting should have pulled their goalie in the game prior. Pundits argued that the coach's position is that it would have shaken his confidence. I don't know man, 7 goals to your zilch? I think it would have been prudent to pull him. He's supposed to be the best, right?

Anyway, I'm thinking this is going to be the series of holding home ice and it will go to seven.

[Vengeance]

Pulling the goalie when your down by 7 is just going to screw with his head even more. Down by that amount there is very little upside in doing anything.

[Malankazooie]

See, that's what happens when you poke the bear, but you, yourself are a bear, just not a championship bear (yet) and you get poked back, and voila.

footnote: well I guess you were a championship bear back in 2001.

[paran falcon]

Still Alive.

[Malankazooie]

That'll do. Would have been nice to win it on home ice but that sumbitch Vasilevskiy can be a virtual concrete wall in front of the goal at times. The homecoming parade should be glorious.

Earlier Sunday, ESPN ran their documentary on the Red Wing and Avalanche rivalry that started in 1997 with a vicious hit and carries on from there for a few years. Man, that got me pumped for the game later in the day.

Here's the trailer https://www.youtube....h?v=ss8naEocAuQ Holy hell, both teams had a bounty of talent!

[paran falcon]

Congrats to Colorado, they took the Cup from the Lightning. Proud that TB did NOT go down to a literal avalanche in game 5, which I half expected. A little disappointed they couldn't mount a heavy assault in the 3rd period last night to tie the game. Some credit goes to the CO defense but I feel like the Lightning may have just run out of gas too. CO is the toughest team TB has faced in this whole 3 year run, no doubt. All that speed and talent was so good it hid the fact that their goaltending was probably not Cup caliber. And they made Vasilevskiy look less than the best goaltender in the world often. Perhaps we'll meet again...

[Vengeance]

That was a solid game 6. Glad to see the Avalanche bring home a cup again.

[paran falcon]

Heard yesterday that Lightning center Brayden Point's injury was/is a torn quad muscle. And he tried to play in Game 1 of the Cup Final. Freaking hockey players...ungodly toughness.