The Thread Where We've All Got Playoff Beards

[Guest mr. potato head]

Looks like I might be losing my league this year

After being up 9-1, we are now tied at 5-5. If we end in a tie, he wins because he won the only game we had against each other this year :/

[Cactus Drags]

It may have been moot due to other results not going the right way, but how on earth can you fail to beat the worst team in the league in a must-win game at home?

[NobBe Nobbs]

The fantasy league I am in where you can steal players if you win the league?

That's a hilariously terrible rule.

[Ruki]

I joined because it was different!

And one more game for the tank....come on Leafs! End 4-3 with a hat trick from Kessel.

[SeanDMan]

President's Trophy which seemed impossible a few weeks ago.

[NobBe Nobbs]

I joined because it was different!

And one more game for the tank....come on Leafs! End 4-3 with a hat trick from Kessel.

Well, you got part of it right.

Anyway. Prepare for articles about how the draft only has four true impact players and everybody else is a tier below.

[TGWL]

I won my fantasy league. Crosby came through for me. I picked him in the second round, and had him on it most of the year. Traded backed for zetterberg, Picked letang up when he was out with a concussion, and traded Skinner plus enstrom, for datsyuk when he was injured. Was really banking on injured players coming back. Worked out.

[Ruki]

I also won my league!!! And I hope the hockey gods smile down on the Leafs and let us win the lottery.

[Vamp]

Slough Jets won their play off game tonight, was pretty fun to watch. What do you mean nobody cares?

[SeanDMan]

On the topic of the Jets, did anyone see the pregame of their saturday game? Their press release made it sound... interesting.

[Guest mr. potato head]

THE DEAD HAVE RISEN AND BEGUN THEIR INVASION IN A REALLY CRAPPY CITY

[Ruki]

,.....wtf?

[thatshortguy]

My season's checklist looks pretty good:

1. Winnipeg misses playoffs, purely out of spite: Confirmed

2. Jets players caught in massive homoerotic sex scandal: Unconfirmed (still plausible )

3. Seedings vary wildly from 2011 to 2012: Mostly Confirmed (Rangers go from 8th to 1st in East, Montreal is crying itself to sleep).

4. Playoff team looking for revenge: Confirmed (If Caps upset Boston, they're staring right now both barrels with New York)

5. Friends still bitching about how Florida & Phoenix get a home series, despite being the 6th best teams in their conferences: Confirmed

Biggest complaint is that the West is the same freaking scene it was last year, just sub St. Louis in for Anaheim.

May as well get these out of the way:

Rangers over Ottawa in six.

Boston over Washington in five.

New Jersey over Florida in six.

Pens over Flyers in seven.

Canucks over Kings in a sweep.

Sharks over Blues in six.

Phoenix over Hawks in five.

Preds over Detroit in six, because damnit, Nashville's the closest I've got to a home team

Canucks over Sharks in five.

Preds over Phoenix in six, because damnit, Nashville's the closest I've got to a home team

Devils over Rangers in seven.

Pens over Bruins in six.

Canucks over Preds in seven, because damnit, Nashville's the closest I've got to a home team

Devils over Pens in six.

Devils over Vancouver in six.

[Guest mr. potato head]

...so, um, how long has this thread had the wrong year on it?

[caucasianheat]

Either since Ruki made it last May or when I changed it (after a mild stroke?). Thread needs a new title anyway and I'll take suggestions.

Late breaking: The third seed Florida Panthers aren't very good at all.

[Guest mr. potato head]

Some of my favourite-in-hindsight quotes form the off-season and first bit of the season...

Anyone else thing Carolina's actually shaping up somewhat? Brent and Kaberle are both good additions as ex-Leafs, I'd say. I'll be keeping an eye on them.

The Sabres this year are MILES ahead of where they were last year.

I agree with Puck Daddy in that this season will be strong for Heatley.

I would be flabbergasted if Tampa doesn't make the playoffs.

Agreed with MPH, Tampa is as good as they were last year when they looked to play spoiler in the East. Too potent offensively to put out of the running. I don't see Florida anywhere near contention either, I think they'll be sharing basement real estate with the Sens and Islanders.

Otrawa may not win a lot of games this season, but they have some youth and enthusiasm.

PREDICTIONS TIME

East

Boston

Pittsburgh

Washington

Buffalo

Tampa Bay

Montreal

Philadelphia

Carolina

----------------

NY Rangers

Florida

Toronto

New Jersey

NY Islanders

Winnipeg

Ottawa

I was better in the west except for picking Anaheim to win the Cup

[caucasianheat]

I also bit on Dallas' early success and thought they could be in contention, but that was a bust.

Even with hindsight, almost all of those seem like rational things to have believed - I'm still boggled, say, by how crappy Buffalo was for long stretches. It's been a strange year.

[Guest mr. potato head]

Even before the season started, you were touting Dallas as a sleeper team, pointing to Souray as due for a big year. I let that one slide given their first-half run.

It really has been a strange season though.

[Plubby]

Another few gems from the season.

THE SKY IS FALLING! THE SEASON IS DONE!

Fail for Nail!!!

Ruki, getting in early. (preseason)

That's not a terrible acquisition.

He still has his talent...somewhere...in there. And the Jackets will definitely be better. I don't think you can be too mad at that pickup.

Me, being hilariously wrong.

Right, but Vanek is on a better team and Kane is on a worse one.

Sean, being hilariously wrong.

and especially future Norris winner Subban that Montreal could realistically compete for that #4 spot possibly compete w Boston for the division.

Basha, being hila-oh my god I can't hold it BAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAAHAHAHHAAHHAAHAHAHHAHAHAHAAHA

THREEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE-TWOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

THREE-TWO, THREE-TWO, THREE-TWOOO!!

THREE-TWOOO!

THREE-TWOOO!!

(To the tune of Ole, Ole)

Colorado, winning the "EWB Stanley Cup" over Toronto, 3-2.

We don't talk about my fantasy league in this thread.

*brushes aside the spiderwebs in the cellar*

I came back to finish third in my fantasy league after cellar-dwelling through nearly December!

So what the hell's up with Tampa Bay? Last year they looked like a dark horse Cup contender. No major losses, Stamkos another year older, and now they're not even looking competitive with New Jersey. It's not just the goaltending.

No, it's just the goaltending.

I was right.

[caucasianheat]

No Colorado or Toronto in the playoffs means about 80% of the posters in this thread aren't emotionally invested. Would anyone be interested in a playoff picks contest or even a Royal Rumble-style lottery to make it a little more interesting in here?