How about them Golden Knights!

Thanks for the comedy!

 

The lament of all hockey fans come playoff time.

 

3 wins down... 13 to go!!

 

Officiating is atrocious all across the board in the NHL. Too much subjectivity in the officials calls. Each official will see things differently and each game an official may see something as a penalty that he didn't think was a penalty in the previous game. They're only humans doing a tough job. It's fast paced out there and a lot of stuff is going on, it's hard to always get it right. Then they've got players and coaches nattering in their ear about some injustice and they try to do them right.

 

super excited!!!
im debating going to Vegas just so i can experience the atmosphere

 

4 wins down... 12 to go!!
Yeah baby!!

 

I have never been a fan of officiating at the NHL level because calls tend to vary from game to game and even within a game--often, what was a penalty in the first period is not necessarily one in the third with the excuse that "we don't want to impact the result of the game"...which is exactly what they did by not calling the penalty.

When I officiated at lower levels, it was easy to make calls--almost automatic--when you just didn't think about the game situation. The arm goes up almost instantly when an infraction happens. The problem comes in, and it did happen to me, when you try to think about the game situation (your last call--was it good or bad, time left in the game, score, the coach or player chatter, etc.)...then you hesitate and become inconsistent. Your standard for a call changes. Remember, they say that there could be a penalty on every NFL play...hockey is much the same. Now put the amazing speed of the NHL into the equation--being on the same ice as those guys is an out-of-world experience for the average to below average skater--and you have a bad combination. Add another official and it makes it a bigger mess, though it is probably necessary...but it is another set of standards and another guy thinking about things...

Anyway, I started watching hockey with refs like Bryan Lewis, Kerry Fraser, and Andy Von Hellemond. They sucked, too!

 

Congrats to the Golden Knights!

First team to win a series this year...

 

I was just thinking this myself.

 

Well, after the first couple of games I knew I was wrong, and I'm very happy to be wrong and proven wrong last night. I was certain that the Golden Knights were done in the 1st round. I'm not 100% confident in the 2nd round. Is San Jose flying or is Anaheim just really sucking? Anaheim is sucking, but how much of that is because San Jose is playing just that well? So how well will San Jose match up against Vegas? Round 2 will be harder for Vegas and if they make it past the Sharks, there is no way Vegas gets past round 3.

 

I be there next week, l'll give my Bruins the advanced scouting report when they hopefully meet in the finals

 

I am so happy! I'll be there from the 29th to the 3rd, and it'll be so much fun to soak up the playoff atmosphere.

 

They are now the favorites to win the Stanley Cup...

Bovada odds released this week...

Vegas Golden Knights: 9/2
Nashville Predators: 5/1
Tampa Bay Lightning: 11/2
Boston Bruins: 6/1
Winnipeg Jets: 15/2
Pittsburgh Penguins: 8/1
San Jose Sharks: 10/1
Columbus Blue Jackets: 18/1
Toronto Maple Leafs: 20/1
Washington Capitals: 20/1
Philadelphia Flyers: 40/1
New Jersey Devils: 50/1
Colorado Avalanche: 66/1
Minnesota Wild: 100/1
Anaheim Ducks: 125/1


https://www.cbssports.com/nhl/news/nhl-playoffs-2018-the-vegas-golden-knights-are-the-new-stanley-cup-favorites/

Interesting...

 

So I am waiting impatiently to find out the round 2 Knights game schedule and see if we want to do an impromptu trip to catch a game. Any idea of weekend dates that might be home games?

 

It all depends on how late round 1 goes. Normally there is a day or two between rounds unless a series or two goes to game 7. In that case that series will end one night and a series those two teams aren't involved in will start the next night.

If all the series end early then round 2 could start a day or two early. I would anticipate that round 2 will probably start April 26.

 

I don't know a thing about hockey but to have a new franchise in any sport favored to win it all is pretty rare.

Wonder how them actually winning would impact the Books ?

 

lets go!!!!!

 

I have the plane tickets lined up for 5/4 through 5/8. If they go to game 5 and it falls within those days and I can get reasonable tickets we are going. And I have not asked off yet and my husband got a promotion starting on 5/1 and has not asked off yet. Too many variables still open right now.

 

Vegas winning the Cup is a huuuuge liability for them

 

very nice
i was planning May 1 to the 4th... but the bf wants to be responsible and save money instead of going to Vegas. we did just come back not even a month ago. so i'll see.. maybe if they make it to next round....