I definitely underestimated the Hurricanes. I think in some ways the Capitals did too. Things changed quickly though. Even after taking a 2-0 lead, you had that odd feeling that the Canes were playing pretty good (maybe even better) than the Caps were. Then their home crowd was beyond electric. This was a Capitals team that dominated on the road in Columbus, Pittsburgh, Tampa Bay, and Vegas during their Stanley Cup run, but the Carolina crowd was too much for them to even overcome. After that, the Canes realized they could hang and eventually eliminated the champs. Now they feel they can beat anyone. I don't think it is overconfident to expect to win at home or have the series in the bag up 2-0. I have also watched this Islanders team pretty closely too all year and know what they are capable of. That is why Game 3 will be Must See TV. By far the most exciting game of Round 2 in any series so far. I am also interested to see which team dictates play. The Islanders need to if they want to win. Not sure they can play the Canes style that they played at home in the Caps series.
You don’t have to convince me otherwise, unlike basketball where 8th or 7th seed teams are bad, the Canes were 4 points behind Islanders in their division. 2 games back is not a big deal and it shows how close these teams are to each other. As I watch the playoffs, the same names continue to come through for their respective teams, Couture, Panarin, Duschene, Staal....etc Islanders don’t have the clutch guy, Eberle has been the most consistent at almost coming through but he’s always hitting post or crossbar. That’s the same reason their PP stinks, lack of clutch offensive players. I’m not rooting against my team but after watching decades of hockey like you guys, it’s obvious to me why their losing.
Its about time , GAMEDAY is here! Heres hoping our boys can get off the shnide tonight --hopefully we score first and early to simmer 336 and his friends in the arena down a bit.LGI
That's what they need to do to make sure the Cup finals go almost to June! Two days between games and an extra day for at least the first venue change.
2-1 Isles. This team has responded all year and if they lose tonight its basically over. I don't see them coming back from 3-0. It will be a typical low scoring Isles game but I think they get the win and make game 4 interesting.
20 goal scoring rookie and #2 pick overall Andre Svechnikov is projected to be back for tonight’s game which is huge moving forward in this series - even if it takes him a game or 2 to get back to full form. Jordan Martinook is also expected to be in lineup tonight per Canes beat reporter. 2 less Charlotte Checkers in the lineup.
No - all I can think of is NHL did not want 3 games in one night this round. Looks like every other day has only 2 games (1 this past Monday) Bruins CBJ series also had an extra day between games 2 and 3.
OK fellas.... gotta get gas for the grill and beer.... A couple of young guys (close to half my age, lol) I know wanted me to go out and watch the game at a bar somewhere with them.... I told them I get too loud and obnoxious, so they can come watch here. .... just gotta hope reddit helps me out LGI
Enjoy the game,,,rumor has it that JetBlue will be on the field practicing with the kids-----> so 336 can take all the checkers out of his lineup none of that will matter = We are Golden !
YES In true millennial fashion theyre flaking out... One texted if he can bring his girlfriend.... Ummmm. Noooo. (Shes not cool) Better this way.. Leftovers for me Man that second pp sucked! Go IsleS
Sorry, guys, I’m watching the game. Always encouraging to answer an early goal on the road. Hurricanes play hard and on emotion, but we’ve withstood the first of it.
Absolutely pathetic power play. It's as if someone has told them to not shoot. And then they give up the horrible goal as it ends on yet another turnover. They just suck at this point.
