The Stars are toast. Big changes coming to a supposedly contending team that can’t score more than 2 goals in 3 games on Stewart ‘The Human Sieve’ Skinner.
Somewhere in NW BC trying (yet again) to trade a(nother) Swede…..
Mëds wrote: ↑Tue May 27, 2025 8:33 pm
The Stars are toast. Big changes coming to a supposedly contending team that can’t score more than 2 goals in 3 games on Stewart ‘The Human Sieve’ Skinner.
The mix, it’s always the mix, the right ingredients required. On paper they look spectacular and maybe that’s the problem.
Helluva time for Rantanen to go cold. One assist the whole series. Johnston and Duchene are getting caved-in on +/- (take that stat for what it is). The forwards have, as a whole, gone cold. Against Stuart Fucking Skinner. Boggles the fucking mind.
Heiskanen is contributing, but no doubt he's playing hurt. The D has, though, been surprisingly permissive. Oettinger probably would like a couple back, but it's not just on him.
I don't think Dallas is going to execute any radical roster restructuring if they go out in the conference finals. That said, coming up short twice against the same time will drive management to do something to get them over the hump. Maybe Edmonton is to Dallas what Chicago was to Vancouver in the Sedins' heyday.
Dallas and Winnipeg may be in the same bind: Great teams with solid rosters who can't get over the playoff hump. The irony of their success is that their rosters are so solid that their ability to improve substantially is slimmer than if they were in transition or rebuilding - even with a rising salary cap. Anything more than incremental moves will require radical/higher-risk trades or departures of potentially core players. They are what they are, and they either find a way to win with their roster as-constructed (new coach? different playoff bracket?) or make hard decisions on their roster.
Lancer wrote: ↑Wed May 28, 2025 10:00 am
Helluva time for Rantanen to go cold. One assist the whole series. Johnston and Duchene are getting caved-in on +/- (take that stat for what it is). The forwards have, as a whole, gone cold. Against Stuart Fucking Skinner. Boggles the fucking mind.
When you look at many of Rantanen’s goals this post season, there way too many that were bounces and broken plays for the hype to have been everything it was. Much of it was the media drumming up their usual finger pointing because of Colorado’s decision and the production that magically appeared when he got to Dallas. It’s worth remembering that this 2-round playoff tiger was a kitten with the Hurricanes.
He’s a really good player. But there’s a reason why Nate was the one carrying the mail for the Avs.
Somewhere in NW BC trying (yet again) to trade a(nother) Swede…..
I think it's as simple as nobody else has McDavid and Draisaitl. The rest of that roster is playing absolutely out of their minds right now. They wouldn't be doing that without their two nuclear weapons. Even if they were, they're not getting this far and would've already been bounced by the Kings. Of course that's an obvious statement, but that's the power of elite players and when you have the two best it's really just a matter of time for it to all come together.
I don't want to bury the Stars just yet. They've had some experiences they can draw from over the past couple of playoffs of being down and out in a series and storming back to advance. That said, 3-1 against this Oiler team is likely too big of a mental hurdle to overcome. And so far they look just as unimpressive as their last Conference Final, even with Rantanen.
For the other series, I think if the Canes weren't so beat down at home to the point where they're completely traumatized, they could win tonight and make something of this. The Cats are probably a little vulnerable knowing they let one get away and after their experience from last year's Final against the Oil nearly letting a 3-0 series lead slip away. But their last four games on the road they absolutely curb stomped their opponents. Not sure that will happen tonight but that experience should bode well for them to finish it out.
Nuckertuzzi wrote: ↑Wed May 28, 2025 3:03 pm
I don't want to bury the Stars just yet. They've had some experiences they can draw from over the past couple of playoffs of being down and out in a series and storming back to advance. That said, 3-1 against this Oiler team is likely too big of a mental hurdle to overcome. And so far they look just as unimpressive as their last Conference Final, even with Rantanen.
The stars have sucked this entire series except for one third period on the power play.
One period
They should just roll over and lick the coilers genitals already. Pathetic
Agreed, just like last year's Conference Final they've looked like pretenders so far. The ONLY thing that can turn it around for them is an early softy by Skinner. Then doubt creeps into his head, fans get into it and Stars get a sudden injection of confidence. The Oil start panicking a little in front of Stu and 1 goal can turn into 3/4 in a hurry. Like a bubble that bursts and momentum could suddenly swing the other way. You're kinda seeing it in the other series right now as the Canes look like an entirely different team. But yeah, the only chance for the Stars is relying on some lucky bounces, and really none of it will matter if Otter doesn't outplay Stu. Can maybe see them taking one game but not the series. The Oil look destined.