So, the East has two teams that haven't completely choked in their franchises' existences.

Meanwhile, in the West, there's a team that's never been to the WCF(Preds), a team that has been a choker its entire existence(Blues), another team that has been a choker its entire existence (Sharks), and a team that used to be a choker, won a cup and made another, then went back to choking (Stars).

She's a good woman :D

I was going apeshit as you could tell during those delay of game sequences.

Was worried when they came back, but HELL YES YES YES!!!! Moving on to ECF! What's Stamkos's status?

** Off NHL Topic **

Well bummer of a night for our Missouri Mavs. I was on the other sheet coaching the 8U/SQ kids and we heard it wasn't going very well next door in the main bowl. Ugh, Mavs ended up losing 5-1.

OK, back to NHL...

I can't start threads and I know this is a little off topic but salute to our Missouri Mavericks. Not gonna lie got that same sad/upset feeling I would get when my favorite teams would lose in the playoffs as a little kid. These guys were a blast to watch can't wait for next year!

When you were a kid and your team lost it was like death.

Now, it's 'meh.'

Got a bad feeling about tonight...I know the road team has been winning games left and right in this series but another Game 7? Ugh.

Curious if they go back to Elliott or stick with Allen...

Only getting one goal out of that string of powerplays did Washington in, and they had a lot of 5 on 3 time too. Pens vs TBL should be a damn good series. Games 7s tonight and tomorrow!

Benn probably explodes tonight. Gotta beat that turd Lehtonen.

Speaking of the Mavs, Hunts are bringing another hockey team to Overland Park's new arena. This is junior hockey, but really good. It's the top high school players in the country - Omaha, Des Moines etc all have teams. It will be a nice compliment to the Mavs.

Agreed. I wasn't happy about the loss, but I was having a LOT more fun coaching kids 200 feet away on the other sheet of ice. It's just more fun..

Like!! I chatted with him at the 810 tailgate before game of the previous series, and he did indicate that more sheets is the best way to grow the sports (hockey and figure skating)...

So who all gets the boot if they lose tonight in Big D??

Eh, it would be a natural termination point either way.

If they can't get over the hump, it's time to move onto the next era. You let Backes walk at that point, you try to find a taker for Bouwmeester and maybe even Steen.

Windows close and windows punctuated by little more than heartbreak and disappointment don't just close, they slam shut on a few fingers.

If they lose tonight, I think they start to re-tool. They have all their draft picks and a fair amount of young talent on defense. Their forward ranks are thinned out in the minors but Barbeshev will be here soon and it's time to shit or get off the pot with Rattie and Jaskin.

Elliot's probably built some trade value so it would be time to commit to Allen and see if Binnington, Copely or Husso are ready to take on backup duties (way early on Husso but the other 2 may be ready for it).

Ownership has given their all; they've done everything they can to keep this window open for as long as possible. But this year's team can't come back intact if for no other reason than the cap. When next year's squad is likely to be at least a little worse than this version, why not just hit the re-set button, move some guys for assets while they still have value (that Shatty for Drouin deal would start to look enticing) and get guys like Schwartz locked up long term rather than settling for a bridge deal.

I honestly believe that Hitch has already decided he's not returning regardless.

With that said, they're up against the cap and they're going to have to re-tool regardless if they lose tonight, or win the whole ****ing thing.

Agree 100% with DJ. And I was reading that the rules for the potential expansion draft might give us an out for Bouwmeester...

As far as tonight goes, I really believe we win. That's rare for me in respect to this organization and these situations.