Eklund: Fri's Buzzcast LIVE NOW

Eklund: Fri's Buzzcast LIVE NOW
- Eklund

Rather incredibly lucky Oettinger decided to take a night off.

What's the flaw?

Florida finished with 110 points. They beat a 98 point team, then 109, then 113.

Oilers finished with 104 points. They beat a 99 point team, then 109, then 113.

Almost an identical path to the Finals. Oilers deserved to win game 1, but Bobrovsky stood on his head. Florida outplayed them in game 2. Game 3 was a 4-3 game that included a bad miscue by Skinner. On the surface a 3-0 lead looks like a mismatch, but it's not like Florida is winning a bunch of 6-1 games. The difference has basically been goaltending.

But overreacting is pretty normal among the experts. Like how all the players should wear neckguards.

Rather incredibly lucky Oettinger decided to take a night off.
- Alexzanki

Oettinger has taken quite a few nights off in the playoffs the last couple years and even if Dallas had made it through I don't think they would have done any better against Florida. People forget that the Panthers' top D pair was missing the first third of the season and they still finished 4 points from the top of the league. If Ekblad and Montour played all season I suspect they would have broken the President's Trophy curse. They're a very good hockey team and if the West team didn't have such strong Canadian support they would have been overwhelming favorites. Pierre LeBrun asked 17 head coaches and 16 GM's who would win the Cup and 29 of the 33 picked Florida.

Eklund: Fri's Buzzcast LIVE NOW
- Eklund

No. The best teams don’t always win. Luck, hot goalies, cold shooters and a million other things contribute to it. The oilers aren’t the best team
In the west. But they squeaked through. It happens almost every year. Why don’t the presidents trophy winners win the cup every year? Must be flawed playoff format?

No. The best teams don’t always win. Luck, hot goalies, cold shooters and a million other things contribute to it. The oilers aren’t the best team. In the west. But they squeaked through. It happens almost every year. Why don’t the presidents trophy winners win the cup every year? Must be flawed playoff format?
- TurdFergeson

Yeah, see the 93 Canadiens and Roy - he stole that one for them.

It is all stamkos's fault

No. The best teams don’t always win. Luck, hot goalies, cold shooters and a million other things contribute to it. The oilers aren’t the best team
In the west. But they squeaked through. It happens almost every year. Why don’t the presidents trophy winners win the cup every year? Must be flawed playoff format?
- TurdFergeson

But now, the best team is winning

Of course it’s flawed. If your team isn’t winning.
The series still isn’t over but from what I have watched Florida is the better team. Whose to say the rangers or Bruins wouldn’t have beaten Edmonton.

Almost an identical path to the Finals.

I agree that this particular case isn't proof. Also, any hot or cold goalie wrecks any team no matter who you are playing against.

Divisions make playoff seating hard, but I'd support a conference format to the playoffs but there are certainly good arguments against it.

The oilers won in the west and the Panthers won in the East. The two remaining teams are battling it out. How is that flawed? The conference champs battle each other. Don’t change it. If they do then get rid of divisions and conferences.

There is already two wild card teams going into the playoffs in both conferences. I don’t like that.

If you want to change things get rid of the loser point. Go back to ties and 2 points for the winner nothing for the loser

The oilers won in the west and the Panthers won in the East. The two remaining teams are battling it out. How is that flawed? The conference champs battle each other. Don’t change it. If they do then get rid of divisions and conferences.
- BluesDroogie

Panthers won the East and Played well during the whole season. Oilers have been the best team in Hockey since Nov 13th of last year. They are literally the two best teams battling it out but the Oilers look spent. FLA has cup finals experience and the Oilers don't and it shows.

There is already two wild card teams going into the playoffs in both conferences. I don’t like that.

If you want to change things get rid of the loser point. Go back to ties and 2 points for the winner nothing for the loser
- BluesDroogie

This is so correct. Plus teams are just playing for the loser point now. it's pathetic. 2 points for a win and 1 each for a tie in regulation. zero points for an OT loss and the OT winner gets the extra point and the loser NOTHING. as it should be.

Panthers won the East and Played well during the whole season. Oilers have been the best team in Hockey since Nov 13th of last year. They are literally the two best teams battling it out but the Oilers look spent. FLA has cup finals experience and the Oilers don't and it shows.
- LordHumungous

Yep Oil are battling injuries and Panthers mostly healthy. Complete reversal from last SCF where Panthers were injured and beat up.

This is so correct. Plus teams are just playing for the loser point now. it's pathetic. 2 points for a win and 1 each for a tie in regulation. zero points for an OT loss and the OT winner gets the extra point and the loser NOTHING. as it should be.
- LordHumungous

Or go the other route with 3 points for regulation win, 2 for OT/SO win, 1 for OT/SO loss and 0 for regulation loss.

The Oilers don't prove anything. They were a solid freaking team once they fired their coach. There wasn't a better team coming out of the west.

Rather incredibly lucky Oettinger decided to take a night off.
- Alexzanki

Pretty sure it wasn’t a one game series 🥴

To all the haters that didn't like him at 10M per year

Sergei Bobrovsky will have 2 Vezina Trophies, two Stanley cup finals, a cup ring, and Conn Smyth within hours.

I’ve figured it out. Buffalo Sabres draft picks is the key to winning the 2025 Stanley cup. Whoever has Alex Nylander is the next champ.

To all the haters that didn't like him at 10M per year

Sergei Bobrovsky will have 2 Vezina Trophies, two Stanley cup finals, a cup ring, and Conn Smyth within hours.
- AlfieisKing

And deservedly end up in the HHOF.

This is a Mike Rant against the Oilers because Cody Ceci and Hyman are on the oilers and not the insert punchline leafs. The oilers are to banged up just like Florida was last year.

The only thing that is flawed is this site and its pop ups that make it impossible to reply to posts.

The format is stupid should be top 16 teams no matter if they all from east or west then you truly get best on best and matchups that are impossible with current format. Imagine flames /oilers cup final or any other possible matches that are not possible now ? It’s really simple get rid of bettman and bring in new blood that will make these changes to make the game better overall !!

The format is stupid should be top 16 teams no matter if they all from east or west then you truly get best on best and matchups that are impossible with current format. Imagine flames /oilers cup final or any other possible matches that are not possible now ? It’s really simple get rid of bettman and bring in new blood that will make these changes to make the game better overall !!
- Hockeyfan4life14

That's never going to happen. The league needs to accommodate tv viewing audience schedules and the time difference between the East and west coast are too great to maximize viewing ratings.