I think it’s more that hockey is just a high energy game. Each game requires a lot of energy, of course, but then the season plus playoffs is just a brutal schedule. The teams that win the Cup are often good, but not great, during the season, and then get hot during the post season.
Winning the President’s Trophy is great, but relatively few teams who win that also win the Cup. The Caps have won it, then got bounced in the first or second round.
The other problem is that the playoffs are different. First, the overtime rules are different, but also penalties tend to be called differently - there’s more “let them play” attitude. So, if you did well during the season because your power play was killer, when you get to the playoffs, you might find the power play doesn’t have as much opportunity to work. And if you’re really great at 3-on-3 overtime and shootouts, that won’t help at all during the playoffs.
As crazy as it sounds the penalties going down should have actually been a boon to the avs. I don’t know where teams ended the standings, caps at least got a bit better, but I remember one of our games after the olympic break Beninati said our powerplay was 31st in the league, and added that 32nd was the avalanche.
It’s annoying that Vegas has fewer points than the Caps, but won their division and are in the Finals, while the Caps didn’t even qualify for the post season.
Peaked too soon? No one really knows, but that’s how it reads.
I’m new to the game, how does that happen? Are team members not getting on or something?
I think it’s more that hockey is just a high energy game. Each game requires a lot of energy, of course, but then the season plus playoffs is just a brutal schedule. The teams that win the Cup are often good, but not great, during the season, and then get hot during the post season.
Winning the President’s Trophy is great, but relatively few teams who win that also win the Cup. The Caps have won it, then got bounced in the first or second round.
The other problem is that the playoffs are different. First, the overtime rules are different, but also penalties tend to be called differently - there’s more “let them play” attitude. So, if you did well during the season because your power play was killer, when you get to the playoffs, you might find the power play doesn’t have as much opportunity to work. And if you’re really great at 3-on-3 overtime and shootouts, that won’t help at all during the playoffs.
And sometimes you run into a hot goaltender.
As crazy as it sounds the penalties going down should have actually been a boon to the avs. I don’t know where teams ended the standings, caps at least got a bit better, but I remember one of our games after the olympic break Beninati said our powerplay was 31st in the league, and added that 32nd was the avalanche.
It’s annoying that Vegas has fewer points than the Caps, but won their division and are in the Finals, while the Caps didn’t even qualify for the post season.
At least Dowd has a shot at the cup. I normally wouldn’t root for them though.
Also I would have torn my hair out if the ducks had beaten vegas and pushed that first-rounder ten picks back.
Ahhhh it kinda burns you out. And that’s really interesting thanks