Open Road

For those that follow hockey you know the Florida Panthers and Edmonton Oilers are fighting for the Stanley Cup.

What is also taking place soon are the finals for the AHL's Calder Cup.

So my interesting hockey fact of the day is that in the entire history of these two championships there have only been 3 instances where the Stanley and Calder cups were won by two affiliates.

What I mean by that is the AHL teams often form relationships with the NHL teams to develop players and when they get good enough they head up to the big leagues.

This year the Charlotte Checkers are in the finals along with the Florida Panthers.

If they both win then we'll see the fourth instance of this relatively rare event!

Of course they both have to win and based on last night's game Florida isn't holding up their end of the bargain yet.

Very good game last night.

E55AMG wrote: ↑Thu Jun 05, 2025 11:42 am Very good game last night.

Florida blew it but I think they know what they're up against now.

Go Hershey Bears!!

I know this is a Hockey thread but did anyone catch the end of Pacers/Thunder last night? Holy shit, Pacers pull another last second out of their ass like they did against the Knicks.

Ok, back to Stanley Cup finals. (didn't want to start another thread).

i am not a traitor wrote: ↑Fri Jun 06, 2025 8:35 am Go Hershey Bears!!

They're golfing!

E55AMG wrote: ↑Fri Jun 06, 2025 10:29 am I know this is a Hockey thread but did anyone catch the end of Pacers/Thunder last night? Holy shit, Pacers pull another last second out of their ass like they did against the Knicks.

Ok, back to Stanley Cup finals. (didn't want to start another thread).

I haven't watched basketball on TV in years. But I'll check out the highlights as I heard about it on the radio.

Florida says they're unfazed by the loss, let's see how they respond tonight.

Lots of excitement up here as this is Oilers Country. It's been a great run so far, with Game 1 of the Final being the Oilers' 7th come from behind win (out of 13 victories) of the playoffs. Most people are cautiously optimistic about the chance of the Cup finally coming back to Canada, as the Oilers are displaying tremendous depth this year, and are not just reliant on McDavid and Draisaitl (though that OT winner was a beauty!).

About 4 hours to puck drop - can hardly wait.

Crisis wrote: ↑Fri Jun 06, 2025 4:17 pm Lots of excitement up here as this is Oilers Country. It's been a great run so far, with Game 1 of the Final being the Oilers' 7th come from behind win (out of 13 victories) of the playoffs. Most people are cautiously optimistic about the chance of the Cup finally coming back to Canada, as the Oilers are displaying tremendous depth this year, and are not just reliant on McDavid and Draisaitl (though that OT winner was a beauty!).

About 4 hours to puck drop - can hardly wait.

I'll end up missing the first couple of hours, might only be able to catch the 3rd period.

I can imagine the excitement up there. Long time coming for sure!

On a side note I was surprised when they showed the outdoor scenes and it was daylight at 8:30pm. Then I looked it up and found that the sun doesn't go down this time of year there until almost 10pm. WTF?!? Wow!

Brad Marchand has been quite the acquisition for the Panthers... unbelievable how much of an impact he has made on the team this postseason!

Great game and crazy ending.

Amazing series through the first 2 games.

Game 1 ends with 30 seconds left in the 1st OT period on a classic McDavid to Draisaitl goal. Edmonton sends Game 2 to OT with a goal from 40 year old Corey Perry with 18 seconds left, then Marchand wins it for Florida with a breakaway winner in Double OT.

Triple OT for Game 3, anyone?

fpena944 wrote: ↑Fri Jun 06, 2025 5:04 pm
On a side note I was surprised when they showed the outdoor scenes and it was daylight at 8:30pm. Then I looked it up and found that the sun doesn't go down this time of year there until almost 10pm. WTF?!? Wow!

Yup, the late sunsets in summer, especially June, makes for marvellous long evenings up here. Definitely the best time of the year.

Also, you can tee off after work and get in a full 18.

Crisis wrote: ↑Sat Jun 07, 2025 2:17 pm Amazing series through the first 2 games.

Game 1 ends with 30 seconds left in the 1st OT period on a classic McDavid to Draisaitl goal. Edmonton sends Game 2 to OT with a goal from 40 year old Corey Perry with 18 seconds left, then Marchand wins it for Florida with a breakaway winner in Double OT.

Triple OT for Game 3, anyone?

Gotta say the Oiler's goal in OT was prettier than FL's goal. The winning goal looked kind of cheap.

Yeah I know it still counts the same but after such a great game was a let-down as it sort of dribbled in.

Game 3 was a dominant beatdown of the Oilers by the Panthers. The first period was pretty good hockey even with Florida leading 2-0, but everything after that was garbage by the Oilers. The last half of the 3rd period was just a damn embarrassment for Edmonton, as Florida successfully got in the Oilers' heads and made them look like fools from Slapshot.

Oilers better get their shit together for Game 4 or the Edmonton fans will see Florida hosting the Cup in front of them after Game 5 on Saturday.

Crisis wrote: ↑Tue Jun 10, 2025 9:57 am Game 3 was a dominant beatdown of the Oilers by the Panthers. The first period was pretty good hockey even with Florida leading 2-0, but everything after that was garbage by the Oilers. The last half of the 3rd period was just a damn embarrassment for Edmonton, as Florida successfully got in the Oilers' heads and made them look like fools from Slapshot.

Oilers better get their shit together for Game 4 or the Edmonton fans will see Florida hosting the Cup in front of them after Game 5 on Saturday.

I think McDavid being off the ice for several minutes really got to their heads. It seemed as soon as he was out of sight they looked like a different team. Which is all in their minds because they are a more complete team than just one individual.

Florida is showing patience and experience as they never seem to get rattled or panic.

OIlers need to come out scoring early for Game 4 or like you said this one will be over soon.

Back to great hockey, as Edmonton wins 5-4 in OT after Florida ties it with 20 seconds left. Ugly OT winner, as it deflected off a Panther and into the net.

Series is tied 2-2 heading back to Edmonton for Game 5 on Saturday. I’ll be in town then, but not gonna lay out $1,000+ for a nosebleed seat.

Starting Pickard in net didn’t do anything for the Oilers. At home for Game 5 on a Saturday night in front of a raucous crowd and they come out as flat as the Canadian Prairies.
Marchand and Bennett continue to be studs through the playoffs and are all set to hoist the Cup at home in Tuesday. Hoping to see a Game 7 back in Edmonton, but wouldn’t bet any money on it.

Crisis wrote: ↑Sun Jun 15, 2025 1:39 am Starting Pickard in net didn’t do anything for the Oilers. At home for Game 5 on a Saturday night in front of a raucous crowd and they come out as flat as the Canadian Prairies.
Marchand and Bennett continue to be studs through the playoffs and are all set to hoist the Cup at home in Tuesday. Hoping to see a Game 7 back in Edmonton, but wouldn’t bet any money on it.

I missed game 4 as we were traveling but watched last night and surprised the Oilers came out as flat as you described.

I mean they went half the 2nd period without a shot on goal!

The problems I see is that they have the talent but lack stability/consistency. Too many highs and lows. While FL just does their thing and does so without getting as flustered.

I do want to see Canada win a cup although I'm kind of a FL fan but not sure it will happen at this rate. Maybe with their backs against the wall they'll respond favorably again?

In the AHL my team lost in the second overtime. Was trying to get tickets to today's game but a stupid server error while checking out killed my chances. Oh well!

So, the “preliminary “ 6 players from each nation for the 2026 Winter Olympics were announced today. After this winter’s 4 Nation’s Cup, and no Russia again, the USA and Canada have to be the favourites.

Surprisingly, the USA didn’t list a goalie in their first 6 players:
Auston Matthews
Matthew Tkachuk
Brady Tkachuk
Quinn Hughes
Jack Eichel
Charlie McAvoy

A solid squad, but doesn’t compare to the Canadian top 6:
Connor McDavid
Sidney Crosby
Nathan MacKinnon
Cale Makar
Sam Reinhart
Brayden Point

Admittedly a team is more than just 6 players, but those 6 are crazy good.

Crisis wrote: ↑Mon Jun 16, 2025 9:53 pm So, the “preliminary “ 6 players from each nation for the 2026 Winter Olympics were announced today. After this winter’s 4 Nation’s Cup, and no Russia again, the USA and Canada have to be the favourites.

Surprisingly, the USA didn’t list a goalie in their first 6 players:
Auston Matthews
Matthew Tkachuk
Brady Tkachuk
Quinn Hughes
Jack Eichel
Charlie McAvoy

A solid squad, but doesn’t compare to the Canadian top 6:
Connor McDavid
Sidney Crosby
Nathan MacKinnon
Cale Makar
Sam Reinhart
Brayden Point

Admittedly a team is more than just 6 players, but those 6 are crazy good.

Agreed but I really think it's silly to keep excluding Russia. If they can play in the NHL then let them play at an international level. Seems like a lot of virtue signaling that waters down the competition and will always leave an asterisk on these tournaments.

fpena944 wrote: ↑Sun Jun 15, 2025 10:04 am
In the AHL my team lost in the second overtime. Was trying to get tickets to today's game but a stupid server error while checking out killed my chances. Oh well!

Too bad you couldn’t make last night’s game, as it looked like a great one.

So far the Calder Cup final is mimicking the Stanley Cup, with the first 2 games both going to OT. I’d be OK with Charlotte taking that one, but don’t want to see their parent team to take home the big one.

fpena944 wrote: ↑Mon Jun 16, 2025 9:56 pm
Agreed but I really think it's silly to keep excluding Russia. If they can play in the NHL then let them play at an international level. Seems like a lot of virtue signaling that waters down the competition and will always leave an asterisk on these tournaments.

I’d have no issue with Russia fielding a team, but wouldn’t worry about an asterisk being attached to any Gold Medal. For a couple decades, the USSR had their Red Army pros dominate true amateur athletes (with 1980 Miracle on Ice being the amazing exception), and they seemed OK with their Golds.

Crisis wrote: ↑Mon Jun 16, 2025 10:01 pm

fpena944 wrote: ↑Sun Jun 15, 2025 10:04 am
In the AHL my team lost in the second overtime. Was trying to get tickets to today's game but a stupid server error while checking out killed my chances. Oh well!

Too bad you couldn’t make last night’s game, as it looked like a great one.

So far the Calder Cup final is mimicking the Stanley Cup, with the first 2 games both going to OT. I’d be OK with Charlotte taking that one, but don’t want to see their parent team to take home the big one.

Charlotte had technically "won" the first game but the goal was disallowed when the refs said the goalie wasn't ready.

Also notable between both the AHL and NHL series are the distances between both teams. Lots of cross-country travel taking place between these contests!

Well tonight is Game 6. I'll miss the 1st period as I have to pick up my parents from the airport arriving from their Carribean adventures. Which version of the teams will show up?

fpena944 wrote: ↑Tue Jun 17, 2025 7:17 am

Charlotte had technically "won" the first game but the goal was disallowed when the refs said the goalie wasn't ready.

Also notable between both the AHL and NHL series are the distances between both teams. Lots of cross-country travel taking place between these contests!

Well tonight is Game 6. I'll miss the 1st period as I have to pick up my parents from the airport arriving from their Carribean adventures. Which version of the teams will show up?

I watched the replay on the disallowed goal in 2OT in Game One a few times, as I've never seen that exact occurrence in pro hockey before. The linesman out at the blueline did have his hand up indicating that they weren't ready for puck drop, but the linesman dropping the puck didn't see him, so it was the right call. Regardless, that had to be a heartbreaker to have a 2OT winning goal taken away from you.

Tonight, we know that Florida will show up ready. As for the Oilers, who knows? They can be the best team in the league, or they can be a dumpster fire. I'm hoping that first version show up tonight.

Maybe this will play out like Game 6 between Florida and Toronto, where everyone figured that Toronto was done after shitting the bed at home in Game 5. In the end, all the Leafs' victory in Game 6 did was to allow them to shit the bed again in Game 7 in front of their hometown fans. A very Leafs way to end their season.

Crisis wrote: ↑Tue Jun 17, 2025 12:54 pm

fpena944 wrote: ↑Tue Jun 17, 2025 7:17 am

Charlotte had technically "won" the first game but the goal was disallowed when the refs said the goalie wasn't ready.

Also notable between both the AHL and NHL series are the distances between both teams. Lots of cross-country travel taking place between these contests!

Well tonight is Game 6. I'll miss the 1st period as I have to pick up my parents from the airport arriving from their Carribean adventures. Which version of the teams will show up?

I watched the replay on the disallowed goal in 2OT in Game One a few times, as I've never seen that exact occurrence in pro hockey before. The linesman out at the blueline did have his hand up indicating that they weren't ready for puck drop, but the linesman dropping the puck didn't see him, so it was the right call. Regardless, that had to be a heartbreaker to have a 2OT winning goal taken away from you.

Tonight, we know that Florida will show up ready. As for the Oilers, who knows? They can be the best team in the league, or they can be a dumpster fire. I'm hoping that first version show up tonight.

Maybe this will play out like Game 6 between Florida and Toronto, where everyone figured that Toronto was done after shitting the bed at home in Game 5. In the end, all the Leafs' victory in Game 6 did was to allow them to shit the bed again in Game 7 in front of their hometown fans. A very Leafs way to end their season.

Your comment about the Oilers made me crack up. That has been their issue - inconsistency. All that firepower and sometimes they just forget how to skate.

As for Toronto, I guess I should be thankful the Sabres don't make the playoffs at all because I never have to get my hopes up high. But for die-hard Toronto fans it's the same story every year:

That 3rd goal just awarded the Panthers the cup.

fpena944 wrote: ↑Tue Jun 17, 2025 9:53 pm That 3rd goal just awarded the Panthers the cup.

I’m afraid I have to agree with you. In a 2-0 game, the next goal is crucial. Panthers have definitely been the better team through the series and, barring a 3rd period miracle, will be the deserving Cup champions (again).

Who does the Conn Smythe go to? Bennett, Marchand, or Bobrovsky?

FL just so good.

E55AMG wrote: ↑Tue Jun 17, 2025 11:08 pm FL just so good.

Best team by a mile. Congrats to the Panthers.

Speaking for all Canadians, I gotta admit that having Florida teams win 4 of the last 6 Cups (and losing in the Finals the other 2 years) is a hard pill to swallow. Vegas winning also sucked. Colorado was OK.

For many of us, it's less a US vs. Canada thing than a traditional non-hockey market winning, when we feel they haven't "earned it" through decades of heartache.

The bitter pill for us Sabres fans is that in the last several years the most productive players were former Sabre players...

Hey look what I found in my desk drawer! Got this from a game we attended when we lived in FL during COVID. Forgot all about it until today when I started looking for it:

fpena944 wrote: ↑Wed Jun 18, 2025 3:20 pm The bitter pill for us Sabres fans is that in the last several years the most productive players were former Sabre players...

I feel for you. The Sabres couldn't have made worse player moves if they wanted to. It's actually quite impressive.

Crisis wrote: ↑Wed Jun 18, 2025 7:12 pm

fpena944 wrote: ↑Wed Jun 18, 2025 3:20 pm The bitter pill for us Sabres fans is that in the last several years the most productive players were former Sabre players...

I feel for you. The Sabres couldn't have made worse player moves if they wanted to. It's actually quite impressive.

You're right, they've perfected the process of making bad decisions!

Gotta love hockey players.

Barkov takes the Cup to his neighbour at 5am.

Taking a little different outlook on hockey that has nothing to do with the NHL. A good read about a bunch of old guys here in Saskatoon that are remaining active hockey players into their very senior years.

90-year-old hockey players prove you’re never too old to play

https://www.ckom.com/2025/11/24/90-year ... d-to-play/

Crisis wrote: ↑Mon Nov 24, 2025 1:06 pm Taking a little different outlook on hockey that has nothing to do with the NHL. A good read about a bunch of old guys here in Saskatoon that are remaining active hockey players into their very senior years.

90-year-old hockey players prove you’re never too old to play

https://www.ckom.com/2025/11/24/90-year ... d-to-play/

That is awesome!

I'm going to have to look up a video of them playing as I'm curious what kind of speed and skill they would have at those ages. Granted a few are ex-NHLers so I'd think they can still give those in the beer leagues a run for their money.