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NHL 2026 Playoff Thread

Panthers Fan 69
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Anybodyhome Grand Master

Anybodyhome

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My thoughts on Carolina's post-season run:

  • Obviously, the season began with a below average Freddie Andersen and everyone hoping Kochetkov would pick up the slack, until he got hurt. Enter Brandon Bussi who had a made-for-TV movie type run until the end of the season, when he came crashing back to earth, his save % drops under .900 and the team needs to score 5-6 goals to win games. Freddie has shown signs of a resurgence and Bussi looked pretty good the last 2 games of the season, but both sample sizes are small and questions abound for all 3 goalies.
  • The physicality of playoff hockey will take its toll. Save for a few players, the Canes best players are small, their top 2 lines are small and there's no getting around that. The only way to protect the size disadvantage is a strong forecheck. Allowing opposing teams to establish the offensive zone and create board battles with smaller players will hurt Carolina.
  • The Stankoven line could be a difference-maker. If they continue to play well against lower defensive pairs, it only adds to the depth of the team. 
  • The Aho line had stretches of absenteeism during the season. The Canes cannot afford to have them dry up offensively and leave the scoring to Ehlers and the Stankoven line. If they aren't performing well, teams will simply roll their best lines out on the Canes best playing lines. 
  • If the Canes can get by Ottawa and get some help from Boston against Buffalo, I think they have a legit shot to make the finals. Make no mistake, I think their toughest challenges are Ottawa and Buffalo in the East. 
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organicrusty1201 Proficient

organicrusty1201

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2 hours ago, Anybodyhome said:

My thoughts on Carolina's post-season run:

  • Obviously, the season began with a below average Freddie Andersen and everyone hoping Kochetkov would pick up the slack, until he got hurt. Enter Brandon Bussi who had a made-for-TV movie type run until the end of the season, when he came crashing back to earth, his save % drops under .900 and the team needs to score 5-6 goals to win games. Freddie has shown signs of a resurgence and Bussi looked pretty good the last 2 games of the season, but both sample sizes are small and questions abound for all 3 goalies.
  • The physicality of playoff hockey will take its toll. Save for a few players, the Canes best players are small, their top 2 lines are small and there's no getting around that. The only way to protect the size disadvantage is a strong forecheck. Allowing opposing teams to establish the offensive zone and create board battles with smaller players will hurt Carolina.
  • The Stankoven line could be a difference-maker. If they continue to play well against lower defensive pairs, it only adds to the depth of the team. 
  • The Aho line had stretches of absenteeism during the season. The Canes cannot afford to have them dry up offensively and leave the scoring to Ehlers and the Stankoven line. If they aren't performing well, teams will simply roll their best lines out on the Canes best playing lines. 
  • If the Canes can get by Ottawa and get some help from Boston against Buffalo, I think they have a legit shot to make the finals. Make no mistake, I think their toughest challenges are Ottawa and Buffalo in the East. 

All valid points - I think the team is well positioned to make a deep run with the players they have, my big concern is goalie play, it is buy far the most important element in the playoffs, I assume Freddie will start and do ok for a series or maybe two, does Rod use the tandem approach? If not when Freddie wears down is the Buss going to be ready? And Kooch is the wild card in all this, it's going to be an interesting playoff!!

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Stumpy Grand Master

Stumpy

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2 hours ago, hepcat said:

Hurricanes would have a problem against this Flyers team. 

Tbf, I didn't watch the Battle of Pennsylvania. But, with the way we played tonight, I'm not sure any team in the east would give us too many problems.

Only potential issue I'd see with Philly, would be RBA going full on DERP mode against his former team the way he does against his former coach.

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TLGPanthersFan Grand Master

TLGPanthersFan

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12 hours ago, Stumpy said:

Tbf, I didn't watch the Battle of Pennsylvania. But, with the way we played tonight, I'm not sure any team in the east would give us too many problems.

Only potential issue I'd see with Philly, would be RBA going full on DERP mode against his former team the way he does against his former coach.

People would probably say Buffalo. But I think we match up well with them. Also Buffalo fans think they are hot crap after making the playoffs after a long drought. I expect reality to hit them before the reach us. 

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hepcat Grand Master

hepcat

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17 hours ago, Stumpy said:

Tbf, I didn't watch the Battle of Pennsylvania. But, with the way we played tonight, I'm not sure any team in the east would give us too many problems.

Only potential issue I'd see with Philly, would be RBA going full on DERP mode against his former team the way he does against his former coach.

I like to watch the teams the hurricanes might play in the next round for a few games. Flyers out worked the penguins in all phases. Penguins just looked old and unfocused. Granted the flyers are the youngest team in the playoffs but they looked fast and disciplined. I was surprised. 

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Panthers Fan 69 Grand Master

Panthers Fan 69

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Posted (edited)
30 minutes ago, TLGPanthersFan said:

Habs worry me. They swept us during the season and seemed to be able to score at will against us. 
Only team I worry about facing in the playoffs. 

Well the good news is that would be the ECF…. However…they are a young canes. It’s our time like when Washington finally won the cup in 18 or so.  It’s this team’s time. 

Edited by Panthers Fan 69
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