gruven 530 Posted May 30, 2016 Share Posted May 30, 2016 I was dealing blackjack and had a few guys at my table that looked vaguely familiar. They were all bearded, friendly, and one had a cut on his eyebrow. 2 of them played at my table for a while, and I paid attention to things they said, like how they played at this one casino in St Louis. I casually asked where they were from - they replied California. I said, "Ah - here for the game? Good luck, but not TOO much, of course..." They laughed, and kept playing. They later mentioned something about Minnesota, and showed disdain for the casino chips that had the Pens logo on them. As they colored up, I finally asked, "Just gotta ask - you guys are Sharks, right?" The one guy laughed, said yeah, so I wished them luck. Seemed cool enough, although they didn't tip. Apparently it was Martin Jones and I think the other guy was Nieto. It was tough to compare the mental image with the beard-less roster photo on my break. they didn't tip? Well now that's just bad karma.... 1 Link to post Share on other sites
Babying 613 Posted May 30, 2016 Share Posted May 30, 2016 I was dealing blackjack and had a few guys at my table that looked vaguely familiar. They were all bearded, friendly, and one had a cut on his eyebrow. 2 of them played at my table for a while, and I paid attention to things they said, like how they played at this one casino in St Louis. I casually asked where they were from - they replied California. I said, "Ah - here for the game? Good luck, but not TOO much, of course..." They laughed, and kept playing. They later mentioned something about Minnesota, and showed disdain for the casino chips that had the Pens logo on them. As they colored up, I finally asked, "Just gotta ask - you guys are Sharks, right?" The one guy laughed, said yeah, so I wished them luck. Seemed cool enough, although they didn't tip. Apparently it was Martin Jones and I think the other guy was Nieto. It was tough to compare the mental image with the beard-less roster photo on my break. Was Steve Simmons there? 2 Link to post Share on other sites
mrdannyg 274 Posted May 30, 2016 Share Posted May 30, 2016 If I was Phil Kessel, I would pay someone to hand-deliver a hot dog to Steve Simmons' house every day. Link to post Share on other sites
Zach6668 513 Posted May 30, 2016 Share Posted May 30, 2016 I'm gonna go Pittsburgh in 5 in this round, 100% because I plan on being at game 5 and picking based on what I wanted to happen has worked pretty well for me so far. I'll admit, I wouldn't be too crushed of it was SJ in 5, either. Link to post Share on other sites
Dubey 1,035 Posted May 30, 2016 Share Posted May 30, 2016 I'll go sharks in 7 Link to post Share on other sites
Zach6668 513 Posted May 30, 2016 Share Posted May 30, 2016 17 of 21 "experts" from NHL.com and NHL network have the Sharks winning. Yet, Vegas has the Pens around -140. Who is more credible? (Edit - no slant here, legit curious if we think a bunch of ex-NHLers would have a better grip on this than the oddsmakers and the market influence.) Link to post Share on other sites
mrdannyg 274 Posted May 30, 2016 Share Posted May 30, 2016 This won't be shocking, but if Vegas had the Pens -105 and 21/21 experts from the NHL networks had the Sharks, I would side with Vegas unless there was some evidence that betting was egregriously one-sided. Link to post Share on other sites
Babying 613 Posted May 30, 2016 Share Posted May 30, 2016 I am surprised at the odds since the West is considered to be more dominant than the East. If I was a betting man I would wager Sharks Link to post Share on other sites
mrdannyg 274 Posted May 30, 2016 Share Posted May 30, 2016 Good story, and well written. But man, if there was a guy who I could convince to write a totally uncensored tell-all book, he could have all my money. http://www.theplayerstribune.com/keeper-of-stanley-cup-stories/ Link to post Share on other sites
Zach6668 513 Posted May 30, 2016 Share Posted May 30, 2016 Good story, and well written. But man, if there was a guy who I could convince to write a totally uncensored tell-all book, he could have all my money. http://www.theplayerstribune.com/keeper-of-stanley-cup-stories/ I don't really know what he does, but my cousin's boyfriend goes around with all the trophies now. Wonder if he's in line to be the next Cup protector. Lol Link to post Share on other sites
Zach6668 513 Posted May 30, 2016 Share Posted May 30, 2016 ahhhhhhhh one hour!!! Link to post Share on other sites
Zach6668 513 Posted May 31, 2016 Share Posted May 31, 2016 Man... I don't know if I said it in here, or what, but about 4 hours ago I said that I wouldn't be *too* upset if the Sharks won... I take that back. I misjudged my emotions. Way too invested in these Pens, even if it means denying Jumbo Joe. 1 Link to post Share on other sites
MapleLeafpoker 1,462 Posted May 31, 2016 Share Posted May 31, 2016 Ya I found that a little hard to believe when I read it, to be honest with you. 2 Link to post Share on other sites
Zach6668 513 Posted May 31, 2016 Share Posted May 31, 2016 Ya I found that a little hard to believe when I read it, to be honest with you. I still think I'd get over a Pens loss pretty quickly and be happy for the Sharks. In 2008 I got over the Pens loss pretty quickly (you found me at the Rio in my Jagr jersey, if I recall correctly?)... but I wasn't happy for the Wings. Subtle difference but still, **** the Sharks until then. Link to post Share on other sites
MapleLeafpoker 1,462 Posted May 31, 2016 Share Posted May 31, 2016 You don't seem like a guy that would wallow in the depths of sorrow over a sporting teams loss for too long, especially since you have already experienced the highs with this team. I'm sure you'd be over it quickly. Link to post Share on other sites
Dubey 1,035 Posted May 31, 2016 Share Posted May 31, 2016 I was legitimately depressed for at least 3 days after the Leafs blew that 4-1 3rd period lead in game 7 against the Bruins. Link to post Share on other sites
Zach6668 513 Posted May 31, 2016 Share Posted May 31, 2016 I like to look at zone starts after the games... One thing that has stood out pretty consistently in these playoffs... The Penguins have 3-5 guys who start less than 50% in the 0-zone... Their opponent usually have a majority of their team well below 50%. For example: All situations Cullen, Fehr, Kuhhackl all at 0% offensive zone starts. Everyone else is 50% or above. Sharks have 5 skaters at 50% or above, all else below that. Now, without raw numbers this could have been the result of a number of things, depending on how ice time is spread out, but I think it shows that the Penguins are starting with the puck in the O-zone a lot more than the other team. Link to post Share on other sites
mrdannyg 274 Posted May 31, 2016 Share Posted May 31, 2016 Well, without raw numbers, it could mean that the Pens only had 3 offensive-zone starts all night! It certainly shows that the Pens had home ice and used it to get their 4th line on for defensive-zone faceoffs, and if it has been consistently that way, seems like an area where teams might vary in terms of strategy. Some maybe focus more on regular shifts, others on specific matchups, others on zone starts. Link to post Share on other sites
Zach6668 513 Posted May 31, 2016 Share Posted May 31, 2016 Well, without raw numbers, it could mean that the Pens only had 3 offensive-zone starts all night! It certainly shows that the Pens had home ice and used it to get their 4th line on for defensive-zone faceoffs, and if it has been consistently that way, seems like an area where teams might vary in terms of strategy. Some maybe focus more on regular shifts, others on specific matchups, others on zone starts. Well you don't need home ice if your strategy is to always start the 4th line in the D-zone. (Just no icings) But it says two things to me: 1) the Pens actually have a good enough 4th line that they feel comfortable starting them in their own zone in any situation 2) the Pens have more offensive zone starts than defensive zone starts. But this isn't necessarily true if the Cullen line started all 100 faceoffs in the d-zone and there were only 65 offensive zone draws. That scenario could still work out to the same ZS%s. However, I think that's unlikely. My question then is this: Do team zone starts correlate in any way to possession? To controlling play? Etc. Link to post Share on other sites
Zach6668 513 Posted May 31, 2016 Share Posted May 31, 2016 I should have done this with a bigger sample size, but best offensive zone to defensive zone faceoff ratio in the playoffs is Chicago at 1.449. Pittsburgh is almost even at 1.007. Teams in the playoffs have 29.8% (STL) to 40.7% (DET) of their faceoffs in the offensive zone. I don't know what any of this means. Link to post Share on other sites
Zach6668 513 Posted May 31, 2016 Share Posted May 31, 2016 Of the 8 teams to move beyond round 1, only 3 have a OZ:DZ ration greater than 1. Washington leads 1.181, with Dallas and Pittsburgh tied at 1.007. I don't know what to think. Probably irrelevant noise. Moreso, it shows that my original observation is mostly meaningless. Link to post Share on other sites
Zach6668 513 Posted May 31, 2016 Share Posted May 31, 2016 Moving on... What do you guys think of the Marleau hit to the head last night? Link to post Share on other sites
Dubey 1,035 Posted May 31, 2016 Share Posted May 31, 2016 borderline. I think he was attempting to hit him in the shoulder and just clipped his face on the way by. Plus he actually had the puck so it was a legal hit in that sense. If it was Rust on Marleau it would be 1 game most likely. I think they could have given him 1 game but I'm not outraged by the non-suspension. Link to post Share on other sites
Zach6668 513 Posted May 31, 2016 Share Posted May 31, 2016 Yeah. Same. Probably a no-brainer suspension in the regular season. Like 5 years ago when they pretended to be serious about hits to the heads of vulnerable skaters, probably 6 regular season games. I wish we could just eliminate that hit. There's no reason for it. He's off balance, questionably in control of the puck. Just take he puck and move on. No reason to even go near his head. Link to post Share on other sites
digitalmonkey 929 Posted May 31, 2016 Author Share Posted May 31, 2016 Cullen was put out for defensive zone face offs at every opportunity. Eliminating the ridiculous equipment should be the first step. Link to post Share on other sites
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