Round 2: Carolina Hurricanes vs. Tampa Bay Lightning

[CarltonTheBear]

The @Canes will play the @TBLightning in the Second Round, marking the first series between the franchises.

Carolina has faced the defending #StanleyCup champions on three prior occasions (1980 PRLM vs. MTL, 2001 CQF vs. NJD & 2019 R1 vs. WSH). #NHLStats: https://t.co/dNdI2w8Id8 pic.twitter.com/fDIUPsDhio

— NHL Public Relations (@PR_NHL) May 28, 2021

[Guilt Trip]

Hard to bet against Tampa in this one. Should be close but Kucherov will be the difference.

[Heroic Shrimp]

#PlayoffOfficiating @domluszczyszyn @soIoucity  I have no words pic.twitter.com/qHre5aYWS3

— Francesco (@touchdownSZN) June 2, 2021

[WhatIfGodWasALeaf]

Honestly, it has driven me from the sport. What is the point in watching any of the regular season? It is quite literally not the same game as the playoffs. The playoffs toss out the rulebook and it just dissolves into who is willing to be a bigger piece of garbage.

I tried explaining it to my friends in Scotland and they couldn't comprehend the fact that when the elite teams come together to decide a champion, its basically prison rules.

Stop and imagine that principle applied in any other sport...

Bettman needs to be done and the NHL needs a progressive commissioner in thee worst way.

[bustaheims]

Honestly, it has driven me from the sport. What is the point in watching any of the regular season? It is quite literally not the same game as the playoffs. The playoffs toss out the rulebook and it just dissolves into who is willing to be a bigger piece of garbage.

I tried explaining it to my friends in Scotland and they couldn't comprehend the fact that when the elite teams come together to decide a champion, its basically prison rules.

Stop and imagine that principle applied in any other sport...

Bettman needs to be done and the NHL needs a progressive commissioner in thee worst way.

They don't really even need to be that progressive. They just have to dictate that the rules and standards from the regular season apply to the playoffs as well. If it's a penalty on Opening Night, it's a penalty in Game 7 of the Final.

[Guilt Trip]

Honestly, it has driven me from the sport. What is the point in watching any of the regular season? It is quite literally not the same game as the playoffs. The playoffs toss out the rulebook and it just dissolves into who is willing to be a bigger piece of garbage.

I tried explaining it to my friends in Scotland and they couldn't comprehend the fact that when the elite teams come together to decide a champion, its basically prison rules.

Stop and imagine that principle applied in any other sport...

Bettman needs to be done and the NHL needs a progressive commissioner in thee worst way.

They don't really even need to be that progressive. They just have to dictate that the rules and standards from the regular season apply to the playoffs as well. If it's a penalty on Opening Night, it's a penalty in Game 7 of the Final.

But that's not playoff hockey! I watched the game last night and the interference, the hooking, the cross checking was almost non existent to what we witnessed every game against the habs. I find it ridiculous that the penalty calls change in the playoffs.

[Arn]

Game 4 has been highly enjoyable so far. 3-2 Carolina mid way through the second which doesn’t even tell half the story of how back and forth the game has been. 4 goals in the space of about 6 minutes to take it from 1-0 Tampa to 3-2 Carolina.

Interestingly I would say that it is being refereed much more “properly”. They’re actually calling trips and holds and things and it’s actually a better watch than pretty much any of the Canadian playoff games have been. It’s still not being called as tightly as the regular season though.

[Arn]

Make that 4-2 with 5 goals in about 7 minutes