Round 1 Summary

[Robin Hood]

Welcome to the realm of upsets…

Round 1 of the BBKL playoffs has seen 4 teams with home-ice advantage eliminated. In the West, the perennial President’s Trophy winners, the Los Angeles Kings, and the Northwest Division winners, the Minnesota Wild, find themselves golfing. In the East, the top seeded Pittsburgh Penguins fall short once again, with Southeast Division winners, the Tampa Bay Lightning, following suit.

But is it fair to call these match-ups upsets?

The short answer? Yes. The long answer: No, this is the genesis of parity in BBKL.

Since its inception, BBKL has been the poster child for socialism. The free market has led to the existence of third world franchises, thanks to sub-par GMs not cut out for this league. In the 4 years that BBKL has been around, there has been a core of GMs holding down the strongest franchises. The remaining teams have seen a revolving door of slow horses, who slowly dismantled their teams until they were removed from office and replaced with more competent GMs.

Enter Lee (Philadelphia), Josh (Calgary), Kareem (Vancouver), Peter (Dallas), Mik (Nashville) and Kyle (New York Rangers) and add to it GMs who have drastically improved – Paul (Carolina) and Shoalzie (Detroit).

The result is a league where it is no longer easy to get a “free ride”, the word “rape” is not thrown around like it used to be and there is no sure thing when it comes to a 1-week match-up. When Scott won back-to-back championships, Vegas would have given him an 80% chance to win many match-ups. Such an advantage no longer exists in the playoffs. The most you will see is a 60-40 advantage in the playoffs. And can you really call that an upset? Or is it similar to bounces going your way in a hockey game?

Onto the storylines for this week:

Exceptional Performances

Alexander Ovechkin (MIN) – 7 Goals, 2 Assists, 9 Points, +5, 7 Hits, 2 PIMS, 4 STPTS, 20 SOG, 2 GWG
Ryan Callahan (BOS) – 2 Goals, 3 Assists, 5 Points, +5, 11 Hits, 15 SHTOI, 14 SOG
Nicklas Backstrom (COL) – 9 Assists, 9 Points, +5, 42 FOW, 4 Hits, 6 PIMS, 3 STPTS
Rick Nash (NJD) – 3 Goals, 2 Assits, 5 Points, +4, 22 SOG

P.K. Subban (STL) – 5 Assists, 5 Points, +3, 7.65 SHTOI, 7 Hits, 4 PIMS, 3 STPTS
Shea Weber (TBL) – 1 Goal, 2 Assists, 3 Points, +2, 7.23 SHTOI, 21 Hits, 13 SOG, 11 Blocks
Kevin Klein (PIT) – 1 Goal, 2 Assists, 6.61 SHTOI, 13 SOG, 11 Hits, 13 Blocks

Henrik Lundqvist (NYR) – 3 Wins, 1.22 GAA, 0.962 SV%
Brian Elliott (CLB) – 3 Wins, 1.45 GAA, 0.952 SV%
Braden Holtby (NJD) – 3 Wins, 2.27 GAA, 0.922 SV%
Carey Price (MTL) – 2 Wins, 2.00 GAA, 0.924 SV%,
Tuukka Rask (BOS) – 1 Win, 1.01 GAA, 0.924 SV%, 1 SO

Goaltending

With the increasing parity, Skater categories are a battle. The value of goaltending in an H2H match-up has never been higher.

MTL received a major win from Peter Budaj of 1 GAA and 0.970 SV%.
MIN did not have any Goalie GP because of Luongo and lost 8-7-1.
Rask got a shutout for BOS for Kyle.
NJD received 4 straight wins from Braden Holtby/Michal Neuvirth.
Brodeur lost 4 straight starts for PIT.

Injuries

Sidney Crosby
The 2013 Hart Trophy winner coincidentally went down just as the BBKL playoffs were starting…and screwed 2 teams in the process. Nick’s Tampa Bay Lightning lost by 2 Goals and 2 STPTS – a margin Sidney could have conveniently made up. The injury had collateral damage as well as the Pittsburgh Penguins’ Kunitz and Dupuis had their worst scoring week of the year with 4 points and Tyler Kennedy/Jussi Jokinen between them instead of the greatest player on the planet.

Patrice Bergeron
Bergeron might be the 2nd best player to own after Sidney Crosby in BBKL. Well or Toews but Mike owns him too. How long will the Leafs’ MVP be out for? TOR saw injuries to Bergeron, Fisher and Sharp in round 1. Luckily, NYR had its own string of injuries in Kovalchuk and Michalek to name a couple. And how long can TOR survive without Bergeron?

Joffrey Lupul
To the ire of Leaf fans in BBKL and the Penguins in particular, Lupul took a shot to the head 1:40 into his first game of the week and did not return for the rest of the week. In his 1:40 of ice time, he collected an Assist to continue his points streak. But his absence was a major blow to the Penguins as he was their leading point-per-game producer on the season. Hopefully, he is back for the Leafs in real life or else this Leafs fan will have two of his teams screwed.

Paul Gaustad
Gaustad played 1 game during Round 1, in which he had 19 FOW. He was then mysteriously ruled out for the remaining games, causing PIT to come back and win FOW on the week. Gaustad’s status is still unknown.

T.J. Oshie
Major injury #2 for the Tampa Bay Lightning. It is amazing what two injuries can do to a team. Tampa Bay was firing on all cylinders in the first half of the season, mowing over teams.

Outlook for Round 2

STL is looking like the favourite in the West with LAK out of the picture. In the East, it’s BOS’ conference to lose with all the injuries TOR is facing. If TOR gets healthy, though, look out. This team will mow down the competition. What TOR has that every team doesn’t is the ability to ice a roster that constantly maxes out on GP in every matchup, with his depth.

Looking Forward

So should be expecting 50% of the top 4 seeds in each conference eliminated in Round 1 every year? Maybe that is reasonable. A new era is beginning in BBKL – and it will only make competition and matchups in this league more exciting for years to come.

[Peter]

Great write up, definitely an interesting bbkl year. I agree with the 'rise' you speak of, there already is more of a balance being reached than even last year, and a lot of youth and upside to look out for on these non playoff teams.

[The BBKL Insider]

I think this year is going to be different than most years. injuries played a big part in the overall standings (Reg season) and in week 1 of the playoffs.

For example, i have about 10 extra's (most waiver exempt), that helped me beat teams that were argubly better than mine during the Reg season. In the playoffs i faced a team that was completely healthy, hence the final outcome.

Also - if shiv wasn't missing 30% of his active roster i dont think he would have lost. If Minny had a goalie he would have won, i'm not sure what it would have taken for nick to win (maybe a few more peripherial guys?)


I think the league is really starting to take shape, and teams are becoming increasingly even matched; however, i think next year you'll see a bigger divide than you did this year.

Also - the fall of the bbkl bruins will begin next season.

[kyuss]

I think this year is going to be different than most years. injuries played a big part in the overall standings (Reg season) and in week 1 of the playoffs.

For example, i have about 10 extra's (most waiver exempt), that helped me beat teams that were argubly better than mine during the Reg season. In the playoffs i faced a team that was completely healthy, hence the final outcome.

well, my team certainly was not completely healthy, as it was missing its best point producer on D (Diaz) and its best point producer among F (Zetterberg); Bonino and Fehr were also out injured, plus Schlemko and Emelin missed time during the matchup because of injuries.

Also - if shiv wasn't missing 30% of his active roster i dont think he would have lost. If Minny had a goalie he would have won,

actually, it's very unlikely anything would have changed for Hong, considering Lundqvist's numbers this week.


Anyway, kudos to Shiv to get into this stuff right after such a tough loss.

I think he forgot to add Miller to the best performers though:

1.62 GAA, 22.75 SHTOI, 0.948 SPct, 3 W for a team supposed to tank after deadline deals, wtf

[Nick]

I
Also - if shiv wasn't missing 30% of his active roster i dont think he would have lost. If Minny had a goalie he would have won, i'm not sure what it would have taken for nick to win (maybe a few more peripherial guys?)

Crosby ** injured**
Stamkos
Giroux
Benn
Ennis
Skinner

Combined for 0 goals and 0 stpts. both of which I lost by 2, but led the regular season in. Also lost FOW by 30, which is around 2 GP for Sid (#1 in the league again). As per the stats summary piece I wrote, when losing sure wins, a loss can be assured. #1 in BS tied with Chuck, but once again Oshie out and a dman with 0 gp on the week. It's a tough way to go out, but shouldn't take anything away from Chuck who toss up some very nice numbers, dominated in goal, he earned this win.

[The BBKL Insider]

I think this year is going to be different than most years. injuries played a big part in the overall standings (Reg season) and in week 1 of the playoffs.

For example, i have about 10 extra's (most waiver exempt), that helped me beat teams that were argubly better than mine during the Reg season. In the playoffs i faced a team that was completely healthy, hence the final outcome.

well, my team certainly was not completely healthy, as it was missing its best point producer on D (Diaz) and its best point producer among F (Zetterberg); Bonino and Fehr were also out injured, plus Schlemko and Emelin missed time during the matchup because of injuries.

Also - if shiv wasn't missing 30% of his active roster i dont think he would have lost. If Minny had a goalie he would have won,

actually, it's very unlikely anything would have changed for Hong, considering Lundqvist's numbers this week.


Anyway, kudos to Shiv to get into this stuff right after such a tough loss.

I think he forgot to add Miller to the best performers though:

1.62 GAA, 22.75 SHTOI, 0.948 SPct, 3 W for a team supposed to tank after deadline deals, wtf

You still had a full roster

maybe i should have pointed that out, most weeks i had the luxery of facing teams without depth. As proven in week 1, depth matters at all times during the bbkl season and playoffs.

[The BBKL Insider]

I
Also - if shiv wasn't missing 30% of his active roster i dont think he would have lost. If Minny had a goalie he would have won, i'm not sure what it would have taken for nick to win (maybe a few more peripherial guys?)

Crosby ** injured**
Stamkos
Giroux
Benn
Ennis
Skinner

Combined for 0 goals and 0 stpts. both of which I lost by 2, but led the regular season in. Also lost FOW by 30, which is around 2 GP for Sid (#1 in the league again). As per the stats summary piece I wrote, when losing sure wins, a loss can be assured. #1 in BS tied with Chuck, but once again Oshie out and a dman with 0 gp on the week. It's a tough way to go out, but shouldn't take anything away from Chuck who toss up some very nice numbers, dominated in goal, he earned this win.

i'm not gonna lie, i wasn't really following your injuries, but if those are the guys you had down, it's no wonder you lost, gosh

[Nick]

no not down - they did nothing instead (just Crosby & Oshie hurt really.. Martinez/gardiner = whatever).

Stamkos, Giroux, Ennis, Benn & Skinner failed to score a goal or get a special team point. Obviously Crosby & Oshie can be added as they were injured.

[The BBKL Insider]

no not down - they did nothing instead (just Crosby & Oshie hurt really.. Martinez/gardiner = whatever).

Stamkos, Giroux, Ennis, Benn & Skinner failed to score a goal or get a special team point.

Join the club, my players did nothing this week!

oh well, can't win them all!!

[Chuck Norris]

Yeah injuries played a big part in our matchup. With fully healthy rosters I have a feeling Nick would have walked all over me:


TBL GP Lost:

Crosby - 3gp
Oshie - 4gp
Jagr - 1gp (trade)
Martinez - 3gp (healthy scratch)
Rosehill - 1gp


MTL GP Lost:

Heatley - 2gp
Larsson - 3gp (healthy scratch)
Clitsome - 1gp

[kyuss]

You still had a full roster

maybe i should have pointed that out, most weeks i had the luxery of facing teams without depth.

oh, yes.. it was the first time all season i had at least a full roster.. trades at the deadline helped for that matter.

[The BBKL Insider]

You still had a full roster

maybe i should have pointed that out, most weeks i had the luxery of facing teams without depth.

oh, yes.. it was the first time all season i had at least a full roster.. trades at the deadline helped for that matter.

Wellwood was a good nab by you.

[cliff11]

I got spanked in round one this yr hahah oh we'll it happened

My goalies played bad for me and I got took out by a better team

Good CJB for the rest of the playoffs

[Shoalzie]

I'm not going to say the 16 teams that got into the playoffs in this shortened season weren't all deserving but you wonder what the field would've looked like in a full 82-game season. A 10-week season was very much a sprint from the start.

You lose a guy for month this year, you're losing them for almost a quarter of the season. The shortened season magnified each week and really made a big difference with key injuries or when star players went into a slump.

[tyler]

Same thing can be said for the real NHL - Maple Leafs are in the playoffs ...

[The BBKL Insider]

Same thing can be said for the real NHL - Maple Leafs are in the playoffs ...

it's called

James "the Jesus" Reimer

and

Sidney Kadri

[Chuck Norris]

Same thing can be said for the real NHL - Maple Leafs are in the playoffs ...

They'll find a way to blow it.

[The BBKL Insider]

Same thing can be said for the real NHL - Maple Leafs are in the playoffs ...

They'll find a way to blow it.

Sure will, blow it all over the habs face.