2015 Stanley Cup Playoffs Thread (Second Round is set, begins tomorrow)

[Boris]

Will definitely be heading to either STL or Nashville depending on who the Blackhawks play in the first round. I suppose I could head to Chicago also, but tix back in December were going for like $200 for 300-level seats for a regular season weekend game against Nashville, so Chicago isn't terribly affordable for normal people. Haven't celebrated with 2,000,000+ in downtown Chicago in about two years now

[Boris]

ANA over WPG 4-0
CGY over VAN 4-3
STL over MIN 4-2
NSH over CHI 4-2

OTT over MTL 4-1
TBL over DET 4-2
NYR over PIT 4-0
WSH over NYI 4-1

ANA over CGY 4-1
STL over NSH 4-1

OTT over TBL 4-3
NYR over WSH 4-3

ANA over STL 4-2
NYR over OTT 4-3

NYR over ANA 4-2

[Boris]

I was going to go to Nashville on Friday night, but the stupid Predators front office has banned ticketmaster sales with credit cards from outside their TV market. And I don't know anyone with a credit card based in TN, KY, AL, MS, or GA.

I think Ottawa has done a similar thing to keep the Habs fans out, and it's a horrible practice. If your franchise doesn't have fans, that's your problem.

[Boris]

http://www.dnainfo.com/chicago/20150414/west-loop/nashville-predators-stubhub-at-odds-over-blackhawk-tickets

Third party websites are a risk due to the "credit card entry" system. Not making a 10 hour drive to be rejected at the door.

[Boris]

that said, playoff hockey is a fcking panic attack.  at least in baseball/football, there's time to exhale after each play and regroup the emotions.  hockey is just a straight up exhausting panic attack.  I can't even contemplate what I'll do if it's Isles/Rangers next round.  I'll have to take 10x doses of diazepines just to look at the fcking screen.

haha, I went to game 5 of Blackhawks-Blues last year and took some Molly before the game, which was probably the best decision I've ever made in my life as the game went to OT and I likely would have suffered a heart attack. Ended up having great conversations with surrounding Blues fans about grad school and whatnot; meanwhile people in Vancouver and Montreal are punching opposing fans and calling each other whores.

[Boris]

But if CGY and WSH pull off the upsets, then I'll be in a prettyyyy good position to party like it's 2013. Or 2010.

[Boris]

Wizards lose by one, Caps in OT. Ouch.

Now the Blackhawks have to win two series without home ice advantage (and the Bulls need to win game 7 in Cleveland).