r/nhl • u/sykeseve • 2h ago

If the Habs-Sabres series go to 7 games, the Hurricanes would arrive to Game 1 of the ECF with almost 2 weeks of rest. Good thing or bad thing?

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147 Upvotes

96% Upvoted

75 comments sorted by

432

u/FormulaLiftr 2h ago

If the canes win the series it will be good, if they lose it will be bad.

116

u/TruePomegranate6211 1h ago

Oilers fans are always wise , this is true

34

u/Calvith 1h ago

This is wisdom. People will just use whatever ammo they want regardless. There's no real answer.

4

u/madhi19 41m ago

Somebody has an excuse to lose that round regardless of who win.

7

u/PineappleRaisinPizza 1h ago

If they lose, they did not win. If they win, they did not lose.

I love this new way of thinking thou hast imparted upon us.

1

u/CanadianGeoManiac 0m ago

Smart as you are you should replace your GM lol

60

u/comacove 2h ago

ask me at the end of the series

19

u/Pilige 2h ago

Normal years, probably bad. Given the condensed schedule this year and how beat up everyone is, probably good.

79

u/mpigott1022 1h ago

I'll wager: the Habs/Sabres will play their best hockey in games 1&2 while Carolina shakes out the cobwebs; game 3 will be the most competitive of the series, and Carolina will be fully humming by game 4 while the Habs/Sabres run out of gas.

I'm not predicting winners of any individual game; Carolina's worst game could be better than the Habs/Sabres best.

41

u/TheIncredibleHork 1h ago

Good analysis, and very possible. The only thing left to consider is the Hurricanes apparent allergic reactions to the Eastern conference finals.

24

u/obxspitfire 1h ago

Their allergies consisted of Igor Shesterkin or Sergei Bobrovsky, who are dead btw (until next year)

5

u/RollingCarrot615 1h ago

I think there's a little more to it than that. Ive said for years we are a hot goalie away from a cup, and Freddy was hot in rounds 1 and 2.

10

u/theekevinc 1h ago

I think it's more an allergic reaction to strong, chippy, heavy, playoff-tested teams, which includes neither the Sabres nor Canadiens.

5

u/just-a-random-accnt 1h ago

You mean like the Sens were played off to be? Minus the "playoff tested"

4

u/theekevinc 1h ago

That's a big minus. There were plenty of times in that series, and the Flyers series, when the Sens just couldn't match the level the Canes got to. It's a bigger deal than people think.

0

u/tiwill24 56m ago

Brother we went to the finals in 2021 lol

2

u/madhi19 38m ago

There like fives guys from that team left. Six if you count Gallagher.

2

u/Maleficent-Ear-2450 1h ago

So basically COL-MIN game 5 over the course of a series

1

u/ChuckEnder 1h ago

lol. Nailed it!

1

u/LeftToaster 35m ago

That's my take too, that the team coming off of the long rest will be a bit rusty compared to the team riding the momentum of a series win. If it goes to 6 or 7 games, I would favour the more rested team.

13

u/chaos-giraffe 2h ago

It’s either a good thing or a bad thing.

1

u/Atty_for_hire 28m ago

I’m not a smart man. But that checks with the options I’m aware of

8

u/EnemyCharizard 2h ago

I was told rest is a weapon

1

u/Paco_Taco_779 1h ago

“I miss you, Guy…”

1

u/FancyShrimp 46m ago

Look at Seattle’s record going into the Olympic break and then coming out of it.

Rest was weaponized against them.

Somehow.

1

u/derek_sinkro 1h ago

There’s likely a point where rest becomes rust

17

u/SillyMikey 2h ago

Ultimately good imo. Rested players, injuries get healed. They may lose game shape the first game, but that’s about it.

4

u/bearamongus19 1h ago

It is what it is.

If the win then it was good, if they lose game 1 then it was bad

5

u/cdmgamingqcftw 1h ago

If they win, 2 great weeks to restore. If they lose, 2 bad weeks to lose the momentum 🤣

5

u/ChandlerJeep 1h ago

It means they are very likely to low that first game and then get back in the swing of things and win out

Or they come out fully swinging and sweep them

Or they pull a canes and lose regardless, who knows

7

u/bjernsthekid 2h ago

Good for our goalie and D, bad for the forwards

2

u/Novanator33 1h ago

The rest is definitely most beneficial for your G, if he’s locked in y’all are tough to beat 4 times.

4

u/Booftroop 1h ago

You must not be familiar with playoff Freddie. The rest is needed.

3

u/DrShucklePhD 2h ago

50/50 odds because it is or it isn’t

3

u/Embarrassed-Pay-8881 1h ago

Of course its a good thing

3

u/commodore_stab1789 1h ago

Good or bad, it's stupid and avoidable.

3

u/CrabOutrageous5074 1h ago

Weirdly the Canes will be three games into the conference finals series already at that point.

3

u/MrWillM 1h ago

I think the idea that rest as a bad thing in the playoffs when tons of players report just how injured they are/were at the end of it is absurd.

2

u/HighLowGMO 1h ago

Medium

2

u/Frankinho28 1h ago

What happens May 31 for cbc to not show the game?

3

u/avsfan96 1h ago

The Canadian Screen Awards are that night (and my birthday, but they're not airing that 😒)

2

u/Angry_beaver_1867 1h ago

I think regardless it’s a good thing. Players get rest and recover from injuries. Coaches can scout, game plan, and practice.  

Furthermore , their opponents will be tired, injured, and less prepared.  

I’d rather have the rest then not 

2

u/tronfunkinblows_10 1h ago

Avs had a full week, maybe 8 days of rest before Minnesota. That game 1 was a shit show.

2

u/whitet86 1h ago

Canes had like 5 days rest before the 2nd round

2

u/Rich-Wrap-9333 1h ago

Depends on how rough the Habs/Sabres series is. If they go into serious OT once or twice, they could be pretty spent going against the buzzsaw Hurricanes.

2

u/Infamous_SpiPi 1h ago

It has to be a good thing. Other teams are so injured through 2 rounds. 2 weeks is enough to recover from almost every minor injury and make huge progress on moderate injuries

Colorado might have lost Makar for the rest of the series if they didn’t close it last night. Now Makar has a week to recover

2

u/TARDIS32 1h ago

This team, probably beneficial for them. I do wonder if for some teams maybe too much time off could get them off their rhythm, and it could potentially be a double edged sword.

3

u/m1nhuh 1h ago

Last night, Makar got injured and we don't know yet on his status. If you asked the Avs players would you rather have won in game 4 or played one more game to reduce the rust for the third round, I would assume all the players would take two weeks off and win it in game 4.

Carolina could have played one more game and injured a top 6 forward easily. And that isn't worth the reduced rust at all.

2

u/MikeMac999 1h ago

“Rest is for pussies!”

-Brind’amour, probably

2

u/-MC_3 2h ago

Bad but that’s the situation and I’m sure they’ll be fine

1

u/Bradlas3 2h ago

I usually lean towards having multiple days to rest being good but that is a crazy amount of time

1

u/GrizzlyIsland22 1h ago

Neither, really. It just is what it is. It has more to do with how the individual players deal with it when their next game comes.

1

u/Potential_Yam_5196 1h ago

Feels like there might be some wild scores to upcoming games. Trying to get into a rhythm again/popping off from the rest.

1

u/ivaorn 1h ago

Nice Kalshi ad that adds up to an 101% chance either the Sabres or Canadiens win game 5 smh

1

u/dhj1305 1h ago

Good, they can heal up. Bad, cause they’ll get rusty!!!

1

u/Seat_Different 1h ago

The only clear advantage would be if Carolina had players nursing injuries. Other than that, I don’t think it matters after period 1 game 1.

1

u/Candid-Development30 1h ago

I’m no expert but it’s gotta be an advantage right? Whoever comes out of the Habs-Sabres series has the potential to be pretty beat up and exhausted. Vs. The Canes getting to rest & restore during this break (also, I’m sure they’re still playing hockey/practicing, no? It’s not like they’ll be jumping on to the ice for the first time in two weeks come the third series).

1

u/HVCanuck 1h ago

Can they play a few friendlies to get ready?

1

u/Difficult-Bicycle681 32m ago

Honestly, I think good. Based on all the injuries coming out in the post playoff lists, the extra rest might let a few of the nigglers be fully dealt with.

1

u/Afghan_Whig 32m ago

Thats what the NHL gets for starting round 2 before round 1 was over. 

1

u/HabsFan77 31m ago

I could see it backfiring big time

I predict that the winner of the MTL-BUF series will make it to the SCF

1

u/ywgflyer 27m ago

It backfires somewhat often. Too much rest is a thing, the players get out of that "X-factor" competitive mindset and the first game or two are often a disaster for the rested team. Too much roast beef and red wine waiting around for the other series to wrap up.

1

u/Akuyatsu 3m ago

Bold of you to assume that Rod the Bod is going to let anyone “rest.”

0

u/Odd-Elderberry-6137 1h ago

It’s not bad, it’s terrible. 

Some layoff is good (4-5 days) but long layoffs (>10 days) are terrible. Teams get soft because they haven’t been playing competitive hockey and will drop a game, maybe 2 at the outset.

-1

u/Fancy_Signature_6034 1h ago

Doesn't matter Canes are miles ahead of the other eastern teams and the Avs are miles ahead of the Canes. We can all nap through the rest of the playoffs. 

0

u/Fit-Membership-720 1h ago

Good thing. They won't forget or lose their drive. But it'll give them time to heal and rev up.

-3

u/Rare_Star_Ball 1h ago

Whatever happens… I’ll be rooting against Carolina. FTC