Yes, we lost. At home. By four goals. But here’s the thing—home ice in the Stanley Cup Playoffs just doesn’t mean what it used to. Want proof? I’m a numbers guy, so I looked it up: over the last two playoff seasons, road teams have won 56% of the time. That’s not a typo. The edge of playing at home has evaporated faster than a two-goal lead in the third period.
Why? A few reasons:
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Travel is easier now. Teams fly private, stay in top hotels, and show up rested and prepped.
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Crowds are loud everywhere. Home fans are rowdy, sure—but visiting teams don’t get rattled like they used to. These guys are pros.
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Matchups matter, but only so much. Coaches can’t hide players like they used to, and one bad bounce or penalty call can flip a game on its head.
So if you’re worried about giving up home ice advantage—relax. It was never much of an advantage to begin with. Now, Game 7s? That’s where home teams still tend to do better historically (hovering around 58% win rate), but we’re a long way from that right now.
This series is far from over. One game doesn’t define a team, and this loss isn’t a death sentence. There are adjustments to be made, sure. Tighten up the neutral zone. Clean up the penalties. Stop giving their top line so much space. But the good news is—we’ve got time, and we’ve got bounce-back ability.
The playoffs are a grind. It’s about who responds, not who panics.