Stanley Cup Playoffs: Round 1 Preview

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(Credit/NHL.com)

The regular season has come to an end and the first round match-ups have been set.

This is sure to be an exciting first round with top seeds and wild card teams matching

up well. I expect there to be a few ‘upsets’ and low scoring affairs throughout. I would

like to start off by giving my deepest condolences to the Flyers organisation and

family on the recent passing of their owner, Ed Snider. All wild card teams enter the

playoffs with slight chips on their shoulders, but this will only further push the Flyers

to play well and honour his memory.

First let’s take a look at the match-ups in the Western Conference.

 

Wild vs Stars (Top Central & Wild Card)

The Stars were the top team in the Western Conference, finishing with 109 points,

narrowing beating St. Louis by two. The Wild return to playoff action with a strong

finish and look to advance to the second round despite a large mountain to climb.

Dallas won twelve of their final eighteen games and with Benn leading an imposing

forward group with Seguin, Spezza, and Sharp they can score in bunches. Klingberg

and Goligoski are also a great one-two punch on the blue line and give great

protection to either Niemi or Lehtonen in net. Minnesota does not possess the

scoring threat that Dallas does, and that will be their downfall. Parise was their

leading goal scorer with twenty-five goals and unless Neiderrieter, Pominville, and

Vanek step up they may have an early exit in these playoffs. However, they do have

one of the leagues’ best between the pipes in Dubnyk. If he can carry over his 2.33

GAA and .918 SV% numbers to the playoffs they may be able to squeak through.

Prediction: Stars in 6

 

Blues vs Blackhawks (Central division 2 & 3)

The Blues finished the season with a win in thirteen of their final seventeen games

and look to stop Chicago’s aspirations of back-to-back titles early. Tarasenko is a

threat to score multiple times night in and night out, with Steen, Stastny, and Backes

rounding out a formidable forward core. Shattenkirk and Pietrangelo do a great job

on the blue line. Rookies Fabbri and Parayko will get some much desired playoff

experience early in their careers. Whether they go with Allen or Elliot in net, the high

powered offence of Chicago will have their work cut out for them to find the back of

the net. This duo combined for ten shutouts this year and a .925 save percentage.

Kane had one of the most prolific regular seasons in recent memory with 106 points.

Chicago also has a rookie of the year candidate in Panarin with seventy-seven

points to boot. Toews quietly had a successful season as well with fifty-eight points

and the trade deadline addition of Ladd was the final nail to make a run. Despite

Keith missing game one of the series the blue line is solid with Seabrook and

Hjalmarsson. Their goalie isn’t too shabby either, having seven shutouts and a .924

save percentage in the regular season; Crawford can shut the door. Expect low

scoring affairs in this series and for it to go at least six games.

Prediction: Blues in 7

 

 

Predators vs Ducks (Top Pacific & Wild Card)

The Ducks narrowly beat out the Kings for the top spot in the Pacific division and will

face the Predators in round one. These two teams combined for twenty-five overtime

loses in the regular season so I anticipate some overtime games in this series. I

don’t, however, see Nashville being a large threat to Anaheim reaching the second

round. Outside of Forsberg and Neal the Predators have no real scoring threat.

Defenceman Josi was second on the team in points with sixty-three and Weber

added fifty-one off the blue line as well. Rinne also did not put up outstanding

numbers this season posting a .908 save percentage. The Ducks added McGinn at

the deadline and after a slow start turned their season around in a big way. This

team is riddled with veteran talent who have playoff experience. Getzlaf, Perry,

Kesler, and Rakell could easily combine for two plus goals per game in this series.

Vatanen and Lindholm are another duo on the blue line that secures wins and

protects leads and whether it’s Andersen or Gibson in net, this team will compete.

Prediction: Ducks in 5

 

Sharks vs Kings (Pacific division 2 & 3)

This matchup will come down to the wire. Both teams had similar regular season

records and only lost in overtime six times respectively. The Kings have veteran

talent on all lines along with rising stars. Toffoli lead his team in goals with thirty-one

and will be a key piece in the continued success of hockey in L.A. Kopitar, Carter,

and Lucic all had twenty goal seasons as well, and with the duo of Doughty and

Muzzin on the blue line this team has the ability to make it to the second round.

However, getting past the goaltending duo of Jones and Reimer will be a daunting

task. Jones was third in the league this year with 37 wins, to go with six shutouts,

and a 2.27 GAA. Reimer joined the team at the trade deadline as has posted three

shutouts in his short time with the team. Thornton is the talented veteran forward that

all teams need to make a playoff run. His eighty-two points were good for third in the

league. Pavelski also found the back of the net numerous times with thirty-eight

goals. Marleau and Herlt both tallied forty plus point seasons themselves and with

Burns and Vlasic on defence this team is equally as talented as their foes. With

Quick in net for the Kings and Jones or Reimer in net for the Sharks, this series will

go down to who can capitalize on the power play and maintain a lead. The team that

scores first may just be the team that gets the W on that night.

Prediction: Kings in 6

 

Islanders vs Panthers (Top Atlantic & Wild Card)

The Panthers won the Atlantic division?! It may still take time for that to sink in for

some hockey fans. This team is no push over though and if the Islanders look to

advance they are in for a fight. At 44 years old Jagr looked like he was 24 again

after his team leading 66-point campaign. Any opportunity to watch the ageless

wonder play in at least four more games this season is reason enough to check out

this series, in my opinion. Along with the young core of Barkov and Huberdeau, who

 

both managed 59 point seasons, this team will be playoff contenders not just in 2016

but well beyond. The veteran additions of Purcell and Hudler certainly provide depth

to this line-up and the duo of Ekblad and Campbell on the blue line ensure leads can

be maintained. They both managed to contribute thirty plus points while still

maintaining +18 and +31 ratings respectively. Luongo is also showing no signs of

slowing down after posting a .922 save percentage and four shutouts this season.

Tavares, Okposo, and Nielsen will certainly give Florida a run for their money in this

matchup, but with a weaker defensive group, I give the edge to the Panthers. Greiss

and Halak will not make it easy for the Panthers to advance, but unless the Isles can

score three or more goals a game, this series may be over quick.

Prediction: Panthers in 5

 

Red Wings vs Lightning (Atlantic division 2 & 3)

They narrowly squeaked in, but here we are in playoff hockey with the Red Wings

represented. Although only having two twenty goal scorers in Larkin and Tatar this

season, playoff experience can do wonders for a team, and we all know Detroit has

a plethora of that. Zetterberg and Datsyuk still had thirty plus assist campaigns and

the duo of Green and Kronwall on the blue line is capable of keeping Tampa Bay out

of their zone. This series will give us a glimpse of whether or not the young core of

Larkin, Tatar, and Abdelkader are ready to lead this team, or if Detroit has a quick

exit. The Lightning have a lot to prove in this round as well, and if they struggle it

may be the last time we see Stamkos in a Tampa Bay jersey. With only five overtime

loses this season, this team finds a way to maintain leads and win late. Kucherov

and Stamkos are an imposing scoring duo and with veterans Hedman and Stralman

on defence they have the ability to make the second round. If Palat and Killorn step

up this series could be over early. Bishop lead the league with a 2.06 GAA and .926

save percentage. In my opinion, if he had managed to reach forty wins he would

have easily been a Vezina favourite. He is the reason this team advances.

Prediction: Lightning in 6

 

Flyers vs Capitals (Top Metropolitan & Wild Card)

Is this the year the Ovechkin finally wins a cup? This question is addressed once

again this season. The Caps have won the Presidents Trophy but without at least a

Conference Finals appearance it will be meaningless. They have the total package

and all the pieces to make a run this year, but I will not be shocked in the least if the

Flyers pull an ‘upset’ in this series. When you have three players, Kuznetsov,

Ovechkin, and Backstrom all record seventy-point season, you have found the recipe

for success. Their seasons were so good that Oshie’s fifty-one in his first year with

the team nearly went unnoticed. The trio of Carlson, Niskanen, and Orlov on defence

provide an offensive threat as well combining for 21/79 while maintaining a +12

rating as a group. They also happen to have a talented guy between the pipes in

Holtby. He had a Vezina worthy season where he tied Brodeur for the single season

wins’ record while also registering a 2.20 GAA and .922 save percentage.

Like I said, Philadelphia will not be an easy matchup for them. Gostisbehere

is a rookie sensation, that upon his call up, nearly single handily brought this team to

a new level. Schenn also increased his production after his brother was traded away

and finished the season with fifty-nine points. Giroux, Simmonds, and Voracek round

out a forward group that will aim to find the weakness in Holtby’s game. Mason and

Neuvirth are a great goalie duo on this team themselves. They combined for seven

shutouts over the season and a .920 save percentage. Although this series may not

be viewed as a goalie matchup, it should be. As mentioned earlier the Flyers will

enter this series with heavy hearts, but will look to perform well and honour their

fallen owner with what all owners want, a competitive series where everything is left

on the ice.

Prediction: Flyers in 7

 

Penguins vs Rangers (Metro division 2 & 3)

Dejavue anyone, I feel like we’ve seen this matchup before. Can Pittsburgh finally

advance to round two this year though? We shall see. Crosby had a fantastic second

half and this team has the tools to play well, but getting the puck past Lundqvist will

be no easy task. Lundqvist GAA may have been slightly elevated at 2.48, but his

.920 save percentage show he is still going to stop the puck. The Rangers have a

forward group with five players who scored twenty or more goals this past season

and Eric Staal will look to perform at a high level in the playoffs. Yandle is certainly a

number one defenseman in this league with his forty-nine-point season, but this is

the area of weakness for New York that will be exploited by Pittsburgh. Crosby will

look to build on his 85-point season and the trio of Letang, Daley, and Maatta on

defence will ensure that the Rangers will have limited scoring opportunities. Fleury

continues to give the Pens a reliable man between the pipes after he worked to a

2.29 GAA and .921 save percentage along with five shutouts in the regular season.

Prediction: Penguins in 6

 

Agree? Disagree? Comment below and don’t forget to follow Super Two Sports on

Twitter @SuperTwo_Sports along with myself @GHam614 and enjoy the first round

playoff action of 2016.

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