April 8, 2017: Stanley Cup Playoffs Preview
With the 2016-2017 regular season coming to a close and playoffs just around the corner, this year has been full of surprises. From Montreal's resurgence, to Edmonton and McDavid taking the league by storm, and Washington's continued dominance, here's what to watch for, who's hot, who's cold, and the dark horse for each conference.
WHAT TO WATCH FOR:
The absolutely stacked Pacific Division- I was originally going to call the Metropolitan division the best "quarter" of the bracket, but the point differential between Anaheim and Calgary is just 11 points with three games remaining, while the gap between Washington and Toronto is a whopping 23 (23!!!) points. The Flames have simmered a little after their 10 game win streak, and Anaheim has started to gradually distance themselves from Edmonton and San Jose. Meanwhile in North California, the road to take care of some unfinished business is getting harder, especially since they are just 3-7-0 in their last 10 games, and having to play the track star Edmonton Oilers in a seven game series without home-ice advantage won't be any easier. Can the Ducks continue their dominance over the Flames, and can Edmonton prove they are for real by eliminating the previous?
Can anybody stop the Blackhawks?
The Chicago Blackhawks have been on nothing but a tear, destroying just about everybody in their way during the last few months of the regular season. They have beat the Pittsburgh Penguins handily twice, the Wild twice, and the Oilers once. After claiming home-ice advantage in the western conference, they shouldn't have too much trouble with the Nashville Predators, winning all four games against their first round opponent. Assuming they advance, will Minnesota be able to break their slump? Since the beginning of March, they've been 7-11-2. Oh, how the Wild have fallen from being a possible Presidents Trophy contender to a horrific March (compared to the first 5 months of the season). They still have home-ice advantage for at least the first round, but they need to rebound greatly if they want to even think about beating Chicago four times, and that's only if they can survive Vladimir Tarasenko and the Blues.
Will the Atlantic even have a shot at winning the East?
I'm not trying to discredit the Atlantic division, don't get me wrong. But no matter who wins the Metropolitan (with the exclusion of Toronto), can they put up a fight in a seven game series? Montréal lost their series against Washington, Pittsburgh, and Columbus. The Rangers tied with the Caps, but lost to the Blue Jackets and Pens. However, Ottawa and Boston both lost to the Capitals and Penguins, but they each won the series against Columbus. I know, the playoffs are a whole new season compared to the regular season, but Pittsburgh and Washington are getting hot just at the right time, and Columbus is still fourth in the league. Lastly, taking in playoff success, in the last five years, the Rangers have only had two playoff pushes, and the Canadiens one, while Ottawa and Toronto haven't made any waves in the month of April.
Can the Capitals finally get past the second round?
Alex Ovechkin and the Capitals have had their sights set on Lord Stanley for the past 12 years. They have dominated regular seasons, he's won numerous Rocket Richard trophies, but for some reason, hasn't been able to reach the Eastern Conference Finals. Washington has faced some very stiff competition, which is expected around this time of year, but they have failed to translate regular season success into the playoffs. Last year they won the Presidents Trophy, but lost to the Penguins 4-2. Some could blame Brooks Orpik for being out three games via suspension, but they failed to pick up a win when Penguins defenseman Kris Letang served a one game suspension. Now, with an even better regular season, they will have to play either the second best team in the league (Pittsburgh), or the fourth best team in the league (Columbus) in the second round. However, this may finally be the year for Washington, with Pittsburgh dealing with injury after injury, and Columbus losing some key games down the stretch. Will Alex Ovechkin be able to lead his team to the promise land, or will they hit the golf course on another early exit?
Who's Hot?
St. Louis Blues
The Blues have been in an uphill battle the entire year, with Chicago's continued dominance and Minnesota's resurgence. St. Louis has really turned it on in their past 10 games, only going pointless in one game, while winning seven. Lead by Vladimir Tarasenko and his 38 goals, St. Louis is hoping to recreate some postseason magic and take their run one step further.
Anaheim Ducks
Of course when you're first in a tight division, you need to be hot. With Edmonton being right on the Ducks tail, going 8-2-0 in their last 10, Anaheim has matched it. Anaheim has gone 8-0-2 in their last 10 beating the Oilers, Sharks, and Flames all in that stretch. The Ducks have had some disappointing exits in their last two appearances, they'll be looking to put that in the rear view mirror and continue their dominance.
Toronto Maple Leafs
Toronto has burst on to the scene from their first game this year with Auston Matthews scoring four goals in his first NHL game. Being lead by Matthews, Mitchell Marner, and Nazem Kadri, Toronto has gone from a lottery team, to a youthful winning team. With Tampa Bay's attempt to steal the second wild card, Toronto has been able to secure their spot in the playoffs with their recent stretch of 8-2-0. This has been a building season for Toronto, and if they can make a push in the playoffs, Toronto can be a very scary team next year.
Pittsburgh Penguins
I would put the Presidents Trophy winning Capitals here, but it just seems like too much of a given that I don't even need to say anything about them here. But the Penguins have started winning after a cold stretch of four games, they've been able to secure home ice for the first round. Pittsburgh is overshadowed by Washington but is still second in the league in points and first in the league in goals scored. Captain Sidney Crosby has solidified his title of best hockey player in the world, leading the league in goals despite missing the first six games. Also, with such an injury plagued season, the Pens are starting to get some key players back, such as Trevor Daley, Olli Maatta, and Evgeni Malkin. The last time the NHL had a back to back champion was 1998 when the Red Wings won two in a row, can Pittsburgh be the first team to do it since?
Who's Cold?
San Jose Sharks
The San Jose Sharks were first in the Western Conference and the Pacific for the majority of the year. Then they ended their regular season on a 4-9-0 run, earning just 8 out of the 26 possible points. That slip up allowed Chicago to reclaim the conference, and Anaheim to move into first in the division, and now they have to play against the Edmonton Oilers, without home ice advantage, in the playoffs. The window is closing on Joe Thornton and Patrick Marleau to win a cup, and ending the season cold never translates well into the unforgiving playoffs.
Minnesota Wild
Is it really fair to say that the Wild are on a cold streak when they dropped from 3rd in the league to 5th? Yes. The Wild were in the conversation for possibly winning the Presidents Trophy... then March came. The Wild limped through March going 4-10-2, losing to teams that they should skate circle around. Minnesota did manage to end on a four game win streak, but they did face the Avalanche twice (last in the league in points), the Coyotes (28th in the league), and the Hurricanes (22nd in the league). Minnesota will need to elevate their game if they want to survive the first round, when they face St. Louis. Minnesota lost the season series with a record of 2-2-1.
New York Rangers
The Rangers were the victims of a stacked division, but got lucky by getting the first wild card. They had the chance to catch Columbus and get the three seed in the Metropolitan Division, but they've gone 3-5-2 in their last 10, and winning just one game in their last 7. Now in a way, being able to fall into the Atlantic division might be a best case scenario so they wouldn't have to play Pittsburgh in the first round. New York is going to have to right the ship if they want to make a run in the playoffs, especially since they went 0-2-1 against their first round opponent, the Montréal Canadiens.
Columbus Blue Jackets
Columbus was arguably the best team in the first half of the year, winning 16 straight games, going perfect in December. Unfortunately, they haven't been the same down the stretch. Going in to the playoffs on a 3-5-2 stretch. Losing 4-1 to their eventual first round opponent won't work in the Blue Jackets favor either. Columbus will need to recreate its December magic if they want to endure the playoffs and win in the near future.
Dark Horse
Western Conference- St. Louis Blues
St. Louis has only lost once in regulation during their last ten games. That may be due to the weak strength of schedule from March until now, but they have won games against Anaheim, San Jose, and their first round opponent Minnesota. I've always believed that if you go into the playoffs hot, then you have a good chance of winning no matter who you play. Now this isn't the same team that was just two games away from the Stanley Cup Finals last year, due to the losses of David Backes and Kevin Shatternkirk, but the Blues have had success against the Wild and Blackhawks. With Jake Allen back on his game, and Vladimir Tarasenko able to raise his game like last year, St. Louis has a chance to surprise a lot of people.
Eastern Conference- Toronto Maple Leafs
Toronto is a young, fast, scoring team that can come at teams fast and hard. With ROY candidate Auston Matthews, Toronto has the ability to overwhelm Ottawa. The Senators have some injuries affecting some depth that have come at the worst time possible. The Maple Leafs only won one game against Ottawa, going 1-1-2, but have beaten Columbus, and masked their inexperience with a gutsy win over Pittsburgh to clinch their spot in the playoffs. Goalie Frederik Anderson will be healthy for the playoffs, and with some momentum going into the playoffs, advancing deep in to the playoffs will do wonders for the future of this clubn.
