Carolina 4, New Jersey 1 (Hurricanes lead sequence 1-0)
GM Eric Tulsky appeared like a genius on Sunday as two of his midseason acquisitions – Logan Stankoven and Taylor Corridor – had been integral in Carolina’s Sport 1 victory over the Devils. Stankoven scored two targets, whereas Corridor added two assists. The 2 linked for a fairly power-play objective to place Carolina up 3-0 Within the second interval. Corridor is wanting rejuvenated in Carolina after a pair tough years in Chicago.
I believe Stankoven has numerous talent and real-world upside, however I am unsure when that’ll translate to common season fantasy worth. He is at present skating beside Jordan Staal and Jordan Martinook on Carolina’s third line, with solely a secondary power-play position. Meaning he is often skating lower than quarter-hour an evening, as we noticed once more Sunday, when he was on the ice for 14:53. There is a position that might be a lot better for Stankoven’s fantasy worth, nevertheless it’s at present being occupied by one other teen…
On Sunday, 21-year-old Jackson Blake noticed the third-highest ice time amongst Canes’ forwards at 17:04. He performed a lot as a result of he is using shotgun beside Sebastian Aho and Seth Jarvis on Carolina’s high line and high energy play. Though Blake began the yr with sheltered minutes as a rookie, he was trusted with far more alternative down the stretch, and that is carrying into the postseason. Do not decide him based mostly on general level totals, as a result of he performed very totally different roles within the first few months vs. the previous few months. For reference, he racked up 12 factors in his last 14 common season appearances, averaging 16:44 per sport.
Luke Hughes left Sport 1 after some heavy contact to his left shoulder, which he was holding in ache as he left the ice. Though he returned to the sport, it appeared vital sufficient to be a priority because the sequence progresses.
Nico Hischier and Jesper Bratt – who’ve been the heartbeat of this Devils’ offense whereas Jack Hughes is injured – mixed for the workforce’s solely objective of the sport. Though the duo began out on the identical line, they had been separated within the third interval as New Jersey tried to mount a comeback. The Devils did a greater job producing possibilities whereas Hischier and Bratt had been on totally different traces, nevertheless it’s honest to wonder if that impact was pushed by the rating of the sport as Carolina would have been completely happy to sit down on their lead at that time. General, Carolina dominated this one, outshooting New Jersey 38-13 by way of two durations. New Jersey pushed again a bit within the third, however the Hurricanes weathered that storm – no pun meant.
Toronto 6, Ottawa 2 (Leafs lead sequence 1-0)
After some turbulence with the person benefit early within the common season, Toronto began utilizing a five-forward setup extra usually, swapping Morgan Rielly for Matthew Knies. The adjustment paid dividends as from February 1st to the tip of the common season (April seventeenth), Toronto had the league’s second-best energy play, clicking at a powerful 30.8%. Ottawa performed with fireplace on Sunday, giving Toronto six alternatives with the person benefit. As you may think, the Sens bought burned, with the Leafs changing on half of these alternatives in Sport 1.
It is laborious to be too vital of Linus Ullmark‘s play in Sport 1 contemplating the workforce was shorthanded for 3 of the six targets he gave up. Nonetheless, his play was effectively under the elite stage we have seen for stretches of the common season. Ullmark’s profession playoff numbers aren’t good, however the pattern is comparatively small. We noticed him have some actually robust begins in 2023, in opposition to a Panthers workforce that went to the Cup Remaining that yr. I believe we’ll see a greater model of Ullmark going ahead, however it might definitely assist if the Sens may very well be extra disciplined.
Making his first profession playoff begin, Anthony Stolarz stood tall, stopping 31 of the 33 pictures Ottawa threw his approach. He is carried his common season excellence into the playoffs and shall be a serious hurdle for the Sens to recover from.
Toronto’s ‘Core 4’ stuffed the stat sheet on Sunday as Mitch Marner, Auston Matthews, John Tavares, and William Nylander had been the one multipoint gamers on this sport. Marner led the best way with three factors whereas every of the others had two. It is one small step in direction of dispelling perceptions that the workforce’s star gamers cannot carry out within the playoffs. Let’s have a look at if they will construct confidence off this robust begin.
Somebody instructed Tim Stutzle the playoffs are extra bodily, and he took that to coronary heart. Taking part in in his first profession postseason sport, Stutzle racked up a game-leading 9 hits. I think about it is inspiring for the Sens to see their most expert ahead shopping for into the playoff mandate of physicality, nevertheless it’s a slender line to stroll. You do not need him so targeted on being gritty that he strays from the talent performs that make him so harmful. One thing to look at because the sequence progresses.
One other younger Senator making his playoff debut was Dylan Cozens, who confirmed related respect for the physicality mandate, racking up 5 hits and 10 penalty minutes (though these PIMs got here from a sport misconduct that confirmed a scarcity of self-discipline greater than the rest). He additionally bought an help for taking the shot that led to Drake Batherson‘s rebound objective.
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Vegas 4, Minnesota 2 (Golden Knights lead sequence 1-0)
10:48 PM EST. That is the final time my jaw was linked to the remainder of my face. It dropped when Kirill Kaprizov made a lovely fake-shot move to Matt Boldy for Minnesota’s first objective of the postseason. That is the top-tier, game-breaking expertise Minnesota was lacking for half the marketing campaign. They are a a lot better workforce than their common season outcomes point out as a result of Kaprizov is now wholesome and pulling out performs like this:
who else Minnesota did not have for half the season? Joel Eriksson Ek, one of many league’s greatest two-way centres, who helped the Wild safe possession incessantly in Sport 1, successful 21 of the 32 faceoffs he took.
Minnesota’s high line was liable for each targets Sunday, so it is no shock that coach John Hynes leaned on them closely, with Kaprizov, Eriksson Ek and Boldy skating over 21 minutes. In distinction, minutes had been unfold out far more evenly amongst Vegas’ forwards, with the Golden Knights’ high line hovering round 17 minutes.
Making his NHL debut, 19-year-old Zeev Buium had a comparatively uneventful sport, seeing simply 13 and a half minutes of ice time. He was on PP1 for Minnesota’s solely power-play of the sport after which once more when the Wild had been attempting to tie issues up late with the goalie pulled. He is being utilized in these conditions due to his offensive potential, however shall be sheltered in different circumstances as a result of he hasn’t confirmed his defensive duty on the NHL stage simply but.
24-year-old Pavel Dorofeyev, who led Vegas with 35 targets throughout the common season, scored his first profession playoff objective in his second profession playoff look. One of many causes he is been capable of rating a lot this yr is as a result of he is skating on Vegas’ high power-play unit, which ranked second within the league throughout the common season. Dorofeyev’s capturing potential mixed with Shea Theodore‘s passing prowess is a recipe for fulfillment, as we noticed on Sunday:
Tomas Hertl – who was quiet in Vegas’ first-round exit final yr however had been a powerful playoff performer in San Jose prior – performed effectively in Sport 1 Sunday, racking up a objective, help, team-leading 4 pictures, and team-leading 4 hits.
Hertl and Brett Howden each scored their targets up excessive, blocker aspect on Filip Gustavsson. It’s going to be attention-grabbing to see if that is an space the Golden Knights look to use because the sequence progresses.
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Monday brings us our first style of LA vs. Edmonton and the Canadiens-Capitals conflict. We’ll additionally get a few Sport 2s because the Jets/Blues & Avalanche/Stars matchups proceed. Some information for Monday’s video games:
Edmonton’s well being is a giant storyline going into this sequence as Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl, Zach Hyman, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and Jake Walman all missed a big stretch of video games to shut out the marketing campaign. McDavid does not appear fearful about that, however it could find yourself being an element later on this sequence because the physicality of the postseason exacerbates pre-existing illnesses.
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As we begin excited about subsequent yr’s fantasy marketing campaign, one participant I am protecting a detailed eye on is 19-year-old Ivan Demidov in Montreal. We all know it is a game-breaking expertise, nevertheless it’ll be attention-grabbing to see how coach Martin St. Louis makes use of that expertise. In his miniscule pattern of two NHL common season video games, Demidov primarily skated beside Alex Newhook at even energy. Of their quick time collectively, Demidov created many scoring possibilities for Newhook, serving to Newhook rating his first objective in 10 video games. Will that chemistry proceed to construct within the playoffs, permitting Newhook to be a extra helpful fantasy asset subsequent yr?
On the facility play, I can not assist however really feel like Demidov’s high-end offensive creativity makes him higher fitted to PP1 than Juraj Slafkovsky. Sadly, coach St. Louis hasn’t been one to reward gamers PP alternative. Slafkovsky needed to earn his spot on PP1 with constant play over a sizeable pattern, as did Lane Hutson. I believe Demidov on PP1 shall be an ace up St. Louis’ sleeve in these playoffs relatively than the first plan, however I think about we’ll see that ace come out in some unspecified time in the future this postseason, previewing an inevitable everlasting promotion to PP1 for Demidov.
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Thanks for studying! Hope you will have a terrific week forward 🙂
