By William Parocai ’27
Spherical one has come and gone, reducing the groups left within the chase for everlasting greatness in half. The primary spherical was thrilling. Korean harmonicas, 2OT heroes, a bench brawl, and two recreation sevens made this yr’s first spherical fairly entertaining. Nevertheless it’s time to maneuver on to a model new spherical filled with thrilling new matchups between some bitter divisional rivals.
Toronto Maple Leafs (A1) vs. Florida Panthers (A3)
Beginning out east we now have the Toronto Maple Leafs (A1) and the Florida Panthers (A3).
Toronto Maple Leafs (A1)
Is it lastly Toronto’s yr? Possibly, however they’re going to need to beat probably the most bodily, gritty, hardest checking groups within the Panthers. This yr’s Toronto workforce seemed like a nicely oiled machine by their first three video games within the playoffs. The core 4 of Matthews, Nylander, Marner and Tavares had been producing within the playoffs like by no means earlier than. Outdoors scorers additionally supplied contributions with big recreation successful objectives from Max Pacioretty, Max Domi and Simon Benoit. This Toronto workforce appears a lot better put collectively than years previous and will proceed their path to the Stanley Cup by successful this matchup.
Weaknesses
We noticed Toronto dominate in Recreation One. They seemed unbelievable, controlling the tempo of the sport and producing probabilities from everywhere in the ice. Nevertheless all through the remainder of the sequence they struggled to duplicate this degree of management and manufacturing. Moreover, Florida’s recreation is constructed on disruption, large hits, blocking passing lanes, and excessive depth forechecking. Toronto could wrestle to generate offense outdoors their “core 4” as a result of fashion of recreation they’re dealing with from the Panthers.
Florida Panthers (A3)
Florida tore up the Tampa Bay Lightning in spherical one with sheer physicality and a few questionable calls. Regardless of this Florida dominated Tampa Bay with a robust forecheck and contributions from everybody on offense. This excessive scoring offense allowed the Panthers to take down a great workforce in Tampa and transfer on to the second spherical.
Weaknesses
The weaknesses for the Panthers are few and much between primarily based on their first spherical matchup with the Lightning. Tampa Bay by no means actually threatened the Panthers in addition to in Recreation 3 the place the Lightning gained the sport 5-1. Regardless of some goaltending considerations with Sergei Bobrovsky the Panthers have been in a position to closely outscore the opposition.
Prediction
I believe that the Panthers will overpower the Leafs with the identical physicality and depth they used to dominate play in opposition to the Lightning. The winner of this sequence would be the Panthers in 6.
Washington Capitals (M1) vs. Florida Panthers (M2)
Up subsequent we now have what guarantees to be probably the most thrilling matchups: the Washington Capitals (M1) vs the Carolina Hurricanes (M2)
Washington Capitals (M1)
Maintain sleeping on them. All season the Capitals have been doubted but right here they’re with their first playoff sequence win since lifting the Stanley Cup in 2018. Captain Alex Ovechkin’s historic objective chasing season is being made even sweeter by a playoff sequence win. The Capitals come into this matchup as underdogs (someway) regardless of dominating the Metropolitan Division and the Japanese Convention all season. Wonderful supporting play from Connor McMichael, Anthony Beauvillier, Brandon Duhaime and Alexander Alexeyev has allowed the Capitals to have an entire workforce on each ends of the ice making them a formidable opposition for any workforce to deal with.
Weaknesses
The Capitals confirmed some weak point in controlling leads throughout their sequence with Montreal particularly within the third interval. In the event that they’re going to take down Carolina they need to rectify this situation and be sure that they will management the sport for all 60 minutes on each ends of the ice.
Carolina Hurricanes (M2)
The Hurricanes are probably the most full groups within the NHL and boast a robust dynamic offense with threats comparable to Andrei Svechnikov and Logan Stankoven. Very similar to the Capitals they’re constructed upon having many scorers and their skill to arrange within the offensive zone and create objectives with many choices. Moreover, they’ve the most effective defensive defensemen within the league with Jacob Slavin who has proved time and time once more that he can shut down prime attackers on the opposing workforce.
Weaknesses
The Hurricanes nonetheless have questions with their goaltending. Whereas their goaltending was robust in opposition to the Devils, the Devils had been with out their prime ahead Jack Hughes and lacked a lot offense. Thus the Hurricanes had the best first spherical matchup. I don’t really feel like this Canes workforce was significantly examined throughout that first spherical matchup and but flaws had been nonetheless current. Time will inform whether or not or not the Canes can deal with the dynamic firepower of the Capitals.
Prediction
This matchup must be a great one however I’ve to take the dynamic firepower of the Capitals. Regardless of their points holding onto leads in spherical one they received the job accomplished in opposition to who, given the Devils accidents, I imagine was a stronger opponent in Montreal. I’m taking the Capitals in 6.
Winnipeg Jets (C1) vs. Dallas Stars (C2)
Heading out to the wild, wild Western Convention we now have two marquee matchups beginning with a north vs south battle between the Winnipeg Jets (C1) and the Dallas Stars (C2).
Winnipeg Jets (C1)
The Winnipeg Jets got here into the playoffs with the most effective common season document within the NHL nevertheless the St. Louis Blues (WC2) took all of them the way in which to 2OT in Recreation seven. Regardless of this the Jets got here out on prime through some robust clutch scoring on the again finish and a nifty tip from Adam Lowry in Recreation seven.
Weaknesses
Following their first spherical efficiency the Jets have extra questions than solutions. They struggled in opposition to a weaker Blues workforce and in contrast to the opposite groups merely weren’t dominant in opposition to their considerably weaker opponent. Connor Hellebuyck struggled significantly within the crease as he has in earlier playoff years. The Jets certainly can not deal with the Stars if they don’t have a dependable goalie able to protecting the puck out of the web.
Dallas Stars (C2)
The Stars had the hardest matchup within the first spherical. The Avalanche had been no straightforward opponent and the Stars prevailed due to former Colorado Avalanche star Mikko Rantanen’s two Recreation seven objectives and a well timed energy play objective from rising star, no pun supposed, Wyatt Johnston. Moreover the Stars are more likely to witness the return of prime defenseman Miro Heiskanen and star ahead Jason Robertson. The return of those two will make an already distinctive workforce right into a machine poised to make a deep run for Lord Stanley.
Weaknesses
The Stars most important weak point coming into the playoffs involved their skill to fill the gaps left by Heiskanen and Robertson. With these two gamers returning these gaps are undoubtedly crammed. I imagine that that is essentially the most full Stars workforce we’ve seen because the 1999 championship workforce.
Prediction
I’m going with a daring prediction right here. I believe that the Jets have obvious weaknesses that the Stars will closely exploit. Stars in 5.
Vegas Golden Knights (P1) vs. Edmonton Oilers (P3)
Lastly we’re heading to the desert the place the Vegas Golden Knights (P1) are taking over the Edmonton Oilers (P3).
Vegas Golden Knights (P1)
The Vegas Golden Knights boast probably the most dynamic offenses within the league. They overpowered the Minnesota Wild within the first spherical on account of their skill to create efficient performs and capitalize on the person benefit with their deadly powerplay. This coupled with their opponents goaltending woes may enable them to dominate the offensive recreation.
Weaknesses
Vegas has few weaknesses however one in every of them is their penalty kill. Whereas they carried out nicely in opposition to the Wild within the first spherical, the Edmonton Oilers are a distinct animal. Edmonton has two of the most effective gamers on the earth in addition to an offensive minded defenseman that may launch howitzers from the purpose. If Vegas needs to stymie these offensive gamers then their penalty kill must be simply as sharp because it was in opposition to the Wild in spherical one.
Edmonton Oilers (P3)
Regardless of dropping the primary two video games of the sequence in Los Angeles, the Edmonton Oilers discovered their recreation and rallied to win the subsequent 4 video games taking the sequence in six. Extremely expert forwards Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl powered them by Video games three, 4, and 5 and assist from the supporting solid of Zach Hyman, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, and Connor Brown allowed Edmonton to win Recreation six and the sequence. This offense comes into the sequence as sizzling as ever and appears poised to tear any opposition goaltender to shreds.
Weaknesses
The Oilers have one big query. It is the identical query that’s been requested for years. How can Edmonton’s goaltending tandem of Stuart Skinner and Calvin Pickard sustain with the excessive powered offenses Edmonton will inevitably face within the playoffs. Merely put they will’t. Nicely at the least to not the extent of different groups. This duo has plagued the Oilers with questions for years and continues to take action. Edmonton wins extra sequence and video games by sheer offensive output than by stellar goaltending. There’s a cause Connor McDavid has a Conn Smythe however no Stanley Cup.
Prediction
I believe that goaltending would be the deciding issue on this sequence. Vegas, whereas not boasting the most effective goaltending within the playoffs, does have an edge on Edmonton. This one goes to be shut however I’m taking Vegas in 7.
Views expressed on this article are these of the writer and never of anybody else. Stats used for predictions are from moneypuck.com.
