Welcome fantasy managers to a different version of the Japanese Edge. This week we’ll be having a look at spherical two of the Japanese Convention Stanley Cup playoffs.
Let’s get to it!
Carolina Hurricanes / Philadelphia Flyers (CAR leads sequence 2-0)
The Carolina Hurricanes entered their second spherical sequence towards the Philadelphia Flyers the identical method they dispatched their first-round opponent, the Ottawa Senators, by clinically dismantling the opposition by a smothering type of play at each ends of the ice. The Flyers had been stymied at each flip because the up-tempo Hurricanes ran roughshod in Sport 1, prevailing with a dominating 3-0 victory that was by no means doubtful. The ‘Canes adopted up that sport one efficiency by claiming a come from behind victory in OT to assert sport two as nicely.
The road of Logan Stankoven – Jackson Blake – Taylor Corridor continues to shine and dominated as soon as once more with that line accounting for a mixed 5 factors in that first sport with Logan Stankoven potting two objectives within the course of, bringing his postseason complete to 6 which is tied for the league lead alongside Tampa’s Brandon Hagel and Minnesota’s Matt Boldy. Coach Rod Brind’Amour has this squad taking part in some spectacular defensive hockey permitting the Flyers a measly nineteen pictures on objective in sport one, it is the third day out of the six postseason video games Carolina has performed during which they’ve given up twenty-two pictures on objective or much less.
Talking of the defensive facet of issues leads us to the dominating play of ‘Canes netminder Frederik Andersen who’s at present taking part in a few of his finest hockey in years as the massive Dane has long-established an outstanding 6-0 file accompanied by a mind-boggling 1.02 objectives towards and ridiculous .958 save share, each of which lead the league. If Andersen can stay wholesome in addition to proceed this present degree of play the Hurricanes could have turned what was seen as a workforce weak point right into a formidable power.
What’s much more spectacular about this Carolina Hurricanes workforce is that they’re dominating the opposition with out sizable contributions from a few of their elite offensive gamers comparable to Sebastian Aho (three objectives, zero assists), Seth Jarvis (one objective, three assists), Andrei Svechnikov (zero objectives, one help), Nikolaj Ehlers (one objective, two assists in 5 video games performed) and Shayne Gostisbehere (zero objectives, zero assists) over the course of the workforce’s six postseason contests. It is solely a matter of time earlier than a number of of the gamers listed breaks out offensively in a giant method, giving the ‘Canes much more weapons at their disposal.
In what must be one other thrilling sequence between Metropolitan rivals, I’ve bought the Carolina Hurricanes taking down this sequence towards an up-and-coming Philadelphia Flyers squad in six video games.
You possibly can view my picks for your entire second spherical right here together with others from the Specialists panel at Dobber Hockey
Buffalo Sabers / Montreal Canadiens (Sequence begins on Wednesday)
The Buffalo Sabres are benefiting from their first postseason look in 15 years because the upstart Sabres defeated the Boston Bruins in six video games to maneuver onto the second spherical of the Stanley Cup playoffs the place they are going to tackle the Montreal Canadiens. It must be a really thrilling matchup to find out the Atlantic division’s consultant within the Japanese Convention last.
The Sabres’ prime line of Peyton Krebs – Tage Thompson – Alex Tuch is main the offensive cost with every member of that trio taking part in at or above the point-per-game threshold. Strong contributions from the likes of Bowen Byram (three objectives, two assists), Rasmus Dahlin (one objective, three assists) and Owen Energy (zero objectives, 4 assists) on the blueline have gone a great distance in supporting the membership’s forwards production-wise.
In objective, Alex Lyon has been unimaginable for the upstart Sabres because the 33-year-old has long-established a 3-0-1 file accompanied by a 1.14 objectives towards and .955 save share with an 80% quality-start price. Lyon’s degree of play was a significant component in serving to Buffalo to their first sequence win in virtually 20 years (19 years to be precise!) whereas additionally contributing to the Sabres third ranked protection on this yr’s postseason conceding solely 2.00 objectives towards per sport.
The Montreal Canadiens earned a berth within the second spherical of the Stanley Cup playoffs because of their thrilling Sport 7 victory over the Tampa Bay Lightning final Sunday. In what was an extremely entertaining sequence, Montreal’s depth (particularly their backside six) in addition to the play of rookie netminder Jakub Dobes definitely went a great distance in serving to the Habs defeat a seasoned playoff roster with loads of championship pedigree.
Dobes outdueled Andrei Vasilevskiy on this sequence regardless of which method you slice it because the native of Czechia posted a tidy 2.03 objectives towards and .923 save share together with a 57.1% high quality begin price. As compared, Vasilevskiy completed the postseason with a 2.18 objectives towards common and .897 save share. Montreal will want Dobes to proceed his robust play because the Buffalo Sabres at present rank sixth (out of the sixteen playoff groups) offensively at 3.33 objectives per sport, a mark that has them as the highest offensive workforce out of the 4 remaining within the Japanese Convention.
One space of concern for Montreal heading into their second rounfirst-rounduld be the dearth of objective scoring from the workforce’s prime line of Cole Caufield – Nick Suzuki – Juraj Slafkovsky who mixed for a grand complete of 13 factors all through their first spherical matchup. Suzuki and Caufield netted just one objective every whereas Slafkovský potted a hat-trick in sport one however didn’t mild the lamp for the rest of the sequence. That might want to change if Montreal has any ideas of constructing their option to the third spherical of the Stanley Cup playoffs.
I am sticking with the Montreal Canadiens to take down the Buffalo Sabres in a hard-fought seven-game sequence that must be a extremely entertaining matchup between two younger up-and-coming groups vying for a spot on this yr’s Japanese Convention last. Keep tuned!
Thanks for studying and be at liberty to observe me on X @mikeouellet9 or BlueSky @mikeouellet9.bsky.social
(All stats courtesy of: Dobber’s Frozen Instruments)
See you all once more subsequent Tuesday!
