(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.
