LOS ANGELES – The Qualifying Round is over. Eight days of incredible hockey. From morning until night, it was August Madness. The teams that remain are the for the regular Stanley Cup Playoffs are the Sweet Sixteen.
It really was eight days of madness. I have never been so wrong about hockey in my life. Talent and skill didn’t carry the day. Most of the game’s biggest superstars went home early. Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl, Auston Matthews and Patrik Laine have all left the bubble.
Goalies were in playoff form and defensive schemes were crisp. Old school hard work and grinding beat flashes on the rush.
Many penalties were called. Most calls were lazy penalties like hooking, holding or tripping. Calls that were not made in the nineties, playoffs or not. There were enough too many men penalties for a lifetime of playoffs. The games were heated. Cheap shots given but not like regular playoffs.
The Round Robin games all lacked the intensity of the qualifying games. Whether due to lineup availabilities or nothing truly at stake these games were only marginally more competitive than the exhibition games. The Flyers were the only team who gave one hundred percent every game. They were rewarded with the number one seed in the East. Every team did put together at least a few solid periods except Boston. Boston looked disjointed. They fought the puck all week.
The Qualifying Series Recaps-
Montreal > Pittsburgh I will give a full column to this debacle later in the week.
Carolina > Rangers Carolina’s top line was magnificent. New York’s top line did not show up. Igor Shesterkin was unfit to play until it was too late to save the Rangers
Islanders > Florida Florida spent a lot of money on goaltending and coaching and still can’t win playoff games. The Islanders play stifling defense and have scoring threats throughout their lineup. Adam Pelech and Ryan Pulock are an underrated shut down pair.
Columbus > Toronto Joonis Korpisalo had two shutouts. Frederik Andersen proved again he’s not clutch. Toronto stars had their moments, but so did Tortorella’s role players had more.
Arizona > Nashville Nashville’s vaunted defensemen were outworked and outplayed by Rich Tocchet’s Desert Dogs.
Calgary > WInnipeg The Jets could not handle the Flames physicality.
Series was over when Winnipeg’s star forwards Mark Scheifele and Patrik Laine left game one with injuries. Maligned Johnny Gaudreau and Sean Monahan made it on the scoresheet.
Vancouver > Minnesota Minnesota gave a valiant effort but deserved to be in the Alexis LaFreniere lottery not the playoffs. Vancouver’s young stars played like veteran stars.
Chicago > Edmonton Chicago’s veteran superstars still have gas in the tank. The BlackHawks also received huge contributions from kids like Rookie of Year Candidate Dominik Kubalik. The Oilers are still not much more the Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl. The Oilers starting Mike Smith in Game One was a disaster.
Predictions-
Tampa over Columbus in 6. Columbus will not shock Tampa. They had over a year and Columbus’s upset of Toronto to think about it. Tampa acquired Blake Coleman, Patrick Maroon, Barclay Goodrow so they will not be pushed around. Unlike Toronto Tampa has a proven NHL coach and proven NHL defensemen.
Philadelphia over Montreal in 6. Philly will enjoy the bye their hated rivals the Penguins gave them. Montreal brass will wish they were in the Alexis LaFreniere lottery.
Carolina over Boston in 7. No team is hotter than the Canes. No team is colder than Boston.
Islanders over Washington in 7. Barry Trotz knows how to beat the Capitals. John Carlson’s status gives the defensive edge to New York.
Vegas over Chicago in 6. Vegas ‘s four lines will wear out Chicago’s thin defense. Chicago will not be able to score on Vegas as easily as they did Edmonton.
Vancouver over St Louis in 7. Vancouver has enough brawn to combat Craig Berube’s goon hockey. The Blues offense is not dynamic. Jacob Markstrom will be able to stop their shots. Vancouver’s offense is dynamic. St. Louis’ goaltending is not as solid as it was last season.
Colorado over Arizona in 6. Colorado. Colorado has a huge advantage at center. Colorado is as inspired as Nashville’s wasn’t.
Calgary over Dallas in 7. Calgary’s physical forwards will give Dallas ‘s defenseman problems. Dallas depends on their defensemen to kick start their offense. Dallas’s forwards have been offensively challenged all season.
You must be logged in to post a comment.