LOS ANGELES – What an incredible Elite 8. Whether it was summer or the bubble we had some insane playoff hockey. No lead was safe in a game. We had 3 three game 7s, one went to overtime. Players game out of now to score hat tricks, author shut outs and become legends.
EASTERN RECAP
The Boston Bruins were the only team who won the Stanley Cup in the last decade who made it to the Elite 8. They were the only team those past winners who looked like they cared in the bubble. They should be given high marks for that. Boston was the best team in the regular season but did not continue their dominate play over the extended break and into the playoffs. The Perfection line was not perfect. David Pastrnak was dinged and Patrice Bergeron at times looked old. David Krejci, Boston’s second line center was one of the only Bruins with hop in his legs. Deadline deals Nick Ritchie and Ondrej Kase disappointed. Boston’s defense was also disappointing. Charlie McAvoy and Torey Krug shined but Brandon Carlo, Matt Grzelcyk and Connor Clifton struggled. Captain Zdeno Chara is a leader but McAvoy is forced to do too much because Chara can’t get to pucks like he used to. People can blame Boston’s loss on Tuuka Rask leaving the bubble but Jaroslav Halak played well. He gave up some questionable goals but he also made some spectacular saves. Boston got beat by a superior team.
The Tampa Bay Lightning exorcized the ghosts of the Columbus Blue Jackets then expelled the regular season’s best team the Boston Bruins. The best line in this series was not the Perfection line but the Lightning’s top line. Tampa’s center Brayden Point is a leading candidate for the Conn Smythe. Point maybe the best player left in the playoffs with Nathan McKinnon exciting. Nikita Kucherov competed hard in this series and Ondrej Palat was on fire. He could have had twenty goals if Halak didn’t make some ridiculous saves. Tampa’s deadline deals came thru big time. Barclay Goodrow and Blake Coleman added snarl to the forwards. Newly acquired Zach Bogosian added snarl and a big shot front the blueline. Tampa’s blueline already has the best defenseman in the NHL in Victor Hedman. Hedman was a beast in this series. Tampa’s goaltenders Andrei Vasilevskiy while not overly tested played like a Vezina Trophy winner.
The New York Islanders completely dominated the Philadelphia Flyers. It was amazing the Flyers lasted seven games. The Flyers only won 4 periods the wholes series. Islander center Matt Barzal had a coming out party. He played like a superstar. He got abused and still skated circles around the Flyers. The Islanders had all four lines working Barry Trotz system to perfection. They put on a clinic in board play and how to get the puck out of your own end.
It’s a credit to the Flyers, who like cockroaches would not die. Once again, the Flyers core was disappointing and a no show in the game’s biggest moments, Game 7. Flyer’s rookie goaltender Carter Hart played well but could not steal the series. Islanders goaltending depth prove to be their decisive edge. When Islanders starter Seymon Varlamov faltered in Games 5 and 6 backup Thomas Greiss came in and pitched a shutout in Game 7.
PREDICTION
It appears like Lighting are getting their Captain Steven Stamkos back for the Eastern Conference Final. Critics can attack the Isles for playing a trap or boring hockey but their counter game is exquisite. They have game breakers who capitalize on their chances. The Islanders also know how to play with the lead and squeeze a game dry. Tampa’s all- star forwards will need to be patient. The Fishermen from Long Island have slayed every dragon so far. ISLANDERS IN 7
WESTERN RECAP
The Dallas Stars Colorado Avalanche series was one of the most memorable playoff series of any sport in history. Forget about the crazy six games leading up to Game 7. Game 7 went to overtime and the hero was a rookie who came out of the press box to score a hat trick including the overtime winner. Joel Kiviranta never has to pay for a meal in Dallas the rest of his life. If you weren’t a Colorado fan the only thing diappointing about this series was Game 7 was played in the afternoon. The Stars won the series but almost blew a 3-1 lead in the series. Dallas won the series without their high-priced forwards Tyler Seguin and Jamie Benn getting to their games. Their linemate Alexander Radulov got to his game though. Radulov caused mayhem and scored clutch goals. The Stars got stellar play on the blue line from Miro Heiskanen and John Klingberg. They set the table for Dallas’s role players to score important goals.
The Colorado Avalanche have nothing to be ashamed of in this series. It’s hard to win a playoff series with your 3rd goaltender. Nathan MacKinnon put best player in the world on his business card. Nazeem Kadri buried his playoff ghosts with a memorable series. He was memorable for his goal scoring and not for taking egregious stupid penalties. Young superstar defenseman Cale Makar was also memorable. Not because of his hiccup with the puck behind his net in Game 4 but because of his Paul Coffey like end to end rushes and powerplay acumen.
The Vegas Golden Knights needed almost every minute of all seven games to eliminate the Vancouver Canucks. Vegas is too big, too skilled and generally good to lose. Even when they don’t play smart or with passion they still win. Defensemen Shea Theodore was outstanding they rest of the Golden Knights appeared to be on auto pilot. Vegas goaltender Robin Lehner quelled the Knights pending goalie controversy by winning Game 7.
The Vancouver Canucks were less than ten minutes from making an historic upset. When Vancouver’s starting goaltender and MVP Jacob Markstrom became unfit to play most people thought the Canucks were toast. Backup netminder Thatcher Demko came in and did a Patrick Roy impression for 2 games. Thatcher was nothing short of sublime. The Canucks are a franchise on the rise. Center Elias Pettersen went from a boy to a man this season. He put muscle that enables him to go to the dirty areas and not get knocked off the puck. Pettersen is a superstar. There are many great young defensemen in the NHL but Vancouver’s Quinn Hughes all-around game is the best of all of them.
PREDICTION
Dallas has all the momentum and karma going into this series. Unfortunately, their goaltender Anton Khudobin is not playing at a championship level. If Stars Tyler Seguin and Jamie Benn continue to underwhelm Vegas will win easily because Vegas’s goaltending is much better than Colorado’s was. VEGAS IN 6
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