The NHL has almost completed its 56 game Covid season, c’mon Canada, hurry up. Everyone associated with the NHL deserves stick tap for getting it done.
THANK YOU!!!
Now on to the playoffs.
Penguins (1) vs Islanders (2)
No franchise has given the Penguins’ franchise more agony than the Islanders. Two years ago, the Islanders embarrassed the Penguins by sweeping them in Round 1. The Penguins could not solve Barry Trotz’ trap. This is a different and better Penguins team for many reasons. The Penguins are much improved on the backend. Kris Letang is playing his best hockey since 2016, probably because his partner the ever-steady Brian Dumoulin is healthy. Mike Matheson and Cody Ceci are fast puck movers who will be able to avoid the Islanders vaunted forecheck. Tristen Jarry has limited playoff experience, but his stick handling skills will also help the defense.
Up front, the Penguins top line is as good any teams’ top line. Center Sidney Crosby would win the Hart (MVP) if playing for a Canadian team made you ineligible. His wingers Jake Guentzel and Bryan Rust are the best pair he’s ever played with. The other Hall of Fame center, Evgeni Malkin, is not 100 precent but his winger Kasperi Kapanen is so good he can actually help Malkin. Kapanen’s speed, hands and nose for the puck can ease Geno’s burden until he gets his legs under him. Deadline acquisition Jeff Carter has been nothing short of sensational offensively and better than advertised defensively. He enables Teddy Blueger to be a 4th line center giving the Penguins the best 1-4 centers in the NHL.
The Penguins need to worry about taking penalties. Even though the Islanders power play has not been the same since Anders Lee has been injured they still have sharp shooters. The Penguins let up too many easy cross ice passes and point-blank shots on the penalty kill. Matt Barzal, Anthony Beauvillier, Josh Bailey and Oliver Wahlstrom will bury those chances. The Penguins should fear Matt Barzal in general. He’s the most exciting player playing for an American franchise. It seems like he’s going to score every time he touches the puck. The Islanders 4th line of Casey Cizikas, Matt Martin and Cal Clutterbuck are older but can still inflict damage. The Penguins are deep at forward but thin on defense after their top six. Barry Trotz Islanders will not be a pushover but this year maybe Sid, Geno and Head Coach Mike Sullivan’s last dance. Penguins in 6
Capitals (2) vs Bruins (3)
The Capitals are coming into this series limping. Alex Ovechkin and TJ Oshie are dinged. When Evgeni Kuznetsov is playing his best the Capitals are a championship level team. He has not played at that level this year and now he’s on the Covid list. Also on the Covid list is Washington’s starting goalie Ilya Samsonov. Boston’s goalie Tuuka Rask is healthy and playing exceptional. The acquisition on Taylor Hall gave Boston’s 2nd line center David Krejci a bonafide scoring winger. It intern gave Boston two top scoring lines when paired with the Perfection Line of Patrice Bergeron, Brad Marchand and David Pastrnak. Curtis Lazar, who came with Hall from Buffalo solidified Boston’s bottom six. Just like at the forward position Boston has more depth than Washington on defense.
Bruins in 6
Hurricanes (1) vs Predators (4)
The Carolina Hurricanes beat out the Florida Panthers and the Tampa Bay Lightning for the right to crush the Nashville Predators. The Predators would not be in the playoffs if the Dallas Stars didn’t have to fight Mother Nature at every turn (Covid, Snowstorm). The Hurricanes top three lines are better the Predators’ top line. Sebastian Aho is a superstar in waiting at number one center. Vincent Trocheck is the perfect number two center. When Jordan Staal is your number three center you’re a Stanley Cup contender. Everyone loves Nashville’s defense but Carolina’s is better. Nashville’s goaltending has more big game experience but not more talent.
Hurricanes in 5
Panthers (2) vs Lightning (3)
The Battle of Florida, it only took us almost 30 years to get there. The reigning Stanley Cup champions Lightning should be favored, even though repeating is extremely difficult. The Lightning are still very good but the Lightning have struggled this year more than anyone thought they would. Vezina goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy has looked human lately. Norris defenseman Victor Hedman’s health is an issue. Last time Hedman’s heath was an issue the Bolts got swept in the 1st round. Superstars Nikita Kucherov and Steven Stamkos are returning from injury but it’s never easy just jumping into the playoffs after a long layoff. Even if Stamkos made it look easy for one glorious shift in the bubble. The Panthers conversely are clicking on all cylinders. Splitting up Sasha Barkov and Jonathan Huberdeau gives the Big Cats two elite lines. Sam Bennett, Anthony Duclair and Carter Verhaeghe have all found homes playing for Hall of Fame coach Joel Quinneville. The Florida defense has survived the loss of their leader Aaron Ekblad. The Panthers have three goalies to pick from. Sergei Bobrovsky, Chris Driedger and Spencer Knight all bring something different to the table. They made need all three. It just feels like Florida’s year. Patric Hornqvist has a few more big goals in him.
Panthers in 7
Avalanche (1) vs Blues (4)
The President’s Trophy winning Colorado Avalanche are the best team in hockey. Led by Nathan MacKinnon and Mikko Rantanen the Avalanche score goals in bunches. All for line can score and their defensemen are lethal. Cale Makar, Devon Toews and Sam Girard are like having an extra forward on the ice. Philipp Grubauer is a very good goaltender. He only weakness is that he has never won the Stanley Cup before, as a starter. The Blues netminder Jordan Binnington has won the Cup before. He is also playing his best hockey since he won the Cup. The Blues lineup is filled with guys who won the Cup in 2018 and they will be a hard out. It will not be easy beating Ryan O’Reilly and company in an elimination game.
Avalanche in 6
Golden Knights (2) vs Wild (3)
The Minnesota Wild are this season’s Cinderella team. The Wild’s Kirill Kaprizov is everyone’s new favorite player and Rookie of the Year. As the story goes Cinderella has to be home at midnight and all the fun in Vegas happens after midnight. Unless Vegas coach Peter DeBoer messes with the goaltenders by playing Robin Lehner instead of Marc- Andre Fleury the Wild will not beat the Wild. Kirill and Kevin Fiala give the Wild scoring the franchise has never had but Knights have more fire power. The Wild’s defense is better 1-6 but Vegas’s Alex Pietrangelo and Shea Theodore are workhorses than can carry a heavy load.
Golden Knights in 5
Maple Leafs (1) vs Canadiens (4)
The Toronto Maple Leafs have NO excuses to not get out of the first round this year. Auston Matthews is scoring at a ridiculous pace even for him. The team has added grit, toughness and secondary scoring. The Habs only have two guys that can score, Tyler Toffoli and Josh Anderson. Without those guys Montreal would be in the lottery. Montreal goalie Carey Price has been Carey Price for about two months in the past four years. Whatever fears Leafs fans have with their goaltending tandem of Frederik Andersen and Jack Campbell the Habs don’t have the offense to test them.
Leafs in 5
Oilers (2) vs Jets (3)
The Jets have depth at forward. The Jets have a Connor Hellebuyck, a great goaltender. The Jets have put the put the tray tables in the upright position and are descending. The Oilers are ascending. The Oilers have new found secondary scoring. The Oilers defense is not that bad and Darnell Nurse is a stud. The Oilers have Connor McDavid. The Oilers have Leon Draisaitl. The Oiler have Connor McDavid. Oilers in 6.
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