The NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs start this week and last for
about three months. GET EXCITED! While NHL coverage has been lacking on this
site (mainly my fault since Dustin designated me “lead NHL writer” and I
designated myself “lazy NHL writer”), that doesn’t mean that we aren’t excited
to cover the greatest playoffs in sports. Today I’ll preview the first round in
the East and tomorrow the West will get some love. LET’S DO IT!
Florida Panthers
vs. New York Islanders
No one expected the Panthers to win the Atlantic. Most,
myself included, figured that the young guys weren’t ready and the old guys
were too old. Turns out, there young guys are really good and their old guys
are still good as well. The Islanders finished just one point behind the
Panthers, but had to settle for a wild card spot because the Metropolitan
division was really good this year.
Goaltending: Here's
a phrase you’re going to read a lot in this preview and just about every single
NHL playoff preview you ever read until the end of time: it all comes down to
goaltending. That’s why it’s the first bullet in these previews. In this
series, the Panthers have Roberto Luongo, a Hall of Fame goalie playing at a
high level that is only matched by his twitter game. The Islanders have Thomas
Greiss, a guy you’ve probably never heard of and can’t decide if you should pronounce
his last name as “Gry-Ice” or “Grease.”
Best Player:
Aside from goaltending, the playoffs are about the best player showing up to
carry his team. In this series, Islanders center John Tavares is the best
player on either team. He’s an elite level goalscorer who has formed a deadly
combo with Kyle Okposo over the last couple of seasons.
Other Factors:
The Panthers are really good 5-on-5 but struggle on special teams. If the
Islanders can get their power play going, that could be a problem for Florida.
The Islanders haven’t won a playoff series since 1993. The last team they beat
in a playoff series? Jaromir Jagr’s Pittsburgh Penguins.
My Pick: Panthers
in Six
Tampa Bay
Lightning vs. Detroit Red Wings
The Lightning were inconsistent this season, possibly due to
a Stanley Cup Final hangover, but they were able to turn it around and solidify
themselves as one of the top teams in the East. The Red Wings are in the playoffs
for the 25th straight year as Detroit continues to wonder why they
are financially hurting.
Goaltending: Ben
Bishop is one of the top goaltenders in the league and has proven to be a big
game goaltender for the Lightning in the playoffs. I don’t know who Detroit is
going with in the playoffs. Peter Mrazek has been their #1 for most of the
season, but Jimmy Howard was their #1 last season. Basically, they have two
starters, which really means they have no starters. Big edge for Tampa Bay.
Best Player:
Normally, it’d be Lightning forward Steven Stamkos. However, he’s hurt and will
likely miss the entire series. Tyler Johnson, who has huge for the Lightning
during last year’s run, would probably be second. But he’s hurt as well. Then
there’s Anton Stralman. Just kidding, he wouldn’t crack the top 10 of most
important players in this series. But he’s a good defenseman for the Lightning.
Who also happens to be hurt. So we’ll go with Pavel Datsyuk in what could be
his final games for Detroit. He’s not really the best player in the series, or
even on his own team, but he’s a proven playoff performer who needs to deliver
if he really is leaving for Russia after this season.
Other Factors:
The Lightning are the better team, but they’re really banged up right now. As
mentioned, Stamkos, Johnson, and Stralman are all injured and those are all
important players for Tampa Bay. Detroit is healthier, but they’re not a great
team. They have a rookie coach, have trouble scoring, and are plagued with
inconsistent goaltending. The Lightning win this series easily if healthy. Also
a factor, my girlfriend is a Lightning fan and she’s a good luck charm until a
championship is on the line. Then it’s all her fault that the Panthers lost the
Super Bowl.
My Pick:
Lightning in Six
Washington Capitals
vs. Philadelphia Flyers
The Capitals were the best team in the league with the best
player in the league and the best goaltender in the league. So they’re good.
The Flyers got really hot down the stretch and have been in “playoff mode” for
over a month. So they’re playing really well.
Goaltending: Caps
goaltender Braden Holtby led the league in wins. He also started 66 games after
starting 73 games last season. If there’s any concern for the Caps, it’s that
Holtby is worn down and can’t perform up to his usual level. I don’t think that
will be an issue in the first round, but it’s something to keep an eye on as
the playoffs go forward. Steve Mason kept the Flyers playoff hopes alive during
the final month of the season with his spectacular play. However, his playoff
track record isn’t very good.
Best Player: Alex
Ovechkin. And it’s not even close. He’s the greatest goalscorer of this
generation and he put up another 50 goals this year. But he’s always been great
in the regular season. The joke is “You can’t spell ‘choke’ without Ovechkin”
and it’s appropriate as Ovi has never made it out of the second round of the
playoffs. He’s also never had a team this good. Ovechkin probably won’t need to
be great this series since his team is much better, but he’ll definitely need
to be great moving forward.
Other Factors:
The Flyers have a terrible penalty kill and the Capitals have a great power
play.
There could be a couple of routes in this series if the Caps PP catches
fire.
My Pick: Capitals
in Four
Pittsburgh
Penguins vs. New York Rangers
This is the marquee match-up that the NHL wanted. The Penguins
survived a slow start and a coaching change and started playing up to their
potential while the Rangers were consistently strong all season.
Goaltending:
Henrik Lundqvist is the best goalie in the league. He’s the guy I want in net
for my team on a night-to-night basis and he’s definitely the guy I want in net
for the playoffs despite his lack of a Stanley Cup. Pittsburgh has a Cup
winning goalie in Marc-Andre Fleury, but he’s been dealing with a concussion
for the last few weeks. It appears that Fleury will be ready to start game one,
but how effective hell be remains a question.
Best Player: The
Penguins go as Sidney Crosby goes. He wasn’t good to start the year and neither
was the team. All of a sudden, Crosby became one of the best players in the
league again and the Penguins followed. Funny how that works. Without Evgeni
Malkin, the Penguins will rely heavily on Crosby to get them through this
series.
Other Factors:
The Rangers have eliminated the Penguins from the playoffs in each of the last
two seasons. The Rangers are a deeper team and play a physical style with their
bruising forwards, which is a recipe for success in the playoffs. If the
Penguins can turn it into a track meet, they have the advantage, but things
usually slowdown in the playoffs, which favors New York.
My Pick: Rangers
in Seven
No comments:
Post a Comment