NHL Playoffs: Conference Semifinals Wrap-Up

The NHL Conference Semifinals are done and I still have no clue what to think about these playoffs. Why couldn’t the Blackhawks just win it like they do every year so I don’t have to think so much?

Tampa Bay Lightning defeated New York Islanders 4-1

Storyline: The Lightning were the better team. Their best players were better than the Islanders best players, they got great goaltending, and they won the important moments (late goals, overtime). Pretty simple.

MVP: Victor Hedman. The Lightning got great performances out of Ben Bishop (aside from Game 1) and Nikita Kucherov, but Hedman was on another level. Not only did he have eight points in the five games, the most by any player in the series, but he played a big role in shutting down John Tavares and his line. I really thought this was going to be Tavares’ coming out party, and it would’ve been had it not been for the iron and Hedman. 

 Pittsburgh Penguins defeated Washington Capitals 4-1

Storyline: Overchkin vs. Crosby didn’t live up to the hype. Matt Murray continued to be better than anyone thought he would be. The Pens got a lot out of their secondary scoring. The Caps once again failed to make it past the second round despite being the best team in the league during the regular season.

MVP: Matt Murray. No one Penguin stood out as being great. Crosby and Malkin were invisible, Kris Letang played well but not spectacular, and the depth helped but no one was fantastic. So that leaves Murray, a rookie goalie in a high pressure situation who handled himself with great poise.

St. Louis Blues defeated Dallas Stars 4-3

Storyline: The Blues were really good on the road, the Stars two-headed goalie system came back to bite them because no team ever succeeds when they rotate goalies in the playoffs.

MVP: Let’s just give it to the entire Blues team. David Backes was great, Paul Stastny and his line was great, Brian Elliott was great, and the defense was good. The Blues are just a team full of good players, playing hockey. No one really stands out and they’re kind of boring to watch. Maybe it’s just me. Maybe it’s the state of St. Louis that produces boring teams. Probably the latter.

San Jose Sharks defeated Nashville Predators 3-2

Storyline: The home team won every game. The Sharks had home ice advantage. They won the series. Simple stuff.

MVP: Logan Couture. He had 11 points in the series, which is the most for one player in a series in Shark history. The Sharks as a team got it done, with Patrick Marleau and Joe Thornton actually showing up in the playoffs and Game 7, but Couture stood out above them all.