Under Review: Eastern Conference First Round Playoff Picks

By Allan Brown 

Let the playoffs begin.

Although no timetable has been set, the seedings for the NHL playoffs have been set and there are some interesting first-round matchups that have been created by the addition of four extra teams per conference. 

This column will concentrate on the intriguing series in the Eastern Conference, where teams like the Canadians, Florida and the New York Rangers and Islanders were given an extra lease on life by the addition of the four additional teams.

The question is can those teams that wouldn't have made it to the dance outplay those who would have already been in the playoffs before the expanded format was implemented?

In one word, possibly, though definitely not in the first match-up to preview.

PITTSBURGH (3rd in Metropolitan Division, 86 points) vs MONTREAL  (5th in Atlantic Division,  71 points.)

This series looks to be a mismatch and it probably is.

The Habs can't rely totally on netminder Carey Price, who's not even having a particularly Vezina-like season, and the Pens lethal offense, actually ranked an unusually low 10th in the League, is stacked with superstars like Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, Patrick Marleau, Patric Hornqvust, Jason Zucker and, you get the picture.

Also, if a hopefully healthy Jake Guentzel returns to the lineup alongside Crosby, that only adds fuel to Pittsburgh's fire.

A one-two punch in net with Tristan Jarry and two-time Cup winner, Matt Murray, (20 wins apiece this season) and the tough Pens D led by Kris Letang and the knockout is complete.

There's just too much star power and playoff experience here for the Pens to struggle at all in this series.

Pens sweep.....Easily.

And, now, onto the more complicated series. 

NEW YORK ISLANDERS (6th in Metro, 80 points vs  FLORIDA PANTHERS (4th in Atlantic,  78 points)

The Islanders haven't been quite as dominant as they were last season, though they are still pretty tough.

In a battle of two great Cup-winning coaches, Barry Trotz and Joel Quenville, this one looks to go the whole five games.

The Panthers have the edge offensively, with the Isles still a middling team in goal scoring. Certainly some offensive juggernauts need to be obtained by the Isles in the off season. However,  New York certainly has the edge defensively allowing just 2.84 goals per game to Florida's hefty 3.30.

Advantage Isles, they win this 3-2.

Now, on to an intriguing matchup that could go to the mat games wise.

TORONTO (3rd in Atlantic,  81 points vs COLUMBUS  (5th in Metropolitan,  81 points)

The Maple Leafs were on a five-year plan to finally hoist Lord Stanley's Cup when they hired Mike Babcock in 2015.

That dream under his auspice ended when he was fired this season. However, the depth of the Leafs high-octane third-ranked offense, keeps them still in the running to win their first Cup in 53 years.

That's not likely to happen this year, though. 

That's because even though the Blue Jackets lost key components to their team when Sergei Bobosky and Artemi Panarin left for Florida and the Big Apple, respectively, they have kept pace with the teams in the ultra-competitive Metropolitan division

Under Head Coach John Tortorella, the Blue Jackets have persevered posting a fourth-ranked defense that looks to curtail the Leafs third-place offense.

Despite Toronto's offensive juggernauts,  Austin Matthews and Mitch Marner, Torts' experience and the sterling play of new Columbus netminder Elvis Merzlinkis tilt the balance in this one.

Columbus, which finally advanced past the first round of the playoffs last season, makes it two in a row this year.

Blue Jackets win series three games to two.

Now to the final matchup in the East.

CAROLINA (4th in Metro, 81 points) vs NEW YORK  RANGERS ( 7th in Metro, 79 points)

The Rangers were on a tear before the stop of the regular season. The question is can they pick up where they left off?

Possibly. 

Not likely, though, against a Carolina team hoping to go one step further from last year's runner-up status in the Eastern Conference. 

Hurricanes Head Coach Rod Brind'Amor may be the brightest new name in the League and has the playing experience that has translated into him being a premiere coach.

Despite Panarin's outstanding - and even MVP-caliber - season, the Rangers have some problems in net. Carolina has a solid duo, James Reimer and Petr Mrazek, between the pipes.

That, in addition to the Canes eighth-ranked defense, (NY struggles in that category) gives Carolina this series, three games to one.

All of these teams will have a Herculean task going forward,  though, as the top three teams in the East, Boston, Tampa Bay and Washington, look to be much more formidable once the quarter finals finally start.

Next time, the Western Conference playoff teams will be Under Review. 

Bruins Look To Dominate NHL Awards

By Allan Brown

It's a wrap.

When NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman announced this week that the 2019-20 regular hockey season was complete, that meant the record book was closed.

All that's left now are two things: the eventual playoffs and the annual handing out of the NHL Awards.

And, if last year's honors were slanted toward Tampa Bay Lightning players, this year's trophies look to be dominated by players - even likely a coach - from Beantown. 

Originally scheduled for an electrifying ceremony in Las Vegas, the awards will now likely be handed out virtually, with no set date for either nominations nor actual presentation of the honors announced.

Of course, some awards are givens, automatically based on regular season stats.

Honors already accoladed include the Maurice Rocket Richard trophy, given annually to the player who scores the most goals.

This year it's a tie between the Capitals, Alex Ovechkin, who garners the trophy for the ninth time in his illustrious career, and Boston's David Pastrnak, both of whom scored 48 goals in the almost completed season.

Speaking of Pastrnak's Bruins, they win the dreaded Presidents Trophy, awarded to the team with the most points in the season and generally considered to be a curse as far as winning the Stanley Cup goes.

Just ask the Tampa Bay Lightning how that went for them last season.

Another Bruins triumph occurred in the award given to Tuukka Rask and Jaroslav Halas. The duo clinched the William M. Jennings Trophy, given to the goalie tandem that allows the fewest goals each season.

Speaking of Rask, that brings us to the awards that have yet to be voted on.

And the Vezina Trophy, awarded to the goalie deemed most outstanding in the position, may be the most intriguing race of all. 

That's because there's no clear cut winner this season, as there are four different leaders in the separate goaltending categories.

Rask appears to be the frontrunner,  as he leads in the goals against average (GAA) category and is also top three in the save percentage and shutout categories.

I'd probably lean toward him snagging the trophy,  though Winnipeg's Connor Hellebuyck, who is second in wins, behind the Lightning's, Andrei Vasileskiy, last year's victor in this category, can't be completely ruled out. The Jets netminder also is top six in save percentages and leads the league in shutouts.

Columbus goalie,  Elvis Merzlinkis, the wonder kid of the league in net this season, and St. Louis' Jordan Binnington, could also gain favor with Vezina voters, particularly Binnington,  who is top three in wins, and top ten in both shutouts and GAA.

Rask, though is the most likely and deserving winner when all the stats are tallied.

While Binnington may not hoist the Vezina, his head coach, Craig Berube, in my opinion, may be the best bet for the Jack Adams Trophy, given annually to the leader deemed to be the best in the league.

Berube will face some stiff competition from Boston's Bruce Cassidy, who led the Bruins to a regular season best. And both coaches showed no sign of a Stanley Cup hangover,  which in and of itself is impressive. 

Voters may lean slightly toward Cassidy, though I'd give it to Berube, for reasons not really part of the criteria for the honor.

Berube was denied the Jack Adams last season, though winning the Stanley Cup is a pretty good consolation prize. However, that fact, plus how he led the Blues to drinking out of the storied trophy may still be fresh in voters' minds when casting their ballot this season.

Not only have the Blues persevered this year, they certainly have the talent and grit to repeat this season, and Berube, who was named head coach of the team early on in the 2018-19 campaign, has them in solid stead.

Cassidy may end up as the actual winner, tho my vote goes for Berube.  Both are definitely deserving, though.

My third choice would be Carolina coach Rob Brind'Amor, who has revitalized a Hurricane team and its Caniac fan base in his two seasons in Raleigh, and who, no doubt will get a Jack Adams one day. He may be the brightest and most aggressive coach to come along in the league in a long time. 

Also, Colorado's Jared Bednar, is a solid choice and possible winner in the Jack Adams category.

His rookie player, Cale Makar, is the most likely Avalanche choice, though, for an award, as he is the most solid rookie in the league this season and should triumph over Vancouver's Quinn Hughes,  for the Calder "Rookie of the Year" honors.

Maker is second in points to Hughes, though his 50 points in only 57 games, including 19 on the powerplay, tilt the honor to the Colorado defenseman. 

Speaking of defensemen, The Norris Trophy should go to the Caps' John Carlson over Nashville's Roman Josi, for the simple reason that Washington is a better, more complete team.

In other awards, Boston should rightfully win another trophy this year for Patrice Bergeron, who just is so good he makes playing his position look like a piece of cake. That should clinch him the Frank Selke honor - given to the forward who demonstrates the most defensive component of the game - for a record-breaking fifth time.

Also, Ken Holland,  whose wheeling and dealing has finally turned the Edmonton Oilers into a legitimate contender, would be given my vote for GM of the Year.

That brings us to the biggest accolade an individual can win at the NHL Awards, the Hart Trophy.

Given annually to the League's MVP, the Oilers Leon Draisaitl should rack up another award for Edmonton and a second trophy for himself this season.

Already securing the Art Ross Trophy for having the most points in a regular season, the Oilers' deserves the MVP accolade for also being first in

assists and power play points. He is also fourth in goals scored.

In my book, that makes for an easy win for the Edmonton center.

And, his expected and deserved win in the Art Ross voting will also officially close the book on the NHL Awards for another exceptional regular season in the National.

Now, hopefully, on to the playoffs, and the award all players dream of hoisting - Lord Stanley's Cup.