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.
No comments:
Post a Comment