NHL Playoff Predictions
I’m a little late out of the gate with this one as the NHL playoffs have already begun and I haven’t laid out the matchups or provided my (usually useless) predictions. But better late than never:
The Washington Capitals were the class of the East all year and it will be yet another bitter disappointment if they do not at least make it to the Stanley Cup finals. The surprise team in the East could be the Columbus Blue Jackets who ran off an incredible 16 game winning streak in the middle of the season. It is basically a free-for-all over in the West as virtually every team is solid up and down the lineup. The traditional powerhouse Chicago Black Hawks are not the team they once were and the talented young upstarts include the Edmonton Oilers and Calgary Flames.
Eastern Conference
Washington Capitals vs. Toronto Maple Leafs – This is Toronto’s first trip to the playoffs in a few years and that will show, despite having budding superstar Austin Matthews and a boatload of other young talent. The Capitals have already won game 1 at home in overtime as Toronto goalie Frederick Andersen was fabulous in net. He will have to keep up that level of play to make this a competitive series. Caps in 5.
Pittsburgh Penguins vs. Columbus Blue Jackets – Pittsburgh took game 1, shutting out Columbus despite their number one goalie Matt Murray getting hurt in warmup. Of course the Penguins had seasoned veteran Marc Andre Fleury to take his place. The Penguins will also be without star defenseman Kris Letang for the playoffs but should have enough firepower with Crosby and Malkin to take out Columbus. Penguins in 6.
Ottawa Senators vs. Boston Bruins – Someone has to win this series, I guess. Boston took game one on a late goal by the late-blossoming start Brad Marchand. Both teams have defensive weaknesses so this series may come down to goaltending, with Craig Anderson for the Senators and Tukka Rask for the Bruins. Anderson has the ability to get really hot but Rask is probably more consistent. I’ll go with consistency in this one. Bruins in 7.
Montreal Canadiens vs. New York Rangers – Both the Candiens and the Rangers were hot as the season ended but the Canadiens can’t score enough and have to rely on goaltender Carey Price for too much. I believe the team won 16 games (about 20% of the season) in overtime or a shootout. The Rangers have scoring depth and still have King Henrik Lundqvist in net. The Rangers took game 1 by a score of 2-0 on a first period goal and a late empty net one. That game will summarize the series. Rangers in 6.
Western Conference
Chicago Black Hawks vs. Nashville Predators – This should be a classic series. The Predators are solid and the Black Hawks are not the team they’ve been in the last few years. P.K. Subban came over to the Predators from Montreal in exchange for Shea Weber, a trade that worked out for both teams. Paired with Roman Josi, they create a formidable defense duo that has to keep Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane of the Hawks under wraps. If they can do that, and Predator goalie Pekka Rinne can be consistent, the Predators have a good chance for an upset. They already won game 1 with a 1-0 shutout and it will take that kind of effort to win the series. I think the Preds can do it. Nashville in 7.
Minnesota Wild vs. St. Louis Blues – The Wild have been one of the better teams in the West all season long while the talented Blues underperformed and struggled to even make the playoffs. The Blues took game one in overtime 2-1, after giving up the tying goal with just 22 seconds left in the third period and despite being outshot 52-26. Needless to say, Jake Allen was fabulous in net for the Blues. Unfortunately for the Wild, the Blues look like they are peeking at the right time and Allen has shown streaks of this kind of great play during the season. Blues in 7.
Anaheim Ducks vs. Calgary Flames – Calgary is back in the playoffs with a dynamic young team. Unfortunately, they are playing the experienced, but aging, Ducks. Brian Elliott has finally solved the Flames’ problems in net but the Calgary defense is simply not deep enough and the defensive lapses will be too great for Elliott to cover up. Anaheim won the first game 3-2 and I think it will be more of the same. Ducks in 5.
San Jose Sharks vs. the Edmonton Oilers – The Oilers are back in the playoffs for the first time in forever, led by their young superstar Connor McDavid. The Ducks are kind of in a rebuilding phase while staying competitive and goalie Martin Jones has some bad nights. That’s not a good recipe against the fast skating, talented Oilers. The Sharks escaped with a 3-2 win in game 1, despite looking pretty bad for most of the game. Edmonton got too comfortable with the 2-0 lead they had and let it slip away. The Oilers love just going up and down the ice and they will be at an advantage if they can get into that kind of game with the Sharks. In the end, however, experience wins out in this one. Sharks in 7 great games.