Monday, April 24, 2017

2017 Stanley Cup Playoffs Preview - Conference Semifinals


1st Round Scores:

Eastern Conference:
#1 Washington Capitals defeat WC #2 Toronto Maple Leafs (4-2)
#2 Pittsburgh Penguins defeat #3 Columbus Blue Jackets (4-1)
WC #1 New York Rangers defeat #1 Montreal Canadiens (4-2)
#2 Ottawa Senators defeat #3 Boston Bruins (4-2)

Western Conference:
WC #2 Nashville Predators defeat #1 Chicago Blackhawks (4-0)
#3 St. Louis Blues defeat #2 Minnesota Wild (4-1)
#1 Anaheim Ducks defeat WC #1 Calgary Flames (4-0)
#2 Edmonton Oilers defeat #3 San Jose Sharks (4-2)

Here's a look at the 4 Conference Semifinal match-ups:

Image result for eastern conference nhl logo

#1 Washington Capitals vs. #2 Pittsburgh Penguins

Season Series: Washington won the season series 2-0-2

October 13, 2016: Pittsburgh Penguins 3. Washington Capitals 2 (SO)
November 16. 2016: Washington Capitals 7, Pittsburgh Penguins 1 
January 11, 2017: Washington Capitals 5, Pittsburgh Penguins 2
January 16, 2017: Pittsburgh Penguins 8, Washington Capitals 7 (OT)

Players to Watch:

Washington: Alex Ovechkin, Nicklas Backstrom, TJ Oshie, Justin Williams, Braden Holtby, Kevin Shattenkirk

Pittsburgh: Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, Phil Kessel, Jake Guentzel, Bryan Rust, Justin Schultz

X-Factor:

Washington: Alex Ovechkin 

Pittsburgh: Sidney Crosby

Playoff Leaders:

Goals: Jake Guentzel (PIT) - 5, Alex Ovechkin/Justin Williams/TJ Oshie (WAS) - 3
Assists: Evgeni Malkin (PIT) - 9, Nicklas Backstrom (WAS) - 4
Points: Evgeni Malkin (PIT) - 11, TJ Oshie (WAS) - 7
Wins: Braden Holtby (WAS) - 4, Marc-Andre Fleury (PIT) - 4
Goals Against Average: Braden Holtby (WAS) - 2.36, Marc-Andre Fleury (PIT) - 2.52
Save Percentage: 
Marc-Andre Fleury (PIT) - .933%, Braden Holtby (WAS) - .925%
OT Goals: Tom Wilson/Justin Williams/Marcus Johansson (WAS) - 1, Jake Guentzel (PIT) - 1

Prediction: A rematch of last year's 2nd round series, this is without a doubt the series to watch in the 2nd round (Crosby vs. Ovie never disappoints). While many people are dubbing this as the Capitals year, I'm sticking with the defending Champion Penguins in this series.


(PENGUINS IN 6)


#2 Ottawa Senators vs. WC #1 New York Rangers

Season Series: Ottawa won the season series 2-1-0

November 27, 2016: Ottawa Senators 2, New York Rangers 0
December 27, 2016: New York Rangers 4, Ottawa Senators 3
April 8, 2017: Ottawa Senators 3, New York Rangers 1

Players to Watch:

Ottawa: Erik Karlsson, Craig Anderson, Mike Hoffman, Mark Stone, Bobby Ryan, Derick Brassard

New York: Henrik Lundqvist, Mats Zuccarello, Derek Stepan, Mika Zibanejad, Ryan McDonagh, Rick Nash

X-Factor:

Ottawa: Erik Karlsson

New York: Henrik Lundqvist

Playoff Leaders:

Goals: Bobby Ryan (OTT) - 4, Mats Zuccarello (NYR) - 3
Assists: Derick Brassard (OTT) - 6, Mika Zibanejad (NYR) - 3
Points: Derick Brassard (OTT) - 8, Mika Zibanejad (NYR) - 4
Wins: Craig Anderson (OTT) - 4, Henrik Lundqvist (NYR) - 4
Goals Against Average: Henrik Lundqvist (NYR) - 1.70, Craig Anderson (OTT) - 1.94
Save Percentage: Henrik Lundqvist (NYR) - .947%, Craig Anderson (OTT) - .921%
OT Goals: Dion Phaneuf/Bobby Ryan/Clarke MacArthur (OTT) - 1, Mika Zibanejad (NYR) - 1

Prediction: This series has the potential to go either way, two teams that are thriving based on the play of their goaltenders. I think the series goes 7 games, with the Rangers just squeaking by the Senators to the conference finals

(RANGERS IN 7)


#3 St. Louis Blues vs WC #2 Nashville Predators

Season Series: Nashville won the season series 3-2-0

November 10, 2016: Nashville Predators 3, St. Louis Blues 1
November 19. 2016: St. Louis Blues 3, Nashville Predators 1
December 13, 2016: Nashville Predators 6, St. Louis Blues 3
December 30, 2016: Nashville Predators 4, St. Louis Blues 0 
April 2, 2017: St. Louis Blues 4, Nashville Predators 1

Players to Watch:

St. Louis: Vladimir Tarasenko, Jake Allen, Jaden Schwartz, Alex Pietrangelo, Colton Parayko, Alex Steen

Nashville: Pekka Rinne, Filip Forsberg, Ryan Johansen, Viktor Arvidsson, Roman Josi, PK Subban

X-Factor:

St. Louis: Jake Allen

Nashville: Pekka Rinne

Playoff Leaders:

Goals: Joel Edmundson/Jaden Schwartz/Alex Steen (STL) - 2, Viktor Arvidsson/Roman Josi/Colton Sissons/Kevin Fiala/Filip Forsberg (NSH) - 2
Assists: Ryan Johansen (NSH) - 5, Patrik Berglund/Jaden Schwartz (STL) - 3
Points: Ryan Johansen (NSH) - 6, Jaden Schwartz (STL) - 5
Wins: Jake Allen (STL) - 4, Pekka Rinne (NSH) - 4
Goals Against Average: Pekka Rinne (NSH) 0.70, Jake Allen (STL) - 1.47
Save Percentage: Pekka Rinne (NSH) - .976%, Jake Allen (STL) - .956%
OT Goals: Joel Edmundson/Magnus Pajaarvi (STL) - 1, Kevin Fiala (NSH) - 1

Prediction: Both the Blues and Wild come into this series having upset a higher seed, and we have the best two goaltenders in round 1 facing off in this series in Pekka Rinne and Jake Allen. While I think either team can win the series, I like the Predators momentum after downing the Blackhawks and have them advancing to their 1st conference finals in franchise history.

(PREDATORS IN 6)


#1 Anaheim Ducks vs. #2 Edmonton Oilers

Season Series: Edmonton won the season series 3-2-0

November 15, 2016: Anaheim Ducks 4, Edmonton Oilers 1
December 3, 2016: Edmonton Oilers 3, Anaheim Ducks 2 (OT)
January 25, 2017: Edmonton Oilers 4, Anaheim Ducks 0
March 22, 2017: Anaheim Ducks 4, Edmonton Oilers 3
April 1, 2017: Edmonton Oilers 3, Anaheim Ducks 2 (OT)

Players to Watch:

Anaheim: Ryan Getzlaf, Rickard Rakell, Ryan Kesler, Corey Perry, John Gibson, Jakob Silfverberg

Edmonton: Connor McDavid, Cam Talbot, Leon Draisaitl, Milan Lucic, Oscar Klefbom, Zack Kassian

X-Factor:

Anaheim: Ryan Getzlaf

Edmonton: Connor McDavid 

Playoff Leaders:

Goals: Ryan Getzlaf (ANA) - 3, Connor McDavid/Zack Kassian/Oscar Klefbom (EDM) - 2
Assists: Kevin Bieksa (ANA) - 4, Connor McDavid/Leon Draisaitl/Matt Benning/Andrej Sekera/Mark Letestu (EDM) - 2
Points: Ryan Getzlaf/Rickard Rakell/Shea Theodore (ANA) - 5, Connor McDavid (EDM) - 4
Wins: Cam Talbot (EDM) - 4, John Gibson (ANA) - 3
Goals Against Average: Cam Talbot (EDM) - 2.03, John Gibson (ANA) - 2.59
Save Percentage: Cam Talbot (EDM) - .927%, John Gibson (ANA) - .926%
OT Goals: Corey Perry (ANA) - 1, David Desharnais (EDM) - 1

Prediction: The Oilers proved they are for real after beating the Sharks in round 1, and they get another tough Californian opponent in the Ducks in round 2. While I think McDavid is capable of leading the Oilers to a series win, I think the Ducks overpower the young Oilers and move on the Conference Finals

(DUCKS IN 6)


This would have Pittsburgh, New York, Nashville and Anaheim advancing to the Conference Finals. The match ups would be as follows:

ECF: #2 Pittsburgh Penguins vs. WC #1 New York Rangers
WCF: #1 Anaheim Ducks vs. WC #2 Nashville Predators


Joel Forman

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