The best time of the year, the Stanley Cup playoffs are back! After 0 Canadian teams made the playoffs last year, there are 5 of them this year, what a difference a year makes. It's time to look at all 8 first-round match ups and how I predict they will play out:
#1 Montreal Canadiens vs WC #1 New York Rangers
Season Series: Montreal won the season series 3-0-0
January 14, 2017: Montreal Canadiens 5, New York Rangers 4
February 21. 2017: Montreal Canadiens 3, New York Rangers 2 (SO)
March 4th, 2017: Montreal Canadiens 4, New York Rangers 1
Players to Watch:
Montreal: Carey Price, Max Pacioretty, Alex Radulov, Shea Weber, Brendan Gallagher, Alex Galchenyuk
New York: Henrik Lundqvist, Chris Kreider, Mats Zuccarello, Mika Zibanejad, Ryan McDonagh, JT Miller
X-Factor:
Montreal: Carey Price
New York: Henrik Lundqvist
Team Leaders:
Goals: Max Pacioretty (MTL) - 35, Chris Kreider (NYR) - 28
Assists: Mats Zuccarello (NYR) - 44, Alex Radulov (MTL) - 36
Points: Max Pacioretty (MTL) - 67, Mats Zuccarello (NYR) - 59
Wins: Carey Price (MTL) - 37, Henrik Lundqvist (31)
Goals Against Average: Carey Price (MTL) - 2.23, Antti Raanta (NYR) - 2.26
Save Percentage: Carey Price (MTL) - .923%, Antti Raanta (NYR) - .926%
Prediction: Taking a closer look at this series we have two very evenly matched teams, and thus it made it a very difficult choice to pick a winner. However, I'm going with King Henrik and the Rangers moving on to the 2nd round.
(RANGERS IN 7)
#2 Ottawa Seantors vs. #3 Boston Bruins
Season Series: Senators won the season series 4-0-0
November 24, 2016: Ottawa Senators 3, Boston Bruins 1
March 6, 2017: Ottawa Senators 4, Boston Bruins 2
March 21, 2017: Ottawa Senators 3, Boston Bruins 2
April 6, 2017: Ottawa Senators 2, Boston Bruins 1 (SO)
Players to Watch:
Ottawa: Erik Karlsson, Craig Anderson, Mark Stone, Mike Hoffman, Kyle Turris, Alex Burrows
Boston: Brad Marchand, Patrice Bergeron, Tuukka Rask, Zdeno Chara, David Pastrnak, David Krejci
X-Factor:
Ottawa: Erik Karlsson
Boston: Brad Marchand
Team Leaders:
Goals: Brad Marchand (BOS) - 39, Kyle Turris (OTT) - 27
Assists: Erik Karlsson (OTT) - 54, Brad Marchand (BOS) - 46
Points: Brad Marchand (BOS) - 85, Erik Karlsson (OTT) - 71
Wins: Tuukka Rask (BOS) - 37, Craig Anderson (OTT) - 25
Goals Against Average: Tuukka Rask (BOS) - 2.23, Craig Anderson (OTT) - 2.28
Save Percentage: Craig Anderson (OTT) - .926%, Tuukka Rask (BOS) - .915%
Prediction: This is going to be a great series to watch, two very evenly matched teams that both have goaltenders with the ability to steal a series. With that in mind, I think the Bruins squeak out a 7-game series win.
(BRUINS IN 7)
#1 Washington Capitals vs. WC #2 Toronto Maple Leafs
Season Series: Capitals won season series 2-1-0
November 26, 2016: Toronto Maple Leafs 4, Washington Capitals 2
January 3, 2017: Washington Capitals 6, Toronto Maple Leafs 5 (OT)
April 4, 2017: Washington Capitals 4, Toronto Maple Leafs 1
Players to Watch:
Washington: Alex Ovechkin, Nicklas Backstrom, Braden Holtby, Kevin Shattenkirk, TJ Oshie, Justin Williams
Toronto: Auston Matthews, Mitch Marner, William Nylander, Frederik Andersen, Nazem Kadri, Morgan Rielly
X-Factor:
Washington: Alex Ovechkin
Toronto: Auston Matthews
Team Leaders:
Goals: Auston Matthews (TOR) - 40, Alex Ovechkin/TJ Oshie (WAS) - 33
Assists: Nicklas Backstrom (WAS) - 63, Mitch Marner (TOR) - 42
Points: Nicklas Backstrom (WAS) - 86, Auston Matthews (TOR) - 69
Wins: Braden Holtby (WAS) - , Frederik Andersen (TOR) -
Goals Against Average: Braden Holtby (WAS) - , Frederik Andersen (TOR) -
Save Percentage: Braden Holtby (WAS) - , Frederik Andersen (TOR) -
Prediction: I must admit that the Leafs are one of the most entertaining teams in the NHL this season, and as the underdog I'm rooting for them in this series. However, the Capitals are too good to lose in the 1st round and will overpower the young Leafs.
(CAPITALS IN 6)
#2 Pittsburgh Penguins vs. #3 Columbus Blue Jackets
Season Series: Season series tied 2-1-1
December 22, 2016: Columbus Blue Jackets 7, Pittsburgh Penguins 1
February 3, 2017: Pittsburgh Penguins 4, Columbus Blue Jackets 3 (OT)
February 17, 2017: Columbus Blue Jackets 2, Pittsburgh Penguins 1 (OT)
April 4, 2017: Pittsburgh Penguins 4, Columbus Blue Jackets 1
Players to Watch:
Pittsburgh: Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, Phil Kessel, Justin Schultz, Jake Guentzel, Patric Hornqvist
Columbus: Sergei Bobrovsky, Cam Atkinson, Brandon Saad, Seth Jones, Zach Werenski, Brandon Dubinsky
X-Factor:
Pittsburgh: Sidney Crosby
Columbus: Sergei Bobrovsky
Team Leaders:
Goals: Sidney Crosby (PIT) - 44, Cam Atkinson (CLS) - 35
Assists: Phil Kessel (PIT) - 47, Alexander Wennberg (CLS) - 46
Points: Sidney Crosby (PIT) - 89, Cam Atkinson (CLS) - 62
Wins: Sergei Bobrovsky (CLS) - 41. Matt Murray (PIT) - 31
Goals Against Average: Sergei Bobrovsky (CLS) - 2.06, Matt Murray (PIT) - 2.41
Save Percentage: Sergei Bobrovsky (CLS) - .931%, Matt Murray (PIT) - .923%
Prediction: Two of the top 4 teams in the NHL, who also happen to really dislike each other dating back to a 1st-round match up a few years ago, is the perfect recipe for an entertaining series. It has the potential to go either way, but I think the defending Champion Penguins will move on to the 2nd round.
(PENGUINS IN 5)
This would have Washington, Pittsburgh, Boston and New York advancing to the next round. The match ups would be as follows:
#1 Washington Capitals vs. #2 Pittsburgh Penguins
#3 Boston Bruins vs. WC #1 New York Rangers
#1 Chicago Blackhawks vs. WC #2 Nashville Predators
Season Series: Chicago won the season series 4-1-0
October 14, 2016: Nashville Predators 3, Chicago Blackhawks 2
October 15, 2016: Chicago Blackhawks 5, Nashville Predators 3
December 29, 2016: Chicago Blackhawks 3, Nashville Predators 2
January 8, 2017: Chicago Blackhawks 5, Nashville Predators 2
March 4, 2017: Chicago Blackhawks 5, Nashville Predators 3
Players to Watch:
Chicago: Patrick Kane, Artemi Panarin, Jonathan Toews, Duncan Keith, Marian Hossa, Artem Anisimov
Nashville: Filip Forsberg, Viktor Arvidsson, PK Subban, Roman Josi, Ryan Johansen, James Neal
X-Factor:
Chicago: Patrick Kane
Nashville: Filip Forsberg
Team Leaders:
Goals: Patrick Kane (CHI) - 34, Filip Forsberg/Viktor Arvidsson (NSH) - 31
Assists: Patrick Kane (CHI) - 55, Ryan Johansen (NSH) - 47
Points: Patrick Kane (CHI) - 89, Filip Forsberg/Viktor Arvidsson (NSH) - 61
Wins: Corey Crawford (CHI) - 32, Pekka Rinne (NSH) - 31
Goals Against Average: Juuse Saros (NSH) - 2.35, Scott Darling (CHI) - 2.38
Save Percentage: Juuse Saros (NSH) - .924%, Scott Darling (CHI) - .924%
Prediction: The Blackhawks defeated the Predators in the 1st round in 2013 and 2015, both years they went on to win the Stanley Cup. I think they are too good for the Predators and history repeats itself yet again.
(BLACKHAWKS IN 6)
#2 Minnesota Wild vs. #3 St. Louis Blues
Players to Watch: Blues won season series 3-2-0
October 13, 2016: St. Louis Blues 3, Minnesota Wild 2
November 26, 2016: St. Louis Blues 4, Minnesota Wild 3 (SO)
December 11, 2016: Minnesota Wild 3, St. Louis Blues 1
January 26, 2017: Minnesota Wild 5, St. Louis Blues 1
March 7, 2017: St. Louis Blues 2, Minnesota Wild 1
Minnesota: Deven Dubnyk, Mikael Granlund, Ryan Suter, Mikko Koivu, Nino Niederreiter, Charlie Coyle
St. Louis: Vladimir Tarasenko, Jaden Schwartz, Alex Steen, Alex Pietrangelo, Colton Parayko, David Perron
X-Factor:
Minnesota: Devan Dubnyk
St. Louis: Vladimir Tarasenko
Team Leaders:
Goals: Vladimir Tarasenko (STL) - 39, Eric Staal (MIN) - 28
Assists: Mikael Granlund (MIN) - 43, Vladimir Tarasenko/Jaden Schwartz (STL) - 36
Points: Vladimir Tarasenko (STL) - 75, Mikael Granlund (MIN) - 69
Wins: Devan Dubnyk (MIN) - 40, Jake Allen (STL) - 33
Goals Against Average: Devan Dubnyk (MIN) - 2.25, Carter Hutton (STL) - 2.39
Save Percentage: Devan Dubnyk (MIN) - .924%, Jake Allen (STL) - .915%
Prediction: This Blues/Wild meet in the first round for the 2nd time in 3 years, and this has the potential to be another close series. I think it could go either way, and the Wild will edge the Blues in 7 games.
(WILD IN 7)
#1 Anaheim Ducks vs. WC #2 Calgary Flames
Season Series: Ducks won season series 4-1-0
November 6, 2016: Anaheim Ducks 4, Calgary Flames 1
December 4, 2016: Calgary Flames 8, Anaheim Ducks 3
December 29, 2016: Anaheim Ducks 3, Calgary Flames 1
April 2, 2017: Anaheim Ducks 4, Calgary Flames 3
April 4, 2017: Anaheim Ducks 3, Calgary Flames 1
Players to Watch:
Anaheim: Ryan Getzlaf, Corey Perry, Rickard Rakell, Ryan Kesler, John Gibson, Sam Vatanen
Calgary: Johnny Gaudreau, Sean Monahan, Brian Elliott, Mark Giordano, Dougie Hamilton, Matt Tkachuk
X-Factor:
Anaheim: Ryan Getzlaf
Calgary: Johnny Gaudreau
Team Leaders:
Goals: Rickard Rakell (ANA) - 33, Sean Monahan (CGY) - 27
Assists: Ryan Getzlaf (ANA) - 58, Johnny Gaudreau (CGY) - 43
Points: Ryan Getzlaf (ANA) - 73, Johnny Gaudreau (CGY) - 61
Wins: Brian Elliott (CGY) - 26, John Gibson (ANA) - 25
Goals Against Average: John Gibson (ANA) - 2.22, Brian Elliott (CGY) - 2.55
Save Percentage: John Gibson (ANA) - .924%, Brian Elliott (CGY) - .910%
Prediction: Another rematch from the 2015 playoffs, the Flames/Ducks don't like each other one bit after a Mark Giordano knee-on-knee on Cam Fowler earlier this month. This series is going to have a ton of bad blood and it will be very entertaining to watch, but I think the Ducks power past the Flames into the 2nd round
(DUCKS IN 4)
#2 Edmonton Oilers vs #3 San Jose Sharks
Season Series: Oilers won season series 3-1-1
December 23, 2016: San Jose Sharks 3, Edmonton Oilers 2 (OT)
January 10, 2017: San Jose Sharks 5, Edmonton Oilers 3
January 26, 2017: Edmonton Oilers 4, San Jose Sharks 1
March 30, 2017: Edmonton Oilers 3, San Jose Sharks 2
April 6, 2017: Edmonton Oilers 4, San Jose Sharks 2
Players to Watch:
Edmonton: Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl, Cam Talbot, Jordan Eberle, Milan Lucic, Oscar Klefbom
San Jose: Brent Burns, Joe Pavelski, Joe Thornton, Logan Couture, Patrick Marleau, Martin Jones
X-Factor:
Edmonton: Connor McDavid
San Jose: Brent Burns
Team Leaders:
Goals: Connor McDavid (EDM) - 30, Brent Burns/Joe Pavelski (SJS) - 29
Assists: Connor McDavid (EDM) - 70, Brent Burns (SJS) - 47
Points: Connor McDavid (EDM) - 100, Brent Burns (SJS) - 76
Wins: Cam Talbot (EDM) - 42, Martin Jones (SJS) - 35
Goals Against Average: Cam Talbot (EDM) - 2.39, Martin Jones (SJS) - 2.40
Save Percentage: Cam Talbot (EDM) - .919%, Martin Jones (SJS) - .912%
Prediction: The Oilers are back in the playoffs for the first time in 11 years and I think everyone is extremely excited to see the playoff debut of Connor McDavid. This series is wide open and really can go either way, but I am siding with the experienced Sharks to move onto the 2nd round.
(SHARKS IN 6)
This would have Chicago, Minnesota, Anaheim and San Jose advancing to the next round. The match ups would be as follows:
#1 Chicago Blackhawks vs. #2 Minnesota Wild
#2 Anaheim Ducks vs. #3 San Jose Sharks
1st Round Match Ups:
-Joel Forman - The Forman Faceoff
