Are the Bruins unstoppable?
On 11 April, the Bruins notched their sixty fourth win of the season and driven their steady season level general to 133, the perfect for the reason that 1976–77 Montreal Canadiens earned 132.
Taking not anything clear of this spectacular feat, regular-season luck does now not essentially raise over into the playoffs. In 2019 the Tampa Bay Lightning, subsidized through Vezina trophy-bound Andrei Vasilevskiy, received 62 regular-season video games and completed the 12 months with 128 issues, dropping best 16 video games all of the 12 months – a list just about as dominant as Boston’s. Expectations have been excessive – and dashed right away. The Columbus Blue Jackets (47–31–4, 98 issues) swept the Lightning within the first around, in large part because of goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky, who stored 109 of 117 pictures, posting a .932 save proportion over the 4 video games.
Will Boston meet a identical destiny? The Bruins carry extra intensity, extra scoring, and extra enjoy into their first around than their warring parties, the Florida Panthers. Even in purpose, it is difficult to guess towards the Linus Ullmark-Jeremy Swayman combo, ranked 1st and 4th respectively within the league for save proportion. Having completed the season with a 7-2-1 list in purpose for the Panthers, Alex Lyon may get the beginning within the postseason. But he is technically Florida’s backup. Instead, the Panthers may glance to their first-string within the hopes they are able to repeat historical past. That guy? Sergei Bobrovsky.
Any consequence in need of Boston lifting the Cup – let on my own a first-round go out – feels incredible, however as Bobrovsky is aware of, the playoffs are filled with surprises.
Edmonton are for actual
Not a lot more must be stated about Connor McDavid that hasn’t already been written this season, one of the crucial spectacular through an NHL participant in contemporary reminiscence. But from McDavid down, the Oilers pose an actual danger within the West, even to the protecting Stanley Cup champions, the Colorado Avalanche (who might be with out captain Gabriel Landeskog for the postseason). For one, the Oilers understand how to attain – so much. Edmonton ranked first general for targets within the steady season, netting 325 (a 3rd of which got here from McDavid and Leon Draisaitl). But up to Edmonton will depend on the likes of McDavid and Draisaitl (at the side of Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and Zach Hyman) to stay the targets coming, additionally they have not been simple to overcome, particularly in recent years with Stuart Skinner in internet. Skinner misplaced just one recreation in legislation for the reason that starting of March, when he gave up 6 towards Toronto on March 11.
Another factor Edmonton has going for it: seeding. The Oilers can see a trail to the Western Final – first previous the LA Kings, then previous both Vegas or Winnipeg, all of which they must, in idea, be able to beating. Elsewhere within the bracket, issues are not essentially as transparent (see beneath). This will give Oilers enthusiasts hope, and for excellent reason why. Don’t be shocked to look Edmonton within the finals.
The Maple Leafs get but any other probability
Is it after all time for the Leafs to exorcise their demons? Can they after all advance previous the 2 groups who have given them the latest playoff ache – and will they achieve this in back-to-back collection? Toronto will as soon as once more face the Lightning within the first around, having dropped out of the postseason in seven video games towards Tampa Bay final 12 months. If they set up a win, the Leafs would then most likely face Boston, the group that booted them from the playoffs in back-to-back seasons in 2018 and 2019. Nowhere is the power larger for a first-round win. Success – even partial – may just imply that the Leafs retain each their core on- and off-ice workforce. Failure, particularly within the first around, will most likely imply new control, in all probability a brand new trainer, and most likely additionally the eventual departure of Toronto’s greatest big name, Auston Matthews, who on July 1 can have his first alternative to re-sign with the group. But with none playoff luck in Toronto, would he need to?
The Leafs aren’t cruising into the postseason through maximum metrics. If they are able to be disciplined, drawing extra consequences then they devote, they are able to put their second-ranked energy play to paintings. They’ll additionally hope now not to enter additional time, the place they lose too continuously. However, the go back of Ryan O’Reilly from damage would possibly assist them in finding some vital playoff grit that has been lacking in earlier years, as may just different latter-season additions like Luke Shenn and Jake McCabe. The protected guess is for the Leafs to bow out early. But in Leafs Nation, hope springs everlasting.
A revived subway collection
It’s been simply over a decade for the reason that Rangers and Devils met within the postseason – in 2012 after they fought for Eastern Conference supremacy. The Devils claimed it, best to lose the Cup ultimate to the then-mighty LA Kings. The Devils have had a high-scoring 12 months, racking up 289 targets at the 12 months – excellent sufficient for fourth general within the league. And whilst the Devils could not stay tempo with the Bruins on general wins, they did display they may beat as regards to any individual, tallying 52 at the 12 months – tying Carolina with the second-most general. But there are weaknesses at the New Jersey facet, together with at the energy play. What may harm them maximum, alternatively, is that they are in large part untested within the postseason. The Rangers, alternatively, went deep final season, finding out how you can win the arduous manner, taking each Pittsburgh and Carolina to seven video games sooner than after all succumbing to Tampa Bay in six. And whilst the Devils will lean on playoff beginner Vitek Vanecek, the Rangers will glance to Igor Shesterkin, subsidized through Jaroslav Halak, each with a variety of postseason enjoy.
Still, the East is tricky to expect. The spring industry time limit sparked a conference-wide hands race. While the Rangers picked up Patrick Kane and Vladimir Tarasenko, the Devils countered through grabbing Timo Meier. But the overall frenzy additionally intended that different groups become more potent, too. Should both the Rangers or Devils advance, they are prone to face the feared Carolina Hurricanes whose slightly early go out final 12 months leaves them with one thing to turn out.
Seattle in, Pittsburgh out
It’s been 16 years for the reason that Pittsburgh Penguins final ignored the playoffs (Sidney Crosby’s rookie season), the Tenth-longest stretch of consecutive playoff appearances in NHL historical past (the Bruins made the postseason 29 years operating between 1967–68 and 1995–96). It was once a excellent run, and integrated 3 Stanley Cup victories in 4 finals appearances. Already through Friday the pens had clean house within the govt suite, firing president of hockey operations Brian Burke, basic supervisor Ron Hextall, and his assistant Chris Pryor. The training body of workers continues to be in position – for now, Also nonetheless round are Sidney Crosby, Evgeny Malkin, and Kris Letang, the trio on the core of such a lot of Pittsburgh’s luck. With a couple of key adjustments, the Penguins may well be again once more subsequent 12 months.
Meanwhile, in Seattle, the Kraken have earned a playoff berth in best their moment NHL season – an enormous turnaround from their inaugural marketing campaign, during which they completed second-last within the West. Stability in purpose helped, as Martin Jones arrived from Philadelphia to shoulder 48 video games, splitting the season with Philip Grubauer. The duo nonetheless allowed a large number of targets (256), however fortuitously the Kraken have been ready to generate extra (289), together with 24 from ahead Matty Beniers who shone in his first complete NHL season, and 40 from Jared McCann in what was once a breakout 12 months for the eight-year NHL veteran. There are questions nonetheless concerning the Kraken’s skill to advance – as there are round their penalty kill and gear play – however nobody is questioning whether or not hockey has discovered a a success house in Seattle.
Predictions
The East
The Bruins are through each and every measure the most secure guess to advance – a minimum of previous the Islanders and most definitely previous both Tampa or Toronto. The Rangers and the Hurricanes will most definitely meet within the department ultimate, and New York – retaining a bonus within the steady season collection, mixed with playoff enjoy – may just win out in that tilt (as they did when the 2 met final postseason). But neither, if put to the check, are prone to fit Boston.
The West
A grudge fit between the Avalanche and the Stars appears to be like most likely, with Colorado most definitely having the tougher trail towards Minnesota. Meanwhile, whilst LA gave Edmonton a run final 12 months, the Oilers glance more potent (particularly in purpose) this time round. Look for them to satisfy the Golden Knights on find out how to the Western ultimate towards Dallas, which the Oilers may just win – although it will take a complete seven video games.
The ultimate
The Oilers and the Bruins have not met in a Stanley Cup ultimate since 1990. There are not many parallels for the hockey gods to attract from between this 12 months and that one. Instead, shall we glance to newer historical past. From February 1 to the tip of the season, Boston misplaced best 5 video games – and just one to a group these days within the postseason. That group: the Oilers.
Let’s say Edmonton takes it towards Boston in seven. Why now not?