The first round went pretty well as I had anticipated. At least in the East where the four clubs I favored won. The Florida Panthers and New York Rangers even won faster than I anticipated.
In the West? The Dallas Stars will have to benefit from the support of their fans on Sunday evening, otherwise I will have only hit 50%. By the way, I will offer you my predictions for the second round in the West on Monday morning.
But let’s return to the East since it is in New York, this afternoon, that the second round will take off as the Rangers and the Carolina Hurricanes will meet at Madison Square Garden.
As expected, the Rangers and Hurricanes were far too strong for the New York Islanders and Washington Capitals who had no more playoff business than the Pittsburgh Penguins or Detroit Red Wings. That said, the Penguins and the Wings simply had to take the means to reach the playoffs if they wanted to offer more opposition…
In the Queen City, the woes of the Toronto Maple Leafs will continue for another year as the Boston Bruins won Game 7… in overtime.
You may already know them, but the Leafs’ recent playoff results are worth repeating ad nauseam.
– The Leafs have won a series since the start of the Brendan Shanahan era ten years ago…
– They just lost a seventh straight series to the Bruins…
– Since the start of the Auston Matthews era, the Leafs have lost all seven playoff games they have played…
– The Leafs have not won a game seven since their first round victory over the Ottawa Senators in 2004…
– Not to mention they haven’t won the Stanley Cup since 1967…
I chose the Bruins in seven. But I’m far from “showing off” this morning. Because after wasting the fifth and sixth games, the Bruins were dominated for long stretches Saturday night at TD Garden. Especially in the second half.
Ironically, Ilya Samsonov, who was chased from his goal by Joseph Woll after an atrocious start to the series, was on his way to making amends in the seventh game. He was very good during the 60 minutes of regulation time. Really very good. But in overtime, he opened the door for the Bruins by playing sluggishly on a push that he could have easily stopped by intercepting the puck instead of letting it return to the slot where David Pastrnak rushed to recover it.
The Leafs lost. Again! But at least they seem to have found themselves a real number one goalkeeper in Woll. If he can stay healthy. Simon Benoit also proved, again on Saturday, that the Leafs do not need to go for Joel Edmundson at the trade deadline, because they have a solid young defensive back in him.
At least that’s it!
All they will have to do is find real playoff players and perhaps a new head coach. The same type of research that must already be underway with the Winnipeg Jets.
The Capitals? They were like Alexander Ovechkin: we didn’t see them! The fact that the captain hasn’t scored in four games is still insignificant. However, the fact that he was content with five shots over these four games goes wrong. Or shouldn’t pass at all.
Yes, the Rangers were much stronger. Much too strong. But that was no reason to give them the series without even a fight.
As such, Patrick Roy’s Islanders deserve much more congratulations than the Capitals. They provided more opposition than I anticipated, mainly due to Semyon Varlamov who excelled in net while Ilya Sorokin was simply dismal.
In the Florida duel, the Panthers demonstrated that once in the playoffs, depth has more value than the raw talent, no matter how sensational, of a few elements.
The Panthers are a formidable team. Even more than I thought. They may even be the best team in the entire League. What they will be able to demonstrate while four very good ones will cross paths to obtain the privilege of reaching the Eastern final.
A final which should pit the Panthers against the Hurricanes which I have chosen to reach the Stanley Cup final. But let’s say that I am a little less convinced of this prediction at the dawn of the second round…
Boston – Florida
Here they are again face to face. Finally!
To say that the Bruins will be motivated by the desire to forget the disaster experienced last spring is an understatement.
Robbed by Sergei Bobrovsky who suddenly became Vladislav Tretiak in the playoffs, the Bruins saw their 3-1 lead turn into elimination in the first round.
An elimination which deprived Patrice Bergeron of the victorious springboard he wanted to retire.
I would like to believe in the Bruins’ chances of enjoying a sweet revenge. But I can’t believe it. Not that the Bruins aren’t a good team. But because the Panthers are much better this year than they were last year.
Jeremy Swayman – 1.49 goals allowed per game and 95% efficiency – has been terrific in net for the Bruins. He helped muzzle the Leafs’ massive attack, which scored just once in 21 opportunities in the first round. An atrocious statistic when you consider Toronto’s strike force.
But the Panthers are much more efficient, more aggressive, more combative, more disturbing than the Leafs.
And it will show.
It will take miracles from the dozen Swaymans and perhaps also Linus Ullmark if Boston decides to rely on two goalies for the Bruins to be in the game.
And even…
Prediction : Panthers in 6
Caroline – New York
This series should offer sustained and effective play both offensively and defensively. A game that will also take place at high speed.
And I believe that by these parameters, the Hurricanes should have the upper hand over the Rangers. By very little, but just enough to win.
The problem, and it is enormous, is that other parameters will come into play. The special teams of course, but above all the robustness and efficiency of the goalkeepers in front of their net.
These parameters seem to favor the Rangers.
Frederik Andersen – 2.25 goals allowed per game, 91.2% efficiency – was very solid against the Islanders.
But Igor Shesterkin was even better against the “Caps”. In fact, he dominates all goalkeepers with four or more starts with an average of 1.75 goals allowed per game and an efficiency of 93.1%.
Add to that the robustness of Jacob Trouba who could slow down the ardor of the Canes’ fast attackers, as good as they are.
Special units? Both teams are formidable in massive attack: the Blue Shirts scored six times in 16 and the Canes did it five times in 15.
The Rangers were better at shorthand — 15 of 17 penalty kills, compared to Carolina’s nine of 11 — but the Canes were more disciplined.
What will all this result in?
A long and fiercely contested series.
Prediction : Caroline in 7
Happy second round!
