The Hunt for the Cup Is on: Sydnie’s Take on the NHL Playoffs
Playoff season is just around the corner, with the remainder of the NHL regular season officially wrapping up yesterday. The league has officially announced the full schedule for all eight first-round matchups, setting the stage for an action-packed start. From Easter weekend games to late-night showdowns, fans are in for a thrilling ride. Although the playoffs don’t officially kick off until Saturday, predictions are already pouring in as fans weigh in on which teams have what it takes to make a deep run. Here are my takes, biased and unbiased, on what’s to come.
Winnipeg Jets vs. St. Louis Blues
The Winnipeg Jets snapped the St. Louis Blues’ 12-game winning streak on April 7th, sending an early message as to what is yet to come in the playoffs. Despite this impressive feat, the Jets have yet to reach the Stanley Cup Finals in their eight playoff appearances. Since claiming the Central Division title for the first time, the team will need to maintain its stamina to carry that momentum into the playoffs. The team will rely on defenseman Neal Pionk, who just signed a six-year contract extension after a strong 39-point comeback season. They’ll also continue to lean on Connor Hellebuyck, who is the fifth goalie in NHL history to record 47 or more wins in a single season.
With a power play percentage of 22.1 and a penalty kill rate of 74.2, both significantly lower than the Jets’, the Blues will need to develop more strategic approaches to counter Winnipeg’s edge in man-advantage and shorthanded situations. Even so, fans are eager to see defensemen Colton Parayko back in playoff form following his recovery from a knee injury. With 36 points in the 64 games he’s played this season, Parayko’s physical presence and leadership on the blue line have been sorely missed. All eyes will be on whether the Blues can rise to the challenge and rewrite the narrative in what promises to be a hard-fought series.
The Jets have an overall record of 35-26-1-5 against the Blues and have a history of meeting in the playoffs. Blues fans hope to relive the magic of the 2019 Stanley Cup Playoffs, when the team eliminated the Jets in Game Six of the first round and went on to win the Cup. With this, this matchup is shaping up to be one of the most compelling of the first round. The Blues will head to Manitoba as the Jets host them in Game One on Saturday evening.
My Take - Jets in Five
Dallas Stars vs. Colorado Avalanche
With former Colorado Avalanche player Mikko Rantanen being traded to the Dallas Stars, the dynamics of this playoff series have been transformed. Rantanen spent 10 seasons with the Avalanche and remains close with many of his former teammates off the ice. However, he made his intentions clear for this series: “When the whistle goes on the ice for Game One, I think it’s business and we try to beat each other.” As a Star, Rantanen has already made his presence felt, recording 18 points in the 20 games he’s played this season.
The Avalanche and Stars have met in the playoffs six times, with the Avalanche trailing 2-4 in playoff series. Their most recent postseason battle came in 2020, when Dallas edged out Colorado in a dramatic seven-game series. The Avalanche will travel to the American Airlines Center for Game One tomorrow evening. With both teams coming in strong, this series promises to be a hard-fought battle.
My Take - Avalanche in Six
Las Vegas Golden Knights vs. Minnesota Wild
The Minnesota Wild have a lot to look forward to this playoff season, particularly with the return of center Joel Eriksson Ek and left winger Kirill Kaprizov, who both returned a few days ago after suffering lower-body injuries. Their presence brings a much-needed boost to the team’s top lines, as both are key contributors offensively and play pivotal roles on special teams. On the other hand, the Las Vegas Golden Knights center Jack Eichel scored his 100th goal for the Golden Knights on Wednesday, becoming the fifth player to reach the mark with the franchise. During his brief absence due to injury, the Knights were forced to adapt and find ways to generate offense without him. Now that he’s back in the lineup, Vegas once again poses a dangerous threat heading into the first round.
The Wild have lost eight of their last nine meetings with the Knights. Even with Ek and Kaprizov back, the Knights have continuously contained the Wild to two goals or less in seven of those last nine meetings. With this, the trend is bound to repeat itself in the playoffs. The Wild will head to Las Vegas and face the Knights on Sunday evening.
My Take - Knights in Five
Los Angeles Kings vs. Edmonton Oilers
The Kings-Oilers rivalry will live on this postseason, as this is the 11th time the teams will meet in the playoffs. Edmonton duo Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl will enter the first round well-rested after recovering from injuries, making this a high-stakes matchup from the start. The Los Angeles Kings, however, hold a tremendous advantage in net with goalie Darcy Kuemper, who’s had a .922 save percentage this season. Though the Oilers suffered a 5-0 loss to the Kings on Monday, McDavid said the team is “ready to roll,” and he doesn’t like how “people are counting us out.”
The Oilers currently lead the Kings with an 8-2 record in the playoff series. With the Oilers leading the battle in goals per game and power play percentages, history may be inclined to repeat itself once again. The Kings will host the Oilers in Crypto.com Arena on Monday night. Fans from both sides are gearing up for an emotionally charged series as the playoff rivalry continues.
My Take - Oilers in Six
Toronto Maple Leafs vs. Ottawa Senators
It may feel like second nature to criticize the Toronto Maple Leafs in the playoffs, but this year could finally be different. While the Leafs are known for making things difficult for themselves, fans might notice a real shift under head coach Craig Berube’s leadership. This season, Toronto has outperformed the Ottawa Senators in key areas, scoring more goals per game and boasting stronger power play and penalty kill percentages. The Ottawa Senators, though, defeated the Leafs in all three of their matchups this season, showcasing their ability to disrupt Toronto’s rhythm.
The Senators and Maple Leafs have met in the playoffs four times. The Senators currently trail 0-4 in playoff series. Despite this, Ottawa will be looking to break their postseason drought against their provincial rivals in the Battle of Ontario, which they’ve proven they’re capable of doing during the regular season. The Leafs will host the Senators Sunday night in Scotiabank Arena, where tensions are sure to run high.
My Take - Senators in Six
Tampa Bay Lightning vs. Florida Panthers
The Tampa Bay Lightning has the honor of hosting the 2024 Stanley Cup Champions, the Florida Panthers, on Tuesday at Amalie Arena. The Panthers will play the first two games of the series on the road without defenseman Aaron Ekblad, who is finishing out his 20-game suspension. Though the team acquired Seth Jones and Brad Marchand, they have been dealing with injury issues that may jeopardize their availability or effectiveness in the playoffs. Meanwhile, the Lightning hold a significant edge in key stats, ranking higher in points, goals per game, and power play percentage.
The Panthers are 2-2-0 versus the Lightning this season, making this matchup anyone’s game. The Lightning has a 9-6-0 record versus the Panthers in the playoffs all-time, displaying a slight edge over the Panthers. The in-state rivalry only adds fuel to the fire, with bragging rights on the line as much as a spot in the next round. Both teams now have a few days to regroup before putting on what’s sure to be an intense showdown for fans.
My Take - Panthers in Seven
Washington Capitals vs. Montreal Canadiens
Both the Washington Capitals and the Montreal Canadiens have had ups and downs recently. While Alex Ovechkin made history by surpassing Wayne Gretzky’s goal record, the team has struggled against lower-ranked teams in the Metropolitan Division, like the Columbus Blue Jackets. In back-to-back losses to the Columbus Blue Jackets on April 12th and 13th, they fell 7-0 and 4-1. With the playoffs approaching, Washington will need to regroup quickly and sharpen their offense if they want to maintain home-ice advantage and avoid an early exit.
The Canadiens have also had their share of record-breaking moments this season, with captain Nick Suzuki hitting a career-high 89 points and forward Cole Caufield netting a personal best 37 goals. Though their five-game win streak recently ended, they showed resilience with a 4-2 win over the Carolina Hurricanes on Wednesday night, securing a last-minute playoff spot. To make a deeper push, Montreal will need to improve its defensive consistency. Plus, they’ll need to stay disciplined on the penalty kill.
Washington went 2-0-1 against Montreal in their limited meetings in the season series. This lack of familiarity with each other isn’t shocking, as the teams have met in the playoffs only once, in 2010, with the Canadiens winning the round in seven games. While history could repeat itself with another game seven thriller, the Capitals, who currently sit at the top of the Metropolitan Division, have shown more consistency and depth across their lineup. The teams will meet in Game One on Monday night in Capital One Arena.
My Take - Capitals in Five
Carolina Hurricanes vs. New Jersey Devils
The Carolina Hurricanes have faced a challenging stretch in April. Despite a 7-3 win against the New York Rangers and a 5-1 win against the Capitals earlier in the month, their recent performances have raised concerns heading into the postseason. Many Canes fans have expressed their doubts over goalie Pyotr Kochetkov, particularly regarding his mental resilience under pressure. It’s crucial for the team to start the most suitable goalie early in the playoffs to ensure the best possible outcome.
It feels like yesterday when Jack Hughes and Sebastian Aho brawled during the 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs. After a one-year hiatus, the New Jersey Devils return, ready to bring the intensity fans love about playoff hockey. Their antics may not serve them well, though, as they lost their first shot at a playoff berth in a devastating 7-2 loss to the Boston Bruins. However, with key players like Dougie Hamilton returning to the lineup, who put up 40 points in the 63 games he played this season, an underdog upset is possible.
The Hurricanes have a record of 2-2-0 against the Devils this season and hold an 18-11-0-0 all-time playoff record against them. The Devils will travel to Lenovo Center for Game One on Easter Sunday, hoping to flip the script after their Game Five exit against the Hurricanes in the 2023 playoffs. With this, fans are anticipating the traditional intensity of playoff hockey, with both teams ready to battle it out for a chance to advance. The series promises to bring high stakes, fierce competition, and plenty of drama.
