The Toronto Maple Leafs and Edmonton Oilers finished first and second in the North Division, with Auston Matthews winning the Rocket Richard for most goals and Connor McDavid the likely winner of the Hart Trophy, but those individual achievements don't add up to much when it comes to victories in the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
Both the Leafs and Oilers find themselves down 1-0 in their first round series. Toronto fell victim to the Canadiens physical style, suffocating defense and a resurgent Carey Price, who played like Carey Price in his first NHL start in over a month. The Leafs had a difficult time recovering in game from the horrible loss of John Tavares, and now will have to fill the void of their team captain with the likelihood that he will be out long term.
The Oilers also ran into some top flight goaltending courtesy of Vezina Trophy winner Connor Hellebuyck in Game 1, and could not take advantage of a shorthanded Winnipeg squad without Nikolaj Ehlers and Pierre-Luc Dubois. The doubts about Edmonton going into the playoffs were could they get any offense from anyone other than McDavid and Leon Draisaitl and could they get good enough goaltending from veteran Mike Smith. The answer to both questions on Wednesday was no.
Which team is better positioned to respond after Game 1 disappointments this weekend???
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