I will get to my views on the coaching search, as it looks like one primary candidate has another major suitor, and also make a request related to the lottery, but wanted to post my thoughts on the second round to date. Heading into this round, as I noted in preview, I was well aware that all four of my picks could be wrong. Nothing I have seen since this round kicked off makes me change my mind.
Coming into the second round, I felt that all four matchups were compelling and we would see high-quality hockey. That has clearly been the case. Even though none of us on this blog have any true skin in the game and could dismiss watching the games because the Rangers are not in it, if you aren’t watching, you are certainly missing out. I can’t wait to see how these series play out over the next week or so.
Eastern Conference:
Boston-Tampa
The one series with only two games played. This matchup got off to a later start than the other three because Boston was extended to a seventh game against Toronto. The Bruins rose the momentum of that win to a dominant 6-2 win in Game 1. Tampa rebounded to earn a split and send the series back to Boston all even.
In Game 1, the line of David Pastrnak-Patrice Bergeron and Brad Marchand dominated, notching three goals and 11 points. In Game 2, their opposite counterparts, who failed to slow down that trio in Game 1, exacted revenge. Tyler Johnson-Brayden Point-Ondrej Palat tallied all four of Tampa’s goals while also adding an assist, limiting the Bruins big trio to four assists and preventing that group from taking over the game. Neither top blue line was able to slow their match up and it will be up to Bruce Cassidy and Jon Cooper to find a combination that works. Even if that happened, each team has more than enough depth to get production throughout the roster.
Tampa controlled the play in Game 2 after Boston did the same in Game 1. I don’t believe we have learned a ton from the first two games. Both teams have quick strike offenses, solid blue liners, especially with Charlie McAvoy re-finding his game, and goalies that can cover up defensive breakdowns. The series has yet to take on any kind of tone, which should happen, possibly as early as tonight. Alternating wins for the next five games would not be a shocker.
Pittsburgh-Washington
One of the major substories are the injuries for Pittsburgh. Evgeni Malkin missed Games 1 and 2, Carl Hagelin has yet to play while Brian Dumoulin was able to suit up for Game 3 after leaving Game 2 with a concussion. Yesterday, Zach-Aston Reese suffered a broken jaw and concussion after a hit by Tom Wilson, who also put Dumoulin out of Game 2, resulting in a phone hearing with the Department of Player Safety.
Wilson hit on Aston-Reese
I understand the benefit of an agitator, especially one who can also play the game clean and impact the scoreboard. Sean Avery was able to do in New York for a bit. Examples of similar players are all over the league history. But far too often, players have gone over the line and need to reigned in.
The hits of the past, those by Scott Stevens and Mark Messier and Esa Tikkanen, have been largely eradicated by the change in the game and the rules. My concern, and this is one that I think is shared by many, is that the league and Department of Player Safety have failed in their duty to properly police the game and send clear messages.
If you know that the likelihood of your questionable hit getting more than a one-Game suspension is remote but you could garner an additional power play or impact the contest with that hit, why wouldn’t you take those odds. The NHL and DoPS has to get their heads out of their rear ends and sent a true message. Suspend someone 10 games, extend that suspension to a coach or a GM. Send a true message and maybe the garbage we have seen will stop or at least slow.
Wilson is a repeat offender. I watched the above replay several times. Puck is gone a beat or two, so he isn’t playing the puck. He leaves his feet prior to contact. In addition, if principal point of contact isn’t the head, it’s 1a. Aston-Reese has a concussion and broken jaw. Wilson’s hit on Dumoulin, and you could say it was borderline, which is why he wasn’t suspended, also resulted in an injury. Wilson is meant to be an agitator and he is doing his job, but he also has gone over the line and should be suspended, before someone more dangerous and draconian occurs.
Wilson’s hit has marred a fine series. Washington blew a 2-0 lead in Game 1 with Malkin out. After that loss, I thought, as many did, here we go again, Capitals going to choke in round 2 once again. But give Washington credit. They jumped out to a 3-0 lead in Game 2 and benefitted from a poor replay review that might have really changed the tide in that game. In Game 3, the Capitals battled back from 2-1 and 3-2 deficits to win when Alex Ovechkin challenged his inner Sidney Crosby and Washington Nationals’ skill set by batting the puck past Matt Murray with just over a minute to go to win the game.
Jake Guentzel has morphed into a playoff monster, aided by Patric Hornqviat and Crosby. Malkin was highly engaged right off the bat yesterday but we haven’t seen much from Phil Kessel yet. The blue line has been okay not great for Pittsburgh while Matt Murray has played decently but not yet put together a dominant game. For Washington, Ovie has stood out as has Nicklas Backstrom. Kuz has had moments but not been consistent while T.J. Oshie best play was a defensive one in overtime in Game 1. John Carlson is going to get paid this offseason and the Caps have no one to replace him but Dimitry Orlov might be the d-man user in that role. Braden Holtby has settled in nicely, making some key saves while limiting the egregious mistakes. This one also could go seven and the dirty quotient is likely to escalate, especially in games that are out of hand.
Western Conference:
Nashville-Winnipeg
The skill level in this series is staggering, mirrored by Vegas-San Jose. If either of those contests were the Stanley Cup Finals, none of us would complain. The fine play in the postseason to date has resulted in an uptick on the ratings.
Little has it been on display in this series. Offensive talent. Bluelines that shift from D to O in a heartbeat. Big time saves. Right now, the offense is way ahead of the defense or the skill on that side of the ice is so good, it overwhelms the attempt to play defense despite solid back lines. It’s not pond hockey, because structure exists, but the speed is creating breakdowns and chances galore.
I have noticed that the Winnipeg’s speed and skill is giving the Nashville blue line fits. They seem to come in waves against Subban and Josi and Ekholm and Ellis with their Predators’ offensive counterparts doing little to slow the Jets down through the neutral zone. Pekka Rinne has been shaky, resulting in him getting pulled in Game 1 and to me, a weak goal allowed to Dustin Byfugllen on a clear sighted shot to make the score 3-2 yesterday. In addition, he is lucky his swing at Andrew Copp yesterday didn’t make contact.
Nashville is getting a heck of a series from Filip Forsberg while Ryan Johansen has been okay and Kevin Fiala got the Preds’ lone gola in Game 1 and game-winner in overtime in Game 2. The Predators bottom-six has been engaged but need to provide more on both sides of the ice, similar to the first period of Game 3. I wonder if some of the Nashville D is playing through an injury, as they have looked slower than expected.
For Winnipeg, get Matt Hendricks out of the lineup or shift him to the last line. He makes a dangerous top-nine into a top-six and is a net negative, thanks Gary Cohen, when on the ice. The big boys are pulling their weight. Laine, Scheifele and Wheeler have all had moments through the first three games. The big surprise has been Brandon Tanev, who has tallied in each of the first three games. Every long playoff run always has a surprising producer, in Winnipeg’s case, it’s Tanev.
Big Buff looks the Buff circa Chicago in 2010 while Jacob Trouba has been a major difference maker. Connor Hellebuyck maybe should have been pulled after allowing three goals and benefitting from two posts in in the first period of Game 3. But coach Paul Maurice stuck with him and was rewarded by a solid last two frames, including a breakaway save on Victor Arviddson to keep the score even at four late in the third, allowing the Jets to take the lead shortly thereafter.
Las Vegas-San Jose
At times, the ice looks tilted in Las Vegas’ favor. But just that quickly, San Jose counterattacks. This is another series that I hope goes seven due to the quality of play.
Marc-Andre Fleury stole Game 3. San Jose dominated action early on and could have been up a few goals. But MAF was stellar, robbing the Sharks several times, keeping Vegas in the contest. San Jose did take a 1-0 lead but Vegas responded right away, and after blowing a 3-1 lead, got a William Karlsson game-winner after Fleury made another spectacular save to keep the game tied.
Vegas smoked San Jose in Game 1 after the contest was evenly played early on. The Sharks faced a must win in Game 2 and responded. They likely are in a similar position tonight, because trying to net a victory in a must win Game 5 and then a contest in Vegas might be too daunting a task.
Like the Nashville-Winnipeg series, scoring rushes from counter attacks have been the norm rather than the exception. Despite the lack of a big-name blueliner, Vegas has excelled in this regard. Reilly Smith finally got off the schneid, Karlsson, Erik Haula, Alex Tuch all have had moments. Colin Miller has been the most impressive d-man followed by Nate Schmidt. Flower is a likely Hall of Famer, further building his case this season and in the playoffs to date.
Martin Jones was chased in Game 1 but rebounded in Game 2 and was okay in Game 3. He needs to be better for San Jose to win the series. Brent Burns, while solid and driving attack offensively, has had issues in his own zone defensively. Supporting cast members like Timo Meier and Tomas Hertl have keyed the offense but San Jose needs to get more from Joe Pavelski, and to a certain extent, Logan Couture. The Golden Knights have been the more impressive team and appear able to flip the ice quickly at any time. But I still think San Jose can defeat Vegas, however, a loss tonight, and I am unsure if they can rally from 3-1 down.
I brought up this idea in the comments yesterday and adding it here.
Idea I had for a column was to see if we had 10-12 individuals to do a mock draft. Each person would get a team and pick the best player for that team, disregarding your Rangers fandom. Let me know your view and if we get enough people, will share my email and we can do the draft that way. When done, I will post it as a blog. Can do one now and one right before the actual draft. Let me know if interested.
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