I've heard plenty of gripes this year about the NHL's current playoff format, but it seems like the people who want to set up the matchups using 1-through-8 or even 1-through-16 rankings are the same ones who are complaining about a lack of upsets or close series in the first round under the current system.
No playoff hockey tonight, which is disappointing, but we've got one doozy of a Game 7 coming up between Toronto and Boston on Wednesday.
Monday night, we saw Washington come back from a 2-0 series deficit to knock out the Columbus Blue Jackets. Thomas Vanek finished up with 1-1-2 in those six games and played just 8:35 on Monday. I'd say that the Avalanche and the Devils both put up better fights that expected, and Sunday's 8-5 clincher between the Penguins and Flyers lived up to the level of insanity we've seen from those two teams in past meetings—complete with the warrior-like performance of Sean Couturier, who was in on all five Flyers goals and played 20:05 with a torn MCL from his collision in practice with Radko Gudas earlier in the week.
We have been treated to some pretty juicy storylines over the past two weeks, and Round 2 is shaping up nicely. If you're looking for something fresh, look to the Western Conference, where none of the surviving teams has won a Stanley Cup. There's huge hype around Nashville vs. Winnipeg, the top two teams in the league from the regular season, and I'm super curious to see if San Jose is *that* sneaky good or if Vegas can keep defying expectations.
In the East, we get Washington vs. Pittsburgh again. Awesome! I will never tire of Sid vs. Ovi.
For Canucks fans, the seventh game between the Leafs and Bruins is good news, because it keeps Kasperi Kapanen, Andreas Johnsson and Travis Dermott unavailable to the Toronto Marlies.
The Utica Comets will be in a do-or-die situation when they host the Marlies for Game 3 of their best-of-five AHL playoff series on Wednesday after dropping a 5-2 decision in Toronto on Sunday.
For the most part, the game was more competitive than that score indicates. The teams were tied 2-2 early in the third period, with Utica goals from Cam Darcy and Michael Chaput, before Colin Greening kicked off the three-goal outburst that would seal the win and push the Comets to the brink.
Discipline has been an issue. Though the Comets' penalty killing is excellent, it's tough for the offensive players to get any momentum when their team is shorthanded seven times a game.
Though he was held off the scoresheet on Sunday, Jonathan Dahlen had a strong game in his AHL playoff debut, recording three of Utica's 25 shots.
Reid Boucher may also provide some extra scoring punch on Wednesday. Healed up from his broken hand, he officially passed through waivers and is on the ice for practice in Utica on Tuesday, but is said to be a game-time decision for Game 3.
Also, FYI:
To his credit, Kole Lind has said all the right things to
Ed Willes of The Province about being scratched.
“You can prepare as much as you want, but you can’t be ready for it until you hit the ice,” said Lind. “The guys are a lot bigger and faster up here. Things aren’t given to you. You have to earn it.”
If the Comets can scrape out a win on Wednesday, Game 4 will take place on Friday in Utica.
Finally today, a couple of updates for World Championship rosters:
Both Pettersson and Juolevi are confirmed for the Sweden Hockey Games, a warmup tournament that will be held from April 26-29.
Click here to link through to the full rosters for that tournament for Sweden, Finland, Russia and Czech Republic.
Nikita Tryamkin is also on the Russian roster.
All these teams look like they're currently carrying some extra players. Cuts will need to be made before the beginning of Worlds.
Also,
click here to see a TSN story on the Swedish Worlds roster, which was posted on Monday. Pettersson hadn't been added to the list, but I assume that's coming.
What was more interesting to me was the list of players who had declined, and those who weren't asked. For the Canucks, Anders Nilsson is going, while Alex Edler and Jacob Markstrom declined their invitations. The list of players who were not invited includes Eddie Lack, who was Sweden's third-string goalie when they won gold last year, and Robin Lehner, who played in front of Nilsson when he was with the Buffalo Sabres in 2016-17.
Finally, an unexpected addition to the Team Canada roster today. Canucks goaltending prospect Michael DiPietro has been added to the team!
Up till now, Team Canada had announced only one goalie, Darcy Kuemper, so they'll probably be looking to add one more—unless co-general managers Martin Brodeur or Sean Burke think they can step in and help. Even in a No. 3 role, this is a tremendous opportunity for DiPietro, who was a late cut from Canada's World Junior squad last winter.
In addition to helping his development, spending some time with the Hockey Canada brass could help get him back on the inside track for the 2019 World Junior tournament in Vancouver next winter.
Vancouver Canucks Blogger • 
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