Post by bjernagris (PHI) on Sept 15, 2018 15:15:09 GMT -5
Colorado Avalanche vs. Chicago Blackhawks
The Preview
This series features two teams who are both trending up after having gone through a few seasons of irrelevance. Arguably the league’s largest surprise this season so far has been the Blackhawks, who were crowned Western Conference champions and make their second straight playoff appearance after a decade of disappointment. Last season saw them exit in the second round after a seven-game series loss to eventual Champions Winnipeg, and although they thoroughly lack franchise players (sorry, Robby Fabbri) they possess good depth and must be regarded as favorites heading into this series. Boosted by a strong blue line, the Avalanche return to the playoffs after a one-year absence, and will be looking to reach the Cup Finals for only the third time since 2001. The injury to top center and assistant captain Jonathan Huberdeau, who is expected to be sidelined for the duration of the series, cemented the Avs’ underdog status in this series, and they will need one or two of their young forwards to step into a bigger role if they are to stand a chance in this matchup.
The Storyline
Will the Blackhawks defense be able to shut down the deadly Avalanche top line, weakened by the loss of Huberdeau?
The Key Player, Avalanche
Nathan MacKinnon – the captain and longest-serving player on the team has had a bounce-back season after a few years of lower production.
The Key Player, Blackhawks
Jared McCann – the versatile forward plays in all situations for Chicago, and has had two very strong seasons since signing his 8-year deal with the team.
The Prediction
Blackhawks in six
St. Louis Blues vs. Winnipeg Jets
The Preview
This is a hot matchup featuring two familiar faces on the West side of the playoff bracket for the past five years. The Blues boast an impressive playoff streak of 14 seasons while the Jets’ streak is a more modest six. The teams have won the Cup once each in during those streaks, with the Jets being defending champions. After trading franchise player Vladimir Tarasenko in the offseason, many predicted a tough season for the Blues and although they have looked slightly weaker than last season, current league MVP Rasmus Dahlin has led them with dominant play from the blue line. The team has gone through another season of big injuries to key players, but coach Vorobyov has a fully healthy roster at his disposal going into this season. On the other side of the ice, reigning champions Winnipeg will be looking to mount another run. The Jets have experienced the classic Cup win hangover and have taken a step back in the standings despite fielding a largely intact team from last season. Nonetheless, the hangover should be cured by now and the Jets look like a contender once again with star names on all positions.
The Storyline
In this talent filled matchup, which team’s stars will shine the brightest?
The Key Player, Blues
Rasmus Dahlin – arguably the league’s best defenseman, the young Swede is playing like a seasoned veteran despite having only just turned 25
The Key Player, Jets
Kyle Connor – last year’s Conn Smythe winner will be looking to regain the form of last spring.
The Prediction
Jets in six
Minnesota Wild vs. Arizona Coyotes
The Preview
After five long seasons without NHL playoff action in the “State of Hockey”, the Wild are back. Led by one of the league’s strongest defense corps including the league’s top scoring blue liner Anthony DeAngelo (75), the team has taken the long road back to relevance after GM Ranek embraced the patient approach a couple of seasons ago. Late-season additions Claude Giroux and Reilly Pickard have been brought in to add depth, however the lack of offensive firepower is apparent – the top scoring forward is Connor Lockhart with 57 – and someone will have to step up and carry the offensive torch for the Wild. Despite limited financial flexibility, the Coyotes have established themselves as a solid playoff team, this year making their fifth consecutive playoff appearance and having reached the Cup finals twice in that span. Trading away star winger Jesse Puljujärvi in the offseason had pundits predict the Coyotes take a step back in the standings, but the Coyotes have been able to replace his production through promoting a few promising rookies. Auston Matthews has also enjoyed an uptick in production without Puljujärvi, notching a career high 85 points despite missing 10 games due to injury.
The Storyline
In a series featuring the two playoff teams who scored the fewest goals in regular season, which team’s offense will step up as playoffs begin?
The Key Player, Wild
Anthony DeAngelo – the league’s top scoring defenseman this season will need to keep playing at the top of his game if the Wild are to reach deep in the playoffs
The Key Player, Coyotes
Auston Matthews – with departure of Puljujärvi, the Arizona native has thrived in an even bigger role
The Prediction
Coyotes in six
Seattle Sea Lions vs. Vancouver Canucks
The Preview
This newly formed iNHL rivalry is predicted to be one of the hottest first round matchups this year. Both teams started the season slow, but eventually picked up the pace and climbed into playoff spots in the weak Pacific. Despite having gone through a generational shift in recent years, the Canucks have managed to stay competitive and make their ninth consecutive playoff appearance. Dmitri Sokolov, an offseason addition from the Sea Lions, has had a career year (70 points) and winger-turned-defenseman Jonathan Drouin has handled the transition to the blue line splendidly. Late-season addition Brayden Schenn provides valuable experience to the young core, however defense is a cause of concern, as the Canucks have allowed the fifth most goals in the league this season. The Sea Lions have quickly established themselves as a relevant team in the league, making their third playoff appearance in four seasons. Last season saw them reach the Conference Finals and a strong offseason, which saw them add star winger Tomás Hertl from free agency and Albin Grewe through the Sokolov trade, had many pundits predict them as a firmly established playoff team. However, this season has not gone as predicted and particularly the Sea Lions defense has struggled, being the playoff team which has allowed the second most goals (only Canucks have allowed more).
The Storyline
In a series featuring two attack-first teams, which team’s offense will outshine the other?
The Key Player, Sea Lions
Julius Honka – the defense dynamo has had five straight 50+ point seasons, but has struggled to perform at the same level in the playoffs
The Key Player, Canucks
Jonathan Drouin – after being moved back to the blue line this season, Drouin has had his second best season point wise
The Prediction
Sea Lions in seven
The Preview
This series features two teams who are both trending up after having gone through a few seasons of irrelevance. Arguably the league’s largest surprise this season so far has been the Blackhawks, who were crowned Western Conference champions and make their second straight playoff appearance after a decade of disappointment. Last season saw them exit in the second round after a seven-game series loss to eventual Champions Winnipeg, and although they thoroughly lack franchise players (sorry, Robby Fabbri) they possess good depth and must be regarded as favorites heading into this series. Boosted by a strong blue line, the Avalanche return to the playoffs after a one-year absence, and will be looking to reach the Cup Finals for only the third time since 2001. The injury to top center and assistant captain Jonathan Huberdeau, who is expected to be sidelined for the duration of the series, cemented the Avs’ underdog status in this series, and they will need one or two of their young forwards to step into a bigger role if they are to stand a chance in this matchup.
The Storyline
Will the Blackhawks defense be able to shut down the deadly Avalanche top line, weakened by the loss of Huberdeau?
The Key Player, Avalanche
Nathan MacKinnon – the captain and longest-serving player on the team has had a bounce-back season after a few years of lower production.
The Key Player, Blackhawks
Jared McCann – the versatile forward plays in all situations for Chicago, and has had two very strong seasons since signing his 8-year deal with the team.
The Prediction
Blackhawks in six
St. Louis Blues vs. Winnipeg Jets
The Preview
This is a hot matchup featuring two familiar faces on the West side of the playoff bracket for the past five years. The Blues boast an impressive playoff streak of 14 seasons while the Jets’ streak is a more modest six. The teams have won the Cup once each in during those streaks, with the Jets being defending champions. After trading franchise player Vladimir Tarasenko in the offseason, many predicted a tough season for the Blues and although they have looked slightly weaker than last season, current league MVP Rasmus Dahlin has led them with dominant play from the blue line. The team has gone through another season of big injuries to key players, but coach Vorobyov has a fully healthy roster at his disposal going into this season. On the other side of the ice, reigning champions Winnipeg will be looking to mount another run. The Jets have experienced the classic Cup win hangover and have taken a step back in the standings despite fielding a largely intact team from last season. Nonetheless, the hangover should be cured by now and the Jets look like a contender once again with star names on all positions.
The Storyline
In this talent filled matchup, which team’s stars will shine the brightest?
The Key Player, Blues
Rasmus Dahlin – arguably the league’s best defenseman, the young Swede is playing like a seasoned veteran despite having only just turned 25
The Key Player, Jets
Kyle Connor – last year’s Conn Smythe winner will be looking to regain the form of last spring.
The Prediction
Jets in six
Minnesota Wild vs. Arizona Coyotes
The Preview
After five long seasons without NHL playoff action in the “State of Hockey”, the Wild are back. Led by one of the league’s strongest defense corps including the league’s top scoring blue liner Anthony DeAngelo (75), the team has taken the long road back to relevance after GM Ranek embraced the patient approach a couple of seasons ago. Late-season additions Claude Giroux and Reilly Pickard have been brought in to add depth, however the lack of offensive firepower is apparent – the top scoring forward is Connor Lockhart with 57 – and someone will have to step up and carry the offensive torch for the Wild. Despite limited financial flexibility, the Coyotes have established themselves as a solid playoff team, this year making their fifth consecutive playoff appearance and having reached the Cup finals twice in that span. Trading away star winger Jesse Puljujärvi in the offseason had pundits predict the Coyotes take a step back in the standings, but the Coyotes have been able to replace his production through promoting a few promising rookies. Auston Matthews has also enjoyed an uptick in production without Puljujärvi, notching a career high 85 points despite missing 10 games due to injury.
The Storyline
In a series featuring the two playoff teams who scored the fewest goals in regular season, which team’s offense will step up as playoffs begin?
The Key Player, Wild
Anthony DeAngelo – the league’s top scoring defenseman this season will need to keep playing at the top of his game if the Wild are to reach deep in the playoffs
The Key Player, Coyotes
Auston Matthews – with departure of Puljujärvi, the Arizona native has thrived in an even bigger role
The Prediction
Coyotes in six
Seattle Sea Lions vs. Vancouver Canucks
The Preview
This newly formed iNHL rivalry is predicted to be one of the hottest first round matchups this year. Both teams started the season slow, but eventually picked up the pace and climbed into playoff spots in the weak Pacific. Despite having gone through a generational shift in recent years, the Canucks have managed to stay competitive and make their ninth consecutive playoff appearance. Dmitri Sokolov, an offseason addition from the Sea Lions, has had a career year (70 points) and winger-turned-defenseman Jonathan Drouin has handled the transition to the blue line splendidly. Late-season addition Brayden Schenn provides valuable experience to the young core, however defense is a cause of concern, as the Canucks have allowed the fifth most goals in the league this season. The Sea Lions have quickly established themselves as a relevant team in the league, making their third playoff appearance in four seasons. Last season saw them reach the Conference Finals and a strong offseason, which saw them add star winger Tomás Hertl from free agency and Albin Grewe through the Sokolov trade, had many pundits predict them as a firmly established playoff team. However, this season has not gone as predicted and particularly the Sea Lions defense has struggled, being the playoff team which has allowed the second most goals (only Canucks have allowed more).
The Storyline
In a series featuring two attack-first teams, which team’s offense will outshine the other?
The Key Player, Sea Lions
Julius Honka – the defense dynamo has had five straight 50+ point seasons, but has struggled to perform at the same level in the playoffs
The Key Player, Canucks
Jonathan Drouin – after being moved back to the blue line this season, Drouin has had his second best season point wise
The Prediction
Sea Lions in seven