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Studio 46 - Non-TPiR Discussion => Out In Left Field => Topic started by: mellongraig on April 19, 2024, 09:40:40 AM
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Well, it's that time of year once again as the 2024 NHL Playoffs begin tomorrow. Is this the year the Stanley Cup drought ends in Canada after 31 years? With four Canadian teams in the hunt, it's certainly possible if they make a deep playoff run...
And I will say the last week of the regular season was wild in its own way with four teams that were still in the hunt for the final wildcard spot in the East until the past Tuesday night. But in the end, as much as I felt bad for the Detroit Red Wings, Philadelphia Flyers, and Pittsburgh Penguins who came up just short in the quest for the playoff hunt, these are the match ups for this playoff season:
Eastern Conference:
(A1) Florida Panthers vs. Tampa Bay Lightning (WC1)
(A2) Boston Bruins vs. Toronto Maple Leafs (A3)
(M1) New York Rangers vs. Washington Capitals (WC2)
(M2) Carolina Hurricanes vs. New York Islanders (M3)
Western Conference:
(C1) Dallas Stars vs. Vegas Golden Knights (WC2)
(C2) Winnipeg Jets vs. Colorado Avalanche (C3)
(P1) Vancouver Canucks vs. Nashville Predators (WC1)
(P2) Edmonton Oilers vs. Los Angeles Kings (P3)
It all starts Saturday, April 20th and will be split among the ESPN/Turner networks in the US, Sportsnet networks including CBC and others in Canada, as well as on local regional sports networks for the first round.
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My predictions:
Tampa over Florida in 7
Toronto over Boston in 6
NY Rangers over Washington in 5
Carolina over NY Islanders in 5
Dallas over Vegas in 7
Colorado over Winnipeg in 6
Vancouver over Nashville in 6
Edmonton over LA in 7
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First round & Stanley Cup Final predictions:
NY Rangers over Washington in 5
Tampa Bay over Florida in 7
NY Islanders over Carolina in 6
Boston over Toronto in 7
Dallas over Vegas in 7
Vancouver over Nashville in 7
Winnipeg over Colorado in 6
Edmonton over Los Angeles in 5
Stanley Cup Final: Dallas over NY Islanders
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Leafs beat the Bruins in game 2 of their series 3-2, now tied at 1-1 heading back to Toronto for game 3
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Meanwhile, the Isles blow a three-goal lead and head back to Long Island behind 0-2.
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As of this moment, the Leafs are on the ropes after losing Game 4 to the Bruins, 3-1 and trail the series as such, 3-1. I will say however that they did a great job paying tribute to Bob Cole especially when the Leafs were featured on Saturday night on CBC (and later Sportsnet) quite often, hearing his voice on the Hockey Night in Canada broadcasts.
The New York Islanders and Tampa Bay Lightning stay alive in each of their respective series, with the Islanders winning it in double overtime and the Lightning winning it in regulation.
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The first team to move on to the second round is the New York Rangers, in which they defeat the Washington Capitals 4-2 and sweep the series, 4-0, the only sweep of the first round this playoff season.
Earlier, the Vancouver Canucks pulled off a big comeback as they erased a 2 goal deficit within the last 3 minutes and winning Game 4 in overtime, 4-3 over the Nashville Predators to take a 3-1 series lead. The Winnipeg Jets are on the ropes after losing 5-1 to the Colorado Avalanche and trail the series 3-1.
If the first round ends early for all of the series, the second round could start earlier than usual (or at least in part should certain series wrap up this early).
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The Leafs live to fight another day, taking game 5 against Boston 2-1 in overtime
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Islanders are out. The Hurricanes and the Rangers will face off in Round 2.
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The Winnipeg Jets are also out, becoming the first Canadian team to do so as costly mistakes including an own goal allowed the Colorado Avalanche to win 6-3 on the road and the series 4-1. For Winnipeg, this was the same scenario as last season - win the first game only to lose the next four, only this time the final loss for the season occurs at home. Colorado faces the winner of the Vegas/Dallas series, in which that series is tied at 2-2.
And the Vancouver Canucks were unable to close out the series at home - Nashville Predators win 2-1 to send the series back to Nashville on Friday night, though Vancouver still leads the series 3-2.
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The Edmonton Oilers are the first Canadian team to move on to the second round, defeating the Los Angeles Kings for the third straight postseason in a row by a score of 4-3 and take the series 4-1. The last time a team eliminated the same opponent for three straight postseasons was the Chicago Blackhawks, who defeated the Minnesota Wild from 2013-2015.
They will face the winner of the Nashville/Vancouver series, where an all-Canadian match-up is possible, should Vancouver close it out in Game 6 Friday night or Game 7 if necessary on Sunday. If Nashville wins the next two games, Edmonton will get home ice advantage.
And the Dallas Stars, after losing their first two games, have now won three in a row by defeating the Vegas Golden Knights by a score of 3-2 in Game 5 and are leading the series as such, 3-2.
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I wouldn't count out the Vegas Golden Knights for now...they are unpredictable.
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Hang on gang, the Toronto-Boston series is going the distance! 2-1 Leafs victory in game 6 thanks to 2 goals by William Nylander
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Just 0.1 seconds away from a shutout Game 6 win... so close. A win is a win however.
This is starting to be shades of last postseason all over again where the Boston Bruins had a 3-1 series lead, but couldn't close it out, albeit last year they faced the Florida Panthers. Now the Florida Panthers have been getting an extended rest waiting to see if Boston or Toronto will move on (this time they'll stay in Florida and not travel to start round 2 like last season).
On the other hand, the Toronto Maple Leafs have had Game 7 curses against the Boston Bruins several times (2013, 2018, 2019), Montreal Canadiens (2021), and Tampa Bay Lightning (2022) in the first round. Maybe this Game 7 will be different this time around for the Toronto Maple Leafs.
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Vancouver moves on with a 1-0 game 6 victory over Nashville, setting up an all-Canadian clash with Edmonton in round 2
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Heartbreak for Toronto fans, Boston takes game 7 2-1 in overtime
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The Game 7 curse strikes again for the Leafs... and for the fourth time against the Bruins. Now we'll have to see if any changes will occur from the Leafs management, coaching, and players during the offseason. Sheldon Keefe's job might be on the line now and maybe a coaching change after this result could be for the better for this team. We'll have to wait and see.
Nonetheless, since the second round is starting on Sunday, May 5, here are the series matchups so far and there will be a guaranteed Canadian team in the Western Conference Final:
Eastern Conference:
(A1) Florida Panthers vs. Boston Bruins (A2)
(M1) New York Rangers vs. Carolina Hurricanes (M2)
Western Conference:
(P1) Vancouver Canucks vs. Edmonton Oilers (P2)
The other Western Conference semi-final series will be determined after the Vegas Golden Knights-Dallas Stars series in which it has gone the distance.
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Here is 1 of my second round predictions:
Carolina over NY Rangers in 7
I'll predict the other 3 series tonight or tomorrow.
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There will be a new champion this year, Dallas knocks out the defending champions (Vegas) 2-1 in game 7
Round 2 is now set
WEST: Colorado vs. Dallas, Vancouver vs. Edmonton
EAST: Florida vs. Boston, NY Rangers vs. Carolina
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Here are the rest of my second round predictions & REVISED Stanley Cup Final prediction:
Boston over Florida in 6
Dallas over Colorado in 6
Edmonton over Vancouver in 6
Stanley Cup Final: Dallas over Boston
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Comeback wins appear to be the story so far in the second round of the series - the latest comes from Vancouver where they came back from a 4-1 deficit to win it 5-4 over Edmonton and Game 1 of the best of 7 series.
In other news, the Toronto Maple Leafs have fired head coach Sheldon Keefe following yet another Game 7 loss to the Boston Bruins and another first round exit. No replacement has been named.
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Connor McDavid registered zero shots on goal in a playoff game, pass it on.
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No second round sweep this playoff season - the Carolina Hurricanes stay alive with a 4-3 win in Game 4 at home. New York Rangers still lead the best of seven series 3-1.
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The Rangers will have to do it in six.
In other news, Valeri Nichushkin of the Avalanche has been suspended six months.
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Speaking of the Colorado Avalanche, they are now on the brink of elimination after a 5-1 loss to the Dallas Stars in Game 4, including losing two games at home this playoff season.
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And they did, the Rangers are in the ECF. They'll await the winner of the Bruins/Panthers series.
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What a comeback by the Rangers - down 3-1 in the 2nd period and scored four answered goals including an empty netter in the 3rd period to put it away. Even Jordin Martinook's miraculous save in the second period to keep the Rangers from scoring a goal couldn't save the Hurricanes season.
It's looking very likely now that the Oilers-Canucks series which is going at least six games will have a primetime broadcast on ABC Saturday night at 8pm ET for Game 6.
Update: The game will be on ESPN at 8pm ET due to ABC scheduling Game 6 of the Thunder-Mavericks NBA series that they weren't initially supposed to air.