Stanley Cup Playoffs - April 17th

Game Journal: Florida Panthers vs Boston Bruins

Florida found a way into the playoffs and their reward is to face the greatest regular season points-scoring team in NHL history. Do they even have a chance? We know that Boston plays sound hockey, they bring well-timed waves of players and they rarely make mistakes. How will the Panthers find a way to control the tempo of games and can they get any momentum that lasts longer than a period or two? We all expect the Bruins to win. The story in this series will be how Florida can be the bigger story.

My prediction: Bruins in 6. I think the Panthers get a fluky win in Boston and win a game on home ice. There will be some narrative about the Bruins blowing this historic season in the first round then they win the last 2 games in the series.

First Period

I only got to watch the last 4 minutes of the first period. Life took me to other things. I missed the goal but I watched the replay. Bosont does not need help. Take penalty against this team and they will make you pay. On the other end, when the Panthers get their own Power Play, the Bruins are extra aggressive on the PK and Florida is not able to get control in the open zone of the ice. Of the 4 minutes I did watch, the puck was in the Florida end of the ice most of the time. Boston is off to a good start in this game and the Panthers have not revealed anything that makes me think they will get more than 2 games in this series.

Second Period

These two teams are playing like they haven’t figured out how to play on the ice at the same time. Just past five minutes and the Panthers’ goalie gives up what might be the worst goal I’ve seen given up this year. I don’t need to harp on it for too long, I feel bad for Lyon, but the puck hit your glove, you have to make that stop. This gives the Bruins a two-goal lead and the only thing the Panthers have been able to get close are a couple of bounces off the back wall and hope for an ugly goal.

Ok, a turning point in the game when there is a turnover in the Boston zone that ends up on Tkachuk’s forehand near the slot and he is uncovered and scores an easy goal. This is the moment where Florida needs to push for the tie. It’s the best opportunity they will have to get some momentum going. They are out-shooting the Bruins 2-1 at this point and while the danger chances have been minimal, this is the moment where they can change the vibe to this game.

Florida clearly has picked up the pace and they are able to hold the puck in the Bruins’ zone. The game is at the halfway mark and FLorida just needs a decent shot on goal. They’ve have 3 solid opportunities in this 3-4 minutes of pressure and the resulting shots have not been on net.

The goalie for Florida just made a great glove save on a 2-on-1. The hockey gawds have smiled on the Panthers. Lyon followed up the save by giving one of the Bruins’ a chest push of sorts after the whistle. I love me some playoff hockey. I don’t know if I’m puffing my chest after the glove miss he gave up for a goal, but whatever gets him into the last half of this game. Boston isn’t on the back skate but they are scrambling to get back some control of this game.

This game has turned into a battle of one team getting the puck into open ice and teh other winning puck battles and poke checks to ge the puck moving the other direction. Boston is so good at having a guy in the area of the ice where there is a lot of space and the guy on the board is good at throwing the puck into that section of ice, trusting that another Bruin will be there. It’s lovely hockey to watch. The Panthers are winning a lot of 50/50s and getting sticks in on poke checks and in the passing lanes. They are causing a lot of disruption and they are getting possession too. The Bruins are GREAT at recovery and not getting themselves into trouble. The Panther shots are not good enough to capitalize on the small windows of opportunity they are generating for themselves.

Alas, all that effort and the Panthers give up an ugly goal and this with a little more than 2 minutes left in the period. I think Florida needs to score before the period is over if they have a chance at this game. The idea of coming back in the third against a Bruins team that is rested and playing in front of a home crowd will be too much for game one of this series.

Third Period

I will be pulled away from this game before the third period gets going. Florida has not scored in the first ten minutes of the third period. They had a Power Play in the first half of the period but were unable to convert that into a goal. Boston is too good to let them play their game on home ice. I would be surprised to see Florida get another goal in this game. Ten minutes into this game and I’ve see both offenses get set up once and each generated one shot during their in-zone possession. This has the feel of a nervy playoff game but the energy of two teams playing hard.

Game Journal: Minnesota Wild vs Dallas Stars

This series is near the top of what I want to watch in the first round. These teams play ugly, win ugly, and have moments of beautiful hockey. These teams, when playing their best, are evenly matched and after a full season of Central Division drama and tension, I’m sure they would like to grind each other into the boards. I hope this series goes seven, not just for the entertainment but the prospect of the Avalanche facing the winner of this series should the Avs get past the Kraken. Yes, I made this about the Avalanche, deal with it!

My Prediction: Wild in 7. I think the teams are even until game 7 where Kaprizov scores the game-winner.

First Period

Slow start to the game. The teams are clearly feeling each other out and what I mean by feeling out, I mean trying to bait the other into throwing the first punch. This series is going to be great. In the first five minutes, the Wild have three of the first four shots in this game. This has been a lot of neutral zone and rush hockey with not a lot of set-up offense on either end.

The first moment of this game is a penalty on Jamie Benn for high sticking. The Wild have controlled this game up to this point. The Stars have had a few shots but nothing really dangerous. The most dangerous moment was a big rebound off Gustavsson which is something worth watching during the series but is the only hold-your-breath moment in the game so far for the Stars’ offense and there was no one in a position to put the rebound in the net. The Wild have had the action moving away from their goal and now they will have a Power Play.

One of these teams has the third-best Penalty Kill in the league and it shows. The Wild had some possession on the Power Play but there was never a danger of them scoring.

This has been a really good first period of hockey. The next big moment has arrived and it’s a second Power Play for Minnesota. The difference this time is that Minnesota is starting to complete passes into zones on the ice that are dangerous and have a player moving toward the net. At even strength, they have not been able to crack the nut but……

And the Wild score the first goal of this game on the Power Play. This was a big one.The final minute of the period, and a reward for the hard work this team has put in during the first period.

Second Period

The first two minutes of the period were much like the first half of the first period. A lot of neutral zone play with a few chances buyt nothing sustained on either end. That changes with a Power Play on a really stupid penalty. The Stars are a top 5 Power Play in the NHL, do not take stupid penalties in this series.

It might take this goal scored by Dallas in game one for the Wild to learn not to cross the line. The goal itself was a really pretty play and shot off the faceoff. I love me a good wrist shot from the slot for a goal. The question now is, who is going to take the momentum from here?

The answer to the question is Dallas after they go on another Power Play and they score within the first 10 seconds of the Power Play. Minnesota had a chance to make this game theirs and they threw it away by taking penalties now they have to get back into the game against a Dallas team that is really good on the PK and is really good at lockdown hockey.

Minnesota draws a penalty and this is their chance to get back into the game. Maybe not a goal but get some shots on the net and build some momentum. The Wild were not able to score on the Power Play but Dallas was good enough to get called for tripping just a few seconds after the Power Play was over. Something I’m seeing is that Minnesota is missing a right-handed shooter on the first unit.

Dallas kills off the penalty and what I’m seeing is Matt Boldy not meeting the moment. He went on a great run to finish the season and I’m not seeing him making the same plays in this game compared to what I saw in the last several weeks of the regular season. It’s game one, there are jitters and I’m willing to write off a loss for the road team. I hope I see him in game two or when they get back to Minnesota. The disappointment here is that Minnesota looked good in the first period and let Dallas get back in the game during this period.

I’m so glad the Avs are not in this series. Matt Dumba just destroyed Joe Pavelski and Pavelski looked like he had no idea where he was and needed two people to help him off the ice. Matt Dumba is the exact guy I don’t want skating around my players because that is what happens. After the hit, there are fists and pile-ups happening on the ice. This is game one. These two teams are going to beat the snot out of each other over the next week or two.

Maybe the Matt Dumba hit had the desired effect. Minnesota gets a breakaway on a nice pass down the middle of the ice and they score to tie the game. There are four and a half minutes left in this game and who is going to be the team to take control?

The Minnesota team we saw for most of the first period has shown up for the last two minutes of the period.

This is scary hockey to watch when your team is on the ice. It feels like any moment could bring a huge hit and any goal scored is a premium goal. Even play leads to a third period starting tied at 2-2 and this game is getting chippy and we’re only 40 minutes into the series. I hope this goes seven, for several reasons.

Third Period

This is riveting hockey. It’s desperate and I think this is a great introductory statement for what we are going to see in this series. There will be moments when teams get on a run. There will be long stretches where these teams are even. There will be physicality and there will be a lot of desperate hockey when the game(s) start to wind down.

What makes this game so good is that every time a player is able to get the puck into the offensive zone, there is tension that builds right away. You start looking for the open parts of the ice. In the defense getting set up? How is the defense committing to the puck carrier and where is the second wave of offensive players? All of that and there isn’t even a shot on goal. All credit to the goalies who have a collective .928 save percentage. They have been the calm in a game that has been desperation and chaos for 50 minutes.

Minnesota has done an incredible job breaking up passes in the defensive zone. Not just breaking up the passes but controlling the block using their sticks and taking over possession more often than not.

Here we go, Dallas gets a Power Play with six and a half minutes left. Minnesota kills off the Power Play. They even had some possession in the Dallas end. There were three good chances for Dallas on the Power Play but the Wild did a great job of gumming up the zone entry and never letting the Stars get set up in the zone. Minnesota is playing like they believe they can win this game. They are skating harder and pushing for loose pucks and pressuring the forecheck when Dallas goes back for a puck. This has turned into a race between the Dallas sustained possession and the Wild counter-attack.

A great game of hockey and we are going to Overtime. Unfortunately, I have a day job and I need to go to bed. I’ll catch you in the morning.

Overtime

Feels like I made the right and the wrong decision about going to bed. I missed a great finish to this game but there is no way I would be functional today had I stayed up. For Minnesota, this win is the steal they needed on the road. They played well enough to win the game and in a series that will most likely go seven games, being the first to get a win takes a lot of tension out of the legs for the rest of teh series. It’s possible the Wild win both and home and we’re looking at 3-1 series lead coming back to Dallas.

For Dallas, because this series feels like it is destined for seven games, there should be no panic. the loss is less panic-inducing than the four-and-a-half periods of hockey on the legs and Joe Pavelski hitting the ice with the side of his head. I do think this means Dallas needs to come out and play more offensive hockey to start game 2. Losing game one means they don’t have the luxury to find their game and ease into the offense. They need to be off at the jump.

Goals Under Review: New York Islanders vs Carolina Hurricanes

Prepare yourselves for some low-event hockey. The Islanders are a weird team. They are not good enough to scare anyone but they are good enough at their own brand of hockey that if they control the pace, they can easily win. This series is going to be full of 2-1 & 3-2 games. Who is going to be the first one to four wins?

My Prediction: Islanders in 7. I’m here for the Chaos. This is a heart pick, a chaos pick, and nothing more.

Goal Carolina by Aho PPG: Carolina is off to a quick start. New York is trying to weather the storm until they can get some counter-attack going. This is huge for the Canes to get to a lead. The longer the Islanders can go without giving up a goal the better they become at playing their game. The goal also came off the initial face-off of the Power Play, before New York had time to get set up. Great start for the Canes.

Goal Carolina by Noesen PPG: This is the ideal start for Carolina. Two-goal lead at home and now the Islanders have to play offense first hockey. The Canes have the other team well off their game plan

Goal New York by Pulock: Turnovers in your own zone lead to good chances for the other team. Throw in a fluky bounce and you have a goal. The Islanders are going to have a hard enough time catching up, they don’t need help like that. Nor does Carolina want to give them hope. This one was preventable, will it come back to haunt the Canes?

Goals Under Review: Los Angeles Kings vs Edmonton Oilers

A rematch from last year. The team records are close. The goals against are close and the goals for are only half a goal difference. The biggest difference between the teams is the Power Play. The Kings held their own on the Power Play but the Oilers were historic. It’s a shame the whistles get swallowed in the playoffs. Can the Kings control McDavid and Draisaitl? Can the Kings keep their offense numbers up while they are trying to contain the Edmonton offense? Can the Oilers’ goaltending hold up their end of the bargain and win some games? Looking forward to this one.

My Prediction: Oilers in 7. I think the Oiler offense will get the job done.

Goal Edmonton by Draisaitl: This is going to be a quick series if the Oilers are scoring goals like that. Draisaitl made a pass and then waited for his moment to fill the empty space in the ice. The pass back was completed and the goal was scored on the short side. That was a good Edmonton goal and I’d be worried if I was a Kings fan. Oilers 1-0

Goal Edmonton by Bouchard PPG: Giving the Oilers a man advantage is bad enough. The Kings need to stay out of the box if they have any ideas for winning this series. Giving the Oilers a 2 man advantage? Do they even want to win this series? During the regular season, I didn’t have any lessons from teams giving up 5-on-3 goals because I didn’t think those happened in the playoffs. I guess I was wrong. Regardless, stay out of the box. Oilers 2-0

Goal Los Angeles by Kempe: Great goal. This is the kind of goal that changes the face of the game. The defense makes a great play to poke-check the puck away from McDavid. The forwards take the puck up the ice and score. At this point, the Kings have stabilized this game, gotten on the board and they know they can get the puck in the net with the best Oilers on the ice. Oilers 2-1

Goal Edmonton by Draisaitl: That’s too easy a goal to give up. I know the puck was under a bunch of legs. I don’t blame the goalie and to be honest, you can’t blame the defense either. The free-forward puck watching are most at fault for letting Draisaitl float around in the zone with a free stick ready for the puck to slide into the open area. Just over 10 minutes left and the Kings are down 2 goals. This is on the Oiler defense and the goaltending to play the wall and not let the Kings back in this game. Oilers 3-1

Goal Los Angeles by Kempe: Things happen on the faceoff and the puck ends up going to an open Kempe in front of the net. That’s a tough one to give up because the Oilers didn’t do anything wrong but they have put the game within reach of the empty net part of the game. Two-goal leads are huge in the playoffs and giving that up on a play like this stings a little. However, the Oilers have their own offense that can score and there are 8+ minutes left in the game. Oilers 3-2

Goal Los Angeles by Kopitar PPG: The good ‘ol empty net zone and the Kings score. Not only that, but they score on a juicy rebound and on the Power Play. What do you say? I didn’t see the penalty so it may or may not have been a bad call, but it was called. Stay out of the box when you’re needed most. This is not the energy you want to give a road team going into what will not be an overtime game. Tied 3-3

Goal Los Angeles by Iafallo PPG: STAY OUT OF THE BOX! I know it’s easy for me to say that on the keyboard. There are lessons that can be learned in the regular season. How hard to push play and where to dance on the “hard play” line. The goal itself was a beautiful tic-tac-toe pass and goal. Los Angeles deserves all the credit for scoring the goal. Edmonton has some soul-searching to do. They looked dominant in the first period and it all just disappeared.