By WAYNE REDSHAW
The hunt for the Stanley Cup begins today and, some two and a half months later, in other words late June, we should have a winner. But until then we have a lot of hockey ahead of us, hopefully playoff hockey at its best as we have witnessed in the past.
Once upon a time the Stanley Cup playoffs used to be over by mid- April. Of course in those days the NHL had only six clubs with four making the playoffs. Then came expansion as the league doubled in size to 12 teams. That meant more playoff contenders and more games.
By the early 1970s there was more expansion and the playoffs went on even longer. I recall covering the 1975 final between the Buffalo Sabres and the Philadelphia Flyers. That series went six games, to May 27th. Now the finals run into mid or late June because of additional expansion and hence, more playoff games
Part One today is my fearless forecast of who should win the first- round series in the Eastern Conference. Part Two, the Western Conference, follows tomorrow.
Maple Leafs vs Bruins
The Niagara area will no doubt be focused on the Toronto Maple Leafs as they have high hopes of ending the Stanley Cup drought dating back to 1967, the last time a Leaf squad drank bubbly from Lord Stanley’s spittoon.
Could this finally be their year? The Maple Leafs faithful have their fingers crossed and are hoping. Fans have been hoping for decades and in the end encountered total disappointment every year.
Last year Toronto got through one hurdle, they won the first round over Tampa Bay Lightning in six games. So is this the year the Leafs are about to turn things around and go deeper into the playoffs? Despite the fact that Boston won all four meetings, two that required extra time during the regular season, I think the Leafs finally have the firepower to overtake Boston with Auston Matthews (69 goals) leading the way. And Matthews has a strong supporting cast with the likes of William Nylander, Mitch Marner and John Tavares. Then Toronto has players such as Tyler Bertuzzi, Mathew Knies and Nick Robertson who are capable to break any game wide open.
Boston does have the edge over the Leafs in goal with the tandem of Linus Ullmark and Jeremy Swayman. Leafs’ Ilya Samsonov in my opinion has been hot and cold for most of the season. They need him to make those big saves instead of yielding some softies.
The Bruins are led by Brad Marchand and David Pastrnak up front while Charlie McAvoy anchors the defence. Man for man, I like the Leafs.
Prediction: Toronto in six games
Lightning vs Panthers
This series features two Florida-based teams with the Tampa Bay Lightning taking on Florida Panthers. In the past four seasons the Lightning have qualified for three straight Cup finals winning all the marbles in 2000 and repeating in 2001. They made it to the finals again in 2002 but lost out to the Colorado Avalanche.
Then last year the Panthers, a wild card, were the surprise package of the playoffs making it to the finals before bowing to the Vegas Golden Knights.
This year marks the third time that these two teams have squared off in an all-Florida showdown. So far the Lightning hold a 2-0 lead. That should change this year.
The Lightning can score goals with the likes of Nikita Kucherov, Brayden Point and Steven Stamkos. The problem is defence. Yes, Tampa has Andrei Vasilevskiy between the pipes but a weak defence could lead to their downfall.
Florida Panthers simply have too much with the likes 57 goal scorer Sam Reinhardt, Matthew Takachuk, Aleksander Barkov, Sam Bennett and Carter Verhaeghe. If the Lightning are to prevail they not only require production from their big guns but the likes of Anthony Corelli, Nick Paul and Brandon Hagel have to bring their A game to make it a series.
Prediction: Panthers in six games
Capitals vs Rangers
The New York Rangers won the Presidents’ Trophy as the top performer in the NHL during the regular season and should have no problem of advancing to the second round.
They say there’s a curse that goes with winning the Presidents’ Trophy as three of the past four winners were knocked out in the first round. I can’t see that happening this time around.
Alex Ovechkin and company — the Washington Capitals—were lucky indeed to sneak into these playoffs. This series should be brief, a four-game sweep for the Rangers over the Capitals.
Just too much talent with the Broadway Blueshirts starting with the likes of Artemi Panarin, Alexis Lafreniere, Mika Zibanejad, Vincent Trocheck and Chris Kreider. And a solid defence under the leadership of Adam Fox.
Prediction: Rangers in four
Islanders vs Hurricanes
The Carolina Hurricanes are early line favourites to go all the way in the playoffs as they are well-balanced both offensively and defensively. However, I can’t see the New York Islanders just rolling over.
The Islanders are a different team since Patrick Roy took over the bench boss chores. I think this is going to be a very interesting and entertaining series.
But in the end, Carolina’s overall balance will prevail. I think obtaining Jake Guentzel from Pittsburgh before the trade deadline made the Canes a complete package. He blends in perfectly with the team.
The Islanders by no means will just roll over. They will make this an interesting series. However, I can’t see the Islanders winning.
Prediction: ‘Canes in six games
(Wayne Redshaw covered the NHL for 40 seasons and was named a Life Member of the Professional Hockey Writer’s Association in 1987).
fromareportersnotebook 