NHL Playoffs: Western Conference Profile

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Two Canadian teams in the pairings – will they get through to Round 2?

By WAYNE REDSHAW

   Can the Colorado Avalanche make it two Cup conquests in a row? Will they at least make it the finals to defend the title they won last year? Can they win their opening series?

   There’s a boatload of questions out there about the defending Stanley Cup Champions so let’s deal with their opening series in Part Two of my Stanley Cup predictions, the Western Conference.

Kraken vs Avalanche

    For the first half of the regular NHL season the Avalanche were not even contenders for a playoff berth. The reason was quite simple — a ton of injuries. In all, Colorado lost 483 man-games this season due to injuries. Captain Gabriel Landeskog missed the entire 82-game schedule and won’t suit up for the playoffs. Last year’s MVP of the playoffs — defenceman Cale Makar missed 22 games which included the final seven of the season. But he is expected to go in the playoffs.

  Nevertheless, despite all the injury woes the Avalanche somehow made it. From mid-January the Avs went 31-8-4 including 7-0-1 down the stretch to nail top spot in their division.

   No question they have good depth and that was a key. They have premier players with Mikko Rantanen the top sniper with 55 goals and Nathen MacKinnon a solid two-way performer.

    They lost goaltender Darcy Kuemper to free agency last summer but picking up Alexander Georgiev filled the void.

    The Seattle Kraken in only their second year in the NHL are making their playoff debut. I think it will be short-lived as they are up against a very talented team. Jared McCann led the Kraken in scoring with 40 goals and 70 points. I can’t see them advancing past Colorado. They lack that experience factor.

  Prediction: Colorado in five games and possibly a sweep.

Jets vs Golden Knights    

The big key in this matchup is the Winnipeg Jets goaltending. In other words, if the Jets are to advance to the next round, goaltender Connor Hellebuyck has got to perform big. After all, Hellebuyck is one of the biggest reasons Winnipeg qualified for the playoffs in the first place. He has to deliver again for the Jets to reach round two.

      Other members of the Jets who must deliver include Josh Morrissey, Kyle Connor and Mark Scheifele.

   The Golden Knights goaltending is a question mark which it has been all season with injuries, etc. Jonathan Quick, who was obtained in March via the trade route might be their answer in the playoffs, especially with his playoff experience.

   One thing the Knights do well is block shots and they led the league in that department with 1,494 this season.

   Mark Stone is expected back in the Knights’ lineup following a back injury but how healthy is he? Also, is injury-prone Jack Eichel at 100 per cent?

  Prediction: If Hellebuyck delivers, Jets in six games.

Kings vs Oilers

   The Edmonton Oilers are a well-oiled machine with Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl providing the one-two scoring punch. And the Oilers in general have excellent speed and good size both on defence and up front. They also like to hit with their size which is an important factor in the playoffs.

   Goaltender Stuart Skinner has been a pleasant surprise and should get the starting nod for most games.

    But that does not mean this series is going to be a cake-walk for the Oilers. The Los Angeles Kings will have a say. Captain Anze Kopitar is their leader. That’s why he has “C” on his jersey. He led the Kings in points with 74 while Adrian Kempe was LA’s top sniper with 41. But will that be enough to lead the way to get the job done?

  Prediction: This series is going to be a long affair but home ice advantage will be a big factor. In the end, the Oilers will prevail in seven.

Wild vs Stars

   This series between the Minnesota Wild and the Dallas Stars should be another entertaining series and one that could go the distance.

    And it should feature red-hot goaltending at both ends of the rink. Jake Oettinger should carry the entire burden for the Stars while Marc-Andre Fleury and  Filip Gustafson give the Wild a solid one-two punch.

    Jason Robertson was a complete surprise package for Dallas  during the regular season with 46 goals and 63 assists for 109 points.  He has a great supporting cast with Jamie Benn, Tyler Seguin and Roope Hintz.

   Kirill Kaprizov led the Wild offence with 40 goals and 35 assists for 75 points. Matts Zuccarello followed with 22 and 45 respectively.

   Prediction: In the end goaltending will be a determining factor. This series should go seven games with Dallas advancing.


(Wayne Redshaw has covered both amateur and professional sports locally and nationally spanning six decades. He was named a Life Member of the Professional Hockey Writers Association in 1987).

Motorized Vehicles Not Permitted On Public Parks, Trails: City

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Motorized vehicles aren’t allowed on public trails like this one on Merritt Island, nor on parks, the city says in a media release issued today. /Joe Barkovich file photo.

WELLAND – With the warmer weather of spring brings increased use of the City’s public parks and trails. The City of Welland reminds all residents that using motorized vehicles on public parks and trails is strictly prohibited. Those violating by-law 2000-175 face a $500 fine for the first offence; subsequent offences carry a $1,000 fine.

City parks and trails are meant for passive use, and motorized vehicles, such as ATVs and E-Bikes, can cause damage to the natural state of the areas and pose dangers to those using these areas on foot.

“Use of motorized vehicles in our parks and on our trails creates a safety risk for everyone,” said Rob Axiak, director of community services. “Our parks and trails are critical pieces of social infrastructure, and motorized vehicles cause damage to the landscape. The City will not tolerate the sense of unease motorized vehicles create on trails for the rest of the community.”

The by-law states that vehicle means the following: automobile, motorcycle, motor-assisted bicycle, scooter, trail bike, dune buggy, mini-bike, go-cart, trailer, traction engine, farm tractor, all-terrain vehicle (ATV), motorized snow vehicle, and any other vehicle drawn, propelled, or driven by a power whatsoever.

Signage indicating the improper use of the parks and trails is on-site, and city staff continue to monitor areas where unlawful motorized vehicle usage is reported. Anyone with questions or who would like to report a concern should contact the Niagara Regional Police. 

(Attribution: City of Welland media release)

NHL Playoffs: Eastern Conference Profile

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Our veteran scribe predicts a sweep in one series – read on to see who it is

By WAYNE REDSHAW

     The opening rounds of the NHL’s Stanley Cup playoffs begin today and Tuesday and sometime in late June or thereabouts we should have a champion crowned. Will it be last year’s champs — the Colorado Avalanche — or some other team. It is hard to say right now. Overall there’s four rounds and a lot can happen, including a lot of upsets and surprises along the way.

   So for now let’s look at the first round and the eight teams in the Eastern Conference vying to advance.

Panthers vs Bruins

   The Bruins are a powerhouse and set records for most wins (63) and most points (135) during the regular season. They have good depth in all positions — between the pipes, on the blue line and up front. They started the season on a high note going 17-2-0 and finished it in similar fashion going 18-4-0. In fact in their last 10 games they were 9-1-0.

    Boston also led a number of statistical departments. In the east they popped in 305 goals. Closest to them in the east was the Buffalo Sabres, who missed a playoff berth for the 12th straight season, with 296.

    Defensively, they were a well-oiled machine, giving up only 177 goals over the 82 game schedule. Closest in the east was the Carolina Hurricanes with 213. Another interesting fact: the Bruins allowed two or fewer goals in 52 games.

    They have an impressive cast up front with Brad Marchand, Patrice Bergeron and  David Pastrnak leading the way. Pastrnak had a fantastic year with a career high 61 goals. Throw in the likes of Taylor Hall, Charlie Coyle, Tyler Bertuzzi to name a few, they are going to be tough to beat.

The blueline is anchored by Charlie McAvoy and in goal they are solid with the one-two punch of Linus Ullmark and Jeremy Swayman.

  If the Panthers are going to prevail it all hinges on goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky. Before the season started, Florida was labelled as one of the favourites to lead the east. That never materialized and they just snuck in for the second and last playoff berth in the east by one point.

They are going to need Bobrovsky to come up big not just in one game but in every game. Plus the likes of Carter Verhaeghe, Aleksander Barkov, Matthew Tkachuk, Sam Reinhardt and defenceman Aaron Ekblad to be firing on all cylinders. I can’t see that happening against a team like the Bruins.

Prediction: The Bruins in five games.

Rangers vs Devils

   The series between the New Jersey Devils and the New York Rangers should be a dandy, one that could go the distance. It’s the Battle of The Hudson  River. It matches speed against a potent power-play.

   The Devils are a younger team with speed and lots of it. They finished with 52 wins, 25  more than they had last season. Jack Hughes, a first round pick in 2019 had a banner year. And he had quite a supporting cast too. It starts in goal with Vitek Vanecek and includes Dougie Hamilton, Nico Hischier, Ondrej Palat  and Timo Meier who joined the Devils before the trade deadline.

   The Rangers are not going to roll over and play dead. Far from it. They will make this an interesting series. And if Igor Shesterkin continues  his form from last year’s playoffs, he is going to give the Rangers a chance to advance.

   No question the Rangers have a lot of talent in the lineup with Mika  Zibanejad, Chris Kreider, Alexis Lafreniere, Filip Chytil, Kaapo.  Kakko, Adam Fox, Barclay Goodrow and Patrick Kane, who arrived on Broadway after a tremendous career in Chicago.

   If  New York is to advance, they will have to find a way to slow down the speedy Devils. They also have to capitalize on their power play. I think it will come down to coaching and I give the Devils’ Lindy Ruff the edge in that department. While his team may lack playoff experience compared to the Rangers, Ruff has been around a long time.

  Prediction: Devils in seven games.

Islanders vs Hurricanes

   The Carolina Hurricanes are a tough team to play against and one of the reasons is they are well-coached with Rod Brind’Amour at the controls. They play it very tight. Carolina’s style may not be exciting to watch but they get the job done.

   The Canes were first in their division and get to play the first Wild Card in the east, the Islanders.

   The Islanders will have to find a way to shut down Sebastian Aho who led  the Hurricanes in goals for the sixth straight season with 36.  The Canes defence led the NHL in goals with 59 and leading that parade were veteran Brent Burns and Brady Skjei, both with 18.

  Carolina’s penalty killing finished second in the league but their power play was well back in the pack at 20th.

   Brock Nelson sparked the Islanders offence and he will have Mathew Barzel back in the lineup  after being sidelined with an injury in  February. Bo Horvat, who the Isles picked up from Vancouver before the trade deadline should help the offensive cause.

  A lot of New York’s success hinges on goaltender Ilya Sorokin, who led the league in shutouts with six.

  Prediction: This series could go the limit — seven games — with the Canes emerging victorious.

Lightning vs Maple Leafs

   That now brings us to the fourth series in the Eastern Conference, between the Tampa Bay Lightning and the Toronto Maple Leafs.

     The Leafs haven’t won a playoff series since 2004. And they haven’t sipped from Lord Stanley’s spittoon dating back to 1967 during the Punch Imlach era. That’s a long time ago.

  However, let’s  not jump the gun and get ahead of all the series. Let’s strictly look at this showdown coming up.

  This is the second year in a row that Toronto and Tampa Bay have squared off in the first round. Last year, if you recall, the Leafs had a 3-2 series lead heading into game six in Tampa but the Leafs lost in overtime. Then in game seven in Toronto the Leafs lost again.

     Can history repeat again? I don’t think so. Frankly, I think the Leafs are a better, sounder club.  Overall, the Leafs are more potent, more physical and more solid in all departments than they were a year ago. They are especially solid in goal and that usually decides playoff series.

    Ilya Samsonov has carried the brunt of the mail for the Leafs and has done an A-1 job. Joseph Woll when called up from the AHL Marlies has more than answered the call of duty. With injury-prone Matt Murray sidelined again, Woll will likely be the backup and could see action.

   Leafs have too much firepower up front with Mich Marner, Auston Matthews John Tavares and William Nylander leading the way. The defence is in safe hands with Morgan Rielly and Mark Giordano.

   The Leafs added new faces too with Ryan O’Reilly, Noel Acciari, Sam Lafferty Jake McCabe and Luke Schenn putting on Toronto jerseys. For Schenn, it’s his second time around in Toronto.  They all brought grit to the Toronto lineup, a missing ingredient in past years and grit can make a big difference between winning and losing, especially in the Stanley Cup playoffs.

  As for the Lightning I think their magic of finding a way to win has come to an end. The past three years it worked and resulted in two Stanley Cup championships and a trip to the final only to lose to Colorado in six games.

   This year, the Lightning have been inconsistent during the regular season, even downright brutal at times. I can’t see a turnaround in the playoffs. The salary cap squeeze has also had an effect on the team. I also don’t think general manager Julien BriseBois did the job at the trade deadline as the past three years. He gave away the future in draft picks to Nashville for Tanner Jeannot, who has done very little since his arrival and is currently on the injury list.

  I also feel three straight trips to the finals (71 playoff games and 12 series overall) has started to show its toll on the Lightning. Forwards Steven Stamkos, Nika Kucherov, Brayden Point, defenceman Victor Hedman and goaltender Andre Vasilevskiy are all great players, even superstars but remember they are getting older. This series marks the end of an era for the Lightning.

Prediction: A SWEEP – Leafs in four.

Western Conference profile on Tuesday

(Wayne Redshaw has covered both amateur and professional sports locally and nationally spanning six decades. He was named a Life Member of the Professional Hockey Writers Association in 1987).

Heritage Lives: Twilight On East Main Street

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/Supplied image

By Terry Hughes, columnist

It’s a beautiful spring night in early June. With the exception of a few establishments such as the Reeta Hotel in addition to the streetlights, most businesses cast a multicoloured aura of neon magic that delights the eye and sends a welcomed message to those folk who came downtown to visit a show or one of the hotels. Both sides of the street are lined with cars ranging from a 1948 Mercury to a 1955 Plymouth or Dodge. Notice, too, how one set of traffic lights control three lanes of traffic. 

The Park and Capitol theatres are the major sources of entertainment but are having to share their dollars with nearby drive-in theatres offering free dishes, or a card of professional wrestlers down at the arena. In spite of visual wonders such as Cinemascope or Three Dimension and the use of air conditioning, more people are staying home watching Toast of the Town, Howdy Doody, Perry Como or the Cisco Kid on their black and white television sets.

Woolworths, Peoples and Rosbergs are the major department stores but you can order merchandise from the order office at Simpsons Sears next to the Park. Women could delight at the latest fashions at Reitmans or Mitchells. With the exception of the A&P, most of the major grocery chains have moved away from this location to more spacious areas to develop super markets. 

Several restaurants offer some special delights such as the venerable Olympia. Remember the wide variety of baked goods and candy they sold but, at the same time, you had to sit in those uncomfortable wooden booths. Teen hangouts were at the  Majestic Grill or Terminal Restaurant on Cross Street. How often did you place a dime in those silver boxes found in each booth that offered fifty songs that automatically activated the jukebox with your favourite tune! 

A fast cup of coffee could be had at the Reeta Coffee Shop if you needed to clear the haze from the beverages consumed at the local hotels. While sipping your coffee, you may stop to read The Evening Tribune and a photo article by photographer Corky McKenzie on the Tonight Show starring Steve Allen. His pictures included Steve Lawrence, Edie Gorme, Skitch Henderson and Steve Allen during rehearsal in their New York studios. Election promises jump out at you but the odds are that Ellis Morningstar will win his second term in the legislature. 

After your coffee break, you step outside, unlock and open your car door and move out onto the street. Ahead of you looms the dreaded Main Street Bridge and just as you get within 20 feet of this monster, the siren sounds, the gates come down and you curse as the span lifts to allow a ship to pass by. A quick run to the cigar store for a package of gum and cigarettes makes the delay less onerous! After arriving home, your wife wonders why you are late. As a member of this town, the best excuse that was so often used tumbles out of your mouth. You smiled and said, “The bridge was up!”

Next Column: Under The Boardwalk 

(Terry Hughes is a Wellander who is passionate about heritage, history and model railroading. His opinion column, Heritage Lives, appears on the blog once or twice monthly.)