Well that was interesting.
The second round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs wasnB次元官网网址檛 too kind to us as we went 1-3 in our series predictions.
Disappearing acts by TorontoB次元官网网址檚 B次元官网网址楥ore FourB次元官网网址� and New Jersey goalie Akira Schmid returning to earth didnB次元官网网址檛 help matters. EdmontonB次元官网网址檚 secondary scoring and goaltending werenB次元官网网址檛 good enough but thankfully Dallas salvaged our second-round predictions.
We had the Devils winning their series against the Carolina Hurricanes but we obviously placed too much confidence in Schmid, who was the star of the opening round win against the Rangers but was a bust in the second round. Schmid allowed seven goals on 36 shots in the first two games of the series before relinquishing the starterB次元官网网址檚 role in game three.
Toronto was supposed to move on as well but Auston Matthews, William Nylander, John Tavares and Mitch Marner were complete no-shows in the series against Florida as they only combined for three goals.
While we are on the Leafs, we can please stop calling this quartet B次元官网网址淭he Core FourB次元官网网址�?
Anyone who watched this series can attest to the fact that Morgan Reilly is the blood and guts of this hockey club as the West Vancouver product was magnificent for the Maple Leafs in the playoffs.
Yeah, I get it. ItB次元官网网址檚 a catchy phrase but it makes absolutely ZERO sense to call that group B次元官网网址榯he coreB次元官网网址� and exclude the heart of the hockey club.
As for Florida, we made a big mistake regarding the Panthers.
Teams that go on long runs in the post-season usually have something extraordinary happen early in the playoffs that galvanizes them and gives them a reference point moving forward. Coming back to beat the record-setting Boston Bruins after being down three-games-to-one in their series did just that for the Panthers and has given this team a great deal of confidence moving forward.
The Oilers were a major disappointment as well.
Many had believed they had B次元官网网址榩aid their duesB次元官网网址� last year by reaching the Western Conference Finals and were poised to take the next step.
The Oilers needed more from the likes of Evander Kane, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and Zach Hyman as the trio could only combine for two goals against Vegas. ItB次元官网网址檚 also difficult to win a series when your goaltender owns an .875 save percentage B次元官网网址� which EdmontonB次元官网网址檚 Stuart Skinner did.
As for Seattle, they turned into the NHLB次元官网网址檚 version of the Island of Misfit Toys and relished that role pushing the Dallas Stars to a seventh game.
The StarsB次元官网网址� win saved us from an embarrassing oh-fer in the second round.
***
EASTERN CONFERENCE FINAL
#M1 CAROLINA versus #WC2 FLORIDA
I love finding quirky little nuggets.
Case in point, do you know during that this post-season Carolina has scored more shorthanded goals (4) than their opponents have on the power play (3)?
Special teams are just another reason why Carolina continues to roll despite not having three of their top forwards in their lineup in Andrei Svechnikov, Max Pacioretty and Teuvo Teravainen although Teravainen is back practicing and will probably draw into the lineup in game one.
Despite missing the aforementioned trio, the Canes are now listed by Las Vegas sports books as the favorites to win the Stanley Cup at +230 with the Golden Knights right behind them at +250 while Dallas is listed at +280. Florida is the longshot of the four remaining teams at +$325.
Part of the reason why the Canes are favored has been how players such as Sebastian Aho, Jesper Fast and Jordan Martinook have stepped up.
The Panthers have had some surprising contributions too.
Remember Zac Dalpe? He played 55 games for the Canucks in 2013-14 tallying four goals in the process.
HeB次元官网网址檚 played in 72 NHL games in the last decade but here he is playing a depth role on the Panthers and now will face the team that drafted him in the second round in of the 2008 NHL Entry Draft.
Do you think Dalpe is savoring all of this?
As for the series, IB次元官网网址檓 not making the same mistake twice.
The Panthers are giant-killers and the Hurricanes are their next target.
FLORIDA IN SIX
***
WESTERN CONFERENCE FINAL
#P1 VEGAS versus #C2 DALLAS
I could see myself picking either team in this matchup.
Vegas is in itB次元官网网址檚 fourth conference final in six years and it wouldnB次元官网网址檛 surprise anyone if they advanced to the finals based on what we saw versus Edmonton.
Jack Eichel has been a beast for Vegas with Mark Stone, Jonathan Marchessault, Ivan Barbashev, William Karlsson and Chandler Stephenson also playing key roles as this group has accounted for 31 of the Knights 41 goals.
As good as Vegas looks, IB次元官网网址檓 going to pick the Stars for two reasons.
Goaltending and special teams.
I think Jake Oettinger gives Dallas an edge in goal and the Stars have a decisive advantage when it comes to special teams play. VegasB次元官网网址� power play is running at 17% while itB次元官网网址檚 penalty kill is at 60% in these playoffs. The Stars power play is operating at 31% efficiency while their penalty kill is at 83%.
Goaltending and specials win it for the Stars.
DALLAS IN SEVEN
Veteran B.C. sports personality Bob B次元官网网址渢he MojB次元官网网址� Marjanovich writes twice weekly for Black Press Media. And check out his weekly podcast every Monday at or your local Black Press Media website.
THE MOJ: After an amazing (and shocking) round one, predicting the NHLB次元官网网址檚 2nd round
THE MOJ: Pay attention, hereB次元官网网址檚 how round 1 of the NHL playoffs will unfold
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