A frantic final week of the NHL regular season created a buzz at sports watering holes across the country as teams fought for a post-season spot.
Unfortunately, we’ll not see Sidney Crosby. That’s sad as Pittsburgh played its best hockey down the stretch and would’ve given any Eastern Conference club a real run.
Two weeks ago, I was certain the Toronto Maple Leafs would win Round 1. After numerous dismal recent performances, I have many concerns.
Related stories
Let’s look at the matchups:
Eastern Conference
- Toronto vs. Boston: Boston went 4-0 in the regular season against Toronto but, like the Leafs, faded badly recently. A shutout to Philadelphia, a 3-1 loss to Ottawa and being blanked for almost two full games is not the way to enter the playoffs.
Toronto is much more playoff ready with thumpers Joel Edmundson and Sam Benoit on the blue-line and rugged Ryan Reaves.
Toronto’s best line the past six weeks has been Auston Matthews, Tyler Bertuzzi and Max Domi, who missed the last four games.
Boston has played like dogs in recent weeks; they lack Toronto’s firepower. Boston is ready for an early departure.
Boston has the edge in goaltending, and they’ll need it. Toronto wins in six games.
- Florida vs. Tampa Bay: Florida won the season series 2-1, including a late-season 9-2 drubbing. Tampa Bay beat Florida the last two times they met in the playoffs.
Not this year.
Florida has too much firepower with Matt Tkachuk, Alek Barkov, 50-plus-goal man Sam Bennett and Vladimir Tarasenko. That’s the difference. Florida in five games.
- Carolina vs New York Islanders: The Islanders and Hurricanes split four regular-season games, and both were hot down the stretch, especially the Islanders – 7-0-1 – to earn a playoff spot.
Islanders coach Patrick Roy has down a terrific job. They’ve beaten all the top east clubs, including the Rangers, and played the last six games without star Noah Dobson.
If Dobson and Matthew Barzal, out two months, are back and goaltender Ilya Sorokin continues playing great, this series will be a nail-biter – a seven-game toss-up but the scale tips in Carolina’s favour.
- New York Rangers vs. Washington Capitals: These teams were 2-2 head-to-head, each winning once on the road.
The Rangers have more scoring with Artemi Panarin leading the way with the most points in the regular season.
Alex Ovechkin has been on fire down the stretch for Washington, which has playoff veterans T. J. Oshie, Nick Backstrom and bad-boy Tom Wilson.
The Rangers have one of the game’s best goalies in Igor Shesterkin while the Capitals have Charles Lindgren, 2.67 goals-against average (GAA) in their late-season run.
Looks like a grinding, tight-checking series. Blueshirts in six games, possibly seven.
Western Conference
- Winnipeg vs. Colorado: Winnipeg won all three regular-season games, including a late-season 7-0 drubbing.
Winnipeg has phenomenal goaltending with Connor Hellebuyck and Laurent Brossoit and enough scoring with Nikolaj Ehlers, Mark Scheifele, Kyle Connor and all-star defenceman Josh Morrissey to handle Colorado.
Winnipeg has been able to smother Nathan MacKinnon (138 points) and Mikko Rantanen (108 points), plus standout blue-liner Cale Makar.
Colorado’s style of play, while exciting, is not suited for Stanley Cup success as goaltender Alex Georgiev is often left alone. I want to see MacKinnon play deep into the playoffs, but I say Winnipeg in seven games.
- Vancouver vs. Nashville: We don’t see these teams much over the regular season, but Vancouver clinched the division and got standout goaltender Thatcher Demko back. Demko was sharp in a 4-1 win over Calgary April 16.
Add firepower from J.T. Miller, Quinn Hughes and Elias Pettersson, and I see Vancouver in six games.
- Edmonton Oilers vs. L.A. Kings: Styles make a difference, and the Kings give Edmonton fits. L.A. plays a slow-paced, methodical-checking game. Edmonton is the opposite.
P.E.I.’s Jordan Spence plays defence for the Kings, but beating Connor McDavid is not in the cards. Oilers in five games.
- Dallas Stars vs. Vegas Golden Knights: Dallas had a 50-plus-win season and went on an 8-0 run late in the year with goalie Jake Oettinger posting a 1.65 GAA. They lost to Vegas last year, but they’ve tightened up, adding defensive stalwart Chris Tanev from Calgary.
Vegas has much more firepower. The additions of Noah Hanifin and Tomas Hertl give Vegas the edge in six games.
Harness racing
... The P.E.I. Horse Owners staged its annual Awards Night before a big crowd at Rodd’s Charlottetown April 19. We will have the major award winners next week and in this month’s Atlantic Post Calls.
... Red Shores hosts Breakfast with the Babies as young horses train April 20. Lee Drake, Peter MacPhee and Kurt Hughes will talk about the horses and the upcoming season in their in-house show.
... At Mohawk last week, there were plenty of Maritime winners. Big Diamond, owned by Brian, Lillian and Kevin Ladner, handled a $12,000 fillies and mares class in 1:57 on an off-track. On the same card, trotter Cadillac was fifth in 1:57:4 (purse $15,000), Mr Andreychuk was fifth in 1:56:2 for Dale Spence (purse $17,000).
... On April 13, Oceanview Chip was sixth in 1:55.4 in a $12,000 trot. Western Wish, bred by Blaine Thibeau and Ed Doucette, was fourth by a head in 1:52:2 in a $24,000 conditioned race. Kevin Harvey’s Uncle Shank was second, beaten a head in 1:50:3 (purse $24,000); Brookside Johnny was third (1:50:4) in a $21,000 race for owner Doug Polley Sr. and with Ben Hollingsworth the trainer; All Bets On Tex was a close four in 1:50:4 for driver Tyler Moore and co-owners Jeff Lilley, Blair MacLauchlan, Kent Livingston and Marc Gallant.
... American History has been racing great for Dale and MacKenzie Spence, a close fifth in 1:50 in the $32,000 preferred. The veteran pacer banked $170,000 for Spence and owner Pat King and has another $30,000 plus in the bank this year.
... Earlier this week, Woodmere Rollnpop took a new lifetime mark of 1:51:4 at Mohawk for James MacDonald and Richard Moreau. In the same race, Jamie McKinley’s-bred J J Xavier was a fast-closing third.
... At Western Fair, Colin Kelly drove P O Oliver to a 1:54-and-change trip in the $11,600 preferred April 15.
... On April 17 at Western Fair, Colin posted a hat trick as he nears a couple of milestones, wins and money.
Fred MacDonald's column appears every Saturday in The Guardian. He can be reached at [email protected].
