Panthers-Lightning, Oilers-Flames rivalries renew in Stanley Cup Playoffs

Panthers-Lightning, Oilers-Flames rivalries renew in Stanley Cup Playoffs - NHL.com

Prepared for Spherical 2?

A primary spherical filled with targets, comebacks and Recreation 7s — highlighted by superstars like Cale Makar, Connor McDavid, Artemi Panarin and Johnny Gaudreau — has arrange dream sequence within the second spherical of the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

We have a rematch of the Battle of Florida between the two-time defending Stanley Cup champion Tampa Bay Lightning and the Presidents’ Trophy winners as the highest regular-season workforce, the Florida Panthers.

We have the Battle of Alberta between the Calgary Flames and Edmonton Oilers for the primary time since 1991; the Cup-or-bust Colorado Avalanche towards the 2019 champs, the St. Louis Blues; and a matchup of the highest two defensive groups within the common season, the Carolina Hurricanes (2.44 targets towards per sport) and New York Rangers (2.49).

“It isn’t straightforward,” Lightning captain Steven Stamkos mentioned, shaking his head. “It isn’t straightforward this time of the yr.”

The primary spherical averaged 6.4 targets per sport. That is extra scoring than there was within the common season, when there have been 6.3 targets per sport, and probably the most within the first spherical since there have been 6.8 targets per sport in 1994-95. There have been lopsided video games and no huge upsets. For the second time because the NHL went to 4 divisions in 2013-14, every division winner from the common season superior. (It additionally occurred in 2017-18.)

But the primary spherical was nonetheless extremely aggressive and as troublesome to forecast as a coin flip. Six groups overcame a sequence deficit to advance: the Blues, Flames, Lightning, Oilers, Panthers and Rangers. There have been 5 Recreation 7s. 4 have been determined by one aim, probably the most ever for a single spherical, and two went to time beyond regulation. Who scored the winners? Panarin and Gaudreau, two of the highest 12 scorers within the common season.

“You dream about stuff like that,” Gaudreau mentioned.

Makar scored 10 factors (three targets, seven assists) in 4 video games, probably the most in NHL historical past by a defenseman by way of 4 video games in a postseason. Avalanche middle Nathan MacKinnon mentioned, “He may be the perfect participant within the League proper now.”

However wait. McDavid ended up with 14 factors (4 targets, 10 assists) in seven video games. Two gamers have scored extra factors in a first-round sequence. Their names are Mario Lemieux (17 in 1992) and Wayne Gretzky (15 in 1987).

“He is the perfect participant on this planet,” Oilers ahead Leon Draisaitl mentioned. “There’s a lot of talent, clearly, with him. That is a given. It is the need, proper? You possibly can see it in his eyes. You possibly can really feel it each shift that he is on the market. He is decided.”

It’s going to take extra will and dedication from right here.

Tampa Bay defeated Florida in six video games within the Stanley Cup First Spherical final yr, their first playoff assembly. However Lightning middle Brayden Level’s standing is unsure due to a lower-body damage, and the Panthers have grown, including defenseman Ben Chiarot and forwards Claude Giroux and Sam Reinhart.

“I believe folks, particularly in Florida, have been begging for the 2 groups to be contenders and go at it,” Lightning coach Jon Cooper mentioned. “I believe final yr many individuals mentioned which may have been the sequence of the playoffs. They’ve retooled their workforce and introduced some huge names in there. It must be a ton of enjoyable. They’re enjoyable to play towards. It is aggressive … I believe it is actually good for hockey.”

Individuals have been begging for Calgary and Edmonton to fulfill within the playoffs once more since Tampa Bay (1992) and Florida (1993) entered the NHL. It has been that lengthy, too lengthy, since Esa Tikkanen scored on Mike Vernon to provide the Oilers a 5-4 time beyond regulation win towards the Flames in Recreation 7 of 1991 Smythe Division Semifinals at what then was often called the Olympic Saddledome. That is actually good for hockey too.

“I have been right here for 9 years and by no means had even a sniff of an opportunity to play them within the playoffs, so it is fairly particular,” Gaudreau mentioned. “I believe it may be a number of enjoyable.”

The Avalanche swept the Blues within the first spherical final season, are coming off a sweep of the Nashville Predators and have the best expectations. However they’ve misplaced within the second spherical every of the previous three seasons and must recover from this hump. The Blues have a championship core, went 14-2-2 to shut the common season and defeated the Minnesota Wild in six video games.

“They are a totally different workforce this yr, we’re a special workforce this yr, so you possibly can’t look into final yr an excessive amount of as a result of that is previously and we’re targeted on the current and enjoying this St. Louis workforce this yr,” Avalanche defenseman Devon Toews mentioned. “They are a extremely potent offensive workforce that we have to be prepared for.”

The Hurricanes swept the Rangers within the best-of-5 Stanley Cup Qualifiers in 2020, when the NHL performed a 24-team event as a result of COVID-19 pandemic. However write off the Rangers at your personal danger. Not solely did they arrive again from down 3-1 within the first spherical towards the Pittsburgh Penguins, they got here again in every of these final three wins.

“That is our workforce,” Rangers coach Gerard Gallant mentioned. “We compete, we battle and we discover methods to win video games that possibly we should not.”

One of the best half?

Arenas are packed. So are plazas outdoors. For the primary time since 2019, earlier than anybody had heard of COVID-19, followers are in full throat within the playoffs from Alberta to Florida, from Colorado to Carolina.

And we’re solely 1 / 4 of the way in which by way of.

“I am getting the chills already,” Hurricanes middle Jordan Staal mentioned. “It is thrilling. It is what you need as a participant. It is what you dream about. Our followers have been unbelievable. I do know it may get even higher.”


Supply

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.