NHL Playoffs Day 6

Posted on April 18, 2016 by Derek

It’s Day 6 of the NHL Playoffs. So, what’s in store on a fantastic 75 degree Monday in New York? There are three games on tap.

The first one features the top seeded Capitals visiting the Flyers for Game 3. In what’s sure to be an emotionally charged atmosphere, the Flyers organization will honor the memory of Ed Snider prior to face off. He was responsible for bringing hockey to Philadelphia. Snider was one of the most hands on owners in the NHL. Always a good quote, he told you what he thought. A passionate man who cared about his team and the fans, Snider will be remembered for his contributions to hockey.

With it being a must win situation, look for the Flyers to come out fired up. They lost the first two games to the heavily favored Caps by a combined score of 6-1. After being shut out by Braden Holtby (19 saves) in Game 1, they lost 4-1 in Game 2. A game which saw Flyers’ starter Steve Mason allow an awful goal from 101 feet out on a Jason Chimera dump in. He just lost concentration. He took full responsibility. Obviously, that goal didn’t help. But when Jakub Voracek finally solved Holtby cutting it to 2-1, a bad penalty resulted in a power play goal for Alexander Ovechkin, restoring a two-goal lead for the Caps.

The Flyers must deliver their best performance to get back in the series. At home, they can feed off the energy of the crowd. One thing is certain. It’s time for their best players to step up. Claude Giroux, Wayne Simmonds, Brayden Schenn and the Ghost, Shayne Gostisbehere must have an impact. If he starts again, Mason must rebound. The game can be seen on NBCSN at 7 PM.

The second match-up doesn’t start until 8:30 PM. The shorthanded Wild host the top seeded Stars out West. So far, Dallas is in control leading the series 2-0. After posting a fairly routing 4-0 shutout in Game 1 behind 22 saves from starter Kari Lehtonen along with a highlight reel goal from Jason Spezza, the Stars hung on to edge the Wild 2-1 in Game 2. The difference was captain Jamie Benn’s breakaway goal on Minnesota’s Devan Dubnyk. He got behind the defense and went backhand deke thru the five-hole for the game-winner.

Marco Scandella broke through on Lehtonen with a power play goal that cut the deficit to one with over seven minutes left in regulation. But the Wild were unable to force overtime despite controlling play and getting some good chances. Once again, Lehtonen was the difference making 25 saves. Thus far, he’s stopped 47 of 48 shots in the two Stars wins. Minnesota must do a better job getting to him.

It’ll continue to be tough without Zach Parise and Thomas Vanek. Aside from needing offense from Mikko Koivu, Mikael Granlund, Jason Pominville, Jason Zucker and Ryan Suter, they could also use some luck. They had none on Antoine Roussel’s controversial goal in Game 2 that overturned the call of no goal on the ice. An odd sequence in which he fired a puck off Dubnyk and in with the moorings slightly off. Dubnyk was none too pleased. Can the Wild ratchet it up in front of one of the loudest buildings at Xcel Energy Center? The game can be seen on CNBC.

The final game of the night isn’t until 10 PM. It’s the Kings and Sharks from HP Pavilion in San Jose. This has been another excellent series between bitter California rivals. Two years removed from blowing a 3-0 first round lead to the eventual 2014 Stanley Cup champs, the Sharks are once again in good position after taking the first two games at Staples Center. In each one-goal win, they had the better defense and goaltending. Their star players are also outplaying the Kings’ best.

In particular, Joe Pavelski who tallied his third goal of the series to put the Kings behind early in Game 2. Pavelski is one of the NHL’s best finishers. He flies under the radar in San Jose due to playoff disappointments. A year after they missed the postseason, the Sharks changed coaches bringing in Pete DeBoer. He’s done a good job. They also made some good moves last summer adding Paul Martin to the back end and character forward Joel Ward up front. Along with the genius trade for former Kings’ backup Martin Jones with the Bruins, the Sharks are a better team. They’re better equipped to go head to head with the Kings, whose big stars Anze Kopitar and Drew Doughty have been eerily quiet.

If they are to get back in the series, Kopitar and Doughty must be better. They’ll also need a money performance from Jonathan Quick. He hasn’t been bad by any stretch but Jones has outplayed him. In particular in Game 2 when he made 26 saves with many clutch stops late when the Kings pressed for the equalizer. Vincent Lecavalier scored the only goal on the power play. The difference was a undisciplined charging penalty from Milan Lucic that gave San Jose a full five-on-three that Logan Couture cashed for the game-winner in the second.

Los Angeles was without key defenseman Alec Martinez in Game 2. He missed a few games to end the regular season but played part of Game 1 before getting injured. Without the 2014 playoff hero, it’s forced Darryl Sutter to play Doughty nearly 30 minutes and lean hard on partner Jake Muzzin. LA’s remaining four aren’t as good. None of the quartet of Brayden McNabb, Jamie McBain, Rob Scuderi or Luke Schenn received 20 minutes. McNabb got the most with 19:42 while the others were worked in. That is San Jose’s biggest advantage. They boast Marc-Edouard Vlasic and caveman Brent Burns followed by Martin and Justin Braun, giving them a solid top four. Brendan Dillon and deadline acquisition Roman Polak round it out.

With the Sharks defending well in front of Jones, it’ll be interesting to see what a championship caliber Kings come up with. They’ve been in this spot before and did it the hard way by dropping Game 3 and then winning the final four to stun the Sharks. We don’t advise that risky strategy this time. Win tonight or it’s over. The action can be caught on NBCSN. If there’s overtime between the Caps and Flyers, then they’ll shift it to NHL Network or USA.

It should be a great night of playoff hockey. Enjoy it!

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Hickey’s overtime winner lifts Islanders to exciting 4-3 overtime win over Panthers in Game 3

Posted on April 18, 2016 by Derek
Thomas Hickey

Brooklyn Hero: Defenseman Thomas Hickey celebrates his overtime winner that gave the Islanders a 4-3 victory in Game 3 in the first ever playoff game in Brooklyn. AP Photo/Adam Hunger/Getty Images

When it comes to playoff overtime, everyone needs a hero. No matter whose side you’re on, one player will play the role everyone wants to. For the Islanders in their first ever playoff game in Brooklyn, it was an unlikely hero in defenseman Thomas Hickey who scored at 12:31 of overtime to lift the Islanders to an exciting 4-3 win over the Panthers in Game 3 before a thunderous capacity crowd of 15,795 at Barclays Center.

On a roster that features captain John Tavares along with Frans Nielsen and Kyle Okposo, it was the 27-year old unheralded veteran who was the hero. Hickey scored his first career postseason goal off a great feed from Brock Nelson from behind the net, giving the Islanders a 2-1 lead in the best-of-seven first round series.

After the evenly matched teams split the first two in Florida, Brooklyn finally had their chance to host playoff hockey in the Isles’ first season on Atlantic Avenue in downtown Brooklyn. Even with the crowd ready and the anticipation building with a special two-hour pregame show broadcast on WFAN leading into a rare radio cast on the popular radio station, the Islanders came out flat.

They fell behind right away on Reilly Smith’s fourth goal coming just 2:25 into the first period. The former Bruins’ forward who the Panthers acquired last summer for Jimmy Hayes has lit it up in this series. The Isles have had no answer for him. Smith continued his torrid play by scoring and setting up the other two Florida goals. He leads all players with seven points in the series.

For a large portion of the first, the Panthers were much better. Their speed caused the Islanders’ defense problems in their end. Florida controlled the possession generating quality chances while out-shooting the Isles 12-8. It could’ve been worse but after scoring his fourth on a neat backhand rebound past Thomas Greiss, Smith sent a backhand off the goalpost. While Greiss kept it a one-goal deficit, Roberto Luongo was sharp early following up a 41-save Game 2 performance with eight more stops.

There weren’t many soldiers in the opening 20 minutes on the Brooklyn side. Outside Tavares, who was dangerous every shift, it wasn’t the kind of start they wanted. It got even more troublesome when Aleksander Barkov scored his first career postseason goal only 1:11 into the second from Smith and Jonathan Huberdeau. A good fore-check by Huberdeau set up Smith in the slot but his shot went over the net and took a good carom off the back boards right to Barkov for an easy finish.

Trailing by two, the Islanders needed something to happen. They got a huge break when Aaron Ekblad’s goal was reversed. Smith passed for an open Ekblad, who wired a shot past Greiss that would’ve made it 3-0 only four minutes into the second. Playing a hunch, Islanders’ coach Jack Capuano challenged that the play was offside. MSG’s second camera angle at the blue line was conclusive enough to reverse the call on the ice. The Florida player didn’t have full possession of the puck when they crossed the blue line.

It was the turning point. Suddenly, the sellout crowd at Barclays Center got back into it. Feeding off the energy, the Islanders had a good shift drawing a boarding minor on Alex Petrovic at 4:43. Twenty-five seconds later, Jussi Jokinen went off for tripping which handed the Isles a two-man advantage for 1:36. It took all of 13 seconds for Ryan Pulock to blast a perfect Kyle Okposo cross ice feed past Luongo for his first of the postseason. It was a set play with Tavares winning the puck back to Okposo, who nicely dished across for a wicked Pulock one-timer that cut it to 2-1 at 5:21.

But with the crowd buzzing, the Panthers were able to kill the rest of Jokinen’s penalty. Smith then made another great play setting up Nick Bjugstad to restore a two-goal lead at 7:23. Dmitry Kulikov forced Hickey into a turnover in the neutral zone. Kulikov’s outlet for Smith allowed the speedy forward to skate around a tired Pulock, who was caught at the end of his shift. Smith was stopped pointblank by Greiss but Bjugstad followed up on the rebound silencing the crowd momentarily.

Somebody else had to step up. For the Isles, it turned out to be the third line. First, it was deadline pickup Shane Prince, who converted off a pretty feed from Pulock to cut the deficit to one with 8:12 left in the period. Calvin de Haan started it with a pass for Pulock, who cut in and found Prince wide open for his first career playoff goal.

A clipping minor that sent Kulikov to the penalty box with 3:48 left allowed the Islanders to get even. In transition, Tavares took an Okposo feed and passed for a cutting Frans Nielsen, whose low backhand sneaked past a surprised Luongo to tie the score with 3:05 remaining. The crowd went nuts.

Somewhat predictably, the third was played more tightly. Both teams didn’t want to make a mistake that led to the winning goal. Each played better defensively. Following a second in which they combined for 28 shots with the Isles holding a 16-12 advantage, shots were dead even at seven apiece due to tighter checking. The refs only called one penalty- a hi-sticking minor on Travis Hamonic- that the Isles killed off without a problem.

Almost as if it were fate, the first ever playoff game in Brooklyn went to sudden death. What better way to find out who would prevail. It was fairly even. After a good push by the Islanders at the start forcing Luongo into some tough stops, the Panthers clawed back with some chances of their own. But Greiss stood tall. Each goalie faced eight shots. But it was the Isles’ final shot that made the ultimate difference.

On a sustained fore-check behind the net, Josh Bailey won a puck to Nelson who skated away from a Petrovic check. He then made a perfect backhand centering feed for a cutting Hickey, who beat 44-year old Jaromir Jagr in front. Hickey didn’t miss sending a perfect one-timer past Luongo to send teammates and the building into bedlam.

It was well earned by the Islanders. They battled back from a pair of two-goal deficits to win Game 3 and take a 2-1 series lead. They showed grit and determination. That perseverance paid off. Still, you wonder how different it might have been if not for the successful coach’s challenge that negated Ekblad’s goal. Technology served its purpose.

BONY 3 Stars:

3rd Star-John Tavares, Islanders (2 assists including primary on Nielsen tying goal, 5 SOG, 10 attempts, led team in 27 shifts-23:16)

2nd Star-Ryan Pulock, Islanders (goal-1st of postseason, primary assist on Prince goal, 3 attempts, 2 blocked shots in 26 shifts-16:14)

1st Star-Reilly Smith, Panthers (goal-4th of series, 2 assists, 5 SOG in 9 attempts, +3 in 31 shifts-23:48)

Notes: Shots were dead even 39-39. That’s how close these teams are. Total attempts favored the Panthers 73-66. … Barkov led everyone with nine shots followed by Huberdeau’s seven. In particular, Huberdeau was dangerous in overtime. … Jagr hasn’t scored a goal in 34 straight playoff games. He only had one shot and was victimized on Hickey’s winner. … Neither team was perfect. They combined for 41 giveaways including 24 from the Isles including Hickey’s turnover that led to Bjugstad’s goal. He atoned for it with the OT winner. … Isles led in hits 48-40 with Okposo, Matt Martin and Cal Clutterbuck each recording six. Garrett Wilson had seven in nine shifts for Florida. … Isles were 40-and-31 on face-offs led by Tavares, who went 14-and-11. Casey Cizikas had a strong game finishing 8-and-5. Bjugstad went 13-and-10 for the Panthers. … Afterwards, Luongo indicated that he was tired and needed to rest the next two days. … Florida could be getting key scorer Vincent Trocheck back for Game 4. … After having to play the first three games over four days, each team gets a much needed break with two days off before they resume for Game 4 on Wednesday. Got to love the schedule makers.

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Rangers-Pens: Big performances lead to 4-2 win in Game 2

Posted on April 17, 2016 by Derek
Henrik Lundqvist, Marc Staal

Henrik Lundqvist and Marc Staal were two key performers in the Rangers’ 4-2 win in Game 2 over the Pens, sending the first round series back to MSG tied at one. AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar/Getty Images

After two games, the Rangers and Penguins are even headed back to Madison Square Garden. Big performances helped lead the Rangers to a important 4-2 win over the Pens in Game 2 at CONSOL Energy Center. They earned the split to gain home ice when the best-of-seven first round series shifts to Broadway on Tuesday.

Indeed, a more focused Blueshirts responded well to coach Alain Vigneault’s message. There were many positives to take away from the two-goal victory over a Pens club who got back star Evgeni Malkin. Standing out was Henrik Lundqvist. Three days removed from an errant Marc Staal stick that caused him to exit Game 1 with a vision issue with his right eye, he showed no ill effects. The unflappable Swedish King delivered with 29 saves including some momentum turning ones that were the difference. None bigger than a huge stop, denying Bryan Rust on a breakaway after he came out of the penalty box.

To get the win, a few of Lundqvist’s buddies stepped up. J.T. Miller had a major impact setting up the first three goals. His tenacity on the fore-check was a key throughout. He wasn’t alone with Derick Brassard reemerging with a big game of his own. The number one center scored his first of the series and assisted on two others. Big Game Brass was much more involved after being shutdown in Game 1.

Mats Zuccarello and Chris Kreider also tallied in the win. Keith Yandle scored too. It was his goal off a Miller set up that tied the contest midway through which turned the tide. Brassard followed 18 seconds later giving the Rangers their first lead of the series. Another brilliant Miller feed set up Zuccarello for their third straight goal in a 4:14 span that stunned a loud Pens crowd. The three tallies all came during the second half of the second period.

Kreider added a huge insurance goal 39 seconds into the third. That was enough of a cushion with Lundqvist on his game. The only Pen who beat him was Phil Kessel with the former Maple Leaf doing so twice on almost identical power play goals off great feeds. He was the Pens’ most dangerous forward finishing with a game high eight shots and 12 attempts.

Sidney Crosby was neutralized by the effective Blueshirt tandem of Marc Sraal and Kevin Klein. Staal had a big bounce back game, logging a team high 25:21 in 37 shifts with a plus-one rating and two blocked shots. Most of it came matched up against Crosby. He saw over 11 minutes versus the Pens’ best player and got another seven against Malkin. Partner Klein had a strong game registering a game high eight hits with four blocks in 34 shifts (23:20) finishing plus-one. He also stood up for Staal after Chris Kunitz slashed him, challenging Kunitz to a fight. Unfortunately, the refs got in the way. They didn’t have the best of days.

There was no scoring in the first period. The Pens held a slight edge in shots leading 10-7. They tested Lundqvist early and he responded in orderly fashion. Most of it was played at even strength. That’s where the Rangers want to be. They have been the better team five-on-five so far controlling possession. It’s not advisable to take penalties. Twice, the more skilled Pens burned them on terrific set ups for Kessel in front. Meanwhile, the Rangers were an all too predictable 0-for-3 on the man-advantage.

This one had more edge to it. Zuccarello and Hornqvist exchanged roughs with two seconds left in the first. There also were plenty of fouls that went undetected by the officials. It felt more like a playoff game between two close rivals than Game 1. Of course, the Pens having Malkin back increased the battle level. He was his usual ornery self.

For a second straight game, Pittsburgh got on the board first. A Zuccarello hooking minor resulted in the first of Kessel’s two power play goals. It nearly didn’t happen. The Rangers went for it shorthanded and got burned. After Eric Staal went around Kris Letang, a diving Hornqvist made a great back check to deny Staal with a pinching Dan Boyle up. With two Ranger penalty killers trapped, the Pens executed a four-on-two to perfection. Nick Bonino passed for Trevor Daley, who made a wonderful drop for an easy Kessel one-timer past an out of position Lundqvist at 3:21.

With the crowd into it, the Pens looked for that second goal. But Lundqvist stood tall in the first half of the second to give his teammates a chance. For a while, it was frustrating to watch them make third string starter Jeff Zatkoff look great. Up till that point, he made some good saves with his best denying Derek Stepan on a breakaway early to loud cheers from the home crowd. But it would all change rather quickly on some Pens’ breakdowns.

On an offensive draw won by Brassard, Miller made a smart read with his pass across taking a favorable bounce right to a pinching Yandle, who was able to bury his first to tie the score at 12:38. No Pen took Yandle which allowed the skilled offensive defenseman enough time to get off a good shot and beat Zatkoff. The next goal would be critical. It wasn’t without controversy.

After Olli Maatta fell down, Miller led Brassard into the Pittsburgh zone. He made a nice move cutting in on Zatkoff and beating him far side for a 2-1 lead at 12:56. But before they could drop the puck at center ice, NBC’s cameras seemed to indicate that Brassard might have been offside prior to the goal. Pens coach Mike Sullivan challenged. It was very close. The determining factor was whether Brassard had full control of the puck as he crossed the line. His skate also may have been up in the air. Even with the new technology of a camera at the blue line, it was inconclusive. Brassard’s goal was upheld.

With the Rangers nursing a one-goal lead, another key point came. Rust was in the penalty box for interfering with Marc Staal. After they failed to connect on the power play, Crosby made a perfect stretch pass for Rust out of the box, sending him on a breakaway. An aggressive Lundqvist made a huge glove save to deny Rust with 4:26 left. It wasn’t clean but Lundqvist got enough of it to keep play going. That was the biggest moment of the game.

Over a minute later, it was Miller Time again. This time, off a good cycle, he drew three Pens and threaded the needle across for a sweet Zuccarello finish, making it a 3-1 lead with 3:08 left in the stanza. Again, it was a blown coverage by the Pens with Daley leaving Zuccarello wide open. Similar to the Rangers in Game 1, they were careless and paid the price.

Rather than sitting back, the Rangers kept attacking at the start of the third. It netted positive results with Kreider scoring his first from Brassard 39 seconds in for a three-goal cushion. A Kreider fore-check forced a Pens turnover. A Daley giveaway led directly to him firing a quick wrist shot that deflected off Daley past Zatkoff. The game wasn’t over.

Even with Crosby taking an ill advised slashing minor that put his team shorthanded, Kreider took an unnecessary goalie interference penalty seven seconds later to negate a power play. Yandle then picked the wrong time for a bad penalty cross checking Malkin down. That handed the Pens a four-on-three advantage. It didn’t take long for them to cash in. Eric Staal lost a draw to Bonino leading to some more great passing between Malkin and Bonino, setting up another easy Kessel finish in front that cut the deficit to two with 14:18 to go.

With the Pens trailing by two, somehow refs Marc Joannette and Steve Kozari missed a hit from behind by Ben Lovejoy on Stepan. Seeing it live, I felt it was a clear boarding penalty that could’ve been a major. Instead, play continued. A visibly shaken Stepan went to the locker room. He missed most of the period but miraculously returned with a couple of minutes left. It wasn’t the only missed call. Both sides had cases. Overall, the standard of officiating has been poor in every series I’ve seen. Consistently inconsistent.

As only the Rangers could do, they missed a chance to make life easier on themselves. Of all people, Zuccarello missed an empty net. It led to Lundqvist making a couple of more clutch stops, including denying Hornqvist point blank with 37 seconds remaining. Watching this team, it’s never easy. But they got the job done. Now, it’s a best-of-five with the next two at MSG.

BONY 3 Stars:

3rd Star-Phil Kessel, Pens (2 goals-1, 2 both PPG’s, 8 SOG, 15 attempts actually with 3 misses)

2nd Star-Derick Brassard, NYR (goal-1st of postseason, 2 assists, 7 hits, +4 in 25 shifts-17:59)

1st Star-J.T. Miller, NYR (3 primary assists, 3 hits, +3 in 22 shifts-15:47)

Notes: In one of the biggest differences, the Rangers finished every check. They were the more physical team registering 57 hits compared to the Pens’ 25. Only three skaters didn’t record a hit with Dylan McIlrath one of the three. He only played 9:07 taking 17 shifts. The trio of Klein (8), Brassard (7) and Tanner Glass (7) combined for 22 hits. Kreider and Zuccarello each had six. They were physically engaged. … The Pens blocked 18 shots while the Rangers had 17. Klein led all skaters with four. Brian Dumoulin had three for the Pens. … Face-offs favored the Pens, who went 39-and-31. Bonino was their best going 14-and-8 while Crosby went 14-and-10. No Blueshirt was over .500. E. Staal (7-and-8) and Dominic Moore (5-and-6) were the closest. … Pens out-attempted the Rangers 59-50. But unlike the first game, the Rangers didn’t miss the net only doing so five times.

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Lundqvist a game-time decision tomorrow, Vigneault challenges team

Posted on April 15, 2016 by Derek
Hank treated.jpg

Henrik Lundqvist is a game-time decision for Game 2 after taking a Marc Staal stick to the right eye in the first period of Game 1 which blurred his vision. AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar/Getty Images

The Rangers got good news on Henrik Lundqvist today at practice. After taking an accidental stick from Marc Staal in his right eye, the Swedish King left Game 1 after the first period. By then, coach Alain Vigneault left him in too long. The injury occurred with 48.8 seconds left. The coach sent Lundqvist back out to end the period. Patric Hornqvist scored with 17.7 seconds left setting the tone for a Pens’ 5-2 victory.

“After the hit, it was blurry and hard to focus,” he told reporters after taking full part in practice and being the first goalie off. “That’s why I left the game. That night it improved. I’m lucky nothing bad happened.”

If his vision was blurry, why did Vigneault keep him in? It would’ve made sense to have backup Antti Raanta finish the period. Maybe the play with Connor Sheary setting up Hornqvist doesn’t happen. But then again, he out-hustled a lazy Dan Girardi, who stopped skating assuming it was icing. Still, you wonder if his vision led to the bad rebound which Hornqvist buried with three Rangers standing around.

Fortunately, it looks like Lundqvist should be able to play in Game 2. However, Vigneault said he was a “game-time decision.” Similar to Penguins coach Mike Sullivan, who played possum with the Rangers, who assumed Marc-Andre Fleury for the start of the series. Instead, they got third stringer Jeff Zatkoff, who had a successful playoff debut making 35 saves for his first postseason win. Fleury’s status remains the same with the goalie unclear if he’ll be ready.
As for Lundqvist, he added: “I felt pretty good. Saw a specialist. There’s no damage to the eye, it’s the swelling making it uncomfortable.”
If he can go, it would be a boost for the Rangers’ chances of gaining a split in Pittsburgh. However, Vigneault called out his top two lines. He wants more from them. Aside from Derek Stepan, who scored both their goals, there were too many passengers. Mats Zuccarello will remain with Stepan and Chris Kreider to start Game 2. Why he wasn’t with them from the start didn’t make sense. Rick Nash is reunited with J.T. Miller and Derick Brassard, who needs to be much better.
The third and fourth lines remain the same. Of the bottom six that includes deadline pick up Eric Staal and Kevin Hayes, Jesper Fast (8 hits) and Tanner Glass were the only forwards who gave maximum efforts. That’s not good enough. More is expected from their best players.
Vigneault wants to see it on the ice. The time is now.
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Vigneault non-committal to McIlrath with Girardi out for Game 2

Posted on April 15, 2016 by Derek
New York Rangers' Derek Stepan, left, is congratulated on his goal against the Columbus Blue Jackets by teammates Marc Staal, center, and Dan Girardi during the third period of an NHL hockey game Monday, April 4, 2016, in Columbus, Ohio. The Rangers beat the Blue Jackets 4-2. (AP Photo/Jay LaPrete)

With Dan Girardi out for Game 2, Alain Vigneault must decide if Dylan McIlrath will get the call against the Penguins. (AP Photo/Jay LaPrete)

As the Rangers practiced at CONSOL Energy Center, one thing is clear. Dan Girardi won’t play in Game 2 tomorrow. The struggling 31-year old defenseman is out for the all important second game with the Rangers trailing the Penguins 1-0 in the best-of-seven first round series. Coach Alain Vigneault revealed the obvious to reporters.

Of course, you can’t tell from that statement if he’s referring to Girardi’s injuries. He returned for Game 1 after missing the final two games of the regular season with an “upper body” injury sustained on a Brian Boyle shove that sent him flying into the back boards. Curiously, Vigneault used Girardi with Marc Staal on the top pair matching them up against Sidney Crosby. The end result was foul ups from both vets on Pens goals from Patric Hornqvist and Crosby. Hornqvist had his first playoff hat trick and Crosby burned the Rangers for a breakaway goal and two assists.

During practice, it was McIlrath who paired with Keith Yandle. Someone he’s familiar with from teaming up during the season. The 23-year old rookie defenseman played in 34 games posting two goals and two helpers with 64 penalty minutes, a plus-seven rating and 93 hits. He certainly has the size and strength to clear the front of the net. An area that’s been a sore spot. But Vigneault remained non-committal.

A concern is the Pens’ speed. The cohesive second scoring unit of Carl Hagelin, Nick Bonino and Phil Kessel are dangerous. The Rangers did a good job containing them on Wednesday. However, they got burned by Crosby and Hornqvist. With Evgeni Malkin practicing between afterburner Connor Sheary and Ryan Rust, Pittsburgh could be even more dangerous. Malkin also practiced on the Pens’ top power play unit.

Vigneault hinted that the Rangers could call up a defenseman from Hartford, which can only mean Raphael Diaz. Diaz, is also a right-handed D who has is a better skater than McIlrath. However, he hasn’t played a game for the big club all year. Injuries limited him to 36 games with the Wolf Pack and 21 points (6-15-21). The 30-year old vet is smaller than McIlrath, which means no physical presence. It’s why I believe they should go with McIlrath. Give him a chance. How many times do we have to see opponents left wide open for easy goals?

Ultimately, it’s the coach’s decision. The same one who thought it was a good idea to have Staal and Girardi together against a very fast opponent. Deployment has been an issue all season. With Girardi a no go Saturday, Staal is paired with Kevin Klein. Rookie Brady Skjei remains with Dan Boyle. Hopefully, it means Yandle and McIlrath stay together.

Undoubtedly, not having captain Ryan McDonagh hurts. He would match up against Crosby and could pair with Klein, leaving Staal on the second pair. Instead, players must step up. Staal needs a bounce back game. It’ll be odd to see a lineup without Girardi in a big spot. He’s been counted on for so long. Vigneault’s quote, “It’s the whole thing,” was basically an indictment. It’s the right call.

Will it lead to a victory and split with Games 3 and 4 at MSG? The Rangers will provide that answer starting at 3 PM tomorrow on NBC.

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Rangers vs Penguins: Hornqvist hat trick gives Pens 5-2 win in Game One

Posted on April 14, 2016 by Derek
Patric Hornqvist, Conor Sheary

Hornqvisted: Pens scorer Patric Hornqvist’s first career NHL playoff hat trick doomed the Rangers in a 5-2 Game One loss in Pittsburgh. AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar/Getty Images

The Penguins drew first blood. Patric Hornqvist’s first career playoff hat trick highlighted a Pens’ 5-2 win over the Rangers taking Game One. Despite getting outplayed early, Pittsburgh took advantage of awful breakdowns from the Rangers.

Much like their inconsistent season that had people concerned entering the playoffs, the Rangers made some critical mistakes in a three-goal road defeat to fall behind 1-0 in the best-of-seven first round series. Between coverage issues and undisciplined penalties, they weren’t good enough to beat a Pens team who got a big 35-save effort from third string goalie Jeff Zatkoff, who won his NHL playoff debut.

Early on, Zatkoff was the difference, fending off multiple Rangers’ chances. Indeed, they got off to a good start testing the 28-year old surprise starter several times. The Rangers were the superior team for a majority of the first period. Despite some good sustained pressure and at one point an 11-3 lead in shots, they were unable to beat Zatkoff. They either fired shots into him like Marc Staal did or had them blocked or go wide.

Coached by former John Tortorella assistant Mike Sullivan, the Pens played a combination of the 2012 Rangers’ defensive style with current coach Alain Vigneault’s offensive style emphasizing their team speed. It translated into 41 Ranger shots never making it to Zatkoff. As a team, the Pens blocked 22 shots. The Rangers only had 10. They also missed 19 more shot attempts. They out-attempted the Pens 78-56.

The trouble was they didn’t get to Zatkoff early. That’s the key whenever you face a goalie who hadn’t started since Feb. 20. In fact, it was only his Zatkoff’s sixth appearance since January. He didn’t look fazed. Even with the Rangers applying early pressure off a good fore-check, he made the saves and his teammates cleared the rebounds. When they weren’t busy collapsing around him, they didn’t allow the Rangers to get inside position. Something that must change if they’re to get a split in Game Two on Saturday.

A turning point came on their first power play. Following a couple of questionable calls on Viktor Stalberg which they killed off, they benefited from another perplexing call on Eric Fehr for a skate shower on Henrik Lundqvist. The execution on the power play was awful. They had no puck possession and turned pucks over eventually leading to a Carl Hagelin shorthanded chance with his tip of a Kris Letang pass going off Lundqvist’s stick and wide.

Following the successful kill, the Pens took over. They out-shot the Rangers 8-1 the rest of the period. Lundqvist didn’t have to make a lot of saves but got a piece of a tough Trevor Daley point chance off a smart pinch. He also kicked out a couple of other Pens’ opportunities. Unfortunately, he didn’t finish the game. In a very scary moment, Lundqvist took an accidental stick from Staal while making a stop. Clearly in pain, he was attended to by Rangers trainer Jim Ramsay. After a lengthy delay at the bench for repairs which led to ridiculous boos from a CONSOL Energy sellout crowd, he returned. His teammates forgot to.

Their lack of attention to detail proved costly when Hornqvist got the first of his three goals with 18 seconds left. It was another late goal that could’ve been prevented. Rookie Connor Sheary made the play possible with his speed firing a sharp angle shot that Lundqvist sticked out to Hornqvist as three Rangers stood around and watched. Staal didn’t take Hornqvist. It was part of a nightmarish game for the Rangers’ alternate captain, finishing minus-two in 28 shifts (20:43). He was far from the only guilty party. There were too many passengers.

Trailing by a goal after one, Lundqvist didn’t return for the second. Updating his status, Vigneault said he’s day-to-day. If it’s his eye, who knows if he is in for Game 2. The extra day of rest should help. Called into duty, backup Antti Raanta made his playoff debut. He was okay allowing three goals on 20 shots. He wasn’t the problem. It was the Rangers’ sloppiness which proved fatal.

In a similar second that was played more in their favor, the Rangers still were unable to get a puck past Zatkoff. They also had trouble getting pucks through from primary areas. Credit must be given to the Pens’ structure which was superb. They sacrificed their bodies and got in the path of Ranger shots and passes, making it difficult.

The Rangers’ best chance was on a much better power play halfway through. Despite good possession and full control against a tough Pens’ kill, they didn’t convert. Whenever the Pens’ speed came into play, they got dangerous chances forcing Raanta to make some tough stops.

Another crucial mistake cost them another goal against. Dan Girardi was victimized on Sidney Crosby’s first when he converted a breakaway on a great feed from Hornqvist. Girardi had a point shot blocked. He and partner Staal never recovered, allowing Crosby to sneak behind and break in and go top shelf on Raanta for a 2-0 Pens’ lead with 1:04 left in the period. Another back breaking late goal that has been a recurring theme all season.

In the third, the Pens tried their best to get the Rangers back in the game. A Hagelin errant stick bloodied Kevin Hayes causing a double minor. On the same play, Ian Cole was penalized for taking down Eric Staal which gave the Rangers a full two-minute two-man advantage. Thanks to some patience from a well shadowed Derick Brassard, he got the puck over to Rick Nash down low. Nash then came out and dished across for an open Derek Stepan, who buried his first of the postseason that cut it to 2-1 at 3:10 of the third.

Still on the power play due to it being the second half of Hagelin’s high-sticking double minor, they had a golden opportunity to tie the game. Instead, following a good Zatkoff save, they fell apart in epic fashion. Letang caused a turnover at the Pittsburgh blue line, leading to a two-on-one on Keith Yandle. Yandle played it poorly not taking away the pass, allowing Nick Bonino to thread the needle across for Tom Kuhnhackl’s shorthanded goal coming at 5:31. The awful conclusion to the second part of a extended power play resulted in them still down by two. What a disaster.

Still reeling, a Eric Staal goalie interference led directly to Hornqvist’s second on the power play which made it 4-1 with 11:58 left. A determined Crosby combined with Phil Kessel to set up Hornqvist in front. Crosby fired a low shot that caromed off Raanta to Kessel who was denied. But with no one able to front their man, Hornqvist pushed the puck across. It’s that kind of defense that’s resulted in such goals. Nobody ever clears the front. If only Vigneault rethinks keeping behemoth Dylan McIlrath in press row.

Trailing by three, a rush started by Dan Boyle resulted in Stepan’s second of the game. With Zuccarello moved to his line, Stepan took a Zuccarello drop and went high, short side on Zatkoff to cut the deficit to 4-2 with still 9:49 remaining. After finally doing a better job getting chances by firing 15 shots on the Pens’ netminder.

With still enough time left to cut it to a goal, Vigneault made a questionable decision. He pulled Raanta with 2:54 remaining. I didn’t like it at the time because I felt he should’ve waited longer. There was still time to try to get it to 4-3. Instead, the quick trigger backfired with Hornqvist taking a pass from Crosby for the empty netter with 2:50 left. Four seconds expired after Vigneault’s goalie pull. It was a perplexing move that I questioned. Onto Game 2.

Battle Of New York 3 Stars:

3rd Star-Derek Stepan, Rangers (2 goals-1, 2-best Ranger all night)

2nd Star-Sidney Crosby, Penguins (goal-1st of playoffs, 2 assists)

1st Star-Patric Hornqvist, Penguins (1st career playoff hat trick-1,2,3, assist)

Notes: In his first NHL postseason game, rookie Brady Skjei was a bright spot defensively. The 22-year old defenseman took 25 shifts logging 17:08 with one shot and five hits including a clean cruncher on Crosby against the glass which the Pens captain whined about. His complaint resulted in a odd Stalberg penalty for illegal check to the head that came a split second late. It was high but I’m unsure it merited a penalty. I’d prefer the refs let them play. … Each team went 1-for-5 on their power play. However, the shorthanded goal allowed to Kuhnhackle was a crusher which killed their momentum. … The Pens dressed seven defensemen including Olli Maatta, who was solid in his return taking 19 shifts (14:29) and going plus-one. Justin Schultz logged 11 shifts (5:52). … The teams held a moment of silence for former Flyers chairman and CEO Ed Snider. He passed away at the age of 83 on Monday due to bladder cancer. … Game 2 is Saturday afternoon at 3 EST on NBC.

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Rangers and Pens set for Game 1, Fleury out

Posted on April 13, 2016 by Derek
Henrik save

We Meet Again: Henrik Lundqvist and Sidney Crosby get ready to do battle for a third straight postseason starting tonight. AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar

Tonight, the battle begins. For a third consecutive year, the Rangers and Pens will meet in the postseason. Recent history is on the Rangers’ side having won the last two. What does it mean? Only the Pens have the answer on whether it’s still in the back of their minds despite taking the final three meetings of the season series.

These teams are very different from a year ago. Both have key stars out. The Pens are without Evgeni Malkin and the Rangers are minus Ryan McDonagh. Injuries have been rampant throughout the league which means banged up players participating and incomplete rosters such as the Lightning hoping others step up. That is the nature of the beast.

One player the Pens thought they were getting back was starting netminder Marc-Andre Fleury. Scratch that. He will not play in Game 1. Instead, it’ll be third stringer Jeff Zatkoff, who hasn’t started since mid-February. That definitely throws a wrinkle into things. What happens if the Pens lose? When is Fleury returning? Or are they just being extra cautious? Probably. No Fleury hurts the Pens. But the Rangers must take advantage by getting to Zatkoff. No excuse.

A player the Pens could have is defenseman Olli Maatta, who is a very underrated defensive blue liner who can skate and play a strong possession game. He is a “game-time” decision. Assuming Maatta plays, that definitely is a boost to the Pens’ blue line. Norris candidate Kris Letang is the anchor who coach Mike Sullivan will double shift whenever he can in an attempt to dictate the match-ups. Trevor Daley has been really good since coming over from Chicago for Rob Scuderi. That was a smart move by GM Jim Rutherford. Daley is a solid skater who can contribute offensively. The Pens’ final three would consist of Ben Lovejoy, Ian Cole and Justin Schultz, who they acquired from the Oilers. Brian Dumoulin is a steady presence. He played 79 games. So, maybe he starts over Cole. Derrick Pouliot remains a big part of the team’s future.

While most of the attention will be on the Pens’ top two lines featuring Sidney Crosby, Chris Kunitz, Patric Hornqvist, Phil Kessel, Nick Bonino and old friend Carl Hagelin, do not forget that their secondary scoring is improved. Matt Cullen has scored big goals and has plenty of experience. Speedsters Connor Sheary, Bryan Rust and Tom Kuhnhackl all are capable. Eric Fehr is a solid checking center who plays penalty kill and is dangerous leading them with four shorthanded goals. As a team, the Pens totaled 10 compared to the Rangers’ 3- all scored by Derek Stepan. Cullen also had three.

Special teams favor Pittsburgh in this series. Their penalty kill was the fifth best this season. The Rangers were one of the worst ranking 26th. They did show improvement near the end. But without key penalty killer and minutes leader McDonagh, it remains problematic. Especially against a Pens’ unit featuring Crosby, Letang, Kessel along with net presence Hornqvist and Kunitz. Ironically, their power play was actually worse than the Rangers finishing 16th. The Blueshirts were 14th with each rival clicking at over 18 percent.

If there’s an area the Rangers could take advantage of, it’s on their improved man-advantage. Since Keith Yandle was added to the top unit along with net presence Chris Kreider, it’s been much better. While they still have a tendency to hold onto the puck and get cute, the possession and passing of a five-man unit that features Derick Brassard, Derek Stepan, Mats Zuccarello along with Yandle and Kreider leads to good chances. They must be careful of the Pens’ aggressiveness. That means quick decisions and smart puck management.

Most of the concern is about the back end minus McDonagh. Coach Alain Vigneault plans to match Marc Staal and Dan Girardi against the Crosby line. Girardi has struggled with consistency all season, playing through injury at less than 100 percent. His skating and decision making isn’t the same. If he has issues, Vigneault and assistant coach Ulf Samuelsson must be quick to adjust. They can’t allow Girardi’s mistakes to cost them. Staal was better down the stretch resembling the shutdown defenseman he once was with increased minutes without McDonagh. He’s always been able to step up in a bigger role.

Yandle will be leaned on with Kevin Klein to defend against the dangerous Pens’ speed line of Hagelin, Bonino and Kessel. They were Pittsburgh’s best line the final month. A crazy thing to say when Crosby lit it up. I can’t understate the importance of Yandle and Klein in this series. They really must perform well. It’s imperative for the Rangers to advance.

Brady Skjei gets thrown under the spotlight on the third pair with Dan Boyle, whose play improved in the second half. Skjei will make his playoff debut at 8 PM. He says he’s ready for it. He definitely has the size and skating to perform. It will still be a lot of pressure on a 22-year old kid in his first pro year. Boyle wound up leading the Blueshirts with 10 goals from the back end. He definitely stepped up. He will battle but doesn’t always make the best decisions. If Girardi slips, I would strongly consider moving Boyle up and keeping Yandle with Klein.

Dylan McIlrath remains the odd man out. Despite his size and strength which could be helpful, Vigneault doesn’t trust him. He remains loyal to his soldiers. If Girardi really struggles, the coach might face a tough decision with the proud vet. McIlrath will clear the crease and plays with the edge the D has lacked. He better consider it if it comes down to winning or losing.

The Rangers’ strength is their improved depth up front. With the addition of Eric Staal, they now possess three lines that are capable of scoring. While Staal didn’t produce a whole lot after coming over from Carolina, there’s no doubting the chemistry he has with Kevin Hayes and Jesper Fast. They really are good below the dots on the cycle and generate quality chances. I believe they’re one of the keys to the series.

Nobody played better than Stepan down the stretch. He put up 14 points (8-6-14) in a nine-game stretch. The difference is he’s finishing. He turned around his season following a disappointing first half. Stepan is the one two-way center who makes smart plays in the neutral zone that can cause odd-man rushes. If he’s on with Kreider, who is playing his best hockey of his career, that could be huge. Maybe they can wake the beast up in Rick Nash, whose timing has been off since returning from his leg injury. Nash is always a key player. He can turn the series.

Brassard and Zuccarello are reunited with J.T. Miller, who is my x-factor. Miller plays with edge and can force turnovers with his aggressiveness. He can also make mind boggling decisions with and without the puck at inopportune moments. Let’s hop they get the J.T. who scored a career high 22 goals and tied Kreider in points (43). As for Brassard and Zuccarello, they’ll need to perform better on the road while not forgetting their defensive assignments.

A final thought. Dominic Moore always steps up in these spots. He drove Crosby crazy the last two years. I have to think Vigneault will try to get Moore out versus him for some shifts. But he must manage it and not allow Sullivan to dictate the match-ups by getting his top line against the fourth line in the Rangers’ end. Moore has good chemistry with Tanner Glass and Viktor Stalberg. They must fore-check and finish checks cleanly.

Oscar Lindberg basically is getting the McIlrath treatment from Vigneault. He’s definitely capable of jumping in and playing a possession game. But it all depends how the series goes. Side related. The Rangers recalled Marek Hrivik from Hartford following their morning game. It’s just in case Stalberg can’t go. But why would they trust him over Lindberg?

Henrik Lundqvist remains this team’s biggest edge. It’s no secret he struggled down the stretch due in large part to the decline of the defense which has included forwards forgetting their assignments. There have been too many instances where the front of the net was exposed leaving Lundqvist to fend for himself. He can’t do it alone. Yes. He’ll have to be brilliant. But if the Rangers continue to have two men go to one player and vacate the net, they’re doomed. They can’t win if that happens.

Anyway, it should be a electrifying series. I expect it to be long with lots of plot twists. It’s no secret that I don’t have as much confidence in this team. They’ve been consistently inconsistent. However, they are a proven group who knows what it takes. It will come down to execution.

Series Prediction: Pens in 7

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2016 NHL Playoffs: Predictions

Posted on April 13, 2016 by Derek

Jonathan Toews

It’s never easy to prognosticate. Especially when it comes to the best tournament in all of professional sports. Every Spring, sixteen teams play for the Stanley Cup. They will battle, do whatever it takes and sacrifice their bodies for Lord Stanley. It’s the team willing to go the extra mile and win those tenacious battles who comes out on top.

Ultimately, every player who participates in the NHL Playoffs will bleed for the cause. They are warriors who will do battle during each shift no matter the mental and physical toll. Only one team is crowned champions in mid-June when it’s over. If your team reaches the pinnacle, you have every reason to celebrate and also bring an oxygen mask and plenty of H2O because you’re gonna need it.

The playoffs are equally grueling for fans. Anxiety is through the roof. We’re all in it together. Maybe not literally. We all support different teams. In New York City, bitter rivals are the talk of the town. On one side in Manhattan, the Rangers will start in the Steel City with the Penguins. A familiar opponent they’ll have to go through a third consecutive year. In Brooklyn, the Islanders’ path begins in the Sunshine State against the Panthers. Is this the year captain John Tavares leads the once proud franchise out of the Round One? Or will ageless wonder Jaromir Jagr get the last laugh?

In the postseason, anything’s possible. The Capitals had the best regular season winning the President’s Trophy with a ridiculous 120 points. They won 56 games and only lost 18 times in regulation. The pressure is on Alexander Ovechkin to finally advance past the second round and beyond. It’s Cup or bust for these Caps led by a collection of talent including leading scorer Evgeny Kuznetsov, record-tying goalie Braden Holtby and Mr. Geico, Nicklas Backstrom. They have added proven playoff performer Justin Williams along with T.J. Oshie. Coach Barry Trotz has only reached the Conference Final once doing so with Nashville. Are the Caps ready for prime time?

The Pens are considered favorites due to the strong finish in the regular season. Sidney Crosby is back with a vengeance, leading a more balanced club that boasts more speed and tenacity. Carl Hagelin and Phil Kessel have been tormentors and Kris Letang has dominated games. They won 14 of 16 down the stretch without Evgeni Malkin, who still isn’t ready. What happens when he is? How will Mike Sullivan play it? Marc-Andre Fleury could be back for Game 1 against the Rangers. Is he still mad at Henrik Lundqvist? Is he 100 percent?

The Rangers have their work cut out. Lundqvist has faced more shots on average (29.9) and higher danger chances than at any other point of his career. At times, he’s broken down while during others, the King has flashed the leather that’s made him one of the league’s premier netminders. Is he ready to carry a flawed team to another run? He’ll need plenty of help. It could be the guys up front who play a bigger role. Eric Staal returns to the postseason for the first time since ’09. Playing alongside brother Marc Staal, he should have plenty of motivation. Younger brother Marc must shoulder the burden until Ryan McDonagh can return. Keith Yandle will never be more vital. He can earn a new contract with a money performance.

These are just some of the story lines of what should be another unpredictable postseason. For some, the journey starts Wednesday night. Three series get underway much later. At 7 EST, the Red Wings face the battered Lightning in a first round rematch. What can Tampa bring minus Steven Stamkos, Ben Bishop, Anton Stralman and possibly Tyler Johnson? Victor Hedman and Ryan Callahan are also question marks. The Red Wings have gone from Petr Mrazek to Jimmy Howard but that’s not the story. Pavel Datsyuk might be playing his final hockey in the NHL. He wants to go home to be with his teenage daughter in Russia. What a loss it would be for the league. He’s only been one of the most amazing, intelligent, two-way puck wizards who has been a joy to watch. Here’s hoping he gives us one last moment to remember him by.

In a odd year, there are no Canadian teams in this year’s tournament. That’s right. For the first time since 1970, not one Canadian team made the 16-team field. Montreal had a down year with MVP Carey Price going down. In a rebuilding year, Toronto finished last overall and will compete with Edmonton for the Auston Matthews lottery. Calgary and Vancouver went from playoff teams to incomplete. Winnipeg suffered the same fate but never stopped competing. Ottawa also took a couple of steps back which caused fiery owner Eugene Melnyk to fire another coach. So, Dave Cameron is out after getting them in last year. Bryan Murray retired. It’ll be very odd without one Canadian participant. It’s not positive for the game.

While the Caps and Pens are overwhelming favorites to come out of the East, there are at least five teams who can win the West. They include preseason Stanley Cup pick Anaheim along with Pacific rival Los Angeles. Assuming the Kings beat the Sharks and the Ducks handle the Wild, they would have to go through each other just to make the Conference Final.

The Stars are back in the postseason finishing with the most points (109) in the West to gain home ice. They’re still without Tyler Seguin but are led by Hart candidate Jamie Benn, Jason Spezza, former Hawk Patrick Sharp and rover John Klingberg. Can vet coach Lindy Ruff balance out goalies Antti Niemi and Kari Lehtonen to full effect? Dallas hit a slump but recovered nicely. They also didn’t lose to defending champion Chicago. A potential road block in the second round.

The Hawks boast Art Ross winner Patrick Kane, whose 46 goals and 60 assists for 106 points led the league. Kane and Calder favorite Artemi Panarin have formed a potent line with Artem Anisimov. Jonathan Toews gets to work with old pal Andrew Ladd and Marian Hossa. Duncan Keith will serve the final game of a suspension but be back for the rest of what should be a very competitive series against the Blues. Chicago boasts money performer Brent Seabrook but the holes in the blue line along with Corey Crawford a question mark could hurt their chances.

Is this the year St. Louis overcomes their kryptonite? Vladimir Tarasenko leads a deep roster featuring Alex Steen, David Backes, Paul Stastny, Troy Brouwer, Kevin Shattenkirk and Alex Pietrangelo. There’s a lot to like with newcomers Robby Fabri and Colton Parayko. Brian Elliott is the starter this time over Jake Allen. They both are capable but must deliver for vet coach Ken Hitchcock. Game 1 is tonight at 9:30 PM.

All three Central teams could come out and draw either Californian teams. That’s if Joe Thornton, Joe Pavelski, Logan Couture, Patrick Marleau and Brent Burns don’t get revenge on the talented guys from Hollywood. Of all the first round match-ups, the best one is Sharks versus Kings. We all know what happened two years ago. San Jose dominated by winning the first three but then LA reeled off four in a row to stun the Sharks. They would be true survivors coming back to stun the Ducks and then doing the same to the Hawks before becoming overtime Kings against the Rangers for their second crown. With proven performers Anze Kopitar, Drew Doughty, Marian Gaborik, Jeff Carter, Jake Muzzin, Milan Lucic, Dustin Brown and Tyler Toffoli, they are loaded. There’s also the cool Vincent Lecavalier story with the vet trying to write a Hollywood script.

Jonathan Quick is also the league’s best postseason goalie. He had a big regular season too winning 40 games while somehow flying under the radar for the Vezina. An award that should be Holtby’s due to tying Martin Brodeur’s single season record with 48 wins. San Jose coach Pete DeBoer says it’ll be Martin Jones to start. Wouldn’t it be fitting if an ex-King helped the Sharks finally overcome their most hated rival? James Reimer is in reserve. The Battle of California should be intense.

Honestly, I don’t see either the Wild or Predators having much of a chance. That said, the Wild are proven with Zach Parise, Mikko Koivu, Jason Pominville and Ryan Suter. But they’ll need big performances from Thomas Vanek, Mikael Granlund, Nino Niederreiter and Devan Dubnyk to have a chance against Dallas. The Preds face the Ducks, who have been a different team since January. They score a lot more goals thanks to a big second half from Ryan Kesler, who just might carry them very far. Corey Perry and Ryan Getzlaf are always factors. But it’s key additions such as Jamie McGinn and David Perron who have made Bruce Boudreau’s club more complete. Keep an eye on Richard Rackell. Sami Vatanen and Hampus Lindholm anchor the D which includes Cam Fowler. Which goalie do they go with? John Gibson or Frederik Andersen. Gibson is the guy I’d roll with.

Are you ready?

2016 NHL PLAYOFF PREDICTIONS

EASTERN CONFERENCE

Round 1

(M1) Capitals over (WC2) Flyers in 6

Analysis: The Flyers made it thanks to Steve Mason and clutch performances from Claude Giroux, Wayne Simmonds and Shayne Gostisbehere. They’ll test the Caps but don’t have enough. A commendable job by Dave Hakstol. Imagine if they pull the upset. God bless Ed Snider.

(M2) Penguins over (M3) Rangers in 7

Analysis: This one should be very close. The Rangers need money performances from Lundqvist, Brassard, Zuccarello, Stepan, Kreider, the Staal brothers and Yandle. The Pens’ speed could be too much along with special teams. Hagelin gets the winner in a cruel twist of fate.

(A1) Panthers over (WC1) Islanders in 7

Analysis: In the match-up they wanted, the Islanders will need to be at their best to deal with the Panthers’ speed. Barkov, Huberdeau, Trocheck (injured), Smith and Jokinen are all very fast and skilled around the net. Jagr controls it. Ekblad is probably the best defenseman on either team. But the Isles are banking on a healthy Hamonic to neutralize the Cats. Luongo is more proven than Greiss. He also is a former Islander.

(A3) Red Wings over (A2) Lightning in 6

Analysis: Originally, I had the Bolts but all the injuries could be too much to overcome. Especially if it’s Vasilevskiy in net if Bishop is out. I like Tampa’s style better and coaching. But wonder what they have left. Datsyuk and Zetterberg might have one more good series in them. It’ll be close.

Round 2

Pens over Caps in 7

Analysis: If they are healthier by this point, that means Fleury and Malkin are factors. The Caps have more depth. My heart says Washington but my head says Pittsburgh.

Panthers over Wings in 5

Analysis: I just don’t see Detroit matching up here. Florida has the better scorers, system and goalie even though Luongo can be had.

Conference Final

Pens over Panthers in 6

Analysis: Jagr against his first team where he won back-to-back Cups with Lemieux. And it would be a really good series full of skating, scoring and fore-checking. No boring hockey. I just like the chemistry of the Pens better.

WESTERN CONFERENCE

Round 1

(C1) Stars over (WC2) Wild in 5

Analysis: Too much talent. The Stars should dominate possession, shots attempted and scoring chances. Unless they get dragged down by a slower Wild tempo, I can’t see it.

(C2) Blues over (C3) Blackhawks in 7

Analysis: A match-up so delicious, it brings back memories of the old Norris. At some point, the Blues have to figure it out. I like their D better and believe they have enough scoring and grit to finally take down the Hawks in a long series.

(P1) Ducks over (WC2) Predators in 4

Analysis: I’m trying to convince myself this isn’t a total mismatch. But it sure seems like it. Even with the Preds’ scoring up due to Johansen, Forsberg and Neal, the Ducks play a grinding style that wears opponents down. They are tenacious. Nashville would need Rinne to stand on his head and for Weber and Josi to have unbelievable series.

(P3) Sharks over (P2) Kings in 7

Analysis: Why am I doing this? I swore I wouldn’t. The Kings are deeper and more battle tested. But there’s something about this year’s Sharks that makes me believe they can win this time. Thornton is playing amazing. So is Pavelski. Burns is the true caveman. They will need clutch saves from Jones or Reimer if he gets in. Marleau’s final go round in teal? I really am an idiot.

Round 2

Stars over Blues in 6

Analysis: I was tempted to go with St. Louis. But just feel some how, some way, the Stars finally get it done and are back playing in a Conference Final led by the best captain. Benn is the West’s best player. Not Kane. Not Toews. Not even Kopitar.

Ducks over Sharks in 6

Analysis: I would love nothing better than seeing the Sharks beat both Californian rivals. I just can’t see it. The Ducks’ style is such that anyone can score the goals. Their goaltending is too good.

Conference Final

Ducks over Stars in 6

Analysis: What it comes down to is I believe the Ducks are the deepest team out West. This group is ready to win now. If they don’t, just can Boudreau and trade Getzlaf. Joking.

Stanley Cup Final

Ducks over Pens in 5

Analysis: It’s my belief that if it’s anyone aside from the Caps, the East is going to get smoked. No disrespect to the Pens. They just don’t match up. If they do make it, that would be a great run under Sullivan. Shows that sometimes, changing coaches can work. But also, don’t forget the Ducks didn’t fire Boudreau when things were bad. Sometimes, the best moves are the ones you don’t make.

Conn Smythe Winner-Ryan Kesler

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2016 NHL Playoffs: Taking one for the team

Posted on April 13, 2016 by Derek
New York Puck blogger shows off his clean shave in preparation for one of hockey's biggest traditions, the playoff beard. He's ready. Are the Rangers?

New York Puck blogger shows off his clean shave in preparation for one of hockey’s biggest traditions, the playoff beard. He’s ready. Are the Rangers?

When the NHL Playoffs begin on Wednesday, a playoff tradition continues. It only applies to men who root for their beloved teams. During the postseason, we each take one for the team by growing a playoff beard. Something we do just as the players we cheer for will until there is no more hockey.

I’ve never been big on playoff beards. However, every year the Rangers participate, I wind up taking part. However, I normally will shave after each round. This year, I’ve decided to scrap that. Having shaved off my current beard, I am ready to go. I’m in this as long as it takes.

The past two years have been fun and exciting as well as anxiety driven and nerve racking. That’s playoff hockey in a nutshell. This time, I don’t know what to expect. The Rangers aren’t exactly playoff favorites. They did themselves no favors by winning the final game against the Red Wings to draw the trademark rival Penguins. A third straight year the two old Patrick rivals will meet. Can the Rangers make it a hat trick against the hated Pens? It won’t be easy.

I am going in positive. Sure. It’s easy to be negative considering the up and down nature of this team. However, don’t forget how much experience the beloved Blueshirts have. Led by Henrik Lundqvist, anything is possible. With plenty of high character players featuring Mats “Zuke” Zuccarello, Derick Brassard, Derek Stepan, Chris Kreider, Rick Nash, J.T. Miller, Kevin Hayes, Jesper Fast, Eric Staal, Marc Staal, Dan Girardi, Keith Yandle, Kevin Klein, Dan Boyle, Dominic Moore, Tanner Glass, Viktor Stalberg and young pup Brady Skjei, there is enough talent and skill to prevail.

It will take a yeoman effort from all 18 skaters and the goalie to defeat a hot Pens club that won 14 of its final 16 to earn home ice. Led by Sidney Crosby, the Pens are a much different team than last Spring. The acquisition of old friend Carl Hagelin has made them a much faster and more difficult fore-checking opponent. Hags has formed great chemistry with Phil Kessel and Nick Bonino. They must be controlled. As for Crosby, he’s back at the pinnacle concluding the season sizzling to finish third in league scoring. He and familiar line mate Chris Kunitz will team with the annoying Patric Hornqvist in an attempt to drive Lundqvist nuts. Please no tantrums like the one during the season.

If I see Matt Cullen score goals, I’m gonna lose my mind. He already got us. It would’ve been nice if he could’ve performed better here. But most players who come here don’t. Look at Nash. He better find the back of the net. If the Rangers plan to advance, they must control Kris Letang. He does everything for Pittsburgh. Mike Sullivan plays him almost every other shift. He doesn’t have much else. Though it looks like Olli Maatta could be back. The Rangers must make Letang work in his end. That means getting pucks deep and cycling and finishing checks. It also means keying on him when the Pens are attacking. Don’t give him any room.

Marc-Andre Fleury returned for practice. With Matt Murray stricken by a concussion, maybe Fleury is ready for Game 1. If not, then Jeff Zatkoff gets the start. For the Pens and Rangers, they have two days off between Games 1 and 2 along with 2 and 3. That time off will allow banged up players to recover. Team captain Ryan McDonagh isn’t expected to be in at the start but hasn’t been ruled out for the series. With a broken right hand, the time table of recovery is anyone’s guess. These guys will play through almost anything. It’s the playoffs. Nobody is 100 percent at this time of year.

So, what do I expect? The unexpected. If that means a Glass goal or a key moment for Skjei, I’ll take it. As for my face, the 4 o’clock shadow will be here before you know it. The nature of the playoff beard. Take one for the team. Let’s Go Rangers!

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Rangers prepare for rematch with Penguins

Posted on April 11, 2016 by Derek

To the surprise of no one, the Rangers will be taking on the Penguins in a first round rematch. Once the Islanders sat half their lineup and removed Thomas Greiss after the first, it was obvious th…

Source: Rangers prepare for rematch with Penguins

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