Stanley Cup Playoff Takeaways: Round 2
Photo by David Zalubowski from the Associated Press
Whoever wins the Stanley Cup this year will have been waiting at least 25 years since their last, if they’ve ever won one at all.
That’s always nice.
Here’s what we learned from Round 2 of the playoffs.
Rangers defeat Hurricanes 4-2
New York Rangers
I needed to see the Rangers win a game without Igor Shesterkin playing out of his mind.
And in game six, with the Rangers down 3-1 in the third and on the verge of blowing a 3-0 lead, Chris Kreider and the Rangers offense took over, leading to a victory in the game and the series.
Shesterkin won’t be perfect every single night, and the Rangers need to be prepared for that.
It sure looks like they are.
Carolina Hurricanes
Something has to change in Carolina.
The talent is there. The skill is there. Rob Brind’Amour is an excellent coach.
But the goaltending situation is a mess, and the powerplay was an absolute disaster.
This should be an interesting offseason.
Panthers defeat Bruins 4-2
Florida Panthers
Florida, so far, seems very well rounded.
They fall behind? They’ll come back.
The goaltending isn’t the best in the playoffs, but it’s more than serviceable with the talent they have.
Paul Maurice is showing that he’s an excellent coach.
They’ve got everything they need to win it all.
And yet, I’m still not sure they’ll get past New York.
I guess we’ll see!
Boston Bruins
You can only rely on Jeremy Swayman so much.
Swayman was phenomenal this postseason run, but Pastrnak dried up in the second round, and Brad Marchand missing games didn’t help a lethargic Bruins offense in this series.
The window still isn’t shut for Boston, but it’s closing ever so slightly.
Stars defeat Avalanche 4-2
Dallas Stars
The Stars have, for the most part, handled their business against the last two Stanley Cup Champions, and they’ve done it without contributions from some of their bigger names.
But that’s why they’re the perfect balance between young and old.
Wyatt Johnston and Jake Oettinger were excellent against the Avs, and helped carry the team.
But, the Stars need more, and quick.
Colorado Avalanche
Injuries and goaltending.
It hurt the Avs last year, and it hurt them this year.
And tomorrow, captain Gabriel Landeskog will speak to reporters at 9:30 A.M. mountain time.
It may be the end of an excellent career, and a new era for Colorado.
Maybe, with a new goaltender.
Boston surely doesn’t need BOTH of theirs.
Oilers defeat Canucks 4-3
Edmonton Oilers
Connor McDavid is, obviously, still playing excellent in this postseason, but he hasn’t scored many goals.
But Zach Hyman and Evan Bouchard have more than picked up that slack, not to mention Bouchard, McDavid and Leon Draisaitl all have over 20 points so far this postseason.
The problem, as always is goaltending.
But if the Stars play like the Canucks, that may not matter!
Vancouver Canucks
Shoot. The. Puck.
The Canucks in games six and seven were severely outshot, despite goaltender Stuart Skinner not exactly looking like prime Patrick Roy.
And then, down 3-0 in the seventh game, they finally started to shoot.
Lo and behold, they scored twice! But it was just too late.
They needed to be more aggressive, and they needed more down the stretch from Elias Petterson.
Now, they’re headed home.
