Stanley Cup Playoffs: Round 1

Photo by Julio Cortez from the Associated Press

The Stanley Cup Playoffs rule every year, and there was no better example of that then the two incredible games to finish out round 1.

Now, 8 remain, and truly anyone can win it all.

Capitals defeat Canadiens 4-1

This series came down to what happened in game 3.

Canadiens goalie Sam Montembeault left the game with an injury early on.

A little later, Capitals goalie Logan Thompson left with an injury as well.

The Habs won the game, but when game 4 came around, Thompson was back. Montembeault was not.

Thompson is second in the playoffs currently in goals saved over expected, so his return and Montembeault’s absence made a difficult series for Montreal to win borderline impossible.

That’s the unfortunate nature of professional sports.

Sometimes, it just takes one injury to derail it all.

Hurricanes defeat Devils 4-1

Credit to the Devils, who fought very hard in a series I thought they had no chance of winning due to just how injured they were before the playoffs, let alone the injuries they sustained during it.

This was not an easy 4-1 series win for the Canes, who also lost their goaltender Frederik Andersen to injury in game 5.

He should be back to face Washington, but it’s a potential looming cloud.

Maple Leafs defeat Senators 4-2

This felt like typical Toronto.

A 3-0 series lead over the Sens, including two overtime wins. They had a chance to put it away in overtime of game 4, but lost.

Then, with a chance to shut out the series at home, they got shut out.

I would not at all have been stunned if Ottawa came all the way back.

But the Leafs top players stepped up, with Marner, Matthews, and Nylander having a big game 6 to clinch the series and once again win the Battle of Ontario.

Panthers defeat Lightning 4-1

This was a demolition.

Matthew Tkachuk returned for the Panthers, and the result was the same dominant team throughout the East the past two years was back.

The Lightning felt outmatched from the start, and never had an answer back for their in-state rivals.

The Panthers certainly feel like the favorite after round 1.

Jets defeat Blues 4-3

The Jets were missing their best player for two games. They were missing their best defenseman for basically all of game 7. Their goaltender, the best in the league, was playing so poorly I thought they should pull him halfway through the first period of game 7.

They were also losing 3-1 with two minutes left.

And despite that, miraculously, they tied the game with 1.6 seconds left before going on to win in double overtime.

The Jets avoided a complete disaster, but now they can start fresh in round 2 against Dallas.

Nobody needs that more than Hellebuyck, who had a -10.1 goals saved above average in round 1.

That is significantly worse than Stuart Skinner in Edmonton who got full on benched after three games.

Hellebuyck was good after the second goal in game 7 on, but he has to keep it that way.

Stars defeat Avalanche 4-3

Much like the Jets, the Stars were missing their best player and best defenseman, except this time for the whole series.

They needed the other stars (no pun intended) to step up, and step up they did.

Jake Oettinger was his typical playoff self in goal, and then there’s Mikko Rantanen.

The former Colorado Avalanche player, who crucially did not want to leave Colorado but was traded away anyway mid season this year, ended up with 12 points in the opening series which is tied for the league lead.

11 of those 12 points came in games 5 through 7.

The Avs wanted to save money, and they did.

But they sure paid the price for it.

Golden Knights defeat Wild 4-2

This was a winnable series for the Wild, but, in typical Minnesota Wild fashion, it got away from them.

They lost game 4 in OT with a chance to go up 3-1 in the series.

They scored the winner with a minute left in game 5, only to have it called back for Gustav Nyquist not being able to hold the line and keep the play onside. They lost in overtime.

After a one goal loss in game 6, the series was done.

You have to wonder when the Wild will ever get it all put together and get out of the first round.

Oilers defeat Kings 4-2

This is the 4th straight year the Oilers faced the Kings in the playoffs, and it’s the 4th straight year the Oilers came out on top.

But this time, the Oilers were facing a quick exit and another wasted McDavid and Draisaitl year.

Oilers coach Kris Knoblauch deserves massive credit for not being drawn to what Skinner did last year or this season, and making the switch to Calvin Pickard in net.

Pickard’s performance was crucial for the Oilers to win the series, and he wasn’t even that good.

He just wasn’t awful.

And with a team and roster like the Oilers have, that’s frankly all they need.