16 Thoughts, Playoff Edition
Mar 11, 2019 13:37:31 GMT
Garrett - St. Louis, Chris - Montreal, and 2 more like this
Post by Deleted on Mar 11, 2019 13:37:31 GMT
DHL 16 Thoughts, Playoff Edition
Kudos to the eight playoff combatants. What a final week! The Pacific race became a farce, the Sabres did enough to sneak in, and the Sens and Blues absolutely crushed it heading into the first round. Here are the first-round matchups, and our predictions (all you brave managers can make your predictions below):
1. Montreal vs 8. Buffalo
Season series: Montreal won week five 9-4, Montreal won week eleven 13-1, Buffalo won week sixteen 7-6.
That week sixteen win is ringing loud in Montreal this week. This was probably the worst possible first round matchup for the Canadiens – the only bubble team that has handed Montreal a loss this season. And the scary part about that week 16 Sabres victory is that the numbers were even across the board. It was not based on flukey goaltending or some unreasonable outcomes – it was a legitimate, multicategory win.
Still, Montreal is the President’s Trophy winner for a reason. With a solid lineup and great goaltending, the Canadiens will be the favourite in every matchup they play. The odds are not in Buffalo’s favour, but this is a matchup where an upset is possible.
Prediction: Montreal 9 - Buffalo 4
2. Minnesota vs 7. St. Louis
Season series: Minnesota won week six 7-5, Minnesota won week eleven 11-2, St. Louis won week 16 9-4
Another juicy matchup. You can bet Minnesota has not forgotten the week 16 loss it suffered at the hands of the Blues. That was the Wild’s only loss of the season, and broke some ridiculous winning streak. Since the loss, Minnesota has steamrolled everyone (except Winnipeg), looking dominant again. But St. Louis exploited the Wild’s achilles heel – goaltending – in week 16 and if they can do it again, this could be a lot closer than most #2 v #7 have any right to be.
The only wildcard here is St. Louis' manager Garrett sitting on a beach without wifi all week, making in-match adjustments impossible.
Prediction: Minnesota 8 - St. Louis 6
3. New York Rangers v 6. Ottawa Senators
Season series: New York won week two 8-5
The only matchup between these two happened so long ago to be virtually worthless as an indicator. These are two similar teams – both franchises that have sacrificed future to get into the playoffs; both franchises that will be devastated with a first round loss after trading so many prospects and picks over the years.
Besides losses to the Wild and Canadiens recently, the Rangers have been very consistent throughout the season and especially during the second half. The team is balanced, and if Andersen and Griess play okay, has decent goaltending. The Senators, on the other hand, had a rollercoaster ride through the second half of the season but turned things around in the last three weeks, beating two playoff teams in convincing fashion.
This is a coin-flip matchup.
Prediction: New York 7 - Ottawa 6
4. Calgary Flames v 5. Dallas Stars
Season series: Dallas won week eight 8-5
Calgary snuck into the playoffs with a one-point division title, despite losing 12-3 in week 21 and losing six of its last seven matchups. Dallas has been one of the top teams all season, although has lagged a bit over the past few months. On paper, this is the most lopsided of all the first round matchups. There should be no doubt that the Stars will move on. But Calgary has flipped the script before, going from an eight seed to win it all just two short seasons ago. That history is about all the Flames can hang onto right now.
Prediction: Dallas 9 - Calgary 3
Kudos to the eight playoff combatants. What a final week! The Pacific race became a farce, the Sabres did enough to sneak in, and the Sens and Blues absolutely crushed it heading into the first round. Here are the first-round matchups, and our predictions (all you brave managers can make your predictions below):
1. Montreal vs 8. Buffalo
Season series: Montreal won week five 9-4, Montreal won week eleven 13-1, Buffalo won week sixteen 7-6.
That week sixteen win is ringing loud in Montreal this week. This was probably the worst possible first round matchup for the Canadiens – the only bubble team that has handed Montreal a loss this season. And the scary part about that week 16 Sabres victory is that the numbers were even across the board. It was not based on flukey goaltending or some unreasonable outcomes – it was a legitimate, multicategory win.
Still, Montreal is the President’s Trophy winner for a reason. With a solid lineup and great goaltending, the Canadiens will be the favourite in every matchup they play. The odds are not in Buffalo’s favour, but this is a matchup where an upset is possible.
Prediction: Montreal 9 - Buffalo 4
2. Minnesota vs 7. St. Louis
Season series: Minnesota won week six 7-5, Minnesota won week eleven 11-2, St. Louis won week 16 9-4
Another juicy matchup. You can bet Minnesota has not forgotten the week 16 loss it suffered at the hands of the Blues. That was the Wild’s only loss of the season, and broke some ridiculous winning streak. Since the loss, Minnesota has steamrolled everyone (except Winnipeg), looking dominant again. But St. Louis exploited the Wild’s achilles heel – goaltending – in week 16 and if they can do it again, this could be a lot closer than most #2 v #7 have any right to be.
The only wildcard here is St. Louis' manager Garrett sitting on a beach without wifi all week, making in-match adjustments impossible.
Prediction: Minnesota 8 - St. Louis 6
3. New York Rangers v 6. Ottawa Senators
Season series: New York won week two 8-5
The only matchup between these two happened so long ago to be virtually worthless as an indicator. These are two similar teams – both franchises that have sacrificed future to get into the playoffs; both franchises that will be devastated with a first round loss after trading so many prospects and picks over the years.
Besides losses to the Wild and Canadiens recently, the Rangers have been very consistent throughout the season and especially during the second half. The team is balanced, and if Andersen and Griess play okay, has decent goaltending. The Senators, on the other hand, had a rollercoaster ride through the second half of the season but turned things around in the last three weeks, beating two playoff teams in convincing fashion.
This is a coin-flip matchup.
Prediction: New York 7 - Ottawa 6
4. Calgary Flames v 5. Dallas Stars
Season series: Dallas won week eight 8-5
Calgary snuck into the playoffs with a one-point division title, despite losing 12-3 in week 21 and losing six of its last seven matchups. Dallas has been one of the top teams all season, although has lagged a bit over the past few months. On paper, this is the most lopsided of all the first round matchups. There should be no doubt that the Stars will move on. But Calgary has flipped the script before, going from an eight seed to win it all just two short seasons ago. That history is about all the Flames can hang onto right now.
Prediction: Dallas 9 - Calgary 3