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Time of India
29-05-2025
- Sport
- Time of India
Hockey legends who gave historic performances at NHL conference finals
NHL (via Getty Images) The NHL conference finals have seen hockey's most iconic moments, including notable players such as Jari Kurri and Wayne Gretzky and dynasties such as the Pittsburgh Penguins and the Edmonton Oilers. Since its beginning in the 1981-82 season as a conference finals format and later as the Eastern and Western Conferences, this round of the playoffs has provided classic performances, statistical achievements, and historic showdowns. Traditional NHL conference finals moments and marks 2025 NHL Conference Finals - Game 5: Florida Panthers vs. Carolina Hurricanes The NHL conference finals have witnessed some of the best players and team performances in the annals of the sport. Wayne Gretzky, popularly referred to as 'The Great One', leads the way with the most assists (14) and points (18) in a single conference finals series—both of which were accomplished in 1985 in their series against the Chicago Blackhawks. The same set witnessed Jari Kurri collect a record 12 goals, the most by any player in a playoff set until now. Another standout was Paul Coffey, who not only recorded the most points (six) in one conference finals game but also holds the shared assist record in a game together with Glenn Anderson and Montreal Canadiens icon Toe Blake, with five assists. Edmonton Oilers, Florida Panthers top recent conference finals achievements This past year, the Florida Panthers swept the Eastern Conference Finals and made it to the Stanley Cup Final for three straight years from 2023 to 2025. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Switch to UnionBank Rewards Card UnionBank Credit Card Apply Now Undo With a gritty core at the helm, the Panthers swept twice against the Carolina Hurricanes and swept once against the New York Rangers and emerged as one of the most frequent playoff hopefuls of the 2020s. A legacy of excellence based on high-stakes performances From Michael Leighton's three shutouts in 2010 with the Philadelphia Flyers to the Los Angeles Kings' 2014 record-breaking run, there is a treasure in every NHL era of historic conference final runs. The New Jersey Devils, Boston Bruins, and Chicago Blackhawks are other teams that have felt their share of this round as well, adding to the playoff lore of elegance. Whether a blowout, such as the Edmonton Oilers' 11-goal game in 1985, or a closely fought seven-game war, such as the 1994 war of the New York Rangers against the New Jersey Devils, the conference finals are the center of NHL playoff suspense. Also read: Carolina Hurricanes set unwanted NHL record with 15 straight Eastern Conference Finals losses The NHL conference finals are just a prelude to the Stanley Cup—these are trial grounds for dynasties and legends. It was either Wayne Gretzky's mystic tears with the Edmonton Oilers or the Florida Panthers' contemporary rebirth, but the round always introduced hockey in its best form. While teams fight for a berth in the Stanley Cup Final, history continues to be written on this storied ground. Get IPL 2025 match schedules , squads , points table , and live scores for CSK , MI , RCB , KKR , SRH , LSG , DC , GT , PBKS , and RR . Check the latest IPL Orange Cap and Purple Cap standings.
Boston Globe
05-05-2025
- Sport
- Boston Globe
Remembering memorable Boston-New York playoff battles
Ahead of Monday's Game 1, let's look at some of the most memorable playoff battles between Boston and New York across the four major professional sports leagues over the years. 1972 Stanley Cup Finals Before the advent of the Eastern and Western Conferences, the Bruins and Rangers met in the Stanley Cup Finals twice. The 1972 matchup was the final time the two Original Six franchises met to play for Lord Stanley, with the Bruins winning in six games thanks to their dramatic wins in Games 1 and 4. In the clinching Game 6 win, Bobby Orr scored the first goal while Gary Cheevers blanked the Rangers for a 3-0 victory. Get Starting Point A guide through the most important stories of the morning, delivered Monday through Friday. Enter Email Sign Up Bobby Orr and Jean Ratelle got to hold the Stanley Cup before the 1972 matchup between the Bruins and Rangers. ASSOCIATED PRESS/Associated Press Advertisement 1973 and 1974 NBA Eastern Conference finals The Celtics and Knicks battled it out for the Eastern Conference crown in back-to-back seasons in the early-to-mid 1970s. In 1973, New York took a 3-1 series lead before Boston won two straight games to force a Game 7 at Boston Garden. But the Knicks picked up a decisive 94-78 win, handing the Celtics their first ever Game 7 loss. A year later, the Celtics got their revenge by finishing the Knicks in five games. John Havlicek put up 30-plus point performances in the final two games of the series, helping Boston advance to the NBA Finals. Advertisement 1984 NBA Eastern Conference semifinals Thanks to Bernard King, the Knicks pushed the Celtics' and Larry Bird to seven games in 1984. King scored 44 points in Game 6, outdueling Larry Legend's 35-point performance to force a Game 7. But, Bird showed up in the series' deciding game, putting up a 39-point triple-double to help the Celtics win, 121-104, en route to their second title of the Bird era. 1986 World Series Of course, the Fall Classic between the Red Sox and Mets is remembered for what happened in Game 6. After taking a 5-3 lead in the top of the 10th inning, Boston was an out away from winning its first World Series title in 68 years. But, New York recorded three straight hits before Bob Stanley threw a wild pitch that allowed the Mets to tie the game at five. In the same at-bat that he saw the wild pitch, Mookie Wilson hit a groundball to first that between the legs of Bill Buckner and allowed Ray Knight to score from second base to win the game. The New York Mets won Game 6 of the 1986 World Series when Bill Buckner was unable to field a grounder. STAN GROSSFELD In Game 7, the Red Sox took a 3-0 lead in the second inning before the Mets evened the score in he sixth. Knight's homer in the seventh helped the Mets take a 6-3 lead in the seventh as they added a couple more runs in the eighth to hold off the Red Sox' rally and win Game 7, 8-5. 1999 ALCS The first Red Sox-Yankees postseason battle didn't feature the dramatics of their other playoff matchups. As New York was in the midst of its dynasty run (four World Series wins in five years), the Yankees were able to take down the Red Sox in five games. Advertisement Game 3, though, featured a pitching duel between two of the generation's top aces, with Roger Clemens taking the bump for the Yankees and Pedro Martinez on the mound for the Red Sox. Martinez pitched seven scoreless innings, striking out 12 hitters. Clemens's first postseason start at Fenway since leaving the Red Sox, meanwhile, went south pretty quickly. He only pitched two-plus innings, getting pulled in the third as he allowed five runs. As the Red Sox won Game 3 13-1, the Fenway Faithful began a chant of 'Where is Roger?' that was followed by 'In the shower.' Red Sox fans heckled Roger Clemens as he departed Game 3 of the 1999 ALCS early, but the Yankees got the last laugh. Globe Staff Photo 2003 ALCS Four years after their first playoff battle, the Red Sox and Yankees met again for the AL pennant in 2003. This time, there was plenty of drama. With the series tied 1-1 in Game 3, Martinez and Clemens went head-to-head in another highly anticipated matchup at Fenway. The rivalry heated up when Martinez plunked Karim Garcia with a pitch, with words being exchanged between the two while Martinez also stared down Yankees catcher Jorge Posada. In the next inning, Manny Ramirez thought Clemens tried to hit him with a pitch high and inside, strolling toward the mound. As the benches cleared, Yankees bench coach Don Zimmer made his way over to Martinez, who tossed the 72-year-old to the ground. The Yankees went on to win Game 3, but the Red Sox were able to even the series in Game 6 to force a Game 7. It appeared that the Red Sox were set to go back to the World Series for the first time in 17 years, taking a 5-2 lead into the bottom of the eighth inning as they chased Clemens out of the game early on. Advertisement Martinez remained on the mound, giving up a string of hits as his pitch total went over 100, allowing the Yankees to tie the game. A few innings after Grady Little's controversial decision to leave Martinez on the mound, Aaron Boone hit a walk-off home run off Tim Wakefield in the 11th to send the Yankees to the World Series. 2004 ALCS Somehow, the ALCS sequel between the Red Sox and Yankees outdid the original. You likely know the story by now, but in case you forgot, New York took a 3-0 series lead after its 19-8 win in Game 3. Trailing 4-3 in Game 4, Kevin Millar drew a four-pitch walk from Mariano Rivera. Dave Roberts pinch ran for him, stealing second before scoring on Bill Mueller's base hit to tie the game. David Ortiz hit a walk-off home run in the 12th to keep the Red Sox' hopes alive. Ortiz played hero again in Game 5, hitting a home run in the eighth that cut the Yankees' lead to 4-3 before hitting a walk-off single in the 14th in a marathon of a game. Game 6 featured Mark Bellhorn's three-run homer and Alex Rodriguez's glove slap of Bronson Arroyo, with Boston winning that one, 4-2. Game 7 wasn't anywhere near as dramatic, with Ortiz and Johnny Damon hitting home runs in the early innings that gave the Red Sox an 8-1 lead before winning, 10-3. The Red Sox became the first team in MLB history to comeback from a 3-0 deficit and win a series when they defeated the Yankees in the 2004 ALCS. Davis, Jim Globe Staff Super Bowl XLII After the Red Sox delivered the Yankees arguably the most painful loss in postseason history, the Giants gave the Patriots a similar defeat a few years later. On the precipice of history, New England was only 2:45 away from becoming the first team in NFL history to go 19-0 after Tom Brady threw a touchdown pass to Randy Moss that gave the Patriots a 14-10 lead in Super Bowl XLII. Advertisement It appeared that the Patriots' defense had one more stop in them. But after Asante Samuel's dropped interception, Eli Manning somehow avoided a sack and threw a deep ball that was caught by Giants wide receiver David Tyree, who stuck the ball to his helmet for a 32-yard reception. The 'Helmet Catch' got New York into New England territory, but the Giants also converted a third-and-11 three plays later before Manning threw a 13-yard touchdown pass to Plaxico Burress to take a 17-14 lead with 35 seconds remaining. Brady tried a couple of Hail Mary attempts on the ensuing possession, but the Patriots weren't able to come up with their version of the 'Helmet Catch,' allowing the Giants to pull off one of the biggest upsets in NFL history. 2010 AFC Divisional Round In the heat of the Patriots-Jets rivalry, Rex Ryan was able to lead Gang Green into Foxborough and upset New England just a month after losing a game to its AFC East foe 45-3. The Jets' defense made life difficult for Brady, snapping his months-long streak of not throwing an interception early on. The Patriots were able to keep the game relatively close through most of it, but Shonn Greene's 16-yard touchdown run with just under two minutes remaining essentially served as the knockout blow as the Jets took a 28-14 lead. After their 28-21 win, Jets linebacker Bart Scott gave a memorable interview to ESPN, leading Jets fans to remember their team's upset win over the Patriots as the 'Can't Wait' game. Advertisement Super Bowl XLVI The Giants' second Super Bowl win over the Patriots was eerily similar to their first championship win over New England. Following Wes Welker's critical drop with four minutes left, the Giants got another miraculous grab when they had the ball while trailing in the game's final minutes. Mario Manningham was somehow able to keep his feet inbounds to come up with a 38-yard reception to move the Giants to midfield with just over 3:30 remaining while trailing 17-15. As New York reached the red zone, New England allowed Ahmad Bradshaw to rush for a six-yard touchdown that gave the Giants a 21-17 lead with 59 seconds left. Brady nearly connected with Rob Gronkowski on a Hail Mary on the game's final play. 2018 ALDS Meeting in the ALDS for the first time, the Red Sox and Yankees split the first two games at Fenway, setting the stage for a pivotal Game 3. But, the Red Sox quickly put the Yankees away in a historic defeat, beating their rival 16-1 as they recorded 18 hits. Brock Holt became the first player in postseason history to have ever hit for the cycle in that game. Brock Holt became the first player in MLB postseason history to hit for the cycle when he did so in Game 3 of the 2018 ALDS. Jim Davis In Game 4, it appeared the Red Sox were set to comfortably clinch their ticket to the ALCS. Chris Sale pitched a scoreless eighth, but Craig Kimbrel was shaky as Boston held a 4-1 lead entering the ninth. The closer loaded the bases, hitting a batter that allowed a run to score, while Gary Sanchez's fly ball to left seemed like it was going into the bleachers off the bat. But it fell short of the fence, resulting in a sac fly before Kimbrel was able to induce a ground out to win the game and series. 2021 AL Wild Card Game While the Red Sox and Yankees met for Game 163 in the 1978 season, that game didn't count as a playoff matchup. So, the 2021 AL Wild Card Game was the first time the two teams faced off in a one-game playoff. Xander Bogaerts and Kyle Schwarber's early home runs chased Gerrit Cole out of the game in the third inning. The Red Sox needed some defensive help, though. Holding a 3-1 lead in the sixth, they were able to execute a perfect relay off Giancarlo Stanton's double to throw Aaron Judge out at home, proving to be a pivotal play in
New York Times
05-05-2025
- Sport
- New York Times
NHL playoffs second-round winners, 2025 Stanley Cup champion and more predictions
By Shayna Goldman, Jesse Granger, James Mirtle, Mark Lazerus and The Athletic NHL Staff The second round of the 2025 NHL playoffs will begin tonight with Game 1 of Toronto Maple Leafs-Florida Panthers, followed by Washington Capitals-Carolina Hurricanes, Golden Knights-Edmonton Oilers and Winnipeg Jets-Dallas Stars in the upcoming days. Advertisement What do we expect? What have we learned so far? Who will be left standing for the conference finals? The Athletic surveyed its NHL staff to get their answers to these questions. We asked for a winner for each second-round series, plus updated picks to win the Eastern and Western Conferences, the Stanley Cup and the Conn Smythe. Here are the full results of our survey. To analyze and critique the picks, we've brought in senior writers James Mirtle and Mark Lazerus, analytics know-it-all Shayna Goldman and goaltending expert Jesse Granger. Figures are rounded. Mirtle: Not a lot of be-Leaf in the staff, I see. There's no denying the Panthers have really had Toronto's number in recent years, and their second-round meeting two years ago, which Florida won in five games, looms large. But these Leafs should be better equipped to play a series like this than that group. Ultimately, however, this core has earned whatever skepticism it gets. Lazerus: The Panthers are simply built for the playoffs. All the people rending garments over their middling play down the stretch must have never seen the mid-2010s Blackhawks or the late-2010s Penguins yawn their way through another meaningless March. I will say this, though: Anthony Stolarz gives me pause here. For the first time, I actually be-Leaf in a Toronto goalie. This won't be a cakewalk for Florida by any means. Goldman: I think Round 1 was eye-opening on just how good this Panthers team is, too. We all know they have a ton of playoff pedigree, strength in their systems and a deep lineup. But there's a difference between knowing that on paper and actually seeing it all together in action for the first time in Round 1, truly at full strength. Granger: I buried the Panthers too early after watching how banged up and flat-out tired they looked down the stretch of the regular season. Turns out they were just bored. They flipped their playoff switch quickly and look like the team to beat. No one makes life harder on the opposing goalies with bodies in front of the net. Mirtle: It sounds like Frederik Andersen will be healthy, which is a big positive given how well he played in Round 1. This is going to be a really interesting one, given how big of a stylistic mismatch it is. Can Washington survive what is sure to be relentless pressure and puck possession all series long? And can Carolina turn pressure into pucks in the net? Advertisement Granger: This series features the two remaining goalies with the highest save percentage and goals saved above expected in the first round. Both were also injured in the first round after being crashed into, although Logan Thompson's injury kept him out for less than a full game, while Andersen missed more time. Hopefully both are fully healthy now, because this should be a fun duel. Lazerus: This is exactly what Dom's model spit out, too, right? The Capitals are the top seed in the East and have the longest odds to win the championship, per our degenerate friends in Las Vegas. If they win this round, will we finally believe? (No. No, we will not.) Goldman: Being doubted hasn't fazed the Capitals at all this year, and being favored hasn't always helped the Hurricanes. Maybe the vibes decide this one! One thing we all seem to agree on is that this series should be pretty long and of a much different caliber from either of their Round 1 matchups. Mirtle: Edmonton didn't exactly instill a ton of confidence with how Round 1 went, although the Connor McDavid-Leon Draisaitl show certainly delivered. I know a lot of people will be down on them because of their goaltending, but it's worth noting Adin Hill had a tougher first round than Calvin Pickard, statistically. Lazerus: Hockey's the ultimate team game, right? Yes, except when it comes to the Oilers. McDavid and Draisaitl have attained a level of hockey godliness that makes you question everything about a series like this. Of course, Vegas should win. Handily, if we're being honest. And yet … Goldman: On paper, Vegas has the shutdown talent to manage McDavid and Draisaitl, whether they are together or apart. They aren't as passive stylistically as the Kings, either. It makes perfect sense as to why so many of us (including me!) picked them. But … there always has to be a but for a team with McDavid and Draisaitl. Advertisement Granger: On the one hand, the Golden Knights struggled to slow down the pairing of Kirill Kaprizov and Matt Boldy early in their first-round series, and McDavid and Draisaitl are another level. On the other hand, after Bruce Cassidy put Jack Eichel and William Karlsson on the same line, they shut the Wild down, and we've already seen Karlsson give McDavid problems in the playoffs. This is an incredible matchup that should be one of the more emotional series in this postseason. Mirtle: I haven't even looked at what our Cup picks are like, but I'm assuming Dallas is running away with it. Whoever survived that series was going to be a favorite, and the Stars doing it without Miro Heiskanen and Jason Robertson was really impressive. Connor Hellebuyck, meanwhile, has left everyone with a lot of doubts. Lazerus: Having spent the past couple of weeks around the Stars, I'm a believer. There's this uncanny coolness to them, just a remarkable poise. Most teams, let's face it, might have rushed Heiskanen back for Games 6 and 7. Dallas didn't. Dallas stayed patient. And now Heiskanen is about to return. And now the moose is off Mikko Rantanen's back. And now Robertson is skating again. And now the Stars are the team to beat. Goldman: The Stars were one of the deepest groups before Rantanen settled into his new surroundings. That's how they were able to weather the loss of Robertson in Round 1. But … can you say the same about the Jets, who are missing Mark Scheifele? Do they have the juice to potentially play without Josh Morrissey, either? If Hellebuyck was playing like his regular-season self, maybe. But the Jets can't count on that. Granger: Perhaps that Game 7 win is what Hellebuyck needed to exorcise his playoff demons, and he's back to being the best goalie on earth. Perhaps the opposing fans will be chanting his name at American Airlines Center as he gets pulled on repeat. At this point, who the heck knows? Mirtle: Yeah, dusting off that Tampa team in five games will do that. Lazerus: I expected the Hurricanes to get more love here. Hard to deny how impressive the Panthers looked, though. Goldman: Whichever team came out of the Battle of Florida was going to get all the support — and the way the Panthers gave Tampa Bay zero space in Round 1 only solidified that. Advertisement Granger: I never thought I'd say this, but no one is talking about the Maple Leafs. In his first postseason starts, Stolarz looked built for this type of hockey. The battle in and around the Toronto crease is going to be fun to watch, and it wouldn't surprise me to see Stolarz come out on top — of that battle or the series. Mirtle: Honestly, these four teams should probably be pretty close together. The West is so good this year; I still think any of these teams can win it here. Granger: I'm in complete agreement. I don't know if I can remember a recent year with a stronger top four in the West. Lazerus: OK, so forget all that stuff I said about the Stars. What if Hellebuyck, now freed from the belief and the burden that he needs to be utterly perfect in order for the Jets to win a series, goes back to being the best goalie on the planet? Hey, it could happen. Just remarkable to see how little love the two top seeds are getting here. Goldman: Same as the East, in that the winner of what was thought of as a best-on-best in Round 1 was going to be the favorite to win it all. Who knows, maybe the adrenaline will run out after such a dramatic series. Mirtle: Interesting that the Hurricanes are the only team no one picked, even though a lot of the oddsmakers have them as heavy favorites in this round. Lazerus: I picked the Stars before it was cool to pick the Stars. Goldman: Avalanche-Lightning was the trending pick before, now it's Stars-Panthers. Maybe the lesson is that we're all wrong and it will be Hurricanes-Oilers! Granger: No, if we follow the pattern, the clear next turn is Jets-Maple Leafs. Mirtle: Signs you had a good first round for $2,000, Alex. What a story it'll be if Rantanen wins it … against Carolina. Lazerus: What Rantanen did in Games 5-7 was the stuff of legend. If Dallas does win it all, it'll be on his back. Goldman: Thomas Harley could have landed high on this list if Rantanen didn't pop off in Round 1. For Vegas, Eichel got hot at the right time, but I think Mark Stone is The Guy who deserves the hype in that series against Minnesota. Advertisement Granger: Having Eichel second here is more about projecting forward than him having a monster first round. He was incredibly quiet for the first five games against Minnesota, but after a brilliant performance to close that series out, and a must-watch matchup against McDavid on tap, Eichel could be heating up. (Top photo of the Maple Leafs and Panthers: Mark Blinch / NHLI via Getty Images)
Epoch Times
05-05-2025
- Sport
- Epoch Times
Is Lou Lamoriello NHL's Most Coveted Free-Agent?
Is there a next NHL challenge for Hockey Hall of Famer Lou Lamoriello? On May 5, the second round of the Stanley Cup playoffs will be up and running. Along with the teams still in the hunt for arguably professional sports' most famous championship trophy, what the future holds for one of the game's most successful executives is also on the minds of hockey fans. Dismissed from his duties as president and general manager of the New York Islanders, who didn't qualify for the postseason with a record of 35–35–12, Lamoriello had been running the Long Island-based team since May 2018. The Islanders didn't renew Lamoriello's contract at the end of the NHL's regular season last month. Now, at 82, Lamoriello is once again available on hockey's open market, for all other 31 franchise owners to consider bringing him into their organization. As Islanders ownership, led by Scott Malkin, Jon Ledecky, and John Collins, is committed to taking their team in a different direction than Lamoriello's, the Hall of Famer could be on the shortlist with other organizations if he wants to continue. As organizational builders go in NHL history, the Rhode Island native is at the top of the mountain. Twenty-eight years calling the shots for the New Jersey Devils, Lamoriello drafted, traded, and signed free agents who had his teams skating in Newark, New Jersey, consistently among the Eastern and Western Conferences elites. Shortly after joining the Devils in 1987, postseason dominance became routine. Related Stories 4/19/2025 4/9/2025 New Jersey appeared in five Stanley Cup Finals, winning three times (1995, 2000, and 2003), and the Devils teams he brought together experienced 100-plus-point seasons 13 times. As general managers go, Lamoriello has amassed 1,470 wins, solidifying him in second place all-time in NHL history, only trailing David Poile (1,533). Jim Dowd, who enjoyed an 18-year NHL career as a center drafted by New Jersey in 1987, knows firsthand of Lamoriello's effectiveness with his players on and off the ice. 'Lou is one of the best general managers in the history of sports, not just hockey,' Dowd told The Epoch Times on Thursday. 'Everywhere he goes, Lou drives the ship. He's amazing to the people in his organizations outside of the rink. Lou has been there for his people through thick and thin.' Dowd pointed to Lamoriello's success in New Jersey, with the Toronto Maple Leafs, and the past seven seasons on Long Island. He said he feels that if his former boss does want to continue on, be it on a full-time basis or consulting for an NHL team, he will 'definitely add value' wherever he goes. '[Lamoriello] got Toronto moving in the right direction. His Islanders' teams made the playoffs in five of seven seasons. Lou is in unbelievable shape,' says Dowd, who operates a nutrition performance company in his native New Jersey. Just as with skaters and goalies who put their services up for grabs when NHL free agency officially begins at noon on July 1, executives could field offers. Any completed deals probably won't be made publicly until after the Stanley Cup Finals are completed, at the earliest. As a seasoned executive, Lamoriello embraces analytics. He remains attuned to the evolution of the game, and how scouting is approached. After leaving the Devils to revive a Maple Leafs organization that previously had qualified for the playoffs once in 10 seasons, Toronto fans saw their beloved team skate in the postseason in 2017 and 2018. Respectability was returned to the Maple Leafs organization. Same results on Long Island, courtesy of Lamoriello planning. The Islanders, who moved into their new home ice—UBS Arena in Elmont, New York, in November 2021, reached the Eastern Conference Finals in both 2020 and 2021 against the Tampa Bay Lightning. Lamoriello is a proven builder of successful programs, but all good things do come to an end, that is, if Lamoriello is ready for shuffleboard, seaside walks, and sunset watching. But, a bungalow in Florida may not be in the cards just yet. How the NHL president of hockey operations and general managers hiring and firing carousels shake out could determine Lamoriello's future. Lamoriello is said to be tough with contract negotiations for skaters and goalies. However, fairness and caring are two other words that his peers use to describe the veteran NHL executive. With qualities like these, surely Lamoriello's 'in between jobs' classification could see a correction in the near future.
New York Times
19-04-2025
- Sport
- New York Times
NHL playoff predictions 2025: First-round winners, dark horse and Stanley Cup champion
By Sean Gentille, Shayna Goldman, Jesse Granger, James Mirtle, Mark Lazerus and The Athletic NHL Staff Can Connor McDavid and the Edmonton Oilers make it back to the Stanley Cup Final and finish the job, or are they in danger of an early exit? Are the Florida Panthers in line to repeat, or will one of the other Atlantic Division heavyweights pick them off? What's in store for the regular-season beasts: the Winnipeg Jets and Washington Capitals? Advertisement With the postseason opening Saturday, The Athletic posed these questions and more to its NHL staff. Here are their picks to win each first-round series, the Eastern and Western Conferences, the Conn Smythe and the Stanley Cup, as well as picks for the most overrated team and a playoff dark horse. To analyze and critique the picks, we've brought in senior writers Sean Gentille, James Mirtle and Mark Lazerus, analytics know-it-all Shayna Goldman and goaltending expert Jesse Granger. Figures are rounded. Gentille: As always, the only thing that gave me pause before picking the Maple Leafs is the fact that they're the Maple Leafs. Goldman: Not surprised to see Toronto get votes for five or six games, but if this series goes seven, how do you not pick the Pesky Sens? Granger: When have the Leafs ever done anything the easy way? I'm with the 20.6 percent who see the Battle for Ontario going seven games, but I think this version of the Maple Leafs — with a bigger emphasis on defense and strong goaltending — gets the win. Lazerus: I picked Ottawa. Because, let's be honest, it would be very funny. Mirtle: This will be the 11th Leafs series I've covered. They have won once. I'm picking them to win here, but Ottawa's been a top-10 team in the second half. It's not going to be a short, easy series. Gentille: I picked the Lightning too, but are we sure the pendulum hasn't swung just a liiiittle too far in the other direction? That's a big-time gap. Goldman: This series should be a lot closer than our votes project. At least the majority of us think it will go the distance. Granger: I thought I was going against the grain by pushing my chips all in on Tampa Bay. Turns out, everyone had the same idea. And while we almost all picked Tampa here, we almost all have it going to at least six games, which feels right. Advertisement Lazerus: Oddly enough, the Lightning have become the new Aleksander Barkov: the 'underrated' choice that everybody makes. This feels like a trap. Mirtle: Florida is pretty beat up and has been losing a lot lately. The Panthers look like a team that's played too much hockey the past two years, so we'll see. Gentille: If the Caps' goaltending self-destructs, all bets are off. They were better down the stretch than their record suggests, though. Don't overthink this one. Granger: Logan Thompson is exactly where he wants to be. He thrives on doubt, and with the way Washington ended the season and his status up in the air, I think we'll see him at his best. Lazerus: I just hope we get more than two measly games at the Bell Centre in the playoffs. What a year that joint is having, between the 4 Nations and the playoff push. Montreal might not win the Cup, but Montrealers get the belt. Gentille: I just don't see how the Devils get enough goals to beat Carolina four times. Goldman: This series would look a lot different with a healthy Jack Hughes and Jonas Siegenthaler. Granger: These teams split the season series 2-2, but they haven't played since the turn of the calendar, and the Devils' injuries change things quite a bit. Lazerus: The Devils without Jack Hughes are like a snow day with e-learning. Takes all the fun out of it. Mirtle: Carolina might not have Mikko Rantanen, but Taylor Hall, Logan Stankoven and Mark Jankowski have given it some ridiculous depth up front. That'll be the differentiator. Gentille: Picking the Blues to take a game or two is the right call, but I do think this is where it ends for them. Goldman: Of all of the potential wild-card upsets, I thought this one would have had a little more support. Granger: Connor Hellebuyck's career .928 save percentage against St. Louis is his highest against any divisional opponent. I think he'll quiet the narrative around his playoff performance quickly in this series. Advertisement Lazerus: An .870 save percentage last year and an .886 save percentage the year before that. That's not a narrative, Jesse, that's cold, hard math. Hellebuyck should win the Hart Trophy this year, but he has an awful lot to prove in this series. Mirtle: I know Winnipeg won the Presidents' Trophy, but since when does that ever pan out!? Should be an interesting rematch of 4 Nations goaltenders, though. Gentille: We'll see how this one plays out, but injuries have stolen what seemed to be an all-timer. Goldman: If the Stars have a chance in this series, it's going to be in six or seven — the longer this series goes, the better chance of Heiskanen returning. Granger: Dallas' key injuries obviously swung things in Colorado's favor, but don't count out the Stars. They have one of the deepest rosters in the league, and Pete DeBoer could have a coaching edge. He's 3-0 against Jared Bednar in the playoffs and has bested him with three teams. Lazerus: The Avalanche addressed some of their needs at the deadline, for sure. But they still can't match Dallas' depth, even without Jason Robertson. I'm still leaning Stars — Rantanen, Wyatt Johnston and Jamie Benn are currently their third line — but it's a toss-up. Gentille: No series had a bigger split than this one. As it should be. Minnesota is outmatched, even with Kirill Kaprizov and Joel Eriksson Ek back in the picture. Goldman: It's hard to see how the Golden Knights lose in Round 1 in two straight years. The Wild know a thing or two about that. Granger: Vegas' center depth should be a major matchup problem in this series. Jack Eichel is having a career year, and Tomas Hertl, William Karlsson, Nicolas Roy and Brett Howden complete a formidable group. Advertisement Lazerus: Poor Wild fans. Every year, such hope. Every year, such mediocrity. Gentille: And here I thought I was being a rebel. Goldman: If the Kings are going to get past their demons in Edmonton, this is the year to do it. Granger: The Oilers seem more vulnerable than in years past with all the late-season injuries. More importantly, this is the best the Kings have looked in years. The step Quinton Byfield took in his game this season makes this team feel so much more dangerous. Lazerus: This feels a little like Tampa, where maybe we're all leaning too hard in the contrarian direction. But it's really hard to feel good about Edmonton's goaltending situation. Mirtle: If regular-season Darcy Kuemper was the real deal, that's a massive advantage here. L.A. was so strong defensively all year, too, so we'll see if that holds up against Edmonton's two-headed monster that is McDavid and Draisaitl. Note: Must have +2,000 or worse odds to win Cup, with odds per BetMGM. Gentille: Easiest call on the board. Still wouldn't put actual money on any of them, though. Goldman: The Blues are a fun pick, with all the similarities to their 2019 turnaround. Wouldn't that be something if history repeated itself? Granger: Continuing what I wrote above, I love the Kings' makeup. Their center strength and defensive structure and Kuemper's recent form make them an easy choice for me. Lazerus: None of these teams is going to win the Stanley Cup. But I'm sure our friends at BetMGM will be happy to have your money. Mirtle: Don't listen to Old Man Laz — St. Louis is worth it given those odds and how wide open the league is this year. Note: Must have +1,000 or better odds to win the Cup, with odds per BetMGM. Gentille: Second-easiest call on the board. Dallas, minus Heiskanen and Robertson, is impossible to pick. Goldman: All of this Oilers doubt could unlock another level of playoff McDavid. Lazerus: DIG THE (BLEEP) IN. RIGHT THE (BLEEP) NOW. I'll never doubt Draisaitl after what he did a few years ago on one leg, and I'll never doubt McDavid after what he did last year. Bet against those guys at your own peril. Advertisement Granger: The Panthers are the most likely team to lose in the first round, but that's purely based on opponent. Mirtle: I went with Edmonton, but none of these outside of Carolina would surprise me this year. Gentille: Guess everyone loves Andrei Vasilevskiy and hates the Metro Division. Lazerus: More like the Meh-tro, amirite? Granger: I fit both of these categories. Well, I don't hate the Metro, but I expect the Eastern champ to come out of the Atlantic. Goldman: These picks are going to age well when the Senators upset the Leafs in Round 1. Just kidding. Kind of. Mirtle: I guess the staff have been into the model's Leafs Kool-Aid a bit. Goldman: The Robertson injury plus a playoff start without Heiskanen has crushed a lot of confidence in the Stars and likely sent votes to Colorado and Vegas instead. Maybe we're all sleeping on Winnipeg a bit, but its path would take it through the Avs. Lazerus: I might look foolish in a few days (it's my natural state), but I think everyone's still sleeping too hard on the Stars. Jake Oettinger vs. Mackenzie Blackwood, who's never played in a playoff game? Come on, guys. Don't overthink this. Gentille: I went Vegas here, but you could easily sell me on any of the top three. There's no way Winnipeg should have the same odds as Dallas. Granger: We're not giving enough respect to the team that's clearly been the best team in the West all season: Winnipeg. Goldman: As someone who picked a Colorado-Tampa Bay Final early in the season, it's nice to see everyone has a similar vision. Naturally, it's a matchup of two teams that have an early best-on-best in Round 1. What could go wrong? Gentille: In October, I went with the Stars. Oops! But yeah, I like Vegas here, too. No glaring holes. Advertisement Lazerus: Still picking the Stars. I've picked them for 147 consecutive years, and I'm going to be right eventually. Granger: Tampa Bay has looked like such a complete team, and Vasilevskiy is back to his elite form. It's so hard to pick against that combination right now. Mirtle: My Lightning-Avs final appears wholly unoriginal. Is it too late to make changes, editor? Gentille: Last year's McDavid-related hiccup aside, the leading scorer for the Cup champion tends to take the Conn Smythe. For me, that's Eichel. Goldman: Just a group of MVP-caliber players at the top of this list who know how to amp it up in the playoffs. Boring answer, but any of those names would make a lot of sense. Granger: I love seeing three goalies getting votes in this poll, and I agree with the three names as the most likely to win a Conn Smythe. Lazerus: Respect for the Sam Reinhart pick. He's a real one. Mirtle: Respect for the Mitch Marner pick. (It wasn't me!) Goodbye, narratives … hello, free agency. (Top photo of Matthew Tkachuk: Sam Navarro / Imagn Images)
