Latest news with #playoffhockey
National Post
26-05-2025
- Sport
- National Post
Are the Florida Panthers built perfectly for the Stanley Cup Playoffs?
Article content WATCH BELOW: On the latest episode of Off The Post, Toronto SUN Sports Columnist Steve Simmons, Postmedia Hockey Columnist Bruce Garrioch, The Province and Vancouver Sun Canucks reporter Patrick Johnston and Postmedia's Rob Wong discuss the Florida Panthers impressive run during the Stanley Cup Playoffs, if they are perfectly built for playoff-style hockey and if the Oilers or Stars have a chance to beat them.
National Post
24-05-2025
- Sport
- National Post
It took a while, but Oilers are masters of the secret playoff formula
When a team with enough high-end talent to outscore anyone in the league starts overwhelming opponents with smothering defence, it's a scary thing. Article content Article content Ask the Vegas Golden Knights. Or the Dallas Stars. The Knights are golfing after the Edmonton Oilers closed them out in five games with back-to-back shutouts and the Stars have turned over home ice advantage in the Western Conference Final after being blanked 3-0 in Game 2. Article content Three shutouts in four games by a team that boasts two Art Ross winners, three 50-goal scorers, three 100-point players and one of the most productive post-season defencemen of all time? That is a deadly mix. Article content 'We're a different team than we have been in years past, probably not as run and gun as years past, but we can play defence,' said Oilers captain Connor McDavid, who has to keep reminding people that this is not a new development. Article content You don't make it to Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Final unless you've figured out and mastered the art of playoff hockey. Article content 'Forwards are coming back really hard, everyone is selling out blocking shots,' said McDavid. 'It's that time of year, that's what it takes. It's fun to watch. Article content 'And when we defend and everyone is bought in like that, we know we're going to find enough offence somewhere.' Article content It's not always there in the regular season. The Oilers were a pretty sloppy group this year and the biggest question mark heading into Round 1 was whether they could keep enough pucks out of their net, especially without their best defensive defenceman in the lineup. Article content But this Oilers team is a lot like those great Oilers teams of the past in that sense (minus the five Stanley Cups, of course): When the playoffs come, they turn into a very different animal. Article content Article content Stuart Skinner had three shutouts in 51 regular season starts. Now he has three in seven playoff games. And it's not because he turns into Martin Brodeur. When the Oilers tighten up and lock it down, they're as tough to penetrate as any team in hockey. Article content 'If you get a shutout your goalie has to be rock solid,' said winger Zach Hyman. 'At the same time, unless your goalie is out of this world, in order to get a shutout, you have to play well defensively. Article content 'You have to limit those chances because there are some good players on the other team and given enough chances they've shown that they can score.' Article content It took some painful lessons. For years and years, the Oilers were mistake-prone thoroughbreds, stubbornly, and unsuccessfully, trying to play their regular-season game in the playoffs.
National Post
12-05-2025
- Sport
- National Post
SIMMONS: Are the Maple Leafs in trouble against Panthers after Game 4 loss?
Article content He will never be confused for Sasha Barkov or Matthew Tkachuk or Sam Reinhart — or any of the great Florida offensive players — but he winds up on the game sheet when the lights are brightest. Article content In this series, now a best of three, the Leafs need Matthews and Marner and others to locate more Verhaeghe in their games and in their play. Article content 'All his reads are right,' said Panthers coach Paul Maurice in complimenting his winger. 'He plays a very hard, very fast game.' Article content Those aren't particularly complicated words, but finding a way to play very hard and very fast is something that not many can attain. The Leafs have upper-end talent that nobody in the playoffs this side of Edmonton can match. But just having talent doesn't answer all the questions. Article content Finding a way to fight through a lack of space, win battles for loose pucks, compete physically on every shift is so much what winning playoff hockey is about. And along with that you have to be smart and creative and disciplined and unafraid. Article content Article content The Leafs took four first-period penalties against Florida and all of them were avoidable. Not smart. Verhaeghe scored the only goal of the first two periods with the Leafs playing one man — almost two men — short. Article content The goal came after an unfortunate read from Jake McCabe, who doesn't make many unfortunate reads. Article content In the third period, another misread from McCabe came on a 2-on-1, with partner Chris Tanev playing the pass, not the shot, the right play to make. He signaled McCabe to take the shooter from the back side, Sam Bennett. McCabe missed the read, went to Tanev's side, and left Bennett all alone to score on Woll. Article content Article content Tiny reads and tiny decisions change playoff games. Matthew Knies had three very good chances to score for Toronto and each time Knies either missed on his shot or had it taken from him by Sergei Bobrovsky. Article content The most disturbing aspect of the loss from Toronto's perspective Sunday night is what happened in the Florida net. Bobrovsky began this series struggling to stop pucks. The Leafs scored nine goals on him in the first two games of the series. Article content Sunday night he looked like playoff Bobrovsky, looked like the Stanley Cup-winning goaltender. It didn't seem to matter who had chances — and Matthews had two good ones — Bob was the owner of those circumstances. Article content
National Post
08-05-2025
- Sport
- National Post
Little things mean a lot to Maple Leafs in building a series lead over Panthers
Big wins are built from a lot of little plays. Article content Article content The Maple Leafs certainly have discovered that in the course of their first eight playoff games. Article content Upon further review of taking a 2-0 lead Wednesday against the defending Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers, salient solo moments came to light, in particular sacrifices by the defence. Article content Brandon Carlo expanding his 6-foot-5, 220-pound frame in crease scrums to help Joseph Woll, when he wasn't boxing out unwanted company. Jake McCabe gloving a loose puck off the goal-line. Chris Tanev absorbing a hard hit from Carter Verhaeghe that kept him on the bench for a spell before rejoining the play. Oliver Ekman-Larsson's one-handed swipe to clear a puck from Toronto's slot that ended up starting Max Domi's goal. Tanev's 23 shot blocks, Simon Benoit's 22 and Morgan Rielly's 20 lead the defence. Article content Article content 'That's playoff hockey,' said winger Steven Lorentz, who won the Cup last year with Florida. 'The stuff that doesn't always show up on the scoresheet might save you the game or lead to a chance at the other end. Article content 'That's the beauty of it. They're not always picked up, not everybody gets the glory, but the guys in this room recognize things like that and that's all that matters.' Article content Leafs coach Craig Berube has seen this movie before as well with the 2019 champion St. Louis Blues. Article content
CBS News
06-05-2025
- Sport
- CBS News
Stars and Jets set for Round 2 showdown after dramatic first-round NHL playoff wins
It's hard to find something as much of an emotional roller coaster ride as playoff hockey. For Dallas Stars and Winnipeg Jets fans, that might be the understatement of the year. Both teams went from staring the end of their seasons dead in the face to getting ready to play each other in Round 2 of the Stanley Cup playoffs. DENVER, COLORADO - MAY 01: Mikko Rantanen #96 of the Dallas Stars controls the puck against Devon Toews #7 of the Colorado Avalanche during the first period in Game Six of the First Round of the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Ball Arena on May 01, 2025 in Denver, Colorado. / Getty Images The Stars were down 2-0 late in the third period against the Colorado Avalanche but came back to win 4-3 thanks to the heroics of Mikko Rantanen and Wyatt Johnston. Winnipeg's path to the second round was even more dramatic. The Jets scored the tying goal in Game 7 against the St. Louis Blues with 1.6 seconds left in regulation. Adam Lowry then scored the game-winner in double OT. The Jets have had Dallas' number this year, winning three of the four meetings in the regular season. The Presidents' Trophy winners have leaned on their play style that the Stars labeled as one that is "built for the playoffs." The Jets pride themselves on defending their own zone well, checking hard, and having depth in their lineup. Kyle Connor led the Jets with 97 points in the regular season and is tied for the most points (12) in this year's postseason. "It's a tough series," Rantanen said. "They have a good, deep team. They have a good defense and obviously a Vezina, MVP goalie. We got to try to learn from St. Louis… a little bit of what they did, maybe, and try to repeat that." The Jets also have 13 players with double-digit goals this season, but are dealing with injuries of their own. Star players Josh Morrissey and Mark Scheifele are dealing with undisclosed injuries. The Stars, meanwhile, might have their injured players return sooner rather than later. Jason Robertson, the Stars' leading scorer, did not play at all in the first round because of a lower-body injury he sustained in the regular season finale. On Tuesday morning's skate, Robertson participated in line rushes with the team and will likely play in this series, according to Stars head coach Pete DeBoer. "He's close," DeBoer said. "It's all in his recovery and how he feels." Superstar defenseman Miro Heiskanen has also been practicing with the team, but his status is likely doubtful for Game 1, though DeBoer said he also expects Heiskanen to return for this series. The big-time matchup is going to be between the two netminders, Jake Oettinger and Connor Hellebuyck. DALLAS, TX - MAY 3: Lian Bichsel #6 of the Dallas Stars handles the puck against the Colorado Avalanche in the first period of Game Seven of the First Round of the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs at the American Airlines Center on may 3, 2025 in Dallas, Texas. Glenn James/NHLI via Getty Images Oettinger finished with a 2.85 GAA and .911 save percentage against the Avalanche in round one. Hellebuyck, a Hart and Vezina Trophy finalist, struggled mightily against the Blues. He finished with a 3.85 GAA and .830 save percentage against St. Louis, a stark difference compared to his regular season numbers (2.00 GAA, .925 SV%). What version we will see is anyone's guess, but Stars head coach Pete DeBoer is going to assume the best version of Hellebuyck will be on the ice. "I'm sure he's going to be great," DeBoer said. "I'm sure we're going to see the guy who is up for the Vezina. We have to be prepared for that." The Stars will hope to break their eight-game losing streak in Game 1 action on Wednesday. The last time Dallas got off to a 1-0 series lead was back in the 2020 Stanley Cup Final in the bubble against the Tampa Bay Lightning. The last four Game 1 losses have been at home, so the team thinks starting on the road can help them break that streak. "I like our preparation," DeBoer said. "The way we prepare for a Game 7 is the same way we prepare for a Game 1. There's no magic in that. I think we have to show up and have a big performance from key guys… I think that's always the key." Game 1 of the Stars versus Jets is set for Wednesday at 8:30 p.m. local time.
