Stanley Cup Playoffs - First Round Review

Stanley Cup Playoffs - First Round Review

The opening round of the Stanley Cup playoffs is the most exciting, most unpredictable round of the playoffs. For me it all starts with the opening montage Tim Thompson of CBC's Hockey Night in Canada puts together that airs before the first game of the playoffs. This year he went with Metallica's For Whom The Bell Tolls for the backing track to accompany the clip montage which I think doesn't hold a candle last years that featured The Who's Baba O'Riley. 

Anyway onto this years first round matchups. Three stood out instantly as potential classics. The New York Rangers faced off with rival Philadelphia Flyers, San Jose Sharks met the LA Kings, and the hard hitting St Louis Blues came up against the defending champion Chicago Blackhawks.

For new fans, or long gone returning fans, I should mention that there has been a format change. Gone is the old three division in each conference format that saw the three division winners seeded 1-3 and five next best regardless of division seeded 4-8. This is the first year of a return to the pre-1993 divisional playoff format with a twist. The top three in each division make it in, the next two regardless of division qualify as wildcards with the 2nd wildcard meeting the top division winner. In round two we'll still be in divisional playoffs, round three is the conference championship round as the last team standing in each division faces off with the opposite member remaining in their conference before the East and West champions battle for the Stanley Cup. 

EASTERN CONFERENCE

The wildcard spots worked out as if the format was the top four in each division qualify with Detroit and Columbus staying in their respective divisions. 

ATLANTIC DIVISION

Boston Bruins (A1) vs Detroit Red Wings (WC2)

It was a bright start for the Red Wings. They held on for the ride and stole an away win in game one on Pavel Datsyuk's slick puck handling and sharp shot ripped under Tuukka Rask's glove hand. That loss woke up the Bruins and they bullied their way to four wins in a row to eliminate the physically smaller side. Not only that, they had Rask in brick wall mode making 152 saves in the five games for a .961 SV%. Milan Lucic contributed to the effort with a goal in three of the games including the series clincher plus the primary assist on Iginla's OT winner in game four. Second year defenseman Torey Krug came up huge in the series recording a goal and four assists. A few more of Boston's young stars shone. Dougie Hamilton, Reilly Smith and Carl Soderberg, together with Krug look a strong spine for the future. The Bruins, the 2nd team to advance to round two, will now face hated rival Montreal, the 1st team through to the 2nd round, for the 34th time in the playoffs. They last met in round one in 2011 when Boston went on to win the cup.

Game 1 - Boston 0-1 Detroit - GWG: Pavel Datsyuk (16:59 3rd)

Game 2 - Boston 4-1 Detroit - GWG: Reilly Smith (10:35 1st)

Game 3 - Detroit 0-3 Boston - GWG: Dougie Hamilton (09:00 1st)

Game 4 - Detroit 2-3 Boston (OT) - GWG: Jarome Iginla (13:32 OT)

Game 5 - Boston 4-2 Detroit - GWG: Milan Lucic (04:27 3rd)

Bruins win series 4-1

Tampa Bay Lightning (A2) vs Montreal Canadiens (A3)

This series was all about momentum and boy did the Habs do all they could to take it from the Bolts. In game one the Lightning had two one goal leads and Montreal had two one goal leads, before playoff beast Danny Briere found an open Dale Weise in front of the net for the winner. Game two started shaky but Montreal jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the 2nd period. Tampa Bay were level for 11 seconds in game three. P.K. Subban chipping the puck through to Rene Bourque right from the opening faceoff. Bourque then scored what turned out to be the winner putting Montreal 3-1 in front. Game four saw the Lightning really give it a go late on. Clawing themselves back from 3-1 down to try and salvage something and try to spark an impossible looking series comeback only for Max Pacioretty to score a power play goal with 43 seconds left to send the Habs to round two for the first time since 2010. Stamkos, Killorn and Palat seemed to be the biggest danger to the Montreal net whilst Tampa's defense were kept busy as 16 of the 18 Montreal skaters recorded at least one point.

Game 1 - Tampa Bay 4-5 Montreal (OT) - GWG: Dale Weise (18:08 OT)

Game 2 - Tampa Bay 1-4 Montreal - GWG: Rene Bourque (10:35 2nd)

Game 3 - Montreal 3-2 Tampa Bay - GWG: Thomas Plekanec (05:43 3rd)

Game 4 - Montreal 4-3 Tampa Bay - GWG: Max Pacioretty (19:17 3rd)

Canadiens win series 4-0

METROPOLITAN DIVISION

Pittsburgh Penguins (M1) vs Columbus Blue Jackets (WC1)

Jussi Jokinen and Bradon Sutter emerged as the main danger to the Columbus Blue Jackets, combining for nine points as some criticized superstars Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin for having a quiet series. The Penguins showed their experience of playoff hockey as the Blue Jackets collapsed in game one and two, surrendering a crucial 3-1 lead in Pittsburgh twice. Many saw this as concern for the Penguins, the thinking being that a more battle hardened team would have eliminated the 2009 champions. Columbus found goal scoring in the form of Ryan Johansen, Brandon Dubinsky and Artem Anisimov. Jack Johnson also chipped in a considerable contribution as the team did their fans and city proud in their 2nd ever playoff appearance. Pittsburgh had a lapse in concentration in game six and almost let Columbus back in from 4-0 down but held out to meet the Rangers or Flyers in round two.

Game 1 - Pittsburgh 4-3 Columbus - GWG: Brandon Sutter (08:18 3rd)
Game 2 - Pittsburgh 3-4 Columbus (Double OT) - GWG: Matt Calvert (01:10 OT2)
Game 3 - Columbus 3-4 Pittsburgh - GWG: Jussi Jokinen (08:06 3rd)
Game 4 - Columbus 4-3 Pittsburgh (OT) - GWG: Nick Foligno (02:49 OT)
Game 5 - Pittsburgh 3-1 Columbus - GWG: Jussi Jokinen (06:16 3rd)
Game 6 - Columbus 3-4 Pittsburgh - GWG: Evgeni Malkin (15:22 2nd)

Penguins win series 4-2

New York Rangers (M2) vs Philadelphia Flyers (M3)

Broadway vs Broad Street. The Rangers and the Flyers met for the 11th time in the playoffs.

Derek Stepan, Brad Richards, Marty St Louis and Carl Hagelin led the Rangers to a seven game victory in a series that went one for you, one for me. Masterton Trophy nominee Dominic Moore also chipped in a big contribution. The Flyers unlucky in the end as Giroux, Simmonds, Voracek and rookie Akeson huffed and puffed at Lundqvists door put couldn't knock it down enough times to top the Rangers and couldn't take the momentum of the 5-2 win in game six into game seven. Flyers players led the series in points (Giroux), goals (Simmonds) and goalie (Mason).

The Flyers will view the season as a success after their disasterous start.

Game 1 - New York 4-1 Philadelphia - GWG: Brad Richards (08:22 3rd)
Game 2 - New York 2-4 Philadelphia - GWG: Luke Schenn (11:18 2nd)
Game 3 - Philadelphia 1-4 New York - GWG: Marty St Louis (10:24 1st)
Game 4 - Philadelphia 2-1 New York - GWG: Jakub Voracek (07:22 2nd)
Game 5 - New York 4-2 Philadelphia - GWG: Dominic Moore (16:20 2nd)
Game 6 - Philadelphia 5-2 New York - GWG: Erik Gustafsson (14:17 2nd)
Game 7 - New York 2-1 Philadelphia - GWG: Benoit Pouliot (11:46 2nd)

Rangers win series 4-3

WESTERN CONFERENCE

The Central has five of the eight Western playoff teams with the Stars taking the 2nd wildcard spot. 

CENTRAL DIVISION

Colorado Avalanche (C1) vs Minnesota Wild (WC1)

A series for the youngsters. The two teams with the lowest average ages of all 16 playoff teams went head to head in this one as the Avalamche's MacKinnon, Landeskog, O'Reilly and Duchene faced off with Granlund, Coyle, Brodziak and Niedereiter of Minnesota. Home ice dominated the first six games and almost held out for Colorado in game seven but they just couldn't shake the Wild who advanced on Neiderrieter's OT winner. The series was tighter than many initially thought as four of the seven games went to overtime with each team winning two each. Calder Trophy nominee Nathan MacKinnon led the Avs in points but didn't register a single point on the road. In the end the Wild's speed seemed to put them in good stead and gave them momentum to come back from 3-2 deficit in the series to face defending champion Chicago.

Game 1 - Colorado 5-4 Minnesota (OT) - GWG: Paul Stastny (07:27 OT)

Game 2 - Colorado 4-2 Minnesota - GWG: Gabriel Landeskog (11:59 2nd)
Game 3 - Minnesota 1-0 Colorado (OT) - GWG: Mikael Granlund (05:08 OT)
Game 4 - Minnesota 2-1 Colorado - GWG: Charlie Coyle (12:55 2nd)
Game 5 - Colorado 4-3 Minnesota (OT) - GWG: Nathan MacKinnon (3:27 OT)
Game 6 - Minnesota 5-2 Colorado - GWG: Zach Parise (13:31 3rd)
Game 7 - Colorado 4-5 Minnesota (OT) - GWG: Nino Neiderreiter (05:02 OT)

Wild win series 4-3

St Louis Blues (C2) vs Chicago Blackhawks (C3)

The first five games of this series were eerily familiar for St Louis. For the second season in a row they were the higher seed against the defending champion in round one, won game one on a Steen winner in OT, won game two on a Jackman winner, lost game three without scoring, lost game four 4-3, and lost game five 3-2 in OT. Last year the LA Kings eliminated the Blues with a 2-1 game six victory.

Overtime, overtime, overtime. 24 periods in six games, or eight games condensed into six. The Blues and Blackhawks entered the playoffs bruised, beaten and on a downward spiral. The Blues were healthy enough to win the opening two games but when the defending champions found their stride it was a hell of a lot harder for the Blues to keep up. It's no surprise to many that Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews had massive hands in the Chicago turnaround. Captain Toews scoring three of their four game winning goals including the series clincher. The Blues riding high with two dramatic wins, both times stealing a late equaliser before eeking out an OT winner. They headed into Chicago and had the rug pulled from under them as the Blackhawks stole any kind of momentum St Louis had.

Game 1 - St Louis 4-3 Chicago (Triple OT) - GWG: Alex Steen (0:26 OT3)

Game 2 - St Louis 4-3 Chicago (OT) - GWG: Barret Jackman (05:50 OT)
Game 3 - Chicago 2-0 St Louis - GWG: Jonathan Toews (04:10 1st)
Game 4 - Chicago 4-3 St Louis (OT) - GWG: Patrick Kane (11:17 OT)
Game 5 - St Louis 2-3 Chicago (OT) - GWG: Jonathan Toews (07:36 OT)
Game 6 - Chicago 5-1 St Louis - GWG: Jonathan Toews (00:44 3rd)

Blackhawks win series 4-2

PACIFIC DIVISION

Anaheim Ducks (P1) vs Dallas Stars (WC2)

After years of mediocrity the 2013-14 Dallas Stars found themselves in a new division, with a new look lineup, a new captain, and fresh hope for a long awaited return to the playoffs since 2008. They came up against a familiar foe and a return to there old stomping ground, the Pacific Division vs the Anaheim Ducks. Pacific Division & Western Conference regular season champions, 2nd best overall to the Boston Bruins.

Anaheim coached by the NHL's nearly man coach, Bruce Boudreau (who won everything under the sun as a player), started off well and jumped to a 2-0 series lead. The young plucky Dallas Stars stayed toe-to-toe with the Ducks only losing by one goal in each game. The warning signs of another Boudreau coached team cracking appeared when Dallas won games three & four at home by an aggregate score of 7-2. Special teams was where Anaheim could find relief. Winning game five with a commanding 6-2 scoreline that included three power play goals. In fact nine of Anaheim's twenty goals in this series came on the power play, amongst those were 50% of their game winning goals, Matt Beleskey in game one and Mathieu Perreault in game five. With Getzlaf and Perry leading the team in points, with seven each, it's no surprise Anaheim got through, but they also got banged up in this series. Beleskey missed four games, captain Getzlaf took a puck to the face and missed game four, Stephane Robidas, a Star until March 5th, received a broken leg, Perreault missed game six, and Anaheim used 23 skaters in this series. More than they used in 2003 when they reached the cup final, losing to the New Jersey Devils.

Game 1 - Anaheim 4-3 Dallas - GWG: Matt Beleskey (09:04 2nd)

Game 2 - Anaheim 3-2 Dallas - GWG: Andrew Cogliano (05:09 3rd)
Game 3 - Dallas 3-0 Anaheim - GWG: Jamie Benn (19:25 1st)
Game 4 - Dallas 4-2 Anaheim - GWG: Cody Eakin (05:22 2nd)
Game 5 - Anaheim 6-2 Dallas - GWG: Mathieu Perreault (01:05 2nd)
Game 6 - Dallas 4-5 Anaheim (OT) - GWG: Nick Bonino (02:47 OT)

Ducks win series 4-2

San Jose Sharks (P2) vs Los Angeles Kings (P3)

The theme of last years 2nd round meeting was all about home ice. A trend bucked by the Sharks in game three of this series as the usual suspects Joe Thornton, Patrick Marleau, Logan Couture and Joe Pavelski led the team to a dominating 3-0 series lead, but perhaps that narrow away win in game three papered over the cracks and served as the turning point as the free scoring Sharks only managed a one goal OT win in LA.

The Kings facing elimination roared back with strong forechecking and putting a high number of pucks on net. Winning games four, five and six by a three goal margin. 2012 cup run heroes Justin Williams and Anze Kopitar led LA and the series overall in goals and points. Game seven in San Jose started with a Matt Irwin goal for the home team. LA came back starting with a Drew Doughty PP goal, before Anze Kopitar put the Kings in the lead. Early in period three Kings secret, not so secret weapon anymore, Tyler Toffoli put the Kings out of sight and the game ended in a rout with LA scoring twice as the Sharks pulled goalie Niemi in favour of the extra attacker.

Game 1 - San Jose 6-3 Los Angeles - GWG: Raffi Torres (12:57 2nd)
Game 2 - San Jose 7-2 Los Angeles - GWG: Justin Braun (14:45 2nd)
Game 3 - Los Angeles 3-4 San Jose (OT) - GWG: Patrick Marleau (06:20 OT)
Game 4 - Los Angeles 6-3 San Jose - GWG: Tyler Toffoli (19:01 2nd)
Game 5 - San Jose 0-3 Los Angeles - GWG: Tyler Toffoli (08:09 1st)
Game 6 - Los Angeles 4-1 San Jose - GWG: Justin Williams (11:56 3rd)
Game 7 - San Jose 1-5 Los Angeles - GWG: Anze Kopitar (18:39 2nd)

Kings win series 4-3

SECOND ROUND MATCHUPS

EAST

Atlantic Division - Boston Bruins (A1) vs Montreal Canadiens (A3)

Metropolitan Division - Pittsburgh Penguins (M1) vs New York Rangers (M2)

WEST

Central Division - Chicago Blackhawks (C3) vs Minnesota Wild (C4)

Pacific Division - Anaheim Ducks (P1) vs Los Angeles Kings (P3)