Now that we have seen Game 1 of each Stanley Cup Playoff sequence, groups have given us an thought of what to anticipate. It is only one sport, however each sport is essential within the NHL playoffs.
With street groups profitable six of the primary eight video games, underdogs have gotten off to a surprisingly robust begin. In explicit, the New York Rangers and Winnipeg Jets made assertion street wins to start their playoff runs.
Other groups, just like the Edmonton Oilers and Colorado Avalanche encountered some points. And, sure, even in a giant win over the Toronto Maple Leafs, the Tampa Bay Lightning have motive to be discouraged.
Here are the primary impressions from every Stanley Cup Playoff first-round sequence.
Islanders want to repair anemic energy play
The New York Islanders’ energy play was among the many NHL’s worst within the common season, and that did not change throughout Game 1 in opposition to the Carolina Hurricanes. The Isles misplaced, 2-1, and so they missed a number of probabilities to flip the script with the person benefit.
The Islanders didn’t convert on all 4 of their energy performsThey solely generated 4 photographs and 0.82 anticipated objectives on them, per Natural Stat Trick.With below 5 minutes remaining within the third interval, the Isles acquired an influence play with a chance to tie the sport, and so they did not even get a shot on objective.
This needs to be a low-scoring sequence regardless, and the Islanders have a shot to tug off the upset, however they should get some type of manufacturing from their energy play unit. The Hurricanes are an elite defensive workforce, and so they have been first within the NHL in five-on-five anticipated objectives in opposition to within the common season. If the Isles cannot gentle the lamp with the person benefit, their postseason look could also be transient.
Panthers missed golden alternative in opposition to Bruins
If the Florida Panthers are going to tug off the upset in opposition to the Boston Bruins, they’ll unwell afford to drop winnable video games. That is strictly what occurred in Game 1.
The Bruins have been with out captain Patrice Bergeron, and the Panthers outplayed Boston for stretches. According to Natural Stat Trick, Florida managed 61.0% of the anticipated objectives at five-on-five, and so they even did a good job of holding Brad Marchand and David Pastrnak in test.
The Panthers simply could not resolve Bruins goaltender Linus Ullmark, and Alex Lyon coughed up an inexcusable objective in his playoff debut for Florida. There was lots to love in regards to the Panthers’ sport, and maybe they’ll construct on that as they attempt to even the sequence earlier than heading again to Florida. This sport, nevertheless, was there for the taking, and the Panthers didn’t capitalize on a subpar effort from the Bruins. They could not get many extra probabilities like that the remainder of the sequence.
Joe Pavelski’s harm might tilt steadiness of the sequence
In the second interval of Game 1, Dallas Stars veteran ahead Joe Pavelski left the sport when Minnesota Wild defenseman Matt Dumba laid a heavy hit on him. Pavelski struggled to get off the ice, even with assist, and Dallas could also be with out him for a minimum of a few video games.
Pavelski, 38, continues to be probably the most dependable forwards within the NHL, and he is been a key cog within the Stars’ prime line for the previous couple of seasons (he simply tallied 28 objectives and 49 assists within the common season). Taking him out of the Dallas lineup solely tilts the percentages extra in favor of the Wild after their double time beyond regulation win in Game 1.
Minnesota is a wonderful defensive workforce, however they wrestle to attain objectives at five-on-five. In order for the Wild to win this sequence, they’re going to in all probability need to win some low-scoring defensive battles. With Pavelski out of the lineup for Dallas, that turns into a way more attainable objective.
Goaltending stays an enormous query mark for Oilers
Stuart Skinner proved to be a stable beginning netminder for the Oilers within the common season, however there have been nonetheless questions on his lack of expertise coming into these playoffs. After Game 1, these questions stay.
To be clear, Skinner was not the one motive the Oilers dropped Game 1 at dwelling to the Los Angeles Kings. It’s simply that Skinner did not do a lot to assist his workforce lock up a victory after Edmonton went up 2-0 within the first interval.
He surrendered a considerably delicate objective to Adrian Kempe to start out the second interval.In complete, he wound up permitting 0.65 objectives above common, per Natural Stat Trick.The Oilers’ goalie confronted 35 photographs in practically 70 minutes of sport time and allowed 4 objectives.
That will not do it, particularly when Joonas Korpisalo was on prime of his sport for the Kings. The excellent news for Skinner is that Edmonton performed pretty nicely general in Game 1, and he ought to have a good shot to redeem himself and get again on monitor with a win in Game 2.
Devils can not let Rangers win particular groups battle
The New Jersey Devils have been a greater five-on-five workforce than the New York Rangers all season, however that edge was erased — after which some — in Game 1 as a result of the Rangers dominated the particular groups battle.
In the primary 10 minutes of the sport, the Devils acquired two energy performs and failed to attain on each. New Jersey did not even put a shot on Rangers goaltender Igor Shesterkin. New Jersey had an opportunity to grab the momentum early, however as an alternative New York gained a variety of confidence on the street.
Then, on their very own first energy play of the sport, which got here with simply over 10 minutes remaining within the opening body, the Rangers cashed in and took a 1-0 lead. Things would not get any higher for the Devils after that.
New Jersey completed the sport 0-for-4 on the ability play because the New York penalty kill was fully stifling. On the flip facet, the Rangers capitalized on two of their three energy performs and cruised to a 5-1 win. As good because the Devils are at five-on-five, they merely can not afford to get torched on particular groups and anticipate to beat this loaded Rangers workforce.
Lightning win large, however at an excellent larger value
Just from trying on the scoreboard, you’ll suppose every little thing went proper for the Tampa Bay Lightning of their Game 1 blowout of the Toronto Maple Leafs. The harm report tells a really completely different story.
While the Bolts rolled to a 7-3 win over the Leafs in Toronto, they misplaced a pair of key defenders.
Victor Hedman left the sport with an undisclosed harm after the primary interval.Erik Cernak appeared to endure a head harm after taking a excessive hit from Toronto’s Michael Bunting within the second interval.If these two cannot return to the sequence, it presents a steep mountain to climb for the Lightning, even with a 1-0 lead.
Although he is had a down yr in 2022-23, Hedman continues to be the most effective defensemen within the NHL when he is at his finest, and Cernak eats up powerful minutes whereas taking part in an enormous position on the penalty kill.
Losing these two in opposition to a Maple Leafs workforce loaded with firepower up entrance is a worst-case situation for Tampa. Mikhail Sergachev can play the position of No. 1 defenseman for the Bolts, however he does not have a lot assist round him. Rookie Nick Perbix will possible play a bigger position, and Zach Bogosian and Haydn Fleury will now slot into the lineup after powerful common seasons for each.
As lengthy as Hedman and Cernak are out, it’s the Maple Leafs’ sequence to lose — whatever the remaining rating of Game 1.
Jets ship a message in domination of Golden Knights
It wasn’t stunning to see the Winnipeg Jets take Game 1 in opposition to the Vegas Golden Knight, however the best way wherein they gained was stunning. The Jets merely dismantled the Golden Knights in their very own barn, 5-1.
This wasn’t a case of the sport being nearer that it appeared on the scoreboard. Outside of a brief stint within the second interval, Winnipeg was in full management of this matchup. According to Natural Stat Trick, the Jets restricted the Golden Knights to simply 1.2 anticipated objectives at five-on-five. Vegas could not get any type of sustained possession within the offensive zone.
With the Golden Knights trailing 2-1 to start out the third interval, everybody watching the sport anticipated a giant push from the Pacific Division champs, however it by no means got here. Instead, the Jets got here out swinging, and Blake Wheeler doubled his workforce’s lead lower than 5 minutes into the interval. Defensively, Winnipeg held Vegas to 10 photographs on objective within the remaining body, and plenty of of these got here with the online empty on the different finish.
The Jets despatched a message in Game 1, and the Golden Knights should discover a solution earlier than they head as much as Winnipeg down 2-0 within the sequence.
Philipp Grubauer, Kraken silence doubters
Coming into this postseason, I used to be very skeptical about Philipp Grubauer’s capability to carry up in opposition to a Colorado Avalanche offense that may fill the online after they’re rolling. After Game 1, Grubauer is nicely on his solution to proving me incorrect.
In the method of main the Seattle Kraken to a Game 1 win over the defending champs, Grubauer stopped 34 of the 35 photographs he confronted and saved 2.52 objectives above common. The Kraken netminder did get help from an incredible defensive effort in entrance of him, however Grubauer alson got here up with some enormous saves at key factors within the sport.
By the time the ultimate buzzer sounded to finish the third interval, Grubauer’s detractors and the sellout crowd in Ball Arena have been lifeless silent. If Seattle goes to tug off one of many greatest upsets in latest Stanley Cup Playoff historical past, Grubauer must flip in a pair extra performances like this. It is only one sport, and that is necessary to recollect, however it’s onerous to not be inspired by what Grubauer did in Game 1.
