Round 1: Tales of the Unexpected
The NHL first round often reads like Tales of the Unexpected. Upsets are an NHL tradition as much as overtime and hiding injuries.
But this year’s first round seemed to have more twists than usual. Here’s a look at some first-round surprises:
1. Blackhawks looking stale: Has this group run out of magic? With three Stanley Cup championships since 2010, the Blackhawks have been the most impressive team in the salary cap era. But they looked worn out in losing four consecutive games to the Nashville Predators.
They only managed to score three goals and sometimes appeared overmatched. General manager Stan Bowman has already said there will be changes. 2. Toronto Maple Leafs’ readiness: The Maple Leafs are a team on the rise and they are even closer to being a force than everyone realized. The Maple Leafs pushed the No. 1 Washington Capitals to six games, including five that went into overtime, before bowing out.
Based on how they performed in the first round, the Maple Leafs might be a major contender next season, depending upon their off-season improvements.
Toronto centre Auston Matthews became the first teenager since Wendel Clark (1986) to score goals in four consecutive game playoff games. He proved he’s ready to lead his team now.
3. Two major house cleanings: In the midst of all of the playoff excitement, the Los Angeles Kings and Buffalo Sabres both fired their general manager and coach.
The Kings’ decision raised eyebrows because GM Dean Lombardi and coach Darryl Sutter have won two Stanley Cups since 2012.
Rob Blake is the new GM in Los Angeles, and the big question now is whether Lombardi will end up in Buffalo. Based on his credentials, he might be what the Sabres need to get their team over the hump.
4. Jake Allen’s rise: When Ken Hitchcock was fired by the St. Louis Blues earlier this season, there was still a question about whether Allen was a long-term solution in net.
Jake Allen’s save percentage is .942 since Mike Yeo replaced Hitchcock. His save percentage from start of the regular season to Jan. 31 was .895.
He played brilliantly (.956 save percentage) in the first round, and was the primary
reason why the Blues downed the Minnesota Wild.
5. Ryan Johansen’s dominance: In the first round, Johansen was the No. 1 centre David Poile hoped he would be when he traded Seth Jones for him last season.
He had six points in four games, and won 60.2 per cent of his faceoffs. The line of Viktor Arvidsson, Johansen and Filip Forsberg generated five goals, 10 assists and boasted a combined plus-minus of +22.
If Johansen continues this level of play, it could alter the Predators’ outlook for years to come. 6. Alexander Radulov could get paid: Montreal didn’t have enough scoring, but that wasn’t Alexander Radulov’s fault. He totalled seven points (on two goals, five assists) in six games against the New York Rangers.
He will be an unrestricted free agent this summer, and he enhanced his value with his performance. Given the lack of talent available in the free agent marketplace, Radulov, 30, making $5.75 million this season, could be one of the hottest free agents.
The Canadiens will attempt to re-sign him, but he might prefer to be with a team that could surround him with more offensively gifted players. The Canadiens don’t look like they are close to winning a Stanley Cup.