Stanley Cup favorites, sleepers
Staff debates worthiness of Predators, Bruins
The NHL regular season ends Sunday with one game, between the Panthers and Bruins. With a few games remaining for each team, now is a perfect time to shift gears to the playoffs and which teams to focus on for the run to the Stanley Cup.
Who is the Stanley Cup favorite?
Kevin Allen: Predators. Going into Tuesday, they were 17-3-2 in their past 22 games and they just downed Tampa Bay, the second-best team in the Eastern Conference. The Predators have the NHL’s best defensive group, this year’s Vezina Trophy favorite in Pekka Rinne and the No. 7-ranked offensive team. This Predators squad is not just deeper and grittier, it is also healthier and better prepared than the team that reached the Stanley Cup Final last season.
Jimmy Hascup: Bruins. They have quietly evolved into the Eastern Conference’s best team, and they are close to getting Charlie McAvoy back. They fear no team in the East (3-0-0 against the Lightning). Where is their weakness? They are an elite possession team that ranks fifth or better in goals for, goals against, power-play percentage and penalty kill percentage. The Bruins have star power (Patrice Bergeron, Zdeno Chara, Brad Marchand, Tuukka Rask) and a strong supporting cast with players such as Rick Nash, who has not played since March 17 because of an upper body injury, and Jake DeBrusk. There might not be a team that plays a more cohesive game.
Who is a sleeper team to win the Stanley Cup?
Allen: Blue Jackets. If the Blue Jackets can survive the first round against the Penguins, they are going to be a tough out. They are 12-1-1 in their past 14 games. They are difficult to play against. Seth Jones has blossomed into a force on defense, and they have found their offensive flair. They’ve scored 59 goals in those 14 games, for an average of 4.2 goals per game.
Hascup: Sharks. Even with Joe Thornton’s status a question mark, the Sharks have adequate three-line forward depth. Evander Kane can be an impact player in the playoffs, and Brent Burns continues to be among the most dominant defensemen. The core is playofftested, including goalie Martin Jones, who has a .925 save percentage in 32 playoff games.
Who will miss the playoffs in the Western Conference?
Allen: Avalanche. The Erik Johnson injury seems too much to overcome. He is the foundation of their defensive corps. Plus, the Blues have a game in hand against the Avalanche and are 6-3-1 in their last 10. It sure would be fun if the last playoff spot in the West came down to Saturday’s game between the Blues and Colorado in Denver.
Hascup: Avalanche. Their remaining schedule — Kings, Sharks, Blues — is the toughest among the three Western Conference teams vying for the last two playoff spots. The Blues have a game in hand and are 3-1-0 against the Avs.