To the Stanley Cup | Experience and new blood

After a hectic first night in the NHL, here’s a look at the playoffs that begin this Tuesday.

Tampa Bay Lightning vs. Toronto Maple Leafs

If recent history were ignored, the Toronto Maple Leafs would be overwhelmingly favorites heading into this series. They had 111 points on the season, 13 more than the Tampa Bay Lightning, and finished the year strong with a 7-1-2 record to the Lightning’s 4-6.

But the Lightning have reached the Stanley Cup Finals in the last three springs while the Maple Leafs are looking to get past the first round for the first time since… 2004. The pressure is high on the current group, eliminated in the first round or before in the last six seasons.

Toronto also comes with an inexperienced goalie, Ilya Samsonov. He even had the audacity to claim that the Maple Leafs were the best in every way.

Perhaps, however, that other premature failure last year, in seven games against that same Lightning, will have hurt enough for the Maple Leafs players to play as if their lives depended on it.

At the very least, their general manager Kyle Dubas’ position, and likely that of head coach Sheldon Keefe, is very likely hinged on a first-round victory…

Players to follow

Lightning: Andrei Vasilevskiy

Vasilevskiy had a season slightly below his standards, but he remains monstrous in net and can sow doubt in the minds of Maple Leafs players, especially at the start of the series, if he is at the top of his game.

Maple Leafs: Mitch Marner

Marner has things to be forgiven. He comes close to 100 points in the season, but fades in the playoffs. He scored only 7 goals in 39 games in such an occasion, with 26 assists. He will want to prove that he has the will and the power to shine in a more intense and violent context as well.

Players under the radar

Lightning: Nick Paul

The Lightning have always been able to count on big third lines during their Cup conquests. Nick Paul, a 6’3” and 225 lb colossus, obtained last year for Mathieu Joseph and a fourth-round pick, will be at the center of this trio. He can also produce offensively, as evidenced by his 17 goals.

Maple Leafs: Ryan O’Reilly

O’Reilly slowed a lot with the St. Louis Blues before being traded, but his experience could be the difference in Toronto, among a group of rather green players. We should entrust the center of the second line, with John Tavares and William Nylander, to this winner of the Conn-Smythe Trophy awarded to the most valuable player in the playoffs in 2019.

New York Rangers vs. New Jersey Devils

The Devils have won five more games this season than their first-round opponents, but in contrast, the Rangers have playoff experience.

Head coach Lindy Ruff was showered with boos in the opener, but the Devils had a dream year finishing third overall.

It is nevertheless for this group of a first participation in the playoffs since 2018, and again, only Nico Hischier, Jesper Bratt, Miles Wood and Damon Severson were there.

The Rangers amassed a few points less than the previous season, but reached the semi-finals last spring with the current group. This experience could weigh in the balance.

The Devils acquired one top player at the trade deadline, Timo Meier, but the Rangers acquired two, Patrick Kane and Vladimir Tarasenko.

The pressure will also be strong on the Devils goaltender, Vitek Vanecek, because of his inexperience, only three starts in the playoffs, unlike Igor Shesterkin, with his 20-game career last year.

Players to follow

Rangers: Patrick Kane

Kane has performed below expectations since arriving from Chicago, only 12 points, including 5 goals, in 19 games, but we like to remember in New York that Martin St-Louis was also average after his acquisition before being reborn in series.

Devils: Timo Meier

Meier cost some good young players and two first-round picks if the conditions are met, and he had a tentative start in New Jersey, scoring six points in 13 games, but finishing strong with eight points in as many games. He could find himself on a third line with Erik Haula and Jesper Boqvist to balance the forces.

Players under the radar

Rangers: Alexis Lafreniere

The third trio of youngsters in New York, Alexis Lafrenière, Kaapo Kakko and Filip Chytil, finally started to express themselves this winter. Lafrenière had 15 points in 27 games in February and March.

Devils: John Marino

A very profitable transaction for the Devils, who obtained in John Marino a defender of top 4 for a younger fullback, Ty Smith, unable to hold on to the NHL just yet. Marino plays against big opposing lines with Ryan Graves and is the most used defender on the penalty kill.

Seattle Kraken vs. Colorado Avalanche

A Seattle win would be one of the biggest upsets of recent playoff years.

Nine points separate the two teams, but also, above all, the Colorado Avalanche are experiencing tobacco after winning the Stanbley Cup last year; the Kraken, he enters the playoffs in his second year of existence and relies on a number one center of only 20 years, Matthew Beniers.

However, let’s give credit where credit is due, this team made up of players mostly rejected by other teams still amassed 100 points. Head coach Dave Hakstol knew how to maximize the performance of this group, and the efficiency of the collective game made up for the lack of talent.

If we had to encourage the Kraken, let’s mention the health problems of Cale Makar, absent in the last seven games of the season, the retirement of captain Gabriel Landeskog for the entire series, and the fact that we has ever succeeded in replacing the second center Nazem Kadri.

Still, Colorado hasn’t lost on a regular basis in the last eight games of the season…

Players to follow

Kraken: Matthew Beniers

Second overall pick in 2021, behind Owen Power, Beniers was one of the main attacking powerhouses with 57 points, including 24 goals, at just 20 years old. The step is high nevertheless in series against such a powerful formation.

Avalanche: Cale Makar

In what state will Makar present himself, still brilliant offensively with 66 points in 60 games, after having missed the last seven meetings, not counting ten games between February 9 and February 1?^er march to treat a concussion?

Players under the radar

Kraken: Adam Larsson

Taylor Hall’s trade for Adam Larsson was decried at the time in Edmonton, but the Oilers took two years to recover from his departure. Larsson, the second overall pick in 2011, is coming off his best offensive season with 33 points, but he’s best known for his defensive skills. He’ll be in MacKinnon’s hands as much as possible.

Avalanche: Lars Eller

Some may have missed the news, but the former Canadiens center went from a drifting formation, the Washington Capitals, to the Avalanche. An opportunity to win his second career Cup, at 33 years old.

Winnipeg Jets vs. Vegas Golden Knights

The Winnipeg Jets exceeded expectations with the arrival of a new coach, Rick Bowness, who was intractable from the start with his stars Mark Scheifele and Blake Wheeler, but the club faltered and qualified for the playoffs by the buttocks skin.

The Golden Knights have enjoyed success despite the injury to their unlikely number one goaltender Logan Thompson. Laurent Brossoit will undoubtedly be the holder in the first game, assisted by Jonathan Quick, survivor of the Los Angeles Kings, via Columbus.

Brossoit, 30, came back to life at the end of the season. He’s 7-0-3 with a 2.17 GAA and .927 save percentage, but he’ll face one of the best in the game, Connor Hellebuyck.

Players to follow

Jets: Pierre-Luc Dubois

Dubois had 42 points after 41 games, but the offense was less present in the second half of the season, with 21 points in 32 games. We will especially remember his performances in the playoffs, where he should play in the center of the first line between Kyle Connor and Scheifele.

Golden Knights: Jack Eichel

Eichel produces less than one of the four pieces obtained for his services, Alex Tuch, but he is said to be more responsible defensively and his leadership qualities are touted. His 66 points in 67 games are decent, but don’t tell the whole story.

Players under the radar

Jets: Nino Niederreiter

Niederreiter’s acquisition from the Nashville Predators for a second-round pick in 2024 on Feb. 25 didn’t make much of a splash, but the young veteran can be quite useful in the playoffs because of his size and sense of defensive responsibility . He will in principle complete a third line, but could get a promotion if Nikolaj Ehlers is not restored in time.

Golden Knights: Mark Stone

As if by magic, Mark Stone should return in time for the start of the playoffs. He had not played since January 12. Bad tongues will say that we delayed his return in order to comply with the ceiling, since salaries are no longer counted in series.