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The stage is set. Seeds are final (depending on Kings/Knights). Two more sleeps and the Stanley Cup Playoffs is here once again!
Now is the time to rejoice. Arguably, the best playoffs amongst the Big-4 is back with what should be one of the more unpredictable chapters of the Stanley Cup in recent memory. We are about to witness one of the more wide-open races in decades; with an opening round set to bring major noise. I'm talkin' major noise: Battle of Florida; Leafs/Bruins for the fourth time in eleven seasons; Pacific Battle out west; and a Central slugfest between the Jets & Avs. The schedule has one final night of regular season action before being finalized and ready for Saturday's opening. This is how it should look come 24 hours from now:
Let the games begin! As of now, the early pre-playoff championship favorite is the Hurricanes at +600; which would be the weakest pre-playoff championship favorite since at least 1984-85- the earliest season of SportsOddsHistory's archives. That's just them doing eenie meenie miney mo with the bracket. This race is going to be nuts.
For a playoff experience already known to be the most surprising & thrilling of the bunch- this year should be one of the biggest thrill rides in recent memory. We are set up nicely. I may as well give off some first-round predictions, but first... oh but first, I must discuss the madness of an ending in the Eastern Wild-Card race that saw the Capitals take grasp of the final seed into the playoffs.
What a wild final week of puck between the Flyers, Pens, Wings, and Capitals in battle to claim the final WC spot. It's safe to say that Philly head coach John Tortorella is one hated cat across Hockeytown in Detroit. His alleged "brain-fart" will sure lead to a lovely rivalry to brew for next season between the Wings & Flyers. The moment was a perfect little cherry on top to what was another good campaign on the ice.
The scenario was pure cinema. Flyers are tied at 1 against the Capitals, in the Flyers' final game of the season sitting at 87 points. Capitals with 89 points; also their final game. At the same moment in time, the Wings were down 3-4 to the Habs in their final game; sittin' at 89 points along with DC. Queue the drum major.
Detroit scored again in remarkable fashion to keep their season alive; Lucas Raymond of course, but this time the winger scored with just 3.3 seconds to spare in regulation. Not knowing that the Wings tied the game against Montréal to force OT, Tortorella goes ahead and pulls the goalie with three minutes left in regulation, which allowed T.J. Oshie to net the game-winner in regulation to give the Capitals the two points they needed to win the tiebreaker and clinch the final spot. Causing heartache and anger across Detroit, and pure joy and excitement across DC. This is exactly how the Capitals finished the race to secure the spot; if you know, you know:
I don't mean to rain down on the Caps' parade, but this is exactly why I made my OTL rant some weeks ago. Get this. Washington ties Detroit in total points; wins the tiebreaker for having more regulation wins. So, they get in for having more regulation wins, but are only in the spot to win the tiebreaker due to OTL points (losing in overtime/shootout). That's a nasty twisted sword. Detroit had more wins and less OTL than Washington- yet the Caps sneak in. Crazy stuff. Detroit is only to blame themselves at the end of the day. Caps capitalized, no pun, winning the last two meetings against the Wings, including a pivotal 2-1 regulation win a week ago. Caps now get to ride possibly one last playoff race with the captain that lead them to their lone Cup win.
Torts pulling the goalie is wild. A crazy way to end one helluva race for the playoffs between the Eastern bunch. Philly was out of the running prior to the decision regardless; Torts pulling the goalie was a chance to have an advantage to win the game in regulation, he claims he didn't know about the Detroit score upon the making of the call. His team just had no idea about the pulling, and the rest is history. Red Wings went wild after Raymond forced overtime. When Patrick Kane ended yet another shootout, his and the team's reaction was a gutted one after knowing the Capitals had beaten the Flyers to clinch just minutes prior:
video via Sportsnet//X
Again, Detroit can be mad at Philadelphia all they want, but they are the ones who put themselves in that situation. They went on a derail in the second half of action. Had playoffs in the bag and then bust. That's on them. Capitals are happy to take advantage. This is what Ovi had to say regarding the chaos to end the season:
Four real solid matchups on the Eastern side of the bracket to start things off. Predictions wise, I'd say the East is easier to bet on. Watch me be completely wrong; it is the Stanley Cup. I think the Hurricanes going in as the favorite could give us an upset with the Islanders. Just a feeling! I am still rockin' with the 'Canes in the first round. Isles will likely prove why the OTL is the joke that it is. Hopefully that isn't the case, and we get an awesome series between those two.
Capitals win the Wild-Card sweepstakes just to earn a series with the President winning Rangers. A series they won't survive. The two did split the regular-season series 2-2, so not saying it's going to be a sweep. I have the Rangers in six. If Charlie Lindgren plays like his final three games, than I might regret my pick. The final two games I am confident in picking. Panthers will win the battle of Florida, while Boston will once again end the Maple Leafs' dreams. Boston has beaten Toronto back-to-back in the past two first round matchups (both game-7s) between the two, and have swept the Leafs 4-0 on the season. It's inevitable that they crush their dreams again. We are destined to see a rematch of the Panthers and Bruins. It's gotta happen and the hockey gods will agree!
The West is difficult to predict. Seems to be anyone's game. All four series should be slobber-knockers, right? We have the defending champs against Draisaitl and McDavid, the Avs dukin' it out with the Jets, and the red-hot Predators takin' on the streaky Canucks. Plus, the Stars and Kings are bound to bring us some great action. No doubt we see some slobber-knockers. I am most excited about Edmonton and Vegas.
McDavid and Draisaitl are desperate of a deep championship run together. I expect them to come out guns blazing against the Knights; whom won't be no easy opp. Remember, VGK is the team who snapped the Oilers' 16-game winning streak a ways back. It's a tough pick, but I am rocking with Edmonton. I'd be surprised if it wasn't a long series. I got the Oilers, and I have them playing the Predators in the Second-Round. That's right, I have Nashville in an upset over the Canucks. That series should be headlined by loud crowds throughout both cities, I am excited to see it play out- rockin' with the Preds to be the team standing at the end of it.
Then there is the Stars/Kings & Jets/Avs matchups. Quite tricky. Kings have the playoff experience on the roster, but the Stars have made the moves to make this season; be the season with their first long Cup run since 2019-20. Dallas is hungry. It's been over 25 years since their lone Cup win; they have had the season to make this Cup run be special. Stars swept LA in the regular-season series (3-0), outscoring the Kings 13-3 across the three games. Which makes me want to lean towards Dallas in the First-Round. I have them meeting with the Jets in round two. Uh huh, down goes the Avs.
Winnipeg owned Colorado in the regular-season, going 3-0 with a 7-0 and a 6-2 dub. I believe this Jets team to be better than the franchise record team of 2017-18 that went on the deepest run in the 'chise's Stanley Cup Playoff history (Conf. Semis). Everyone is picking the Avs; I am rockin' with the Jets. I think they get it done. Should be a real-real good series at that. I think each series across the board is going to bring the noise.
The best time of the year. Saturday, the Stanley Cup opens it's quest once again. The competitors this year are ready. A strong field makes up the play. We are billing this to be the most unpredictable Cup of recent memory. That should be taken right to the bank. We are in for a rollercoaster ride, baby. The top right corner of the bracket, in the Eastern Conference; that is going to be two FEISTY scraps in the First-Round. Lets be real, everyone wants Bruins/Panthers in round two to make a rematch of last year's round one matchup that still is talked about.
It's good to have the Cup back. Playoffs on the hardwood, the Stanley Cup, baseball in full swing, the NFL Draft- this is surely one of the best times on the sports year calendar. Just one more night on the ice and the '24 campaign closes it's chapter in the books. Then the real season begins. Do-or-die season. Let the games begin!
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