It's playoff time, folks. To get you prepared, we break down each of the Western Conference's second-round series. (Advanced stats at 5-on-5 courtesy: Corsica)
Predators 1C vs. Jets 2C
Predators
Stat
Jets
4-2
Round 1 record
4-1
7
Goal differential
7
54.59% (2nd)
5-on-5 Corsi %
58.87% (1st)
9.26% (3rd)
Shooting percentage
7.95% (8th)
.923 (8th)
Save percentage
.941 (5th)
101.57 (6th)
PDO
102.06 (5th)
Colton Sissons & Austin Watson (7)
Leading scorer
Mark Scheifele & Dustin Byfuglien (5)
It'll be a Battle of the Titans in this second-round series. The Predators and Jets finished first and second league-wide, while their regular-season meet ups were always competitive. One key to the series could be the Predators' Pekka Rinne, who was only average in Round 1 against the Colorado Avalanche, while Jets netminder Connor Hellebuyck put up a far superior performance in eliminating the Minnesota Wild.
Game 1 begins at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville.
Golden Knights 1P vs. Sharks 3P
Golden Knights
Stat
Sharks
4-0
Round 1 record
4-0
4
Goal differential
12
51.69% (6th)
5-on-5 Corsi %
46.83% (13th)
5.21% (14th)
Shooting percentage
11.49% (2nd)
.990 (1st)
Save percentage
.979 (2nd)
104.18 (3rd)
PDO
109.37 (1st)
Reilly Smith (3)
Leading scorer
Joe Pavelski & Logan Couture (5)
Both sides made quick work in the opening round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs, sweeping away the Los Angeles Kings and Anaheim Ducks, respectively. If Vegas isn't already getting its due credit, it should after taking out a two-time Cup champion. Netminder Marc-Andre Fleury played like a virtual wall, while Sharks goalie Martin Jones was no slouch either. San Jose could also get a boost in the second round should Joe Thornton return from injury.
As NHL teams are eliminated from Stanley Cup contention, theScore NHL freelance writer Katie Brown looks back at the highs and lows of their seasons, along with the biggest questions ahead of 2018-19. The 16th edition focuses on the Los Angeles Kings.
The Good
Career years from Anze Kopitar, Dustin Brown, and Drew Doughty.Kopitar was the Kings’ leading scorer during the regular season and playoffs. His 92 points were 40 better than his total in the 2016-17 season, and a career high. His 22:05 average ice time was also a career high, and helped him earn yet another Selke Trophy nomination. Brown established personal bests in assists (33) and points (61), while Doughty topped off a 60-point career year by being named a Norris Trophy finalist for a fourth time.
Jonathan Quick's amazing season. Quick won his second Jennings Trophy by helping backstop the Kings to a 2.46 team goals-against average. Their penalty kill finished at an NHL-best 85 percent, thanks in large part to Quick. In the playoffs, he posted his best numbers since the Kings’ 2012 Stanley Cup-winning campaign, with a 1.55 goals-against average and a .947 save percentage. He also set a franchise record by making 54 saves in Game 2's double-overtime loss to the Vegas Golden Knights.
Daniel Brickley’s dynamic debut. Brickley made his NHL debut for the Kings on April 5, a week after signing a two-year entry-level contract. The defenseman recorded his first NHL point that night against the Minnesota Wild; it was a fitting milestone for Brickley, who had just finished his junior year at Minnesota State and also played for the U.S. at the world championships. He scored 10 goals and 35 points last season and finished with 20 goals and 77 points in 107 career games with the Mavericks.
The Bad
A lack of postseason offense. The Kings scored just three goals in their four-game sweep at the hands of the Golden Knights. Two of those goals came in one game; they were shut out in Games 1 and 4. And the Kings’ most important players didn’t show up. Brown had just one point in the series. Doughty missed Game 2 with a suspension, but it didn’t really matter - he, Jeff Carter, Adrian Kempe, Tyler Toffoli, and Tanner Pearson combined for zero points. Suffice to say it’s impossible to win any game, much less a playoff series, if you can’t score goals.
Missing Derek Forbort and Jake Muzzin. With Muzzin, third on the team with 34 assists, out with an upper-body injury for two games and Forbort out with a lower-body injury for the entirety of the Kings’ short playoff run, coach John Stevens was forced to lean on relatively inexperienced defensemen Oscar Fantenberg, Paul LaDue, and Kevin Gravel. Considering the Kings’ goal-scoring woes in their first-round series, they almost certainly would have fared better had Muzzin been available the entire time.
That dismal home record. The Kings had the second-fewest regular-season home wins of any playoff team with a 23-15-3 record. They lost both home playoff games too, sinking their postseason home record to 0-5 over the last two years.
The Questions
Does Doughty sign another extension in L.A.? Doughty’s eight-year, $56-million deal doesn’t expire until after next season, but he’s allowed to start discussing an extension with the Kings on July 1. Soon after the Kings were eliminated from the playoffs, Doughty made it clear he wants to stay and finish his career in L.A. General manager Rob Blake said negotiating an extension with Doughty is a top priority.
How do they improve? Offensive depth is a major concern for the Kings this offseason. To keep up in today’s NHL, they need scorers beyond Kopitar, Brown, and Carter; only five of their players notched 15 or more goals last season. Center Gabriel Vilardi, the Kings’ first-round pick in 2017, could make the jump next year, among other prospects in the system. Whatever they do, they need to get younger and faster.
Should they rebuild? The Kings were one of the oldest teams in the NHL last season. Their stars aren’t getting any younger, but it doesn’t make sense to tear it all down. Many NHL teams have rebuilt on the fly - keep the core players together, maybe add a couple pieces down the stretch, and make way for younger talent. The Kings would do well to get away from the heavy, Darryl Sutter hockey they played when they won the Cup in 2012 and 2014 and focus on what it takes to win now.
In the weeks leading up to the 2018 NHL Draft, theScore NHL prospect writer Hannah Stuart breaks down 10 of the most notable draft-eligible players. The second edition focuses on Andrei Svechnikov.
Comparing Barrie Colts forward Andrei Svechnikov to Alex Ovechkin is easy; Svechnikov is a pure sniper who's seemingly able to score on any shot and often intimidates his opponents. But that comparison would be lazy, and the weight of it would do Svechnikov a disservice. The 18-year-old is his own player - not just an elite goal scorer, but someone who's also put work into improving his playmaking over the last year, and someone who will enter the NHL as a highly skilled and well-rounded forward.
After spending the previous season with the Muskegon Lumberjacks of the USHL, Svechnikov was selected first overall by the Colts in the CHL Import Draft. He sits atop NHL Central Scouting’s North American Rankings, and every independent scouting service that combines North American and international skaters has him second, behind only Rasmus Dahlin.
Year in review
Svechnikov's first season with the Colts did not get off to an ideal start. A broken hand in late October required surgery and kept him out until the beginning of December. His 44 regular-season games, however, were enough to lead all OHL rookies with 72 points, including 40 goals. He received the Emms Family Award as OHL Rookie of the Year, and was named to the OHL All-Rookie first team.
He also recovered in time to join Team Russia for the world juniors. Russia’s coaching staff doesn’t typically give Under-18 players much ice time, so Svechnikov had less of an opportunity to impress than fellow prospects Brady Tkachuk and Filip Zadina, who played prominent roles on their respective teams and saw their draft stocks rise because of it. That being said, Svechnikov looked good when he saw the ice and finished the tournament with five assists in five games.
Like Dahlin, Svechnikov isn't playing at the U18 World Championship. After the Colts were eliminated from the OHL playoffs, it was revealed he'd been playing through an injury of some kind. The Colts and the Russian Hockey Federation agreed he was too injured to be effective, and would be better served by resting.
Areas of strength
Svechnikov is an offensive dynamo. He’s an elite goal scorer, with an arsenal of shots that seem NHL-ready. He can score from far out, or from in tight. He’s also a skilled playmaker who's able to stickhandle through traffic and make passes that confuse opponents, and he noticeably improved in that area in the second half of this season.
His hockey sense and vision is top end, allowing him to seemingly score at will because he can read the ice and find the right play. He’s also a good skater - not elite, but good. He’s agile, especially for someone his height, and his stride is strong. He uses his physicality to win battles, and that physicality - combined with his strong balance - makes it difficult to knock him off the puck.
Areas of improvement
One standout issue with Svechnikov is discipline. In addition to earning a four-game playoff suspension during the Colts' first-round series against the Mississauga Steelheads for a hit to the head, he finished the regular season with 67 penalty minutes in 44 games. Last season with the Lumberjacks, he had 68 PIM in 48 games. Svechnikov is going to be a key offensive weapon for the NHL team that drafts him, but to do that, he needs to stay out of the box. His aggressive style of play is a strength when he doesn’t cross the line - he just needs to find that balance.
Otherwise, there are no glaring issues with Svechnikov’s game right now. He could stand to improve his play in his own end, and while he’s a good skater, he certainly isn’t the best in his class. Right now, however, his offensive prowess is such that it often makes up for what he lacks. Moreover, those lacking areas can be improved with commitment (which he’s shown he has) and focused development.
Scouting reports
“Physically ready for the NHL, Svechnikov blends world-class finishing ability with hard-nosed and defensively responsible play. A goal scorer who can impact the game in all situations. Terrific blend of speed, power, and precision. He’ll be a front-line threat for years to come.” - Cam Robinson, DobberProspects.com
“Svechnikov plays a responsible game without the puck, has a strong stride with good top-end speed, good instincts at reading the play to set up or be open for chances. He also has an excellent finishing touch to bury his chances." - Dan Marr, director of NHL Central Scouting
Did you know?
Svechnikov’s 1.64 points per game was the highest mark among OHL rookies since the 2006-07 season.
He's expressed his desire to one day play in the NHL with his brother, Evgeny, a Detroit Red Wings prospect (and depending on the outcome of the draft lottery, he might get his wish).
In addition to being named OHL Rookie of the Year this season, Svechnikov was the Rookie of the Year in the USHL last year.
64 of his 72 points were primary points, and he averaged 3.95 shots per game.
theScore imagines what the cast of The Avengers would look like if it were comprised entirely of NHL stars.
Thor - Victor Hedman, Tampa Bay Lightning
Dude's got blonde flow and lightning bolts pasted all around him at all times. Sprinkle in the fact that Hedman also lays people out with thunderous hits on a nightly basis, and he might as well trade in his stick for a hammer to complete the ensemble.
Speaking of laying people out, both Byfuglien and the Hulk make a living off smashing their opponents. A task that the Jets' blue-liner has seemingly perfected over recent weeks, handing out a bevy of punishing hits while leaving his enemies in a crumpled heap.
Word to the wise: Do not get Byfuglien angry. We all know what happens when he gets angry.
Iron Man - Alex Ovechkin, Washington Capitals
Ovechkin and Tony Stark sometimes find themselves in the unfortunate scenarios of trying to play the hero while instead becoming villainized for their shortcomings and ego-driven behaviors.
And while Ovechkin has come a long way in terms of shedding the bad rep of being a selfish player, he's short on rings, and still operating in the shadow of some of the more accomplished players in the NHL. A feeling similarly shared by Iron Man when fighting alongside some of the more wholesome and popular Avengers like Captain America or Thor.
Hawkeye - Connor McDavid, Edmonton Oilers
Even if you don't watch hockey on the regular, you watch enough highlight shows to know that McDavid makes a living out of threading needles, picking corners, and finding the slimmest of spaces to operate in. And, if you've been following the exploits of Clint Barton - aka Hawkeye - over the last handful of years, you're well aware he operates in a very similar manner.
McDavid uses a carbon fiber stick, whereas Hawkeye gets his job done with a carbon fiber bow and arrow. But both men are surgical with their precision.
Captain America - Blake Wheeler, Winnipeg Jets
The Jets captain might not have the ravishing good looks of the current version of Captain Steve Rodgers, as portrayed by actor Chris Evans, but the rest of Wheeler's attributes make him the perfect player to lead the NHL's band of Avengers.
Strength, leadership, a willingness to sacrifice himself for the good of his squad, both Cap and Wheeler do it all, and all in the name of others. Oh, don't forget, despite playing north of the border in Winnipeg, Wheeler's still a good ol' American boy, obviously a necessary trait to fill this role.
Ant-Man - Johnny Gaudreau, Calgary Flames
Let's not overthink this one: Ant-Man and Gaudreau go to their utility belt of tricks to fool their enemies, and both are effective at what they do despite being limited by their relatively small frames.
Gaudreau might only stand 5-foot-9 and 157 pounds, and much like Ant-Man, that doesn't stop him from being larger than life once the pressure is on.
Spider-Man - Andrei Vasilevksiy, Tampa Bay Lightning
Not only does Vasilevskiy spend a lot his nights sitting in a web of netting, but his freakish athleticism and seemingly supernatural flexibility are surely the result of a bite from some kind of radioactive arachnid.
And while the young Russian will likely leave the professional photography to the real Spidey, his innate sixth sense and ability to contort his body are remarkably similar.
After falling down 2-0 and 3-1 to the Boston Bruins in their opening-round series, Toronto Maple Leafs head coach Mike Babcock wants his crew to relish the opportunity that didn't seem possible only a few days ago.
The Leafs staved off elimination for the second time on Monday night, forcing a Game 7 with a 3-1 win on home ice. Now, it's winner take all between the Atlantic Division rivals, and Babcock didn't mince his words on the magnitude of the situation.
"We've been talking about it all along, we're playing a really good team in Boston and this series is fun, it's high-end, there’s no room, they've got high-end players," Babcock said. "But, we think we're going to win. We've thought that all along, we started poorly and crawled our way back. Now, you have the opportunity of a lifetime."
The situation mirrors that of the 2013 postseason, when the Maple Leafs clawed back from a 3-1 deficit versus the Bruins in Round 1, only to infamously watch their 4-1 lead slip away in the third period of the series-deciding contest.
Toronto will once again travel to Boston carrying the momentum, but this time will seek to flip the script and finish the job in the only first-round series to go the distance.
The Washington Capitals' superstar winger scored a pair of goals in Monday's first-round series win over Columbus, and the Metropolitan Division winners are once again set to meet Pittsburgh in Round 2 as a result.
Even after being eliminated in each of the past two postseasons by the Penguins, Ovechkin is embracing the challenge.
Columbus built a 2-0 lead in the series, only to see Washington win the next four after reinstating Braden Holtby as the starting goalie in lieu of Philipp Grubauer.
Washington will enter the second round as the higher seed, but after having lost to the Penguins in each of the past two postseasons. Pittsburgh won in six games in 2016 and prevailed in seven last year, and went on to win the Stanley Cup both times.
This will be the third time these two teams have met in the playoffs in the Alex Ovechkin/Sidney Crosby era, with Pittsburgh also winning in the second round back in 2009.
TORONTO (AP) Frederik Andersen stopped 32 shots to lead the Toronto Maple Leafs to a 3-1 win over the Boston Bruins on Monday night, forcing a decisive Game 7 in the first-round series.
William Nylander, Mitch Marner and Tomas Plekanec scored for the Maple Leafs, who trailed the series 3-1 before winning two straight. They also trailed 1-0 early in the second period of this one. Nikita Zaitsev added two assists, and Marner and Plekanec each had one.
Jake DeBrusk scored for the Bruins, and Tuukka Rask - pulled in Game 5 at home, finished with 27 saves.
Game 7 is Wednesday night in Boston with the winner advancing to face Tampa Bay in the Eastern Conference semifinals..
There was a moment of silence before the opening faceoff at Air Canada Centre to honor the 10 people killed Monday when a van mounted a sidewalk in Toronto's north end and struck multiple pedestrians. Fifteen others were injured.
Scoreless after an end-to-end first period, the Bruins grabbed a 1-0 lead 1:02 into the second when David Krejci won a faceoff after an icing against Auston Matthews right to DeBrusk, beat Andersen between his arm and body.
Toronto responded just 35 seconds later when Nylander buried a rebound of Jake Gardiner shot from the point for his first goal of the playoffs.
The Leafs appeared to go ahead at 3:04 when Zach Hyman beat Rask with a no-look backhand as he fell to the ice. The Bruins challenged the play for goalie interference, and replays showed the forward knocked the stick out of Rask's hands as he cruised through the crease just before scoring.
Boston appeared to control the play after that as Toronto could barely get out of its own zone or complete a clean breakout. Andersen - who recorded 42 stops in a 4-3 victory in Game 5 on Saturday - made great saves off Rick Nash, Brad Marchand and Patrice Bergeron to keep things level.
The Maple Leafs, however, wend ahead with 6:35 left in the period when Marner was quickest to a loose puck in the slot and beat Rask with a backhand to the far post after Marchand couldn't clear.
Toronto killed off its first penalty early in the third, and was then left fuming when David Backes elbowed Andersen in the mask, but was only assessed an offsetting roughing minor when Roman Polak came to his goalie's defence.
The Leafs couldn't connect on their third power play moments later, and Andersen stoned Sean Kuraly with under 10 minutes to go.
Rask then robbed Nylander off a great feed from Auston Matthews.
The Bruins went back to the power play with under six minutes left, but the best chance came when Rask stopped Kasperi Kapanen on a 2-on-1 that turned into a breakaway before stoning Krejci on a one-time shot that brought the towel-waving crowd to its feet.
Rask followed that up by stopping Matthews on another 2-on-1 off a pass from Plekanec before Plekanec sealed the win with an empty-netter with 1:14 to play.
Both goalies were on their game in the first as the clubs combined for 27 shots on goal, including 17 from Boston.
Andersen made a nice stop on Nash less than two minutes in after a Maple Leafs turnover before Rask, who allowed four goals on 13 shots before getting pulled in Game 5, fought off Zaitsev's point shot.
Marchand came close when his shot off another turnover struck the inside of Andersen's pad and bounced out the other side.
Rask held the fort on the game's first power play, and Andersen followed up with his second incredible stick save of the series when he swatted a Backes attempt from in tight with Nash lurking.
NOTES: The Maple Leafs fell behind the Bruins 3-1 the last time the clubs met in the playoffs back in 2013 before tying the series 3-3 with back-to-back 2-1 victories. Toronto then became the first team in NHL history to blow a three-goal lead in the third period of a Game 7 as the Bruins stormed back from a 4-1 deficit and won 5-4 in overtime. ... Coming into these playoffs, teams that take a 3-1 lead in a best-of-seven series hold an all-time record of 270-28 - good for a success rate of 90.6 per cent. ... The Maple Leafs have trailed 3-1 in a best-of-seven series 15 times, with their only victory coming in the 1942 Stanley Cup Final when they stormed back from a 3-0 deficit to beat the Detroit Red Wings.
