Our hockey writers share their observations and insights throughout Round 2 of the NHL postseason.
Monday, May 4
Spotlight shines on Ducks' young core
We're about to learn a lot about Anaheim's promising young core.
Beating a patently flawed Oilers team is one thing. Overwhelming the veteran Golden Knights, one of the NHL's stingiest defensive squads in all situations, is an entirely different challenge. Game 1 goes tonight (9:30 p.m. ET) in Las Vegas.
Franchise center Leo Carlsson, 40-goal-scorer Cutter Gauthier, power forward Beckett Sennecke, and do-everything blue-liner Jackson LaCombe are all 25 or younger, riding rocket-ship trajectories, and competing in the playoffs for the first time. Carlsson, Gauthier, and LaCombe were supremely impressive in six games against the Oilers, while Sennecke was OK. But there won't be nearly as much room to operate offensively in Round 2. The Ducks will be consistently asked to problem-solve in transition and while on the attack in Vegas' zone.
Two-way forwards Jack Eichel, Mitch Marner, and Mark Stone will be staring back at them in Golden Knights threads. Defensive center William Karlsson may appear in the series, too. Meanwhile, Vegas' blue line is big and rangy.
Lukas Dostal, another member of the Ducks' long-term core, is the better goalie in this matchup. But he'll be tested. Anaheim is porous defensively and the Golden Knights are armed with plenty of offensive weapons. - John Matisz
Avs-Wild is adrenaline rush of a series
Sunday's Game 1 between Colorado and Minnesota didn't simply deliver on the significant pre-series hype. No, the Central Division showdown was an offense-loving fan's dream, providing more frantic, uptempo action than the entirety of the Avalanche's Round 1 series against the lock-it-down Kings.
The result: a 9-6 Avalanche home victory, with winning goalie Scott Wedgewood making 30 saves on 36 shots. The 10th game in playoff history to feature 15 or more goals showcased the abundance of high-end speed, skill, and star power on both sides. For context, only 12 total goals were scored in the Hurricanes' sweep of the Senators last round.
Colorado held leads of 3-0 and 4-2 during the first 25 minutes of Game 1, and finished with eight different goal-scorers (Cale Makar bagged two). The Presidents' Trophy winner recorded an absurd 26 slot shots - a single-game high this postseason - as well as 14 scoring chances off the rush alone.
Game 1 was our first taste of Makar versus Quinn Hughes in the playoffs. Makar, who left the game briefly after taking a hefty Marcus Foligno hit, scored twice and added an assist in 17 minutes. Hughes pitched in a goal and two assists while dancing around the ice in a game-high 29 minutes. - John Matisz
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