Stanley Cup Playoff Storylines: May 5, 2022
Sam Navarro-United states of america Right now Sports activities
Pittsburgh’s goalie circumstance is acquiring fascinating, Florida requirements to shake off the nerves, the Predators are in a rough spot early and the Stars will need to wake up the offense.
The fourth working day of the Stanley Cup playoffs are going to be a doozy. Here’s your glimpse at the motion in advance:
New York Rangers vs. Pittsburgh Penguins
Activity 1 was entertaining, but can Louis Domingue get the position performed once more?
Just one of the most effective storylines in the early days of the put up-year was looking at Louis Domingue occur in relief of Casey DeSmith five periods into Game 1. That was fantastic, and he ended up pulling off the get, but can he do it again?
Domingue has under no circumstances started off a playoff activity in his career, and his initially is coming versus a goalie that is expected to earn the Vezina Trophy. Which is a large amount of strain for any goalie, but look at how DeSmith played in Video game 1 soon after remaining compelled to start with Tristan Jarry out of the picture. At times, you really don’t know what you really don’t know when it will come to playoff working experience.
Domingue will need to have to have a sturdy outing to take absent any possibilities from the New York Rangers. The Penguins might have the early leg up, but the Rangers are the greater-seeded crew, and just one you you should not want to mess with.
Washington Capitals vs. Florida Panthers
Can Florida shake off the nerves?
Successful the Presidents’ Trophy has ordinarily been a death sentence for Stanley Cup hopes, but the Panthers — who won it for the 1st time this yr — are hoping to change that. Game 1 did not go to approach, but thankfully for them, it is really nevertheless early days.
The Panthers didn’t look like their usual self, which generally contains beating teams with velocity and ability and showing self-assurance with and without the puck. They permitted the Capitals to get management, and when the main nucleus features Alex Ovechkin, Evgeny Kuznetsov and Nicklas Backstrom, that’s asking for issues.
The Panthers are a excellent hockey group, and it can be time to exhibit that with a good response. They need to revert to what designed them profitable all season extended and drive the older, a lot more experienced Capitals lineup to chase them as an alternative.
Nashville Predators vs. Colorado Avalanche
Do the Preds have nearly anything for the Avalanche?
When your goalie is as important to your playoffs hopes as Juuse Saros was in Nashville, dropping him for an undetermined time can place you in a black hole of types. And that was obvious in a 7-2 decline in Video game 1, exactly where the Avs put up 5 targets in the initial interval and chased David Rittich in the system.
There’s a crystal clear expertise disparity in this article, and nobody anticipated it to be close. But the fact that Match 1 was these types of a blowout experienced to be a large gut-punch for a Predators staff showcasing one particular of the greatest defensemen in the environment and a renewed offensive punch.
Nashville are not able to keep up with the ability, so they will will need to enjoy total lockdown defense and get some lucky bounces together the way. The concern? Nashville has Josi, but the Avalanche has Makar. That’s not precisely a person you want to deal with.
Calgary Flames vs. Dallas Stars
Will Dallas get the offense it wants?
It really is challenging to gain video games 1-, but that is what Calgary did in a restricted-knit opener. And if you happen to be the Dallas Stars, you can’t let that materialize once again.
The Stars took just 16 pictures and went -for-5 on the power enjoy, with just three pictures in the 3rd period of time. Dallas did a superior career of shutting down Calgary’s greatest offensive threats, even with John Klingberg out of the lineup for most of the activity soon after obtaining ejected in the to start with period. Jake Oettinger was, as expected, a shining level for the Stars.
This is the form of activity Joe Pavelski was born for. He is a sound playoff performer, and following the season he has experienced, he desires a huge Recreation 2. Identical goes for Jason Robertson, Tyler Seguin and Roope Hintz — Calgary can match you in just about each individual group, so you want to power them to chase you rather.
