The Nashville Predators arrived home yesterday to a hero’s welcome at the airport where a large group of Predators fans came out to greet the team and congratulate them on their first round win. With Toronto’s win last night, the second round schedule is still up in the air, but it still wouldn’t surprise me if the second round got going on Thursday... but that announcement would have to come today for travel arrangements.
While the west is set, the last eastern series has Tampa waiting for the winner of Boston / Toronto’s game seven tomorrow night. The other Eastern Conference series is a re-re-rematch of Washington and Pittsburgh., which should be another doozy, and quite frankly… a determining factor in who is the leading the Washington organization and bench next season.
The concern in Pred Nation all revolves around how the Preds “struggled” against the Avalanche. I understand it, I get it… but let’s look at this a different way. No team gets through the playoffs without facing some adversity. Remember, the Penguins last season went to two game sevens, including a terrifying one against Ottawa to get to the Final. It hardened the Pens, made them tougher to play against and frankly… may have been a difference maker.
Nashville had its own adversity last season… and you saw the team draw on it in their series against the Av’s. It will be a significant advantage over Winnipeg.
Looking at the last eight cup winners, they lost an average of 7.35 games in the playoffs. Sweeps were very rare and if you look at the last two for the Penguins, they lost nine games last playoffs and eight the previous year. No one gets through unscathed.
This dead time between series always draws out the inevitable… the first “hey… they won’t sell tickets to…” article has been published, never mind the fact that there are no tickets to be had for the second round series… never let that fact get in the way of a good story… and of course, the inevitable media whining about the Jets and Preds… two of the best teams in the league, meeting in the second round.
Big freakin’ deal… this is the series everyone wants to see so quit whining about when it is scheduled. It’s not a punishment for the Jets for finishing second in the division… good golly… the NHL could give every media member a million dollars and you could count on a large chunk of them bitching about the taxes they would have to pay and somehow blame Gary Bettman for it.
This victim mentality plays out every year at about this time… we finished second and we’re getting screwed! The NHL has it in for us… waaaaah! The old system was better… waaaaaah!
So… let’s take a look at the old system… the same four teams getting through would feature Nashville vs. San Jose and Vegas vs. Winnipeg… with Vegas and Nashville getting home ice due their winning their division. That is the simple fact these complaining columnists seem to overlook.
Ahhhh… there is the rub. There is no reward for second. Win your division. That’s where you get your reward… you want home ice advantage… win your division… and for heaven’s sake… quit whining.
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The Playoff Tracker … a daily update of the Stanley Cup Playoffs brought to you by Mark Lonsway - THE real estate professional for hockey fans!
A game seven on Wednesday… no action tonight…
Eastern Conference
Tampa Bay Lightning vs New Jersey Devils – TBL wins 4-1
Washington Capitals vs. Columbus Blue Jackets – WSH wins 4-2
Pittsburgh Penguins vs. Philadelphia Flyers – PIT wins 4-2
Boston Bruins vs. Toronto Maple Leafs – Series tied 3-3 – Game seven is tomorrow night
Western Conference
Nashville Predators vs. Winnipeg Jets
Vegas Golden Knights vs. San Jose Sharks
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Random Notes
- Congratulations to PK Subban, Nashville’s nominee for the King Clancy Trophy.
- Interesting how both Nashville and Winnipeg won in the other’s barn this season… two of the best home teams in the league…
- It’s a Vezina finalist matchup as well as Connor Hellebuyck and Pekka Rinne face each other. Each goaltender authored a shutout in their team’s clinching games.
- The Predators are expected to practice today, I would assume the session would be at Centennial.
- Huge win for the Capitals last night and another disappointing playoff ouster for the Columbus Blue Jackets. Washington’s win sets up another second round showdown with the Pittsburgh Penguins.
- This is the third straight postseason that the Caps and Pens will meet in the second round. Is there a different fate for the Caps?
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