So why do teams win in the playoffs when they’re not supposed to and lose in the playoffs when they’re not supposed to? The NHL, probably more than any other sport has so much dependence on emotion, pressure and confidence. It also has a lot to do with matchups, goaltending, power play, home ice and team health… from 40 years of watching hockey I’ve determined these factors to be the ones that could surprise you. The ones that could change a series.
Some call these X factors,..We call them Ek’s Factora
Today’s Podcast with Predictions.
Washington Capitals Eks Factors Pressure: 2 (lower more pressure) The Caps are underrated Momentum:4 4-6-0 last ten Health:: 5 Protus and goalie Logan Thompson out Return dependent on need Powerplay: 5 Goaltending::6 Thompson is 9th best but hurt Lindgren 29th best Matchup: 7 Last two years Caps are 3-1-2 GF: 20 GA 19 Home Ice Advantage:: 7 7th in NHL Intangible:8 Great coach Capitals Ek Factor: 44
VS
Montreal Canadiens Eks Factors Pressure: 6 (lower more pressure) Almost any other city would be 9 or 10 Momentum:7 7-1-1 last ten Health::9 Powerplay::3 Goaltending/Defense::3 Momtembeault:35th Matchup: 5 Last 2 Seasons head to head: 3-2-1 This Season Head to Head: 1-2-0 Home Ice: 5 15th in NHL Intangibles: 8 Demidov and General good feelings
Ek Factor: 44
Eks Factors Washington: 44 Montreal: 46
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Carolina vs. New Jersey
Carolina Hurricanes Eks Factors Pressure: 5 (lower more pressure) Momentum:5 3-6-1 Last ten Health::9 Powerplay::3 25th in NHL Goaltending/Defense::6 Anderson 11th Kochetkov 17th Home Ice Advantage:9 3rd best Matchup:6 Last 2 Seasons head to head: 5-2 This Season Head to Head: 2-2 Intangibles:3 The Hurricanes goaltending is the question Ek Factor: 46
VS
NJ Devils Eks Factors Pressure: 4 (lower more pressure) Momentum: 5 5-5 last ten Health:: 3 No Hughes, Powerplay::9 3rd in NHL Goaltending/Defense::7 Markstrom 10th best Home Ice Advantage: 2 27th best in NHL Matchup: 5 Last 2 Seasons head to head: 2-4-1 This Season Head to Head: 2-2 Intangibles:7 Next man up without Hughes. Better Goaltending Ek Factor: 42
Eks Factors Carolina: 46 New Jersey: 42
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Toronto vs. Ottawa
Toronto Maple Leafs Eks Factors: Pressure: 1 (lower more pressure) Ghosts, Marner UFA Momentum: 9 9-1 last ten Health:: 9 No Major Injuries Powerplay::6 9th in NHL Goaltending/Defense::8 Stolarz 3rd best Home Ice Advantage: 6 11th best NHL Matchup: 2 Last 2 Seasons head to head: 1-6 This Season Head to Head: 0-4 Intangibles:5 The fact Ottawa owns Toronto could be rallying point. Ek Factor: 46
VS Ottawa Senators Eks factors Pressure: 8 (lower more pressure) Ghosts, Marner UFA Momentum: 7 6-2-2 last ten Health:: 9 No Major Injuries Powerplay::5 11th in NHL Goaltending/Defense::3 Forsberg 25th Ullmark…26th Home Ice Advantage: 7 9th best NHL Matchup: 8 Last 2 Seasons head to head: 6-1 This Season Head to Head: 6-1 Intangibles:5 Excitement. Brady Tkachuk First Playoffs. Have Leafs number Ek Factor: 52 Eks Factors Toronto: 46 Ottawa: 52
—————————————— Tamps vs Florida
Tampa Bay Lightning Eks Factors Pressure: 4 (lower more pressure) Panthers won last 2 series Momentum: 7 5-2-1 Last Ten Health:: 8 Bjorkstrand Out
Powerplay::8 5th in NHL
Goaltending/Defense: 9 Vasilevski: 4th Best
Home Ice Advantage: 8 4th best NHL
Matchup: 4 Last 2 Seasons head to head: 3-4 This Season Head to Head: 2-2 Playoffs Last Year 1-4
Intangibles:9 Great Coaching Kucherov Confidence in goalie
Ek Factor: 59
VS
Florida Panthers Eks Factors:
Pressure: 8 (lower more pressure) Won cup last year
Momentum: 4 3-6-2 last ten
Health:: 8 Tkachuk set to go
Powerplay::5 14th in NHL
Goaltending/Defense::8 Bob is 7th
Home Ice Advantage: 7 10th best NHL
Matchup: 7 Last 2 Seasons head to head: 8-4 This Season Head to Head: 2-2 Playoffs Last Year: 4-1
Intangibles: 9 Tkachul spiritual leader back Playoff Bob Benn to two Finals in two years Cup Champ em firsEk Factor: 56
Eks Factors Tampa: 57 Florida: 56
Eks Note: I will ad my picks to this space after I first give them first on Today’s Special Podcast. Let me know what you think about the factors I used. I’m always trying to improve the system here.