Ten Things I learned watching the opening night of the NHL playoffs:
1. The Edmonton Oilers goaltending issues didn't magically go away:: It doesn't matter how well Mike Smith played down the stretch. Goaltending is still the Oilers' weakness. Smith has lost his last 10 playoff goaltending decisions.
2. Maybe the Los Angeles Kings got the playoff break: How many writers mentioned that the Oilers received a favorable draw in the playoff matchups? Maybe the Kings received a break by playing the Oilers. It doesn't mean the Oilers can't beat the Kings. What it means is we are underestimating the Kings.
3. Is it time to stop doubting the Carolina Hurricanes? The Bruins are a seasoned, well-coached, defensively-minded team. The Hurricanes were using their backup goalie and still were in command against Boston.
4. Making a playoff prediction is like spinning a roulette wheel: No matter how much we believe we know about hockey, there is a randomness about this sport that can't be denied. According to the NHL, over the past decade 48.9% of all playoff series are won by the lower seed. Parity allows for too many surprises.
5. Home ice doesn't matter in the playoffs: You watched the Kings-Oilers and Blues-Wild. The NHL put out a stat Monday that showed that in Game 7 situations over the past decade, the home team is 22-22. There's no such thing as home ice advantage in the playoffs.
6. The Lightning can't just flick a switch: Not this year. If you have watched the Lightning over the last several weeks of the season, you know they have looked ordinary on too many nights. That's how they looked in their opening loss to the Maple Leafs. Perhaps it's the best result that could happen to them. Maybe it will shock the championship-caliber competitiveness back into them.
7. Why people who don't like to bet on hockey: I'm not a gambler. But some of my friends who like to place a bet or two say hockey is too difficult to bet because the underdogs win too often, the spread is usually 1.5 goals and empty-net goals alter what they consider the real score.
8. Mitch Marner isn't cursed: Never thought he was. But Marner ended a playoff goal drought that had lasted 18 games, over 1,118 days, through 49 shots on goal. He scored his first playoff goal since 2019. It was probably important that he scored in the first game against Tampa Bay. Now we don't have to talk about that.
9. It's impossible to root against goalie Marc-Andre Fleury: Is the NHL's most likeable and nicest person?
10. NHL players can learn watching games on television:. Detroit Red Wings captain Dylan Larkin said he watched the playoffs last night and his belief that the Red Wings don't communicate well enough on the ice was confirmed. "Last night you watched the teams that are there, the 16 teams. I think about how they play," Larkin said. "They work together so well by communicating and moving the puck. When they’re going back for pucks on breakouts, they get out of the zone pretty quick. When they do get stuck in there, they’re all talking and pointing and screaming at each other. I think as a young team we lacked in that. There wasn’t a lot of talk out there. I think guys have to learn that the more you talk, the more it just helps everyone.…
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