Last night the Nashville Predators didn't just eliminate the Hawks in 4 games. They did so without any sign of panic and really just put together what could be called one of the better played playoff series in a long time.
I don't know how many people picked Nashville, only one of our predicting systems did, but there is no one who picked them in 4. Why? Because this is Chicago. And Chicago has another gear in the playoffs, right? The Hawks and Kings had reached that status people talk about where they are exempt from stuff that happens in the regular season. Completely. But that is changing.
There is much credit to go around here. The Predators were all over the map this year, but early on they were really battling tons of injuries. Since they have been healthy they have been on a consistent rise..until very late in the season where they stumbled and "lost out" to Calgary in the battle to avoid Chicago...Everyone assumed Anaheim was the prize and the Hawks were a one way ticket out of the playoffs. The Flames are probably re-thinking that...
But now we see Nashville and what they really are. A solid "not dead yet" Pekke Rinne tending behind maybe the best defensive corps in the NHL and a really great mix of experience, youth, grit and speed up front. The Preds were WAY deeper than Chicago and rolled four lines causing the Hawks' three lines to absolutely look exhausted by the end of the series.
It will be really interesting to see how much respect the Preds get in the next round when it comes to the pundits making their picks. Will this sweep be looked at like an isolated incident? The Predators are playing MUCH better than either the Blues or the Wild.
Meanwhile in Edmonton...
This is a hell of a series and whoever wins it will be in for another war with Anaheim...right now the Ducks and Preds are playing almost perfect hockey. I was a big believer in the Sharks experience in this series, but the Oilers ability to fight back last night and their dominance in the overtime was eye opening...to say the least.
The next test for Edmonton will be the biggest test however. Finishing a team. Winning the fourth game in a playoff series is hard. I was once told by a famous NHL coach it is three times as hard to eliminate a team. This Oilers team has never dealt with this situation before...and they are doing so in the Shark Tank...a REALLY tough place to win.
This feels like it is going 7.
Meanwhile in Montreal...
This series has all the classic feelings of a series when I was a kid. This is a war with each side yelling foul and each side feeling they have been wronged by officials...Two original six teams going at it and the thing about old school teams is: "Don't piss them off." Prior to this year the Canadiens have been accused of being too passive...So they went the other way. The problem with that is they tended to own the Rangers previously...but now they have woken up some of the Rangers players and it has cost them.
Meanwhile in Pittsburgh...
The Blue Jackets drew a bad hand in these playoffs. They are a younger team than even the Maple Leafs, but their regular season record was so strong we forgot that. It showed in this series and the experience will do Columbus good down the line. Last night Columbus did what they do best and outworked their opponent as they badly outshot the Penguins...But the Penguins are the Cup Champs and until someone says otherwise they are the toughest team to beat...
Stay tuned for more news out of Buffalo as well as rumors swirling surrounding Peter Luukko possibly moving from Florida to take over as President of the NY Islanders..Nothing confirmed yet, but if it comes to pass it will be the perfect fit and really set the Isles up...
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— Michael Augello (@MikeInBuffalo) December 12, 2016