NHL Playoff Previews and Predictions – Monday, April 20
Note: This was written well before tonight’s games, but due to internet issues, was delayed. And considering that I came up empty on the first two games, maybe I shouldn’t have posted it at all, eh?
The NHL playoff schedule features three games on the Monday night slate, and all three series are at 2-0 heading into Game 3 and a new venue. For the Bruins and Blackhawks, the first two games couldn’t have gone any better, but Alex Ovechkin and the Washington Capitals, you’re living in a nightmare right about now.
Can the Bruins and Blackhawks put themselves in a position to clinch on the road? Can the Capitals get back into the series on the road, or will the fat lady start warming up after tonight?
Montreal Canadiens vs. Boston Bruins – Boston 2-0 (7 P.M. ET)
The Eastern Conference’s #1 seed is on the way to a first-round stroll, having won 4-2 in the series opener and then 5-1 in Game 2 to take a 2-0 lead heading to Montreal. The Bruins are playing every bit like a #1 seed should (are you watching, San Jose?), getting the clutch goals in third period of a tight Game 1 and then making the most of the power play in Game 2, scoring three times off the power play en route to an easy win.
Boston had only three fewer points on the road (52) than Montreal had at home (55), and five of those 52 points came in three trips to Montreal, where they won two games and lost a third in a shootout. So, I like their chances to get at least a split in Montreal and be in position to clinch when the series returns to Boston for Game 5. It’s going to be a short series, but the Canadiens will ensure that it takes the Bruins an extra game to book their place in the conference semis by winning tonight.
New York Rangers vs. Washington Capitals – New York 2-0 (7 P.M. ET, Versus)
So, which one of these teams was the one that was a runaway division winner, and which one squeaked into the playoffs? Something’s sure not adding up so far, to say the least. If anyone knows where the real Washington Capitals are, get them to Madison Square Garden in time for tonight’s game, otherwise this series is going to be over before the Caps have time to realize what’s going on.
Jose Theodore’s ineptitude hurt Washington in a 4-3 loss in Game 1, and though rookie Simeon Varlamov did a fine job in replacing Theodore in Game 2, it was all blanks on the offensive end, thanks to terrific net-minding by Henrik Lundqvist.
Along with getting stellar play between the sticks, the Rangers are doing all of the little things, getting the clutch goals and avoiding the kinds of mistakes you can ill-afford to make in the playoffs, especially as an underdog. You’d have to hope that the Caps come out and bring their A game, and I think they will unless they’re just hankering for an early vacation that bad. That being said, John Tortorella is getting the best out of his team at the right time, and that won’t stop tonight. Rangers go up 3-0.
Calgary Flames vs. Chicago Blackhawks – Chicago 2-0 (9:30 P.M. ET)
Had Calgary not struggled down the stretch and lost 11 of their last 18 games, they wouldn’t even be in the position of having to face a team that beat them four times in a row in the regular season. But, struggle they did, and those struggles have continued on into the postseason, as they dropped two close games on the road to make it six losses in a row to the Blackhawks and an 0-2 hole heading back to Calgary.
The Flames had leads in the first (2-1 in the third) and second games (2-0 after one), so they know how to get ahead. There’s just the simple matter of closing the deal and getting the W. They can’t afford to let a lead slip tonight, and I don’t think they will. Flames win and give themselves a chance to really put the series up for grabs come Game 4.
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