The field of eight play-off participants in the Eastern Conference was decided earlier than it had been for a long time. Unlike in the West, the favorites are less easy to identify. A preview of the NHL’s Conference Quarterfinals…
Title favorites among themselves: Florida’s MacKenzie Weegar and Aleksander Barkov and Tampa’s Steven Stamkos (from left)
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Florida Panthers – Washington Capitals
The initial situation: With 122 points, Florida won the Presidents’ Trophy for the first time in the club’s history as the NHL team with the most points in the main round – thanks to an almost irresistible offensive with 340 goals, a goal difference of +94 and a whopping 34 home wins. All the best in the league.
The 2018 champions from Washington, although in the end the worst-placed play-off team in the extremely strong Eastern Conference with 100 points, also qualified confidently for the final round, but despite their enormous experience in the squad, they no longer radiate the offensive ease of the past years off.
The staff: It’s not just all of hockey Miami looking at Aaron Ekblad. Florida’s number one defender, who missed more parts of the 2020/21 season, is back training with the team after a roughly two-month injury break and could possibly return to game one.
What applies to Ekblad in the Panthers applies to Alex Ovechkin in Washington. The top scorer injured his shoulder when he hit the rink shortly before the end of the main round, but is probably ready for game one despite the injury. In what condition? The Capitals season has already ended for veteran Carl Hagelin due to an eye injury.
The main round: All three games that the two teams played within four weeks between the beginning of November and the beginning of December ended tightly – and each went to the home team. Florida won twice 5-4 (once after overtime), Washington 4-3.
kicker tip: Florida wins in six games.
Carolina Hurricanes – Boston Bruins
The initial situation: The Hurricanes, still young at heart, won the Metropolitan Division, as the third-best team in the league behind Florida and Colorado on points (116), ultimately quite comfortably. Especially thanks to the by far best defense in the NHL with only 202 goals.
A strong 107 points would have been enough for fourth place for the play-off-experienced and deep-occupied Boston in the west, but only for seventh place in the first wild card place in the east, which is high-class at the top.
The staff: The only Hurricane failure is particularly painful. Denmark’s number one keeper Frederik Andersen, who won the William Jennings Trophy for the lowest goals conceded average during the main round together with backup Antti Raanta, was injured around two weeks before the start of the play-off and will not be there at least for the start.
In Boston, on the other hand, all the regulars reported ready for action before game one.
The main round: Fear Carolina? Boston clearly lost all three games of the season, two of them even at home (1:7, 0:6) and 0:3 in Raleigh. Thus, the Bruins scored just one goal against the Hurricanes in three games.
kicker tip: Boston wins in seven games.
Toronto Maple Leafs – Tampa Bay Lightning
The initial situation: The mode and quality of the Atlantic Division want it so that with the Maple Leafs (115) and defending champion Lightning (110), two of the league’s eight best teams in the main round meet in round one.
As Tampa seeks its first NHL title hat-trick since the 1980s, Toronto battles its own playoff demons. Because since 2004, the “Ahornblätter” have not won a single round, despite five play-off participations in a row and strong results in the main round.
The staff: At Toronto, top rookie Michael Bunting (63 points) is out at least in game one, as is defender Rasmus Sandin and regular backup goalkeeper Petr Mrazek.
Master coach Jon Cooper, on the other hand, has no personnel worries at Tampa.
The main round: The Maple Leafs may still remember April 22, because that day they lost 8-1 in Tampa. Overall, however, the balance for 2021/22 is balanced. Toronto had won 6-2 in Florida just a few weeks earlier and also won the first home game against the Lightning by a narrow margin (2-1 OT). The defending champion, on the other hand, won the second home game in Canada 5:3.
kicker tip: Tampa Bay wins in seven games.
New York Rangers – Pittsburgh Penguins
The initial situation: Rising Rangers clinched their most since 2014/15 with 52 wins, making the play-offs for only the second time in five years.
The Penguins around the tireless Sidney Crosby (34) are in the finals for the 16th time in a row, but have only won one play-off round since defending their title in 2017. Most recently, Pittsburgh was even eliminated three times in a row in round one.
The staff: With the long-term injured Samuel Blais and, initially, Tyler Motte, two strikers are missing from the back rows.
In addition to striker Jason Zucker, Pittsburgh must continue to do without number one goalkeeper Tristan Jarry, who injured his foot in the final stages of the main round.
The main round: All four games of the division rivals only took place between February 26th and April 8th. The Penguins won 1-0 at home with a goal from Evgeni Malkin. The other three games then went to the New Yorkers (5:1, 3:2, 3:0).
kicker tip: Rangers win in six games.
Also read:
The play-off preview for the west
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