Wasn’t it just yesterday that the Kings were hoisting the Stanley Cup?
Time flies when you follow a tedious, spirit-sapping lockout with a 48-game season that was crammed into 100 calendar days. The Kings will try to become the first team to win back-to-back titles since the Red Wings in 1997 and 1998, but unlike last season, they won’t take anyone by surprise.
The Blackhawks, who had to break up their 2010 Cup team almost immediately because of salary-cap concerns, have rebuilt their reserves of talent and character and are the favorites. But the Penguins withstood injuries to Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin to easily lead the East. Crosby, who broke his jaw in late March, was skating last week but it’s unclear when he will return.
Eastern Conference
(1) Penguins vs. (8) Islanders
Penguins won season series 4-1.
Record (points): Penguins 36-12-0 (72); Islanders 24-17-7 (55)
Power-play percentage (rank): Penguins 24.7 (2nd), Islanders 19.9 (11th)
Penalty-kill percentage (rank): Penguins 79.6 (25th); Islanders 80.3 (21st).
Leading scorer (goals-assists—points): Penguins, Sidney Crosby 15-41—56; Islanders, John Tavares 28-19—47
Outlook: Crosby missed the last 12 games of the season after breaking his jaw, and it’s unclear when he will return. The Penguins still have enough depth up front to win, but their defense will be challenged by the Islanders’ fleet, young forwards. Tavares is a legitimate MVP candidate. The Islanders will push the Penguins out of their comfort zone but they’re not quite up to this task.
PREDICTION: PENGUINS IN 6.
(2) Canadiens vs. (7) Senators
Season series tied 1-0-1
Record (points): Canadiens 29-14-5 (63); Senators 25-17-6 (56)
Power-play percentage (rank): Canadiens 20.7 (5th); Senators 15.9 (20th)
Penalty-kill percentage (rank): Canadiens 79.8 (23rd); Senators 88.0 (1st)
Leading scorer (goals-assists—points): Canadiens, Max Pacioretty 15-24—39; Senators, Kyle Turris 12-17—29
Outlook: The Canadiens faded late in the season, but that shouldn’t obscure their remarkable climb from 15th last season to No. 2 this season. Their fate will hinge on Carey Price’s ability to regain his early-season form and if the sagging defense can regroup. Senators coach Paul MacLean has done a great job steering his team through injuries to core players. Goalie Craig Anderson, who led the NHL in goals-against average (1.69) and save percentage (.941), has returned. So has last season’s Norris Trophy winner, Erik Karlsson. They’re capable of controlling the momentum.
PREDICTION: SENATORS IN 7.
(3) Capitals vs. (6) Rangers
Rangers won season series 2-0-1
Record (points): Capitals 27-18-3 (57); Rangers 26-18-4 (56)
Power-play percentage (rank): Capitals 26.8 (1st); Rangers 15.7 (23rd)
Penalty-kill percentage (rank): Capitals 77.9 (27th); Rangers 81.1 (15th)
Leading scorer (goals-assists—points): Capitals, Alexander Ovechkin 32-24—56; Rangers, Derek Stepan 18-26—44
Outlook: The Capitals finished with a 15-2-2 surge to finish atop the Southeast, the NHL’s weakest division. The Rangers went 10-3-1 down the stretch to crash the top eight and move up. Rangers goalie Henrik Lundqvist (2.05 goals-against average, .926 save percentage) should have some great confrontations with Ovechkin, the NHL’s goal-scoring leader.
PREDICTION: RANGERS IN 6.
(4) Bruins vs. (5) Maple Leafs
Bruins won season series 3-1
Record (points): Bruins 28-14-6 (62); Maple Leafs 26-17-5 (57)
Power-play percentage (rank): Bruins 14.8 (26th); Maple Leafs 18.7 (14th)
Penalty-kill percentage (rank): Bruins 87.1 (4th); Maple Leafs 87.9 (2nd)
Leading scorer (goals-assists—points): Bruins, Brad Marchand 18-18—36; Maple Leafs, Phil Kessel 20-32—52
Outlook: The Bruins limped to the finish line, dropping to the fourth seed after losing their season finale. Their strengths are their balance up front and the goaltending of Tuukka Rask (2.00, .929). They have talent, but do they have the will to regain the title they won in 2011? Maple Leafs forward Nazem Kadri (18 goals, 44 points) blossomed this season into one of the NHL’s most dynamic players. But the Maple Leafs’ defense is thin after Dion Phaneuf and will be tested by the Bruins’ multifaceted forwards.
PREDICTION: BRUINS IN 6.
Western Conference
(1) Blackhawks vs. (8) Wild
Blackhawks won season series 2-0-1
Record (points): Blackhawks 36-7-5 (77); Wild 26-19-3 (55)
Power-play percentage (rank): Blackhawks 16.7 (19th); Wild 17.9% (16th)
Penalty-kill percentage (rank): Blackhawks 87.2% (3rd); Wild 80.7% (18th)
Leading scorer (goals-assists—points): Blackhawks, Patrick Kane 32-23—55; Wild, Zach Parise 18-20—38
Outlook: The Blackhawks dominated the West with a sustained level of excellence. Led by “Captain Serious,” Jonathan Toews, who’s a candidate for MVP and the Selke Trophy as the league’s top defensive forward, they have depth, speed and the toughness to back everything up. The Wild were lucky to grab eighth, a disappointing finish. Parise and Ryan Suter, who each signed 13-year, $98 million free-agent contracts, had huge impacts. Suter, though only plus-2 defensively, merits Norris Trophy consideration for his shutdown skills and overall command. The Wild can’t come close to matching the Blackhawks up front.
PREDICTION: BLACKHAWKS IN 5.
(2) Ducks vs. (7) Red Wings
Red Wings won season series 2-1
Record (points): Ducks 30-12-6 (66); Red Wings 24-16-8 (56)
Power-play percentage (rank): Ducks 21.5 (4th); Red Wings 18.4 (15th)
Penalty-kill percentage (rank): Ducks 81.5 (13th); Red Wings 81.7 (12th)
Leading scorer (goals-assists—points): Ducks, Ryan Getzlaf 15-34—49; Red Wings, Pavel Datsyuk 15-34—49.
Outlook: The Ducks had a great start but struggled to score late in the season, and their goaltending swings wildly between superb and lamentable. Jimmy Howard gives the Red Wings steady goaltending and Henrik Zetterberg (11 goals, 48 points) has raised his game. For the Ducks to advance and quiet the big Detroit cheering section that always shows up in Anaheim, Getzlaf, Corey Perry and bruising defenseman Francois Beauchemin must be leaders and the second and third lines must produce.
PREDICTION: RED WINGS IN 7.
(3) Canucks vs. (6) Sharks
Sharks won season series 3-0
Record (points): Canucks 26-15-7 (59); Sharks 25-16-7 (57)
Power-play percentage (rank): Canucks 15.8 (22nd); Sharks 20.1 (7th)
Penalty-kill percentage (rank): Canucks 84.0 (8th); Sharks 85.0 (6th)
Leading scorer (goals-assists—points): Canucks, Henrik Sedin 11-34—45; Sharks, Joe Thornton 7-33—40
Outlook: The Canucks battled through a goaltending controversy and endless injuries on defense. Goalie Cory Schneider and defenseman Chris Tanev missed time late in the season because of undisclosed injuries and they must be healthy for the Canucks to avoid a second straight first-round upset. The Sharks have never lacked talent — they’ve lacked heart. Defenseman-turned-winger Brent Burns has given them an emotional lift with his aggressive style. Logan Couture can be a game-breaker.
PREDICTION: SHARKS IN 6.
(4) Blues vs. (5) Kings
Kings won season series 3-0
Record (points): Blues 29-17-2 (60); Kings 27-16-5 (59)
Power-play percentage (rank): Blues 19.5 (12th); Kings 19.9 (10th)
Penalty-kill percentage (rank): Blues 84.7 (7th); Kings 83.2 (10th)
Leading scorer (goals-assists—points): Blues, Chris Stewart 18-18—36; Kings, Anze Kopitar 10-32—42
Outlook: This should be physical, since both teams have big bodies who like to bash and crash. The Blues’ additions of Jordan Leopold and Jay Bouwmeester make them different from the team that lost three regular-season games to the Kings, but the Kings enhanced their depth on defense by adding Robyn Regehr and regaining Matt Greene after back surgery. Greene missed the regular-season finale, but coach Darryl Sutter said the injury isn’t long-term. Goalies Brian Elliott of the Blues and Jonathan Quick of the Kings have hit stride after slow starts. They will be difference-makers.
PREDICTION: KINGS IN 6.
