Anyone else, aside from me and Ray Shero, feel as though they just awoke to Christmas morning?
Playoffs start this evening, it is the most wonderful time of year, and we’re roughly as jacked up as Mitchell Marner after chugging his second-intermission Red Bull.
Drop the puck already.
Only a sweet 16 teams are applicable, thus we present our NHL Power Rankings: Stanley Cup Odds Edition.
Teams are ranked according to some (highly questionable) judgment on their strength going into the post-season. The Vegas line in their odds of keg-standing from Lord Stanley are labeled below every write-up.
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1. Tampa Bay Lightning
Has there ever been a larger favorite for prom king? The Lightning strut to the dancing like they own the place. Just the second team ever to collect 62 wins, the Bolts finished with a ridiculous plus-103 target differential, just 41 goals better than runner-up Calgary. Tampa dresses three 40 goal scorers. Nikita Kucherov won the Art Ross in a stroll, and the Bolts have powerful contenders for the Hart, Vezina and Jack Adams. Brayden Point might find a few Selke votes, and that I have two Lightning defencemen on my Norris ballot. The deepest entrance by a mile of the tournament.
Stanley Cup odds: 2/1
2. Calgary Flames
You’ve no doubt heard the term”there’s no simple first-round match-ups” during the lead-up to Game 1, but the Flames did themselves so many favor by clinching the abandoned summit. Not only do they draw a Colorado squad that really lost more games (44) than it won (38) — yay for the lose point! — but if they could take care of business quickly, the Flames can kick up their feet and watch Vegas and San Jose pummel each other. For all the hand-wringing over Calgary’s goaltending, remember this: No Pacific playoff team gave up fewer targets than the Flames (227).
Stanley Cup chances: 8/1
3. Boston Bruins
Give the big, poor Bruins home-ice advantage as well the border in grit and leadership edge over the Maple Leafs, convinced. And Bruce Cassidy is one of the greatest coaches no one talks about. However, Toronto has the upper hand in rate and offensive depth, no matter how high your view of Charlie Coyle. The big question here is, which Tuukka Rask do we get? If it’s the person who submitted seven sub-.900 save percentages in his previous 10 appearances, Cassidy needs to recognize it quick and provide Jaroslav Halak that the crease.
Stanley Cup odds: 9/1
4. Washington Capitals
Anyone else feel like the hockey world is sleeping on the reigning champs? Sure, their hardworking Round 1 opponent ought to be loose and has nothing to lose, however, the Hurricanes should also be emptied in their standings scale, feeling like they have already played two months of playoffs. Led by a guy who’s won the Rocket Richard so often they may consider renaming the decoration, the Caps dodged the Penguins and Islanders, have the majority of their Celtics roster in tact, and now know what it takes to go all the way.
Stanley Cup chances: 12/1
5. St. Louis Blues
Hotter than a pistol, the Blues’ remarkable post-Christmas ascent should strike fear throughout the province of Manitoba. Believe Ryan O’Reilly was happy not to attend Sabres locker clean-out moment? The Selke threat has watched everybody around him pick up the slack over the past 3 months. The defence looks mean, Vladimir Tarasenko rediscovered his touch, and if rookie Jordan Binnington will maintain his .927 save percent, look out.
Stanley Cup chances: 14/1
6. Nashville Predators
Great on the Predators for out-pacing the Jets down the stretch. Now the Central Division kings can hang another banner and dodge the bullet that is the third-seed Blues. It’s the same old story in Nashville: The defence is elite, the goaltending ought to be solid enough to win a round or 2, but the offence — rated 19th general — is suspicious. Incredibly, Nashville rolls in with the absolute worst power play in the NHL (12.9 per cent), and new guys Wayne Simmonds and Mikael Granlund (one goal apiece) have not provided an antidote. Serious ambitions are tempered by much more serious concerns.
Stanley Cup odds: 12/1
7. Pittsburgh Penguins
I have learned long ago: Never bet against a Sidney Crosby team. Evgeni Malkin is healthy, Matt Murray hit his stride in the second half, and the Penguins’ power play and expertise are sufficient to make them a threat in any series. Yes, the Islanders carry more momentum to the tournament, but the Penguins’ standing as a miniature dynasty and continuing contender makes them an advantage in electricity.
Stanley Cup odds: 16/1
8. New York Islanders
The Islanders would be the ideal example of a sum exceeding its parts. Goals are difficult to discover (228 total, placing them 21st overall), and yet Barry Trotz’s team has bought into the idea that all they need to do is find the web once more than their opponent. As good of an advantage Nassau Coliseum might feel to be, the Isles really registered the exact same number of wins home and off (24). No one has studied Mike Sullivan’s match plans as closely as Trotz, so if his Jennings-winning goaltenders will keep it rolling up, who knows how many chapters are abandoned in this Cinderella story?
Stanley Cup chances: 20/1
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