The opening semifinal on Sunday between the Tampa Bay Lightning and the New York Islanders is a best-of-7 rematch from the 2020 Eastern Conference final. Tampa Bay won that match in six games, going on to eventually win the Stanley Cup.
This year’s modified divisions made for a weird playoff format, and the third round highlights that. It’s not the Conference Finals anymore, we now call it the Stanley Cup Semifinals. It also happens that one of the matchups includes Western and Eastern Conference teams prior to the Cup Finals.
The Florida Panthers have nothing to be ashamed about. They had the second-best record in the central division and the fourth-most points in the NHL. The Panthers made the playoffs for the first time in five years, but that euphoria was short-lived as they lost to the Tampa Bay Lightning in the first round.
Expectations may have never been lower for the Detroit Red Wings entering this past season. Everyone knew they were not going to be good after how the previous year went. But, a great trade deadline packaged with the team not finishing in eighth place has brought some hope to the table.
After finishing sixth in the Central Division, the Chicago Blackhawks and their fans experienced a disappointing season. While in a rebuild like other teams are, they still needed to perform at their best, and this season was not their best.
As they proudly proclaim in The Mighty Ducks trilogy: Quack, Quack, Quack. The Anaheim Ducks are one of a handful of National Hockey League teams currently in a rebuild. Out with the old, and in with the new seems to be the “name of the game” for Ducks general manager Bob Murray.
The Pittsburgh Penguins have won the Stanley Cup three times in the Sidney Crosby-Evgeni Malkin era, which is a lot. The last few years, though, are starting to make Penguins fans wonder if some of their years are being wasted.
The New Jersey Devils said goodbye to a disappointing season, with hope in their hearts for a better one ahead. Lindy Ruff’s first season with the Devils ended with the fourth-worst record in the league.
We knew the Canadian division would be chaotic, so of course, the division finals would be between two teams without much to look into. Both teams embarrassed others in the first round.
The 2021 Stanley Cup Playoffs has been home to a number of familiar matchups from the past thus far. The same cannot be said for the upcoming second-round series between the Tampa Bay Lightning and Carolina Hurricanes.
For the second round of the Stanley Cup playoffs, we have the New York Islanders and the Boston Bruins suiting up against each other. The Islanders defeated the Pittsburgh Penguins in Game Six to advance, while the Bruins finished the Washington Capitals off in their Game Five matchup.
You could have stuck the Ottawa Senators in any division and they still would have been awful. But, put them in the league’s weakest, and they could have some fun with it. Attempting to play spoiler with their Canadian rivals, Ottawa had another progress year in their rebuild.
The opening semifinal on Sunday between the Tampa Bay Lightning and the New York Islanders is a best-of-7 rematch from the 2020 Eastern Conference final. Tampa Bay won that match in six games, going on to eventually win the Stanley Cup.
This year’s modified divisions made for a weird playoff format, and the third round highlights that. It’s not the Conference Finals anymore, we now call it the Stanley Cup Semifinals. It also happens that one of the matchups includes Western and Eastern Conference teams prior to the Cup Finals.
The Florida Panthers have nothing to be ashamed about. They had the second-best record in the central division and the fourth-most points in the NHL. The Panthers made the playoffs for the first time in five years, but that euphoria was short-lived as they lost to the Tampa Bay Lightning in the first round.
Expectations may have never been lower for the Detroit Red Wings entering this past season. Everyone knew they were not going to be good after how the previous year went. But, a great trade deadline packaged with the team not finishing in eighth place has brought some hope to the table.
After finishing sixth in the Central Division, the Chicago Blackhawks and their fans experienced a disappointing season. While in a rebuild like other teams are, they still needed to perform at their best, and this season was not their best.
As they proudly proclaim in The Mighty Ducks trilogy: Quack, Quack, Quack. The Anaheim Ducks are one of a handful of National Hockey League teams currently in a rebuild. Out with the old, and in with the new seems to be the “name of the game” for Ducks general manager Bob Murray.
The Pittsburgh Penguins have won the Stanley Cup three times in the Sidney Crosby-Evgeni Malkin era, which is a lot. The last few years, though, are starting to make Penguins fans wonder if some of their years are being wasted.
The New Jersey Devils said goodbye to a disappointing season, with hope in their hearts for a better one ahead. Lindy Ruff’s first season with the Devils ended with the fourth-worst record in the league.
We knew the Canadian division would be chaotic, so of course, the division finals would be between two teams without much to look into. Both teams embarrassed others in the first round.
The 2021 Stanley Cup Playoffs has been home to a number of familiar matchups from the past thus far. The same cannot be said for the upcoming second-round series between the Tampa Bay Lightning and Carolina Hurricanes.
For the second round of the Stanley Cup playoffs, we have the New York Islanders and the Boston Bruins suiting up against each other. The Islanders defeated the Pittsburgh Penguins in Game Six to advance, while the Bruins finished the Washington Capitals off in their Game Five matchup.
You could have stuck the Ottawa Senators in any division and they still would have been awful. But, put them in the league’s weakest, and they could have some fun with it. Attempting to play spoiler with their Canadian rivals, Ottawa had another progress year in their rebuild.
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