Post by Deleted on Jun 2, 2022 13:31:43 GMT -6
Well we're a bit late, but better late than never for a playoff preview!
The Lightning enter the postseason with the top seed in the Eastern Conference, narrowly squeaking out a tiebreaker over the New York Rangers. There is a common theme with most of the top PFHL teams, and that is OFFENSE, OFFENSE, OFFENSE.
We take a break from the East to start with a Western team that is shattering expectation in the Chicago Black Cocks. The Cocks have taken the league by storm, led by Artemi Panarin's whopping 147 points! He's joined on the top line by Evgeni Malkin (59 goals, 144 points!!) and Mikko Rantanen (58 goals, 127 points!!!). The trio is the top three in the league in scoring and +/- and have helped Chicago to a league leading +78 goal differential.
Somewhat shockingly, it's another team on top of the goal race, thanks to the San Jose Sharks. The only team to eclipse the 4 goal per game mark has 333 on the season, led by Connor McDavid's 56 goals and 127 points. The aformentioned New York Rangers lead the assist with 325 goals thanks to leading scorer Brayden Point (5th in the NHL with 117 points).
Which brings us back to the Lightning. Tampa Bay has a measly 254 goals, paling in comparison to their league-leading foes. But they lead the way defensively, with just 216 goals against thanks in large part to Andrei Vasilevskiy. But it's not just the Russian netminder, even though he is #1 in GAA and SV%. The Lightning lead the league in possession, while also giving up the least shots against.
Make no mistake the Bolts will struggle to score (26th in Shots For, 24th in Goals For), but their biggest challenge may be Leon Draisaitl. Draisaitl was a force for the Red Wings this season, and a bona fide MVP candidate with the Chicago trio likely splitting votes. If he can crack the Lightning's defensive armour, it could be an early post season exit for the boys down in Tampa Bay.
The Lightning enter the postseason with the top seed in the Eastern Conference, narrowly squeaking out a tiebreaker over the New York Rangers. There is a common theme with most of the top PFHL teams, and that is OFFENSE, OFFENSE, OFFENSE.
We take a break from the East to start with a Western team that is shattering expectation in the Chicago Black Cocks. The Cocks have taken the league by storm, led by Artemi Panarin's whopping 147 points! He's joined on the top line by Evgeni Malkin (59 goals, 144 points!!) and Mikko Rantanen (58 goals, 127 points!!!). The trio is the top three in the league in scoring and +/- and have helped Chicago to a league leading +78 goal differential.
Somewhat shockingly, it's another team on top of the goal race, thanks to the San Jose Sharks. The only team to eclipse the 4 goal per game mark has 333 on the season, led by Connor McDavid's 56 goals and 127 points. The aformentioned New York Rangers lead the assist with 325 goals thanks to leading scorer Brayden Point (5th in the NHL with 117 points).
Which brings us back to the Lightning. Tampa Bay has a measly 254 goals, paling in comparison to their league-leading foes. But they lead the way defensively, with just 216 goals against thanks in large part to Andrei Vasilevskiy. But it's not just the Russian netminder, even though he is #1 in GAA and SV%. The Lightning lead the league in possession, while also giving up the least shots against.
Make no mistake the Bolts will struggle to score (26th in Shots For, 24th in Goals For), but their biggest challenge may be Leon Draisaitl. Draisaitl was a force for the Red Wings this season, and a bona fide MVP candidate with the Chicago trio likely splitting votes. If he can crack the Lightning's defensive armour, it could be an early post season exit for the boys down in Tampa Bay.
? Not jinxing it.