May 1, 2018; Winnipeg, Manitoba, CAN; Winnipeg Jets goalie Connor Hellebuyck (37) is congratulated by his teammate Winnipeg Jets forward Nikolaj Ehlers (27) on his win against the Nashville Predators during the third period of game three of the second round of the 2018 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Bell MTS Place. Mandatory Credit: Terrence Lee-USA TODAY Sports
THE DEBATE – Hockey Podcast | Episode 26
Off to Round 2 of Stanley Cup Playoffs and Draft Lottery
It is off to round two of the Stanley Cup Playoffs and Brad Burud and Blake Friars breakdown all four series. The good, the bad and the crazy. Then on to the NHL Draft Lottery. They discuss the system and the winners and losers, and most importantly debate if the Buffalo Sabres can take advantage of the number one draft pick.
May 2, 2018; Boston, MA, USA; Tampa Bay Lightning center Tyler Johnson (9) celebrates a goal on Boston Bruins goaltender Tuukka Rask (40) by left wing Ondrej Palat (18) as Boston Bruins defenseman Kevan Miller (86) looks on during the first period of game three of the second round of the 2018 Stanley Cup Playoffs at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Winslow Townson-USA TODAY Sports
The Stanley Cup Playoffs are off and running and goal scoring is at break neck pace. Is this good for the game? Does it make for more exciting games? Or does it make for really, really boring hockey? Fans have been screaming for more goals for years and years. Well you got that in round one of the Stanley Cup Playoffs and it just happened to be the worst first round for entertainment in years.
Apr 22, 2018; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Pittsburgh Penguins left wing Carl Hagelin (62) celebrates his goal against Philadelphia Flyers goaltender Michal Neuvirth (30) during the first period in game six of the first round of the 2018 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Wells Fargo Center. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports
Get inside and behind the scenes of the first round of the NHL playoffs with miced up players and officials from the dressing room to the ice. The excitement, the hits, the goals, the trash talk, the heartbreak, the celebration, its all there.
Apr 17, 2018; Saint Paul, MN, USA; Winnipeg Jets forward Blake Wheeler (26) celebrates forward Mark Scheifele (55) goal in the first period against Minnesota Wild in game four of the first round of the 2018 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Xcel Energy Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-USA TODAY Sports
HIGH-SCORING TREND CONTINUES INTO 2018STANLEY CUP PLAYOFFS
The increased offense from the highest-scoring regular-season in 11 years carried over into the opening round of the 2018 Stanley Cup Playoffs, with an average of 5.9 goals per game (255 goals in 43 GP) – up 20% from the 2017 First Round (4.9 G/GP; 205 G in 42 GP).
In the past 22 years, only four opening rounds featured as many goals per game. Seven of the eight remaining clubs ranked among the top 10 in goals for during the regular season. Additionally, all eight clubs reached the 100-point mark in 2017-18, marking the first time that the final eight playoff teams each hit triple-digits in points during the regular season.
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GOLDEN KNIGHTS, JETS AMONG GROUP OF FIRST-TIME CONTENDERS
Three clubs who were not part of the 2017 Stanley Cup Playoffs will play in the Second Round (of the seven new clubs that reached the postseason), including the expansion Golden Knights and Jets – who each recorded their first-ever series win.
The Golden Knights became just the third team from the NHL, NBA and MLB to complete a four-game sweep to win their first-ever playoff series – and the first to do so in their inaugural season. Only three other NHL teams won a playoff series in their inaugural season, all against other clubs also in their debut campaign (Toronto Arenas in 1918; St. Louis Blues and Minnesota North Stars in 1968). The Golden Knights’ sweep was not only the first of its kind for a professional team in its inaugural season, but also a rare feat for any club in the Stanley Cup Playoffs over the past 10 years. Only 12.6% of series have ended after four games since 2009. This marks the sixth time in the expansion era (since 1967-68) that two NHL clubs have recorded their first-ever series win in the same postseason.
The Jets and Golden Knights will face the Predators and Sharks, respectively, in the Second Round, marking the third time that the final four teams in either conference all are chasing their first Stanley Cup (since the introduction of conferences in 1974-75). The other instances came in 1984 when the Oilers emerged from the Clarence Campbell Conference (outlasting the Blues, Flames and North Stars) and 2012 when the Kings came out of the Western Conference (outlasting the Blues, Coyotes and Predators), both en route to winning the Stanley Cup.
