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The 2017 Stanley Cup Playoffs have arrived, so have Puck Daddy’s preview of all playoff series. Enjoy!
We could tell you that the Washington Capitals followed up their 56-win, 120-point season that earned them the Presidents’ Trophy with a 55-win, 118-point season that earned then a second straight one.
We could tell you that had a goal differential of plus-81, which was better than last season’s plus-59, which happened*in a year that saw goalie Braden Holtby win the Vezina.
We could tell you they were third in the NHL in goals per game at 3.18, despite “only” getting 33 from Alex Ovechkin, his lowest total in a non-lockout season since 2011.
We could tell you that the Washington Capitals made it look easy, and looked poised to challenge for the Stanley Cup this spring. And we know what you’d tell us in response:
‘Let’s talk when they get out of the second round …”
We get it.
As for the Toronto Maple Leafs (40-27-15, 95 points), they earned the last wild card in the Eastern Conference with a young team that’s ahead of schedule and a coach in Mike Babcock who helped plaster over their blemishes with his systems.
Auston Matthews broke out in this rookie year to a record total of goals (40) and a nice total of points (69). He did most of this without the benefit of high-scoring veteran linemates and while playing center, the toughest forward position for a young player. But you no doubt already heard this from your Leafs fan friends as they lobbied you on his Calder candidacy, when such things were in doubt.
Fellow rookies William Nylander (61 points) and Mitch Marner (61 points) were shining right there with Matthews. Nazem Kadri (61 points) had an incredible year on both ends of the ice. Frederik Andersen did enough in goal (.918, 2.67) to get them over the hump.
SCHEDULE
Washington Capitals (M1) vs. Toronto Maple Leafs (WC2)
- Thursday, April 13, 7 p.m.: Maple Leafs @ Capitals | USA, CBC, TVA Sports
- Saturday, April 15, 7 p.m.: Maple Leafs @ Capitals | NBCSN, CBC, TVA Sports
- Monday, April 17, 7 p.m.: Capitals @ Maple Leafs | CBC, TVA Sports, NBCSN
- Wednesday, April 19, 7 p.m.: Capitals @ Maple Leafs | CBC, TVA Sports, NBCSN
- *Friday, April 21, TBD: Maple Leafs @ Capitals | TBD
- *Sunday, April 23, TBD: Capitals @ Maple Leafs | TBD
- *Tuesday, April 25, TBD: Maple Leafs @ Capitals | TBD
1 – Smother Mathews. The rookie sensation had three points in three games against the Capitals. The mission is clear: Don’t allow the Leafs’ offensive engine to get cranked up. It’s time for Nicklas Backstrom (86 points) to get his Toews on and smother Matthews while generating his own offense.
2 – Get Evgeny Kuznetsov going. The Russian dynamo (59 points) was a total flop in last season’s playoffs, with a goal and an assist in 12 games. The postseason is made for guys that can create their own offense like Kuznetsov can. He needs to be present.
3 – Get the defensemen involved. Don’t look now but Kevin Shattenkirk only had seven even-strength points in 19 games with the Capitals. This dangerous team gets even more dangerous if players like Matt Niskanen, Shattenkirk, John Carlson and Dmitry Orlov make their presence known.
3 KEYS FOR THE LEAFS
1 – Scare The Crap Out Of Them. The best thing the Leafs could do in this series is win one of the first two games in Washington. Punch them in the mouth, see how they respond. The “here we go again” trigger is there for the pulling with the Capitals.
2 – Make The Most Of Man Advantage. The Capitals’ PK is pretty damn good at over 83 percent, but they’re also in the top three for minor penalties taken per 60 minutes (3.76). The Leafs had the League’s second-best power play (23.8). They have to take advantage of the man advantage.
3 – Health. Andersen was questionable for Game 1 after a run-in with Tom Sestito. Roman Polak and Nikita Zaitsev were banged up as well.
5 STATS OF NOTE
1 – The Capitals had the fourth-best power play in the NHL at 23.1 percent and the seventh best penalty kill at 83.8 percent. The Maple Leafs had the second best power play in the league at 23.8 percent and the 10th best penalty kill at 82.5 percent.
2 – Braden Holtby had a .935 even-strength save percentage, tied for second in the NHL. Andersen was at .922.
3 – The Capitals were 41-1-1 when leading after two periods. The Leafs were 31-1-9 when leading after two periods.
4 – Lars Eller and Andre Burakovsky led the Capitals with a 4.1 percent Corsi relative to that of their teammates at 5-on-5. James van Riemsdyk led the Leafs with 3.7 percent relative to his teammates.
5 – Ovechkin has 82 points in 84 playoff games for his career, including 12 in 12 games last season. Backstrom has 62 points in 83 playoff games, including 11 in 12 games last season.
PREDICTION
Capitals in 5. Yeah, at this point, it’s the chalk pick of a chalk pick. We all figure the Capitals will win, and now we’re figuring that they’ll make short work of the Leafs. Which naturally has us worried that everyone’s totally wrong. But probably not. Better goaltending, more seasoned depth and the Leafs just aren’t there yet. Besides, if This Is The Year for the Capitals, they need a short series before meeting the Penguins in Round 2, provided the Blue Jackets don’t do the job.
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Greg Wyshynski is a writer for Yahoo Sports. Contact him at [email protected] or find him on Twitter. His book, TAKE YOUR EYE OFF THE PUCK, is available on Amazon and wherever books are sold.
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