The Stanley Cup Playoffs are now left with four teams. The Semifinals will start Sunday with the Islanders facing the Penguins while the Golden Knights face the Canadiens. The 2020-21 NHL season has been unlike any other, that’s a given though. However, the Stanley Cup Playoffs have once again provided us with unpredictable results. Two of the four teams in the Semifinals were the four-seeds in their divisions. Moreover, all the one-seeds have been eliminated with the Presidents’ Trophy winner Avalanche losing four straight games to the Golden Knights.
By all means, these were not the Semifinals anyone could have predicted. Likewise, these matchups might look unappealing, with two teams that don’t look that good in the Islanders and Canadiens. However, this is a reminder of the unpredictability of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. This is what the NHL fans deserve and what sports fans should look forward to. The Semifinals may appear anticlimactic but there is plenty to look forward to. We should see great matchups and most importantly, great hockey for the NHL to showcase.
The NHL’s Best Coached Teams
One of the most prominent elements of the first two rounds is the great coaching of all the teams left in the playoffs. The constant adjustments and adapting that have allowed these teams to not only win their matchups but control the later games. These teams have reminded us of the value of great coaching and a reminder that teams can win by exploiting matchups or studying the film to beat a better roster, as we’ve seen in the first two rounds.
The most noticeable coaching adjustments came from the Islanders with head coach Barry Trotz. Against both the Penguins and the Bruins, the Islanders won three consecutive games to close out the series in six games each. The primary reason for the control was the ability to recognize how the opponent was playing offensively and build the defense to stop that. With the Penguins, it was limiting the ability to carry the puck through the neutral zone, forcing the Islanders’ defensive pairings to play disciplined at the blue line. Similarly against the Bruins, the Islanders’ defense adapted to keep the puck in the offensive zone and force the opponent to slowly develop their offense. Additionally, the Islanders were able to test the goalies constantly by exposing a specific weakness throughout the series.
The same could be said about the coaching of Pete DeBoer of Vegas and Dominique Ducharme of Montreal. DeBoer found a way to limit the penalties against the Avalanche in the last four games. The Avalanche were able to dominate on the power play but with few opportunities, they couldn’t pile on the goals. For Ducharme, he slowed down a Winnipeg Jets offense that dominated with speed and puck movement. The Canadiens slowed the game down and controlled the pace for the four-game sweep.
The Goaltending is World-Class
Goaltending can carry in the Stanley Cup Playoffs. If you didn’t know that already, this year should be pretty convincing. Two of the Vezina Trophy finalists, the award for the NHL’s best goaltender, led their teams to the Semifinals. Throughout the history of the game, there are few World-Class goaltenders, there are probably four or five in the NHL currently and three of them are in the Semifinal. Carey Price might not be in his prime but the performances he’s been giving the Canadiens have been a testament to his ability, helping lead the team in two series upsets. Likewise, Andrei Vasilevskiy had a few poor starts for the Lightning but for the large part, will play lights-out, making the opponent feel fortunate they scored at least once in the game.
While the Islanders might not have a World-Class goaltender like the other three teams, they have a remarkable duo. Both Semyon Varlamov and Ilya Sorokin have played great in the regular season and in the playoffs as well. While Sorokin stepped in to win four games against the Penguins, Varlamov carried the team in the Second Round. Moreover, the team got great performances from both goaltenders with the duo often allowing one or two goals in a victory.
The Teams Are Built to Matchup With Anyone
The four teams have proven that they can find any weakness in their opponent and expose it. The Lightning took advantage of their power play and the quick puck movement took advantage of the Hurricanes defense. The Golden Knights noticed they could win on the odd-man rushes with their forwards and likewise score in the offensive end from the point. The Islanders realized they could test Bruins’ goaltender Tuukka Rask with top-shelf shots, they did, often. The Canadiens realized they could find favorable opportunities with their young forward shift against a slower defense in the Jets.
The four teams remaining might not be the best based on the regular season. However, these four teams match up well with any team and can cause problems in a game and series. It’s been a reminder of the depth that these rosters possess and the versatility. These teams can take advantage of the talent and ability to play any style of hockey and as a result, are capable of hoisting the Cup.
Predictions
Both these NHL Semifinal matchups could go either way. The Golden Knights and Lightning are regarded as heavy favorites but the Islanders and Canadiens can easily control the upcoming games. A few things will determine who advances to the Stanley Cup Final like the power play, scoring from the point, how teams attack a goaltender, and the pace of the game. With this in mind, both of these series can go seven games and probably will.
Ultimately the Lightning and Golden Knights should win their matchups in seven games. The Lightning are going the have a hard-fought series against the Islanders and will rarely break through the opponent’s defense. Vegas meanwhile, should control the majority of the series but Carey Price will give them a tough time and steal a few games. In the end, these games should be a showcase of great hockey both on the ice and on the coaching bench.
