NHL Playoffs: The Little Engine that Could
Published on April 17, 2019
- Brad Marchand has five points in two Boston wins and one point in two losses. Pretty obvious who dictates their success.
- 50:50 odds are pretty good, unless you're a goalie. Pekka Rinne stopped just half the shots he faced. There's no climbing out of a 4-0 hole in the postseason.
- Tyler Ennis 2, Zdeno Chara, 0. Ennis is a foot shorter and 90 pounds lighter, but Chara went down like a bowling pin. Twice. The stunned look on the old man's face was the best part.
- Roope Hintz could be the homegrown forward talent the Stars so desperately need. He can snipe.
- The Preds finished 31st in the NHL on the power play. How does that happen all that firepower? Right, that's rhetorical. You don't get far when you stand still.
- Auston Matthews scored twice, but you know who tied the Bruins in knots? The Leafs' fourth line. Ennis, Trevor Moore and Frederick Gauthier were intense and abrasive, and forced the play. Every time they were on the ice.
- The Flames have no answer for the Avs' speed. The boys from Mile High come in pounding waves -- even Eric Johnson looks fast in that system.
- By the way, the rust looks like it's coming off Mikko Rantanen. More bad news for the Flames.
- Which Swedish defender ends up with the most playoff points? Erik Karlsson or John Klingberg? I'm leaning toward the latter after the last two nights.
