NHL Playoffs: Predictions for April 24th

Two series now have been officially decided. A potential three more could come to an end today. Let’s take a look around the NHL Playoffs at the top picks, plays and predictions.

Here are today’s starting goaltenders, courtesy of LeftWingLock.

#1 Capitals vs WC2 Flyers: Prior to the start of this series, I had wrote in my preview that this series could very well go the distance and the Flyers would surprise a lot of people in the process. Both of those are proving to be true. The Flyers have now won back-to-back games to force a Game 6 in Philadelphia and have given us several surprising moments. We have been surprised at the exchange of violent and borderline legal hits between these two teams. We were surprised at the barbaric brutality of Wells Fargo Center patrons during Game 3’s meltdown. We were again surprised when the Flyers announced a giveaway of t-shirts that read “Stay classy, Philly” with a silhouette of Lou Nolan on them (no seriously, that’s a real thing).

We were surprised that Michal Neuvirth surrendered just one goal in 120 minutes of play against the Caps. We were surprised that Washington outshot the Broad Street Bullies 44-11 in Game 5 yet still lost 2-0. And guess who got the game-winning goal that game? Ryan White, who came under fire for encouraging wristband tossing after being ejected earlier this series.

So, here we are. Surprise, surprise.

The most encouraging aspect of the Flyers’ play recently has been Michal Neuvirth, who has been stellar since getting the call to start over Steve Mason. I feel for Mason- he really is quite good at 5v5, elite even as far as save percentage goes. But he wet the bed hard in Games 1 through 3. Neuvirth allowed just one goal between Games 4 and 5 on 76 shots.

In case you were searching for narratives, Neuvirth and Braden Holtby were the goalie tandem when they made a Calder Cup run in the American Hockey League a few short years ago.

The turnaround started in Philadelphia. Can it continue in Philadelphia? If there’s anything that this postseason has proven it’s that home-ice advantage is not as meaningful as one might think it to be.

If Washington manages to pick their powerplay back up, they will walk away with a series victory. The Caps went 0-for-3 in Game 5 and 0-for-2 in Game 4.

Philly, meanwhile, needs more from their top line, which has combined for a grand total of zero goals. Claude Giroux has only one point this series. Wayne Simmonds and Brayden Schenn have two assists each.

Prediction: The Flyers have been playing with fire and I don’t know if there’s enough there to hold the Caps off for much longer. Take Washington to win. Play the under.

#1 Stars vs WC2 Wild: The Dallas Stars appear to already be entering panic mode. A starter has not been named yet for Game 6, but Antti Niemi has already seen ice time over Kari Lehtonen this series. And to be blunt, he has fared far worse than Lehtonen has this postseason.

Jason Pominville has helped spur the Wild to make a resurgence in the series. Under John Torchetti, Pominville has been rejuvenated. He has three goals and three assists in the last three games of this series, in which the Wild are 2-1.

On the other side of the ice, the Stars’ best players have been just that- their best players. Jamie Benn has seven points this series. Jason Spezza has five. Mikko Koivu tallied the game-winning goal in Game 5, giving him yet another signature moment in a Wild uniform. It was a nice moment for the captain.

Tyler Seguin will not play tonight. Thomas Vanek skated, but will likely not play.

Again, home-ice advantage has not meant much in this postseason in any series. However, this is really the only real way that the Wild can win the series, and they have known it all along: win at home and get to Game 7, where anything is possible.

John Torchetti’s fire and the State of Hockey’s collective voice could spur the Wild to victory. I might be picking with my heart over my head in this pick, but the heart is closer to the gut and one should always trust their gut. Logic.

Prediction: Take the Wild to send this Game 7. Play the over.

#1 Panthers vs WC1 Islanders: The Islanders are on the verge of winning their first playoff series since 1993. Someone like me who is still in college has literally never seen the Islanders so much as win a four-of-seven series. This is a significant game in franchise history. And to win in their new building would be certainly a tremendous way to christen their home.

Random side note: are die-hards bitter that their first playoff series win could come in their home away from their original home? It’s an interesting conundrum but one that probably falls by the wayside more than I think.

Florida has their own unique opportunity. They were discounted by a lot of pundits, myself included. A lot of people felt that the Islanders would take advantage of the seemingly weaker Atlantic Division. They can prove a lot of people wrong by forcing a Game 7.

The Panthers had an opportunity to take the pivotal Game 5 but were stopped by Thomas Greiss. Greiss made a terrific read on Aleksander Barkov’s penalty shot in overtime before Alan Quine (“who?”) buried the game-winner in double-overtime.

The Panthers outshot the Islanders 48-42. Incredibly, the Panthers only drew one powerplay opportunity. That’s remarkable discipline on Brooklyn’s part. It’s also a testament to how few powerplays are awarded in overtime during the playoffs.

This series has been so crazy. There are very few other adjectives for it. Maybe heart-wrenching or nerve-racking. Cardiac-arrest-inducing?

So why assume it is going to end prematurely?

Prediction: Take the Cats to win. Play the over.