The convention quarterfinals are over, with six groups heading into the offseason after a collection of six or fewer video games and two (Colorado and St. Louis) gutted by Sport 7 losses. Spherical two begins Monday with Florida taking part in at Toronto.
Each staff left has an opportunity to hoist the Cup, however who will win all of it?
1. Florida Panthers
First spherical: Defeated Tampa Bay 4-1 | Second-round foe: Toronto | Earlier rating: 8
Motive for optimism: The Panthers’ regular-season damage points seem to be a distant reminiscence. They’re deep at each place, battle examined and simply dispatched a Tampa Bay staff that was a stylish decide to win the Japanese Convention.
Motive for pessimism: The final staff to go to 3 straight Stanley Cup finals (Tampa Bay, 2020-22) misplaced on its third journey. It is price noting that Tampa staff performed considerably fewer video games than this Florida staff due to the COVID-19 stoppage (2020) and the 56-game 2021 season.
2. Vegas Golden Knights
First spherical: Defeated Minnesota 4-2 | Second-round foe: Edmonton Oilers | Earlier rating: 3
Motive for optimism: Vegas, the final Cup champion from the Western Convention (2023), showcased grit and resiliency nearly continuous in successful the ultimate three video games of its collection with Minnesota.
Motive for pessimism: That was a bodily collection with a Wild staff that, at instances, regarded like they discovered holes within the Vegas construction. Maybe Edmonton may exploit them.
3. Dallas Stars
First spherical: Defeated Colorado 4-3 | Second-round foe: Winnipeg | Earlier rating: 9
Motive for optimism: Mikko Rantanen was a stud within the closing video games of the Dallas-Colorado collection, and the Stars are set to get again one of many world’s finest purpose scorers (Jason Robertson) and one of many world’s finest two-way defenders (Miro Heiskanen).
Motive for pessimism: Colorado owned a number of the ice for lengthy stretches of that collection. The Stars additionally will not be capable to afford a number of rust from both Robertson or Heiskanen.
4. Washington Capitals
First spherical: Defeated Montreal 4-1 | Second-round foe: Carolina | Earlier rating: 5
Motive for optimism: They made it via the primary spherical comparatively unscathed and had loads of time without work. They’re going to additionally get large ahead Aliaksei Protas (6-foot-6, 225 kilos) again full time after he performed just one sport towards Montreal.
Motive for pessimism: Montreal’s pace gave Washington points in spurts, and Carolina has a mixture of staff pace and tenacity that all the time make it a troublesome out within the playoffs.
5. Edmonton Oilers
First spherical: Defeated Los Angeles 4-2 | Second-round foe: Vegas Golden Knights | Earlier rating: 10
Motive for optimism: No lead is protected towards Edmonton’s nuclear weapons of Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl and Evan Bouchard.
Motive for pessimism: With out defenseman Mattias Ekholm (lower-body damage), the Oilers labored via the primary 4 video games with Los Angeles and have been fortunate to be break up 2-2. Ekholm is not expected to play in the second round.
6. Carolina Hurricanes
First spherical: Defeated New Jersey 4-1 | Second-round foe: Washington | Earlier rating: 11
Motive for optimism: Per week to relaxation will enable the Hurricanes to throw the complete may of their suffocating taking part in model at Washington.
Motive for pessimism: The “Corsi Canes” are all the time going to win the puck-possession sport as a result of that is how they’re constructed. Nevertheless, the identical questions have haunted this staff for your entire period of coach Rod Brind’Amour — does Carolina have sufficient ending expertise? Is its goaltending adequate? The latter is especially horrifying — Frederik Anderson was injured in the course of the New Jersey collection and has a historical past of struggling later within the playoffs.
7. Toronto Maple Leafs
First spherical: Defeated Ottawa 4-2 | Second-round foe: Florida | Earlier rating: 7
Motive for optimism: The Leafs are formally within the “taking part in with home cash” class, which is a begin. Extra importantly, they restricted Ottawa to Stanley Cup playoff bests in pictures towards per 60 (20.84) and targets towards per 60 (1.49), in line with Natural Stat Trick.
Motive for pessimism: The collection with Ottawa was a lot nearer than it appeared when the Leafs jumped to a 3-0 lead. Shades of the outdated Leafs emerged in a Sport 5 loss. Lastly, they are going to face a Panthers staff that solely appears to have leveled up because the groups met in 2023 in a collection received by the Panthers in 5 video games.
8. Winnipeg Jets
First spherical: Defeated St. Louis 4-3 | Second-round foe: Dallas | Earlier Rating: 2
Motive for optimism: The Jets’ depth, home-ice benefit and dedication to protection will give them an opportunity, particularly as a result of goaltender Connor Hellebuyck discovered his sport within the again half of Winnipeg’s thrilling 4-3 comeback win in Sport 7 towards St. Louis.
Motive for pessimism: Hellebuyck has an .830 save proportion, twenty third of 25 goalies who’ve suited up within the playoffs. It is also not clear whether or not Winnipeg could have high middle Mark Scheifele (injured in Sport 6 vs. St. Louis) or high defenseman Josh Morrissey (injured in Sport 7 vs. St. Louis).
