Stanley Cup Playoffs Power Rankings: Contender or pretender?
Watch as Caroline Cameron and Mike Futa discuss the North Division playoff match ups, and players to watch in each series. | May 13, 2021, 11:49 AM
May 13, 2021, 11:49 AM
Ladies and gentlemen. the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
The final 16 teams are locked in and Round 1 playoff matchups are set in every division except the West, where Colorado can still pass Vegas for first (and the Presidents Trophy) with a win over Los Angeles on Thursday. So, who are the top contenders now that the dust has settled on the abbreviated regular season?
Knowing full well there s going to be an upset or two that blows up our brackets, this week s Power Rankings lists each of the 16 playoff teams in order of how strong their case is for the Stanley Cup. Injuries are considered, as are how these teams finished in the regular season. So if you re banged up and finished the year on a sour note, it ll be reflected here.
Jordan Eberle Needs To Lead Islanders In The Playoffs
Jordan Eberle Lights Up Pittsburgh
In the 2019 postseason, Eberle led the Islanders to a first-round sweep over the Pittsburgh Penguins. Eberle scored one goal in each game and had two assists in Games 1 and 2. He finished the series with four goals and two assists.
He got three assists in the series versus Carolina but the Islanders got swept. Eberle and his scoring touch propelled the Islanders to a series sweep in 2019. Now, Eberle needs to find a way to start scoring in the playoffs or it will be hard for Islanders fans to see Anders Lee raise the Stanley Cup.
Islanders beat Rangers to clinch playoff spot
Anthony Beauvillier scored twice and Semyon Varlamov stopped 28 shots for his league-leading seventh shutout of the season as the New York Islanders beat the rival Rangers 3-0 Saturday night to clinch a playoff spot for the third straight year.
The Canadian Press New York Islanders celebrate , The Canadian Press
UNIONDALE, N.Y. Anthony Beauvillier scored twice and Semyon Varlamov stopped 28 shots for his league-leading seventh shutout of the season as the New York Islanders beat the rival Rangers 3-0 Saturday night to clinch a playoff spot for the third straight year.
Mathew Barzal added a breakaway goal and Josh Bailey had three assists to help the Islanders beat the Rangers for the sixth time in eight meetings this season, including the last three by a combined 13-1 margin. A smattering of fans at Nassau Coliseum chanted we want playoffs” as the final seconds ticked off the scoreboa
UNIONDALE, N.Y. (AP) â Anthony Beauvillier scored twice and Semyon Varlamov stopped 28 shots for his league-leading seventh shutout of the season as the New York Islanders beat the rival Rangers 3-0 Saturday night to clinch a playoff spot for the third straight year.
Mathew Barzal added a breakaway goal and Josh Bailey had three assists to help the Islanders beat the Rangers for the sixth time in eight meetings this season, including the last three by a combined 13-1 margin.
The 33-year-old Varlamov, who had three shutouts against the Rangers at Madison Square Garden, added another as the Islanders dominated from start to finish.
Stanley Cup Playoff Push: Can Canadiens catch struggling Jets?
Montreal Canadiens Nick Suzuki, left, celebrates his goal against the Winnipeg Jets with teammate Jeff Petry during third period in Montreal on Friday, April 30, 2021. (Paul Chiasson/CP)
Rory Boylen | @RoryBoylen May 1, 2021, 11:56 AM
It’ll be as busy as it can get on the NHL schedule Saturday, with 15 games on the docket. Since every team in the NHL (except Vancouver) has eight games or less left in their regular seasons, each game now is like a playoff game for those still without an “x” beside their name, or jockeying for position and, maybe, a better Round 1 matchup.