As we continue the 2021-22 Stanley Cup Playoffs, PHR is excited to announce a new feature aimed at encouraging discourse between reader and writer. On Friday mornings (and perhaps even more often than that), we’ll post a topic of discussion that we think will draw out varied and interesting perspectives from both our commenters and the other staff writers.
For too long there has only been a couple of outlets for our readers to interact with the PHR staff. Live chats and mailbags offer a chance at some discussion, but also run the risk of being too crowded or even outdated by the time the answer arrives. With this new feature, we’re hoping to get weekly chatter going on a topic that normally would have to be brought into the spotlight by a reader before even being discussed.
Last time, the discussion centered on “tanking” and whether it is an effective means to eventual success in the NHL. This week, let’s take a look at the eight playoff series and see if we can’t find an upset.
Only the Carolina Hurricanes and Colorado Avalanche are up 2-0 so far, meaning any of the other series could easily swing to the underdog. But which one looks most likely to produce an unexpected result? This will be a free-flowing discussion that doesn’t have a lot of guidelines, so make sure you chime in and check regularly to continue the conversation.
Maple Leafs fans aren’t going to like it, but the obvious choice here is the Lightning given their history. But that one wouldn’t even be much of an upset, would it?
I’m going to go with the Los Angeles Kings–I think a lot of Oilers fans, and hockey fans in general, might have overlooked them as a legitimate threat in this series. They have an extremely hungry group, and flat out I just don’t trust Mike Smith to shut the door when it’s crunch time.
The only way the Oilers win any series is through sheer force of will, as in McDavid making it happen. I see Edmonton as the underdog.
I’ll go with Tampa. And yes, I would love that the Leafs choke again and enjoy a big blow-up this summer. (It may not be that big, but necessitating the trade of one of their top 4 salaried forward is still pretty big).
Yes, Smith is the weak link for the Oil, but they still find a way, only to fall in 4-5 games the next round.
Tampa wins
Also should just shout out Connor Ingram for his game last night, even though they lost. His journey has been a difficult one to get to this point, and he played fantastic.
He still lost, and I think that will weigh too heavily on his young mind. Avs continue to push the Preds on to the golf course by early next week.
Ingram played junior in my hometown so I was super stoked for him.
I think the Rangers are going to win this round and make the second round difficult. Many did not think they did enough to make the playoffs, but Gallant and good talent to go along with Shisterkin in net is dangerous.
Yes, Shishy is a great puck stopper and a very talented and acrobatic actor as well! His super-duper embellishment on the Carter collision stopped any Penguin rally dead! LOL
Carter colliding with the Goalie did that, not Sheshterkin getting collided with
I’m not sure how much I even believe in this myself, but Dallas’ performance last night really got me thinking. I had been a bit concerned about Calgary going into the playoffs (a few people had floated the “one-line team” narrative) but I wasn’t really buying that line of thinking because of the wealth of scoring depth Calgary has. A team with Andrew Mangiapane, Tyler Toffoli, Blake Coleman, et cetera can’t really be a one-line team, right? But through two games they’ve only scored one goal, which is highly concerning. I always believed that regardless of their flaws, they definitely had enough to get past Dallas. But now? I have my doubts.
I don’t think I would put money on the Stars to win against Calgary, or anything, betting against a Sutter-coached team in the playoffs can be dangerous. But I would be lying if I said I was at all confident in the Flames right now, so if I had to pick one series that I think could become an upset, it would be that one. If Oettinger holds up and the Stars get goals at the right times, Bowness’ squad could be the one that goes giant hunting in round one.