While it’s true that no two National Hockey League postseasons are exactly alike, after the dust has settled, there always seems to be a theme that emerges.
This year, the theme seems to be emerging earlier than expected: comebacks. To exemplify this theme, I’ve run summarized a few of the most notable series from this year’s postseason.
The President Trophy- winning Vancouver Canucks have had one hurdle they haven’t been able to clear over their past few post-season outings, and that is the reigning Stanley Cup champion Chicago Blackhawks. It had been billed as the most exciting playoff series of the first round and it has not failed to deliver in any way. Vancouver dominated the first three games and came out with a 3-0 stranglehold on the series. However, the reigning champs refused to be swept in the first round, and have since won three straight games due to the strong play of Marian Hossa, Dave Bolland and Duncan Keith. Both teams are looking to settle this new-found rivalry in what should be a game seven of epic proportions.
The Boston Bruins, who entered the playoffs as the third seed in the East, looked to make the best out of home-ice advantage against their bitter rivals, the Montreal Canadiens. The Habs had other plans, however, and returned to Montreal with a commanding 2-0 series lead. But the Bruins stuck to their game-plan and it paid off as they have since won the last three games to take a 3-2 series lead thanks in large part to Michael Ryder and Nathan Horton scoring some key goals. Montreal will look to get their first home win of the playoffs in order to force a Game 7 in Boston.
For the last several years, the main concern with the Philadelphia Flyers has been their goaltending, and that was no different this year as the Eastern Conference champions entered the playoffs as the 2nd seed. Despite these concerns, most people seemed to feel that the Flyers would come out on top over the Buffalo Sabres in the first round of the playoffs with relative ease. Well, once again, everyone underestimated Ryan Miller. Miller has dominated the series, posting 2 shutouts and a .925 save percentage all while facing the most shots than any goaltender in the playoffs thus far. His goaltending has led the Sabres to an unlikely game seven against the Flyers who have struggled to find solid goaltending from Brian Boucher or Michael Leighton.
The Tampa Bay Lightning are trying to get passed their injury-plagued first round opponent, the Pittsburgh Penguins. Despite the obvious loss of Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin, the Pens have remained a strong opponent throughout the regular season and into the post-season as they have taken a 3-2 series lead. But the Bolts are far from finished. The young phenom Steven Stamkos, who has been a sleeping giant for most of the series, finally awoke in game five with a two-goal performance. In addition to the strong play of veterans Marty St. Louis and Vinny Lecavalier, the fact that the Lightning have outscored their opponents by four or more goals in both of their wins gives fans throughout the area some hope of an extended playoff run.
Daniel Pineyro can be reached at dpineyro@spartans.ut.edu.