The Colorado Avalanche will go to the Stanley Cup playoffs as a pre-favorite.
Mikko Rantanen is one of the star players of the Colorado Avalanche. USA TODAY Sports / AOP
The battle for the Stanley Cup will begin on the night between Monday and Tuesday in Finnish time.
Mikko Rantanen and Artturi Lehkonen represented by the Colorado Avalanche will go into the playoffs as one of the biggest championship favorites. However, the favorite cloak doesn’t guarantee success in the two-month grueling battle for the world’s most coveted trophy for club teams.
In the case of Avalanche, the club’s weak playoff success is a question mark.
In the last three spring, the renowned Avs has dropped from the sequel in the second round, 2018 already in the first round. The 2011–17 team didn’t even make it to the playoffs except in the spring of 2014, when the pickup came right off the opening round.
The last time the Avalanche won the Stanley Cup was in 2001.
Avs still has a top team, but is that enough in grueling playoffs? Rantanen is one of Avs’ star players with a big responsibility for the team’s success.
In the first round, Avs should have no problem clearing the Nashville Predators who were the last to reach the playoffs. If still a goalkeeper for the Predators Hair Saros unable to play or not in full swing, Avs rallies for the second round.
Another favorite at the Western Conference is the Calgary Flames, which is expected to survive the opening round of Dallas Stars without much pain.
The Edmonton Oilers and Los Angeles Kings series may well stretch to seven games, as will the encounter between the Minnesota Wild and the St. Louis Blues.
The story continues after the picture.
Sebastian Aho is a key player for Carolina Hurricanes. USA TODAY Sports / AOP
Barkov or Aho?
At the Eastern Conference, Finnish wishes will be met Alexander Barkovin to skip the Florida Panthers and Sebastian Ahon to star in Carolina Hurricanes.
The Panthers won the NHL regular season and scored more goals in 82 matches than any other team. In the playoffs, there are no rebounds like in the regular season, so the Panthers need to intensify their defensive play if the team wants to clear the Washington Capiltals first.
The Hurricanes were third in the regular season and scored fewer goals than any other team. In terms of efficiency, it hardly showed up, as Hurricanes scored the ninth most goals.
The Boston Bruins aren’t an easy opponent for the Hurricanes, but Aho and partners are among the favorites.
Hard fate
The Toronto Maple Leafs played a stunning regular season and scored more points than ever before in the club’s history.
Auston Matthews scored 60 goals in 73 matches and scored Edwardon Oilers by five goals Leon Draisaitliin. However, keep in mind that Matthews knows nothing about how it feels to play in the second round of the NHL playoffs. Matthews entered the NHL in 2016 and the Leafs have not made it to the second playoff round since – and not long before.
Now, on top of all that, the Leafs suffered a tough fate as they immediately face out the champion Tampa Bay Lightning of the previous two seasons. It would be no wonder even if Leafs left the choir again from the first round.
The New York Rangers and Pittsburgh Penguins series can end anyway. However, the benefit of experience lies with the Penguins.
FACTS
First round of the playoffs
Eastern Conference:
1 Florida Panthers – 13 Washington Capitals
3 Carolina Hurricanes – 10 Boston Bruins
4 Toronto Maple Leafs – 8 Tampa Bay Lightning
7 New York Rangers – 12 Pittsburgh Penguins
Western Conference:
2 Colorado Avalanche – 16 Nashville Predators
5 Minnesota Wild – 9 St. Louis Blues
6 Calgary Flames – 15 Dallas Stars
11 Edmonton Oilers – 14 Los Angeles Kings
Placed in the regular season in front of the club’s name.
First matches 3.5. Finnish time: 02:00 Carolina Hurricanes – Boston Bruins, 02.30 Toronto Maple Leafs – Tampa Bay Lightning, 04.30 Minnesota Wild – St. Louis Blues and 05.00 Edmonton Oilers – Los Angeles Kings.