Something positive that came out of this COVID season, and trust me, there aren’t many, was the all Canadian team North Division. This year proved to re-ignite rivalries amongst our friends up north which only led to more entertainment in an already competitive division.
With the 6th best record in the NHL, the Toronto Maple Leafs were able to capture the #1 seed in the division and will face off against the #4 seed Montreal Canadiens. A battle that many are anticipating to be one of the most exciting in all of the playoffs.
Additionally, the #2 seed Edmonton Oilers will face off against Connor Hellebuyck and the #3 seed, Winnipeg Jets. Rumor has it that before each game the Jets will bring in a Priest in order to summon the Lord’s power to stop Connor McDavid. Results pending.
(1) Toronto Maple Leafs vs. (4) Montreal Canadiens
As previously stated, this will be one of my favorite matchups in all of the playoffs this year. Toronto skated to a record of 35-14-7 on the year, while Montreal successfully battled for the final playoff spot in the North, edging out the Calgary Flames with a record of 24-21-11.
The Maple Leafs were led by their powerhouse offensive duo of Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner. Marner led the team with 67 points in 55 game played while Matthews and the most electric mustache in hockey led the league with 41 goals in ONLY 52 games played. Its players like Matthews that really made me wish that we had a full season because I believe he could have flirted with 70 goals, which hasn’t been done since Brett Hull in 1992.
The Leafs also rely heavily on the defense of Morgan Rielly, who has proved to be one of, if not, the ONLY consistent Toronto defenseman ever since the team drafted him 5th overall in 2012. It is also worth mentioning a couple a “depth” players to keep an eye out for in Wayne Simmonds and big ole JUMBOOOO Joe Thornton. Most of us have seen playoff Wayne Simmonds and his impact on games through physicality, grit, and intensity. As for “Jumbo Joe”, I hope he bought some exhausters for the electric scooter.
As for the goaltending, it was an interesting year for Toronto. Jack Campbell had an unbelievable year, going 17-3 with a .921 sv% and a 2.15 GAA. Is that good? This is exactly the type of goaltending that teams were expecting when he led the USA to a gold medal in the 2010 World Junior Hockey Championship (OHHH MAMA DO YOU CR….sorry, anyway…).
Frederik Andersen came into the season as one of the best goalies in the league, but Campbell would go on to succeed with his opportunity and go on an 11-game winning streak. Add in that Anderson would suffer a “lower body injury” (gotta love how specific hockey injury reports are) and a struggling Frederik Andersen would soon take a back seat to Campbell. Anderson struggled early on in the year but finished with a 13-8 record, .895 save % and a 2.96 GAA.
As for the Montreal Canadiens, the team was led by…Tyler Toff…Toffoli? Yeah, that’s it. Tyler Toffoli lead the Habs with a surprising 28 goals and 44 points in 52 games played. Yeah, just like we all expected when he signed with Montreal on a 4-year, $17mil contract. As always, the underrated and feisty American blueliner, Jeff Petry, amassed a modest 42 points in 55 games. The Canadien blue line also features the always prominent, Shea Weber. These two guys seem to always find ways to help teams win as they continue to get older.
However, most of the attention and excitement can be directed towards 21-year old Nick Suzuki and golden boy, local eagle scout, and soup kitchen volunteer, 20 year-old Cole Caufield. Caufield only played 10 games this year with the Canadiens, including 2 overtime winning goals for his two first career points in the NHL.
If we see a Cole Caufield overtime goal in the playoffs, pretty sure the whole Quebec Province would start speaking English and every Quebec school would teach a class on Mosinee, Wisconsin (aka the hometown that produced Cole Caufield)…too much? Eh, probably…
Let’s continue…
Oh boy, an interesting year for Canadiens goaltenders. Definitely not the year most were expecting from Carey Price as he turned in a 12-7-5 record with a .901 save % and a 2.64 GAA. Definitely an off year but never underestimate playoff Carey Price. Alternatively, many were surprised when Jake Allen came on to the scene and stole a few games for the Canadiens early on. Allen posted an 11-12-5 record with a .907 save % and 2.68 GAA.
The Maple Leafs won the season series against the Canadians, winning 7 out of 10 games.
HW Staff Predictions
Jim: 4-1 Maple Leafs
Jack: 4-2 Maple Leafs
Steve: 4-1 Maple Leafs
Kyle: 4-1 Maple Leafs
Johnny: 4-2 Maple Leafs
Josh: 4-2 Maple Leafs
Adam: 4-2 Maple Leafs
(2) Edmonton Oilers vs. (3) Winnipeg Jets
The Edmonton Oilers posted a 35-18-2 record this season, while the Winnipeg Jets posted a 30-23-3 record.
33 goals and 104 points in 55 games played.
33 goals and 104 points in 55 games played.
33 goals and 104 points in 55 games played.
I MEAN…Connor McJesus…is that….is that good? 3 hat tricks this year… that cool with you? You enjoy that? YOU LIKE THAT?!
I’ll tell you what…I’m looking at this Winnipeg defense led by Neal Pionk and Josh Morrissey and wondering how in the hell are they going to stop this man. Honestly, Winnipeg should be legally allowed, for one series only, to skate 6 guys and a goalie only when McDavid is on the ice in order to make it fair.
Ohhhh yeah, Leon Drasaitl. Heard of him? He’s casually chipping in with 83 points in 55 games played. Pretty decent. GOOOD LOOORD putting those 2 together on the ice at the same time is a JOKE because they’re just so good.
Enter Tyson Barrie. Barrie chipped in with a nice little 48 points in 55 games played this year and you know what? WHERE WAS THIS IN TORONTO? When Barrie signed a 1 year $3,750,000 contract with the Oilers, many thought this was a steal and Barrie is proving them right. Somewhere out there, Leafs fans are still burning Barrie’s jersey.
Mike Smith revenge tour? Smith held a 21-6-2 record this year with a .923 save % and 2.31 GAA and 3 shutouts. For 38 years old and no accolades to show for it, good ole Smitty would love to add some hardware before he calls it quits.
Turning to Team Iceland….errgh, I mean, the Winnipeg Jets. Mark Scheifele continues to grow each year and establish himself as one of the top players in the league as he registered 63 points in 56 games played this year.
Natural ginger and future American Olympian, Kyle Connor also had a productive year as he chipped in 26 goals and 50 points in 56 games. Good job, Kyle. You did it.
The Jets will look for Pierre-Luc Dubois to step it up in the playoffs as he only registered 20 points in 41 games since being acquired for Patrik Laine. Makes you think. Did Torts know something? Well, no, of course not, because Laine was bad too.
ANYWAY…
The Jets will look for their Vezina winning goaltender, Connor Hellebuyck, to shut down Connor McDavid and Leon Draisatl. Should be easy when Neal Pionk is your #1 defenseman, but I digress. Helly posted a 24-17-3 with a .916 save % and a 2.58 GAA with 4, count em, 4 shutouts on the year. God speed, Connor, I’ll be praying for you.
The Edmonton Oilers won the season series winning 7 out of 8 games, including the last 6 matchups.
HW Staff Predictions
Jim: 4-1 Oilers
Jack: 4-3 Jets
Steve: 4-2 Oilers
Kyle: 4-2 Jets
Johnny: 4-1 Oilers
Josh: 4-1 Oilers
Adam: 4-2 Oilers
Comment on our post with your predictions on Facebook or Twitter!
Follow the staff on Twitter: @hwradio18, @jimikehw, @jack_hwradio, @warnerkyle29, @fhwradio, @flyersjohnny, @grittyadam, @dapriceisbright
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