After a 142-day pause, the NHL finally resumed play on Saturday, with the league’s first-ever slate of August games signaling the start of a revamped 2020 Stanley Cup Playoffs.
Here’s a look at the schedule for the weekend:
Seeding is all that's up for grabs for top clubs like the Bruins during round-robin play, but for the other 16 franchises tasked with battling it out in the play-in round? Things can go off the rails in a hurry, especially during a best-of-five series.
Here's who we've got moving on to the next round:
EAST - Toronto
No. 5 Penguins vs. No. 12 Canadiens
Yes, Carey Price — even if he may not be the same Price that was the unquestioned top netminder in the league just a few years back — can very well steal a series, especially one compressed into a best-of-five format.
And yes, the Habs may not be nearly as bad as their records indicate — with Montreal's top line of Phillip Danault, Tomas Tatar and Brendan Gallagher standing as arguably the most underrated forward trio in the league, outscoring opponents 36-26 over 572 minutes together this season.
Still, a Penguins team already loaded with offensive firepower should be licking their chops at this matchup. Pittsburgh, who ranked third in man-games lost to injury this season at 298, should benefit from four-plus months off, as top-six forward Jake Guentzel (20 goals, 43 points in 39 games) is back in the fold after recovering from shoulder surgery that he underwent back in December.
Even with those injuries, the Penguins still boasted a top-10 offense (3.20 GF/G) at the time of the break — with franchise cornerstones Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin and Kris Letang leading the way. Add in pieces like Bryan Rust, Patric Hornqvist and deadline pickup Jason Zucker (12 points in 15 games with Pittsburgh), and the Pens have the forward depth to pile on goals against the top defensive units in the league.
Goaltending is a bit of a question mark for Pittsburgh, while the Pens' power play is surprisingly only 16th overall in the league, but with Crosby and Co. leading the way, I think Pittsburgh simply overpowers the Habs and Price — who actually ranks 32nd among NHL netminders (min. 1,000 minutes) in even-strength save percentage at .919 this season.
PREDICTION: Penguins in four
No. 6 Carolina Hurricanes vs. No. 11 Rangers
You could make the case that either of the clubs in this play-in matchup has the pieces to go on a run this summer, as the Rangers are a high-scoring bunch with a young goalie that was on a roll this season in Igor Shestyorkin (.932 save percentage in 12 games). And yet, while the Rangers have primarily been paced by stars like Artemi Panarin and Mika Zibanejad, the ‘Canes are the much more balanced club here, with much stronger special-teams units.
While Dougie Hamilton is currently "unfit to participate" at the start of this series, his eventual return will be a major coup for Rod Brind'Amour's club, while deadline pickups like Sami Vatanen, Brady Skjei and Vincent Trocheck further round out a very balanced Canes' roster.
While youngsters like Sebastian Aho (38 goals, 66 points), Teuvo Teravainen (63 points) and Andrei Svechnikov (61 points) pace the pack, the Hurricanes boast 14 players on their roster that have tallied at least 20 points this season. Add in a stout showing on special teams (eighth in power-play percentage and fourth on the penalty kill), and Carolina can beat you in a number of ways.
The Rangers have had success against Carolina this season, winning all four of their games against Carolina during the regular season — but the Blueshirts' leaky defense and subpar PK unit (77.4% success rate - 23rd in NHL) will have them behind the eight ball here.
PREDICTION: Hurricanes in four
No. 7 Islanders vs. No. 10 Panthers
Something's gotta give in this series between a defensive-minded Islanders club and a Panthers roster with plenty of game-changing offensive firepower.
Even with a few studs up front such as Mathew Barzal, the Islanders are at their best when they're packing things in and stymying Grade-A looks in their zone, with New York ranking ninth in the league in goals allowed per game. With Adam Pelech returning from a torn Achilles and the netminder duo of Semyon Varlamov and Thomas Greiss ready to roll, the Islanders are well equipped to grind their way through this playoff slate.
The Panthers very well have the pieces to break through New York's stingy defense, with Jonathan Huberdeau and Aleksander Barkov leading the way for a Florida offense that ranked sixth in the league in goals scored and seventh in shots on goal during the regular season. But even if New York's offense is far from a top unit among the 24 playoff clubs, the Panthers' defense is downright dreadful — relinquishing 3.25 goals per game (28th in NHL).
While Sergei Bobrovsky, at his peak, is much better than either Varlamov or Greiss — he's been a massive disappointment since signing a seven-year, $70 million contract with the Panthers last summer. With a goals saved above average mark of minus-14.91, you could make the argument that the two-time Vezina winner has been one of the worst starting netminders in the league this season. If that stretch of poor play carries over into this postseason, this series could be over in a hurry.
Prediction: Islanders in five
No. 8 Toronto Maple Leafs vs. No. 9 Columbus Blue Jackets
Yes, they may not have Artemi Panarin, Sergei Bobrovsky and Matt Duchene anymore, but as the Bruins can attest after Thursday night, this Blue Jackets club is going to be a tough out this postseason.
Columbus pulled off one of the greatest upsets in the recent memory when they bounced Tampa Bay in the first round last year, and this revamped roster is cut from the same cloth — with John Tortorella's club consistently frustrating clubs by adhering to a stingy, tenacious defensive structure that regularly clogs up shooting lanes and limits Grade-A chances.
While that defense (3rd in NHL in GA/G at 2.61) and the emergence of Elvis Merzlikins (.923 save percentage, five shutouts in 33 games) and Joonas Korpisalo in net have played a major role in the Jackets' surprising showing this season, you could make the argument that this team has yet to reach its full potential this year — given that the Jackets ranked first among all NHL teams this season in man-games lost to injury at 352.
Columbus' top flaw is without a doubt its offense — or lack thereof (26th in 5v5 goals scored and 27th in power-play percentage) — but the return of regulars like Seth Jones, Cam Atkinson, Oliver Bjorkstrand, Alexandre Texier and Dean Kukan should do wonders for a Jackets team looking to play spoiler once again.
That stingy Columbus defense is going to be tested by a potent Leafs offense (3rd in goals per game) headlined by Auston Matthews, John Tavares, Mitch Marner and William Nylander, but Toronto's roster is still saddled with the same warts that have bounced them the last two seasons — with a leaky defense allowing even a club like Columbus to land a few punches against Frederik Andersen.
If a Toronto D corps that ranked 26th in goals allowed per game this regular season continues to fold against Columbus, the Jackets can certainly pull this one off.
Tough break for the Leafs — until they scoop up Alexis Lafrenière later this year. Woooof.
Prediction: Blue Jackets in five
WEST - Edmonton
No. 5 Oilers vs. No. 12 Blackhawks
Both the Oilers and Blackhawks are actually pretty similar — featuring uneven, top-heavy rosters headlined by franchise stars. While cornerstones like Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews still lead the way for a rebuilding Chicago club, there may not be a better duo in the league than Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl — with both Edmonton forwards combining for 207 points this season.
McDavid and Draisaitl might be enough to carry the Oilers to series win, especially with both skaters expected to log heavy minutes against a lackluster Chicago defense that has allowed a league-high 35 shots per game this season. Still, McDavid and Draisaitl's mastery often covers up the many flaws on this Oilers team — whether it be the lack of production in the bottom-six or a hot-and-cold netminder in Mike Smith.
Yes, Chicago's roster is a far cry from the one that captured three championships in the past decade, but the Blackhawks still boast enough playoff experience and scoring potential at the top to make this series interesting. Let's get weird.
PREDICTION: Blackhawks in five
No. 6 Predators vs. No. 11 Coyotes
This may not be the most explosive opening round, with the Coyotes and Predators ranking 23rd and 16th, respectively, in goals per game during the regular season. Even with the additions of Phil Kessel and Taylor Hall, a defensively sound Arizona club hasn't been put over the top down the other end of the ice, with the duo combining for just 65 points in 105 combined games.
Defensively, the Predators boast one of the finest blue-line corps in the league, headlined by Norris Trophy favorite in Roman Josi, but don't overlook the Coyotes in their own zone. A healthy Darcy Kuemper (.928 save percentage) might be the most underrated netminder in the league, while Arizona's defense allows just 2.61 goals per game — tied for the third-lowest rate in the NHL.
Even though Arizona might not have a ton of proven firepower up front, they could land quite a few punches on special teams — given that the Predators' PK, even with their considerable blue-line talent, ranks 29th overall in success rate (76.1%). That special-teams disparity could put Arizona over the top in what should be a tight series.
PREDICTION: Coyotes in five
No. 7 Canucks vs. No. 10 Wild
The Canucks have the clear edge in star power here — with Vancouver paced by a young core headlined by Elias Pettersson, Quinn Hughes, Brock Boeser and Bo Horvat. The Wild may not be nearly as flashy, but don't sleep on Minnesota, which rolls out on the more balanced rosters in the league — with very strong D corps with Ryan Suter, Jared Spurgeon, Jonas Brodin and Matt Dumba leading the charge.
Vancouver's offense can pile on goals in a hurry, especially if their fourth-ranked power play gets rolling, but the Canucks' offensive prowess often comes at the cost of quality looks down the other end of the ice, ranking 25th in expected goals against. As such, a veteran forward group for Minnesota — featuring the likes of Zach Parise, Mats Zuccarello and Eric Staal — could be in line to bury quite a few chances. Keep tabs on 24-year-old Kevin Fiala as well, given that the promising winger finally broke through with a 54-point campaign this season as well.
This series should go down to the wire, with the stronger play of Jacob Markstrom in net giving the Canucks the sliiiiiiiiiim edge here.
PREDICTION: Canucks in five
No. 8 Flames vs. No. 9 Jets
Not only should Connor Hellebuyck win the Vezina Trophy this season, you could very well make the case that the Jets netminder was snubbed for the Hart Trophy, as Winnipeg would be a shell of itself without its No. 1 goalie covering for a depleted D corps. Even after losing regulars Dustin Byfuglien, Jacob Trouba, Tyler Myers and Ben Chiarot during the offseason, the Jets still managed to remain in the playoff hunt this season thanks to Hellebuyck, who saved close to 18 goals above expectation during the regular season.
If Hellebuyck remains hot between the pipes, the Jets could outlast the Flames — who, despite boasting considerable talent like Matthew Tkachuk and Johnny Gaudreau — only rank 20th in the NHL in goals scored this season.
PREDICTION: Jets in five
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