Daily Picks: Habs, Wild, Flames eye rebounds
Carey Price will need to be sharp again in Game 2 vs. the Lightning. (USATSI)
Welcome to the Stanley Cup Playoffs Daily Picks, where CBS hockey writers Chris Peters and Adam Gretz get you ready for every game every day of the postseason and share their predictions for each.
Tampa Bay Lightning at Montreal Canadiens, 6 p.m. ET, NBCSN, Game 2
Tampa Bay leads series 1-0
What is it with the Montreal Canadiens and Game 1 controversies this year? First it was P.K. Subban’s slash that injured Ottawa Senators forward Mark Stone. Now there’s still debate going on regarding the missed offside call that immediately preceded Tampa Bay’s double-overtime goal. There’s always a hint of drama in these Habs games it seems.
Either way, Montreal has to regroup after a disappointing finish to a game where it actually played pretty well. Carey Price did what he so often does and that’s stop very many shots. Even in a losing effort, the Habs goaltender was strong.
The goalie on the other side was pretty good, too. Ben Bishop overcame a shakier start and a bad late goal to make 44 saves in the 2-1 win. He’ll need to be sharp again as he’ll likely be facing a much more desperate Canadiens squad. Also, the Lightning were actually out-possessed by the Habs in Game 1, so Montreal is playing a lot differently than the team the Lightning beat five times in the regular season.
After a low-scoring Game 1, it’s prudent to expect something similar in Game 2. The Lightning, so dominant during the regular season, have averaged just 2.38 goals per game in eight postseason contests. Steven Stamkos still doesn’t have a goal, while 29-goal man Nikita Kucherov finally broke his postseason goal drought with the OT winner in Game 1. Tyler Johnson, meanwhile, has seven of the team’s 19 goals and is one of just two players on the squad with more than one.
The Habs’ offense has been even less inspiring. They have averaged 1.86 goals per game in seven postseason games. Max Pacioretty, who scored Montreal’s lone goal in Game 1, leads the way with three goals. Dale Weise is the only other player with more than one.
There should still be a lot of shots in this game, but with the two guys between the pipes, not a lot are going to hit the back of the net. That benefits the Habs slightly, as the more they’re allowed to stick around in games, the better their chances are of popping in a late goal. They badly need a win in Game 2 before the series goes back to Tampa.
Pick: Canadiens 2, Lightning 1
Minnesota Wild at Chicago Blackhawks, 8:30 p.m. ET, NBCSN, Game 2
Chicago leads series 1-0
A crazy Game 1 between the Wild and Blackhawks portends an exciting series. The Blackhawks built up a 3-0 lead in the first period to watch it evaporate in the second period as Minnesota stormed back. A late second-period goal from Teuvo Teravainen helped secure the 4-3 win for Chicago. So what will Game 2 hold?
If Game 1 showed the Wild anything, it’s that they have to be ready to go from the second the puck drops. They waited a little too long to turn it up offensively and it cost them. Falling behind 3-0 after one period is a pretty good lesson. So expect a better start from Minnesota.
Also, the Wild haven’t lost back-to-back games in regulation since Devan Dubnyk arrived. That could be a little tougher this time around, with how well Chicago has played at home this postseason. Given the fact that falling behind 2-0 to this Blackhawks team is a pretty significant series gap, the Wild are going to have to fight tooth and nail for the win.
The Blackhawks, as they did often in the first round, find ways to close games. They outshot Minnesota 15-8 in the third period despite holding the lead, which is a pretty good indication they were going for the throat. The Wild certainly didn’t make it easy though, which only makes the Blackhawks more aware that they won’t be allowed to coast through this series.
This one could come down to goaltending, considering it wasn’t the best in Game 1 to start. Dubnyk’s first period with three goals on eight shots was a pretty terrible way to start the series. Then Corey Crawford responded with three goals allowed on 12 shots in the second period. Both need to be better to give their teams the best chance to win.
Also, after Game 1, Minnesota’s Zach Parise and Chicago’s Duncan Keith now share second place in the postseason scoring race with nine apiece. Both have been tremendous all season and will have to be big-time players once again in a hugely important Game 2.
The Blackhawks’ advantage at home this season looks like it could be the difference as Joel Quenneville gets his matchups. Nothing is going to come easy for either team in this series, but after what happened in Game 1, it’s tough to pick against Chicago at home.
Pick: Blackhawks 4, Wild 3
Calgary Flames at Anaheim Ducks, 10 p.m. ET, CNBC, Game 2
Anaheim leads series 1-0
Game 1 was a rather rude wakeup call for the Flames. After getting past the Vancouver Canucks, they ran into a Ducks team that was well rested and well prepared to dismantle. That’s just what Anaheim did in a 6-1 blowout in which Calgary was basically run out of the building.
The Flames were beaten on the scoreboard and physically, coming out of the game with injuries and probably less confidence. The good news for Game 2 is that it sounds like Jiri Hudler is going to play after leaving Game 1 early. The team’s leading scorer in the regular season is one of their best weapons in combating the brawn of the Ducks with speed and skill.
Anaheim, meanwhile, should know better than to think the series is in the bag. The Flames have been one of the league’s most resilient teams all season and that won’t stop because they got steamrolled in Game 1. The Ducks have gotten some significant contributions from throughout their lineup, but the top line has obviously been its best.
Corey Perry leads all players with 11 points this postseason, which includes four points from Game 1 of this series alone. Ryan Getzlaf, who also had four points in Game 1, is second on the club with eight this postseason. Patrick Maroon has been playing on the wing opposite of Perry, boosting the size factor of the line and providing a strong net-front presence as well.
The Flames may not have the personnel to shut down that top unit at this point. That puts a lot more pressure on Karri Ramo, who will get the nod in net after coming on in relief in Game 1. Jonas Hiller will remain on the bench after his former team shelled him early. Ramo has to have his very best to give the Flames a chance.
There’s more to the game than the physicality and there’s no doubt that the Flames have the skill to combat the Ducks’ intimidating presence. They never really had a chance to show it in Game 1 and if they don’t this time, they’ll head back to Calgary in a 2-0 series hole with slim chances of coming out of the series on top. Even if the Flames don’t win Game 2, they have to at least prove they won’t be so easy to push around this time.
Pick: Ducks 4, Flames 2
Three stars
1. Corey Perry, Anaheim Ducks: Perry was dominant in Game 1 and has had good success against the Flames over his career. Combining all five regular-season games with Game 1, Perry has eight points in six contests vs. the Flames this season. He also has seven points over his past three in the playoffs.
2. Carey Price, Montreal Canadiens: If the Habs are going to win Game 2, you have to think Price will have a big hand in it. He made 33 saves in the Game 1 loss. Over his past two starts, he hass collected 76 saves on 78 shots. In his seven postseason starts, he has allowed more than two goals just twice. That gives his club a chance to win almost every time out.
3. Patrick Kane, Chicago Blackhawks: With points in each of his past four playoff games, including goals in the past two, Kane seems to be getting stronger and stronger as the postseason rolls on. He now has eight points in five games. He also was a dominant force against the Wild this year with eight points over four games in the regular season. He’ll be a factor in Game 2.
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