1-Man’s Opinion on Sports-Thursday. “NHL PLAYOFF PREVIEW”

Posted by on May 23rd, 2024  •  0 Comments  • 

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Hacksaw’s Podcast…Moved from Thursday to Friday this week
You Tube Channel-Lee Hacksaw Hamilton
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Hockey Headlines are everywhere, and it’s more than just the games, is it ever.

OILERS-vs-DALLAS….Firepower everywhere.  Connor McDavis-Leon Draisaitl have 10-goals..35-points in 12-playoff games.  What really stands out the Edmonton special teams…(15-for-30) on power play opportunities and a Penalty Kill unit that has killed off 35-of-38 power plays.  But can goalie Stuart Skinner hold up?

The Stars have 8-players with 20-plus goals led by the hot young forward Wyatt Johnson and they have a strong netminder in Jake Oettinger.

PICK: OILERS..

FLORIDA-NY RANGERS…This will be a war of attrition.  Both of these teams grind.  Both have snipers.  Artemi Paranin and Vince Trocheck lead the Blueshirts firepower, and this NY team skates, hits and can score from all four lines.

The Panthers are deep in goal scorers, have Sergei Bobrovsky in goal and a cross section of snipers led by Sam Reinhart and his 57-goal sceason.

PICK: PANTHERS

But that’s not all that’s making news on the ice.

NHL TV:  All time record average (1.1M) viewers per game on the 4-network partners for Rounds 1-and-2.  Complete coverage of all games has fueled interest.

TORONTO…New coach in Craig Berube, the ex Blues bench boss, likely changes on the roster, a possible Mitch Marner trade, and a change of culture.  A bit of a surprise hire.

NEW JERSEY..Ex-Leaf Sheldon Keefe brings his 200-win resume to the Devils, but will need more players.  Not a bad hire.

TODD MC LELLAN..The ex Kings coach is the next to come off the board; will it be Seattle or maybe Winnipeg.  There is a track record of decent success, from San Jose to Edmonton to LA.

JIM HILLIER…Career minor league guy, brought law and order to the Kings, going (21-12-1) down the stretch and getting them to the playoffs.  Big issues still to be solved, are the salary cap problems, and the need for a stud goaltender.  Rob Blake may have one final year as GM to get the team deep into the postseason.  They’ve lost 3-times in a row to the Edmonton Oilers.

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