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Playoff Preview 2015

The Hockey News - Playoff Preview 2015

<p>17TH <b>THN' S</b> POWER RANKING</p><h2><b>HOW THEY WIN</b></h2><p>The Flames win by playing a classic rope-a-dope style &ndash; starting out sluggish, falling behind early, lulling the opposition into a sense of security, then coming back and winning in the third period. In reality, none of that is planned. But what cannot be denied is the fact Calgary had the best goal-differential in the third period and was among leagueleaders in come-from-behind victories in the final frame.</p><p>The hardworking Flames have done a complete transformation in just a few seasons &ndash; growing from the dump-and-chase Brent Sutter approach to a layered eastwest attack that starts from a mobile Dcorps. It's not uncommon to see T.J. Brodie or Kris Russell charge the net or a Dennis Wideman or (injured) Mark Giordano digging in the offensive corners. Calgary receives scoring from all four lines and has one of the best shooting percentages in the league.</p><h2><b>HOW THEY LOSE</b></h2><p>Rare was the occasion the Flames suffered a blowout loss. An indefatigable work ethic kept this team within one or two goals (not counting empty-netters) just about every outing. The best way to stop Calgary is to clog up the neutral zone, not allowing the likes of Johnny Gaudreau, Mikael Backlund and the mobile D-men a chance to gain the blueline.</p><p>Because the Flames are such a poor puck possession team, a rival willing to attack and match Calgary's work ethic is sure to generate more shot attempts, scoring chances and, presumably, goals. With the exception of a few players, the Flames don't play a black-and-blue style and are often neutralized by heavy physical contact, especially targeting the smallish defenders. They're also pushovers in the faceoff circle, which is one reason why they take among the fewest shots in the league. Many of the best Flames are young and inexperienced.</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0044-0229/150471-1-eng-US/f0044-022.jpg" title="f0044-02" width="357" height="586"><figcaption class="caption-body">JOHNNY <b>GAUDREAU</b></figcaption></div><div class="container"><div class="figure-block image-float"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0044-0319/150464-1-eng-US/f0044-032.jpg" title="f0044-03" width="58" height="102"></div></div><div style="clear: both;"></div><h2><b>1ST CUP PASS</b></h2><p><i>Co-captains Jim Peplinski and Tim Hunter, in workout gear, joined Lanny McDonald to lift the Cup 26 years ago. Would injured</i><b><i>Mark Giordano</i></b><i>accept the Cup?</i></p><h2><b>BETWEEN THE PIPES <b>With Jamie McLennan</b></b></h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0044-0415/150457-1-eng-US/f0044-042.jpg" title="f0044-04" width="253" height="230"></div><p><b>Jonas Hiller</b> makes no apologies for playing from his knees. He's a veteran percentage goaltender who tells the opposition, &ldquo;I'm going to butterfly on you every time. On every shot that comes near me, I'm going to go down, and if you're going to beat me, you're going to have to beat me by the ears and shoot high.&rdquo; There's a stat that essentially says 85 percent of shots are directed at the lower part of the net, and Hiller is someone who's going to take his chances with the 15 percent of the shots that come up top.</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0044-0512/150450-1-eng-US/f0044-052.jpg" title="f0044-05" width="347" height="245"></div><h2><b>STAT CRUNCH</b></h2><p><b>0-0</b></p><p><i>Playoff record past 3 seasons</i></p><p><b>2</b></p><p><i>Players with Cup rings</i></p><p><b>289</b></p><p><i>Total games of playoff experience</i></p><p><b>GOALS PER GAME 2.88</b></p><p><b>6</b></p><p><b>GOALS AGAINST PER GAME 2.60</b></p><p>17</p><p><b>PP/PK TOTAL % 99.7</b></p><p><b>17</b></p><p><b>1-GOAL GAME WIN % .459</b></p><p><b>19</b></p><h2><b>SAT % CLOSE 45.39</b></h2><p><b>27</b></p><h2><b>FANTASY ZONE</b></h2><div class="container"><div class="figure-block image-float"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0044-0610/150443-1-eng-US/f0044-062.jpg" title="f0044-06" width="114" height="125"></div><p>Blueliners <b>Dennis Wideman</b> and Kris Russell experienced immediate spikes in production after Mark Giordano's season-ending injury. Wideman in particular can put up points in the right situation. He's a sneaky add as an endgame pick for your playoff roster. Just don't expect a ton of games, as the Flames have a tough road in the West.</p></div><div style="clear: both;"></div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0044-079/150436-1-eng-US/f0044-072.jpg" title="f0044-07" width="788" height="293"><figcaption class="caption-body"><span class="photo-credit">(GAUDREAU+HILLER: GERRY THOMAS/NHLI VIA GETTY IMAGES)</span></figcaption></div><span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span>

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FEATURES

CALGARY FLAMES

<div class="byline">&#x2013; SAL BARRY</div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0014-0142/149648-1-eng-US/f0014-012.jpg" title="f0014-01" width="783" height="453"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>LIKE GOALIE, LIKE FAN</b> Frontman Devin Hextall isn&rsquo;t related to ex-Flyer Ron Hextall, but he idolized him as a kid.</figcaption></div><p class="dropcap"><span>R</span><b>ANGER DANGER! HAVE ANOTHER</b> beer! Never trust a girl in a Richter jersey!&rdquo; yells Devin Hextall, front man of the pop punk band The Hextalls on &ldquo;I Don&rsquo;t Wanna be a New York Ranger.&rdquo; It&rsquo;s a catchy, funny song about a Flyers fan who goes to a game at Madison Square Garden, gets lost while buying beer, then finds his date making out with a Rangers fan.</p><p>Hockey, beer and relationship angst are just some of the irreverent topics that have been a staple of The Hextalls&rsquo; songs for 17 years. Their newest album, <i>Play With Heart</i>, was released Feb. 14 and is available on Amazon, iTunes and their website, <a href="http://thehextalls.com">thehextalls.com</a>. The album includes a song about Sergei Bobrovsky called &ldquo;Who&rsquo;s the #1 Cop?&rdquo; &ldquo;We started our band as a joke,&rdquo; Hextall said. &ldquo;We all have a sense of humor. There were a lot of bands in our hometown (Kamloops, B.C.) that took themselves very seriously. We wanted to see if we could do this for fun and maybe be better than the serious bands.&rdquo;</p><p>The Hextalls&rsquo; lineup is drummer Nicole &lsquo;Nikki&rsquo; Stixx, bassist Jimmy &lsquo;The Con,&rsquo; guitarist Jeremy &lsquo;JJ&rsquo; Justice and guitarist/vocalist Hextall. And no, he isn&rsquo;t related to former Flyers&rsquo; goalie Ron Hextall, but he is such a fan of the temperamental netminder that he all but legally adopted the surname. &ldquo;There was something about his aggressive style I loved,&rdquo; Hextall said. &ldquo;When it came time to pick a band name, I kind of forced The Hextalls because I was obsessed with Ron since I was a kid.&rdquo;</p><p>While their name is inspired by the fiery goalie, the quartet draws musical inspiration from pop punk bands like Chixdiggit and Screeching Weasel, as well as the godfathers of punk themselves, The Ramones. &ldquo;We all like three-chord pop punk stuff that&rsquo;s simple and catchy and happy,&rdquo; Hextall said.</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0014-0319/149641-1-eng-US/f0014-032.jpg" title="f0014-03" width="225" height="225"></div><p>Founded in 1998, the band broke up in 2002 when Hextall moved to Chicago &ldquo;for a girl.&rdquo; They reformed in 2006 when he moved to Washington State, near the border. (The rest of the band lives in Vancouver.) The Hextalls spent the late 2000s releasing albums and touring, even appearing at Baltimore&rsquo;s annual punk festival, Insubordination Fest, three times.</p><p>Now, with online music services making it easier to reach a wide audience, The Hextalls prefer to spend their coin on producing music instead of touring. &ldquo;We&rsquo;re going to make the best songs we can and have fun with it,&rdquo; Hextall said.</p><p>Seventeen years later, they&rsquo;re still having fun.<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

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DEPARTMENTS

PUNK BAND PLAYS WITH RAGE

<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0010-0144/149483-1-eng-US/f0010-012.jpg" title="f0010-01" width="508" height="710"><figcaption class="caption-body">MARIAN <b>HOSSA</b></figcaption></div><p><b>APRIL 15</b></p><p>First day of the <b>STANLEY CUP PLAYOFFS</b></p><p><b>JUNE 17</b></p><p>Last possible day of the <b>STANLEY CUP FINAL</b></p><h2><b>Playoff FORMAT</b></h2><p>The top three teams in each division qualify, plus two wildcards in each conference. The division winner with the most points plays the wildcard with the fewest. The second- and third-place teams in each division play off. Should the wildcard win, it stays in that bracket.</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0010-0227/149476-1-eng-US/f0010-022.jpg" title="f0010-02" width="706" height="500"></div><h2><b>TOP ACTIVE PLAYOFF SCORERS</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0010-0318/149469-1-eng-US/f0010-032.jpg" title="f0010-03" width="289" height="272"></div><h2><b>MOST ACTIVE PLAYOFF WINS</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0010-049/149462-1-eng-US/f0010-042.jpg" title="f0010-04" width="288" height="271"><figcaption class="caption-body"><span class="photo-credit">(GRAIG ABEL/NHLI VIA GETTY IMAGES)</span></figcaption></div><span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span>

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PLAYOFF PRIMER 2015

<p>5TH <b>THN' S</b> POWER RANKING</p><h2><b>HOW THEY WIN</b></h2><p>Who's kidding whom? When your goaltender is putting together a historically dominant season worthy of Hart Trophy consideration, it's a generally accepted principle that he is the key to your hopes. You can dismiss the Canadiens all you want, but goaltending is still an enormous part of the game in the playoffs, and the Canadiens have one of the very best in the NHL.</p><p>Combine that with a team that transitions from offense to defense quickly and is one of the most opportunistic in the league and it can provide a formula for playoff success. Whether it's their historical mystique or their goaltending, the Canadiens have an uncanny ability to get into the heads of their opponents and crush their hopes before they have a chance to gain any steam. Yes, the Canadiens are top-heavy in terms of talent, but that top is as good or better than anyone else's.</p><h2><b>HOW THEY LOSE</b></h2><p>In a multitude of ways. The Canadiens are one of the worst teams from the goal out when it comes to analytics, and when Carey Price isn't the best player on the ice for either team in a game, the Canadiens' chances of winning are almost non-existent.</p><p>They have some size on defense, but the Canadiens up front are still a small group that does not challenge opponents for possession of the puck, and they give it up far too easily. They're a team that, when it gets a lead, no matter how small, tends to go into a shell that lends itself to flurries in the defensive zone. That results in being badly outshot and Price being badly overworked.</p><p>The Canadiens claim not to be too concerned about their propensity for relying on superhuman goaltending, but too many headlines read: &ldquo;Canadiens lean heavily on Price's (insert big number here)-save performance.&rdquo;</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0050-0237/150855-1-eng-US/f0050-022.jpg" title="f0050-02" width="375" height="579"><figcaption class="caption-body">P.K. <b>SUBBAN</b></figcaption></div><div class="container"><div class="figure-block image-float"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0050-0321/150848-1-eng-US/f0050-032.jpg" title="f0050-03" width="62" height="102"></div></div><div style="clear: both;"></div><h2><b>1ST CUP PASS</b></h2><p><i>The Canadiens don't have a designated 'C' and even though</i><b><i>Carey Price</i></b><i>cannot wear a letter, he'll get the Cup first, provided he has enough energy to lift it.</i></p><h2><b>BETWEEN THE PIPES <b>With Jamie McLennan</b></b></h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0050-0421/150841-1-eng-US/f0050-042.jpg" title="f0050-04" width="219" height="234"></div><p>Along with Nashville's Pekka Rinne, <b>Carey Price</b> has been the best goalie in the game this year. The challenge for any team going against Price is to keep him in his net. Traffic is key. I don't think he has any warts in his game, and he's very well rounded. He will fight through screens, and he'll also draw penalties. If you're facing him, the message has to be, &ldquo;everything to the net&rdquo; &ndash; get in front of him and keep him in the blue paint, because he can be very aggressive. He's the benchmark for greatness right now.</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0050-0516/150834-1-eng-US/f0050-052.jpg" title="f0050-05" width="347" height="240"></div><h2><b>STAT CRUNCH</b></h2><p><b>11-11</b></p><p><i>Playoff record past 3 seasons</i></p><p><b>1</b></p><p><i>Players with Cup rings</i></p><p><b>708</b></p><p><i>Total games of playoff experience</i></p><p><b>GOALS PER GAME 2.56</b></p><p><b>23</b></p><p><b>GOALS AGAINST PER GAME 2.14</b></p><p><b>1</b></p><p><b>PP/PK TOTAL % 100.5</b></p><p><b>12</b></p><p><b>1-GOAL GAME WIN % .567</b></p><p><b>9</b></p><p><b>SAT % CLOSE 51.41</b></p><p><b>13</b></p><h2><b>FANTASY ZONE</b></h2><div class="container"><div class="figure-block image-float"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0050-0613/150827-1-eng-US/f0050-062.jpg" title="f0050-06" width="120" height="121"></div><p>Consider newly acquired <b>Devante Smith-Pelly</b> the deepest of fantasy flier picks if you believe in a deep Montreal playoff run. His robust physical game will earn him a larger role in the playoffs, and he showed clutch ability last spring while still with the Anaheim Ducks, sniping five goals in 12 post-season contests.</p></div><div style="clear: both;"></div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0050-079/150820-1-eng-US/f0050-072.jpg" title="f0050-07" width="788" height="293"><figcaption class="caption-body"><span class="photo-credit">(SUBBAN: CLAUS ANDERSEN/GETTY IMAGES; PRICE: FRANCOIS LACASSE/NHLI VIA GETTY IMAGES)</span></figcaption></div><span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span>

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MONTREAL CANADIENS

<div class="byline">WITH JASON KAY</div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0004-0142/149225-1-eng-US/f0004-012.jpg" title="f0004-01" width="263" height="455"><figcaption class="caption-body"><span class="photo-credit">(RYAN BROOK/TC MEDIA)</span></figcaption></div><p class="dropcap"><span>O</span><b>N THE DAY I MADE MY STANLEY CUP PREDICTION,</b> six teams were tied for first overall, four more were within striking distance and I identified 10 in total I wouldn&rsquo;t be surprised to see win it all &ndash; including one that, technically, wasn&rsquo;t in a playoff position.</p><p>So how do you whittle it to The One with any confidence? You shut a bunch of hockey geeks in a windowless room, without sustenance, and give them one task: don&rsquo;t come out until you&rsquo;ve reached a consensus. When the ice chips settled, the chosen ones were the Tampa Bay Lightning (see pg. 38 for more), a selection we all stand behind even if it wasn&rsquo;t everyone&rsquo;s first pick. You win as a team and lose as a team. You play for the name on the front of the magazine, not the one on the front of the paystub. There&rsquo;s no &ldquo;I&rdquo; in The Hockey News. And so forth.</p><p>That said, like any good club, a media outlet needs a solid backup. Injuries to star players can change the outlook in a flash. For me, Plan B (or more accurately, Plan A1), is the Rangers. Here&rsquo;s why.</p><p>&bull; Goaltending. Pick your poison: Henrik Lundqvist has the pedigree, Cam Talbot has his back. It doesn&rsquo;t matter who the Blueshirts have in net &ndash; they have supreme confidence in him, and with good reason.</p><p>&bull; Team defense. Along with having the deepest blueline in the NHL, the Rangers are smothering and agile on &lsquo;D.&rsquo; And they&rsquo;re lights out at protecting leads &ndash; nearly perfect when leading after two periods.</p><p>&bull; Balanced scoring. New York challenged for the league lead in goals per game but didn&rsquo;t have anyone in contention for the Art Ross. Secondary offense is critical in the post-season.</p><p>&bull; Go-to sniper. Rick Nash is having a man-on-a-mission type of year. He was in the Rocket Richard hunt and among the league leaders in game-winning goals. He won&rsquo;t stumble in consecutive playoffs.</p><p>&bull; New York has a strong record versus Western foes, with just five regulation losses in 20 games, and they&rsquo;re the NHL&rsquo;s best road team.</p><p>&bull; Experience and hunger. With unfinished business, they&rsquo;re battletested, focused and just plain better in 2015.</p><p><b>IN MEMORIAM:</b> THN sends its deepest condolences to the families of Norm MacLean, a long time sportswriter and THN contributor, and Matthew Wuest, CapGeek founder. The two passed away within days of each other in March. For more on Wuest, see pg. 13.</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0004-0242/149218-1-eng-US/f0004-022.jpg" title="f0004-02" width="213" height="112"></div><p><b>NEXT ISSUE</b> DRAFT PREVIEW 2015 <b>CUSTOMER SERVICE AND TO SUBSCRIBE:</b><a href="http://THN.com">thn.com</a><b>CONTACT US:</b><a href="mailto:editorial@thehockeynews.com">editorial@thehockeynews.com</a><span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

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EVERYONE NEEDS A PLAN B

<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0006-0218/149310-1-eng-US/f0006-022.jpg" title="f0006-02" width="594" height="342"></div><h2><b>PUT YOUR NAME ON IT!</b></h2><p class="dropcap"><i><span>I</span> read Ken Campbell&rsquo;s cover story on Phil Kessel (March 9) and had to laugh. Why is it when people in this article (and many others) have wonderful things to say about an individual they are identified? But when something negative is said they are almost always &ldquo;a former teammate who requested anonymity&rdquo; or &ldquo;a rival team executive&rdquo;? If they don&rsquo;t have the balls to put their name behind a quote, don&rsquo;t print it. Be accountable like Ron Wilson was.</i></p><p><b><i>Ed Nudge, Glendale, Ariz.</i></b></p><div class="container"><div class="figure-block image-float"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0006-0144/149317-1-eng-US/f0006-012.jpg" title="f0006-01" width="77" height="72"></div></div><div style="clear: both;"></div><p>LOVE OR HATE ONE OF OUR FEATURES/STORIES? LET US KNOW BY EMAILING US AT <a href="mailto:letters@thehockeynews.com">LETTERS@THEHOCKEYNEWS.COM</a></p><span class="image-inline"><img src="mon-022.jpg" title="common-02" width="36" height="36"></span><p><b>@THEHOCKEYNEWS</b></p><span class="image-inline"><img src="mon-032.jpg" title="common-03" width="36" height="36"></span><p><b>/THEHOCKEYNEWS</b></p><span class="image-inline"><img src="mon-042.jpg" title="common-04" width="36" height="36"></span><p><b>/+THEHOCKEYNEWS</b></p><h2><b>MAN UP?</b></h2><div class="container"><div class="figure-block image-float"><img src="mon-012.jpg" title="common-01" width="67" height="38"></div><p>The Kessel story was very enlightening. Not so much about Kessel himself, but more about a certain kind of dinosaur that still roams the hockey world. It&rsquo;s 2015, spurting b.s. about alpha males is beyond ridiculous. Some of these guys need to grow up, and I&rsquo;m not talking about Phil Kessel.</p><p><b><i>Steve Montpetit, Montreal</i></b></p></div><div style="clear: both;"></div><h2><b>WOMAN UP?</b></h2><div class="container"><div class="figure-block image-float"><img src="mon-012.jpg" title="common-01" width="67" height="38"></div><p>As a 13-year-old female rep hockey player, I know what it&rsquo;s like to be subjected to inappropriate comments and stereotypes and to be pushed down because you&rsquo;re a girl. I&rsquo;ve almost come to expect sexist comments from the boys in my class any time I bring up a &ldquo;manly&rdquo; subject, but I would never expect it to come from a grown man who is a professional hockey player. When I read the sexist comment Toronto Maple Leafs&rsquo; defenseman Morgan Rielly made earlier this season, I was very offended. He used &ldquo;girls&rdquo; as an adjective to describe a person who was lazy and didn&rsquo;t want to or didn&rsquo;t do his or her job correctly. That really hurt, not only as a female but as a female hockey player. While people might say I&rsquo;m overreacting, I know what it&rsquo;s like to be told I can&rsquo;t do something because I am a girl. When someone who I ultimately used to look up to says something that makes me feel worse about myself, it really hurts. I hope the next time people see a comment like this and are going to write it off as &ldquo;no big deal,&rdquo; they take a second to think about who it really affects.</p><p><b><i>Maeve Simon, Stouffville, Ont.</i></b></p></div><div style="clear: both;"></div><h2><b>VOID THE TRAPEZOID</b></h2><div class="container"><div class="figure-block image-float"><img src="mon-012.jpg" title="common-01" width="67" height="38"></div><p>Now that Martin Brodeur has retired, shouldn&rsquo;t the NHL do away with the trapezoid behind the net (a.k.a. the &ldquo;Brodeur&rsquo;s Lines&rdquo;) so goalies can once again roam free? The NCAA outlawed dunking in basketball after the 1967 season because UCLA&rsquo;s Lew Alcindor (Kareem Abdul Jabbar) had an &ldquo;unfair advantage.&rdquo; But in 1976 they reversed that rule to add excitement to the game. The NHL should use similar logic. Goalies playing the puck in the corner can be just as exciting as a basketball dunk.</p><p><b><i>Ray Couture, Bullhead City, Ariz.</i></b></p></div><div style="clear: both;"></div><h2><b>NEW DEPTHS</b></h2><div class="container"><div class="figure-block image-float"><img src="mon-012.jpg" title="common-01" width="67" height="38"></div><p>I&rsquo;m not a fan of the idea of 3-on-3 in overtime, as has been endorsed by the GMs. It will wear down the best players over the season and lead to injuries. Here&rsquo;s a solution that would save wear and tear on the stars and inject more strategy and more skill across the board: anything goes during 4-on-4, but once it&rsquo;s 3-on-3, a team has to glue its top two defenseman and top six forwards (based on time on ice during that game) to the bench. Now let&rsquo;s see what a team is made of &ldquo;top to bottom&rdquo; on the roster.</p><p><b><i>Mel Powell, Sherman Oaks, Calif.</i></b></p></div><div style="clear: both;"></div><h2><b>BLUNDER YEARS</b></h2><div class="container"><div class="figure-block image-float"><img src="mon-012.jpg" title="common-01" width="67" height="38"></div><p>In &ldquo;I&rsquo;m Leaving With A Smile,&rdquo; (March 9) Martin Broduer says he truly felt he became a Devil in the fall of 1996, when he took less money during a contract dispute so he could see the championship banner raised after having, &ldquo;just come off winning the Stanley Cup.&rdquo; Considering the Devils won in summer 1995, is Marty&rsquo;s memory a tad fuzzy, or was this just a typo? <i>(Editor&rsquo;s Note: This was a typo made by the editing team. We regret the error.)</i> Later in the issue, in &ldquo;Trade Deadline Rewind,&rdquo; Adam Proteau listed the 2000 Cup champions as the Dallas Stars, though, of course, it was the Devils.</p><p><b><i>Nick Konarowski, Oshawa, Ont.</i></b><span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p></div>

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THN INBOX

f0006-03

PUCKPOLL

<div class="byline">BY DOUG GILMOUR </div><div class="byline">&#x2013; WITH MIKE BROPHY</div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0008-0144/149375-1-eng-US/f0008-012.jpg" title="f0008-01" width="509" height="621"><figcaption class="caption-body"><span class="photo-credit">(CLAUS ANDERSEN/GETTY IMAGES)</span></figcaption></div><p class="dropcap"><span>T</span><b>HE PLAYOFFS WERE ALWAYS MY</b> time of year. That&rsquo;s because no matter what kind of a season you had, the post-season is what everybody remembers. Whether it was a good year, a bad year or an average year, it didn&rsquo;t matter. You write your ticket in the playoffs.</p><p>Make no mistake, there&rsquo;s a huge difference between playing in the regular season and playing in the playoffs. Some NHL players raise their level of game at the most important time of year. Others who may star during the season disappear in the playoffs. It&rsquo;s a time for desperation. You know if you lose, you&rsquo;re going home. That&rsquo;s what motivated me.</p><p>We all play for the opportunity to win the Stanley Cup. It&rsquo;s been a dozen years now since I last played in the NHL. But these are the things I still think about if you ask me about making a run for the title:</p><p><b>&bull; RECOVERY</b> Mentally, your focus has to be so strong. Physically, you have to know how to take care of your body. You need rest. Rest, food and plenty of water.</p><p>During the playoffs, I&rsquo;d eat mainly chicken, steak and a lot of pasta to keep my carbs up. The biggest thing for me was hydration. I&rsquo;d drink water until my pee was clear.</p><p>No matter how much I ate, though, I could never keep my weight up. The problem is, I was not a big eater. You almost had to force-feed me. In the 1993 playoff run with the Leafs, we had so many games in so few nights, I just kept getting smaller and smaller. After a game, I&rsquo;d lie on a training table and get hooked up to an intravenous so they could put fluids back in me. It helped. Sometimes after my treatment, I felt like I hadn&rsquo;t even played because they got the electrolytes back in me.</p><p><b>&bull; TRAINING</b> I played at around 174 pounds during the season, but by the end of the playoffs I lost around 10 to 12 pounds. Even when I was lighter, I felt I had an advantage over many of my opponents because of my summer training. It was different from most other programs. I wasn&rsquo;t big on lifting weights. I would do some lifting, but not to bulk up. My thing was cardio. I used to run hills. For me, it was about recovery time. If I took a 40-second shift I&rsquo;d be ready to go again 15 seconds later. I knew I could outlast guys on the other team.</p><p><b>&bull; INTENSITY</b> The players who get their name on the Cup are those who will do anything to win. And by anything, I mean they&rsquo;d carve you into little pieces if it meant winning. I always knew who I was playing against because guys would try to hurt you. One guy might try to take my knee out and another might attempt to take my head off. You have to be aware of who you&rsquo;re playing against. If I was up against a guy like Bryan Marchment or Luke Richardson and I don&rsquo;t have my head up, they were going to take me out. Every game of every series, guys were coming at you hard.</p><p>I was no angel on the ice, either. Because I was small, I had to make opponents think I was crazy and if they messed with me, they&rsquo;d pay a price. Thank goodness there weren&rsquo;t many cameras around in those days. I liked to slash guys on the back of their legs so by the third period their calf was knotted up and I could take advantage. It was a brutal thing I did, but I had to survive.</p><p><b>&bull; TRAVEL</b> Some players are affected by the considerable travel in the post-season. Not me. You have to become numb to it. Travel can be used as an excuse, but it was never part of my vocabulary. You get on the airplane and you eat, you hydrate and you rest. Then you reflect on your last game.</p><p><b>&bull; FOCUS</b> In the playoffs, your world revolved around hockey. Family takes a backseat. It&rsquo;s not a nice thing to say, but I wasn&rsquo;t focused on family at all in the post-season. It&rsquo;s almost like you&rsquo;re in a daze when you&rsquo;re around them. Sure, you get tickets for people, but all your focus is on winning the next game. That&rsquo;s all.</p><p>My grandfather passed away right before the &rsquo;93 playoffs and I wanted to go back to Kingston to be with my family, but our coach Pat Burns said, &ldquo;Dougie, you can&rsquo;t. You&rsquo;ve got to stay here.&rdquo; I turned it around into a positive and played my hardest for my grandfather. My family was very understanding.</p><p><b>&bull; DISTRACTIONS</b> One might think demands from the media &ndash; particularly in Toronto &ndash; intensify in the playoffs. Not for me. I was always available on game days, but on off-days Burnsie would tell the media, &ldquo;He&rsquo;s on his own planet today.&rdquo; I was not available. I&rsquo;d be at the rink if I needed therapy, but I wouldn&rsquo;t see the media. Pat wanted me to get home and get rested.</p><p><b>&bull; INJURIES</b> Injuries in the playoffs can kill a team. Most players will do everything in their power to stay in the lineup even when hurt. In the first round of the &rsquo;94 playoffs against Chicago, I twisted my ankle and on the plane I&rsquo;d wear a plastic boot. Game 7 in Chicago we won 1-0 and I had to get four needles to freeze my ankle before I could put my skate on. I didn&rsquo;t even know how tight my skate was. I had to keep an eye on it to make sure it didn&rsquo;t come loose. By the third round against Vancouver, I was down to taking one or two needles before the game.</p><p><b>&bull; PRESSURE</b> The pressure to win goes through the roof. In the regular season, if you lose Game 38, there&rsquo;s always Game 39. Lose in the playoffs and you might be going home.</p><p>For me, the first series was always the toughest one. It doesn&rsquo;t matter if you are the favorite or underdog. In 1989 when we won the Cup in Calgary, we won Game 7 of our first series in overtime in Vancouver on a goal that bounced in off Joel Otto&rsquo;s skate. We got a lucky break. Then we beat Los Angeles in four, Chicago in five and Montreal in six.</p><p>I got my name on the Cup with the Flames. I experienced what it&rsquo;s like to make the playoffs and survive four rounds. It is the ultimate goal for every player and believe me, every player had better be ready to sacrifice his mind, body and soul to win it.<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

f0008-01

POST-SEASON PUNISHMENT

<div class="byline">By Charlie Teljeur</div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0009-0129/149404-1-eng-US/f0009-012.jpg" title="f0009-01" width="740" height="735"><figcaption class="caption-body"><span class="photo-credit">(CLAUS ANDERSEN/GETTY IMAGES)</span></figcaption></div><span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span>

f0009-01

THE INSTIGATOR

<p><b>The Best & Worst OF THE HOCKEY WORLD</b></p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0009-0220/149433-1-eng-US/f0009-022.jpg" title="f0009-02" width="279" height="359"></div><h2><b>+ PLUS</b></h2><h3><b><b>PHAN-TASIC</b></b></h3><p>The Youngstown Phantoms, led by 2015 draft prospect Kyle Connor, become the first modern-era USHL team to win 17 consecutive games.</p><h2><b>&ndash; MINUS</b></h2><h3><b><b>TANKS VERY MUCH</b></b></h3><p>Buffalo fans are excited about their great odds of drafting <b><i>Connor McDavid</i></b>, but cheering a home loss to Arizona? That&rsquo;s weak (wing) sauce.</p><h2><b>+ PLUS</b></h2><h3><b><b>IT&rsquo;S ABOUT TIME</b></b></h3><p>A new women&rsquo;s league, slated to begin play next season, will pay its players. The NWHL will have teams in Buffalo, Boston, Connecticut and New York.</p><h2><b>&ndash; MINUS</b></h2><h3><b><b>DULLED BLADES</b></b></h3><p>Saskatoon wins the WHL draft lottery for the second straight year, but due to past trades, that pick, just like last season, goes to another team.<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

f0009-02

PLUS MINUS

<div class="byline">&#x2013; MATT LARKIN</div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0011-0225/149519-1-eng-US/f0011-022.jpg" title="f0011-02" width="509" height="520"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0011-0136/149526-1-eng-US/f0011-012.jpg" title="f0011-01" width="236" height="349"><figcaption class="caption-body"><span class="photo-credit">(SMITH+MCSORLEY: GRAIG ABEL COLLECTION/GETTY IMAGES; MESSIER: LINDA CATAFFO/NY DAILY NEWS ARCHIVE VIA GETTY IMAGES)</span></figcaption></div><h2><b>5. STEVE SMITH&rsquo;S OWN GOAL</b></h2><p><b> (April 30, 1986)</b></p><p class="dropcap"><span>T</span>he dynastic Edmonton Oilers seek a third straight Stanley Cup and are deadlocked with their bitter rivals, the Calgary Flames, in Game 7 of the Smythe Division final. With the score 2-2 and 14:48 remaining in the third period, Smith corrals the puck behind his net. He attempts a long breakout pass up the middle of the ice and through Grant Fuhr&rsquo;s crease. The puck banks into Edmonton&rsquo;s net off Fuhr&rsquo;s skate.</p><p>Smith falls to the ice and sobs. It&rsquo;s his 23rd birthday. It&rsquo;s the final goal of the game and eliminates the Oilers. Thankfully for Smith, he&rsquo;s part of two more Cups, including one the next year, after which captain Wayne Gretzky passes the Cup to Smith. Still, Smith&rsquo;s gaffe makes us wonder if Edmonton could&rsquo;ve won five straight titles.</p><h2><b>4. NICKLAS LIDSTROM BEATS DAN CLOUTIER FROM DOWNTOWN</b></h2><p><b> (April 21, 2002)</b></p><p>The 2002 Red Wings are among the most stacked teams ever: Dominik Hasek, Nicklas Lidstrom, Brendan Shanahan, Steve Yzerman, Sergei Fedorov, Brett Hull, Chris Chelios, Luc Robitaille, Igor Larionov, Pavel Datsyuk. But the powerhouse Wings start the 2002 post-season poorly, dropping consecutive home games to Vancouver. Then, it happens. With the score 1-1 in Game 3, late in the second period, Lidstrom takes a slapshot from center ice. It beats Canucks goalie Dan Cloutier. The air sucks out of GM Place. Detroit goes on to win 3-1 &ndash; and the next three games, ousting Vancouver and setting the stage for a Stanley Cup triumph.</p><h2><b>3. DON CHERRY&rsquo;S LINE CHANGE SNAFU</b></h2><p><b> (May 10, 1979)</b></p><p>The Boston Bruins have their boot on the Montreal Canadiens&rsquo; throat, hoping to end Montreal&rsquo;s Stanley Cup streak at four. Boston enters the third period of Game 7 up 3-1 at the Forum, but the Habs score twice to tie it 3-3. Boston&rsquo;s Rick Middleton then delivers what looks like a knockout blow, beating Ken Dryden with 3:59 left.</p><p>Then coach Don Cherry and the Bruins get confused. Some of the players mishear him and the Bruins end up with as many as eight men on the ice at once. Cherry pulls two back, but that still leaves six skaters. Boston takes a too-many-men penalty. Montreal&rsquo;s legendary power play unit of Guy Lafleur, Steve Shutt, Jacques Lemaire, Larry Robinson and Serge Savard takes over. Lafleur ties the game on a big blast before Yvon Lambert wins it for Montreal in overtime.</p><h2><b>2. MARK MESSIER&rsquo;S GUARANTEE</b></h2><p><b> (May 24, 1994)</b></p><p>The New York Rangers have their best chance at a Stanley Cup in 54 years, but they trail 3-2 in the Eastern Conference final in an epic series with the New Jersey Devils. Then come the immortal words from Blueshirts captain Mark Messier: &ldquo;We&rsquo;re going to go in there and win Game 6.&rdquo;</p><p>The quote blows up in the headlines. Messier calls his shot like New York sports greats Babe Ruth and Joe Namath. Maybe it&rsquo;s self-fulfilling prophecy, maybe it&rsquo;s fluke or maybe Messier knows he and his team are that good. Whatever the driving force is, Messier delivers with a hat trick in Game 6. That sends the series back to New York, where the Rangers win a marathon Game 7. Eventually the Cup is theirs.</p><h2><b>1. THE MARTY McSORLEY STICK MEASUREMENT</b></h2><p><b> (June 2, 1993)</b></p><p>Gretzky&rsquo;s Kings are in the driver&rsquo;s seat as they attempt to bring the first Cup to California. They win Game 1 of the final against Montreal and, up 2-1 in the third period of Game 2, are about to take a stranglehold. Then Habs coach Jacques Demers throws up a prayer on Guy Carbonneau&rsquo;s hunch.</p><p>Carbonneau suggests Kings D-man Marty McSorley has an illegal curve on his stick. Referee Kerry Fraser rules the blade is indeed illegal, and Montreal earns a power play. Eric Desjardins&rsquo; second goal of the game ties it with 1:13 left, and he beats Kelly Hrudey a third time in the extra frame. Montreal doesn&rsquo;t lose another game and wins the series in five.</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0011-0314/149512-1-eng-US/f0011-032.jpg" title="f0011-03" width="237" height="301"></div><span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span>

f0011-02

WHAT WOULD HAVE BEEN?

<div class="byline">BY BENJAMIN WENDORF & KEN CAMPBELL</div><p class="dropcap"><b><span>W</span>HEN IT COMES TO BUILDING</b> a Stanley Cup winner, there&rsquo;s a lot to be said for analytics and advanced statistics. When it comes to predicting a Stanley Cup winner, well, there&rsquo;s a lot to be said for tarot cards, crystal balls, coin flips and a game of rock, paper, scissors.</p><p>That&rsquo;s due to the unpredictability of the playoffs. It&rsquo;s not that advanced stats are useless for those trying to project the conference finalists, but we wouldn&rsquo;t recommend taking them to the proverbial bank.</p><p>Part of the reason for that is the playoffs essentially cut the league in half, and that half consists of 16 teams in which the differences in quality are far more minute. Smaller differences make it more difficult to predict who&rsquo;s going to win. Don&rsquo;t trust us? Just look at the numbers. Over the past decade, conference seedings have been a successful harbinger of a series winner only 52.5 percent of the time &ndash; basically a coin flip.</p><p>There are some indicators that can help you out, but even the best of those has just a 65.9 percent accuracy rate in predicting a series winner. And let&rsquo;s face it: it&rsquo;s just not sexy to only predict the series winner. To truly be a playoff prophet, you have to nail the series in the right number of games.</p><p>So, let&rsquo;s look at team 5-on-5 scoring chances-for percentage when the score&rsquo;s close, our strongest testing metric in determining series winners (see chart below).</p><p>Since the difference between the league-high and league-low frequently ranges about 16 percent and is fairly evenly distributed, we can divide that into four equal outcomes. A difference of 13 percent or more between teams in a series translates into a four-game sweep prediction. A nine- to 12-percent variance suggests a five-game series, a five- to eight-percent difference a six-gamer and anything under four percent should go seven (see chart on right).</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0012-0144/149576-1-eng-US/f0012-012.jpg" title="f0012-01" width="513" height="361"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0012-0233/149569-1-eng-US/f0012-022.jpg" title="f0012-02" width="511" height="546"><figcaption class="caption-body">MARIAN <b>GABORIK</b></figcaption></div><div class="container"><div class="figure-block image-float"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0012-0324/149562-1-eng-US/f0012-032.jpg" title="f0012-03" width="129" height="652"></div><p>If you&rsquo;d compared the team scoring-chance metrics before the 2014 Cup final, you would have been right had you predicted the Kings would topple the Rangers. L.A. commanded 55.6 percent of 5-on-5 scoring chances in the regular season compared to New York&rsquo;s 52.4%. (And those numbers remained true in the final, with the Kings getting 120 chances to the Rangers 96.) But the difference, just 3.2%, would have led you to believe the Rangers would extend the series to seven games. It went five, but three of the Kings wins were in overtime (with two in double OT), so perhaps there was less to choose from between the two teams than the result indicated. Close matchup, close results, but a 4-1 outcome &ndash; exactly the kind of numbers you&rsquo;d expect from a 65.9 percent accuracy &ndash; and a competitive NHL playoff.</p></div><div style="clear: both;"></div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0012-0413/149555-1-eng-US/f0012-042.jpg" title="f0012-04" width="236" height="188"><figcaption class="caption-body"><span class="photo-credit">(SCOTT LEVY/NHLI VIA GETTY IMAGES)</span></figcaption></div><p>So, it&rsquo;s nice to know that the teams that get the lion&rsquo;s share of the scoring chances have the better chance of winning the series. That stands to reason. You can make some pretty reasonable assumptions about the playoffs using analytics, but you might want to keep that crystal ball handy, just in case.<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

f0012-01

ROCK, PAPER ANALYTICS

<div class="byline">BY BRIAN COSTELLO</div><p><i>MATTHEW WUEST 1979-2015</i></p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0013-0138/149612-1-eng-US/f0013-012.jpg" title="f0013-01" width="468" height="349"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>HOCKEY&rsquo;S MONEY MAN</b> Wuest made capgeek the go-to source for media, team and fans in the salary cap era. <span class="photo-credit">(METRO HALIFAX)</span></figcaption></div><p><b>THE FIRST TIME I CROSSED</b> paths with Matthew Wuest was in the summer of 2001 when the hockey world was in a quiet zone. It was mid-August and most hockey executives, players, even the staff at THN were enjoying vacations and outdoor patios.</p><p>Just a few weeks earlier, we had closed the pages on our annual Yearbook. By the middle of the month, it was on newsstands and in mailboxes. In short order, an email came to me from <a href="mailto:wuest@redwingscentral.com">wuest@redwingscentral.com</a>.</p><p>It was just about the most respectful, well-written complaint letter I&rsquo;ve ever received. Matthew Wuest concisely explained who he was &ndash; a passionate fan of hockey who ran a site that monitored the progress of Detroit prospects &ndash; then diplomatically transitioned into a polite but well-grounded complaint. He wasn&rsquo;t so sure 19-year-old Swedish center prospect Par Backer should be ranked ahead of 23-yearold Russian pivot Pavel Datsyuk. They were sixth and eighth on the Red Wings&rsquo; top 10. And while he&rsquo;s mentioning it, Datsyuk should probably be ahead of Jesse Wallin and Stefan Liv as well.</p><p>The email then delved into the attributes of said players and was written with such clarity and authority that I wrote Matthew back and explained the process of The Hockey News having to rely on the opinions of scouts to establish rankings for prospects we haven&rsquo;t seen. We had a series of back-andforths in the ensuing weeks, and I came to learn Matthew was a 22-year-old university graduate with computer science and journalism degrees. He was passionate about both and keen to get started in the industry. &ldquo;If you are ever in need of input on the Detroit Red Wings or any of their prospects, please do not hesitate to reach me,&rdquo; he wrote. &ldquo;I would appreciate the opportunity to contribute.&rdquo;</p><p>So for our Draft Preview issue in 2002, I gave Matthew the opportunity to write our sneak peek feature for the 2003 draft. It required that he canvas scouts to see which 17-year-olds were hot commodities a year out. He jumped at the opportunity and delivered a winner, providing solid analysis and quoting scouts on the likes of Eric Staal, Milan Michalek, Nathan Horton and Dustin Brown. Wuest had instantly won himself a freelance gig at The Hockey News, and he contributed regularly the next six or seven years in the pages of Future Watch, Draft Preview and our prospects section.</p><p>We were crushed to hear the news Matthew passed away at the age of 35, succumbing to colon cancer. Our thoughts and condolences go out to the Wuest family</p><p>After his creative industry start at THN, Matthew eventually found full-time employment in his hometown of Halifax, writing sports for <i>The Daily News</i> and <i>Metro Halifax</i>. Then in 2009, he executed on his other passion by creating the website <a href="http://capgeek.com">capgeek.com</a>, which soon became the go-to site for hockey fans, executives and media alike. Through his established connections in the hockey community, Wuest was able to gather information and present it in a way that was easy to navigate and packed with valuable insight. In our 2011 edition of 100 People of Power and Influence, Wuest came in at No. 98 because of what he was providing the hockey world.</p><p>When the notice went up on capgeek in January that the site was shutting down permanently because of Matthew&rsquo;s deteriorating health, our hearts sunk to a depth only exceeded by the news of his death in March.</p><p>Not a day went by the past couple months that you didn&rsquo;t see a posting in some hockey website&rsquo;s comments section, or hear it mentioned in some office, or some press box, or, presumably, some NHL executive office: &ldquo;I miss capgeek.&rdquo;</p><p>In reality, that&rsquo;s the hockey world&rsquo;s way of saying, &ldquo;We miss you, Matthew.&rdquo;</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0013-0234/149605-1-eng-US/f0013-022.jpg" title="f0013-02" width="500" height="366"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>PERSON OF POWER</b> Wuest went from contributing to The Hockey News to a spot on our annual PoP list in 2011.</figcaption></div><span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span>

f0013-01

A PASSIONATE HOCKEY PIONEER

<div class="byline">BY SAL BARRY OF PUCKJUNK.COM</div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0014-0229/149677-1-eng-US/f0014-022.jpg" title="f0014-02" width="210" height="296"><figcaption class="caption-body"><span class="photo-credit">(PHOTO COURTESY THE HEXTALLS)</span></figcaption></div><p class="dropcap"><b><span>J</span>AROMIR JAGR IS A VETERAN</b> of 21 NHL seasons &ndash; and of four NHL work stoppages, too. During the 1994-95 lockout, Jagr played 11 games with his hometown of Kladno in the Czech League, as well as onegame stints in Italy and Germany. His single game with the Schalker Sharks in the German League was definitely his most notable during the lockout, as Jagr had one goal and 10 assists that game. His 11 points put him ahead of six of the team&rsquo;s regular players in scoring, while his one game in the league was enough of an excuse to include him in the league&rsquo;s 1994-95 trading card set.<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

f0014-02

In The CARDS

<div class="byline">BY MONIKA MORAVAN</div><div class="image-hero"><img title="f0016-01" src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0016-0142/149713-1-eng-US/f0016-012.jpg"><figcaption class="caption-body"><span class="photo-credit">(BRANDON TAYLOR/CWHL)</span></figcaption></div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0016-0225/149706-1-eng-US/f0016-022.jpg" title="f0016-02" width="565" height="713"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>AUSTRIAN TOUCH</b> Weber is seeing a slow but steady rise in the popularity of women&rsquo;s hockey in her home country.</figcaption></div><p class="dropcap"><b><span>J</span>ANINE WEBER&rsquo;S STICK WAS EVENTUALLY DONATED TO THE</b> Hockey Hall of Fame, but it took Twitter to save the day. The 23-year-old third-line center and Canadian Women&rsquo;s League rookie for the Boston Blades wanted to oblige when asked to donate the stick she used to score her 3-2 overtime game-winner against the Montreal Stars in the Clarkson Cup final, but the devil was in the details: her only other stick was broken and she&rsquo;d have nothing to play with while representing Austria at the Div. I, Group A World Championship in April.</p><p>CWHL players are professional in quality of play but don&rsquo;t pull salaries to match. They don&rsquo;t pull salaries &ndash; period. Some have sponsors, but most must budget for it out of their day jobs. Weber&rsquo;s is teaching developmentally delayed children. Weber&rsquo;s roommate sent Twitter buzzing with a request for manufacturers to donate a replacement. &ldquo;The tweet was done more to raise awareness that we have to buy our own equipment,&rdquo; Weber said. &ldquo;I had friends offer but didn&rsquo;t want someone to spend their own money.&rdquo;</p><p>STX, who already sponsors teammate and U.S. Olympian Hilary Knight, stepped up, and the stick of the first European to score a Clarkson Cup-winner is now with the HHOF. Not too shabby for a player from a country that has never qualified to play Olympic hockey.</p><p>Weber&rsquo;s goal will go a long way to boost the game&rsquo;s popularity in Austria. She had no local female players to emulate when learning to play at six years old and was the only girl on her teams until age 14. &ldquo;I went home for Christmas and spoke with a 10-year-old girl playing on my old team,&rdquo; Weber said. &ldquo;I was happy to hear she wasn&rsquo;t the only girl on the team. That&rsquo;s progress.&rdquo;</p><p>So is not having to pay to play. When Weber&rsquo;s Austrian teammates get together over Christmas to practise, each pays 10 euros to cover the cost of ice time. &ldquo;This year, on New Year&rsquo;s, they told us it was free,&rdquo; she said. &ldquo;That was our present.&rdquo;</p><p>The best gift would be to play in packed rinks. CWHL attendance is rising, but there were empty seats at the Clarkson Cup final. &ldquo;Some of the world&rsquo;s best players are in this league, and there are new ones coming in from all over,&rdquo; Weber said. &ldquo;The game is played at such a high skill level and at high speed. If people give it a chance once, they&rsquo;ll want to come back.&rdquo;<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

f0016-01

GOLDEN LINING

<div class="byline">BY STU HACKEL</div><p class="dropcap"><b><span>J</span>UST HOW EXCITED IS CLARK GILLIES WITH THE ISLANDERS&rsquo;</b> success? The man teammates called &lsquo;Jethro&rsquo; over his Hall of Fame career vows to grow a playoff beard the way he did during the team&rsquo;s glory years.</p><p>That may not look becoming for a guy who is now an executive vice-president for an investment firm, but Gillies remains an Islander to the core. &ldquo;The last thing on my hockey bucket list is to drink from the Cup one more time,&rdquo; said Gillies, 61.</p><p>The term &ldquo;power forward&rdquo; could have been coined for the Moose Jaw, Sask., native, whose formidable 6-foot-3, 215 pound frame and facial features drew comparisons to the 1960s <i>Beverly Hillbillies</i> TV character Jethro Bodine. Unlike the dim Jethro, however, Gillies was (and still is) quick-witted, once responding to a reporter who asked where Moose Jaw was with, &ldquo;About six feet from a moose&rsquo;s ass.&rdquo;</p><p>Drafted fourth overall in 1974 after a stellar junior career for the Memorial Cup champion Regina Pats, Gillies jumped right to the Isles, becoming a core member so quickly that he was named captain as a 22-year-old during his third NHL season.</p><p>The Islanders were but two seasons old when Gillies arrived, struggling for popularity in what had been Rangers territory. During his first home game against the Blueshirts, he recalled, &ldquo;They scored and I thought the roof was going to come off the place. I said, &lsquo;What was that? This is our building.&rsquo; &rdquo; When teammates told him Rangers fans regularly took over Nassau Coliseum, Gillies replied, &ldquo;Well, that&rsquo;s got to change.&rdquo;</p><p>It didn&rsquo;t take long, and Gillies&rsquo; banging and scoring were big reasons why. Installed as left winger on the Long Island Lighting Company line with two more high draftees, Billy Harris and Bryan Trottier, Gillies grew into a fan favorite. When Harris was replaced by young sniper Mike Bossy and the line was renamed the Trio Grande, history was in the making in Uniondale.</p><p>Gillies not only scored more than 300 goals for the Islanders, he also handled the NHL&rsquo;s toughest pugilists, including Terry O&rsquo;Reilly and Dave Schultz, earning the reputation as a top heavyweight. Unlike other frequent fighters, Gillies only dropped his gloves to deter opponents from abusing teammates. Good as he was, fighting wasn&rsquo;t his calling. He found it draining, an obstacle to his best performance. &ldquo;I never went to the game looking for who I wanted to fight,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;My first thought was play hard, play smart, check, do what you&rsquo;re supposed to do to help the team win. If that other thing popped up, I&rsquo;d take care of it.&rdquo;</p><p>He remained a team leader even though he gave up his &lsquo;C&rsquo; prior to the 1979-80 Cup-run season. He recommended Denis Potvin as his replacement to coach Al Arbour and GM Bill Torrey. Gillies was happier with an &lsquo;A&rsquo; on his sweater, but he jokes that when NHL president John Ziegler handed Potvin the 1980 Stanley Cup, &ldquo;it took me about five seconds to rip it out of his hands and run around like an idiot. And I almost took the &lsquo;C&rsquo; with me.&rdquo;</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0017-0137/149742-1-eng-US/f0017-012.jpg" title="f0017-01" width="462" height="655"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>BRAINS AND BRAWN</b> Gillies teamed with Trottier and Bossy to form the game&rsquo;s best line in the early 1980s. <span class="photo-credit">(BRUCE BENNETT)</span></figcaption></div><p>Gillies played 12 of his 14 NHL seasons for the Isles, topping the 30-goal mark six times and twice named a first-team allstar, en route to four consecutive Stanley Cups.</p><p>In the spring of &rsquo;84, when the Isles were dethroned by the Oilers, Gillies still believes the Islanders got an unfair shake when the NHL changed the Cup final format that season to 2-3-2, giving Edmonton three straight home games after the teams split the first two on Long Island. That format didn&rsquo;t last.</p><p>Today, Gillies is still on Long Island with Hilton Capital Management. He belies his tough-guy image through the Clark Gillies Foundation, which raises funds to help children who are physically, developmentally and/or financially challenged.</p><p>He&rsquo;s also a happy grandfather. His three daughters &ndash; Jocelyn, Brooke and Brianna &ndash; are all married, Brianna getting hitched in 2011 to hockey writer and former minor pro player Justin Bourne, son of Clarke&rsquo;s Islanders teammate Bob Bourne.</p><p>Clark and his childhood sweetheart, Pam, met in Moose Jaw in Grade 8. They celebrated their 40th wedding anniversary last summer. &ldquo;If she would have killed me 25 years ago,&rdquo; he said with a laugh, &ldquo;she&rsquo;d be out of jail by now.&rdquo;<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

f0017-01

BLAZED A TRAIL ON LONG ISLAND

f0018-01

IN THIS ISSUE

SEIZING THE TORCH

<p class="dropcap"><span>I</span>t&rsquo;s not fair, really. Not only have the Montreal Canadiens had some of the most dynamic and offensively talented skaters in NHL history, they&rsquo;ve been blessed with some of the best goaltenders to ever strap on the pads. Here are eight of them who came before Carey Price, all of whom are either in the Hall of Fame or won the Hart Trophy, or, in the case of Jacques Plante, both. Will Price follow them to their lofty heights?</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0021-0134/149877-1-eng-US/f0021-012.jpg" title="f0021-01" width="308" height="373"><figcaption class="caption-body"><span class="photo-credit">(VEZINA: BRUCE BENNETT STUDIOS/GETTY IMAGES; HAINSWORTH: THN ARCHIVES)</span></figcaption></div><h2><b>GEORGES VEZINA &ndash; 1910-26 175-146-6, 3.28 GAA*, 2 Cups</b></h2><p><i>The Canadiens discovered their first superstar goalie when they were on a barnstorming tour through Quebec in 1909. The Habs played Chicoutimi in an exhibition game and lost with Vezina, a leather tanner by trade, almost singlehandedly leading the Sagueneens to victory.</i></p><p>(*NHL ONLY)</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0021-0220/149870-1-eng-US/f0021-022.jpg" title="f0021-02" width="291" height="346"></div><h2><b>GEORGE HAINSWORTH &ndash; 1926-33 167-97-54, 1.75 GAA, 2 Cups</b></h2><p><i>Hainsworth came from the Saskatoon Sheiks on the recommendation of Newsy Lalonde, who figured Hainsworth could replace Vezina, whose career and life were cut short by tuberculosis. Hainsworth, who won the first three trophies bearing Vezina&rsquo;s name, also met a tragic end, killed in a car accident.</i></p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0022-0219/149863-1-eng-US/f0022-022.jpg" title="f0022-02" width="213" height="332"></div><h2><b>BILL DURNAN &ndash; 1943-50 208-112-62, 2.36 GAA, 2 Cups</b></h2><p><i>Durnan, originally property of the Leafs, had his early career derailed by injury. He eventually landed in Montreal as an accountant/goalie with the Montreal Royals. Durnan&rsquo;s boss was a director with the Habs and pressured him to sign with the Canadiens at age 27.</i></p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0022-0314/149856-1-eng-US/f0022-032.jpg" title="f0022-03" width="229" height="338"></div><h2><b>JACQUES PLANTE &ndash; 1953-63 312-134-108, 2.23 GAA, 6 Cups</b></h2><p><i>Legendary coach Toe Blake couldn&rsquo;t stand Plante, largely because of Plante&rsquo;s insistence on doing things his own way. &ldquo;But as much as Toe disliked Plante,&rdquo; said former broadcaster Dick Irvin, &ldquo;he would always say Plante was the best goaltender in history.&rdquo;</i></p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0022-0410/149849-1-eng-US/f0022-042.jpg" title="f0022-04" width="178" height="384"></div><h2><b>GUMP WORSLEY &ndash; 1963-70 92-44-25, 2.42 GAA, 4 Cups</b></h2><p><i>By the time Worsley became Montreal&rsquo;s No. 1 goalie, he had already played 10 seasons for the Rangers and the better part of two more in the minors. Historians have gone back and calculated save percentages and figured out Worsley led the league in that statistic almost every season he was with the toothless Rangers.</i></p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0023-0220/149842-1-eng-US/f0023-022.jpg" title="f0023-02" width="165" height="385"></div><h2><b>KEN DRYDEN &ndash; 1970-79 258-57-74, 2.24 GAA, 6 Cups</b></h2><p><i>The Bruins actually drafted Dryden 14th overall in 1964, but flipped him and another prospect to the Habs for two prospects. Nobody gave Dryden much thought until seven years later when he joined the Canadiens late in the season and led them to the Cup, including a shocking seven-game triumph over the B&rsquo;s in the first round.</i></p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0023-0313/149835-1-eng-US/f0023-032.jpg" title="f0023-03" width="367" height="323"></div><h2><b>PATRICK ROY &ndash; 1985-95 289-175-66, 2.77 GAA, 2 Cups</b></h2><p><i>Roy waited until he turned pro to give an indication he&rsquo;d be a Hall of Fame player. In three seasons in the QMJHL with the Laval Voisins, Roy was 30 games under .500, had a goals-against average of 5.35 and won zero playoff games.</i></p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0023-047/149828-1-eng-US/f0023-042.jpg" title="f0023-04" width="241" height="385"></div><h2><b>JOSE THEODORE &ndash; 1996-2006 141-163-30, 2.62 GAA, 0 Cups</b></h2><p><i>There are two Habs goalies with their names on the Vezina Trophy but not the Cup. Denis Herron is one, Theodore is the other. Theodore won both the Vezina and Hart in 2002, with both awards coming by the closest margin in NHL history.</i><span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

f0021-01

BEASTS OF THE BLEU PAINT

<div class="byline">ByRyan Kennedy</div><p class="dropcap"><b><span>T</span>HE 2010 DRAFT TURNED OUT TO BE PRETTY</b> fruitful overall, but on the first day of the actual selections, St. Louis went in with a specific plan of action: take Jaden Schwartz with the 14th pick overall and, if possible, trade for another selection to land Vladimir Tarasenko. The first part went off without a hitch. With the 15th pick, Los Angeles tabbed big blueliner Derek Forbort, paving the way for Blues GM Doug Armstrong to swing a trade with Ottawa that saw the Sens grab defenseman David Rundblad in exchange for pick No. 16, which Armstrong used to snap up Tarasenko. Had the Russian right winger been off the board, St. Louis would have kept Rundblad, forever altering history.</p><p>Armstrong admits Tarasenko was the riskier pick, due to the fact the KHL offered a perfectly decent career path for the Russian kid whose father coached him with Sibir Novosibirsk. But Tarasenko made his way over to North America after the 2012-13 lockout and has been endearing himself to the organization since. &ldquo;He&rsquo;s the type of kid who has a lot of respect for the guys on his team and he really wants to play well,&rdquo; said goalie Brian Elliott. &ldquo;Sometimes you don&rsquo;t see that in young guys, but he&rsquo;s a team guy to the max.&rdquo;</p><p>Adjusting to life in North America wasn&rsquo;t easy, but Tarasenko was willing to put in the work. Some NHL teams have softened the cultural blow for young Russians by bringing in a veteran from their homeland (it almost always seems to be Sergei Gonchar), but the closest St. Louis has come is Dmitrij Jaskin, who was born in Omsk but was raised in (and plays internationally for) the Czech Republic. The Blues did hire retired defenseman Sergei Zubov for a year to help facilitate coaching messages during practice, but otherwise it was adapt and survive. &ldquo;It was basically, throw him in the deep end and let him figure it out,&rdquo; Armstrong said. &ldquo;He worked hard on his own, and he wanted to be part of the team.&rdquo;</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0024-0142/149927-1-eng-US/f0024-012.jpg" title="f0024-01" width="360" height="489"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>SHY GUY</b><i>Tarasenko was nowhere near as confident in his English as he was in his ability to score goals.</i><span class="photo-credit">(LEFT: NOAH GRAHAM/NHLI VIA GETTY IMAGES; RIGHT: GRAIG ABEL/NHLI VIA GETTY IMAGES)</span></figcaption></div><p>One factor working against the Blues was the latest collective bargaining agreement, which stipulated that only players on entry-level contracts had to share hotel rooms on the road &ndash; all others were now free to go solo. Luckily, St. Louis had a young Kevin Shattenkirk, who took Tarasenko under his wing that first season. &ldquo;He doesn&rsquo;t believe it, but his English is very good,&rdquo; Shattenkirk said. &ldquo;He was a little shy at first to use it, but now he has opened up. He knows how to order at restaurants, he goes to the grocery store and knows what to buy. All those things are so tough when you come over and we take it for granted.&rdquo;</p><p>He may have had to ask his American buddy what beef carpaccio is, but, admittedly, most of us have to look that up. And it&rsquo;s better than his original situation, which was simply ordering Caesar salads all the time because he knew what they were. &ldquo;The first couple of years was really tough for me because it&rsquo;s a different country and mentality,&rdquo; Tarasenko said. &ldquo;But the guys helped me a lot, especially Kevin. I feel really good right now.&rdquo;</p><p>The stats bear that out. Tarasenko has been one of the top scorers in the entire NHL, giving other teams nightmare matchups, as his unit with Jori Lehtera and Schwartz is technically the third line in St. Louis. Lehtera has been one of the rare European skaters to thrive in the NHL as a rookie in his late 20s. He and Tarasenko had familiarity with each other from their KHL days with Novosibirsk. &ldquo;Every game, every practice we were on the same line,&rdquo; Tarasenko said. &ldquo;He can pass the puck and he&rsquo;s a smart player. That&rsquo;s what I like. And he&rsquo;s never jealous.&rdquo;</p><p>That last part is actually relevant. When Tarasenko was an up-and-comer in the KHL, his dad, Andrei, coached Novosibirsk. Although his teammates likely didn&rsquo;t know he was raised by his grandparents while his father was still playing professionally around Eurasia, there was a lot of pressure on him to quiet any talk of favoritism, real or imagined. &ldquo;It was a tough time,&rdquo; Tarasenko said. &ldquo;He was always hard on me because if he wasn&rsquo;t, everyone would say, &lsquo;It&rsquo;s because he&rsquo;s the coach&rsquo;s son and that&rsquo;s why he&rsquo;s playing here.&rsquo; It was a good experience for me, though. It taught me a lot.&rdquo;</p><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0025-0136/149920-1-eng-US/f0025-012.jpg" title="f0025-01" width="1205" height="1655"></div><p>Tarasenko is still close to his grandfather, who put &lsquo;Vladdy&rsquo; on skates for the first time as a five-year-old. He also holds a special place in his heart for Siberia, the region he grew up in that, over here at least, is synonymous with brain-melting cold and Soviet gulag stories. But listen to Tarasenko and you picture an almost wholesome, crisp environment. &ldquo;It&rsquo;s really cold, but there is always sun,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;I played in St. Petersburg for a couple years and it was always grey skies, rainy and windy. St. Louis is kind of in the middle.&rdquo;</p><p>It&rsquo;s also where he has already begun to make his biggest impact. The Blues and Armstrong have been marching through the West for several years with a core of tough, two-way forwards led by David Backes and T.J. Oshie and an enviable collection of defenseman anchored by Shattenkirk, Alex Pietrangelo and Jay Bouwmeester (Zbynek Michalek was added at the deadline to bolster an already impressive top six). But Tarasenko is the game-breaker, maneuvering his tank-like frame around the ice and dazzling fans, opponents and teammates with his highlight-reel moves. &ldquo;We feel like we&rsquo;ve found our offensive superstar,&rdquo; Shattenkirk said. &ldquo;He&rsquo;s emerging as one of those players in the league. And it takes time. You need confidence and you can see it this year. He has figured out the game and realized what he can and can&rsquo;t do with his skill set, and there&rsquo;s not much he can&rsquo;t do. It&rsquo;s great for us to know we have that threat. He has really come into his own.&rdquo;</p><p>Tarasenko&rsquo;s wizardry has even sent Shattenkirk spinning in practice. Shattenkirk recalled one particular incident when a Tarasenko cutback on an offensive zone drill twisted Shattenkirk up, sending him to the ice as fans ooh&rsquo;d and ahh&rsquo;d from the stands.</p><p>Now the mission is to parlay that skill into real post-season results. The Blues couldn&rsquo;t have had worse playoff luck lately if a black cat on a ladder smacked them with a broken mirror. St. Louis has won just one series in its past three sorties, losing to Chicago and Los Angeles (twice) in early rounds. The Chicago loss was especially irksome since the Blues came in with home-ice advantage and even built a 2-0 series lead before withering. This season, they are once again on a crash course to face the Blackhawks in their opening series, albeit without Patrick Kane, who won&rsquo;t likely be back from a fractured clavicle in time.</p><p>Not that there were excuses in the past, but the Blues now know how searing the spotlight can be. &ldquo;Last year everybody was saying we had to win and that the St. Louis Blues were going to win the Stanley Cup and then we lost in the first round,&rdquo; Tarasenko said. &ldquo;After tough losses like that we&rsquo;re not thinking about it. We&rsquo;ll just go step by step and hopefully we make it.&rdquo;</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0026-0143/149913-1-eng-US/f0026-012.jpg" title="f0026-01" width="735" height="582"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>FRIES WITH THAT?</b><i>The biggest adjustment for Tarasenko was off the ice where ordering food was an adventure.</i> <span class="photo-credit">(CHRIS LEE/ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH/MCT)</span></figcaption></div><blockquote class="pullQuote"><b>&ldquo;WE FEEL WE&rsquo;VE FOUND OUR OFFENSIVE STAR. HE&rsquo;S EMERGING AS ONE OF THOSE PLAYERS</b> &ndash; Kevin Shattenkirk</blockquote><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0026-0224/149906-1-eng-US/f0026-022.jpg" title="f0026-02" width="292" height="213"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>BRING IT ON</b><i>Tarasenko and Co. have put past playoff failures behind them and are ready for another Cup run.</i> <span class="photo-credit">(GRAIG ABEL/NHLI VIA GETTY IMAGES)</span></figcaption></div><p>And if they do, you can bet that the team&rsquo;s gifted young Russian will play a big role. &ldquo;Last year he went about his season till the playoffs really anonymously,&rdquo; said coach Ken Hitchcock. &ldquo;This year because he&rsquo;s got 30 goals and people notice him. They pay attention to him and they target him and he&rsquo;s learned to play through that, which is a good sign.&rdquo;</p><p>Can it lead straight to Stanley? That&rsquo;s the hope in St. Louis.<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

f0024-01

CULTURE SHOCK TO SUPERSTAR TALK

f0026-03

RUSSIAN TO SUCCESS

<div class="byline">WORDS BY KEN CAMPBELL ILLUSTRATION BY ERIC POOLE</div><div class="image-hero"><img title="f0028-01" src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0028-0144/150020-1-eng-US/f0028-012.jpg"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>OTHERWORLDLY</b><i>Tavares possesses Batman-like smarts and sight, while Nash is blessed with Superman strength and skill.</i></figcaption></div><p>NEW YORK SUPERHEROES</p><p><b>WHO DO YOU THINK</b> wins a fight between Batman and Superman? Kids have wondered for decades. Maybe we&rsquo;ll find out this spring. Maybe next spring. We don&rsquo;t know much yet about Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, the movie scheduled to be released in March 2016. We do have a pretty good idea the Caped Crusader and Man of Steel will put aside their philosophical differences and end up fighting for the same cause, and we&rsquo;re pretty sure the film will make a lot of money. But you probably knew that.</p><p>For those who can&rsquo;t wait for Batman and Superman to go mano-a-mano on the big screen, do not get your pajamas in a knot. There are already two half-visored superheroes vying for top billing in the greater Gotham/Metropolis area: Rick Nash and John Tavares. One is enjoying a renaissance season and was among the leagueleaders in goals (Nash), while the other was seeking his first scoring crown (Tavares). Both play for New York teams that are contenders for the Eastern Conference title, in large part because they are the best players for the Rangers and Islanders.</p><p>And in case you&rsquo;re a stickler for details, Nash is Superman, because he&rsquo;s gifted with quickness that makes him faster than a speeding bullet and gives him the ability to beat defensemen to the outside in a single bound. Coming to the Rangers from Columbus, he is otherworldly, and so is his array of talents. Tavares fills the role of Batman, because around the net his mind is his power and his stealth is his greatest weapon. He&rsquo;s also a guy whose personal rigorous mental and physical perfection allow him to achieve superhero status. He may not be able to skate like Nash, but Tavares has a utility belt full of physical and intellectual tools that help him get there. Whereas Tavares finds open space with his mind and his eyes, Nash creates open space with his speed and strength.</p><p>And the results, more often than not, have been dazzling on both fronts. After a miserable playoff and shockingly unproductive Stanley Cup final, Nash has been a force for the Rangers, easily on pace to shatter his career high of 41 goals, for which he won the Rocket Richard Trophy when he was 19. Tavares, whose promise forced major junior to change its rules regarding exceptional 15-year-old players, has been changing the rules of engagement on Long Island. Led by Tavares, the Islanders are making their final season at Nassau Coliseum one to remember. He is leading his team to its first 100-point season since the salad days of the early 1980s. &ldquo;We don&rsquo;t go into games hoping to win or hoping to play well,&rdquo; Tavares said. &ldquo;That&rsquo;s how we expect to play.&rdquo;</p><p>Nash, 30, and Tavares, 24, play the game in different styles, but their lives intersect in a mind-boggling number of ways. Both were childhood phenoms in the same youth organization, both are from the suburbs of Toronto, both played for the London Knights in the OHL and both have been international stars for Canada. Most of all, they surely share the stage as the best athletes in the New York metropolitan area. Really. Who in the City that Never Sleeps&trade; is having or has had a better season than these guys? Carmelo Anthony and the Knicks are putrid. The Giants and Jets were both sub-.500. Derek Jeter is retired and A-Rod, well, let&rsquo;s just say he&rsquo;s on his own journey. Henrik Lundqvist, the King of the Rangers, has been injured a good chunk of the season.</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0030-0143/150013-1-eng-US/f0030-012.jpg" title="f0030-01" width="688" height="583"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>TAKING THE SAME PATH</b><i>Tavares is a product of the Toronto Marlboros youth hockey program, as is his New York rival, Nash.</i> <span class="photo-credit">(MIKE STOBE/NHLI VIA GETTY IMAGES)</span></figcaption></div><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0030-0229/150006-1-eng-US/f0030-022.jpg" title="f0030-02" width="1149" height="754"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>TAKING THE SAME PATH</b> Tavares is a product of the Toronto Marlboros youth hockey program, as is his New York rival, Nash.</figcaption></div><p>That leaves Tavares and Nash, two humble and relatively quiet guys who give Jonathan Toews a run for his &lsquo;Captain Serious&rsquo; status. Nash, who shared the joy of his first child with his wife Jessica in October, doesn&rsquo;t say much and does a good job compartmentalizing his life on and off the ice. Tavares is a little more talkative, but his approach to the game and his fastidiousness in preparing are legendary.</p><p>If there are hockey gods, let&rsquo;s hope they smile upon us and give us a Rangers-Islanders playoff series. We&rsquo;re not picky about the round, but wouldn&rsquo;t it be wonderful if they met in a seven-game clash in the last year the Islanders occupy the Coliseum? If Nash and Tavares do meet, it won&rsquo;t be the first time they&rsquo;ve gone up against one another. They&rsquo;ve been doing that in one way or another all their lives.</p><h2><b>MINOR HOCKEY MAGICIANS</b></h2><p><b>THE TORONTO MARLBOROS ARE THE OLDEST</b> and most storied youth hockey organization in the world. Since the turn of the century, more than 60 Marlboros have gone on to play in the NHL, and two of the best have been Nash and Tavares.</p><p>Tavares played three seasons for the Marlies, as a minor bantam, bantam and minor midget. He played a year ahead of his peers in each of them. He shared the ice with future NHLers Sam Gagner, Brendan Smith and Cody Goloubef on a team that in its last season went 43-0-0 down the stretch and in the playoffs. The team won city titles, going 12-0-0 in the post-season all three years &ndash; and twice were Ontario champions.</p><p>Playing as a 14-year-old in midget, Tavares had 91 goals in 72 games, four fewer than the season before playing bantam. But it was his love and dedication for the game that most impressed his coach James Naylor. &ldquo;When the kids were done practising on Saturday mornings, they&rsquo;d pack their stuff and go to Sam Gagner&rsquo;s house to play on the backyard rink,&rdquo; Naylor said. &ldquo;They&rsquo;d practice for four more hours. It was non-stop. They loved it.&rdquo;</p><p>Nash spent seven seasons for the Marlies, playing with David Clarkson on a team that won an all-Ontario title in peewee. At the Quebec peewee tournament when the Marlies were in a shootout against Edmonton, coach Keith Carrigan told Nash the Edmonton goalie was vulnerable on the fivehole and to exploit that flaw in the shootout. Nash promptly said, &ldquo;Yes, sir,&rdquo; then did exactly that and scored the winner. In his last season with the Marlboros, he had 61 goals and 115 points in 34 games. &ldquo;Rick was one of the best teammates you could ask for,&rdquo; said Richard Power, his teammate with the Marlboros who went one spot ahead of him in the 2000 OHL draft. &ldquo;He was kind of quiet but great in the dressing room. He loved being on the ice. If he could be out there for 10 hours, he&rsquo;d be out there for 10 hours. Rick could beat you down the wall and get body position and take you to the net and score, or he could come down on a 1-on-1 and make two or three moves and turn you inside out. For a big guy, that was just so rare.&rdquo;</p><h2><b>LOVED IN LONDON</b></h2><p><b>PATRICK JARRETT WAS THE FIRST OVERALL</b> pick of the 2000 OHL draft, three spots ahead of Nash, who went to the London Knights. Jarrett had a decent OHL career, but the closest he ever got to the NHL was eight games for the Manchester Monarchs in the AHL. He played this season in Germany with something called the Landshut Cannibals.</p><p>That three teams swung and missed on Nash is remarkable. The Owen Sound Attack took Power, Nash&rsquo;s teammate with the Marlies, so they would have seen Nash play a ton of hockey. But the Knights were most interested in the skinny kid who had yet to grow into his body. (Junior hockey is funny that way. Eric Staal went 13th that year.) &ldquo;Never felt so sure about a player,&rdquo; said Mark Hunter, director of player personnel with the Toronto Maple Leafs, who was in his first year as GM of the Knights. &ldquo;It&rsquo;s nice when you get a guy and go, &lsquo;God, this guy&rsquo;s going to be good.&rsquo; You just know he&rsquo;s going to be good.&rdquo;</p><p>Nash scored 138 points in two seasons before going first overall to the Blue Jackets in 2002. Seven years later, Hunter traded a king&rsquo;s ransom to get Tavares from the Oshawa Generals, giving up three players and six draft picks for Tavares, defenseman Michael Del Zotto and goalie Daryl Borden. And it was during those few months in London that Hunter saw first-hand Tavares&rsquo; drive &ndash; in addition to the 32 goals in 24 games Tavares scored at 18. &ldquo;He was really dedicated,&rdquo; Hunter said. &ldquo;That&rsquo;s what was really fascinating to watch. How young he was, but how old he acted.&rdquo;</p><p>Nash and Tavares were phenoms. Hunter knew that from the moment Nash stepped on the ice and scored a hat trick in his first pre-season game. After becoming the first player to gain exceptional player status in major junior, Tavares skated through the opposing team and scored a shorthanded goal on his first shift. He turned 15 three days prior. &ldquo;Both of them had this incredible hunger around the goal line,&rdquo; Hunter said.</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0031-0139/149999-1-eng-US/f0031-012.jpg" title="f0031-01" width="704" height="629"></div><h2><b>ON THE WORLD STAGE</b></h2><p><b>FROM THE TIME TAVARES AND NASH HAVE</b> been 17, they&rsquo;ve served their country well. Nash has represented Canada and won medals in every competition from the under-17 World Challenge to the Olympics and has three gold medals (two of them in the Olympics), two silvers and a bronze to his credit. At the 2007 worlds, Nash carried the Canadian team on his back, along with a Finnish defender, when he scored the second of his two goals in the gold-medal victory. He was named tournament MVP.</p><p>Two years later, Tavares did much the same for the Canadian team at the World Junior Championship in Ottawa, being named top forward and MVP. Tavares has two golds in WJC competition and a gold from the Sochi Olympics, where he sustained a season-ending leg injury. Overall, Tavares has played 51 games for Canada and has 36 goals and 63 points. Nash has one fewer point (32-30-62) in 66 games.</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0032-0144/149992-1-eng-US/f0032-012.jpg" title="f0032-01" width="711" height="665"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>THROUGH THICK AND THIN</b><i>Tavares remained faithful to the Islanders throughout the lean years and is finally being rewarded for it.</i></figcaption></div><h2><b>IN THE NHL</b></h2><p><b>AT THE 2015 ALL-STAR GAME IN COLUMBUS,</b> Nash and Tavares were taking turns complimenting one another on fine seasons.</p><p>Nash on Tavares: &ldquo;He&rsquo;s a franchise guy and a pretty special player.&rdquo;</p><p>Tavares on Nash: &ldquo;Rick is a great player. His consistency over his career has been tremendous. His size and skill, his speed, his hockey IQ&hellip;he&rsquo;s a big reason why the Rangers are having the season they are.&rdquo;</p><p>What would an opposing goalie rather see: Nash flying in from the wing with speed or Tavares in front of the net with the puck on his stick? &ldquo;Uh, don&rsquo;t care to see either one, to tell you the truth,&rdquo; said Chicago goalie Corey Crawford.</p><p>Nash does like to talk about the Rangers family and how much it means to him to be part of a tightly knit group. But by the time the Rangers lost Game 5 of the Cup final, things were getting a little tense in this family. Depending upon your perspective, Nash was getting his chances and wasn&rsquo;t cashing in, or the same player who spent much of his career going to the net with defenders on his back couldn&rsquo;t seem to get his own body to the net with effectiveness. Since 2009, Nash has played 61 meaningful games in two playoffs, two Olympics and a World Championship. And with just three goals in the playoffs and none in the final, the man who has a cap hit of $7.8 million has just nine goals in those games.</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0032-0229/149985-1-eng-US/f0032-022.jpg" title="f0032-02" width="712" height="817"></div><blockquote class="pullQuote"><i>THE BIGGEST THING IS MY TEAMMATES BELIEVE IN ME</i><i>&ndash; RICK NASH</i></blockquote><p>This season? Not only can you see a difference in Nash on the ice, you can see it in his face, which is thinner than it has been in years. Even though Nash says he&rsquo;s playing at the same weight, he&rsquo;s leaner, attributing that to incorporating more cardio and sprinting into his off-season conditioning regimen. He feels he owes it to the organization that gave up so much to get him and showed faith in him last spring. &ldquo;I get asked that a lot and can&rsquo;t really put my finger on one thing,&rdquo; Nash said when asked about his rebirth. &ldquo;The biggest thing is my teammates believe in me. They stood by me, the organization believed in me. Pucks are going in. My linemates have been finding me. If you watch our games, a lot of the goals are lucky.&rdquo;</p><p>Tavares is part of a family, too, and he&rsquo;s seen his share of dysfunction around that dinner table. With the exception of one season when the Isles made the playoffs in the truncated 2012-13, it has been mostly a gong show on and off the ice in Long Island. But the maturation of high draft picks and solid goaltending are turning things around. Tavares showed faith in the Islanders when he re-upped on a six-year extension that will take him through 2017-18 and pay him an average of $5.5 million, easily one of the best bargains in the NHL.</p><p>Actually, considering the past with the Islanders, Tavares went all-in with a team that hardly looked like it was going in the right direction. &ldquo;I believed in myself and being part of something to bring success back to the Islanders,&rdquo; Tavares said. &ldquo;It&rsquo;s been a long time since the Islanders have had a lot of playoff success, Stanley Cup success, and if I can be a part of something like that, it would be special.&rdquo;</p><h2><b>NEW YORK, NEW YORK</b></h2><p><b>THE PAT LAFONTAINE TROPHY MIGHT BE THE MOST OBSCURE</b> in-house championship in the world. Since 2001, the Rangers and Islanders have played for it, with the trophy going to the winner of the season series. (The loser donates $50,000 to the charity of LaFontaine&rsquo;s choice.) In the 14 years the two teams have played for the trophy, the Rangers have won it nine times, including four in a row going into this season.</p><p>Nash had bettered Tavares in his first two years in New York, but this season Tavares and the Islanders took care of business by sweeping the first three games. The Islanders took the series 3-2 and outscored them 19-12. Tavares and Nash each had three goals and an assist in the head-to-head contests.</p><p>Yes, it&rsquo;s come to this. These two teams have not met in the playoffs since 1994. You&rsquo;ll recall the Rangers were pretty good that year. They swept the Islanders in the first round and outscored them 22-3 en route to winning the Cup. That was 21 years ago, and it&rsquo;s time for a redux, don&rsquo;t you think? In the last year at the Nassau Coliseum, the NHL owes us this. For the first time in, well, forever, the Rangers and Islanders are flying high, and they&rsquo;re doing so on the strength of two of the best offensive players in the game.</p><p>We need this matchup. The NHL needs this matchup as much as Hollywood needs to answer that age-old riddle. Tavares v Nash has been a long time coming. Just like Batman v Superman. It&rsquo;s time kids everywhere got their answer.<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

f0028-01

TAVARES vs.NASH

<p><b>By Dominik Jansky of Lighthouse Hockey</b></p><div class="container"><div class="figure-block image-float"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0033-0139/150056-1-eng-US/f0033-012.jpg" title="f0033-01" width="123" height="122"></div><p>To say Rangers fans were born on third base thinking they hit a triple would be an insult to nepotism: their blue-blooded forefathers have hit one triple since 1940, and even that exhausting trip required a bunch of uncles from Edmonton to do the pinch running. Yet like an embarrassing, fumbling son whose rich father pretends he doesn&rsquo;t exist, Rangers fans boldly stagger around town with hollow bluster, as if their club has contributed anything to hockey over the past 75 years beyond bloated payrolls, retirement packages for fading stars, and miraculous job security for Glen Sather.</p><p>The Rangers are New York&rsquo;s media darlings &ndash; if being the seventhmost-popular team in one&rsquo;s home is &ldquo;darling&rdquo;-worthy &ndash; purely by virtue of geographic convenience. That all changes when their rivals bring their own superior, impressive history to Brooklyn, and media don&rsquo;t have to trudge out to Nassau to get quotes from New York&rsquo;s best player, John Tavares.</p><p>For now, Isles fans can enjoy one last hurrah in a raucous Nassau Coliseum &ndash; birthplace of the only dynasty New York will ever see, and home of the majority of New York&rsquo;s Stanley Cups since the Great Depression. Rangers fans must be content to tell themselves the new sky bridge at the sterile Madison Square Garden, the &ldquo;World&rsquo;s Most Self-Congratulatory Arena,&rdquo; is somehow worth the $1,000 tickets, the gutting of the 300s section and the loss of their soul. At least they&rsquo;ll always have Matteau&hellip;if he can still afford to get in the building.</p></div><div style="clear: both;"></div><div class="container"><div class="figure-block image-float"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0033-0231/150049-1-eng-US/f0033-022.jpg" title="f0033-02" width="127" height="126"></div><p><b>By Mike Murphy of Blueshirt Banter</b></p><p>The Islanders are giving their fans a nice treat by making the club&rsquo;s last season at the Coliseum an Irish wake instead of the cataclysmic, allconsuming funeral pyre that would&rsquo;ve been far more appropriate. Next season, the steadfast crew behind the Gorton&rsquo;s Fisherman will leave the NHL&rsquo;s second smallest arena for the new second smallest arena, in Brooklyn&hellip;where exactly zero percent of the locals admit to being a part of Long Island.</p><p>When Isles fans aren&rsquo;t standing like meerkats trying to see the action in a building that in no way was designed to host hockey games, they&rsquo;ll continue to make the hatred of the Rangers a load-bearing part of their identity and express a shameless pride when they manage to be louder than visiting Blueshirts fans in their own arena.</p><p>The Islanders will appear in the playoffs for the third time since the 2004-05 lockout, which will mercifully give their fans something to do other than call for the heads of their coach, GM and owner. Luckily for them, the team managed to add a top &lsquo;D&rsquo; pair on clearance sale before the season and trade for a goalie who didn&rsquo;t refuse to report to the club! Things sure are looking up for the Empire State&rsquo;s other team (even Buffalo knows that Buffalo doesn&rsquo;t count), which goes to show you that if you fail long and badly enough and somehow avoid being exiled to Kansas City, you might just survive to draft a Tavares and put yourself in a position to advance past the first round for the first time in 22 years. What an inspiration.</p><p>Follow the ups and downs of New York&rsquo;s teams at <b><a href="http://LIGHTHOUSEHOCKEY.COM">LIGHTHOUSEHOCKEY.COM</a> & <a href="http://BlueshirtBanter.com">BLUESHIRTBANTER.COM</a></b><span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p></div>

f0033-01

NEW YORK FANS THROW DOWN

<div class="byline">ByKen Campbell</div><div class="image-hero"><img title="f0034-01" src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0034-0144/150106-1-eng-US/f0034-012.jpg"><figcaption class="caption-body"><span class="photo-credit">(LEFT: JONATHAN KOZUB/NHLI VIA GETTY IMAGES; RIGHT: BRUCE KLUCKHOHN/NHLI VIA GETTY IMAGES)</span></figcaption></div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0035-0138/150099-1-eng-US/f0035-012.jpg" title="f0035-01" width="487" height="348"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>ON A SWIVEL</b><i>Dubnyk is using a technique called Head Trajectory developed by goalie guru Lyle Mast.</i></figcaption></div><p class="dropcap"><b><span>W</span>HAT EVERYONE IN THE HOCKEY WORLD</b> wants to know is how a goalie can go from having an .893 save percentage in the AHL less than a year ago to being the toast of the NHL. That was the question of the day for the Devan Dubnyk Road Show&trade;. So how has Dubnyk gone from being an afterthought on the Montreal Canadiens roster in last year&rsquo;s playoffs to getting himself at least into the conversation for the Hart Trophy with the Minnesota Wild?</p><p>As it turns out, it was all in his head, both literally and figuratively. Dubnyk excused himself from Montreal last spring after a season that had taken an enormous mental toll on him. After the Canadiens dispatched the Boston Bruins in the second round of the playoffs, Dubnyk asked the team if he could go back to Edmonton to be with his family. Even though Carey Price went down in the next round, he was still stuck behind Peter Budaj and Dustin Tokarski on the Canadiens depth chart. Had he thought there would be any chance he would play, Dubnyk would have stuck around. &ldquo;I thought I just had to go and be a dad,&rdquo; Dubnyk said. &ldquo;And after the season I had last year, I wanted to just hit the reset button.&rdquo;</p><p>That took care of the mental, but the literal still needed addressing. And that&rsquo;s where former NHL goalie Steve Valiquette came in. The analyst for the Madison Square Garden network and goaltending consultant introduced Dubnyk to a technique known as Head Trajectory, which is the brainchild of a man by the name of Lyle Mast, the goaltending coach for the Tri-City Americans of the WHL and a goaltending consultant for a host of NHL players and teams.</p><p>You may not have heard of Head Trajectory or Lyle Mast, but those in the goaltending community think Mast and Head Trajectory could revolutionize the position the same way the butterfly did. Mast has spent the past 13 years working with NASA engineers and eye specialists to perfect his concept and has even trademarked the term for goaltending purposes.</p><p>And Dubnyk is fully on board. He referred to Mast as &ldquo;the genius behind the idea&rdquo; and said the work he did with Valiquette, who is working with Mast, in Colorado last summer has been a big part of his success. &ldquo;I&rsquo;m just scratching the surface with it,&rdquo; Dubnyk said. &ldquo;It helps you find pucks, and it allows you to be bigger when you find angles on the puck in different spots.&rdquo;</p><p>In the future, you&rsquo;re going to hear an awful lot about &ldquo;tracking&rdquo; the puck when it comes to goalies. Basically, it means a goaltender is following the puck with his head, not just his eyes. &ldquo;But that starts with finding it,&rdquo; Dubnyk said. &ldquo;The earlier you can meet it, the easier it&rsquo;s going to be.&rdquo;</p><p>It all sounds basic enough, but Mast has put a tremendous amount of work into perfecting his method. The idea behind tracking is that once a goalie learns how to track the puck properly, it essentially enhances the abilities he uses to stop it. In the case of Dubnyk, who measures in at 6-foot-6 and 210 pounds, it allows him to use his size better and make himself even more imposing in the net. In fact, on his Optimum Reaction (OR) Sports website, Mast says the constant quality among top goalies is not style, athleticism or technical ability, but &ldquo;establishing or maintaining proper &lsquo;visual attachment&rsquo; on the puck.&rdquo; &ldquo;The way you track, you&rsquo;ll either hinder or enhance every move,&rdquo; Mast said. &ldquo;The only way really to become faster as a goaltender, to continue to advance your game is to eliminate delays in your movement. You don&rsquo;t get faster by just being a physical specimen. You get faster by eliminating delays, and they&rsquo;re either taken out or they&rsquo;re there based on how you track.&rdquo;</p><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0036-0226/150092-1-eng-US/f0036-022.jpg" title="f0036-02" width="1061" height="609"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>DOUBLE &lsquo;D&rsquo; MVP?</b><i>Dubnyk has put himself in Hart Trophy consideration with his renaissance year after a miserable 2013-14.</i> <span class="photo-credit">(GERRY THOMAS/NHLI VIA GETTY IMAGES)</span></figcaption></div><p>Think Jonathan Quick, who is coached by Bill Ranford, an early disciple of the technique. When there is traffic around him, Quick is constantly low to the ice, seemingly looking through a sea of legs to know exactly where the puck is at all times. And that allows him to use his freakish ability to move around the crease to its maximum potential.</p><p>And so it goes with Dubnyk, who took a big pay cut to sign with the Arizona Coyotes this season. By the time the Wild traded a third-round pick to get him in January, it was just a $378,000 gamble for Minnesota. Dubnyk has provided the Wild with the goaltending it has desperately needed, but those in the analytics community will say that playing for the Wild does have its advantages. After all, these guys made Ilya Bryzgalov look good last season. &ldquo;His play has certainly helped the rest of the group concentrate on their own game,&rdquo; said Wild coach Mike Yeo. &ldquo;A lot of the credit has to go to Devan without question, but a lot of the credit has to go to the game the players are playing in front of Devan as well, and he&rsquo;d be the first one to say that.&rdquo;</p><blockquote class="pullQuote"><b>AFTER THE SEASON I HAD LAST YEAR, I WANTED TO JUST HIT THE RESET BUTTON</b> &ndash; Devan Dubnyk</blockquote><p>Which should all make for an interesting negotiation this summer. The Wild will want to reward Dubnyk for his work, but he&rsquo;s also on his fifth organization in just over a year. The Coyotes pulled Mike Smith off the scrap heap, then gave him a six-year, big-money deal after an outstanding season, and it hasn&rsquo;t worked out well at all. &ldquo;We have a pretty big payroll and have a lot of big-cap guys on the team as well,&rdquo; said Wild GM Chuck Fletcher. &ldquo;So whether it&rsquo;s Devan or anybody else, we&rsquo;re going to have to be responsible with our dollars.&rdquo;</p><p>What kind of dollars Dubnyk can command in the off-season will be determined by how he plays in the playoffs. If both sides are reasonable and respectful in their demands, however, there&rsquo;s no reason to believe a deal can&rsquo;t get done.</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0036-0321/150085-1-eng-US/f0036-032.jpg" title="f0036-03" width="259" height="477"><figcaption class="caption-body"><span class="photo-credit">(BRUCE BENNETT/GETTY IMAGES)</span></figcaption></div><span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span>

f0034-01

USE YOUR HEAD NOT YOUR EYES

f0036-04

GOING WILD

<div class="byline">ByMatt Larkin</div><p class="dropcap"><b><span>F</span>ORGIVE STEVE YZERMAN. HE&rsquo;S LESS</b> impressed by his Tampa Bay Lightning than the rest of the world is. It takes more than a healthy run at the Presidents&rsquo; Trophy to elevate this GM&rsquo;s heart rate. Call it the byproduct of three Stanley Cup rings, a Conn Smythe Trophy, a Selke Trophy, a Ted Lindsay Award and three Olympic gold medals, one as a player and two as chief roster architect.</p><p>So when Yzerman learns in mid-March The Hockey News has chosen Tampa Bay as 2015 Stanley Cup champ, he doesn&rsquo;t flinch. Bigger things to worry about? More like smaller things. &ldquo;We&rsquo;re talking today, and we&rsquo;ve yet to clinch a playoff spot,&rdquo; Yzerman said. &ldquo;You might be thinking Stanley Cup. We&rsquo;re not. We&rsquo;re just trying to make the playoffs.&rdquo;</p><p>Yzerman has accomplished enough to never get ahead of himself, and the Bolts haven&rsquo;t done much yet under his watch. He was hired in 2010 and they reached Game 7 of the Eastern Conference final a year later, but that wasn&rsquo;t <i>his</i> team. He brought in aging goalie Dwayne Roloson for a Cinderella run, but most of the roster came from Jay Feaster and Brian Lawton.</p><p>The current Lightning incarnation is very much Yzerman&rsquo;s, aside from pillars Steven Stamkos and Victor Hedman, and anyone would&rsquo;ve taken those two with the first- and second-overall picks in 2008 and 2009. The Yzerman regime drafted Andrei Vasilevskiy, Jonathan Drouin, Ondrej Palat and Nikita Kucherov. It traded for Ben Bishop and Ryan Callahan. It discovered Tyler Johnson and signed Anton Stralman and Valtteri Filppula. Tampa is where it is today because of Yzerman&rsquo;s handiwork.</p><p>And Yzerman&rsquo;s Bolts aren&rsquo;t yet where he wants them to be, having lost to Montreal in four games last spring after Bishop dislocated his elbow days before the playoffs. But just because Yzerman thinks Cup talk is premature doesn&rsquo;t mean we have to agree. Instead we elect to accuse him of modesty &ndash; and build a case for Tampa Bay to win its second Stanley Cup.</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0038-0144/150178-1-eng-US/f0038-012.jpg" title="f0038-01" width="626" height="861"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>FIREPOWERED</b><i>Stamkos leads the league&rsquo;s most potent offense and top puck possession team.</i> <span class="photo-credit">(CHRISTIAN PETERSEN/GETTY IMAGES)</span></figcaption></div><blockquote class="pullQuote"><b>WE CAN BE BIGGER, WE CAN IMPROVE AND WE CAN BE A STRONGER DEFENSIVE TEAM</b> &ndash; Steve Yzerman</blockquote><h2><b><b>SUPREME FORWARD DEPTH AND FIREPOWER</b></b></h2><p>The Lightning&rsquo;s 3.24 goals per game tops the NHL by a wide margin, with second-place Dallas at 3.08. Tampa has the luxury of two first lines. Stamkos and Callahan have spent almost the entire season together, usually with Filppula, and that trio has 74 combined goals. The &ldquo;second&rdquo; line of Johnson between Nikita Kucherov and Palat is arguably the best in the sport. They&rsquo;ve tallied 69 goals and, thanks to their tremendous speed and positioning, have been as much of a force defensively as offensively. That all-world prospect Jonathan Drouin has toiled on the third line most of the year speaks volumes about Tampa&rsquo;s depth. With nine games left, nine Lightning forwards had 12 goals or more.</p><h2><b><b>VASTLY IMPROVED DEFENSE</b></b></h2><p>Trading for Jason Garrison last June brought a booming point shot into the fray. Advanced stats darling Stralman has earned every cent of his five-year, $22.5-million deal so far. And a high-risk, high-reward deadline trade sent Radko Gudas, a first-round pick and a third-round pick to Philadelphia for minutes eater Braydon Coburn. &ldquo;Our goal at the start of the year was to improve our club defensively,&rdquo; Yzerman said. &ldquo;And for the most part, up until the trade deadline, our statistics proved we were improved defensively, but we still felt that, &lsquo;You know what? We can be bigger, and we can improve again, and we can be a stronger defensive team.&rsquo; &rdquo;</p><p>Once Coburn returns from his lower-body injury, he&rsquo;ll join a group led by Hedman, who has become the elite two-way force he was projected to be. Matthew Carle is an underrated rusher. The versatile blueline blends size and puck-moving ability. The 6-foot-5, 220-pound Coburn is the third-biggest starter. Hedman clocks in at 6-foot-6 and 230. Andrej Sustr is Zdeno Chara Lite at 6-foot-7 and 220.</p><p>The Bolts got better defensively up front, too, by signing center Brian Boyle and veteran Brenden Morrow. Yzerman likes Boyle&rsquo;s 6-foot-7 frame, faceoff ability and penalty killing and said Morrow&rsquo;s leadership was a huge selling point. These Bolts are significantly tougher to play against, so much so that they resemble the Western Conference mold.</p><h2><b><b>ELITE ADVANCED STATISTICS</b></b></h2><p>The 2012 Cup champion Kings had the second-best Corsi Close in the NHL. The 2013 Hawks were second in Corsi Close behind L.A. The 2014 champion Kings? First. This season&rsquo;s top possession team? Tampa Bay.</p><p>The Stralman signing suggested the Bolts&rsquo; brass was attuned to the advanced stats movement, though Yzerman says it&rsquo;s not that simple. &ldquo;We keep our own advanced stats, if you want to call them that,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;And to really be honest with you, we&rsquo;re at a stage where we&rsquo;re trying to take all that information and figure out if it means anything. Basically, our coach has a philosophy that we&rsquo;d rather have the puck in our possession than the other team.&rdquo;</p><h2><b><b>BETTER GOALTENDING</b></b></h2><p>Tampa&rsquo;s netminders who struggled in last year&rsquo;s playoffs are history. Anders Lindback, now a Buffalo Sabre, and Kristers Gudlevskis, now the starter for AHL Syracuse, went 0-4 with a 3.91 goals-against average and .884 save percentage. This year Bishop enters the post-season healthy and will start. And if Bishop gets hurt, the best goaltending prospect in the game backs him up. Vasilevskiy is the Eastern Conference&rsquo;s answer to John Gibson. He and Bishop have no post-season experience at the highest level, but both have been outstanding in the regular season and offer no tangible reasons to expect failure.</p><h2><b>DECEPTIVE EXPERIENCE</b></h2><p>It&rsquo;s true the Bolts have just one Stanley Cup ring among them. It belongs to Filppula, who earned it with Detroit in 2008. So the Bolts&rsquo; lack of championship experience is an obvious knock. &ldquo;There&rsquo;s nothing we can do about the fact we only have one player that&rsquo;s won the Stanley Cup,&rdquo;Yzerman said.</p><p>Every team has to start somewhere, however. The 2010 Hawks had one Cup champ on their roster: 36-year-old John Madden, who averaged 11 minutes per game. So maybe experience is overrated. And the Lightning have their own version of big-game mileage. Coach Jon Cooper guided Tampa&rsquo;s AHL af..iliate, then the Norfolk Admirals, to a Calder Cup in 2012. They won 28 straight games that year. Current Bolts from that team: Johnson, Palat, Mark Barberio and Alexander Killorn.</p><p>Spread out all the evidence and the verdict points to Tampa Bay. The supreme depth says so. The obvious roster improvements say so. And this team e..ually satis..ies the stat geeks who favor possession and the traditionalists who just care about goals. The Bolts have the NHL right where they want it, even if Stevie Y doesn&rsquo;t want anyone to know that.</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0039-0318/150171-1-eng-US/f0039-032.jpg" title="f0039-03" width="622" height="413"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>&lsquo;SECOND&rsquo; LINE</b><i>The Johnson, Kucherov, Palat unit is so good, it would be many other teams&rsquo; top trio.</i> <span class="photo-credit">(BOTH: SCOTT AUDETTE/NHLI VIA GETTY IMAGES)</span></figcaption><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0039-0417/150164-1-eng-US/f0039-042.jpg" title="f0039-04" width="231" height="443"></div><span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span>

f0038-01

CASE CLOSED

<p class="dropcap"><i><span>T</span>he Flames are this year&rsquo;s &ldquo;luckiest&rdquo; team, boasting the No. 2 shooting percentage in the league yet ranking near the bottom in Corsi Close. They generate few chances but score a lot anyway. The unlucky Kings get chances galore but struggle to score. The league&rsquo;s best shooting team? The Lightning. Not only do they create the most chances, they convert the most, too.</i></p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0039-0513/150207-1-eng-US/f0039-052.jpg" title="f0039-05" width="831" height="284"></div><span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span>

f0039-05

PUCK LUCK

<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0040-0226/150243-1-eng-US/f0040-022.jpg" title="f0040-02" width="507" height="650"><figcaption class="caption-body">DREW <b>DOUGHTY</b></figcaption></div><h2><b>CUP RUN 2015</b></h2><p class="dropcap"><span>I</span>t's the pinnacle of hockey parity. Half a dozen teams contended for the NHL's best record into April. That makes for difficult playoff predictions.</p><p>We're here to help on the pages that follow. Ken Campbell, Brian Costello, Ryan Kennedy and Matt Larkin break down what you need to know about the Stanley Cup hopefuls, including how they win and lose. Team pages also feature depth charts with line combinations. We only list injured players not ruled out for the year.</p><p>Our team statistics cover offense, defense, special teams and "clutch" play, with league ranks listed below each. We've also branched out to possession numbers. SAT Close, a.k.a. Corsi Close, measures shots directed at opposing nets, including those that are blocked and miss the net, during 5-on-5 play of games tied or within one goal in the first or second period or tied in the third.</p><p>Lastly, who receives the Cup first from his captain after winning it all? We choose our sentimental favorites.</p><h2><b>BETWEEN THE PIPES <b>With Jamie McLennan</b></b></h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0040-0317/150236-1-eng-US/f0040-032.jpg" title="f0040-03" width="164" height="164"></div><p><b>Jamie McLennan</b>, who played 11 seasons in the NHL before becoming an analyst with TSN, provides unique and in-depth insight on the goalie(s) for each potential playoff squad.</p><h2><b>FANTASY ZONE</b></h2><p>We identify the 10 best players and No. 1 goalie to draft in playoff pools from each team. Star ratings factor in (a) skill/production; (b) how far we expect their teams to go; and (c) health. Injured players with the possibility of returning are noted with red crosses.<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

f0040-02

PLAYOFF PREVIEW

<p class="dropcap"><span>T</span>HN's ranking factors in performance to date and projected path to the final &ndash; think of it as a list of who we like best to win it all. Bodog lays down the betting odds.</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0040-0416/150279-1-eng-US/f0040-042.jpg" title="f0040-04" width="263" height="101"><figcaption class="caption-body"><span class="photo-credit">(DOUGHTY: BRUCE BENNETT/GETTY IMAGES)</span></figcaption><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0040-0514/150272-1-eng-US/f0040-052.jpg" title="f0040-05" width="323" height="794"></div><span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span>

f0040-04

CUP RANKINGS Brought to you by bodog.net

<p>7TH <b>THN' S</b> POWER RANKING</p><h2><b>HOW THEY WIN</b></h2><p>Though it may sound counterintuitive, the Ducks win when players other than Ryan Getzlaf and Corey Perry are scoring. That's because it's a given the dynamic duo will produce with regularity. But it takes more than two prolific offensive players to win against the big boys of the NHL. That's what cost Anaheim in the second round against Los Angeles last spring &ndash; a lack of balanced scoring. The addition of Ryan Kesler is a big boost to the second line and Matt Beleskey moved north of 20 goals for the first time, though 12 of them came in the first 26 games of the season.</p><p>Anaheim has one of the youngest, most mobile bluelines in the league, led by Cam Fowler, Sami Vatanen and Hampus Lindholm. They're adept at moving the puck efficiently and are crafty in the offensive zone. They're also underrated defensively, as is veteran Francois Beauchemin.</p><h2><b>HOW THEY LOSE</b></h2><p>Make a list of the top 10 goalies you'd want in a sevengame championship series and, dollars to donuts, Frederik Andersen and John Gibson won't be mentioned. That's not to say the two young stoppers are doomed to let the Ducks down this spring. Just saying it's one area where the team is vulnerable. Andersen and Gibson haven't been as strong as they were last year when they made Jonas Hiller and Viktor Fasth expendable.</p><p>The Kings executed on a plan last playoffs to limit the chances Getzlaf and Perry got, and it worked. Both are still going to get some shots through, but limit their numbers and you're locked in a low-scoring game. Post-season opponents are bound to play a heavy game against Kesler and try to wear him down. The Ducks have several skilled forwards who tend to go missing when the traffic gets heavy. That has to change in April and May.</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0042-0228/150343-1-eng-US/f0042-022.jpg" title="f0042-02" width="375" height="580"><figcaption class="caption-body">RYAN <b>GETZLAF</b></figcaption></div><div class="container"><div class="figure-block image-float"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0042-0320/150336-1-eng-US/f0042-032.jpg" title="f0042-03" width="58" height="102"></div></div><div style="clear: both;"></div><h2><b>1ST CUP PASS</b></h2><p><i>Ryan Getzlaf will surely pass it to partner in crime</i><b><i>Corey Perry</i></b><i>, even though they both won it in 2007. Next up: Francois Beauchemin and Ryan Kesler.</i></p><h2><b>BETWEEN THE PIPES <b>With Jamie McLennan</b></b></h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0042-0416/150329-1-eng-US/f0042-042.jpg" title="f0042-04" width="184" height="225"></div><p>I have to think <b>Frederik Andersen</b> will be the Ducks' choice in net come playoff time, but you can't be completely sure it won't be rookie John Gibson. Andersen began the season really well but then wore down somewhat. He's a big guy &ndash; 236 pounds &ndash; and he plays at the top of his crease. There's not a lot of net he gives you, and he's got athleticism and aggressiveness on his side. Whoever is in Anaheim's net will also have to adjust to a relatively new defense corps following the Ducks' deadline deals. Getting accustomed to new teammates' tendencies is important for any goaltender.</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0042-0514/150322-1-eng-US/f0042-052.jpg" title="f0042-05" width="346" height="243"></div><h2><b>STAT CRUNCH</b></h2><p><b>10-10</b></p><p><i>Playoff record past 3 seasons</i></p><p><b>3</b></p><p><i>Players with Cup rings</i></p><p><b>549</b></p><p><i>Total games of playoff experience</i></p><p><b>GOALS PER GAME 2.81</b></p><p><b>11</b></p><p><b>GOALS AGAINST PER GAME 2.72</b></p><p><b>20</b></p><p><b>PP/PK TOTAL % 97.4</b></p><p><b>25</b></p><p><b>1-GOAL GAME WIN % .784</b></p><p><b>1</b></p><p><b>SAT % CLOSE 50.29</b></p><p><b>19</b></p><h2><b>FANTASY ZONE</b></h2><div class="container"><div class="figure-block image-float"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0042-0612/150315-1-eng-US/f0042-062.jpg" title="f0042-06" width="117" height="126"></div><p><b>Frederik Andersen</b> has been a nice source of counting stats for the Ducks but carries some playoff red flags. Injuries slowed him in February, he slumped upon his March return, and coach Bruce Boudreau has a strong fallback in John Gibson. Both goalies saw action in last year's playoffs, and it could happen again.</p></div><div style="clear: both;"></div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0042-0711/150308-1-eng-US/f0042-072.jpg" title="f0042-07" width="788" height="293"><figcaption class="caption-body"><span class="photo-credit">(GETZLAF: ANDY DEVLIN/NHLI VIA GETTY IMAGES; ANDERSEN: MARKO DITKUN/NHLI VIA GETTY IMAGES)</span></figcaption></div><span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span>

f0042-02

ANAHEIM DUCKS

<p>16TH <b>THN' S</b> POWER RANKING</p><h2><b>HOW THEY WIN</b></h2><p>The Bruins are at their best when they score early in the game, preferably in the first half of the first period, then grind out a victory behind a strong team concept and the goaltending of Tuukka Rask.</p><p>During a stretch in early March, the Bruins scored the first goal in 11 straight games and went 8-2-1 to stay above the playoff bubble. They have a huge advantage when it comes to experience in important games and a defensive unit that bends but doesn't break.</p><p>Coach Claude Julien knows he has personnel that has seen every possible scenario in the playoffs and persevered. He leans on that core heavily. David Krejci has had a miserable season, but he has proved to be a playoff gem and Patrice Bergeron's exemplary two-way play doesn't get enough attention, particularly his contributions on the offensive side of the puck.</p><h2><b>HOW THEY LOSE</b></h2><p>They play Montreal. Not only are the Canadiens in the Bruins heads from both a recent and ancient history standpoint, they represent the kind of team that gives Boston the most trouble. The Bruins simply can't handle teams that have a lot of speed and transition from offense to defense quickly. Reliable but older defensemen Zdeno Chara and Dennis Seidenberg have all sorts of trouble with forwards who have the speed and skill to beat them outside.</p><p>Boston also tends to rest on its laurels a bit, and it doesn't help that Julien is stubbornly insistent on playing the same veterans together despite their lack of recent success. At times it appears as though the Bruins have a sense everything will be all right, that their experience and talent will see them through, and they go through stretches where there isn't a sense of urgency.</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0043-0223/150407-1-eng-US/f0043-022.jpg" title="f0043-02" width="348" height="594"><figcaption class="caption-body">PATRICE <b>BERGERON</b></figcaption></div><div class="container"><div class="figure-block image-float"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0043-0316/150400-1-eng-US/f0043-032.jpg" title="f0043-03" width="61" height="102"></div></div><div style="clear: both;"></div><h2><b>1ST CUP PASS</b></h2><p><i>It would be nice to see a foot soldier like</i><b><i>Gregory Campbell</i></b><i>get his hands on the Cup first. He won in 2011 but missed the 2013 final with a broken leg.</i></p><h2><b>BETWEEN THE PIPES <b>With Jamie McLennan</b></b></h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0043-0414/150393-1-eng-US/f0043-042.jpg" title="f0043-04" width="343" height="237"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0043-0511/150386-1-eng-US/f0043-052.jpg" title="f0043-05" width="239" height="234"></div><p>The only knock on <b>Tuukka Rask</b> is he has to learn to control his emotions. He's a proven winner and although he's not having his best season, the Bruins aren't either, and his numbers prove he's still an elite goalie. For a guy who usually has that famous Finnish laid-back temperament, however, Rask gets fiery. Don't get me wrong, they all do &ndash; but Rask has worn his emotions a little bit too much this year, and that's when opposing teams will smell blood. If you can rattle him mentally, you're going to get more opportunities to score than you would if he's under control.</p><h2><b>STAT CRUNCH</b></h2><p><b>GOALS PER GAME 2.60</b></p><p><b>19</b></p><p><b>GOALS AGAINST PER GAME 2.48</b></p><p><b>10</b></p><p>PP/PK TOTAL % <b>99.6</b></p><p><b>19</b></p><p><b>1-GOAL GAME WIN % .417</b></p><p><b>22</b></p><p><b>SAT % CLOSE 52.66</b></p><p><b>7</b></p><p><b>24-17</b></p><p><i>Playoff record past 3 seasons</i></p><p><b>13</b></p><p><i>Players with Cup rings</i></p><p><b>1,126</b></p><p><i>Total games of playoff experience</i></p><h2><b>FANTASY ZONE</b></h2><div class="container"><div class="figure-block image-float"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0043-0610/150379-1-eng-US/f0043-062.jpg" title="f0043-06" width="115" height="126"></div><p><b>David Krejci</b> isn't a fantasy gem if you apply the what-have-youdone-for-me-lately rule to playoff drafts. He's usually a popular choice because he elevates his game in the post-season, but he struggled last year, and he's returning from a knee injury this spring. He remains highly draftable &ndash; if you get a discount.</p></div><div style="clear: both;"></div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0043-079/150372-1-eng-US/f0043-072.jpg" title="f0043-07" width="788" height="293"><figcaption class="caption-body"><span class="photo-credit">(BERGERON: GRAIG ABEL/NHLI VIA GETTY IMAGES; RASK: JEFF VINNICK/NHLI VIA GETTY IMAGES)</span></figcaption></div><span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span>

f0043-02

BOSTON BRUINS

<p>4TH <b>THN' S</b> POWER RANKING</p><h2><b>HOW THEY WIN</b></h2><p>The uber-experienced Blackhawks are loaded with multi-championship players, from Jonathan Toews to Marian Hossa, and the majority of their 2013 Stanley Cup roster is intact. They don't panic under pressure, as they showed last year rallying from a 2-0 series deficit in the first round to knock out St. Louis.</p><p>Chicago keeps teams off the scoresheet so well because its deep D-corps, led by Duncan Keith and Brent Seabrook, pushes play toward the other team's net. The Hawks crack the NHL's top three in Corsi Close a third straight season. Goaltender Corey Crawford only has to be good and not great.</p><p>The Hawks score a lot at even strength because of their tremendous depth. One of Antoine Vermette and Brad Richards is the <i>third-line</i> center for the playoffs. Coach Joel Quenneville can deploy championshipcaliber checkers Andrew Shaw and Marcus Kruger as low as the fourth line.</p><h2><b>HOW THEY LOSE</b></h2><p>Note the conspicuous absence of superstar Patrick Kane in the &ldquo;how they win&rdquo; section. He's out with a broken collarbone, slated to return in mid-to-late May. That means Chicago must win two playoff series without No. 88 to have any shot at his services, and there's no guarantee he's healed by then.</p><p>Not only is Kane one of the league's elite offensive weapons, but his elite stickhandling and skating also help him diffuse opposing attacks because he can carry the puck out of trouble. Chicago's power play also runs through Kane and really struggled down the stretch without him. The Hawks minus Kane simply aren't the same team. Losing him puts pressure on captain Toews to score more. He's gifted offensively but gives away 10 or 15 points a year for the sake of his two-way game. Toews must perform more like a high-end point producer until Kane returns.</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0045-0229/150535-1-eng-US/f0045-022.jpg" title="f0045-02" width="394" height="567"><figcaption class="caption-body">JONATHAN <b>TOEWS</b></figcaption></div><div class="container"><div class="figure-block image-float"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0045-0320/150528-1-eng-US/f0045-032.jpg" title="f0045-03" width="58" height="102"></div></div><div style="clear: both;"></div><h2><b>1ST CUP PASS</b></h2><p><b><i>Kimmo Timonen</i></b><i>is 40 and in his 16th season, waiting for his first Cup. He's also lucky to be on the ice after blood clots almost ended his career this season.</i></p><h2><b>BETWEEN THE PIPES <b>With Jamie McLennan</b></b></h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0045-0413/150521-1-eng-US/f0045-042.jpg" title="f0045-04" width="341" height="239"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0045-0510/150514-1-eng-US/f0045-052.jpg" title="f0045-05" width="212" height="233"></div><p><b>Corey Crawford</b> is a battler. Sometimes he'll make a really ugly save, but it's because he'll throw everything he's got at it. If he's making a side-to-side save that maybe most goalies stop with their right pad, Crawford's whole body will be there instead of the pad. He just doesn't give up on shots, and his Hawks teammates love him because they know he wants to be a difference-maker and isn't afraid to play. The only thing he gets into trouble with sometimes is his rebounds. He'll make the first save, but it's the readjustment that's an issue.</p><h2><b>STAT CRUNCH</b></h2><p><b>GOALS PER GAME 2.73</b></p><p><b>15</b></p><p><b>GOALS AGAINST PER GAME 2.24</b></p><p><b>3</b></p><p><b>PP/PK TOTAL % 103.5</b></p><p>6</p><p><b>1-GOAL GAME WIN % .571</b></p><p>8</p><p><b>SAT % CLOSE 52.75</b></p><p>6</p><p><b>29-19</b></p><p><i>Playoff record past 3 seasons</i></p><p><b>16</b></p><p><i>Players with Cup rings</i></p><p><b>1,559</b></p><p><i>Total games of playoff experience</i></p><h2><b>FANTASY ZONE</b></h2><div class="container"><div class="figure-block image-float"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0045-069/150507-1-eng-US/f0045-062.jpg" title="f0045-06" width="113" height="127"></div><p><b>Patrick Kane</b> is the ultimate boom-bust pick. If you believe Chicago will still be alive when he returns from his broken collarbone, he can produce in one or two rounds what many do in a full post-season. Remember, though, you can only draft him if you predict Chicago reaches the Western Conference final and beyond.</p></div><div style="clear: both;"></div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0045-079/150500-1-eng-US/f0045-072.jpg" title="f0045-07" width="788" height="293"><figcaption class="caption-body"><span class="photo-credit">(TOEWS: GRAIG ABEL/NHLI VIA GETTY IMAGES; CRAWFORD: BILL SMITH/NHLI VIA GETTY IMAGES)</span></figcaption></div><span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span>

f0045-02

CHICAGO BLACKHAWKS

<p>8TH <b>THN' S</b> POWER RANKING</p><h2><b>HOW THEY WIN</b></h2><p>Prior to the season, Detroit GM Ken Holland said that if the Red Wings could get anything resembling full seasons out of Pavel Datsyuk and Henrik Zetterberg and their goaltending held up, they would be fine. All those things have happened and the Red Wings have been much more than fine.</p><p>When Detroit is healthy, it has a ton of depth in the form of four strong lines that can play in any situation and adapt to almost any style of game. Tomas Tatar and Gustav Nyquist are right there with Datsyuk and Zetterberg when it comes to offensive contributions, and they give the Red Wings danger and depth in scoring.</p><p>Whether it's Jimmy Howard or Jonas Gustavsson or Petr Mrazek, they have the kind of goaltending that is very good and can sometimes be great. They can be sure it won't be a negative deciding factor in a playoff series.</p><h2><b>HOW THEY LOSE</b></h2><p>It's surprising to say this about a Mike Babcockcoached team that has such great leadership, but the Red Wings really seem to lose their way for extended periods of time. There are games when they simply don't look prepared to play and they get down early and stay down.</p><p>Datsyuk missed a Florida road trip late in the season with a lower-body injury and, at this stage of his career, longer-term injuries are always a factor. Detroit's strength is in numbers: when they have everyone healthy, they're confident and efficient with the puck and difficult to beat. But it seems if one of those dominos falls, particularly at forward, it causes havoc through their lineup &ndash; once the line juggling begins, it seems to throw the entire team out of sync.</p><p>The Red Wings also go long stretches where they don't produce enough offense to win games.</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0046-0234/150599-1-eng-US/f0046-022.jpg" title="f0046-02" width="370" height="573"><figcaption class="caption-body">TOMAS <b>TATAR</b></figcaption></div><div class="container"><div class="figure-block image-float"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0046-0319/150592-1-eng-US/f0046-032.jpg" title="f0046-03" width="59" height="102"></div></div><div style="clear: both;"></div><h2><b>1ST CUP PASS</b></h2><p><b><i>Stephen Weiss</i></b><i>, who was a very good player for a long time on some pretty bad Florida teams, has the most tenure of any Red Wing without winning a Cup.</i></p><h2><b>BETWEEN THE PIPES <b>With Jamie McLennan</b></b></h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0046-0417/150585-1-eng-US/f0046-042.jpg" title="f0046-04" width="200" height="228"></div><p>The Red Wings have used four different goalies this season, but I still think <b>Jimmy Howard</b> is going to be their guy. Petr Mrazek and Jonas Gustavsson have performed well when called upon, but Howard was having a great season before he got injured, and now the challenge for him is to get back to that form for the post-season. There's nothing Howard does that's spectacular, but he does a lot of things well and is a stable force. Sometimes, around the net, he tends to lose the puck a little bit in his feet or in his butterfly.</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0046-0514/150578-1-eng-US/f0046-052.jpg" title="f0046-05" width="346" height="242"></div><h2><b>STAT CRUNCH</b></h2><p><b>9-15</b></p><p><i>Playoff record past 3 seasons</i></p><p><b>8</b></p><p><i>Players with Cup rings</i></p><p><b>1,118</b></p><p><i>Total games of playoff experience</i></p><p><b>GOALS PER GAME 2.83</b></p><p><b>10</b></p><p><b>GOALS AGAINST PER GAME 2.55</b></p><p><b>13</b></p><p><b>PP/PK TOTAL % 106.4</b></p><p><b>1</b></p><p><b>1-GOAL GAME WIN % .545</b></p><p><b>10</b></p><p><b>SAT % CLOSE 56.52</b></p><p><b>2</b></p><h2><b>FANTASY ZONE</b></h2><div class="container"><div class="figure-block image-float"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0046-0612/150571-1-eng-US/f0046-062.jpg" title="f0046-06" width="114" height="121"></div><p>Detroit acquired D-man <b>Marek Zidlicky</b> for a reason. He's a power play specialist with a big shot. GM Ken Holland brought Zidlicky over from New Jersey to give him a significant offensive role, so fantasy players should expect a solid contribution from him. He logs more than two minutes of PP time per game.</p></div><div style="clear: both;"></div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0046-0711/150564-1-eng-US/f0046-072.jpg" title="f0046-07" width="788" height="293"><figcaption class="caption-body"><span class="photo-credit">(TATAR: GRAIG ABEL/NHLI VIA GETTY IMAGES; HOWARD: DAVE REGINEK/NHLI VIA GETTY IMAGES)</span></figcaption></div><span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span>

f0046-02

DETROIT RED WINGS

<p>19TH <b>THN' S</b> POWER RANKING</p><h2><b>HOW THEY WIN</b></h2><p>The Panthers epitomize the triumph of the collective over the individual. At their best they play a flawless team game, executing disciplined defense in their own end and using their speed and youthful vigor to be a relentless opponent. Young D-man Aaron Ekblad is way ahead of schedule and forwards Jonathan Huberdeau, Nick Bjugstad and Aleksander Barkov get better by the day.</p><p>The Panthers clearly don't have a problem playing in close contests. By late March they had 23 games decided by overtime or the shootout. Of their first 34 wins, just two came in games in which they allowed more than three goals.</p><p>Veteran Roberto Luongo has quietly been a rock for Florida this season and last, posting some of the best save percentage marks of his career. If he keeps things close, and he usually can, the Panthers will hang around long enough to win games.</p><h2><b>HOW THEY LOSE</b></h2><p>That triumph of the collective has a serious downside in that the Panthers don't have anyone they can count on to be a game breaker. They boasted no one remotely close to the league's scoring leaders. They would almost certainly be the lowest-scoring team in the playoff tournament and might struggle to generate offense at a time during the season when the checking gets even closer and fewer calls are made.</p><p>Special teams are also a problem. Late in the season their power play was 28th and their penalty killing 22nd. If you combine the marks it would be the worst in the league among playoff teams. The Panthers spent much of the season on the outside of the playoff picture looking in. You get a sense they would be just happy to be there and are looking toward the future, which does not bode well for the present in the post-season.</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0047-0233/150663-1-eng-US/f0047-022.jpg" title="f0047-02" width="395" height="573"><figcaption class="caption-body">AARON <b>EKBLAD</b></figcaption></div><div class="container"><div class="figure-block image-float"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0047-0324/150656-1-eng-US/f0047-032.jpg" title="f0047-03" width="59" height="102"></div></div><div style="clear: both;"></div><h2><b>1ST CUP PASS</b></h2><p><i>Given what he has done for the franchise and the fact he has not won a Cup,</i><b><i>Roberto Luongo</i></b><i>would likely receive the first pass from captain Willie Mitchell.</i></p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0047-0422/150649-1-eng-US/f0047-042.jpg" title="f0047-04" width="349" height="238"></div><h2><b>BETWEEN THE PIPES <b>With Jamie McLennan</b></b></h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0047-0516/150642-1-eng-US/f0047-052.jpg" title="f0047-05" width="291" height="230"></div><p><b>Roberto Luongo</b> is quietly having a great season for the Panthers. The one thing I think he's done a really good job on this year is his post play. In previous seasons, we'd be seeing some bad-angle goals go in on him because he's a big athlete who had some holes when he came off the post, but he's really shored that up. He's been very efficient in his movement and that most likely comes from experience and confidence. I think Luongo has really worked hard at it, and he uses his size to his advantage now.</p><h2><b>STAT CRUNCH</b></h2><p><b>GOALS PER GAME 2.35</b></p><p><b>25</b></p><p><b>GOALS AGAINST PER GAME 2.60</b></p><p><b>16</b></p><p><b>PP/PK TOTAL % 95.5</b></p><p><b>28</b></p><p><b>1-GOAL GAME WIN % .477</b></p><p><b>16</b></p><p><b>SAT % CLOSE 50.92</b></p><p><b>15</b></p><p><b>3-4</b></p><p><i>Playoff record past 3 seasons</i></p><p><b>6</b></p><p><i>Players with Cup rings</i></p><p><b>777</b></p><p><i>Total games of playoff experience</i></p><h2><b>FANTASY ZONE</b></h2><div class="container"><div class="figure-block image-float"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0047-0613/150635-1-eng-US/f0047-062.jpg" title="f0047-06" width="113" height="124"></div><p>A trade put <b>Jaromir Jagr</b> on the Panthers' second line with Jonathan Huberdeau and Aleksander Barkov. The trio has fit well together, producing like a de facto No. 1 unit. This team won't go far if it can squeak into the post-season, but you could do a lot worse than using your last pick on one of the revamped second-liners.</p></div><div style="clear: both;"></div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0047-0710/150628-1-eng-US/f0047-072.jpg" title="f0047-07" width="788" height="293"><figcaption class="caption-body"><span class="photo-credit">(EKBLAD: JARED SILBER/NHLI VIA GETTY IMAGES; LUONGO: ELIOT J. SCHECHTER/NHLI VIA GETTY IMAGES)</span></figcaption></div><span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span>

f0047-02

FLORIDA PANTHERS

<p>6TH <b>THN' S</b> POWER RANKING</p><h2><b>HOW THEY WIN</b></h2><p>The Kings must love the summer solstice. They play their best hockey as the days get longer. Has to be all the Vitamin D they get from the sunny spring days in California. Los Angeles is one of the league's best possession teams and is relentless when it comes to directing shots at the opposition. The Kings will lead the league in SAT (net shot attempts) a fourth consecutive season. They're big, they're strong and they're fast. Los Angeles is equally comfortable dominating the offensive zone on the cycle or with pinpoint passing. And no one in the game moves the puck up ice better than Drew Doughty.</p><p>The Kings excel at playing a style that wears on the opposition over time. Face them once and you might beat them. But face them in a seven-game series and know you're going to get punished physically by a heavy lineup. And there's no better goalie in a crucial game than Jonathan Quick.</p><h2><b>HOW THEY LOSE</b></h2><p>You have to be a tireless defensive team to shut down two dominating centers in Anze Kopitar and Jeff Carter. But teams able to limit their chances increase their odds. Even though the Kings dominate at a possession game, they're not all that good at converting so many chances. L.A. is in the bottom third of the league in goals scored the past five seasons. But the Kings are among the top few teams in allowing the fewest goals. So maybe your best bet to get past Los Angeles is attempting a run-and-gun style, which is generally how a good chunk of the early regular season is played &ndash; a time when the Kings struggle.</p><p>You need exceptional goaltending to put the Kings back on their heels. They're so strong at playing with a lead that often one or two goals is enough. Remember, the two years Los Angeles won the Stanley Cup? It ranked 29th and 26th in goals per game.</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0048-0234/150727-1-eng-US/f0048-022.jpg" title="f0048-02" width="377" height="557"><figcaption class="caption-body">ANZE <b>KOPITAR</b></figcaption></div><div class="container"><div class="figure-block image-float"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0048-0326/150720-1-eng-US/f0048-032.jpg" title="f0048-03" width="63" height="102"></div></div><div style="clear: both;"></div><h2><b>1ST CUP PASS</b></h2><p><i>Captain Dustin Brown has twice received the Cup. There's little turnover on the roster so maybe this time he hands it to veteran newcomer</i><b><i>Andrej Sekera</i></b><i>.</i></p><h2><b>BETWEEN THE PIPES <b>With Jamie McLennan</b></b></h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0048-0422/150713-1-eng-US/f0048-042.jpg" title="f0048-04" width="254" height="224"></div><p><b>Jonathan Quick</b> is straight agility, and if there's one thing he does as well as anyone, it's tracking the puck. He fights through screens, and he's constantly working to find the puck. He's the best at finding it and at watching it come into his equipment. And then he has the ability, the foot speed and the flexibility to make a save. Sometimes Quick will get out of position because he's overaggressive or he's so strong in pushing, but his athleticism bails him out more often than not, and he's able to return to where he should be.</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0048-0517/150706-1-eng-US/f0048-052.jpg" title="f0048-05" width="344" height="240"></div><h2><b>STAT CRUNCH</b></h2><p><b>41-23</b></p><p><i>Playoff record past 3 seasons</i></p><p><b>20</b></p><p><i>Players with Cup rings</i></p><p><b>1,293</b></p><p><i>Total games of playoff experience</i></p><p><b>GOALS PER GAME 2.63</b></p><p><b>18</b></p><p><b>GOALS AGAINST PER GAME 2.42</b></p><p><b>8</b></p><p><b>PP/PK TOTAL % 100.4</b></p><p><b>14</b></p><p><b>1-GOAL GAME WIN % .343</b></p><p><b>29</b></p><p><b>SAT % CLOSE 54.11</b></p><p><b>3</b></p><h2><b>FANTASY ZONE</b></h2><div class="container"><div class="figure-block image-float"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0048-0614/150699-1-eng-US/f0048-062.jpg" title="f0048-06" width="114" height="122"></div><p><b>Anze Kopitar</b> started 2014-15 slowly but quietly had 41 points in 41 games after December arrived. His overall numbers appear disappointing and could make him a discount pick in playoff drafts. Justin Williams is known for his spring heroics, but Kopitar is the best bet among the Kings for highend point production.</p></div><div style="clear: both;"></div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0048-0711/150692-1-eng-US/f0048-072.jpg" title="f0048-07" width="788" height="293"><figcaption class="caption-body"><span class="photo-credit">(KOPITAR: ANDRE RINGUETTE/NHLI VIA GETTY IMAGES; QUICK: BILL WIPPERT/NHLI VIA GETTY IMAGES)</span></figcaption></div><span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span>

f0048-02

LOS ANGELES KINGS

<p>10TH <b>THN' S</b> POWER RANKING</p><h2><b>HOW THEY WIN</b></h2><p>Strong drafting and development, coupled with an aggressive slew of signings and trades, have made Minnesota one of the NHL's deeper teams at forward. The Wild throw offense at opponents via Zach Parise, Jason Pominville, Mikael Granlund and Thomas Vanek. They also have good brawn on the wings thanks to Nino Niederreiter, Charlie Coyle and freshly acquired Chris Stewart. This team won't be pushed around. The Wild get strong two-way play from a trio of Finns whose games are tailored to the grinding playoff style: Mikko Koivu, Erik Haula and Sean Bergenheim.</p><p>Ryan Suter gives Minnesota 30 minutes of impeccable blueline play per night. The Wild have also gotten surprising offensive contributions from Marco Scandella and youngster Mathew Dumba. Ultimately, winning comes down to Devan Dubnyk. Minnesota's climb from outside to inside the playoffs correlates directly to his meteoric rise.</p><h2><b>HOW THEY LOSE</b></h2><p>The Wild's dependence on Dubnyk suggests they're a house of cards. What happens if he regresses under newfound pressure? He has 0.0 playoff games under his belt. In fact, Dubnyk's last post-season game was in 2007 with the ECHL's Stockton Thunder. He only played 10 playoff games in major junior, too. Dubnyk has almost no playoff experience since he hit puberty.</p><p>Until or unless Dumba and Jonas Brodin mature into stars, Minnesota has a collection of No. 4 and No. 5 types on defense to complement Suter. The Wild have one of the shallowest bluelines among playoff qualifiers. They also lack a deadly offensive weapon after Parise. Vanek's production has tanked since he arrived last summer as a free agent, and Granlund hasn't broken out like he was expected to. The Wild are packed with 20-goal types but lack that 40-goal monster to make opponents sweat.</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0049-0235/150791-1-eng-US/f0049-022.jpg" title="f0049-02" width="363" height="576"><figcaption class="caption-body">RYAN <b>SUTER</b></figcaption></div><div class="container"><div class="figure-block image-float"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0049-0326/150784-1-eng-US/f0049-032.jpg" title="f0049-03" width="59" height="102"></div></div><div style="clear: both;"></div><h2><b>1ST CUP PASS</b></h2><p><i>It's been a tough winter for</i><b><i>Zach Parise</i></b><i>, who lost his father, former NHLer J-P, to lung cancer. That makes Zach a heartfelt choice to receive the Holy Grail first.</i></p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0049-0424/150777-1-eng-US/f0049-042.jpg" title="f0049-04" width="349" height="238"></div><h2><b>BETWEEN THE PIPES <b>With Jamie McLennan</b></b></h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0049-0519/150770-1-eng-US/f0049-052.jpg" title="f0049-05" width="239" height="233"></div><p><b>Devan Dubnyk</b> has played a slightly deeper and more efficient game, and I think that's a Sean Burke thing from Dubnyk's time in Arizona. It allows him to get ahead of the play rather than chase the puck. Dubnyk plays a big game now, and that's changed, too. With the Wild, he plays like his real height (6-foot-6), but with Edmonton, he played like he was 5-foot-10. And Minnesota doesn't allow a lot of East-West play. It keeps everything to the outside and in front of the goaltender, which allows him to be aggressive.</p><h2><b>STAT CRUNCH</b></h2><p><b>GOALS PER GAME 2.83</b></p><p><b>9</b></p><p><b>GOALS AGAINST PER GAME 2.49</b></p><p><b>11</b></p><p>PP/PK TOTAL % 101.8</p><p><b>8</b></p><p><b>1-GOAL GAME WIN % .500</b></p><p><b>13</b></p><p><b>SAT % CLOSE 52.10</b></p><p><b>8</b></p><p><b>7-11</b></p><p><i>Playoff record past 3 seasons</i></p><p><b>1</b></p><p><i>Players with Cup rings</i></p><p><b>725</b></p><p><i>Total games of playoff experience</i></p><h2><b>FANTASY ZONE</b></h2><div class="container"><div class="figure-block image-float"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0049-0615/150763-1-eng-US/f0049-062.jpg" title="f0049-06" width="117" height="121"></div><p><b>Mikael Granlund</b> didn't deliver on his breakout hype this season. He still centers a scoring line in Minnesota, however, and he's been much better in the second half. He also flashed some scoring ability in the 2013-14 playoffs. The Wild have sneaky potential as a whole, so consider Granlund a sleeper playing for a sleeper.</p></div><div style="clear: both;"></div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0049-0711/150756-1-eng-US/f0049-072.jpg" title="f0049-07" width="788" height="293"><figcaption class="caption-body"><span class="photo-credit">(SUTER+DUBNYK: JONATHAN KOZUB/NHLI VIA GETTY IMAGES)</span></figcaption></div><span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span>

f0049-02

MINNESOTA WILD

<p>9TH <b>THN' S</b> POWER RANKING</p><h2><b>HOW THEY WIN</b></h2><p>Replacing coach Barry Trotz with Peter Laviolette transformed Nashville from a counterstriker into an attacking team. The result was the Preds' best goal production in four years. They lack a superstar up front, but rookie Filip Forsberg has flashed that kind of ability. The rest of Nashville's forwards provide offense by committee. A more aggressive approach has made Nashville a better possession team and thus better defensively, as opponents can't score without the puck.</p><p>The Preds are relatively faceless up front, but it's the opposite from the net out. Goalie Pekka Rinne bounced back from his 2013-14 hip problems with a stellar year. Nashville's greatest strength: its blueline, led by superstar Shea Weber, who does everything well. Partner Roman Josi remains a secret stud. Seth Jones, Ryan Ellis, Cody Franson and Mattias Ekholm round out a versatile top six that oozes puck-moving ability.</p><h2><b>HOW THEY LOSE</b></h2><p>Nashville doesn't yet have a true first line. Its top forwards provide something closer to second-line production, especially factoring in how much they've regressed in the second half. Forsberg and Mike Ribeiro tanked after averaging almost a point per game through the new year. James Neal was a 40-goal man in Pittsburgh, but, while he's still a skilled power forward, his numbers aren't the same without his old superstar center Evgeni Malkin.</p><p>The Predators' D-corps is enviable, but no playoff team should ask blueliners to be its most reliable scorers. A game-breaking sniper would make a world of difference. Rinne, 32, also runs the risk of wearing down. He's battled knee problems the past couple months, and he hasn't shouldered a playoff workload since 2012. His second half numbers, while good, pale in comparison to what he did from October to December.</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0051-0232/150919-1-eng-US/f0051-022.jpg" title="f0051-02" width="406" height="572"><figcaption class="caption-body">FILIP <b>FORSBERG</b></figcaption></div><div class="container"><div class="figure-block image-float"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0051-0322/150912-1-eng-US/f0051-032.jpg" title="f0051-03" width="62" height="102"></div></div><div style="clear: both;"></div><h2><b>1ST CUP PASS</b></h2><p><b><i>Mike Fisher,</i></b><i>34, is a 15-year vet with 97 playoff games. He's a relative greybeard and a fan favorite in Music City since he married Carrie Underwood.</i></p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0051-0419/150905-1-eng-US/f0051-042.jpg" title="f0051-04" width="349" height="237"></div><h2><b>BETWEEN THE PIPES <b>With Jamie McLennan</b></b></h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0051-0514/150898-1-eng-US/f0051-052.jpg" title="f0051-05" width="216" height="233"></div><p><b>Pekka Rinne</b> just doesn't have a weakness in his game. What are his assets? His size (6-foot-5) and agility; his unreal glove hand; his puckhandling abilities; his demeanor. He's an intimidating goaltender, and I talk to a lot of shooters who don't see any net on him. Like Carey Price, he's the whole package, but they're not quite the same. Rinne is a little more active, whereas Carey is calmer. Pekka's rebound control is amazing. He tries to catch everything. He wants to do something with the puck when it comes his way and not just stop it.</p><h2><b>STAT CRUNCH</b></h2><p><b>GOALS PER GAME 2.77</b></p><p><b>13</b></p><p><b>GOALS AGAINST PER GAME 2.34</b></p><p><b>4</b></p><p><b>PP/PK TOTAL % 97.3</b></p><p><b>26</b></p><p><b>1-GOAL GAME WIN % .659</b></p><p><b>4</b></p><p><b>SAT % CLOSE 51.50</b></p><p><b>11</b></p><p><b>5-5</b></p><p><i>Playoff record past 3 seasons</i></p><p><b>1</b></p><p><i>Players with Cup rings</i></p><p><b>562</b></p><p><i>Total games of playoff experience</i></p><h2><b>FANTASY ZONE</b></h2><div class="container"><div class="figure-block image-float"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0051-0612/150891-1-eng-US/f0051-062.jpg" title="f0051-06" width="113" height="125"></div><p><b>Filip Forsberg</b> has enjoyed a spectacular rookie season. Still, there's playoff pool bust potential here. The rigors of his first full NHL campaign have worn him down. He was among the league's top scorers through December, but his production took a nosedive after that. The physical toll of the postseason might drain him further.</p></div><div style="clear: both;"></div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0051-079/150884-1-eng-US/f0051-072.jpg" title="f0051-07" width="788" height="293"><figcaption class="caption-body"><span class="photo-credit">(FORSBERG: JONATHAN KOZUB/NHLI VIA GETTY IMAGES; RINNE: CHRISTIAN PETERSEN/GETTY IMAGES)</span></figcaption></div><span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span>

f0051-02

NASHVILLE PREDATORS

<p><b>11</b>TH <b>THN'S</b> POWER RANKING</p><h2><b>HOW THEY WIN</b></h2><p>The Islanders, one of the best possession teams in the NHL, can head into the playoffs confident knowing the past three Stanley Cup winners have all ranked top-three in unblocked shot attempts (USAT). When the Isles are on their game, they're jumping into passing routes and rushing up the ice or breaking up enemy incursions with active sticks.</p><p>In captain John Tavares, New York has a potential Hart Trophy winner, and depth on Long Island hasn't been this good in decades. The squad even has what has become known as the &ldquo;best fourth line in hockey&rdquo; in Casey Cizikas, Matt Martin and Cal Clutterbuck, all swift shift disturbers who bang, crash and disrupt.</p><p>On the back end, the addition of Johnny Boychuk and Nick Leddy &ndash; Cup winners with Boston and Chicago &ndash; has brought leadership and skill to a unit that always seemed to be a guy short in the past.</p><h2><b>HOW THEY LOSE</b></h2><p>When the Islanders take it easy, big holes are torn open. The defensemen get beaten wide too often, leaving the goaltenders to deal with the consequences. Speaking of netminding, it's been five years since Jaroslav Halak became a household name by lifting the Montreal Canadiens to the conference final, stoning Sidney Crosby and Alex Ovechkin along the way. Other than those 18 mostly magical games, Halak has played just 201 minutes of NHL playoff hockey. Backup Michal Neuvirth is even greener, with just nine games four years ago in Washington. If Halak can't summon his past wizardry, the Isles will be dead in the water.</p><p>The Islanders don't take many penalties, and it's for the best. They have one of the league's worst kill rates. Given how little playoff experience some of their younger players have, that's not a good trend to maintain when the games get more pressure-packed.</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0052-0226/150983-1-eng-US/f0052-022.jpg" title="f0052-02" width="350" height="573"><figcaption class="caption-body">JOHN <b>TAVARES</b></figcaption></div><div class="container"><div class="figure-block image-float"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0052-0316/150976-1-eng-US/f0052-032.jpg" title="f0052-03" width="62" height="102"></div></div><div style="clear: both;"></div><h2><b>1ST CUP PASS</b></h2><p><b><i>Lubomir Visnovsky</i></b><i>is one of the oldest, most experienced Isles. He somehow missed Cup wins in L.A. and Anaheim, playing for one while the other was on top.</i></p><h2><b>BETWEEN THE PIPES <b>With Jamie McLennan</b></b></h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0052-0412/150969-1-eng-US/f0052-042.jpg" title="f0052-04" width="218" height="228"></div><p>Even though <b>Jaroslav Halak</b> has proven himself in the playoffs, I still think there are some questions. He's not a big goalie, and that's the main knock on him. Some goalies are 6-foot-3 or 6-foot-4, and they wear it in goal, but when Jaro gets into trouble, he looks his size (5-foot-11). It may not seem like much, but when Halak plays six inches deeper, you see net. He has to play more aggressively at the top to look big and to take a lot of net away. The minute he gets deeper, he looks like a smaller goalie.</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0052-0510/150962-1-eng-US/f0052-052.jpg" title="f0052-05" width="346" height="241"></div><h2><b>STAT CRUNCH</b></h2><p><b>2-4</b></p><p><i>Playoff record past 3 seasons</i></p><p><b>3</b></p><p><i>Players with Cup rings</i></p><p><b>363</b></p><p><i>Total games of playoff experience</i></p><p><b>GOALS PER GAME 2.99</b></p><p><b>4</b></p><p><b>GOALS AGAINST PER GAME 2.74</b></p><p><b>23</b></p><p><b>PP/PK TOTAL % 95.4</b></p><p><b>29</b></p><p><b>1-GOAL GAME WIN % .694</b></p><p><b>3</b></p><p><b>SAT % CLOSE 51.72</b></p><p><b>10</b></p><h2><b>FANTASY ZONE</b></h2><div class="container"><div class="figure-block image-float"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0052-068/150955-1-eng-US/f0052-062.jpg" title="f0052-06" width="114" height="123"></div><p><b>Kyle Okposo</b> epitomizes the player whose fantasy value is masked by missed time. He was almost a point-per-game scorer before his eye injury and is back on a line with John Tavares for the playoffs. Okposo can bounce back to be a big-time producer in pools. He excelled in his first career playoff action two years ago, too.</p></div><div style="clear: both;"></div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0052-075/150948-1-eng-US/f0052-072.jpg" title="f0052-07" width="788" height="293"><figcaption class="caption-body"><span class="photo-credit">(TAVARES: JANA CHYTILOVA/FREESTYLE PHOTOGRAPHY/GETTY IMAGES; HALAK: AL BELLO/GETTY IMAGES)</span></figcaption></div><span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span>

f0052-02

NEW YORK ISLANDERS

<p>2ND <b>THN'S</b> POWER RANKING</p><h2><b>HOW THEY WIN</b></h2><p>The Rangers yield practically nothing to the opposition. Boasting one of the most skilled and savvy blueline corps in the NHL, New York is always safe with players such as Ryan McDonagh, Marc Staal and Dan Girardi on the prowl. The fact Keith Yandle hasn't even been mentioned yet speaks volumes of the talent back there, and even if you get through two of those players, you still have to deal with Henrik Lundqvist, the backbone of the franchise. 'The King' always gives New York a chance to win, and last year's appearance in the Stanley Cup final wasn't enough to slake his thirst for glory. Needless to say, the penalty kill is also a strong suit.</p><p>Up front the Rangers have speed and skill to burn, headlined by forwards Rick Nash, Derek Stepan, Mats Zuccarello and past Cup champion Martin St-Louis. Chris Kreider and Carl Hagelin also have some wicked afterburners.</p><h2><b>HOW THEY LOSE</b></h2><p>For all their weapons and marquee names, the Rangers are only a middling possession team. It's a good thing the defense is so stacked, because they're usually pretty busy. Nash went cold in last year's run to the final, and the fans at Madison Square Garden got pretty testy with the veteran power forward. How fast will they turn on him this year if he doesn't put points on the scoresheet? And how will that affect him?</p><p>And while Lundqvist's track record is beyond reproach, he is recovering from a scary vascular injury after a puck struck his throat Jan. 31. He missed almost two months of action in the second half. Cam Talbot (and even Mackenzie Skapski) did a bang-up job in Lundqvist's absence, but New York needs a healthy 'Hank.' Having said that, it's pretty tough to poke holes in Lundqvist or the Blueshirts as a whole coming out of the Eastern Conference.</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0053-0140/151047-1-eng-US/f0053-012.jpg" title="f0053-01" width="377" height="596"><figcaption class="caption-body">RICK <b>NASH</b></figcaption></div><div class="container"><div class="figure-block image-float"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0053-0230/151040-1-eng-US/f0053-022.jpg" title="f0053-02" width="57" height="102"></div></div><div style="clear: both;"></div><h2><b>1ST CUP PASS</b></h2><p><i>The Cup definitely goes to</i><b><i>Henrik Lundqvist</i></b><i>. He's the heartbeat of the team and a man who inspires reverence inside and outside the organization.</i></p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0053-0320/151033-1-eng-US/f0053-032.jpg" title="f0053-03" width="346" height="240"></div><h2><b>BETWEEN THE PIPES <b>With Jamie McLennan</b></b></h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0053-0417/151026-1-eng-US/f0053-042.jpg" title="f0053-04" width="216" height="230"></div><p>Cam Talbot was excellent in <b>Henrik Lundqvist's</b> absence, but Lundqvist remains the Rangers' starter. He needed a grace period to get back into game shape and work on his timing, but he's one of the best. The only thing Lundqvist gets exposed on: he plays a deeper game, so there's no room for error. He's got to rely on reflexes and instincts, but he's as good as anyone reading the rush and reading plays. He can get into trouble when he's giving out rebounds the way he did last year against the Los Angeles Kings in the Stanley Cup final.</p><h2><b>STAT CRUNCH</b></h2><p><b>GOALS PER GAME 3.00</b></p><p><b>3</b></p><p><b>GOALS AGAINST PER GAME 2.22</b></p><p><b>2</b></p><p><b>PP/PK TOTAL % 101.0</b></p><p><b>10</b></p><p><b>1-GOAL GAME WIN % .600</b></p><p><b>7</b></p><p><b>SAT % CLOSE 50.47</b></p><p><b>18</b></p><p><b>27-29</b></p><p><i>Playoff record past 3 seasons</i></p><p><b>2</b></p><p><i>Players with Cup rings</i></p><p><b>1,009</b></p><p><i>Total games of playoff experience</i></p><h2><b>FANTASY ZONE</b></h2><div class="container"><div class="figure-block image-float"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0053-0513/151019-1-eng-US/f0053-052.jpg" title="f0053-05" width="113" height="125"></div><p><b>Kevin Hayes</b> was quite the find as a college free agent. His power game suits playoff hockey. He's a 6-foot-5, 225-pound beast who got better as the season progressed, scoring as many goals in February as he did from October through the end of January. He's a nice late-round fantasy steal if he carries over his hot play.</p></div><div style="clear: both;"></div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0053-0610/151012-1-eng-US/f0053-062.jpg" title="f0053-06" width="788" height="293"><figcaption class="caption-body"><span class="photo-credit">(NASH+LUNDQVIST: RICH LAM/GETTY IMAGES)</span></figcaption></div><span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span>

f0053-01

NEW YORK RANGERS

<p>18TH <b>THN'S</b> POWER RANKING</p><h2><b>HOW THEY WIN</b></h2><p>The Senators have relied on their youthful vigor and a group of kids who have turned out &ndash; at least in the short term &ndash; to be much better than expected. Anyone who thought Mike Hoffman and Mark Stone would be in the Calder Trophy conversation at the beginning of the season, go directly to the front of the class and collect your gold star.</p><p>As they showed in their late-season run, the Senators are a team that plays on emotion. Andrew Hammond provided the Senators with outstanding workhorse goaltending and a feel-good story around which the entire organization could rally. If the Senators can harness that energy and carry it into a playoff run, who knows how far a team of guys who are too young to realize they shouldn't be doing what they're doing can go? Oh yes, and it helps they have the most dynamic offensive defenseman in the game today in Erik Karlsson.</p><h2><b>HOW THEY LOSE</b></h2><p>That's tough to pinpoint because they hadn't done much losing late in the season, but the Senators will go only as far as their top-heavy core will carry them.</p><p>Unlike seasons past, the Senators' depth players have not been as productive and if and when their stars like Bobby Ryan go cold, things look bleak. And that does not bode well when a team is entering the two months of the season when the games and series are as much a battle of attrition as they are showcases of talent.</p><p>You get the sense the Senators are riding a wave as far as it will take them and if/when that wave crashes, things could go south in a hurry. When a team enters the playoffs just happy to be there, things almost always don't end well. And you can't help but think that in the backs of their minds, the Senators aren't preparing for a deep post-season journey.</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0054-0227/151111-1-eng-US/f0054-022.jpg" title="f0054-02" width="379" height="557"><figcaption class="caption-body">BOBBY <b>RYAN</b></figcaption></div><div class="container"><div class="figure-block image-float"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0054-0318/151104-1-eng-US/f0054-032.jpg" title="f0054-03" width="57" height="102"></div></div><div style="clear: both;"></div><h2><b>1ST CUP PASS</b></h2><p><i>Biggest no-brainer in NHL history. GM</i><b><i>Bryan Murray</i></b><i>, who is battling cancer, has devoted his life to hockey and is one of the most amiable men in the game.</i></p><h2><b>BETWEEN THE PIPES <b>With Jamie McLennan</b></b></h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0054-0412/151097-1-eng-US/f0054-042.jpg" title="f0054-04" width="203" height="232"></div><p><b>Andrew Hammond</b> is interesting and a great story. His leg power is outstanding and what gives him a chance on scramble plays. The best goalies &ndash; Jonathan Quick, Carey Price &ndash; have that same elite leg strength. Craig Anderson, meanwhile, is one of the NHL's best goalies when it comes to reading the play. It's not about anticipation for him as much as it is knowing the shooter's options. Where he can get into trouble is adjusting after the first shot. Some teams call him a first-shot goaltender: he can make the first stop, but it's a battle for the second one.</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0054-0510/151090-1-eng-US/f0054-052.jpg" title="f0054-05" width="346" height="244"></div><h2><b>STAT CRUNCH</b></h2><p><b>8-9</b></p><p><i>Playoff record past 3 seasons</i></p><p><b>0</b></p><p><i>Players with Cup rings</i></p><p><b>535</b></p><p><i>Total games of playoff experience</i></p><p><b>GOALS PER GAME 2.84</b></p><p><b>8</b></p><p><b>GOALS AGAINST PER GAME 2.56</b></p><p><b>15</b></p><p><b>PP/PK TOTAL % 99.7</b></p><p><b>18</b></p><p><b>1-GOAL GAME WIN % .425</b></p><p><b>21</b></p><p><b>SAT % CLOSE 49.00</b></p><p><b>21</b></p><h2><b>FANTASY ZONE</b></h2><div class="container"><div class="figure-block image-float"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0054-068/151083-1-eng-US/f0054-062.jpg" title="f0054-06" width="114" height="124"></div><p><b>Mike Hoffman</b> has been one of the league's hottest scorers in the new year, performing as a bona fide first-liner with 15 goals from January to mid-March. His Ottawa Senators likely won't go far in the post-season if they squeak in to complete their miracle run, but Hoffman offers a nice short-term boost in pools that prioritize goals.</p></div><div style="clear: both;"></div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0054-074/151076-1-eng-US/f0054-072.jpg" title="f0054-07" width="788" height="293"><figcaption class="caption-body"><span class="photo-credit">(RYAN+HAMMOND: ANDRE RINGUETTE/NHLI VIA GETTY IMAGES)</span></figcaption></div><span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span>

f0054-02

OTTAWA SENATORS

<p>12TH <b>THN'S</b> POWER RANKING</p><h2><b>HOW THEY WIN</b></h2><p>The Penguins score well in many metrics historically important to playoff success. They're top-10 in goals against, power play, penalty kill and 5-on-5 scoring. Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin remain two of the NHL's elite players, and Crosby in particular heated up down the stretch. Marc-Andre Fleury was tied for the NHL lead in shutouts and was having quite the season in net, while first-year coach Mike Johnston has utilized his fast-paced style with a nod to defensive responsibility. The Pens have been a better possession team with Johnston at the helm despite injuries/illnesses to key players Crosby, Malkin, Olli Maatta and others.</p><p>And if you believe in good storylines, the last time Pittsburgh won the Cup was in 2009 when Dan Bylsma was a rookie coach (albeit as a mid-season replacement). Pittsburgh has the weapons to do it. Now it's just a matter of execution.</p><h2><b>HOW THEY LOSE</b></h2><p>Speaking of execution, more than a few Pens fans will volunteer for the firing squad if this team chokes again. Despite having two of the best players on Earth, Pittsburgh hasn't reached the final since that win in '09 and has fallen or struggled against teams inferior on paper.</p><p>In most cases, the Penguins have lost all composure in these series, as a result of Fleury becoming an open toll-booth gate in net or the team getting pulled into havocfilled melees with the opposition (Philadelphia being the obvious culprit there). Sometimes both occur.</p><p>Most of Pittsburgh's shortcomings are mental at this point, as Fleury has been a great goaltender in the regular season and scoring is rarely a problem.</p><p>Since the Pens are such an easy team to draw talent to, they've seen a revolving door of top-six wingers over the years, and a couple need to step up this season.</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0055-0230/151175-1-eng-US/f0055-022.jpg" title="f0055-02" width="396" height="587"><figcaption class="caption-body">SIDNEY <b>CROSBY</b></figcaption></div><div class="container"><div class="figure-block image-float"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0055-0316/151168-1-eng-US/f0055-032.jpg" title="f0055-03" width="61" height="102"></div></div><div style="clear: both;"></div><h2><b>1ST CUP PASS</b></h2><p><i>David Perron and Paul Martin are worthy candidates yet to hoist the chalice, but</i><b><i>Kris Letang</i></b><i>is a nice choice after he overcame a terrifying stroke last year.</i></p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0055-0414/151161-1-eng-US/f0055-042.jpg" title="f0055-04" width="345" height="236"></div><h2><b>BETWEEN THE PIPES <b>With Jamie McLennan</b></b></h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0055-0511/151154-1-eng-US/f0055-052.jpg" title="f0055-05" width="216" height="231"></div><p>Although <b>Marc-Andre Fleury</b> has been criticized heavily, the Penguins weren't unhappy with his performance in the playoffs last year. They had injury problems and felt they couldn't score for him. Fleury's having another great regular season this year and can be an outstanding player, but the thing with him is it's all between the ears in the post-season. He has the ability to lock it down, but some say, &ldquo;He hasn't shown it in the post-season in six years now. Can he find that level again?&rdquo; That said, I have more confidence in him than a lot of people do.</p><h2><b>STAT CRUNCH</b></h2><p><b>GOALS PER GAME 2.74</b></p><p><b>14</b></p><p><b>GOALS AGAINST PER GAME 2.39</b></p><p><b>5</b></p><p><b>PP/PK TOTAL % 105.4</b></p><p><b>4</b></p><p><b>1-GOAL GAME WIN % .517</b></p><p><b>11</b></p><p><b>SAT % CLOSE 53.53</b></p><p><b>4</b></p><p><b>17-17</b></p><p><i>Playoff record past 3 seasons</i></p><p><b>8</b></p><p><i>Players with Cup rings</i></p><p><b>1,270</b></p><p><i>Total games of playoff experience</i></p><h2><b>FANTASY ZONE</b></h2><div class="container"><div class="figure-block image-float"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0055-068/151147-1-eng-US/f0055-062.jpg" title="f0055-06" width="113" height="127"></div><p><b>Kris Letang</b> has enjoyed a phenomenal comeback season. He should be the first or second defenseman drafted in playoff pools. The best targets are (a) high scorers and (b) guys whose teams have potential for a deep run, and Letang fits both categories. If your pool counts PIM, though, P.K. Subban should go first.</p></div><div style="clear: both;"></div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0055-075/151140-1-eng-US/f0055-072.jpg" title="f0055-07" width="788" height="293"><figcaption class="caption-body"><span class="photo-credit">(CROSBY: CLAUS ANDERSEN/GETTY IMAGES; FLEURY: GREGORY SHAMUS/NHLI VIA GETTY IMAGES)</span></figcaption></div><span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span>

f0055-02

PITTSBURGH PENGUINS

<p>3RD <b>THN'S</b> POWER RANKING</p><h2><b>HOW THEY WIN</b></h2><p>St. Louis is stacked at every skater position. Take a gander at the deep, skilled forward corps. The usual groupings of David Backes between Alexander Steen and T.J. Oshie and Jori Lehtera between Jaden Schwartz and Vladimir Tarasenko give the Blues two first lines. Paul Stastny had 10 points in seven playoff games last spring &ndash; and he centers the <i>third</i> line. The Blues have no weaknesses up front, especially since Tarasenko has become the elite scorer they've lacked for years.</p><p>Assuming Kevin Shattenkirk returns from abdominal surgery on time, St. Louis has tremendous blueline depth, too. He's the puck-mover of the group, Alex Pietrangelo is the do-it-all Clydesdale, Barret Jackman the veteran muscle and Jay Bouwmeester the smooth-skating minutes eater. The Blues have one of the league's cloudiest goaltending situations, but Brian Elliott or Jake Allen can steal games when hot.</p><h2><b>HOW THEY LOSE</b></h2><p>The Blues have finished at or near the top of the league standings again and again during coach Ken Hitchcock's tenure but keep choking. They got swept by L.A. in the second round of 2012. They took a 2-0 opening-round series lead to L.A. in 2013 only to lose four straight and did the same thing in the first round against Chicago last year. That's three consecutive seasons with a four-game losing streak in the playoffs.</p><p>When a team enters the post-season so loaded with talent every year and still can't get past Round 2, it's hard not to look for an intangible problem. How about the zero Cups won by St. Louis' entire roster?</p><p>Lastly, while a split netminding load keeps goalies fresh during the season, it also causes playoff uncertainty. Elliott and Allen will start each game knowing even one bad period could give way to the other guy. That doesn't bode well for their confidence.</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0056-0233/151239-1-eng-US/f0056-022.jpg" title="f0056-02" width="372" height="573"><figcaption class="caption-body">JADEN <b>SCHWARTZ</b></figcaption></div><div class="container"><div class="figure-block image-float"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0056-0320/151232-1-eng-US/f0056-032.jpg" title="f0056-03" width="62" height="102"></div></div><div style="clear: both;"></div><h2><b>1ST CUP PASS</b></h2><p><i>Only Bernie Federko has more games as a Blue than</i><b><i>Barret Jackman</i></b><i>, who has remained through Cup contention, a full rebuild and back to the top again.</i></p><h2><b>BETWEEN THE PIPES <b>With Jamie McLennan</b></b></h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0056-0418/151225-1-eng-US/f0056-042.jpg" title="f0056-04" width="235" height="229"></div><p>With <b>Brian Elliott</b> and Jake Allen as their net options, the Blues are going to be one of the most interesting teams to watch during the playoffs. Elliott has refined his position. He's now comfortable using his size and plays some percentage shots. He's a very good percentage goaltender. And the Blues don't give up a lot of highquality scoring chances. Elliott realizes that &ndash; for instance, he knows there won't be a lot of backdoor plays &ndash; and uses it to his advantage. He is really good with his positioning and isn't shy to leave his net and challenge the shooter.</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0056-0516/151218-1-eng-US/f0056-052.jpg" title="f0056-05" width="347" height="240"></div><h2><b>STAT CRUNCH</b></h2><p><b>8-13</b></p><p><i>Playoff record past 3 seasons</i></p><p><b>0</b></p><p><i>Players with Cup rings</i></p><p><b>402</b></p><p><i>Total games of playoff experience</i></p><p><b>GOALS PER GAME 2.93</b></p><p><b>5</b></p><p><b>GOALS AGAINST PER GAME 2.41</b></p><p><b>7</b></p><p><b>PP/PK TOTAL % 105.5</b></p><p><b>3</b></p><p><b>1-GOAL GAME WIN % .629</b></p><p><b>5</b></p><p>SAT % CLOSE 51.07</p><p><b>14</b></p><h2><b>FANTASY ZONE</b></h2><div class="container"><div class="figure-block image-float"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0056-0613/151211-1-eng-US/f0056-062.jpg" title="f0056-06" width="114" height="125"></div><p>Don't forget about puck-moving blueliner <b>Kevin Shattenkirk</b>. He lit it up with 40 points in 49 games and earned an All-Star Game invite before abdominal surgery sidelined him. The Blues expect him healthy for the playoffs. He'll resume power play quarterback duty and will be one of the first five or 10 D-men drafted in pools.</p></div><div style="clear: both;"></div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0056-0710/151204-1-eng-US/f0056-072.jpg" title="f0056-07" width="788" height="293"><figcaption class="caption-body"><span class="photo-credit">(SCHWARTZ: JEFF VINNICK/NHLI VIA GETTY IMAGES; ELLIOTT: LANCE THOMSON/NHLI VIA GETTY IMAGES)</span></figcaption></div><span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span>

f0056-02

ST. LOUIS BLUES

<p>1ST <b>THN'S</b> POWER RANKING</p><h2><b>HOW THEY WIN</b></h2><p>The Lightning are the highest-scoring team in the NHL and have the ability to put teams away early with a tsunami of shots and play in the offensive zone. Much of Tampa Bay's success comes from its roster's ability to spread out the contributions.</p><p>No defenseman plays more than 23 minutes a game and, generally speaking, no forward plays more than 20. The fact unheralded Tyler Johnson went into the stretch run of the season battling for the team's scoring lead with Steven Stamkos tells you all you need to know about the Bolts' depth of offense.</p><p>After struggling on the penalty kill in years past, the Lightning have quietly become a top-10 team on the PK and use their quick-strike ability to be a shorthanded scoring threat. They're also more than big enough to play that &ldquo;heavy&rdquo; game that seems to be so successful in the playoffs.</p><h2><b>HOW THEY LOSE</b></h2><p>Despite all that offensive talent, Tampa is a middle-ofthe-road team when it comes to the power play, and that part of its game was trending downward as the season progressed.</p><p>Even though the Lightning generate a lot of shots and are an excellent possession team, they occasionally go through periods in which the &ldquo;shoot first&rdquo; mentality disappears, and they try to execute picture-perfect plays instead of keeping things simple. Teams do not get style points in the playoffs. The successful ones can score goals that don't necessarily make the highlight reels. You'd like to see the Bolts get their noses a little dirtier en route to the net.</p><p>Team defense is also an issue. The Lightning, as one might expect from an offensive juggernaut, get involved a little too often in the run-and-gun type of game at both ends of the ice, a style that never seems to translate well to post-season play.</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0058-0233/151303-1-eng-US/f0058-022.jpg" title="f0058-02" width="330" height="556"><figcaption class="caption-body">TYLER <b>JOHNSON</b></figcaption></div><div class="container"><div class="figure-block image-float"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0058-0317/151296-1-eng-US/f0058-032.jpg" title="f0058-03" width="60" height="102"></div></div><div style="clear: both;"></div><h2><b>1ST CUP PASS</b></h2><p><i>Assuming he's not in street clothes, veteran</i><b><i>Brenden Morrow</i></b><i>is the obvious choice. He joined Dallas as a rookie the season after it won its only Stanley Cup.</i></p><h2><b>BETWEEN THE PIPES <b>With Jamie McLennan</b></b></h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0058-0416/151289-1-eng-US/f0058-042.jpg" title="f0058-04" width="326" height="220"></div><p><b>Ben Bishop</b> has few holes in his game. His lateral movement is the only concern. He uses that big 6-foot-7 frame to his advantage, so if you're a team that's trying to beat him, you have to get him moving post to post. After a first save, it's tougher for him to recover, so getting him moving East-West is an important focus. And I think his backup Andrei Vasilevskiy is going to be an elite goaltender in this league. It's just a matter of time. The Bolts are in pretty good shape no matter what happens.</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0058-0514/151282-1-eng-US/f0058-052.jpg" title="f0058-05" width="348" height="235"></div><h2><b>STAT CRUNCH</b></h2><p><b>0-4</b></p><p><i>Playoff record past 3 seasons</i></p><p><b>1</b></p><p><i>Players with Cup rings</i></p><p><b>687</b></p><p><i>Total games of playoff experience</i></p><p><b>GOALS PER GAME 3.23</b></p><p><b>1</b></p><p><b>GOALS AGAINST PER GAME 2.51</b></p><p><b>12</b></p><p><b>PP/PK TOTAL % 101.2</b></p><p><b>9</b></p><p><b>1-GOAL GAME WIN % .516</b></p><p><b>12</b></p><p><b>SAT % CLOSE 56.98</b></p><p><b>1</b></p><h2><b><b>FANTASY ZONE</b></b></h2><div class="container"><div class="figure-block image-float"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0058-0610/151275-1-eng-US/f0058-062.jpg" title="f0058-06" width="114" height="124"></div><p>Do you believe Tampa Bay makes a deep post-season run, as we do? If so, once Steven Stamkos is off the board, trip over yourself to get <b>Tyler Johnson</b>, Nikita Kucherov and Ondrej Palat. They've formed the best all-around line in hockey this season but don't have superstar status yet. If you target them in Rounds 2 to 4, you're laughin'.</p></div><div style="clear: both;"></div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0058-078/151268-1-eng-US/f0058-072.jpg" title="f0058-07" width="788" height="293"><figcaption class="caption-body"><span class="photo-credit">(JOHNSON: ANDRE RINGUETTE/NHLI VIA GETTY IMAGES; BISHOP: SCOTT AUDETTE/NHLI VIA GETTY IMAGES)</span></figcaption></div><span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span>

f0058-02

TAMPA BAY LIGHTNING

<p>14TH <b>THN'S</b> POWER RANKING</p><h2><b>HOW THEY WIN</b></h2><p>Henrik and Daniel Sedin are back as marquee NHLers. When Vancouver's secondary scoring dried up in the second half, the Sedins played their best hockey, cycling the puck like they did in their glory days.</p><p>The likes of Nick Bonino never did wake up on the second line, but behemoth Zack Kassian clicked with the twins and started scoring, which let coach Willie Desjardins keep sniper Radim Vrbata on the No. 2 unit. Stud prospect Bo Horvat blossomed on a grind line with Ronalds Kenins and Jannik Hansen. Horvat had some handy big-game experience as a teenager, from the world juniors to multiple Memorial Cups.</p><p>Alexander Edler played his best 'D' since losing his confidence in the 2011-12 playoffs. He and Chris Tanev form the team's top pair. Ryan Miller may not recover from his knee injury in time for the playoffs, but Eddie Lack outperformed Miller in relief, anyway.</p><h2><b>HOW THEY LOSE</b></h2><p>The roster is in a transitional phase, with some of the organization's best prospects not yet with the big club. This team lacks all-around talent compared to the other West powerhouses. Bonino, for example, centers the second unit but would be Chicago's fourth-best pivot.</p><p>Vancouver also must cross its fingers that defensemen Kevin Bieksa and Dan Hamhuis peak in time for the post-season. Both spent much of the year injured and Hamhuis struggled uncharacteristically before getting hurt. These two are supposed to be the Canucks' workhorses.</p><p>Lastly &ndash; what effect, if any, will Miller's return have? He couldn't make the big save last spring for St. Louis. The Canucks will be an underdog against virtually any first-round opponent and will need Miller to stand on his head. Is he up to the task as a 34-year-old coming off an injury? Or does Vancouver continue to run with Lack?</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0059-0414/151367-1-eng-US/f0059-042.jpg" title="f0059-04" width="349" height="599"><figcaption class="caption-body">HENRIK <b>SEDIN</b></figcaption></div><div class="container"><div class="figure-block image-float"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0059-0124/151360-1-eng-US/f0059-012.jpg" title="f0059-01" width="60" height="102"></div></div><div style="clear: both;"></div><h2><b>1ST CUP PASS</b></h2><p><i>Imagine the shocking scene if captain Henrik didn't pass the Cup to his twin,</i><b><i>Daniel Sedin</i></b><i>. It would be like two brothers refusing to share a toy in the sandbox.</i></p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0059-0220/151353-1-eng-US/f0059-022.jpg" title="f0059-02" width="349" height="233"></div><h2><b>BETWEEN THE PIPES <b>With Jamie McLennan</b></b></h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0059-0512/151346-1-eng-US/f0059-052.jpg" title="f0059-05" width="224" height="234"></div><p><b>Ryan Miller</b> and Eddie Lack are both capable goaltenders. Lack showed last season he is durable enough to play for a long stretch if needed, and he's performed well for the Canucks this year. But if he's healthy, I think Miller will be given every opportunity to be the main man for Vancouver. Miller's game has gotten quieter, but not in a bad way. There's just not a lot of motion in his game when he's on. He's aggressive but set. Positioning is his strength, and he's very efficient. When he's focused, it's like the pucks are coming to him.</p><h2><b><b>STAT CRUNCH</b></b></h2><p><b>GOALS PER GAME 2.81</b></p><p><b>12</b></p><p><b>GOALS AGAINST PER GAME 2.65</b></p><p><b>18</b></p><p><b>PP/PK TOTAL % 103.1</b></p><p><b>7</b></p><p><b>1-GOAL GAME WIN % .731</b></p><p><b>2</b></p><p><b>SAT % CLOSE 50.66</b></p><p><b>16</b></p><p><b>1-8</b></p><p><i>Playoff record past 3 seasons</i></p><p><b>1</b></p><p><i>Players with Cup rings</i></p><p><b>806</b></p><p><i>Total games of playoff experience</i></p><h2><b>FANTASY ZONE</b></h2><div class="container"><div class="figure-block image-float"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0059-0610/151339-1-eng-US/f0059-062.jpg" title="f0059-06" width="113" height="129"></div><p><b>Radim Vrbata</b> flies under the radar as a cheap, reliable fantasy option. He made the All-Star Game thanks to his numbers alongside the Sedin twins, but Vrbata remained productive after sliding down to the second line. He's a 30-goal talent who still gets plenty of power play minutes.</p></div><div style="clear: both;"></div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0059-078/151332-1-eng-US/f0059-072.jpg" title="f0059-07" width="788" height="293"><figcaption class="caption-body"><span class="photo-credit">(SEDIN+MILLER: JEFF VINNICK/NHLI VIA GETTY IMAGES)</span></figcaption></div><span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span>

f0059-04

VANCOUVER CANUCKS

<p>13TH <b>THN'S</b> POWER RANKING</p><h2><b>HOW THEY WIN</b></h2><p>Scoring was never a problem for the Caps. Keeping the puck out of their net was. But new coach Barry Trotz and his beefed-up blueline (enter Brooks Orpik and Matt Niskanen over the summer) are producing results. Washington is now a top-10 team defensively, jumping up from the bottom third last year. The team's possession numbers are better as well, so Trotz's defensive rep pays dividends at both ends of the ice.</p><p>In Alex Ovechkin and Nicklas Backstrom, the Caps have one of the most terrifying twosomes, but more weapons have been added, including young Russian Evgeny Kuznetsov and trade deadline acquisition Curtis Glencross. The power play is still deadly, and with multiple D-man options (John Carlson and Mike Green being the most prominent), opponents don't get a rest if the top unit fails to convert. Goalie Braden Holtby has also been better than ever.</p><h2><b>HOW THEY LOSE</b></h2><p>The pre-Trotz, looseygoosey Capitals sometimes show up and let the enemy waltz through the offensive zone uninhibited. For a team that hasn't won many playoff series lately, that must be rectified quickly.</p><p>When the Caps get down, they have a difficult time coming back, particularly if they trail after the first period. These types of scenarios become more suffocating in the playoffs. An ability to mount a counterattack needs to shine through.</p><p>The penalty kill unit runs middle-ofthe-pack and Washington takes more penalties than most playoff-bound teams, so the combination is troubling.</p><p>Ultimately, even with the newfound depth, this team needs to be led on several levels by Ovechkin, who has ranged from brilliant (2009) to completely ineffective (2013) in previous post-season forays. Which 'Ovie' shows up this time?</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0060-0410/151431-1-eng-US/f0060-042.jpg" title="f0060-04" width="403" height="596"><figcaption class="caption-body">ALEX <b>OVECHKIN</b></figcaption></div><div class="container"><div class="figure-block image-float"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0060-0215/151424-1-eng-US/f0060-022.jpg" title="f0060-02" width="66" height="102"></div></div><div style="clear: both;"></div><h2><b>1ST CUP PASS</b></h2><p><i>Along with Alex Ovechkin, the longest-tenured Capital is</i><b><i>Mike Green</i></b><i>. He's a pending UFA, so these playoffs could be his final ride with the franchise.</i></p><h2><b>BETWEEN THE PIPES <b>With Jamie McLennan</b></b></h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0060-0312/151417-1-eng-US/f0060-032.jpg" title="f0060-03" width="184" height="227"></div><p><b>Braden Holtby</b> has been absolutely outstanding for the Capitals, and I think the biggest adjustment he's made this year is having a new goaltender coach, Mitch Korn, who is a genius. Mitch has gotten Holtby to play much more efficiently. Holtby has really good athleticism, and you saw that last season as he was moving all over the ice. But under Mitch, he uses that athleticism much more judiciously, and his positioning is a lot stronger this season. For me, he and Cory Schneider of the Devils are the two goalies who've taken huge steps this season.</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0060-0510/151410-1-eng-US/f0060-052.jpg" title="f0060-05" width="348" height="235"></div><h2><b>STAT CRUNCH</b></h2><p><b>10-11</b></p><p><i>Playoff record past 3 seasons</i></p><p><b>2</b></p><p><i>Players with Cup rings</i></p><p><b>766</b></p><p><i>Total games of playoff experience</i></p><p><b>GOALS PER GAME 2.85</b></p><p><b>7</b></p><p><b>GOALS AGAINST PER GAME 2.41</b></p><p><b>6</b></p><p><b>PP/PK TOTAL % 106.1</b></p><p><b>2</b></p><p><b>1-GOAL GAME WIN % .439</b></p><p><b>20</b></p><p><b>SAT % CLOSE 51.47</b></p><p><b>12</b></p><h2><b>FANTASY ZONE</b></h2><div class="container"><div class="figure-block image-float"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0060-069/151403-1-eng-US/f0060-062.jpg" title="f0060-06" width="114" height="122"></div><p>Don't overthink things with superstar <b>Alex Ovechkin</b>. Sure, his Capitals aren't among the Stanley Cup favorites, but 'Ovie' can still contribute mammoth offensive totals in a round or two. He's too good to shy away from on playoff draft day. And coach Barry Trotz has the Caps playing good enough two-way hockey to pull an upset.</p></div><div style="clear: both;"></div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0060-077/151396-1-eng-US/f0060-072.jpg" title="f0060-07" width="788" height="293"><figcaption class="caption-body"><span class="photo-credit">(OVECHKIN+HOLTBY: GRAIG ABEL/NHLI VIA GETTY IMAGES)</span></figcaption></div><span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span>

f0060-04

WASHINGTON CAPITALS

<p>15TH <b>THN'S</b> POWER RANKING</p><h2><b>HOW THEY WIN</b></h2><p>The Jets make for a miserable opponent thanks to their grinding style under coach Paul Maurice. They're a top-five SAT Close team, consistently the aggressor in generating shot attempts. Andrew Ladd and Blake Wheeler combine size and scoring touch on the wings, Mark Scheifele continues to develop as a two-way center and Michael Frolik excels in his checking role.</p><p>The Jets 'D' corps, when healthy, is versatile and punishing. Dustin Byfuglien will earn a few Norris Trophy votes after a dominant return from playing forward last season. Towering Tyler Myers looks reborn after arriving from Buffalo in the Evander Kane trade. Jacob Trouba's offense hasn't sparkled like it did in his rookie year, but his bruising play suits the playoffs.</p><p>And hey, goalies Michael Hutchinson and Ondrej Pavelec have both had hot streaks. Who's to say one won't in the playoffs?</p><h2><b>HOW THEY LOSE</b></h2><p>The past couple months weren't kind to the Jets. They endured injuries to streaking goal scorer Mathieu Perreault, not to mention Myers and Byfuglien. They are nowhere near as dangerous if 'Big Buff' isn't healthy or if he's playing hurt. He, Ladd and Frolik are the lone Jets with Cup rings. Most of the team's core, from Trouba to Scheifele to Wheeler to Bryan Little, lacks post-season experience. The franchise has just one big-dance appearance since its Atlanta inauguration. It came in 2006-07, and only Jim Slater remains from that squad.</p><p>The Jets have some outstanding offensive prospects on the way, from Nikolaj Ehlers to Josh Morrissey, but the current group struggles to score. The Jets got by on nail-biter victories earlier this season thanks to Hutchinson's outstanding efforts, but his regression has really exposed their inability to outgun opponents.</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0061-0417/151495-1-eng-US/f0061-042.jpg" title="f0061-04" width="381" height="565"><figcaption class="caption-body">ANDREW <b>LADD</b></figcaption></div><div class="container"><div class="figure-block image-float"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0061-0125/151488-1-eng-US/f0061-012.jpg" title="f0061-01" width="70" height="102"></div></div><div style="clear: both;"></div><h2><b>1ST CUP PASS</b></h2><p><i>The Jets lack an easy choice for the chalice, but</i><b><i>Toby Enstrom</i></b><i>ranks among their career leaders in most categories. He's given them years of quality service.</i></p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0061-0222/151481-1-eng-US/f0061-022.jpg" title="f0061-02" width="349" height="233"></div><h2><b>BETWEEN THE PIPES <b>With Jamie McLennan</b></b></h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0061-0517/151474-1-eng-US/f0061-052.jpg" title="f0061-05" width="191" height="231"></div><p><b>Michael Hutchinson</b> has been outstanding for the Jets. Like the Sens' Craig Anderson, he's tremendous when it comes to his anticipation and reading the play. Hutchinson does a lot of things well, and he's a big goaltender. I played with Roman Turek, and he reminds me of Turek in a lot of ways, not just because they're both lefties, but because he has the same type of butterfly as Turek and the same type of glove positioning. When Hutchinson drops down into his butterfly, it's flush and it's straight-up-anddown. Very square. He makes himself look big even in a butterfly.</p><h2><b>STAT CRUNCH</b></h2><p>GOALS PER GAME 2.69</p><p><b>17</b></p><p><b>GOALS AGAINST PER GAME 2.56</b></p><p><b>14</b></p><p><b>PP/PK TOTAL % 99.8</b></p><p><b>16</b></p><p><b>1-GOAL GAME WIN % .500</b></p><p><b>14</b></p><p><b>SAT % CLOSE 52.85</b></p><p><b>5</b></p><p><b>0-0</b></p><p><i>Playoff record past 3 seasons</i></p><p><b>3</b></p><p><i>Players with Cup rings</i></p><p><b>301</b></p><p><i>Total games of playoff experience</i></p><h2><b>FANTASY ZONE</b></h2><div class="container"><div class="figure-block image-float"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0061-0615/151467-1-eng-US/f0061-062.jpg" title="f0061-06" width="113" height="121"></div><p>Is <b>Dustin Byfuglien</b> worth the gamble? Drafting him to your D-corps means gambling on his health and hoping for a Winnipeg upset over a high Western Conference seed. 'Big Buff' was a man possessed this season, however, and stands to rack up points and PIM as long as he's in the lineup.</p></div><div style="clear: both;"></div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0061-0713/151460-1-eng-US/f0061-072.jpg" title="f0061-07" width="788" height="293"><figcaption class="caption-body"><span class="photo-credit">(LADD+ HUTCHINSON: JONATHAN KOZUB/NHLI VIA GETTY IMAGES)</span></figcaption></div><span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span>

f0061-04

WINNIPEG JETS

<div class="byline">WITH ADAM PROTEAU</div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0062-0217/151538-1-eng-US/f0062-022.jpg" title="f0062-02" width="726" height="557"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>MAD FOR THE MAD HOUSE</b> CM Punk and his wife, pro wrestler April, feel at home in Chicago&rsquo;s United Center.</figcaption></div><p>WANT MORE PROTEAU? GET DAILY UPDATES AT <a href="http://thehockeynews.com">THEHOCKEYNEWS.COM</a></p><div class="container"><div class="figure-block image-float"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0062-0125/151545-1-eng-US/f0062-012.jpg" title="f0062-01" width="91" height="101"><figcaption class="caption-body" style="width: 91px"><span class="photo-credit">(BILL SMITH/NHLI VIA GETTY IMAGES)</span></figcaption></div></div><div style="clear: both;"></div><p>Y<b>OU&rsquo;VE GOT TO UNDER</b>stand this about Phil Brooks, professionally known as CM Punk: he was never handed anything as a blue-collar kid coming out of Chicago, as a student, as a pro wrestler who rose to the pinnacle of the industry or in his current line of work as a nascent mixed martial arts fighter. Punk, 36, has had to grind and scrape for everything he&rsquo;s earned, and he&rsquo;s plied his trade (often injured) in hockey arenas across North America and around the world.</p><p>No wonder Punk has a love for the NHL, and no wonder he&rsquo;s come to be acquaintances with many NHL players. There&rsquo;s a camaraderie at play here, an understanding of serious and constant physical sacrifice and a respect for performing through pain that both parties endure on the regular. &ldquo;A lot of the physicality is the same, and I was always drawn to hockey because of that physicality,&rdquo; Punk said. &ldquo;There&rsquo;s definitely similarities between what I did, what I&rsquo;m currently doing, and what hockey players do. And there&rsquo;s an appreciation there that goes both ways.&rdquo;</p><blockquote class="pullQuote">&ldquo;THOSE PLAYERS ARE THE NICEST, MOST DOWN-TO-EARTH SWEETHEARTS. I&rsquo;M FOREVER IN THEIR DEBT &ndash; CM Punk</blockquote><p>He&rsquo;s right. After Chicago&rsquo;s 2013 Stanley Cup win, friend and NHLer Sheldon Souray offered to introduce Punk to a number of Hawks players, including Duncan Keith, Patrick Sharp, and now-former Hawks tough guy Brandon Bollig. Once Punk was convinced he wasn&rsquo;t being pranked, there was no way he was turning down that offer, even though he lives a &ldquo;straight-edge&rdquo; lifestyle that makes sobriety a priority. So he met the team at a local bar, and as the celebrations continued through the night, he quietly soaked it all in, counted his lucky stars and marvelled at how welcome the Hawks made him feel. &ldquo;Those players are the nicest, most down-to-earth sweethearts,&rdquo; Punk said. &ldquo;To share that night with them as they celebrated their hard work, I was like a fly on the wall. I&rsquo;m forever in their debt.&rdquo;</p><p>For Keith, a lifelong wrestling fan who had (and, thanks to his parents, still has) the action figurines of famous WWE stars such as Hulk Hogan, The Undertaker and The Bushwhackers, getting to know Punk and understand the legitimate rigors of the business he was in was just as much of a thrill as it was for Punk to meet his hockey idols. &ldquo;A really easygoing guy,&rdquo; Keith said. &ldquo;I wanted him to know I knew and appreciated what he did and the athleticism wrestlers have. And I learned that the whole industry, it&rsquo;s very tough. We talked about what I&rsquo;d do if I had a broken rib &ndash; would I play with one? I don&rsquo;t know if I could, but he&rsquo;s had to do that and get thrown through tables.</p><p>&ldquo;It&rsquo;s entertainment, and like with us, the show goes on even if you&rsquo;re not feeling 100 percent.&rdquo;</p><p>Before making a controversial decision to leave the WWE in January of 2014 (and eventually deciding to sign a multi-fight contract with Ultimate Fighting Championship), Punk had won that company&rsquo;s heavyweight title multiple times and was known as a voice of candor in a business famous for artifice. So it should come as no surprise his hockey fandom isn&rsquo;t a carefully crafted, consultant-managed part of his image, but rather as genuine as he is. The sport is deeply ingrained in him, dating back to his days with his father in Chicago&rsquo;s South Side. Punk counts himself fortunate enough to have seen a few games at the old Chicago Stadium and to watch legends such as Denis Savard and Chris Chelios skate. He fell in love with hockey and the Blackhawks then, and although that affection would be diluted through the f ranchise&rsquo;s lean years and Punk&rsquo;s focus on his craft in the wrestling ring, the love affair began again when Chicago returned to prominence under players such as Keith and won two Stanley Cups in the past five seasons.</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0063-0122/151531-1-eng-US/f0063-012.jpg" title="f0063-01" width="228" height="335"><figcaption class="caption-body"><span class="photo-credit">(KEVIN MAZUR/WIREIMAGE)</span></figcaption></div><p>In those years between the days nobody knew him and his status today as a pop culture phenomenon and the UFC&rsquo;s hottest new property, Punk cultivated an image that has afforded him other special hockey experiences, and he proudly talks about numerous geek-out moments in the hockey world (including being interviewed by THN). His Twitter account&rsquo;s image is of Paul Newman in the iconic film <i>Slap Shot</i>. He&rsquo;s had a friendly feud with L.A. Kings mascot Bailey that continues to this day, and that equally confounds hockey fans who aren&rsquo;t wr e s t l i n g fans and wrestling aficionados who aren&rsquo;t into hockey. As a kid, Punk was a Montreal Ca n a d i e n s and Patrick Roy fan, and he recently paid his respects to Jean Beliveau on Twitter after the late Habs icon&rsquo;s passing. Punk puts attending a game in Montreal (along with visiting the Hall of Fame in Toronto) on his must-do list. He&rsquo;s not the greatest skater, but he played street hockey (usually as a goalie) and would jump at the opportunity to play in a celebrity game.</p><p>You believe Punk loves the sport because you hear the reverence in his voice when he talks about Beliveau&rsquo;s impact as one of the game&rsquo;s greatest ambassadors (&ldquo;I don&rsquo;t think enough Americans, whether they&rsquo;re hockey fans or not, realize what an awesome representative of hockey he was&rdquo;), and when he discusses another bucket-list experience he&rsquo;s running out of time on: &ldquo;I want to get to Nassau Coliseum for an Islanders game. I&rsquo;ve performed there hundreds of times. It&rsquo;s one of my favorite buildings because of the hockey history. I&rsquo;d be in those locker rooms and (wrestlers) backstage would treat it like it&rsquo;s a regular locker room. I&rsquo;d be like, &lsquo;No, dude, do not disrespect this house.&rsquo; I&rsquo;d wander the halls with the blue and orange stripes and stare at the Mike Bossy plaque. It&rsquo;s a dump and the ceiling leaks, but I just love that building.&rdquo;</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0063-0216/151524-1-eng-US/f0063-022.jpg" title="f0063-02" width="476" height="668"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>HEEL TURN</b> CM Punk proves his Hawks loyalty by trolling the rival L.A. Kings&rsquo; mascot on Twitter.</figcaption></div><span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span>

f0062-02

A FIGHTER OF ANOTHER BREED

<div class="byline">By Larry Humber</div><h2><b><b>CROSSWORD</b></b></h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0065-0418/151609-1-eng-US/f0065-042.jpg" title="f0065-04" width="457" height="457"><figcaption class="caption-body"><span class="photo-credit">(GUESS WHO: RICHARD WOLOWICZ/GETTY IMAGES; LAFFERTY: RICH POLK/GETTY IMAGES FOR CANON PROJECT IMAGINAT10N; MASK: DAVID GUNNARSSON/DAVEART.COM; JERSEY: MARK HVIDSTEN)</span></figcaption></div><p>ANSWERS AVAILABLE IN THE NEXT ISSUE AND AT <a href="http://THN.com/XWORD">THN.com/XWORD</a></p><p><b>LAST ISSUE&rsquo;S CROSSWORD SOLUTION ACROSS</b> 1. BRIAN, 8. THEODORE, 9. SCALP, 10. P.K. SUBBAN, 11. INANE, 14. OSHIE, 15. CHRIS, 20. STING, 21. TAMPA BAY, 22. TOPPS, 23. CAROLINA, 24. STAGS <b>DOWN</b> 2. RICK NASH, 3. ATLANTIC, 4. CHOKE, 5. BONUS, 6. BOBBY, 7. KENNY, 12. SHUTS OUT, 13. WINNIPEG, 16. STICK, 17. SMART, 18. FALLS, 19. DANNY</p><h3><b><b>ACROSS</b></b></h3><p>1 Detroit-based WHA team that originated in L.A. (or, parties for guys)</p><p>8 An infraction</p><p>9 Owen ___ is home of junior hockey&rsquo;s Attack</p><p>10 He&rsquo;s Maple Leafs president</p><p>11 Marc-___ Fleury, pictured</p><p>14 10 Across got 656 ___ in 21 NHL seasons</p><p>15 Puck over glass earns a __ of game penalty</p><p>20 Johnny Gaudreau was 2014 Hobey __ winner</p><p>21 Senators goalie Craig ___</p><p>22 There&rsquo;s also junior hockey in ___ Jaw</p><p>23 The ___ ___ Wales was an NHL conference until 1993</p><p>24 No one&rsquo;s better than this Blue in shootouts</p><h3><b><b>DOWN</b></b></h3><p>2 He changed teams in 2005, went on to be named MVP that season</p><p>3 Bobby Orr&rsquo;s junior team</p><p>4 Site of the last Olympics</p><p>5 One of the Mahovlichs</p><p>6 Cam Neely&rsquo;s old number</p><p>7 An unrestricted free ___ is available to all teams</p><p>12 They play at the Canadian Tire Centre</p><p>13 A teammate of 2 Down, he&rsquo;s also at center</p><p>16 Where Steven Stamkos plays</p><p>17 Ex-Leaf ___ Shack even had a song penned about him</p><p>18 A hat ___ is three goals in a game</p><p>19 Toronto&rsquo;s short-lived WHA team</p><h2><b>Behind THE <b>MASK</b></b></h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0065-0513/151602-1-eng-US/f0065-052.jpg" title="f0065-05" width="405" height="390"></div><p><b>HENRIK LUNDQVIST</b> | NEW YORK RANGERS</p><p>Doc Brown and Marty McFly collaborated on time travel. Now Lundqvist, artist Dave Gunnarsson and Michael J. Fox have joined forces for a <i>Back to the Future</i> mask, featuring the iconic DeLorean car, Fox as a cartoon fox and a nod to the famous movie poster.<b>&ndash; MATT LARKIN</b></p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0065-069/151595-1-eng-US/f0065-062.jpg" title="f0065-06" width="308" height="342"><figcaption class="caption-body">JACK <b>MCNEELY</b></figcaption></div><p><b>LAKEVILLE NORTH | 2014-15</b></p><h2><b>Jersey<b>HOUND</b></b></h2><p>This year&rsquo;s winner of the Minnesota state high school hockey tournament was the Lakeville North Panthers, and boy did they do it in style &ndash; on several levels.</p><p>Hockey-wise, the Panthers ran the table, going undefeated all season with a record of 31-0, beating Duluth East in the final. Sartorially speaking, the team was just as successful.</p><p>Rocking jerseys with a big Quebec Nordiques influence, Lakeville North had a great homage to the Nords, even paying reverence to the old NHL squad by making their &lsquo;N&rsquo; lower case. <b>&ndash; RYAN KENNEDY</b></p><h2><b>Guess <b>WHO!</b></b></h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0065-0126/151588-1-eng-US/f0065-012.jpg" title="f0065-01" width="237" height="286"></div><p><i>&ldquo;My 0.51 goals per game trails only Alex Ovechkin and Pavel Bure among Russian NHLers.&rdquo;</i></p><p><i>&ldquo;I finished second to my own teammate in 2001-02 Calder Trophy voting.&rdquo;</i></p><p><i>&ldquo;The NHL rejected my 17-year deal with the Devils, calling it salary cap circumvention.&rdquo;</i></p><p>Separated AT <b>BIRTH</b></p><div class="container"><div class="figure-block image-float"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0065-0223/151581-1-eng-US/f0065-022.jpg" title="f0065-02" width="106" height="196"></div><p><b>TOMAS TATAR</b></p><p>Plays with a lot of heart on the Detroit Red Wings. Deadly shooter from 15 feet out. Playoff MVP as a young AHLer</p></div><div style="clear: both;"></div><div class="container"><div class="figure-block image-float"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0065-0322/151574-1-eng-US/f0065-032.jpg" title="f0065-03" width="106" height="200"></div><p><b>JAMES LAFFERTY</b></p><p>Played heartthrob on <i>One Tree Hill.</i> Known for his deadly 15-foot jumper. MVP as a young high schooler.</p><p><b>Submitted by:</b> Paige Smith</p><p>Email your suggestions to <b><a href="mailto:sab@thehockeynews.com">sab@thehockeynews.com</a></b><span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p></div>

f0065-04

LAST MINUTE OF PLAY

<div class="byline">WITH KEN CAMPBELL</div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0066-0223/151638-1-eng-US/f0066-022.jpg" title="f0066-02" width="758" height="454"><figcaption class="caption-body">SIDNEY CROSBY <b>& ERIK KARLSSON</b> <span class="photo-credit">(ANDRE RINGUETTE/NHLI VIA GETTY IMAGES)</span></figcaption></div><div class="container"><div class="figure-block image-float"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0066-0126/151645-1-eng-US/f0066-012.jpg" title="f0066-01" width="85" height="104"></div></div><div style="clear: both;"></div><p class="dropcap"><b><span>A</span>S I SAT TO WRITE THIS IN LATE</b> March, the NHL was on pace to have its least productive Art Ross Trophy winner in more than 50 years. Sidney Crosby was projected to score 84 points, a mark Wayne Gretzky surpassed in 1987-88, his 10th-best season in the NHL, by Game No. 38. The NHL was on target to have one 50-goal scorer, and John Tavares, despite having just two points in six previous games, was still neck and neck with Crosby in the scoring race.</p><p>It&rsquo;s all a little perplexing. Leaguewide scoring is about the same as it has been the past three seasons, and there weren&rsquo;t an inordinate number of shutouts. To be sure, we&rsquo;re not back to the days of the Dead Puck Era. As a proponent of banning fighting, it pains me to say this, but perhaps weeding enforcers out of the game has been subject to the law of unintended consequences. As it turns out, having fighters sitting on the bench for most of the game gave star players more ice time and, conversely, more opportunities to score. Crosby&rsquo;s and Evgeni Malkin&rsquo;s ice time was down almost two minutes per game from last season. That&rsquo;s about 10 percent (and perhaps the difference between producing 84 and 92 points), Steven Stamkos&rsquo; ice time was down by 50 seconds.</p><p>Perhaps all this resting of star players during the season is going to produce great things in the playoffs. Maybe Crosby and Malkin, with fresh legs, are going to tear up the playoffs and post boffo numbers. Or perhaps the (looking for the word here) offensive malaise that seems to have crept into play this season will continue unabated.</p><p>And that&rsquo;s my biggest fear going into the playoffs. I watch a lot of games and I don&rsquo;t recall seeing this many that are lacking in excitement since before the 2004 lockout. I see defensemen now crosschecking opposing forwards in the back in front of the net with total impunity. I wonder why L.A.&rsquo;s Tyler Toffoli doesn&rsquo;t even have a hearing for his vicious hit from behind on a vulnerable Alexandre Burrows of the Canucks. I can&rsquo;t help but notice the hooks and trips and tugs that were called in past years are being either missed or ignored now. I wonder how someone who loves hockey so much can&rsquo;t be bothered to watch some games through to the end.</p><p>It seems, to these eyes anyway, the NHL is slowly, and just as importantly systematically, being dragged back into the muck that slowed the game to a halt more than a decade ago. It&rsquo;s probably taken a little longer than most of us would have thought, but it&rsquo;s happening. And with the playoffs on the horizon, history tells us we should expect it to be even worse then. There has always been the tacit understanding during the postseason that there is so much at stake referees, with the support of the league, loosen the standards. But when the standard has already eroded, being even more liberal with it could be a recipe for some very boring hockey.</p><p>And that&rsquo;s not good. This is a time of year when the excitement for the game is at its zenith. By virtue of the fact the lower half of the league has been cut out of the competition and the games are now for real, the playoffs should represent the sport at its best. With all this extra ice time Crosby and Malkin might be getting, it would be nice to see them be free to do what they do best.</p><p>There&rsquo;s a point to the notion that you want the players, not the officials deciding the game. We get that. But when the players who score the points and create the excitement are stifled at every turn, how is that not having a major impact on the outcome of the game? The playoffs have long been defined as a battle of attrition. Sometimes you wonder how the team that wins even has the energy to lift the 34.5-pound Stanley Cup over their heads. And we all love that it takes an enormous amount of resilience to win it. You should have to earn the right to possess something as beautiful as the Stanley Cup.</p><blockquote class="pullQuote"><b>&ldquo;I DON&rsquo;T RECALL SEEING THIS MANY GAMES LACKING IN EXCITEMENT SINCE BEFORE THE 2004 LOCKOUT</b></blockquote><p>But why does it always have to be a battle to score goals that defines the playoffs? Shouldn&rsquo;t it be just as difficult to stop players within the confines of the rulebook? Would it not take as much resilience, character and toughness to be able to keep the best players in the world at bay? And judging by the way some of the league&rsquo;s goaltenders have performed this season &ndash; Andrew Hammond, Devan Dubnyk and Cam Talbot, who knew? &ndash; they certainly don&rsquo;t need any more help.</p><p>I would hate to get back to the days when overtime was met with more of a sense of dread than excitement. The league would be taking a step backward if the late 1990s and early 2000s style of play came back into vogue. This is a time when there will be more eyeballs on the NHL than at any other point in the season. If the NHL truly wants its stars to shine, it must let them do it.<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

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