2021 NHL Playoffs Preview-East Division

Pittsburgh Penguins (1) v. (4) New York Islanders

PIT

Strengths: Star Power & Coaching-It is no secret who leads the Pittsburgh Penguins, it has been the same man for well over a decade now, Sidney Crosby. The NHL’s best all-around player is a huge reason why the Penguins are the top seed in the East Division. Crosby registered 62 points in 55 games for another point-per-game season and more so he did it with his fellow star center, Evegni Malkin, missing 23 games. Crosby is buoyed by a great coach in Mike Sullivan who, for a while, was considered a plug and play guy who was lucky to have star players to work with but this year he proved to be strong tactically, engineering a first place finish despite loads of injuries and two inexperienced goalies in net.

Weaknesses: Defense & Goaltending-The Penguins have been playing with fire on their defensive core for some years now. It has never been a high priority in their front office which is strange considering how important that position group is. Kris Letang still leads the way, and he has been good this season, while Brian Dumolin remains a shot blocking rock. The other defensemen, though, are questionable in different aspects of the game. Mike Matheson makes bone headed errors on the regular, John Marino lacks physicality, Marcus Petterson is at best average all-around, and Cody Ceci has enjoyed a bounceback season but still can’t be heavily relied upon. Their goalies are also young and inexperienced in the postseason with both Tristan Jarry and Casey DeSmith combining for 1 career playoff start. 

X-Factor: Jeff Carter-The Penguins big trade deadline acquisition is a former two-time Cup winner with Los Angeles who is strong in all aspects of the game. He still has solid speed for his age, a phenomenal shot, a high hockey IQ to make instinctive plays, and the size to engage physically. With Evegni Malkin out to start the series, Carter will be forced to play a bigger role, and if he can cash in with a goal contribution every game or so while playing in the top-6 then Pittsburgh can move on easily. 

NYI

Strengths: Balance & Coaching-The Islanders are not flashy and that is exactly what head coach Barry Trotz wants. The former Cup winning coach with Washington has transformed New York into a well oiled machine. Their hallmark is physicality and stifling defense that starts with a hounding forecheck. Ther fourth line is as effective as their first and their goal is to force turnovers and make you pay for them. This system is proven to work in the playoffs too as they went to the Eastern Conference Finals last year. 

Weaknesses: Reliable Goal Scoring-The downside to the system the Islanders play is that it doesn’t emphasize skill which is necessary to score when your team is down and needs a goal. Mat Barzal is one of the best players in the league when he is on but sometimes he can disappear in games where there isn’t much space to generate speed and maneuver effectively. The other top scorers on Long Island are Jordan Eberle and Anthony Beauvillier who require service in the offensive zone or need free space in the neutral zone to buzz down the wings in one-on-one situations. 

X-Factor: Pelech & Pulock-The shutdown defensive pairing for the Islanders is Adam Pelech and Ryan Pulock and they will be the key to the Islanders success because they have drawn the matchup with Sidney Crosby’s line. Pelech and Pulock are both big bodied, stay at home defenseman who will try to frustrate Crosby in company by finishing checks and maintaining strong gaps to limit goals on the rush and force Crosby to have to generate a cycle against a team that loves to play 5 man zone defense. 

Series Prediction: Penguins in 7 Games

It won’t be easy for the top seeded Penguins but they are a slightly better team and in the end their star power will come through. When Pittsburgh needs a goal they can turn to Crosby to create offense. When the Islanders need a goal you just don’t know where it will come from. 

Washington Capitals (2) v. (3) Boston Bruins

WSH

Strengths: Forward Depth & Experience-This Capitals team is as deep as any team in the playoffs up front. All 12 of their forwards bring different skill sets to the table that help their team win games. Their top-6 is loaded with skill and size, including 3 players that are 6’3’’ or taller, one of whom is Alex Ovechkin, arguably the greatest goal scorer of all time. Their bottom-6 is littered with strong role players including one of the best third line centers in the NHL, Lars Eller, and experienced players with Stanley Cup rings like Conor Sheary and Carl Hagelin. That experience is extremely valuable this time of year.

Weakness: Goaltending-The Capitals have actually gotten better goaltending than one would have expected considering the situation they were in to start the season. Expected 1B goalie, Henrik Lundqvist, never suited up for the Caps following the preseason discovery of a heart condition that required intensive surgery. Projected 1A goalie, Ilya Samsonov, started the season on the Covid-19 List and never truly gained the form Washington was expecting out of him and he is now back on the Covid-19 List to start the playoffs. Enter 3rd round rookie goalie Vitek Vanecek who played the most games in goal for Washington this season and actually did admirably until he injured his groin in game 1 which forced Craig Anderson into the net. Anderson is a 39 year old veteran with extensive experience but he was going into this season without a job until the Lundqvist issue forced Washington to sign Anderson to the practice/taxi squad and now he is projected to start game 2. Long story short, Washington is using its would-be 4th option in goal in the playoffs, that's not a good thing.

X-Factor: Anthony Mantha-Speaking of trade deadline acquisitions, Mantha was Washington’s big mid-season splurge. Washington forked over beloved top-6 winger Jakub Vrana to Detroit as well as a 1st and 2nd round pick (and 4th liner Richard Panik) for Mantha. It was arguably the biggest deal of the deadline and Mantha immediately paid dividends scoring 4 goals in his first 5 games in Washington before going cold down the stretch. If Washington wants to make a run, or even get past Boston, it needs Mantha to average around 0.50 goals per game considering his ice time in the top-6 and on the power play.

BOS

Strengths: Top-6 Forwards & Goaltending-Boston has had one of the best first lines in hockey now for years, that much is known. David Pastrnak-Patrice Bergeron-Brad Marchand (otherwise terribly known as the “Perfection Line”) is an elite trio that is dangerous in every faucet of the game. But their second line, long neglected by management, is more dangerous this year than ever before due to the trade deadline addition of Taylor Hall. The former Hart Trophy winner as league MVP showed his true potential with the Bruins and has also unlocked the true form of David Krejci, who has lacked an elite winger throughout his career. In goal Boston has Tuukka Rask who, despite the hate from unappreciative Bruins fans, is an elite goalie who can not just steal a game, but also a series. Not to mention he is rested after missing a solid junk of games mid-way through the season.

Weaknesses: Forward & Defense Depth-The Bruins are top heavy, there are no two ways around it. Their bottom-6 is not the worst group of forwards ever seen but it lacks clinicality and identity. Jake Debrusk is a solid goal scorer but he is coming off his worst season of his career. Charlie Coyle was at one time a potential second line guy before he too had the worst year of his career. What hurts Boston the most is the now effectiveness of former bottom-6 guys who they let walk/traded away, like Frank Vatrano and Noel Acciari, who could seriously give them upgraded depth over Chirs Wagner and Nick Ritchie who are more likely to take a dumb penalty than to help the team score or even play defense. The same can be said about their last defensive pairing of Jeremy Lauzon and Kevan Miller who pale in comparison to Washington’s Nick Jensen and Zdeno Chara, another guy who they let walk.

X-Factor: Charlie McAvoy-By letting their former captain Chara and fellow veteran defenseman Torey Krug walk this summer, Boston sent a clear message, McAvoy is the guy now. Charlie McAvoy answered the call this season too, putting up solid numbers with loads of ice time to go with it. His two-way play is dangerous and he can shut down opposing top players when he is on. But Boston needs him to be immense if they want to make a deep run. He quarterbacks the powerplay from the point and plays top penalty killing minutes while drawing the hardest 5v5 matchups. If his play is anything but A-rated then Boston doesn’t stand a chance in stopping Washington’s offense.

Series Prediction: Bruins in 7 Games

Personally this is a toss up for me. I think Washington is a better all around team but they are missing guys to start the playoffs. Boston is fully healthy for the first time all year and that includes a rejuvenated Taylor Hall. It could go either way but I am taking the team with the momentum going into the playoffs over a team that limped in due to injuries.