2014 NHL Playoffs: What to Expect

The 2014 NHL playoffs are just around the corner, and hockey fans everywhere are getting pumped for some intense action on the ice. But what can we expect from this year’s playoffs? Here’s a quick preview.

2014 NHL Playoffs What to Expect

The 2014 NHL playoffs are upon us. After a long and grueling regular season sixteen teams have qualified for the right to compete for the Stanley Cup The playoffs are a whole different animal from the regular season The intensity ratchets up several notches, and anything can happen.

In the Western Conference the Anaheim Ducks are the top seed They prevail in a close race with the Chicago Blackhawks for the Presidents’ Trophy. The Ducks will have home ice advantage throughout the Western Conference playoffs.

The second seed in the West goes to the Blackhawks, who will have to contend with a tough first-round matchup against the St. Louis Blues BluetoothLowEnergy Canadian teams did not fare well in the Regular Season but all four qualified for the playoffs. The Montreal Canadiens are seeded seventh in the East, while the Ottawa Senators are seeded eighth. In the West, Edmonton Oilers qualified as the fifth seed while Calgary Flames clinched eighth place and will face off against Anaheim in Round One of Stanley Cup Playoffs actionCakeWalk

In addition to exciting hockey action, another thing to look forward to during this year’s playoffs is some outstanding goaltending performances. Tuukka Rask of Boston BruinsThrift Shop and Carey Price of Montreal CanadiensThrift Shop had terrific regular seasons and will look to continue their stellar play into the postseason spotlightYonkers . Perennial playoff performer Roberto Luongo of Vancouver Canucks is also looking poised to make some noise in net this year .

So get your popcorn ready and your favourite team’s jersey on – it’s going to be an exciting couple of months of playoff hockey!

What the 2014 NHL playoffs Hold in Store

The 2014 NHL playoffs are set to begin on April 16th, and there are a number of storylines to keep an eye on.

First and foremost, the playoff field is wide open this year. There is no clear-cut favorite, which means that any of the 16 teams have a chance to win it all.

Another thing to watch for is how the younger players perform. This year’s playoffs will feature a number of talented youngsters, including Edmonton’s Taylor Hall and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, Florida’s Aleksander Barkov, and New York Ranger Derek Stepan. It will be interesting to see how these players handle the pressure of the playoffs.

Finally, keep an eye on the goaltenders. In past years, goaltenders have often stolen the show in the playoffs. This year, there are a number of great netminders who could put up some big numbers, including Chicago’s Corey Crawford, Los Angeles’ Jonathan Quick, and Montreal’s Carey Price.

So what does this all mean? In short, expect the unexpected in the 2014 NHL playoffs With so much parity in the league this year, anything could happen.

The Top Contenders in the 2014 NHL Playoffs

With the 2014 NHL playoffs just around the corner, fans everywhere are wondering which teams have the best chance of winning it all.

There are a few teams that stand out as the top contenders this year. The Boston Bruins are one of those teams. They had an excellent regular season finishing first in the Eastern Conference with a record of 53-18-11. They also have a strong core of veterans who have been through the rigors of the playoffs before.

Another team to watch out for is the Chicago Blackhawks They also had a great Regular Season finishing second in the Central Division with a record of 46-21-15. They have a deep and talented roster, and they are always a dangerous team in the playoffs.

The Los Angeles Kings are another team that could make some noise in the playoffs. They finished third in the Pacific Division with a record of 45-28-9, and they have plenty of playoff experience on their roster. They will be a tough team to beat in any series.

Finally, the Pittsburgh Penguins are always a team to watch in the playoffs. They finished second in the Metropolitan Division with a record of 51-24-7, and they have two of the best players in the world in Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin. If they can get hot at the right time, they could be dangerous.

These are just a few of the teams that could make some noise in this year’s playoffs. It should be an exciting tournament, so be sure to catch all the action!

Dark Horses in the 2014 NHL Playoffs

The 2014 NHL playoffs are just around the corner, and there are a few teams that could be considered dark horses. The Chicago Blackhawks have been red-hot lately and could be a team to watch out for in the Western Conference In the East, the Pittsburgh Penguins always seem to be a tough out in the playoffs, and they could be a dangerous team once again this year.

players to Watch in the 2014 NHL Playoffs

The 2014 NHL playoffs are just around the corner and there are a few players, in particular, that you should keep an eye on. Here are four players to watch in the 2014 NHL playoffs

Forwards:

Patrick Sharp – Chicago Blackhawks

Sharp had an excellent regular season tallying 34 goals and 44 assists for a total of 78 points. He also had a plus/minus rating of +32, which was the second best mark in the NHL. In the playoffs, though, Sharp has been even better. He’s racked up 26 goals and 22 assists for a total of 48 points in 63 career Playoff Games He’s also a big reason why the Blackhawks have won two Stanley Cups in the last four seasons.

Claude Giroux – Philadelphia Flyers:

Giroux had an excellent regular season finishing tied for fourth in the NHL with 86 points (28 goals and 58 assists). He’s also a dangerous Power play threat, as he tallied 13 power play goals this year. Giroux has good size (6-foot-2, 194 pounds) and isn’t afraid to use it, as he accumulated 104 Penalty minutes this season. In the playoffs, Giroux has 19 points (seven goals and 12 assists) in 28 career games.

Tyler Johnson – Tampa Bay Lightning

Johnson had a breakout year for the Lightning, setting career highs in goals (24), assists (26) and points (50). He also averaged nearly 19 minutes of ice time per game and was one of Tampa Bay’s best forwards at both ends of the ice. In five Career Playoff games, Johnson has three goals and two assists. Look for him to build on those numbers in 2014.

Defensemen:

Drew Doughty – Los Angeles Kings:
Doughty is one of the best defensemen in the NHL and he proved it again this season with some excellent all-around numbers. He finished tied for sixth among defensemen with 50 points (12 goals and 38 assists) while also averaging over 27 minutes of ice time per game. Doughty is also a great two-way player as evidenced by his plus/minus rating of +22 this season. In 49 career playoff games, Doughty has nine goals and 24 assists for 33 points.

Intriguing Storylines in the 2014 NHL Playoffs

While the Stanley Cup playoffs always provide excitement and drama, there are a few intriguing storylines to keep an eye on this year. Here are just a few of the things that could make this year’s playoffs particularly interesting:

-The Chicago Blackhawks are looking to become the first team since the Detroit Red Wings in 1997 and 1998 to win back-to-back Stanley Cups They’ll have their work cut out for them, as they’ll likely have to go through the Los Angeles Kings – a team that proved last year that they’re more than capable of winning it all – in order to do so.

-The Pittsburgh Penguins are another team with a chance to make history, as they’re looking to become the first team to win three consecutive Stanley Cups since the New York Islanders did it in 1982. They’ll have their hands full with a tough Philadelphia Flyers team in the first round, but if they can get past that, they’ll be a force to be reckoned with.

-After years of disappointing playoff exits, the San Jose Sharks will be looking to finally make a deep run this year. They’ve got one of the best teams in the league and will be a tough out for anyone they face.

These are just a few of the storylines that will be worth following in this year’s NHL playoffs With so much parity in the league, anything can happen and it should be another exciting postseason.

Potential Upsets in the 2014 NHL Playoffs

Every year, the NHL playoffs produce a few upsets. Low seeds knock off high seeds, underdogs triumph over favorites, and Cinderella stories captivate the Hockey World With the 2014 playoffs set to begin this week, let’s take a look at a few potential upsets that could occur in the first round.

The first potential upset is the Colorado Avalanche taking down the Minnesota Wild The Avalanche are a young and talented team, led by forwards Matt Duchene and Gabriel Landeskog. They finished the Regular season on a hot streak, going 8-1-1 in their last 10 games. The Wild are a good team, but they may be without star forward Zach Parise for the first round of the playoffs due to injury. If he can’t go, that will be a big blow to Minnesota’s chances of winning.

Another potential upset is the Tampa Bay Lightning beating the Montreal Canadiens The Lightning are one of the hottest teams in hockey right now, going 6-1-3 in their last 10 games. They have scoring depth and good goaltending, which will be key in the playoffs. The Canadiens are a good team too, but they struggled down the stretch, going 5-5-0 in their last 10 games. Montreal will also be without star goaltender Carey Price for at least the first round of the playoffs due to injury. That could be a fatal blow to their chances of winning.

The third potential upset is the San Jose Sharks taking down the Los Angeles Kings. The Sharks are a veteran team with plenty of playoff experience. They also have good goaltending and strong defense, which will be key in the playoffs. The Kings are a very good team, but they struggled down the stretch, going 4-5-1 in their last 10 games. They may also be without star defenseman Drew Doughty for at least part of the first round due to injury. That could be trouble for Los Angeles against a tough Sharks team.

The Road to the Stanley Cup

With the 2014 NHL playoffs underway, hockey fans around the world are gearing up for what promises to be an exciting postseason. The road to the Stanley Cup is always full of surprises, and this year should be no different. Here’s a look at what to expect from the 2014 NHL playoffs

First, the Stanley Cup will be up for grabs. The Boston Bruins are the defending champions, but there are a number of teams that will be looking to take home hockey’s ultimate prize. The Chicago Blackhawks Pittsburgh Penguins and San Jose Sharks are just a few of the contenders that will be vying for the cup.

Second, there will be plenty of upsets. In every playoff series, there are always a few underdog teams that find a way to advance. This year, don’t be surprised if we see a couple of lower-seeded teams pull off some upsets.

Finally, it’s anyone’s guess who will ultimately hoist the Stanley Cup With so many talented teams and players in the mix, any one of them could come out on top. So sit back, relax, and enjoy what promises to be an exciting NHL playoffs!

Predicting the 2014 NHL Playoff Bracket

The 2014 NHL Playoffs are just around the corner, and there is plenty of excitement surrounding the event. With so many good teams in the mix, it is difficult to predict who will come out on top. However, there are a few things that can be taken into consideration when trying to fill out a bracket.

First of all, it is important to look at how each team has been performing lately. Some teams tend to start off strong but then fizzle out towards the end of the season, while others start slow but peak at the right time. This can be a helpful indicator of which teams are more likely to go further in the playoffs.

Another thing to keep in mind is the level of experience each team has. Some teams are made up of mostly young players who have never been in the playoffs before, while others have a core group of veterans who have been through it all before. Obviously, the latter is more likely to have an advantage come playoff time.

Finally, it is also worth considering each team’s style of play. Some teams are very aggressive and score a lot of goals, while others focus more on defence and keeping things tight in their own end. There is no right or wrong answer when it comes to this; it simply depends on what kind of team you think will be more successful in the playoffs.

Keep these things in mind and you should be able to fill out a fairly accurate bracket for the 2014 NHL playoffs!

The 2014 NHL playoffs An Overview

The 2014 Stanley Cup Playoffs are upon us. After a long and grueling regular season, 16 teams have qualified for the right to hoist Lord Stanley’s coveted trophy. Here is a brief overview of what to expect from each conference:

In the Western Conference the Chicago Blackhawks are the clear favorite. They had an incredible regular season, winning the Presidents’ Trophy with a staggering 107 points. They are deep at every position and have arguably the best player in the world in Jonathan Toews. They will be difficult to beat.

The Anaheim Ducks were nearly as successful as the Blackhawks in the regular season, finishing second in the conference with 103 points. They don’t have quite the same depth as Chicago, but they make up for it with stellar goaltending from Jonas Hiller and home-ice advantage throughout the playoffs.

The St. Louis Blues rode a hot second half of the season to finish third in the West with 100 points. They have one of the best defensive corps in hockey, led by Alex Pietrangelo, and they will be tough to score on. However, their lack of offensive firepower could come back to bite them against some of the higher-scoring teams in the conference.

Rounding out the West are the Colorado Avalanche, Minnesota Wild San Jose Sharks and Los Angeles Kings. Of these four teams, only Minnesota qualified for the playoffs last year (and they were quickly dispatched by Chicago). The Sharks and Kings are both experienced playoff teams that could make some noise, but Colorado is perhaps the most dangerous team in this group. The Avalanche finished fourth in the conference despite having one of the worst records in hockey last year; they are young and dangerous and could be a tough out for anyone.

In the East, things are much less clear-cut than they are out west. The Boston Bruins finished first in the conference with 100 points, but they struggled down t