This article is part of our From the Press Box series.
Eastern Conference
Lightning vs. Rangers
Through two games of the series, we have seen the best of both teams. In Game 1, the Rangers squashed the Lightning attack, limiting them to only 24 shots and one goal (another one-goal game for the Blueshirts). The game was played in the tight-checking manner that the Rangers need to dictate if they want to win this series. It is telling that the only Lightning goal was scored with the man advantage, as it was indicative of the inability to create enough chances at even strength, but also a reminder that Tampa has a dynamic power play that has been lethal in the postseason. For their part, the Rangers showed that one of their key offensive tactics is based on the willingness of the majority of their forwards to go into the opposing net area. Both of the goals scored by New York in Game 1 were scored on plays in and around Ben Bishop's crease. People may sneer at the winning goal as it was a bit of a lucky one, going off Dominic Moore's knee, but the fact of the matter is the Rangers' attack is based on getting pucks to the net from all angles because they bring the traffic there.
In Game 2, Tampa got their offense untracked. Their team speed, led by Tyler Johnson (three goals) and skilled stars ran wild, particularly with three goals on that excellent power play. Heck, they even added a shorthanded tally.
Eastern Conference
Lightning vs. Rangers
Through two games of the series, we have seen the best of both teams. In Game 1, the Rangers squashed the Lightning attack, limiting them to only 24 shots and one goal (another one-goal game for the Blueshirts). The game was played in the tight-checking manner that the Rangers need to dictate if they want to win this series. It is telling that the only Lightning goal was scored with the man advantage, as it was indicative of the inability to create enough chances at even strength, but also a reminder that Tampa has a dynamic power play that has been lethal in the postseason. For their part, the Rangers showed that one of their key offensive tactics is based on the willingness of the majority of their forwards to go into the opposing net area. Both of the goals scored by New York in Game 1 were scored on plays in and around Ben Bishop's crease. People may sneer at the winning goal as it was a bit of a lucky one, going off Dominic Moore's knee, but the fact of the matter is the Rangers' attack is based on getting pucks to the net from all angles because they bring the traffic there.
In Game 2, Tampa got their offense untracked. Their team speed, led by Tyler Johnson (three goals) and skilled stars ran wild, particularly with three goals on that excellent power play. Heck, they even added a shorthanded tally. The last time Henrik Lundqvist yielded even five goals was on Nov. 17 against Tampa. Quietly, and very importantly, Bishop has once again held his own in the battle against a top goalie. He has given up only four goals (two in each game) to give his team a great chance to win both road games. Game 2 also showed what can happen when the Rangers are forced to open up their attack game, leaving them vulnerable when they are forced to take chances that are not in keeping with their normal approach.
Looking ahead, particularly with the next two games to be played in Tampa, the Lightning will able to dictate match ups with the last line change of players in their pocket. The Rangers have to be disciplined and may need to refrain from taking chances, striving for that important first goal to let them dictate the pace.
What is clear so far is that both clubs are blessed with a number of great skaters and that makes these games very visually interesting…good hockey is being played here.
Western Conference
Blackhawks vs. Ducks
Just like the Eastern final, the first two games of the Western final showed the best of each club. In Game 1, the Ducks imposed their physical will and got the Hawks on their heels, particularly when the top two lines got the cycle game going around Corey Crawford. Corey Perry, Ryan Getzlaf and Patrick Maroon were winning a large number of puck battles all over the ice. Even more telling was the fact that Ryan Kesler was winning a head-to-head battle against Jonathan Toews. That second unit was in on two goals and really put the momentum in Anaheim's corner for much of the night. Hampus Lindholm scored the opening goal, and that is significant in terms of highlighting the depth and skill of the Ducks' defense. That negates the tendency to award the Hawks an advantage when comparing most other defensive corps around the league.
In Game 2, the Hawks had to survive almost 120 minute of hockey before they were able to snatch a 3-2 win in triple overtime. What this game showed is that the Hawks can be a very patient team and raise their game to a level that has earned them two Stanley Cups in the last few years. The Ducks had them on the ropes, facing a 2-0 deficit in the series. The earlier story of the game also showed the Hawks' pedigree. They realized the importance of the game early on and dictated the early pace of this game. Power-play goals by Andrew Shaw and Marian Hossa in the first six minutes gave the Hawks the advantage and took some of the wind out the Ducks' sails. Credit the Anaheim squad for righting themselves and showing the fortitude to tie the game with a first period goal by Andrew Cogliano and a second period tip in by Corey Perry. From that point, the teams traded chances in almost four scoreless frames that were full of scoring chances. The game-winning goal came on a bit of a broken play when Brent Seabrook fired a knuckleball that hit Hawks winger Marcus Kruger, before he managed to bat the puck into the net.
It is a big result for Chicago to get a split of the first two road games. Now the pressure shifts to the Ducks to show that they are ready to take the next step and respond to a team that really knows how to win on this stage.
Coaching Carousel
Well, we have already seen coaches change locales with more fanfare than in recent years and the playoffs aren't even over yet. Todd McLellan was coaching Canada's gold medal winning team at the IIHF Championships. That is undoubtedly the high point of his career, but he can also point to an outstanding eight-year run at the helm in San Jose. Rumors swirled around him and the interest that was coming from the Edmonton Oilers. The rumors came to fruition and now McLellan has the reins of an attack that would be comparable to the star power that he has left behind in California. In fact, he probably learned something about a couple of his new players by working with Taylor Hall and Jordan Eberle at the recently concluded World Championships. He had them playing in a line with Sidney Crosby, and he can now look ahead and project top draft prospect Connor McDavid as the potential new center for those young stars.
The Philadelphia Flyers are a second team that made a quick decision to fill their coaching vacancy. General manager Ron Hextall turned to his own contacts and looked at the coach who oversaw his son's team at the University of North Dakota. Dave Hakstol led that program for the past 11 years and obviously Hextall got very good feedback and had a lengthy chance to really get a good gauge on this candidate. The hire is yet another one that reminds all observers that the Flyers do things differently from most teams. They did not follow the convention of hiring from a number of available and experienced NHL bench bosses.
The big fish, Mike Babcock, was out there and he asked the Red Wings for a window of opportunity to explore more opportunities before recommitting to Detroit. Many observers felt this was going to be a case when Babcock would satisfy himself that he would be in control of this process to see what kind of interest might be out there. Buffalo, St. Louis, San Jose and Toronto wooed him for about two weeks. These teams represented a range of very different opportunities, from teams with established cores to teams that were in varying stages of rebuilding.
In the end, Toronto won the Babcock sweepstakes by throwing a record eight-year, $50 million contract to move behind the Leafs' bench. Why would he choose the Leafs, arguably the worst situation of all contenders? The answer is very simple: he has a strong rapport with team president Brendan Shanahan. Babcock is guided by the combination of securing his future ($50 million will do that) and cementing his legacy. If he can lead the Leafs from their current depths and make them a Stanley Cup contender, he knows that he will go down in history as one of the greats. He has also raised the bar for all coaches. He wants to be THE MAN and gets the best chance to be the hero in the hockey mecca.
There are many other coaching changes that will follow and the Babcock experience will change the dynamic for other top coaches forever.
