So this is the new gig, or the coming out of retirement gig, and I’m happy to be back with friends and writers here at Hockey Hot Stove. If any of you were around long ago, there used to be a CBC segment that aired in the second period of the prime time game called the Satellite Hot Stove. Ron MacLean was the host, and he had 2-3 guests, and they usually were John Davidson and Al Strachan. At the time, Davidson was with MSG Networks broadcasting Rangers games, and Strachan was with the Toronto Sun. Other guests came and went, like Eric Duhatschek, but the premise was discussing insider news and debating good old-fashioned rumors.
I liken this project and my contributions to that bygone era of media on the CBC. In past versions of writing, I have covered the Jets and Canucks but this time around I won’t focus too much on any team but perhaps more around issues, Canada teams, stirring the pot a bit, and of course have some fun. Topics will be varied and not team-focused either, though you might see a bit more interest in some particular teams. I’ll throw in some data thoughts too and try to make a point or two with some quantitative evidence as well.
So there’s the introduction and preview of what to expect, and now let’s dive into it.
What did we learn from Round 1?
1. Officiating
The existential question of ‘what is a penalty’ never ceases to be relevant when the playoffs start. It should be no surprise, but it always is, that the norms of the regular season are far from consistent or practiced in the playoffs.
Frankly, it’s frustrating, and if social media and arena reactions are any indication, fans are feeling the same way. Go back four years and ask this: why did Mark Scheifele get four games for charging and leaving his feet on Jake Evans, and why did Brayden Schenn not get the same thing?
That’s just one example of year of year consistent inconsistency, but the point remains the same: just what is a penalty in the postseason?
2. Goaltending
There are only two goalies moving into the second round that have a league average of .912 or higher. Likely Vezina winner and possible Hart candidate was beyond awful by the numbers over 7 games, and only Frederik Andersen and Logan Thompson are above .920 in the postseason.
For Vegas, Winnipeg, Florida, Edmonton, and Toronto, the goaltending has to improve if they are going to move on. Of those teams, only the Oilers and Panthers have the current horsepower to consistently score 4 or more goals a few times in a series.
3. DoPS
This ties in with officiating and, more than anything else, it suggests purpose. Chris Pronger made a thread on X about the Anthony Stolarz – Sam Bennett incident and raised one point that I think needs to be considered. What is the qualitative evidence? I’ll add that we don’t really know what quantitative evidence is as DoPs sees it, so it’s hard to know what they take into consideration, even after a video explanation. The issue that seems consistent with the officiating one is that there is still a reluctance (seemingly) to influence the outcome. However, being reluctant, they are still having an influence.
4. Unsung Heroes Appeared Early
In the first round of the playoffs, the stars usually have a bit of an easier time gathering points, and many di,d but was it time for heroes already? Take Cole Perfetti in game seven versus the Blues, who had him on their bingo card? How about Cam Fowler, who would be a hero had the Blues won the series with 10 points?
Did anyone see Mikko Rantanen having two consecutive hat-trick games? After finishing the season rather lackluster on his third team, he had come alive when the Stars needed it most. Yes, not truly unsung, but perhaps that output was unexpected given the regular season.
Throw out another Jet in Mason Appleton, 7 points in the first round, and one of the team’s leading scorers thus far.
5. Two-Game Leads In A Series
In the first round, only two series did not have a two-game lead. One of those went to 7 games in dramatic fashion, and the only other 7-game series was the Blues and Jets, which also started with a two-game series lead.
Not sure there’s anything significant about the lead, but it sure makes the odds makers take notice. Now that the betting lines are everywhere, does it have an effect on influencing the casual fan to put down a wager? The teams that did go up 2-0 seemed to wrap up the series or not (sorry, LA) in 5 or 6 games and with relative ease. Does that have an impact in rest, injuries, or more? I haven’t looked, but I don’t recall a first round with as many 2-0 leads as this year, and that could be something to watch, particularly as the Leafs have done it again so far in their second-round series with Florida.
As for the playoffs in general, I have a horse in the race, but I’m not going to write too much about them. Let’s find the oddball takes and have some discussion, and keep putting the hot in the hot stove.
