The Bolts will be the one seed. Opponent is currently unknown for round 1, but we know it will be the 2nd wild card.
The Bruins and the Maple Leafs will be the 2nd and 3rd seeds in the Atlantic Division and will play each other round 1. They are actually 2nd and 3rd in points, but will face each other in round 1 because the Capitals are leading the Metro. The winner will face the winner of the Bolts and the TBD 8th seed in the Eastern Conference Semis.
The top 3 in the Metro are currently in flux. It looks like the Capitals will win the metro, but that is far from a guarantee. Whoever wins the metro will play the first wild card. The 2nd and 3rd place teams will face each other.
Now let's look at the possible matchups for Tampa in Round 1. Let's start with most likely and move to least likely. We will leave out the Capitals and assume they don't fall down to the 2nd wildcard.
Possible Matchup 1: Columbus Blue Jackets
The Columbus Blue Jackets are currently 5th in the metro and are 2nd in the wild card with 81 points. The Blue Jackets are tied with the Canadians, but listed as the current playoff matchup for Tampa if the season ended today.
Tampa is 3-0 against Columbus this season
Bolts 8 Columbus 2 on 10/13
Bolts 4 Columbus 0 on 1/8
Bolts 5 Columbus 1 on 2/18
This is a great matchup for the lightning. Tampa has won by 4 goals in each matchup and are a matchup nightmare for Columbus. There is no way that Tampa should be upset with this matchup.
Possible Matchup 2: Montreal Canadians
The Montreal Canadians are currently 4th in the Atlantic and just outside the playoff picture. However, they are tied with a Columbus Blue Jackets team that is the 2nd wild card. Both teams sit at 81 points and it is still quite likely that Tampa could play Montreal in Round 1.
Tampa is 3-0 against Montreal this season
Bolts 4 Montreal 1 on 11/3
Bolts 6 Montreal 5 on 12/29
Bolts 3 Montreal 0 on 2/16
The Bolts won 3 straight matchups with the Canadians. This is a good matchup for Tampa, but a little bit tougher than Columbus. Each of the games with Montreal were decided by 3 goals or less. Still a good matchup for Tampa, but not quite as good as Columbus.
Possible Matchup 3: Carolina Hurricanes
The Carolina Hurricanes are currently 4th in the metro and projected to be the 1st wild card. They'd be playing the metro division champ in round 1 if the season ended today. They have 83 points right now, which is just 2 points ahead of both Columbus and Montreal. It is quite possible that this could be the round 1 matchup.
The Lightning still have 1 matchup remaining with the Hurricanes. They will play Carolina on Thursday 3/21 @ 7 pm.
Tampa is 2-0 currently against the Hurricanes
Bolts 4 Carolina 2 on 10/16
Bolts 3 Carolina 1 on 1/10
Tampa Bay won each matchup by 2 goals against Carolina. That first matchup if you remember was a game in which Tyler Johnson had a hat-trick. Johnson was simply dominant in that first matchup and Domingue was pretty good as well. Carolina has a lot of talent, but Tampa should handle them easily.
The Lightning still have 1 matchup remaining with the Hurricanes. They will play Carolina on Thursday 3/21 @ 7 pm.
Tampa is 2-0 currently against the Hurricanes
Bolts 4 Carolina 2 on 10/16
Bolts 3 Carolina 1 on 1/10
Tampa Bay won each matchup by 2 goals against Carolina. That first matchup if you remember was a game in which Tyler Johnson had a hat-trick. Johnson was simply dominant in that first matchup and Domingue was pretty good as well. Carolina has a lot of talent, but Tampa should handle them easily.
Possible Matchup 4: Philadelphia Flyers
The Philadelphia Flyers are currently 6th in the metro and on the outside looking in currently. They have a lot of work to do in order to get to the postseason. Philly is 5 points behind Montreal and Columbus for that 2nd wild card. This team probably won't make the postseason, but they have a shot to do so.
The Lightning went 3-0 against the Flyers this year.
Bolts 6 Flyers 5 on 11/17 (OT)
Bolts 6 Flyers 5 on 12/27 (OT)
Bolts 5 Flyers 2 on 2/19
Tampa Bay is 3-0 against the Flyers, but they had some close calls. 2 of the 3 wins were 6-5 victories in overtime. Both of the overtime games featured late leads that the Lightning gave up and overcame the late lapses. That November 11th game featured a game winner in overtime from Anthony Cirelli from Alex Killorn. The December 27th game featured the opposite. Killorn won that one late from Cirelli. So we want to make sure Killorn and Cirelli get plenty of ice time if the matchup is Philly.
The Lightning went 3-0 against the Flyers this year.
Bolts 6 Flyers 5 on 11/17 (OT)
Bolts 6 Flyers 5 on 12/27 (OT)
Bolts 5 Flyers 2 on 2/19
Tampa Bay is 3-0 against the Flyers, but they had some close calls. 2 of the 3 wins were 6-5 victories in overtime. Both of the overtime games featured late leads that the Lightning gave up and overcame the late lapses. That November 11th game featured a game winner in overtime from Anthony Cirelli from Alex Killorn. The December 27th game featured the opposite. Killorn won that one late from Cirelli. So we want to make sure Killorn and Cirelli get plenty of ice time if the matchup is Philly.
Possible Matchup 5: Pittsburgh Penguins
The Pittsburgh Penguins are currently 3rd in the metro and would be playing the Islanders in round 1. Pittsburgh has 85 points which is 4 points in front of the 2nd wild card. I'd assume that the Penguins finish in the top 3 of the metro. That being said, it's not impossible to consider that Pittsburgh will play Tampa in Round 1.
Tampa went 2-1 against the Penguins this season
Bolts 4 Pittsburgh 3 on 11/15
Bolts 2 Pittsburgh 4 on 1/30
Bolts 5 Pittsburgh 4 on 2/9
This is the one that jumps out at you as a 1st round matchup that isn't ideal. The Penguins have a lot of star power and playoff success. That isn't a team that you typically like to see round 1. They also present something that the other options to this point have not, they beat the Lightning this season. Pittsburgh looked dang food in that win back in January too. The team even holds a goal differential lead over Tampa. Just not the best scenario, but like I've said before, Tampa is loaded.
Tampa went 2-1 against the Penguins this season
Bolts 4 Pittsburgh 3 on 11/15
Bolts 2 Pittsburgh 4 on 1/30
Bolts 5 Pittsburgh 4 on 2/9
This is the one that jumps out at you as a 1st round matchup that isn't ideal. The Penguins have a lot of star power and playoff success. That isn't a team that you typically like to see round 1. They also present something that the other options to this point have not, they beat the Lightning this season. Pittsburgh looked dang food in that win back in January too. The team even holds a goal differential lead over Tampa. Just not the best scenario, but like I've said before, Tampa is loaded.
Possible Matchup 6: New York Islanders
The New York Islanders are currently 2nd in the metro and would be playing Pittsburgh in round 1. New York has 87 points which is 6 in front of the 2nd wild card. Their current point total makes me believe that they will finish in the top 3 of the metro. I personally can't rule them out as a round 1 opponent though.
Tampa went 2-1 against the Islanders this season
Bolts 4 New York 2 on 11/8
Bolts 1 New York 5 on 1/13
Bolts 1 New York 0 on 2/1 in a shootout
New York has been a really solid team this year and also holds a goal differential lead on the Lightning in head to head play. The lightning have a winning record though and won the two close games. Tampa's loaded squad should be good to go if they play New York unless they beat themselves. This matchup seems quite unlikely though.
Tampa went 2-1 against the Islanders this season
Bolts 4 New York 2 on 11/8
Bolts 1 New York 5 on 1/13
Bolts 1 New York 0 on 2/1 in a shootout
New York has been a really solid team this year and also holds a goal differential lead on the Lightning in head to head play. The lightning have a winning record though and won the two close games. Tampa's loaded squad should be good to go if they play New York unless they beat themselves. This matchup seems quite unlikely though.
So Who Do The Lightning Want To Play?
After all of this I have told you, the Lightning should want anyone, anywhere, at anytime. The Bolts have arguably the best goalie in the NHL in Andrei Vasilevsikiy, arguably the best player in the league in Nikita Kucherov, and arguably the best defender in Victor Hedman. From top to bottom the team is loaded. There are some matchups that are better than others, but.....
The Lightning shouldn't be scared of anybody. This team was built to be Stanley Cup Champions and should deliver. There is a good chance that even if they don't play one of these teams in the first round, they could play later on. A team like Pittsburgh screams of a team that could challenge Tampa in the Eastern Conference Final. While they should not fear anyone, they should be ready for anyone. This is arguably the most coveted prize in sports and it won't come to the Lightning easy.
It will be a fun ride no matter what.
- Noland
No comments:
Post a Comment