Editor In Leaf
Fansided

NHL Playoffs 2021: A look at Teams Other Than the Toronto Maple Leafs

By Andrew Kogut

TORONTO, ONTARIO - JULY 28: The Toronto Maple Leafs and the Montreal Canadiens line up for the Canadian national anthem before an exhibition game prior to the 2020 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Scotiabank Arena on July 28, 2020 in Toronto, Ontario. (Photo by Andre Ringuette/Freestyle Photo/Getty Images)
TORONTO, ONTARIO - JULY 28: The Toronto Maple Leafs and the Montreal Canadiens line up for the Canadian national anthem before an exhibition game prior to the 2020 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Scotiabank Arena on July 28, 2020 in Toronto, Ontario. (Photo by Andre Ringuette/Freestyle Photo/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
2 of 4
Next
TORONTO, ON – OCTOBER 18: Sidney Crosby #87 of the Pittsburgh Penguins  . (Photo by Claus Andersen/Getty Images)
TORONTO, ON – OCTOBER 18: Sidney Crosby #87 of the Pittsburgh Penguins  . (Photo by Claus Andersen/Getty Images) /

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

The Islanders finished 20th in goals scored during this regular season but that all changed once they got to face off against playoff Tristan Jarry.

New York scored 21 goals in the six games as four different players notched 3 tallies each. Jarry played to an abysmal .888 save %, Sidney Crosby could only muster a single goal and two points and so Pittsburgh ends up with another disappointing playoff performance.

Anthony Beauvillier and John Gabriel-Pageau both had a team-leading seven points for NY and Ilya Sorokin was a standout in net, supplanting Varlamov, as he finished with a .943 save % in 4 games. And yup, I completely botched this pick.

Result: NYI in 6

My Bracket: Pittsburgh in 6

Edmonton Oilers (2) vs. Winnipeg Jets (3)

I’m sure people expected more from Connor McDavid this series (1 goal, 4 points) but let’s face it, the team is essentially him and Leon Draisaitl (2 goals, 5 points).

Winnipeg, despite the issues they had down the stretch and the Oilers’ strong regular season success against them, simply had too much skill and depth for Edmonton to compete with, particularly when they also had playoff Connor Hellebuyck to Edmonton’s aged Mike Smith (who, to his credit, played quite well this year and finished with a .912 save % this series).

Jets finished with an overall 14-8 edge in goals, led by Mark Scheifele and Blake Wheeler (5 points apiece).

Result: Winnipeg in 4

My Bracket: Winnipeg in 6

Home/Analysis