A look at the first round of the NHL playoffs Globe_Sports
Jan 12, 2019; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Maple Leafs forward William Nylander and Boston Bruins defenseman Kevan Miller battle for the puck in Toronto on Jan. 12, 2019. The Bruins and Leafs will meet in the first round for the second straight spring after Boston beat Toronto in seven games last April. Tampa Bay Lightning versus Columbus Blue Jackets
The class of the NHL during the regular season, the Lightning tied a league record with 62 wins. Led by NHL scoring ace Nikita Kucherov, captain Steven Stamkos, star defenceman Victor Hedman and Vezina Trophy candidate Andrei Vasilevskiy in goal, the battle-tested Presidents’ Trophy winners look primed for a long playoff run. The East’s second wild-card team, the Blue Jackets, breathed a huge sigh of relief when they secured a playoff spot Friday.
Another feel-good story of 2018-19, the Islanders surprised many observers under the leadership of new head coach Barry Trotz. Despite losing Tavares to the Leafs in free agency, New York came together thanks in large part to team defence backstopped by the goalie tandem of Robin Lehner and Thomas Greiss. Mathew Barzal, the Islanders’ top point-getter with 62, tied for 67th in the NHL scoring race. The Penguins lost to the Capitals in the second round last spring following back-to-back Cup wins.
Winnipeg had a major breakthrough last season, making it to the conference final before falling to Vegas. With a forward group featuring Blake Wheeler, Mark Scheifele and Patrik Laine, the Jets can fill the opposition net, but like San Jose, have a question mark in goal with the so-so play of Connor Hellebuyck. There are no such concerns with the Blues, who sat tied for last overall on Jan. 1, but rebounded thanks in large part to stellar rookie netminder Jordan Binnington.
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