Welcome to NHL Predictions: Playoff Edition for May 24th. Each day, the Last Word On Hockey team will break down every game and give our NHL predictions for each game. These are predictions for the May 24th slate of games featuring the Toronto Maple Leafs vs Montreal Canadiens.
NHL Predictions With Toronto Maple Leafs vs Montreal Canadiens
New York Islanders vs Pittsburgh Penguins
Series: Tied 2-2
One team will be on the brink of elimination after these teams meet in the East Division. This series is deadlocked at two games apiece with little to separate the two teams through the first four games. The New York Islanders have had 10 different goal scorers in the 13 goals they have scored. Scott Mayfield and Jean-Gabriel Pageau lead the team in scoring with four points each. There could be a goaltending controversy brewing though. Semyon Varlamov has lost both of his starts posting a 3.61 goals-against average and a .902 save percentage. Ilya Sorokin has won both his starts with a 1.76 goals against and a .944 save percentage. Keep an eye on the starter in this one.
The Pittsburgh Penguins who finished first in the East Division, have struggled to get going in this series. Sidney Crosby has just one point (a goal) through four games. Evgeni Malkin has missed two games with injury. Only one player has more than one goal, and that is trade deadline acquisition Jeff Carter who has three. Add to that, goaltender Tristan Jarry has struggled with just a 3.04 goals-against average and .904 save percentage. Maybe the Pens can feel fortunate to be tied in the series. This should be a tight-checking game, that will be decided by one goal. Expect Crosby to have a say in this one.
Prediction: 3-2 Penguins
Toronto Maple Leafs vs Montreal Canadiens
Series: Tied 1-1
The Toronto Maple Leafs bounced back with a big 5-1 win on Saturday after losing the opener 2-1. Naturally, the bigger was loss was captain John Tavares who was injured in a horrific accidental collision with Corey Perry. He will not return this series, so the Leafs will need to rally for their captain. They will need to rely even more on Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner. They have five points between them in the first two games and lead Toronto in ice time (25:07 for Marner and 23:17 for Matthews). Trade deadline pickup Nick Foligno has moved up to centre the second line with Tavares out. There is no replacing a player of that calibre, but teams need to find a way in the playoffs. Veterans Joe Thornton and Jason Spezza will be asked to lead this group as well.
The Montreal Canadiens managed to win the opener in Toronto and will look to keep their advantage with a win at home. Scoring has been an issue for the Habs and just three goals in the first two games aren’t going to be enough. Leading goal scorer Tyler Toffoli (28 goals during the season) and company have their work cut out for them. The Leafs are a high-scoring team and you need to find a way to generate offence to keep up. Of course, goaltender Carey Price has the ability to steal games, as he showed in game one with 35 saves. But he hasn’t been at his best this season and gave up four in game two. Sadly, there will be no fans at the Molson Centre. There are few louder and more passionate fans than those in Montreal. Perhaps the comforts of home will be enough.
Prediction: 4-2 Maple Leafs
Tampa Bay Lightning vs Florida Panthers
Series: 3-1 Lightning
The Tampa Bay Lightning will look to close out this series on home ice tonight. This has been an incredible series with lots of goals (32 in four games) and penalties (166 minutes). Nikita Kucherov, who missed the entire regular season leads the playoff scoring race with nine points (3 goals and 6 assists). But there is a lot more to worry about as well. Victor Hedman (seven points), Alex Killorn (seven points), Steven Stamkos ( six points) and Brayden Point (five points) are also lighting it up. This is a deep, deep team with one of the best goalies in Andrei Vasilevskiy.
The Florida Panthers will not go quietly into their goodnight. They battled all year to earn second place in the Central. but this may seem an impossible task. Both Jonathan Huberdeau (2 goals, 6 assists) and Aleksander Barkov (one goal, four assists) have done their part. They are going to need more from their goaltending if they are to have any hope. Sergei Bobrovsky (5.33 goals-against average, .841 save percentage) and Chris Driedger (3.70 goals against, .871 save percentage) need to be a lot better. Can they flip the script and win three in a row? Probably not even one.
Prediction: 5-3 Lightning
Minnesota Wild vs Vegas Golden Knights
Series: 3-1 Golden Knights
The Minnesota Wild will try to keep their post-season alive. They have been handled rather easily by Vegas in the first four games. Outscored 12-4 and losers of three in a row, they will need to dig deep to keep this series going. Rookie of the year Kirill Kaprizov has been held to one point and only seven players have managed even a point in four games. The struggle is real. Can they get another 42 save shutout performance from Cam Talbot, like in Game 1?
The Vegas Golden Knights have looked every bit the Stanley Cup contender the oddsmakers have made them. They would very much like to wrap up this series and move onto the Colorado Avalanche ( who swept the St. Louis Blues four games to zero). Sixteen(!) players have found the scoresheet for Vegas in these playoffs, led by Mark Stone with three goals and one assist. And then there is Marc-Andre Fleury who has been sensational. He has a ridiculous 0.99 goals against and a .966 save percentage. I think the Wild players can start booking their tee times.
Prediction: 4-1 Golden Knights
Edmonton Oilers vs Winnipeg Jets
Series: 3-0 Jets
The Edmonton Oilers will try to avoid elimination and a sweep at the hands of the Jets. It won’t be easy after last night. They had a 4-1 lead with just 9 minutes left in the game and lost 5-4 in overtime. Connor McDavid was held pointless in the first two games before getting three assists last night. Likewise for Leon Draisaitl. Zero points in the first two games and two goals and one assist last night. You almost feel bad for the Oilers and their fans who came into this playoff with such hope. It’s not an impossible task to win four in a row, but it certainly does not look likely.
The Winnipeg Jets have hit their peak at just the right time. They stumbled into the postseason and had a number of injuries to key players. Pierre-Luc Dubois (2 assists) missed the opener and Nikolaj Ehlers played his first game last night. Ehlers scored two including the overtime winner. Goaltender Connor Hellebuyck is also finding his Vezina Trophy-winning form. He has a .958 save percentage in this series allowing just five goals. A sweep would give the Jets significant time off as the Leafs and Habs are only playing their third game. That may not be a good thing as the Jets are flying right now.
Prediction: get out the brooms…4-2 Jets
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