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« Last post by Khushrenada on April 14, 2026, 01:55:54 AM »
Yep. Surprised they made it also. I thought it might be Columbus that would be the first round opponent for the Pens and was kind of hoping it would be since Pens have a good history of beating them in the playoffs and Blue Jackets don't have a history of taking cheap shots in playoff games. But losing 8 out of their last 10 games took them out of the picture and opened the door for Flyers. Same with Islanders suddenly falling apart near the end. They fired Roy for DeBeor so late in the season but that didn't stop the skid. Wild stuff in the NHL. Still, this is a different Flyers team than some past ones and Rick Tocchet spent some time helping coach in Pittsburgh so maybe it will be more respectful competition.
Meanwhile, the Ducks may have let their opportunity of winning their division slip through their fingers. I'd been joking early at the start of the season that the Ducks will make the playoffs and shock everyone by knocking out the Oilers in the first round but I was thinking the Oilers would be first in the division and the Ducks 4th. It's looking quite likely that the Oilers and Ducks will actually be meeting in the first round after all but I'm not so sure about them knocking out the Oilers. Oilers are looking weaker this year as goaltending continues to be an issue for them and Draisaitl injured. But Ducks are sort of collapsing and to end the season having lost 7 of their last 8 games. Not great momentum to be having going into the playoffs. Guess we'll see how the last two games go but losing to the lowly Vancouver Canucks does not inspire confidence. Honestly would have preferred to see Kings/Ducks and Knights/Oilers in the first round with 2015 No. 2 pick Eichel facing off against the No. 1 pick McDavid while the Kings/Ducks would finally get their second playoff match-up after their first one about 10 years ago. At least Cutter Gauthier is back. Can't mention the Ducks without bringing up that Philly reference.
Still, it has been an odd year in the NHL. Back-to-back champs of the Panthers not making the playoffs. Other recent regulars like the Winnipeg Jets, the Maple Leafs, and Rangers all out. Sabres, Mammoth, Ducks, and even Penguins and Flyers making it this year is a bit of a surprise. If Detroit and Blue Jackets could have found a way in as it seemed like they might for awhile there in the middle of the season then it really could have added to the unexpected shifting of fortunes it seems like the league was having this year. I curious to see how big of a factor experience might be for the playoffs this year. Kind of feels like Colorado, Tampa Bay, Carolina and Edmonton would be the favorites in each of those divisions if you are weighing it that way.
With Corey Perry playing for the Kings, we know who will be the Stanley Cup runner-up so it would seem the winner will be from the East. Will Buffalo shock everyone by winning their first cup and Lindy Ruff finally gets the job done after all these years? Overall, most teams in the league feel incomplete and have question marks about whether they could go all the way and it really feels like it should be the Avalanche winning it. Except Avalanche are in probably the best division right now and the first two round could be tougher than the Conference and Cup final depending on if they play Mammoth or Kings first and who comes out of the East.
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