Pens Looking Strong

The NHLP East Division is incredibly tight and Cup hopes are clearly on the line in the first round. GM Chad has scored well in Pittsburgh. The Pens 10 is the round high along with New Orleans (Shawn) after three days of the playoffs. Pittsburgh leads 10-7 and although extended man games, Zuccarello missing the game is cause for concern. He is listed as day to day. Zuccarello had 3 big points in game one and is a CTR projected point a game player in the first round. GM Matt’s Nordiques will need Tampa Bay coming back as they are bringing a second-round low of just 9 no matter their opponents. Chad is looking like a easy favorite over Memphis who is leading 5-3.  GM Charlie has an incredible opportunity, only down by 2 points but with McDavid and currently a projected 25 points next round, which in any situation would be a monster mash with the Pens. Charlie knows what it is like to run with the best player, his Rangers doing it in 2021 with Kucherov. McDavid through up a zero in game one and the Oilers won. This was the first time all season the Oilers won a game when McDavid didn’t get a point. This is a good sign for Charlie’s Rangers. No matter how it is sliced Memphis and New York are neck and neck. For Jr he likely could use the extra man games from Boldy and Yurov and knows if the Wild advance and the Habs don’t, Memphis is back in the mix. Even know Jr’s Machine have enough to beat out the Nordiques next round, as long as he doesn’t advance with Tampa Bay. This is really fun watching this Division battle.

Quid diaboli accidit?

GM Scottie’s Hamilton Hitmen just can’t score out of the gate. Painfully down 6-2 to the misfits from Philadelphia. There is just so much potential in Hamilton. If Edmonton goes on with Colorado and Vegas, this team is a powerhouse. Right now, Scottie has 28 second round points versus about 29-31 from Montreal (Marcel) depending on if Minny or Dallas advance in their NHL series. Montreal is all in on the Habs, so without them they pose zero threat. Hamilton isn’t supposed to beat Philadelphia who are a sizable 6-point favorites. The Flyer’s Ducks players outscored the Hitmen’s Oilers 4-0 in game one. This matchup favors GM Scott 23-14. Scottie needs a sweep, which is possible. If the Oilers did sweep logic says they won’t be losing 4-0 in this matchup if the Oilers are winning. If Hamilton cannot find a way to win this series, Montreal or the NY Islanders should be locks next round. The Habs are up 9-6 over the Islanders. GM Ryan has such a good team himself with Edmonton winning, about 27-28 second round points as is. That is enough for this team to run. With Draisaitl and Nugent-Hopkins, what the CTR had as a weak Division suddenly looks like an unstoppable one. Ryan needs Tampa to hold down Montreal in their series. Marcel was able to score 5 from his four Habs in Game #1. Ryan is a heavy underdog in this tilt, so must slow Marcel down and keep it close. The best way to do that is likely a four-game sweep by the Habs, with less scoring from Marcel’s players and a long seven games from Ryan’s Oilers pair, with the game 7 going his way. After that an Oilers run could be more then a dream playoff in 2026.

Canucks and Blues – Lone Greens?

After game ones are completed, GM Joel in Vancouver, the CTR #3 and projected West Conference NHLP Finals representative is off to an all green round. GM Scottie in St Louis, the CTR projected second round matchup and 8^th overall will join Joel with 8 green players with an Oilers win to complete the NHL’s first games. “This would be a massive second round battle” stated Muddy Capone, “38-37 if all sixteen players made it through.” The Canucks are up 8-4 while the Blues down one with Bouchard, Hyman and Ekholm versus Seattle’s McTavish for GM Shawn. It would appear the Blues will have the lead after even games but will they join the Caucks in Green land?  

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Flames Set to Take Series Lead

The CTR #9, but favorite to come out of the Pacific Division, GM Jr is set to reclaim the lead in his first round series. The high-scoring Flames are down 3-1 but half the team has yet to play a game one. Terry, Hymen, Carlson and Killorn who should combine for about just over 3 between them, per game, should be enough to put GM Jr’s team back in front. With the second round matchups calling code red after game one, the Flames are loving the smell of teams cup hopes burning for their second round matchup. With Colorado (Chad) up 5-4 over GM Andrew’s Kings, the two teams between them wouldn’t have enough points next round to douse the Flames. After this if Jr gets the Avalanche to run and the right matchup from the project strong teams in the West Division, the team could fair well in the Conference Finals. It is early, but the round goes by fast, so Jr doesn't want to let the Winter Hawks get any momentum with MacKinnon always a threat to light it up.

A Run for the Ages

In 63 days the NHLP will crown the 36^th Champion in league history. For one GM these next two months will be like a run they have never experienced. The highs and lows of NHLP playoffs is like nothing most people every experience. GM Andrew will be looking for the feeling for a 7^th time, having previously won Six Championships in his first 29 seasons. For Andrew and Jr this is season number 30 in the NHLP, only behind GM Marcel at 31 and GM Scott who has been around for all 36 seasons. For GM’s Chad and Scott, they are trying to tie Andrew with a sixth cup win. Chad won back-to-back in NHLP seasons 33 and 34 while GM Scott has not won since Cup #24, in the 2013-14 seasons, a record for him 12 seasons ago. GM Andrew won his last the year after Scott, so an 11 year drought for Andrew. In recent years the NHLP has seen a run of first time winners including GM Shawn in 2018-19, GM Charlie in 2020-21, GM Bryce in 2021-22 and last seasons the reigning Champion GM Matt won his first Cup in his 17^th season. GM Ryan in his 24^th season has the longest drought in league history without winning a Cup while GM Joel is 19 winless seasons in. GM Scottie is just in his second NHLP season. GM Scott said the emotions run high. “I am truly happy for everyone who wins for I know the feeling” Scott said, “But it isn’t fun being knocked out, for you put in the most part of a year, just to fall short, is a very humbling experience.”  For one lucky GM he will look back at this run with an unforgettable memory and bragging rights in the upcoming season. The NHLP wishes all GM’s the best of luck. Its going to be a wild ride.