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.