PLAYOFF PREVIEW - PACIFIC

Mario Russo & Evan Davis

CGY - DAL

Over the past year, hockey fans witnessed the full-blown revamping of the Calgary Flames. After an underachieving 2020 campaign that saw the Alberta side finish below .500 for the first time in four years, the ‘Big Red Machine’ redefined the meaning of rebound, with head coach Darryl Sutter pocketing the key to the team’s success thus far. A coherent goaltending tandem, numerous career seasons, and a fearsome lineup turned one of the nation’s biggest disappointments to a perceptual powerhouse in the west.

In many cases, the success fulfilled throughout the regular season typically fails to convert to any sort of celebration come playoff time, yet this series may very well be the lonesome exception in the first round.

The offensive production seen from the Flames camp all season long shows very little sign of slowing down come game one, with players such as prospective MVP finalist Johnny Guadreau continuing to lead the way for the sea of red.

With all the hype and high anticipation surrounding the Flames this postseason, what is expected of their first round opposition in the Dallas Stars? Playing do-or-die hockey on a nightly basis will likely fail to do any favors for the heavy underdogs who appear outmatched in every relying facet on the ice.

Like all underdogs in the postseason, a goaltender with a flamethrower can torch just about any team in the league. However, with the likes of Jake Ottinger and Scott Wedgewood tasked with holding the last line defense for the Stars, torching the Flames will likely fuel the ‘Big Red Machine’ even more.

EDM - LA

It has been four seasons since the LA Kings have been in the playoffs, but the last time they won a playoff series was when they were hoisting Lord Stanley. I expect that to change these playoffs, even with the Kings going up against two of the top five players in the NHL. The LA Kings surprised a lot of people by making the playoffs, given injury issues and lack of veterans on the team.

The MVP for the Kings this season has been newly acquired free agent, Philip Danualt. Danault signed a 6 year/33 million dollar deal with the LA Kings this past offseason and has been nothing short of spectacular since joining the team. He's more than doubled his career high in goals (27) while also having a career high in GWG (5). He is arguably one of the most underrated two-way forwards in today's game and has done a fantastic job of stopping teams elite forwards.

Most notably last postseason, shutting down Mark Stone and Max Paciorrety enroute to the team's first Cup Finals appearance since ‘93. The Edmonton Oilers have had minimal success in the playoffs since the arrival of superstar Connor McDavid. They have won one playoff round in the seven years McDavid has been on the team and a lot of that has to do with the regression of McDavid in the playoffs.

We are used to seeing him score three points a game each night, but in the playoffs, he has 22 points in 22 games. Not bad, but not enough to carry a top heavy Edmonton Oilers squad. Given the lack of depth on the team and the regression of McDavid come playoff time, I got the LA Kings winning this series in six games.