Preamble + Take #1
Before we divulge into my NHL Playoff takes, lets flip to the women’s game where I had the chance to see my first-ever PWHL game (live). I understand why the game is popular amongst fans – the pace is fast enough to be interesting, but there are more mistakes! It’s an odd-man rush one way, followed by an odd-man (er, woman) rush back the other way. There’s systems, but it’s a little more Wild West than the near perfect NHL game. The PWHL playoff crowd at the Sceptres game was electric; lots of chanting, signs, and all that fun stuff. I’d go again, 100%. There’s also 0 bad seats @ the Coca-Cola Coliseum; it’s the perfect PWHL rink, and reasonable ticket/parking prices (I think parking for the night was under $15).
Now on to the NHL Playoffs
Take #2 – It’s awful hard to get shots on goal.
I’ve seen numerous NHL Playoff games so far where the shots on goal – per period – were under 20 (for both teams). For example, tonight’s shot total in the first period between the Leafs and Panthers was 13 (11 for the Leafs + 2 for the Panthers).
The reason for this is mostly style of play, and the sheer size of the players. Teams collapse their wingers into the “house” area of the D zone when they don’t have it, and play such good positional defence when the puck goes out to the point that it is usually blocked well before the goalie ever sees it. Even off rushes, shots often hit a shin pad and go wide on the way to the net.
Take #3 – The Puck Rarely Stays on the Strong Side of the Ice for more than 1 pass
Teams skate so well now that you can’t use the same side of the ice for very long; you have to use the width of the rink. It’s similar to football where – when playing offence vs a fast defence – you have to run a lot of counter runs and misdirection. Get the flow of the defence to one side, make them over-pursue, and work the open side. Watching teams break out of the zone looks a lot similar; a lot of reverses, a lot of hitting the weak side D off the half wall, and so on. Teams defensive strategy is to crowd the strong side when they are trying to get it back – even on the penalty kill, you’re seeing more and more teams have 4 guys collapsed low on the same side. If you don’t use the weak side, it’s going to be awful hard to create time and space.
Take #4 – Leon Draisaitl is a Big Money Player
Big number 29 on the Edmonton Oilers is often overshadowed by number 97 on his team. If the Big German was playing on any other team in this galaxy, he would be heralded as the Mark Messier of his generation. Don’t believe me? How is 124 points in 85 career playoff games? Those are video game numbers in today’s game. Leon has 16 in 11 so far in 2025, and told reporters that he’s more focused on defence this year vs offence. He “wants to win” apparently. It’s so fun to watch Draisaitl with the puck – he’s so patient, it’s like time stands still when he has the puck on the left side of the goalie on the PP. Everyone plays him to pass, and his eyes tell you he’s likely passing… until he rips one by your earhole and into the top quadrant. A generational talent that is under-appreciated.
Take #5 – Maggie Connors Was the Sceptres Top Player vs the Frost
Connors was absolutely buzzing in the Sceptres series vs the Minnesota Frost. Even when she wasn’t putting up points (2 in 4 games), she was wreaking havoc in the offensive net front or forechecking with pace and tenacity. By the way, Sarah Nurse and Austin Matthews must be spending some time together in Toronto away from the general public, because both players have/were invisible in their respective playoff series’ this month. Nurse – in her last 2 playoff series’ – has 0 goals and 2 apples in 9 playoff games. That is not very good.
Until Next Time
AP