Our way-too-early Stanley Cup predictions, plus Gabriel Landeskog’s emotional return

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Good morning! We’re 5 days into the NHL playoffs, and each sequence is underway. You understand what which means? Time for our first version of Method-Too-Early Conclusions. Preserve scrolling!

Whereas You Had been Sleeping

Sleeping? I’m jealous. After taking in Sport 2’s wild extra time win by the Leafs on Tuesday, I received residence after 1 a.m. Fortunately the schedule-makers had been considering of these of us on vampire hours by beginning that evening’s Vegas-Minnesota barnburner at 11 p.m. ET. So there was one way or the other nonetheless hockey to observe.

Who got here up with these puck drop instances this 12 months? Tonight’s Panthers-Lightning Sport 2, for instance, kicks off on the odd hour of 6:30 p.m. ET, which can minimize into Tampa people’ time at Hattricks pregame.

A minimum of the hockey/community TV gods have gifted us quadruple-headers (!) on each Saturday and Sunday, with staggered begins all through each days. So cancel any plans you had for a nice little Saturday at House Depot and put money into a beverage helmet thingy. You gained’t remorse it.

Right here’s what you’ll have missed final evening.

(Isaiah J. Downing / Imagn Photos)

Landeskog’s emotional return

There wasn’t a dry eye in the home in Denver.

Avalanche captain Gabriel Landeskog played in an NHL game for the first time since profitable the Stanley Cup on June 26, 2022, a niche of 1,032 days — or practically three years — on account of a number of knee surgical procedures and cartilage transplant surgical procedure.

Landeskog skated in 13 minutes on the Avs third line, laid six hits and didn’t look misplaced in what become a troublesome loss for Colorado, dampening the vibes.

“Actually, I felt fairly good,” Landeskog mentioned afterward.

Pierre LeBrun was on the sport and penned this excellent story on Landeskog’s comeback.

Landeskog’s absence was not the longest ever for an NHL participant earlier than returning to his crew. Bonus factors to those that can identify the opposite 4 gamers in NHL historical past who missed 1,000-plus days after which performed once more for a similar crew.

(Trace: Certainly one of them is without doubt one of the best gamers — and one among my favourite gamers — of all time. Solutions on the backside.)

Big wins for Caps, Kings and Stars 

First: Plucky Montreal made a powerful push but once more, however Capitals netminder Logan Thompson was as much as the duty with 14 saves in the third period to give Washington a 3-1 win and a 2-0 sequence lead. The Bell Centre will likely be rocking for tomorrow’s Sport 3 — and the Habs want that enhance to make this a sequence.

Subsequent: The Kings torched Oilers goalie Stuart Skinner but once more, chasing him from the crease and maybe the sequence as a part of a convincing 6-2 win to present Los Angeles a 2-0 sequence lead. Adrian Kempe was the catalyst with two goals and two assists, and Connor McDavid was saved completely off the scoresheet. Edmonton seems to be in huge hassle, as it is a higher L.A. crew than the Oilers have confronted and their struggles within the second half are looming giant. Anticipate Calvin Pickard to start out Sport 3 tomorrow.

Lastly: Extra extra time for what continues to seem like probably the most unfair sequence of Spherical 1. Tyler Seguin was the hero for Dallas in a tight-checking 2-1 win over Colorado, giving the Stars a second straight OT victory to take the sequence lead 2-1. Dallas has led for only one minute, 8 seconds all sequence, however has the lead. As I mentioned, the Central is simply unfair. This one feels prefer it’s going seven.

Method-Too-Early Conclusions

(James Carey Lauder / Imagn Photos)

OK, who’s profitable all of it?

Right here’s a fast rundown of the place each sequence stands at this level.

Up 2-0: CAR, LAK, TOR, WSH, WPG
Up 1-0: FLA
Up 2-1: DAL
Tied 1-1: MIN, VGK
Down 1-2: COL
Down 0-1: TB

Down 0-2: EDM, MTL, NJD, OTT, STL

Each crew that’s up 2-0 in its sequence was a favourite coming in, and in these conditions, the historic odds are actually overwhelmingly in these groups’ favor. NHL groups that began a sequence at residence going up 2-0 have a 262-34 document, which means they superior 89 p.c of the time.

That has noticeably elevated the Stanley Cup odds for Carolina, Los Angeles, Toronto and Winnipeg from what they had been coming into the postseason. Click here for Dom Luszczyszyn’s updated probabilities after last night’s games.

Groups with greatest Cup odds

1. Winnipeg 21% (up from 14%)
2. Carolina 14% (from 10%)
3. Toronto 13% (from 11%)
4. Florida 12% (from 8%)
5. Los Angeles 9% (from 7%)
6. Dallas 9% (from 7%)

Introducing our MVP watch 

Sure, sure, I do know. I did warn you early on that it was means too early for all this.

However I like the concept of holding an eagle eye on the Conn Smythe candidates all through the playoffs, with a rating each week or two. So right here’s my early contribution, despite the fact that it could be hilariously outdated by the point we reconvene.

1. Adrian Kempe, Los Angeles
2. Mark Scheifele, Winnipeg
3. Matthew Tkachuk, Florida
4. Frederik Andersen, Carolina
5. Kirill Kaprizov, Minnesota
6. Logan Thompson, Washington
7. Anthony Stolarz, Toronto
8. Thomas Harley, Dallas
9. Tomas Hertl, Vegas

Coast to Coast

❓ Why are some NHL playoff video games being known as from an off-site broadcast studio? Rob Rossi digs into a troubling trend for coverage early in the playoffs.

🥅 Lou Lamoriello is out on Lengthy Island. Who may tackle the daunting job of fixing the Islanders? Artwork (“The Stapler”) Staple has an in-depth look at a wild group of candidates, together with some big names.

🏒 The Rangers, in the meantime, are bullish on Chris Drury and locked him up on a multiyear extension regardless of a horrendous 12 months for the Blueshirts. Attention-grabbing instances in New York proper now.

📢 Your crew not within the playoffs? Corey Pronman has you poor folks coated with a massive 2025 NHL mock draft projecting all 32 first-round picks earlier than the lottery.

What to Watch

📺 Maple Leafs @ Senators
7 p.m. ET on ESPN / SN
Is there a full-scale blue-and-white invasion in Ottawa, or do the Senators successfully hold out the Gilmour-jersey-clad hordes of Leafs followers that always fill the Canadian Tire Centre? Does Anthony Stolarz decapitate Ridly Greig? And may Toronto take its first 3-0 sequence lead in a pair many years? Heaps to observe for in Sport 3 of the Battle of Ontario.

📺 Golden Knights @ Wild
9 p.m. ET on TBS / SN
Everybody and their canine/cat/hamster appeared to select Vegas on this one after Minnesota struggled within the second half of the season. However the Wild performed lengthy stretches with out three of their greatest gamers — together with Kaprizov — and when wholesome are higher than a typical wild-card crew. After the Wild decisively won Game 2, perhaps this sequence surprises and goes the gap? The extra Sport 7s the higher, I say.

📺 Jets @ Blues
9:30 p.m. ET on ESPN / SN
Can the Blues get again within the sequence? The most popular crew within the NHL coming into the playoffs might be getting ready to elimination after Sport 3, however the excellent news is that this has been an in depth sequence and that is St. Louis’ first likelihood at residence. The dangerous information the Jets D has been solid and Connor Hellebuyck appeared reasonably Hellebuyckian in Sport 2.

The complete NHL playoff schedule is here. Attempt streaming video games like these free of charge on Fubo.

The Final Comebacks

(David Maxwell / AFP through Getty Photos)

In celebration of Landeskog’s feat

When you instantly considered Mario Lemieux’s unbelievable return with regards to long-awaited comebacks, you’re not alone.

Lemieux’s unretirement stays an iconic second in NHL historical past, as the Penguins pulled his banner down when he got here again in December 2000 after greater than 1,300 days away.

Listed below are the others on the listing, with Landeskog’s hiatus size touchdown fourth all-time (minimal 700 profession video games performed):

1. Jim Peplinski: 2,000 days, returned April 15, 1995, with CGY
2. Mario Lemieux: 1,341 days, returned Dec. 27, 2000, with PIT
3. Uwe Krupp: 1,036 days, returned Oct. 20, 2001, with DET
4. Gabriel Landeskog: 1,032 days, returned April 23, 2025, with COL
5. Peter Forsberg: 1,018 days, returned Feb. 11, 2011, with COL

Additionally: Along with Landeskog, the 2 NHL captains who’ve made comebacks after 1,000-day absences had been Syl Apps (1,009 days) on Nov. 4, 1945, with the Maple Leafs and Sid Abel (1,045 days) on Feb. 16, 1946, with the Crimson Wings. These two had been away from their groups serving within the Canadian Armed Forces throughout World Warfare II.

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(Photograph of Gabriel Landeskog and Mikko Rantanen: Isaiah J. Downing / Imagn Photos)