Colorado Avalanche – St. Louis Blues
The starting point: In times of closest series – five of the eight rounds of rounds alone, including those of the blues against Minnesota only ended in the seventh game – Colorado with the “Sweep” against Nashville represented an anachronism. Led by only 22 -year -old Superstar defender Cale Makar, who collected ten scorer points in just four games against the Predators, the club stormed from Denver in round two.
The blues should have bad memories anyway on May 2021: Even then, Colorado came to a “Sweep” in round one against St. Louis. On top of that, the Avalanche won all four games with at least three goals.
The staff: Colorado not only had the longest break by all of the remaining eight play-off teams, the squad is also largely healthy.
With the blues, Coach Craig Berube may have to do without two regular defenders. Torey Krug and Marco Scandella injured the game early in the series. The time of return is unclear in both.
The main round: Only the first game at the beginning of the season St. Louis won in Denver (5: 3). The other two games then went back to the avalanche chamber, which won 4: 3 in St. Louis and only at the end of April 5: 3 at home.
games tip: The forces could be more important, albeit not the only mosaic stone that Colorado again leads to a clear 4: 1 coming coming.
Calgary Flames – Edmonton Oilers
The starting point: In the main round, Calgary rode to a division victory on a wave of euphoria, while Edmonton only caught late after a change of coach. Round one was then similar for both arch -rivals: Both won as favorites against Dallas or Los Angeles in seven games, especially the Oilers put a little first curse with the progress.
It is the first “Battle of Alberta” in the Play-Offs since 1991. At that time, Edmonton won extremely tight, by winning the overtime of game seven with 5: 4. An omen for the new edition 31 years later?
The staff: at Calgary was missing in game seven against Dallas in addition to the long -term injured Sean Monahan, defensive specialist Chris Tannev, who had already been injured in game six. His use is very questionable.
How difficult is the injury to the Oilers – presumably in the ankle area – by Leon Draisaitl? The German superstar had recognizable problems at the end of the first round, but still played through and scored.
The main round: Both teams each won their home games, first the Oilers with 5: 2 and 5: 3, then the flames with 3: 1, then in the last meeting at the end of March with a 9: 5 gate – despite one Draisaitl-Hattricks.
games tip: Connor McDavid was once again at a round one with 14 scorer points in seven games at their own level and leads the Oilers to a 4-2 victory.
Also read:
The play-off preview for the east