Lord Stanley’s cup is about to be battled out over the next two months. The teams through the NHLs new playoff system has teams ranked 1 through 4, so here are how each of the seeds ranks.
Number one seeds
- Washington Capitols- Strengths: Offense, power play, and goaltending. Weakness: Penalty kill, Deep playoff run experience.
- Anahiem Ducks- Strengths: offense and experience. Weakness: Goaltending.
- Dallas- Strength: Goal scoring super powers in Jaime Benn, Patrick Sharp and Tyler Seguin. Weakness: Goaltending, Defense, and playoff experience.
- Florida Panthers- Strength: Veteran leadership. Weakness: Playoff inexperience and generally the unknown this panthers team has never been in a position like this.
Number two seeds
- Pittsburgh Penguins- Strengths: Offensive fire power. Weakness: Goaltending and defense.
- La Kings- Strength: playoff experience. Major question: Is Johnathan Quick still an elite playoff goalie?
- Tampa Bay Lightning- Strengths: Young, fast, scoring, and a good defensive team. Weakness: No Steven Stamkos.
- Saint Louis Blues- Weakness: Playoff chokers. Strengths: In the playoffs, none.
Number three seeds
- Chicago Blackhawks- Strengths: Playoff experience, Depth. Weakness: none they are unstoppable.
- San Jose Sharks
- Detroit Red Wings
- New York Rangers Strength: Defense weakness: injury
Number four seeds
- Islanders- Strength: Playoff experience Weakness: No halak in goal.
- Wild- Strength: Gritty playoff experienced team. Weakness: Chicago Blackhawks
- Nashville- Strength: Expierience
- Philadelphia Flyers