On the Fly, NHL Roundtable: The best from Round 1
After offering up second-round predictions earlier this morning, On the Fly, theScore's NHL roundtable series, stays busy, re-visiting the glory that was Round 1 of the Stanley Cup Playoffs one last time.
Tavares steals spotlight in New York
Sean O'Leary: The face of the franchise, captain John Tavares, delivered the finest hockey moment an entire generation of Islanders fans has ever seen when his Game 6 wraparound clinched the team's first series win in 23 years.
Handed the keys to a beleaguered organization when he was drafted first overall in 2009, Tavares was selected to turn the franchise around, and he's strapped his teammates onto his back time and time again when it matters most.
At only 25 years old, Tavares has 20 points in 19 career playoff games, and if he can lead his Islanders to another series win, there's no denying he belongs in the upper echelon of elite centerman, a la Crosby, Toews, and Kopitar.
Watching a thoroughbred leader thrive in the limelight, and provide pure elation to one of the most rabid - and perennially tortured - fan bases in the league was easily the highlight of the first round.
Sharks' week
Josh Gold-Smith: The Sharks dispatched the Kings in what began as a shining example of playoff hockey but ended in decisive fashion.
It was a cathartic statement by the Sharks, who exacted revenge for 2014, when they lost to the Kings in seven games after holding a 3-0 series lead.
Two years after that improbable comeback, Los Angeles was simply out-matched by San Jose, thanks in large part to Sharks captain Joe Pavelski, an improved defense corps, and former Kings goaltender Martin Jones.
Despite playing a relatively short series, the Kings and Sharks provided must-see TV in their opening-round clash, which served as another showcase for California's ongoing hockey renaissance. Four of the five contests were decided by a single goal, and the first four games were akin to rounds in a heavyweight bout.
Another playoff matchup between the Pacific Division rivals would be more than welcome.
Rookies Blue
Ian McLaren: While Doug Armstrong has built a competitive roster laden with veteran talent long thought capable of contending, it was two rookies that played a huge part in the St. Louis Blues' vanquishing of the Chicago Blackhawks.
Defenseman Colton Parayko scored and forward Robby Fabbri assisted on Troy Brouwer's Game 7 winner, capping impressive playoff debuts for the youngsters.
"I thought Robby was one of our best players in the series," Blues coach Ken Hitchcock told Lou Korac of NHL.com. "He was outstanding, he was a threat, a dangerous player. So competitive offensively, great patience. He's really emerged as a top offensive player now."
That kind of contribution from a forward other than Vladimir Tarasenko and Jaden Schwartz is a boon for a Blues team that might be in line to get over a much bigger hump than the Hawks.
Murray dethrones the King
Ben Whyte: Starting their first round without Marc-Andre Fleury, a goaltending matchup against Henrik Lundqvist looked like the worst-case scenario for the Penguins. But after Jeff Zatkoff kept things even through two games, it was Matt Murray who stole the spotlight - and the series.
The 21-year-old boasts a perfect record in his young postseason career, winning all three of his starts - including a 31-save shutout in Game 4. His best performance, though, came in the series-clincher, when Murray made a career-best 38 saves in a 6-3 victory.
The Rangers' star netminder, meanwhile, had the worst playoff performance since his rookie year, finishing with a 4.39 goals-against average and an .867 save percentage while being pulled from the final two games of the series - where he allowed 10 goals in just over 66 minutes of action.
While the Penguins' offense looks unstoppable, the Capitals will prove to be a far tougher opponent in Round 2 - but if Murray can continue his stellar play, the decision to go back to Fleury will only become tougher.