NHL playoff predictions: Barry Trotz, Quinn Hughes making teams have regrets

Regrets? Teams watching the New York Islanders and Vancouver Canucks in the playoffs might have a few.

The Islanders and Canucks were the only lower-seeded clubs to advance in the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs. The second round starts tonight when Colorado faces Dallas (8 p.m., NBC).

The Islanders are reaping the benefits of a strong coach/general manager combination. They hired Barry Trotz as coach in 2018 shortly after he led Washington to its lone Stanley Cup championship. The Capitals low-balled him in contract talks and he walked. He has since guided the Islanders to the final eight two years in a row, including a first-round triumph this year against his former Washington team.

Lou Lamoriello, the Hall-of-Fame GM with New Jersey, hired Trotz shortly after he joined the Islanders. Toronto replaced Lamoriello as GM in 2018 with Kyle Dubas. The Maple Leafs, who despite signing Islanders franchise player John Tavares in 2018, have not won a playoff series since 2004.

Meanwhile, on the West Coast, the Canucks are on the rise with a bevy of young talent, led by Quinn Hughes. The highly skilled puck-moving defenseman is a Calder Trophy finalist as rookie of the year and is having a tremendous postseason.

Hughes, who played two seasons at Michigan, was selected seventh overall in 2018. His size (5-10, 170) might have caused some clubs to pass on him, including Arizona and Detroit.

The Coyotes surprisingly selected center Barrett Hayton, projected by most to go much lower, at No. 5. Hayton has appeared in 20 NHL games so far (one goal, three assists).

The Red Wings were delighted when Zadina was available at No. 6. He has nine goals and nine assists in 37 career games and might eventually prove to be a good selection. But Hughes is already there.

Can the Islanders and Canucks continue to surprise? Here is a look at the second round:

Eastern Conference

1. Philadelphia vs. 4. N.Y. Islanders

How they got here: Philadelphia eliminated Montreal 4-2 in the first round; Islanders eliminated Washington 4-1 in the first round.

The Flyers, continuing a roll that began in late February, are 16-3 in their past 19 games, including the regular season. Much of it is due to Carter Hart, who turned 22 this month. He is 6-2 in the playoffs, with a 1.71 goals-against average and .943 save percentage. Philly is 7-2 in the playoffs despite getting no goals from Sean Couturier and Claude Giroux. Jakub Voracek leads the team with eight points.

Unlike the Flyers, the Islanders were struggling before the NHL season paused on March 12, losing seven in a row (0-3-4). They have rebounded big in the playoffs, behind the excellent goaltending of Semyon Varlamov (7-2, 1.67 GAA, .934 save percentage). Josh Bailey leads the team with 10 points and Anthony Beauvillier has six goals.

Prediction: Flyers in six.

2. Tampa Bay vs. 3. Boston

How they got here: Tampa Bay eliminated Columbus 4-1 in the first round; Boston eliminated Carolina 4-1 in the first round.

The Lightning ousted the pesky Blue Jackets, who stunned them in last year’s first round. Brayden Point has been a force, with five goals, including two overtime tallies, and 10 points in eight games. Tampa Bay has managed without star Steven Stamkos, who has yet to debut in the postseason after suffering a lower-body injury in practice. Andrei Vasilevskiy has played every minute in net in the postseason (1.98 GAA, .927 save percentage).

The Bruins went 0-3 in seeding games but got their act together against the hot Hurricanes. They overcame adversity, after Vezina Trophy finalist Tuukka Rask opted out of the playoffs following Game 2. They have a capable backup in Jaroslav Halak, who went 3-0 against Carolina. The Bruins got a boost with return of leading scorer David Pastrnak in Game 5 after he missed three games with an injury. David Krejci (three goals, nine points) has been their most dangerous player.

Prediction: Lightning in seven.

Western Conference

1. Vegas vs. 4. Vancouver

How they got here: Vegas eliminated Chicago 4-1 in the first round; Vancouver eliminated St. Louis 4-2 in the first round.

The Golden Knights are 22-6-2 since Pete DeBoer replaced Gerard Gallant as coach on Jan. 15, including 18-3-0 in their past 21 games, regular season and playoffs. They are deep at forward and in goal, where Robin Lehner (5-1, 2.44 GAA) is 8-1 since being acquired at the trade deadline and assuming the starting job from Marc-Andre Fleury. Vegas has won four playoff series in three years of existence. That is as many as Toronto has won in the past 20 years.

The upstart Canucks, led by their talented young players, knocked off the defending Stanley Cup champion Blues. Elias Pettersson leads that group and is tied for the league lead with 13 playoff points, including eight on the power play. Defenseman Quinn Hughes has 10 points while averaging more than 24 minutes a game at age 20 in his second season. Bo Horvat is tied for the league lead with six playoff goals. Jakob Markstrom has played every minute in net (7-3, 2.44 GAA, .929 save percentage).

Prediction: Golden Knights in six.

2. Colorado vs. 3. Dallas

How they got here: Colorado eliminated Arizona 4-1 in the first round; Dallas eliminated Calgary 4-2 in the first round.

The powerful Avalanche are coming off back-to-back 7-1 victories over the Coyotes. Nathan MacKinnon leads the way with 13 points, tied for the playoff lead, and former Maple Leaf Nazem Kadri has six goals, including five vs. Arizona. The Avalanche are getting excellent goaltending from Phillipp Grubauer (5-1, 1.49 GAA, .937 save percentage).

The Stars are getting a lot of offense from their back end, where Miro Heiskanen leads all playoff defensemen with 12 points and John Klingberg has seven points. Veteran Joe Pavelski had a knack for stepping up in the playoffs with San Jose and is doing it again in his first season in Dallas, with six goals. Backup Anton Khudobin (4-3, 2.49 GAA) has filled in well for injured starter Ben Bishop (day-to-day). Dallas, under interim coach Rick Bowness, has advanced to the second round in consecutive seasons for the first time in 20 years.

Prediction: Avalanche in five.

Odds to Win the Stanley Cup

(Courtesy of BetOnline, www.BetOnline.ag)

Colorado Avalanche                  3/1       

Vegas Golden Knights               13/4     

Boston Bruins                           5/1       

Tampa Bay Lightning                 5/1       

Philadelphia Flyers                    13/2     

New York Islanders                    10/1     

Dallas Stars                              14/1     

Vancouver Canucks                   18/1    

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