Why Tampa voted no
Tampa was the second team to vote against the 24 team format and it’s pretty simple to determine why. The Lighting have more to lose this playoffs than any other team. They are coming off a shocking first round sweep by the Columbus Blue Jackets last season and are smarting from recent losses in two Conference Finals and one Stanley Cup FInals.
The Lightning played this season smartly, starting slowly and building momentum until they had reclaimed their status as one of the top teams in the NHL. However, they, more than any other team, know the danger of playing a hot underdog in the early rounds. Not only that, they will be playing a team that will have won a hard fought best of five series while the Bolts would have been engaged in a best of three round robin that will determine first round seedings. No matter how important that seeding is, there is no way those round robin games will have the intensity of the play-in series.
It’s all good for the Rangers
While the Blueshirts cannot go into the play-in round overconfident, there are many reasons why they should feel good about first round match-up with the Carolina Hurricanes. While the Hurricanes will be regaining the services of Dougie Hamilton, recovered from a fibula fracture, they will still be without Brett Pesce, out after shoulder surgery.
As for the Rangers, they will get Chris Kreider back from his broken foot and the rest of the team is healthy.
As far as intangibles go, Brady Skjei will have something to prove following his deadline deal to Carolina. As for the Rangers, Greg McKegg and Phil Di Giuseppe are both former Hurricanes looking to do well against their former team. Of course, we will also have the Marc Staal vs. Jordan Staal sibling match up.
Whether Lundqvist will get the nod (and there are certainly reason he should) of it is Igor Shesterkin, the fact is that the Rangers have had unusual success against the Hurricanes and that will weight heavily on their opponents. Whether that will override the experience that the Canes gained from their unexpected run to the Conference Finals remains to be seen.
The best news for the Rangers is they are beginning to dominate the conversations about teams expected to make hay in the post season. It’s a storyline we’ve covered before, but the noise is getting louder now that a return to play looks inevitable.