Stanley Cup Playoffs Day-to-day: The NHL postseason begins!

7: 30 AM ET

Emily KaplanESPN
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The NHL’s postseason is officially underway with the most unconventional Stanley Cup tournament within the trophy’s 127-365 days history. With 5 video games staggered all the intention in which by Saturday between the hub cities of Toronto and Edmonton, Alberta, we grasp got a March Madness-style buffet of hockey.

Right here is a primer of what to find in this edition of ESPN Stanley Cup Playoffs Day-to-day — and make certain that you come Sunday. We’ll be doing this every day except the Cup is awarded in October.

Saturday’s video games

Qualification spherical, Recreation 1: Unusual York Rangers vs Carolina Hurricanes, noon ET

The Rangers had a petite of a goalie seek data from coming into the tournament, and it appears for now that health has made the likelihood for them: Saturday morning, Igor Shesterkin became as soon as deemed “unfit to play” — obtain frequent to that terminology — and Henrik Lundqvist became as soon as declared the starter for Recreation 1. The Canes, though, can also desire a dispute, as high defenseman Dougie Hamilton (who’s nursing a brand new practising camp hurt) is out. Forward Martin Necas, who became as soon as regarded as iffy to hasten, is in.

Qualification spherical, Recreation 1: Chicago Blackhawks vs Edmonton Oilers, 3 p.m. ET

Masses of sizzle and star energy in this marquee qualification-spherical series. Leon Draisaitl and Connor McDavid get rid of the headlines (rightfully so), but manufacture now stay awake on used James Neal or teenager Kailer Yamamoto — every will be X factors in this series. And whereas you realize Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews in Chicago, lend a hand an glance on newbies Dominik Kubalik (a 30-purpose scorer) and Kirby Dach (the No. 3 total recall in 2019 who improves by the day).

Qualification spherical, Recreation 1: Florida Panthers vs Unusual York Islanders, 4 p.m. ET

This series most seemingly is now not basically getting sufficient indulge in and it has a large gamble to be very merely. The Panthers grasp a expert and proficient forward crew. The Isles grasp in all likelihood the most convenient crew defense of any crew in this tournament. But, indubitably, all somebody must know is: Which version of Sergei Bobrovsky is showing up to play? The $70 million goalie, who had an underwhelming first season with the crew, got lit up within the exhibition game in opposition to the Lightning. No longer gigantic, Bob.

Qualification spherical, Recreation 1: Montreal Canadiens vs Pittsburgh Penguins, 8 p.m. ET

If there could be a series most of us basically feel satisfied deciding on, or now not it is this one. The Penguins, fully loaded with indubitably one of their handiest forward groups quickly, are heavy favorites in opposition to the measly Canadiens, who finished 24th within the league but snagged a summer season invite anyway. The Habs’ energy play is inappropriate — indulge in so inappropriate it could single-handedly sink them.

Qualification spherical, Recreation 1: Winnipeg Jets vs Calgary Flames, 10: 30 p.m. ET

This is the Saturday gradual-night game, and or now not it is a ways a series that Stefon from SNL might indicate: It has every little thing! A goalie controversy on one halt, and the most convenient goalie within the tournament on the diversified. Excellent proficient forwards. Physicality and grit (this is the series per chance to acquire some shut appears from the Division of Participant Safety).

Quiz of the day: How is the ice going to retain up?

All over exhibition video games, we got a gaze of the transformed empty arenas. I ought to dispute, the NHL did a huge job. The formula the league lined the unused seats is tidy slick; now not like looking out at MLB, you are never distracted by the actual fact that it is a ways a game lacking followers. The experimental digicam angles might obtain some getting frequent to — as will the man made crowd noise — but total, it goes to also aloof be a huge viewing ride.

We additionally got a behold right into a skill pitfall for the league: inappropriate ice. The NHL has never performed this gradual within the summer season, and open air humidity repeatedly formula non-ideal prerequisites inside. NHL vice president of hockey operations Colin Campbell sounded confident ultimate week that the ice would retain up. (Campbell acknowledged his crew surmised that the larger dispute is when doorways open and shut, and thousands of our bodies are packed within the field, constructing humidity. Neither of those things are going down, indubitably).

Numerous avid gamers renowned the outside wasn’t ideal of their first plug, though. And that would irritate when the ice is being overused — especially within the following week, with three video games per day at every arena. Ice skills has enormously improved over the past loads of years, and to succor mitigate the topic, no groups will be allowed to retain morning skates on the arenas (handiest at note amenities).

And hello, per chance or now not it is now not the worst element whereas you root for chaos. The Columbus Blue Jackets had been huge killers in ultimate 365 days’s first spherical, and they also might come armed with a secret weapon of their qualification-spherical series in opposition to the fatherland Maple Leafs. Blue Jackets forward Cam Atkinson renowned the choppy ice after his crew’s exhibition on Tuesday but added, “If something else, it advantages our form of play anyway.”

Bet of the day

I basically feel indulge in Day 1 of this tournament goes to be fluky and thrilling, and it has a merely likelihood to provide a ton of dreams (even supposing practically every exhibition game went below). So I looked at DraftKings for prop bets of avid gamers to attain two or more dreams. It’s a complete hunch, but I indulge in Chicago’s Alex DeBrincat (+1300).

Outfit of the day

Alexander Romanov, a recent signing from the KHL, is now not basically eligible to play this summer season for the Canadiens, but he obvious is making a first affect with this daring introductory press conference selection:

On his first true day with the Canadiens, Alexander Romanov is already the most convenient dressed member of the crew. #PandaMan pic.twitter.com/fgDvOzV266

— ?rpon Basu (@ArponBasu) July 31, 2020

Social put up of the day

Explain what you should to grasp about the effectiveness of the NHL avid gamers standing in a unified line as an announcement in opposition to racism and additionally simultaneously honoring frontline workers. But, it became as soon as additionally a spell binding intention to grasp 6-foot-9 Zdeno Chara be sandwiched by the Blue Jackets’ two smallest avid gamers, Atkinson (5-foot-8) and Nathan Gerbe (5-foot-4). The alarming visual ended in loads of punchlines, including one from Gerbe himself:

When dad has to separate you and your brother @CamAtkinson13 from combating ? #photoshopped #NHL pic.twitter.com/6emSOGy2mm

— Nathan Gerbe (@NathanGerbe14) July 31, 2020

Chirp of the day

Brad Marchand is the league’s preeminent agitator; he is constantly finding new ways to acquire into his opponent’s heads, and his handiest stuff on the complete is accessible within the postseason. He’s clearly warming up to his teammates as he gets lend a hand into game shape.