What We Learned on Night 1

Last night was pure magic. Playoff hockey is back and I had no idea how much I missed it until it was back. Two overtime games, tons of physicality, great goaltending and every game was close. Here is what we learned from game one of each series that started last night.

ST. LOUIS BLUES - 2 vs. MINNESOTA WILD - 1

• Jake Allen is for real. He was up and down all year, but maybe he is just a playoff performer. Over 50 saves in an overtime win. He was the player of the night.
• The Wild are a far better team team than the Blues. They brutally outplayed and outshot the Blues. Over the course of a seven game series that will bear out.
• The Blues need to find some offense if they going to win more games. 

SAN JOSE SHARKS - 3 vs. EDMONTON OILERS - 2

• Like I always say, veteran playoff experience is more valuable than youthful excitement when it comes to the playoffs. The Oilers had control early, but that just playoff excitement. The defending Western Conference champs weathered the storm and took the game in OT.
• Brent Burns will be the deciding factor in this series. He has the ability to dominate both ends of the ice. If he does, the Oilers will not have an answer.
• San Jose's depth will have a huge impact on this series. As long as the Sharks depth plays well, the Oilers do not have the depth to keep up. Especially if Joe Thornton gets back in the lineup. 

NEW YORK RANGERS - 2 vs. MONTREAL CANADIENS - 0

• This will be a boring series for casual hockey fans, but a great series for hardcore fans. There almost no scoring or offensive highlights. Just great goaltending and big hits.
• The Canadiens need to find some offense. King Henry is a great goalie, but we have known all-year that scoring is the Habs achilles heel. Radulov, Pacioretty and the other top-six forwards need to lead the way.
• This will not be an easy series for the Rangers to win. They got a fluke goal from Tanner Glass and an empty net goal. So they were one bad bounce from losing this game. They need to get better too.

BOSTON BRUINS - 2 vs. OTTAWA SENATORS - 1

• This is kind of the series we expected. Both teams are going to play with an edge. Very chippy play, lots of physicality. Low scoring.
• Erik Karlsson will not be much of a factor in this series. He needs to be great defensively and make great breakout passes to setup the rush. However, he will not have the time or space to skate around through the neutral zone or get offensive chances. The Bruins are too good defensively.
• The Bruins experience and top line are going to be too much for the Senators to handle. Brad Marchand got the game winning goal late in the 3rd period. The combo of Marchand and Bergeron is going to be a difficult matchup for the Senators.

PITTSBURGH PENGUINS - 3 vs. COLUMBUS BLUE JACKETS - 1

• The Penguins are the superior team. There was a question coming into this series about if Columbus' team style put them on Pittsburgh's level. It is apparent that as long as the Penguins do not retaliate, the Jackets are going to have trouble. 
• The Penguins still have a goalie dilemma. Murray was injured in warm-ups and Fleury made the surprise start and was brilliant. The Jackets outshot the Penguins 16-3 in the first period, Fleury held the fort and kept the Jackets off the scoreboard.
• Columbus needs to find their playoff leader. There is no one on this team that they can count on to make the big play at the right time. They need a captain clutch to have playoff success. Pittsburgh has Crosby, Minnesota has Parise, Chicago has Toews, who is the Blue Jackets guy?