Last night marked the start of the fourth and final conference semifinal in the NBA playoffs. We also got a rare sight in the form of overtime in Game 2 between Boston and Washington. Since every series is now underway, today’s “Heat Check” will be looking out how the rest of these four series will play out. Truthfully, it is looking like there won’t be much in terms of drama so here’s to hoping that we get a few surprises.

San Antonio vs. Houston (HOU leads 1-0)

How will San Antonio respond to Houston’s offensive onslaught in Game 1? Photo Credit: USA Today Sports

We’ll start with what should be the best series of the bunch. San Antonio flew under the radar for much of the regular season, while Houston was right in the spotlight due to James Harden’s MVP push. This has the potential to go the distance and be a truly epic best-of-seven series.

If Game 1 taught us anything, Houston’s dominant series win over Oklahoma City was far from a fluke. Rockets general manager Daryl Morey has done a masterful job in crafting this team in the image of coach Mike D’Antoni around its superstar in Harden. Pace, space, and three-pointers are the hallmark of the Rockets, who showed that they can give the Spurs issues. Houston absolutely dominated Game 1, 126-99 in a game that stopped being competitive around halftime.

This series is going to come down to the adjustments made from game to game by each team. Houston was able to run its high-powered offense seemingly at will against San Antonio in Game 1. Spurs coach Greg Popovich will need a much more concerted effort by his team in Game 2, otherwise this series could be over quickly.

However, Game 1 might be more of the exception than the rule. San Antonio was one of the best teams at defending the three-pointer in the regular season. It would be hard to imagine that the Spurs will allow the Rockets to make it rain from downtown like Monday night.

Despite the fact that San Antonio can play much better than they did in Game 1, Houston might have their number. The Rockets lineup exposed a serious matchup problem for the Spurs. Ryan Anderson and Clint Capela were a combined +67 in Game 1 due in part to getting the Spurs frontcourt out of their element. San Antonio plays a much more traditional brand of basketball and had some serious problems dealing with the stretch 4-5 combo of Anderson and Capela. This opened up the Houston guards for a ton of open jumpers.

Winner: Houston in 6

 

Cleveland vs. Toronto (CLE leads 1-0)

With King James playing at a historic rate once again, will Toronto’s trade deadline moves be enough to topple the champs? Photo Credit: Associated Press

The true test of Toronto’s all-in push at the trade deadline came earlier than they could have imagined. Toronto made moves specifically to try and finally defeat Cleveland in the postseason. Game 1 wasn’t exactly a sign that those moves would work.

As far as the rest of the series goes, I think we all know how this story will play out. LeBron James leads the way as Cleveland makes short work of its opponent. Since James made his prodigal son’s return to “The Land” in 2014-15, the Cavaliers are 29-4 against the Eastern Conference in the postseason.

This is probably the most versatile roster that Cleveland has had during the second LeBron era, so its difficult to see how Toronto will win four out of the next six games against them. DeMar DeRozan and Kyle Lowry both need to catch fire just for starters. Then someone in the Toronto frontcourt will need to dominate the boards similar to how Bismack Biyombo did in Game 3 and Game 4 last season (40 rebounds in those games).

Toronto is a different team at home, but there is not a good chance of an upset here.

Winner: Cleveland in 5

 

Golden State vs. Utah (GS leads 1-0)

Game 1 showed that the Warriors might not have to worry about Utah’s top-ranked defense. Photo Credit: USA Today Sports

On the court, it’s been so far so good for the Warriors. Off the court has been a different story. Kevin Durant’s injuries have been a mild concern, but the real bombshell was the departure of coach Steve Kerr due to complications from his back surgery last season. It’s a real testament to how well constructed this roster and coaching staff is in Golden State.

Utah made some serious stride from last season, and found a way to scrap its way through a seven-game series against the Clippers. Unfortunately, this is where their playoff run will come to an end. As good as the Jazz are defensively, they don’t have enough offense to win this series. Also, if Rudy Gobert reinjures himself, this series could get ugly.

Last night, Utah played right into the strength of Golden State. The Warriors are an elite transition team, turning missed baskets for the opposition into easy layups or momentum building three-pointers on the other end. While the Jazz might take a game at home, this series won’t last too long (barring injuries).

Winner: Golden State in 4

 

Boston vs. Washington (BOS leads 2-0)

Usually, you try to save the best for last. Despite the fact that Boston is up 2-0 on Washington, the best in this series has yet to come. Boston needed a ridiculous 53-point performance from Isaiah Thomas to take Game 2 in overtime. Thomas overshadowed an equally great performance from John Wall (40 points and 13 assists).

The series shifts to Washington for Game 3 and Game 4, which is where this series should get really good. To put it nicely, the Wizards are not a good road team. At the friendly confines of the Verizon Center, they are a completely different team. This season, Washington was tied for the league’s fifth-best home record. In fact, both teams are among the best home teams in the NBA.

That means one road win will seriously shift the balance in this series. However, will either team steal one on the road? The jury is still out on that one. Regardless, the Thomas-Wall matchup should provide plenty of fireworks in this series. With both of these players carrying the load for their teams, someone is going to have to step up to give their stars some help.

If Washington has any chance to upset the Celtics, they will need to finish games. In both of the first two games, the Wizards opened up giant leads through the first quarter. The problem is they let the Celtics get off the mat and back into the game. That is a serious problem.

The other issue for Washington is a historical one. Boston has never lost a series when leading 2-0.

Winner: Boston in 7

 

That’s it for me today. I’ll be back tomorrow with “Curtain Call” with a column about the unwritten rules of baseball and the issues between Manny Machado and the Boston Red Sox. Follow me on Twitter @thereal_jmooney and go like the Shooting the Moon page on Facebook.

Happy Monday everyone! I hope you all had a fantastic weekend. It was a busy weekend full of playoff action, the NFL Draft, and an epic boxing match for the unified world heavyweight championship. Needless to say, there is a lot to get to in today’s “Weekend Recap.”

Boxing: Anthony Joshua TKO’s Wladimir Klitschko to Become Unified Champ

The best of the weekend came to us from the middle of the squared circle at Wembley Stadium in London, England. A colossal unification bout for the world heavyweight championship stole the sports weekend. Saturday night became a changing of the guard in boxing. More importantly the sport now has a superstar in a time where it desperately needs one.

Anthony Joshua entered the night with an undefeated record, the IBF title, and a chance at immortality by defeating the legendary Ukrainian. Not only did Joshua score an 11^th round TKO of Klitschko, they put on one of the best boxing matches the sport has seen this decade. A masterful heavyweight clash the world has been waiting decades to see.

If you haven’t seen it, I highly recommend taking some time this week to check it out. As someone that was burned by the Mayweather-Pacquiao “superfight,” this is the exactly what boxing needed to get back into the good graces of the mainstream. A rematch with Klitschko or a potential clash with former champ Tyson Fury will make Joshua’s next bout must see TV.

NBA: Finally a Game 7 and Potentially the End of “Lob City”

It took nearly the entire length of the first round of the NBA playoffs to get a Game 7. The Utah Jazz couldn’t finish off the Los Angeles Clippers at home on Friday night, which set up yesterday’s winner-take-all series finale. Despite having home court advantage, the Clippers could not get the job done in a 104-91 loss. This could effectively be the end of “Lob City” as we know it as well.

The Clippers now head into the offseason following one of the most disappointing playoff exits. Los Angeles not only blew a series lead for the fifth consecutive year, but lost three home games in the round. To add to the disappointment, the next few months could see the end of this iteration of the team. Chris Paul and J.J. Reddick both have player options for next season with reports indicating that both will at least test the market in July.

Los Angeles could also be looking to move on from Blake Griffin this summer as well. Griffin has improved immensely in the previous few years, become much more than just a dunk specialist. The only problem is that he is injured too often to be a cornerstone for this franchise. Keep an ear to the ground because the rumor mill will be swirling quite a bit in Los Angeles. Oh, don’t rule out the dismissal of coach/GM Doc Rivers either.

NHL: It’s All About Control and If You Can Take It

Round 2 of the Stanley Cup Playoffs has been anything but a close shave so far. Photo Credit: St. Louis Post-Dispatch

While the majority of the first round featured teams trading the series lead back and forth, the second round seems to be much more about taking control of the series quickly. Ottawa needed a double overtime win in Game 2 to take a 2-0 series lead heading back to New York. Pittsburgh took both games in Washington and head back home with a commanding 2-0 lead against the Capitals. Edmonton won the first two games in Anaheim, but the Ducks were able to return the favor with a crucial Game 3 victory yesterday. The Oilers keep the series lead at 2-1.

The most competitive series thus far has been St. Louis-Nashville. After spitting the first two games in St. Louis, the series shifted to Nashville yesterday for Game 3. Nashville used its home-ice advantage to near perfection, winning in convincing fashion 3-1. Now up 2-1, Nashville will look to stay unbeaten at home this postseason to take a commanding 3-1 series lead tomorrow night.

Looking ahead just a bit, Pittsburgh and Nashville look like the two favorites to meet in the Stanley Cup Finals.

NFL: Trades, Trades, and More Trades On Day 2 and Day 3 of the Draft

War rooms were extremely busy this weekend during the NFL Draft. Photo Credit: Associated Press.

Round one of the NFL Draft was crazy and unpredictable, the rest of the weekend featured teams swapping picks like a wild game of hot potato. In fact, teams made trades at a record-setting pace during the course of the three-day draft. A total of 38 trades were over the course of seven rounds, surpassing the previous record of 34 from the 2008 draft.

Wheeling and dealing was the theme of the weekend, but the real question on everyone’s minds is who benefitted the most from the draft? In all honesty, there is no way to know until these guys get on the field. Draft grades are kind of a joke are really premature, so take them with a grain of salt.

Every team added a good amount of talent (some more than others), and only time will tell who really won the 2017 NFL Draft. For now, that honor goes to the city of Philadelphia, who set a new standard for hosting the event. The second biggest surprise of the weekend was the fact that no arrests happened at the Fan Experience during the course of the draft.

That’s it for me today. I’ll be back tomorrow to make preview the second round of the NBA playoffs. Follow me on Twitter @thereal_jmooney and go like the Shooting the Moon page on Facebook.

The cold winter has passed and spring has sprung. Hope is in the air. Draft weekend is here football fans. No more mock drafts, predictions, or rumors. Tonight, your team is on the clock. What better time than now to bring “No Huddle” out of its offseason hiatus. Before the draft clock starts ticking in Philadelphia, let’s take a look at the top storylines heading into the first round of the draft.

Cleveland Wavering on the Top Pick?

This year brings us a decent amount of mystery at the top of this draft. A few days ago, it looked like Texas A&M defensive end Myles Garrett and Stanford defensive end Solomon Thomas were locked in as the top-two picks in the draft. In true draft week fashion, that might not be the slam-dunk we once thought.

Now, rumors are swirling that the Browns might be looking to take North Carolina quarterback Mitchell Trubisky with the number one overall pick. Could that be a smokescreen to entice a team like the Jets to offer a king’s ransom to move up and grab a much-needed signal caller? Who really knows.

The Browns enter this draft with 11 picks, two of them in the first round (1 and 12). It’s no secret that Cleveland has a ton of work to do with its roster after a one-win season in 2016-17. Realistically, unless they get an offer similar to what the Rams gave up last season to move up to number one (two firsts, two seconds, and two thirds), Cleveland should keep this pick.

While reports seem to indicate that Garrett is “still likely” going to be the pick for Cleveland, owner Jimmy Haslam could throw that plan out the window. There is no guarantee that the Browns will be able to get a quarterback with the number 12 pick either. Ultimately this should make for some drama over the next few hours.

No Offense, It Could Be a Defensive First Round

An interesting dynamic in the first round this year could be the bevy of strong defensive players that are available. Across the seemingly endless number of mock drafts, this looks to be a first round that will lean towards defense over offense. Part of that is due to this being one of the weaker draft classes for offensive linemen.

Barring the Browns going with Trubisky at number one, the first three picks could all be on the defensive side of the football. In total, anywhere from 16-20 picks in this round could be defensive players. This is a draft that is packed to the gills with game changers. Jamal Adams is a hot name on draft boards as the top of a ridiculous class of defensive backs, which is being tabbed as the deepest position in the entire draft.

As the saying goes, “offense wins games, defense wins championships.” The defensive players at the top of this draft can go a long way to help your team climb to the top of the mountain.

Running Backs in Vogue

It’s funny how quickly things change in the NFL. A few years ago, teams were crazy if they picked a running back in the first round. It’s the position with one of the highest turnover rates in the league. That volatility gave many teams pause in selecting a running back because the rate of return was not as high compared to other positions.

Then Ezekiel Elliott ran wild over the NFL last season. Dallas took the former Ohio State star with the fourth pick in the draft and hit the jackpot. It could be the exception to the rule in the modern NFL, but did change the perception that a running back was not a smart pick in the first round.

This season presents us with the potential for three running backs to go in the first round (possibly four according to NFL Network’s Mike Mayock). Each of those top three are completely different players as well.

LSU running back Leonard Fournette is the bruiser of this trio and could be off the board somewhere in the top-five. He has drawn comparisons to Adrian Peterson and Bo Jackson in the past. In a power scheme, he could wreak havoc between the tackles. This is the type of player you can lean on to carry the ball 25 times a game and give your offense a nasty edge.

A versatile skill set is a great thing to have in the NFL. The most versatile player of this running back trio is Stanford’s Christian McCaffrey. A Heisman runner-up in the 2015-16 season there is a lot to love about McCaffrey. Seen as a potential “four-down” player, he can line up in the backfield or in the slot while being your return man on special teams. Another thing that has helped his draft stock is coming from the “pro-style” Stanford offense.

The final player of this trio comes with a bit of baggage, which has made his draft stock a bit uncertain. Regardless, Florida State’s Dalvin Cook has the look of a bonafide first round pick. He is an explosive talent that can run between the tackles and catch the ball out of the backfield. Cook is in the mold of his predecessor at FSU, Atlanta running back Devonta Freeman.

Where Will Deshaun Watson Go?

One of the more intriguing situations of this first round is the fate of Clemson quarterback Deshaun Watson. Coming off of a stellar career and a national championship season at Clemson, Watson strangely won’t be the first quarterback off the board. That opens up a myriad of potential landing places for the Heisman runner-up from last season.

Some mock drafts have him going as high as 7^th to the Chargers and as low as 25^th to the Texans. That’s a pretty wide margin. Watson showed that he has a skill set that can help him succeed on Sundays, but is a team willing to go all-in on him. Rumors surfaced this morning that Jacksonville may be the team do so. If those rumors turn out to be untrue, be on the lookout for a team to strike a deal to move up and secure this potential franchise QB.

The Red Flag Players

Each and every season, there are players that come into the league with off-field issues. It is a factor that can turn a player from a top-10 pick into a guy who might be lucky to get taken in the first round. This season is no different for two of the potentially best defensive players in this draft.

Alabama linebacker Reuben Foster could easily been in the discussion to be selected in the top-five of this draft. However, an incident at the combine led to the NFL sending him home before the on-field testing even started. Then reports came to light that Foster tested positive for a diluted urine sample during his pre-combine drug test. To add to his PR nightmare of a draft process, the NFL declined to invite Foster to the draft.

Regardless of all of this bad press, Foster could still find himself selected in the top-ten of this draft. His tape is ridiculous. Foster led the nation’s top defense at Alabama for two seasons, and was a unanimous selection to the AP All-American team last year. When you are drawing comparisons to great linebackers like Bobby Wagner and Patrick Willis, teams are a little more open to taking a chance on you. That’s just the nature of the business.

In a slightly different situation is Michigan safety/cornerback/linebacker Jabrill Peppers. The New Jersey native came into the draft process seen as one of the most versatile defensive players in this draft. Peppers was one of the most dynamic athletes on the collegiate level who literally did everything for the Wolverines. In addition to playing three different positions on defense, he also lined up as a wildcat quarterback, wide receiver, running back, and was the primary returner.

However, it played a bit to his detriment in the eyes of pro scouts, who couldn’t figure out how he would fit in an NFL defense given a lack of statistical defensive production (one INT in three years). Despite his off the charts athleticism, his ball skills and instincts have come into question during the evaluation period. This has led to one of the most uncertain draft stocks among the players who could be drafted tonight.

One of the top draft stories this week came on Monday when it was reported that Peppers failed a drug test due to a diluted urine sample. This further adds ammunition to his detractors in the NFL community and could be the final straw that drops him out of the first round.

The Patrick Mahomes Project

We’ll finish up this first round preview with a player who could be one of the final players off the board tonight. Texas Tech quarterback Patrick Mahomes has seen his draft stock rise in the last few weeks. While he likely won’t be drafted ahead of Trubisky and Watson, there are teams who see tremendous value in Mahomes at the back end of the first round.

Mahomes has the makings of a great quarterback in the NFL , but will need time to develop behind an established quarterback. While the NFL has acquiesced to the spread offense over the past decade, the “air-raid” offense that Texas Tech runs isn’t an ideal system to prepare a QB for the NFL. Teams like Kansas City, New Orleans, and Arizona all could be potential landing spots for Mahomes. All three teams have established quarterbacks with coaches known for being “QB whisperers.”

Taken from the category of “you can’t make this up” here is what an unnamed NFC executive had to say about Mahomes in his NFL.com draft profile.

“He’s got a great arm, big balls, and he’s mobile.”

 

That’s it for me today. Be on the lookout for episode seven of the Shooting the Moon Podcast with my instant reaction to the first round of the NFL draft. I’ll also have a playoff primer for the weekend’s action in the NBA and NHL. Follow me on Twitter @thereal_jmooney, subscribe to the Shooting the Moon Podcast on iTunes or SoundCloud, and go like the Shooting the Moon page on Facebook.

Here we go hockey fans, we move one step closer to the Stanley Cup Finals starting tomorrow night. If the first round was any indication, we should be in for another great batch of matchups. With a few exceptions, just about every game was tight and most needed overtime to decide the contest. It has made for compelling drama each and every night.

The Western Conference is ripe for the taking right now with the top-two regular season teams, Chicago and Minnesota, eliminated early. Momentum will play a huge factor because of how close each team stacks up to each other. One series will feature the two hottest goaltenders in the NHL right now, while the other is a matchup of the new guard vs. the old guard in what should be an extremely fast paced series.

Over in the Eastern Conference, the first round didn’t provide much in terms of surprises, but that is to our benefit. Goaltending will be the difference here. One series will be one for the grinders and defensemen. The other is a matchup of the two best teams left in the playoffs, led by the NHL’s premier superstars. We could be looking at an all-Metropolitan Division final in the East. Let’s take a look at my picks and how each team stacks up to each other.

Western Conference

Nashville vs. St. Louis (Game 1, Wednesday, 8:00 p.m.)

One of the major storylines in any postseason is the run of a hot team with an equally hot goaltender. This matchup features both teams that fit that description. The two most impressive teams from the first round will square off here, and it should make for an intense, hard-hitting series. Despite the fact that both teams made quick work in their first round matchups, don’t expect this one to be a short series.

Nashville’s Pekka Rinne and St. Louis’s Jake Allen were fantastic in the first round. Whichever goaltender can channel that momentum in this series will give their team a leg up here. I would give the edge to Rinne here because he was virtually unbeatable against Chicago.

In terms of matching up stars, I can’t wait to see P.K. Subban against Victor Tarasenko. I would expect Peter Laviolette to have his best defender (Subban) on the ice any time the Tarasenko line is on the ice. Subban will have to get more involved on the offensive end though as he remains without a goal in this postseason.

I’ll be interested to see how Mike Yeo counters the Johansen-Forsberg-Arvidsson line. This was a lethal trio against Chicago, totaling 11 points and a combined +22 rating when on the ice. This will have to be the focal point for the Blues to stop a suddenly red-hot Nashville team.

Winner: Nashville in 6

 

Anaheim vs. Edmonton (Game 1, Wednesday, 10:30 p.m.)

If you like speed, this series will be for you. The Ducks and Oilers have a plethora of talented forwards, which should make for a fast-paced series. It is an intriguing matchup of an established team against the up-and-comers.

Off the bat, I have to give a slight edge to Anaheim in this series due to the fact that they took care of Calgary without much issue. Edmonton had to scratch and claw through a tough six-game series against San Jose. That may only last one game though.

As good as Anaheim played against Calgary in the first round, they needed the offense to bail them out of games late. John Gibson was good but not great at times, and needed to get pulled out of Game 3 after allowing four goals on 16 shots. Edmonton is a much better offensive team than Calgary so Gibson will need to be on his game.

The same could be said for Edmonton goaltender Cam Talbot. He was arguably better than Gibson at his best, we also saw that things can break down as well. Talbot notched two consecutive shutouts in Games 2 and 3 before getting blitzed for five goals in Game 5.

This series will come down to which goaltender can be the most consistent in net. Both teams have certainly showed they can score, especially in the clutch. The battle between Talbot and Gibson will go a long way to determining who moves one step closer to the Stanley Cup Final.

Winner: Edmonton in 7

 

Eastern Conference

Washington vs. Pittsburgh (Game 1, Thursday, 7:30 p.m.)

Folks, it doesn’t get much better than this series. The hype for this one is off the charts. Crosby vs. Ovechkin. The defending champions against the two-time President’s Trophy winners. This one has all the makings of an epic seven-game clash. The only question is will it actually happen?

Washington is arguably the best two-way team in the NHL with an elite goaltender. However, this team has criminally underachieved during the Ovechkin-era, having never advanced past the second round. There were times in the first round where it looked like Washington was in trouble. Ultimately, they righted the ship and pulled off a tough series win against a surprisingly good Toronto team. The Capitals can’t afford to have the same lapses against Pittsburgh in this series though.

With all of the talent on the ice for both teams, the more disciplined team will prevail. That means Washington will have to play a much smarter game than they did in the first round. I’m looking squarely at Capitals enforcer Tom Wilson. He has a knack for picking up penalties in bunches, and that could cause serious problems for Washington. Pittsburgh’s powerplay is not to be trifled with.

In terms of the defensive and goaltending matchups, Washington certainly has the edge over Pittsburgh. Marc-Andre Fleury was good in round one, but with his history we could just be waiting for the other shoe to drop. If he struggles against this potent Washington attack, Pittsburgh will likely be stuck with him in net. Last year’s playoff hero Matt Murray is unlikely to return in this series.

Keep an eye on the second lines in this series as well. The Rust-Malkin-Kessel line is a versatile line, and Phil Kessel has been a monster in the postseason since joining Pittsburgh. Washington will counter with the crafty Johansson-Kuznetsov-Williams line. Justin Williams has been great wherever he has gone during his illustrious career, so look for him to really mix it up against Pittsburgh’s second line.

All told, this will be a fantastic series so just sit back and enjoy the ride.

Winner: Pittsburgh in 7

 

Ottawa vs. New York (Game 1, Thursday, 7:00 p.m.)

We finish up the second round previews with what will likely be the most defensive series of the entire round. Both teams like to grind down their opponents and pick their spots offensively. This won’t be a showcase of elite skill, but that doesn’t mean it won’t be a great series.

The main storyline heading into this series is the Rangers facing an old friend in Derick Brassard. New York dealt Brassard to Ottawa in the offseason for Mika Zibanejad and a second round pick in 2018. Brassard was New York’s top goal scorer in 2015-16, so the trade came as a bit of a surprise last July. Both teams have benefitted from the move, so this will be an interesting subplot.

Similar to the first round, I think that this series will come down to the play of Henrik Lundqvist in net for the Rangers. Much was made about his apparent “down year” in the regular season, but he looked great against Montreal. If he continues to play like the “King Henrik” we’ve come to expect, New York should be in a great position to move onto the Eastern Conference final.

Winner: New York in 6

That’s it for me today. I’ll be back tomorrow with “No Huddle” to preview the NFL Draft. Follow me on Twitter @thereal_jmooney and go like the Shooting the Moon page on Facebook. Also head on over to iTunes and SoundCloud to subscribe to the Shooting the Moon Podcast, I’ll have a new episode up towards the end of the week.

Happy Monday everyone! Another busy weekend of playoff action is in the books and it was incredible to say the least. The first round of the NBA playoffs kicked into another gear as we enter this week with multiple matchups tied up at two games apiece. Over in the NHL it was time to take care of business as all five matchups finished up over the past two days. There is a lot to get to so here are my top takeaways from the weekend.

NHL: Working Overtime to Take Care of Business

It doesn’t get any better than the high drama in the NHL over the weekend. Do or die overtime in elimination games. I’ve got goosebumps just typing that sentence. We entered the weekend with five matchups left in the first round, and now we are moving on to the second round.

No real surprises this weekend, and unfortunately, no Game 7’s either. Regardless, the action on the ice was heated. Out of the nine games played over the weekend, five needed overtime to decide a winner. In fact, this first round set a new record for overtime games in a single round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Every game has been fought tooth and nail. We can’t ask for much more than that.

Washington narrowly escaped two overtime games to clinch a series win despite an impressive performance from the young Toronto Maple Leafs. Ottawa used the momentum from a thrilling double overtime win on Friday night to catapult them to a Game 6 victory in overtime against Boston, winning the series 4-2. St. Louis completed its upset of Minnesota with an overtime win in Game 5.

Henrik Lundqvist won the duel of Olympic goaltenders, leading the Rangers into the second round with a 3-1 win in Game 6. One young team is still alive and kicking though as the Edmonton Oilers won a tough road game in San Jose to knock out the defending Western Conference champions.

I’ll be previewing all of the second round matchups tomorrow, but let me just say, that this has the potential to be even better than the first round.

NBA: 2-2 Sounds Like Fun

I said on the podcast last week that it has been so far so good for the NBA playoffs. Well after this weekend, we can officially upgrade that to great. Take a few crazy finishes, add some bad blood, top it off with heightened stakes, and you have a recipe for one hell of a finish to the first round.

The game of the weekend had to be Game 4 between Memphis and San Antonio on Saturday night (sorry Houston and OKC fans). It was a hard fought game that featured an impressive performance from Kawhi Leonard in a losing effort. He became the first player in NBA history to score his team’s final 15 points in the fourth quarter. Memphis stole the show though, as Mike Conley hit a runner with 4.5 second left in regulation to force overtime.

In overtime, both teams needed just about every second of the five-minute quarter to determine a winner. Leonard had the Spurs in position to push the game into a second overtime when Marc Gasol netted a runner of his own with 0.7 left on the clock to even the series for the Grizzlies. Strap yourselves in; it looks like we could be going on a hell of a ride with this series.

San Antonio-Memphis is just one of four series currently tied at 2-2 with the potential for a fifth to get knotted up tonight with Washington and Atlanta playing a pivotal Game 4. Boston took advantage of the Rajon Rondo injury to even up the series on the road against Chicago. Toronto got down and dirty to take a must-win Game 4 in Milwaukee in what can best be described as a defensive struggle. In last night’s nightcap, Utah overcame the midgame loss of Gordon Hayward (food poisoning, you really can’t make this up sometimes) to tie up its series with Los Angeles at two games apiece. I’ve got to give credit to the apparent ageless wonder, Joe Johnson, for playing hero-ball in crunch time for the Jazz.

NBA: Cleveland Sweeps Indiana; Portland and OKC on the Brink

While we jack up the intensity to 11 in those matchups, we are getting ready to bid farewell to a few teams. Cleveland completed the sweep of Indiana yesterday, using a huge third quarter from Kyrie Irving to bust open the game, before staving off a late comeback from the Pacers. This series really had some potential, but clearly Cleveland was the better team here. Indiana’s inability to finish games really cost them in this series and is why they were swept in a best-of-seven for the first time in franchise history.

Portland and Oklahoma City find themselves on the brink of elimination after a tough weekend. Despite missing Steve Kerr on the sidelines due to an illness, the Warriors took Game 3 on the road 119-113. The Trail Blazers had their opportunities to win the game, but a late surge by Golden State kept Portland out of reach. Golden State is now up 3-0 with a chance to close out the series tonight.

Over in our matchup of MVP candidates, Houston and Oklahoma City split Games 3 and 4 in impressive fashion. Both games featured incredible finishes and even better performances from James Harden and Russell Westbrook. Once again, Westbrook’s supporting cast couldn’t help out its superstar (which led to this postgame outburst). The Thunder now are now -40 when Westbrook is out of the game, which has only been 39 minutes in this series.

It’s going to be tough sledding for Oklahoma City to get back into this series with Game 5 in Houston tomorrow night. However, with the way Westbrook has played, if they can steal that game, we could have a series on our hands.

 

That’s it for me today. I’ll be back tomorrow with a preview of the second round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. It’s also draft week so be on the lookout for the return of “No Huddle” on Wednesday. There is potentially a double-dip this week for the “Shooting the Moon Podcast” as well. It should be a busy week on the site. Follow me on Twitter @thereal_jmooney and go like the Shooting the Moon page on Facebook.

There was one question that strangely surrounded the Oklahoma City-Houston playoff series. Would the real MVP stand up? All season long there has been a constant debate over who would win the NBA’s MVP award between Russell Westbrook and James Harden.

Once this playoff matchup became a reality, both sides of the debate took their places. As long as this series goes, each game will be a “referendum” on the MVP race for the casual fan. This series, and the MVP award, comes down to Harden’s efficiency versus the volume of Westbrook.

The only problem with that is the voting for the award is already over. In reality, whoever wins this award is already set in stone but we just won’t find out until after the NBA Finals. While Twitter blew up last night with hot takes about the MVP award, everyone seemed to miss the bigger point. Russell Westbrook is a hell of a player, but his style of play will never win a championship.

Was Westbrook’s regular season impressive? Yes, he averaged a triple-double on the season for the first time since Oscar Robertson and broke the single-season record for triple-doubles. Westbrook deserves a ton of credit for that and getting his team into the playoffs.

However, a Westbrook triple-double is more about style than substance. We all knew coming into the season that Kevin Durant leaving would allow Westbrook to be in total control of this offense. Westbrook was in line to put up monster numbers now that he was the only alpha dog left on the roster. Well, we were all right, but lets take a closer look at how he did it.

As the unquestioned top player on this team, Westbrook did take full control of how this offense went. He set a new record for usage rate in NBA history (41.7), topping the mark set by Kobe Bryant in 2005-06. Now you’re probably saying, “well of course, the guy averaged a triple-double.”

Usage rate is a good advanced statistic but you need to understand how it is calculated. There are a lot of stats that go into it, and I’ll link the formula here. To simplify this stat, it is a measure of how much you are attempting field goals, free throws and turning the ball over relative to the minutes you play compared to the team.

As great as Westbrook’s numbers were this season, they were inflated by the fact that he always had the ball. Now, you can argue that he needed to be like that to win with this team, and I’ll agree but it is also why I don’t believe he can win a championship with the way he plays the game. No one in the top ten in usage rate in NBA history have won a title.

Of all the career highs that were set this season, the one that concern me the most were Westbrook’s shooting numbers, specifically his attempts. Prior to this season, the most shots that he took in one season were 1,535. That number was broken, shattered, and left in the dust by the gaudy 1,941 attempts (24 attempts per game) that Westbrook took this season. Westbrook had the third-worst shooting percentage of his career in 2016-17, despite having a career best in three-point shooting.

Essentially that’s how Westbrook was able to lead the league in scoring while averaging a triple-double. Now for the assists, Westbrook didn’t have to change too much. As much as he gets the “ballhog” moniker, he only tied his career-high for assists per game this season. Granted, it was a little more difficult without KD.

In fact the assists were the most important stat to the success of the Thunder this season. Of the 42 triple-doubles Westbrook achieved this season, the Thunder were 33-9. Out of the 35 total losses that OKC had this season, 23 of those came when Westbrook didn’t surpass ten or more assists.

Then there are the rebounds, the one stat of the bunch that can be manipulated a little bit. If you watched closely, the Thunder were more inclined to set up Westbrook for defensive rebounds off of free throws to jump start the offense. That isn’t to say this is how he got all of his rebounds, but it does explain how a point guard improves from 7.8 rebounds per game in 2015-16 to 10.7 in 2016-17.

Now we can all agree that Westbrook is a great player, but why don’t I think he can win a championship? It goes back to something that I saw last night, and has been a recurring theme over the course of his career. Westbrook needs the ball to reach his full potential as a individual player. The problem is that it is also his downfall when it comes to the big stage.

Look at last night for example, because through three quarters Westbrook was fantastic. However, the fourth quarter was not so kind to Mr. Triple-Double. He had the most missed shots in a fourth quarter in 20 years. 4-for-18 from the field in the quarter eventually led to the demise of OKC as Houston caught fire in the closing moments.

Westbrook doesn’t get all the blame for this particular loss. In the six minutes that he was on the bench the Thunder were -15. Putting that aside though, this is another example of Westbrook going cold and shooting himself out of a game. It is something that he has done his entire career, and something that I believe is what caused KD to bolt to Golden State.

Durant leaving made me realize something about Westbrook, and it’s why I don’t think that he can win a championship. KD and Westbrook were an example of “the Scorpion and the Frog.” Durant is the type of player that you need to get to the Finals. As dangerous as Westbrook can be any given night, it will ultimately be to a fault, and kill your chances at a championship.

At this point, you know what you are getting when it comes to the newly crowned king of triple-doubles. He is a ball-centric point guard who needs to run the offense through him to be the best version of himself. We have already seen what he can do with an elite teammate, and the ceiling is short of an NBA championship.

 

That’s it for me today. Be on the lookout tomorrow for a new episode of the Shooting the Moon Podcast. Follow me on Twitter @thereal_jmooney and go like the Shooting the Moon page on Facebook.

You have to love the playoffs. Sometimes you have an idea of how things will play out and by the end of the night, your opinion has totally changed. For example, today was supposed to be an awards edition of “Heat Check.” After last night in the NHL, that is no longer the case.

As compelling as the NBA playoffs have been, it has been lacking in one area compared to the NHL. Late game drama, specifically overtime. Since the Stanley Cup Playoffs began last Wednesday, there has been at least one overtime game every night.

Last night was a reminder of why the Stanley Cup Playoffs are so great. Not only were there four games on the slate (the more the merrier, right) and every single game needed overtime to decide a winner. Late game drama is what makes playoff games so great, and hockey has that in spades right now.

Just look at how things unfolded last night. Each game was high scoring with a sizable comeback, and the overtime period had you hanging on the edge of your seat. Underdogs prevailed, and favorites overcame stacked odds.

The Toronto Maple Leafs set the tone for the night with its win over Washington to take a 2-1 series lead. Washington started the game by scoring two goals on two shots. They eventually carried a 3-1 lead into the second period where the Capitals had a prime opportunity to put the young guns from Toronto away early.

Toronto had a major lapse in discipline, taking a hooking penalty and roughing penalty. That gave Washington a two-man advantage for a full two minutes, and logic would have led you to believe that the Caps were going to find the back of the net in that time. Amazingly, the Maple Leafs was able to withstand the storm from Washington and kill off the both penalties.

After Braden Holtby made a ballsy play near the blue line to break up a potential two-on-none breakaway, Toronto needed to go back on the penalty kill for having too many men on the ice. However, the momentum was squarely on Toronto’s side by then. The Maple Leafs killed off the penalty again, and the crowd at the Air Canada Centre was rocking.

Nazim Kadri cut the lead to one with just under five minutes to go in the period. Then Toronto was able to tie the game with under a minute left in the second period when William Nylander corralled a rebound and put it past a sprawling Holtby. This set up a dramatic third period.

Both teams threw everything they could at each other in the third, but neither could find the game-winner in the final 20 minutes. The period would not end without some intrigue though as Lars Eller took a penalty in the waning seconds of regulation.

Overtime started with Toronto on the power play, and they would not waste the opportunity. Tyler Bozak deflected a shot-pass from Kadri to give the Leafs a crucial Game 3 victory.

As this game reached a thrilling conclusion, we had another overtime game to get right into. Boston had found a way to erase a three-goal deficit in the second period against Ottawa. The third period saw numerous chances but both goalies kept the score even at three.

Boston could not defend home-ice though. Following a frantic series of turnovers and scoring chances, Riley Nash took a roughing penalty. The ensuing Ottawa power play would end the night as (Jersey boy) Bobby Ryan netted the game-winner, making up for a mind-numbingly bad defensive error earlier in the night. Ottawa now regains control of the series up two games-to-one.

Not to be outdone, the Western Conference had plenty of drama to offer during the nightcap. Chicago looked like it would begin its climb out of a 2-0 series deficit when they finally got on the score sheet in the second period. Dennis Rasmussen snapped the Chicago scoreless streak at 141 minutes to give the Blackhawks a 1-0 lead. Patrick Kane would then put Chicago up two to end the second period.

Nashville would not go away in the third period. The Predators got back to playing solid defense, and Pekka Rinne continued to flummox Chicago’s offense (Rinne’s miracle save in the first period might be the best of the playoffs). A pair of goals from Filip Forsberg tied the game and forced OT.

In the most exciting overtime period of the night, both goalies did just about everything they could to keep their teams alive. Just when it looked like we would be heading into double overtime, Nashville struck. A Marian Hossa turnover led to a break for the Predators and Kevin Fiala made a great move down low to sneak a backhand shot past Corey Crawford for the win.

If you thought Chicago wasn’t in trouble before last night, it’s definitely time to hit the panic button now. Nashville has a commanding 3-0 series lead and will have a chance to knock out the Blackhawks on Thursday night.

The final game of the night gave us the highest scoring contest and the night’s largest comeback. Calgary looked to have Anaheim all but put away in Game 3, up 4-1 in the middle of the second period. Three power play goals by the Flames had them in the perfect position to score their first win in this series.

An offense as potent as Anaheim’s doesn’t stay quiet for long though. The Ducks were able to cut the lead to two with under a minute left in the second period. A comeback attempt was given some life.

Anaheim cut out the penalties in the third and was able to control the action at even strength. Nate Thompson cut the lead to one just past the halfway point of the third period. As the air was slowly sucked out of the crowd in Calgary, the Ducks found a way to tie the game with under five minutes left in regulation. Go figure, it was Shea Thompson’s first career goal.

As the game entered overtime, Anaheim had all of the momentum in the game. An icing violation by Calgary set up the Ducks with a chance to end the game early in overtime. Corey Perry proved that when you put the puck on net, good things tend to happen. Perry’s shot deflected off the defender in front of the net and careened off goalie Brian Elliott’s glove into the back of the net.

In a sick twist of fate, the Flames went from making it a series against the Ducks to sitting on the brink of elimination in the span of 22 minutes. Hey, I did say that this one would get ugly.

Needless to say, playoff hockey is back in a big way.

That’s it for me today. I’ll be back tomorrow with episode six of the Shooting the Moon Podcast. Follow me on Twitter @thereal_jmooney and go like the Shooting the Moon page on Facebook.

Happy Monday everyone! I hope you all had a wonderful holiday weekend. While we were all off enjoying some quality time with our families there was a quite a lot of playoff action going on. Rather than go through every single game point by point, today’s “Weekend Recap” is going to feature my top takeaways from the first weekend of the NBA and Stanley Cup Playoffs. It was a pretty interesting weekend to say the least so lets jump right into the recap.

NHL: The Blackhawks are in Serious Trouble

Since the NBA playoffs are only one game into each series, my top takeaway comes from the NHL, where the Blackhawks have a big problem. That is Pekka Rinne and the Nashville Predators. Not only did the Predators swipe home-ice advantage from Chicago, but they now have the Blackhawks squarely on the ropes. With the series now shifting to Nashville for Games 3 and 4, the Predators have a real chance to knock out the Vegas favorites.

It has all been about the defense in this series as the Predators have yet to cede a goal to the usually potent Chicago offense. Right now its two games and two shutouts for Rinne in net. A 1-0 victory in Game 1 set the tone for the series, but no one could have seen Game 2 unfolding the way it did.

Nashville flat out dominated the second game and halted any attempt for Chicago to build any momentum in this series winning 5-0 in Game 2. However, hockey is a strange sport and a 2-0 series lead isn’t the end of the world. The real issue is the palpable lack of any form of offense from Chicago. We’ll see if the Blackhawks can turn it around, but there has not been a lot to love about these first two games.

NBA: The East is Going to Be Nutty

One game is a very small sample size, but the most telling sign is the way each of the games in the East went over the weekend. Cleveland barely escaped with a win, Chicago upset Boston, Washington came back against Atlanta, and Milwaukee dominated Toronto. Just the way we planned, right?

Chicago’s late run effectively stole a huge Game 1 for the Bulls. Granted, they did catch Boston dealing with a pretty serious off-court issue. If you haven’t heard by now, Isaiah Thomas’s sister passed away over the weekend, and there were some doubts about whether he would play yesterday. Thomas ended up playing and led the Celtics with 33 points in the game.

The problem for the Celtics was they got dominated on the boards, and Jimmy Butler took over the game late. Butler scored 15 of his 30 points in the fourth quarter to give the Bulls the 106-102 win.

The other surprise in the Eastern Conference was the emphatic win by the Bucks over the Raptors. Toronto had no answers for the length and athleticism of Milwaukee in Game 1. I was pretty certain that Toronto would have issues with Giannis Antetokounmpo, but it was Thon Maker who stole some of the headlines with his playoff debut. The combination of these two was a huge factor in the Bucks holding the potent Toronto offense to 32 points and 20 percent shooting in the second half. Milwaukee only won the game by 14, but as the second half unfolded it never even felt that close.

Like I said before, one game is a small sample size but things are going to get a little weird in the Eastern Conference. It might be time to rewrite the script on how we think things are going to play out.

NHL: The Edmonton Oilers are Legit

After blowing a lead in Game 1 to San Jose and giving up home-ice advantage, you had to worry about how this young Oilers team would respond. The answer was resounding as Edmonton took back control of its first round series against the Sharks.

Edmonton locked down a pretty good offensive team for two consecutive games and took a 2-1 series lead. Each game was impressive in its own right. Game 2 saw Edmonton play with fire by giving the Sharks six power play opportunities. Despite that, the Oilers managed to more than double the Sharks shot totals and scored twice while shorthanded. In fact, it was only the third time in NHL history where a team has won a playoff game by scoring all shorthanded goals.

The series shifted back to San Jose last night for a pivotal Game 3. The Oilers proved that the defensive showing in Game 2 was no fluke. Edmonton shut down the Sharks for a second consecutive game. However, the Sharks brought a solid defensive effort of its own, stifling the Oilers at almost every turn.

A bad defensive zone turnover by San Jose allowed Zack Kassian a perfect opportunity in the slot. He would not waste it, slipping a backhand shot through the legs of Martin Jones. Edmonton and Cam Talbot would not relent the defensive pressure to secure a 1-0 victory in Game 3.

Coming into the postseason, I was unsure about Edmonton’s chances if its offense was not playing well. Through three games, I am very impressed by the inspired effort that I’ve seen on the defensive end by the Oilers. If they can keep up this level of defensive excellence, Connor McDavid’s offensive prowess could become the x-factor to a deep playoff run.

 

That’s it for me today. I’ll be back tomorrow with “Heat Check” to give my picks for all of the major awards in the NBA. Episode 6 of the Shooting the Moon Podcast will debut on Wednesday. Follow me on Twitter @thereal_jmooney and go like the Shooting the Moon page on Facebook.

Playoffs?! Yes, it is that time of the year once again. This week marks the beginning of the playoffs in the NBA and NHL. Today, “The Fourth Line” will be looking at the first round matchups in the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Intense doesn’t even begin to describe this six-week war of attrition. It’s all about being the team to hoist the greatest trophy in all of sports, Lord Stanley’s Cup.

Before I get into the eight first round matchups, lets set the stage for the Stanley Cup Playoffs. 2016 marked the first time in 46 years where none of the Canadian teams made it to the postseason. In a strange reversal of fortune, five Canadian teams will have a shot at the cup this season. It really speaks to the static nature of the NHL from year-to-year.

One thing that hasn’t changed is the winner of the President’s Trophy in the NHL this season. For the second year in a row, the Washington Capitals ended the season with the most points in the league. Unfortunately, that doesn’t mean much of anything in the playoffs.

Since the lockout in 2004-05, the winner of the President’s Trophy has only made the Stanley Cup three times. Of those three teams, two have won it all (Detroit in 2007-08 and Chicago in 2012-13). In the case of the Capitals, the Alexander Ovechkin-era has not been that successful either. Washington has failed to reach the Eastern Conference Finals during over the course of Ovechkin’s career, including two previous seasons where they won the President’s Trophy.

Historically, the chances of a repeat for the Pittsburgh Penguins are not that great either. Despite the fact that these Penguins are one of the best teams in the league, there has not been a repeat champion in the NHL since 1998. That being said, don’t be shocked if the Penguins make it out of the Eastern Conference.

A return to the Stanley Cup Finals will likely ride on the performance of goaltender Matt Murray. Last season Murray was thrust into the net following an injury to Marc-Andre Fleury, and he shined on the big stage. The Achilles Heel of the Penguins during the Sidney Crosby-era has been poor goaltending (see Flyers-Penguins in 2012).

Over in the Western Conference, whichever team survives will be extremely battle-tested in the Stanley Cup Finals. The top of the bracket is loaded with some of the toughest teams in the league, while the bottom of the bracket features some of the fastest teams in the game.

Unsurprisingly, Chicago is the top seed in the West once again, but the road to the Stanley Cup Finals is littered with stiff competition. Chicago was able to steal away home-ice advantage from Minnesota despite losing four straight to end the season. If the Blackhawks are going to win its fourth Stanley Cup in eight years, this could be the most difficult path they have ever had to go through.

The long journey for the Stanley Cup starts tomorrow night and with that in mind, it is time to dive into the first round matchups.

Eastern Confernce

New York Rangers vs. Montreal Canadiens (Game 1, April 12^th)

 

If you like low scoring, defensive games then this is the series for you. Henrik Lundqvist and Carey Price is an Olympic-level goaltending matchup, which means scoring will be at a premium over the course of this series. Both teams have cut their teeth over the years being the better defensive team on the ice.

The Rangers haven’t been as sharp on the defensive end of the ice this season and Lundqvist may be in the midst of a down year. If you are looking for the story that will determine the outcome of this series, it will be the play of Lundqvist. King Henrik has seen his goals against average rise to 2.74, well above his career average of 2.32. If the Rangers have any hope of advancing in this series, they will need their goaltender to get back to being a superstar in between the pipes.

Luckily for New York, Montreal is among the lowest scoring teams in the playoffs. The Habs only average 2.71 goals per game, and rely on grinding out games rather than having its offense take over. Montreal is a team that is built around the blue-liners, which will make it difficult to get solid scoring chances on Price.

Experts around the league are torn on this series, and are split almost down the middle with their picks. This is a series that will likely go the distance.

Winner: New York in 7

 

Pittsburgh Penguins vs. Columbus Blue Jackets (Game 1, April 12^th)

Familiarity breeds contempt in the postseason (something we’ll see a lot of in the West). The Penguins and Blue Jackets have seen a lot of each other in the regular season and previous playoff series. Consistency is a big factor this time of year, and that will bode well for the Penguins.

Columbus turned a lot of heads at the beginning of the season by winning 15 consecutive games. That almost assured their spot in the postseason, but this has not been the same team since that streak ended. A second half swoon among the teams in the Metropolitan Division kept the struggling Blue Jackets in the postseason despite ending the year 1-5-1.

The Penguins may be without top defenseman Kris Letang, but that shouldn’t be an issue this round. This series will go as long as Pittsburgh allows it. Columbus’s only chance is to (cleanly) goon it up and force the Penguins to worry more about fighting than scoring.

Winner: Pittsburgh in 5

Ottawa Senators vs. Boston Bruins (Game 1, April 12^th)

Fortunately for both of these teams, the NHL has an unorthodox method for playoff seeding. Ottawa and Boston, at 98 and 95 points respectively, have to be glad they avoid playing a Metropolitan team in the first round. This series will be a clash of styles though.

Ottawa is the lowest scoring team in the postseason, while the Bruins have been scoring in bunches as of late. It’s tough for me to picture a scenario where the Senators will be able to outscore the Bruins in four games. The numbers just aren’t there but Ottawa will have home-ice advantage, which could aid their hopes.

Almost every stat gives the advantage to Boston, especially on special teams. Boston ranks as seventh on the power play (21.7 percent) and first on the penalty kill (85.7 percent). Ottawa on the other hand, ranks 22^nd on the power play (17 percent) and penalty kill (79.7 percent).

I’m expecting this to be a relatively short and one-sided series if Boston can win one of the first two games in Ottawa.

Winner: Boston in 5

Washington Capitals vs. Toronto Maple Leafs (Game 1, April 13^th)

No matter how long this series goes, it is going to be a fun one to watch. In a matchup against the present and future of the NHL the President’s Trophy winning Capitals face off with the upstart Maple Leafs. It is going to be a treat to see how the youth of Toronto will fare in its first playoff appearance since 2012-13.

The length of this series hinges on Washington goaltender Braden Holtby. He is easily the best goaltender in the league right now, but he also has one of the league’s best defenses in front of him. Washington allowed the fewest number of goals in the entire league, with a GAA of 2.16 on the season.

It will be very intriguing to see if Auston Matthews and William Nylander can have the same level of success on the score sheet against this defensive juggernaut. Matthews and Nylander immediately burst onto the scene as rookies this year, each showing an elite scoring touch with the puck. They will need to overcome the relentless pressure that Washington puts on the defensive end.

Unfortunately, this will likely serve as a learning experience for Toronto. Washington is just better in all phases of the game, but here’s to hoping that we get some great games while this one lasts.

Winner: Washington in 5

 

Western Conference

Edmonton Oilers vs. San Jose Sharks (Game 1, April 12^th)

We ended the Eastern Conference with a matchup of present versus future and we begin the Western Conference with a similar matchup. San Jose is the defending champions in the Western Conference while Edmonton has finally realized the potential of its young stars.

This will be a fast-paced series that could see a ton of scoring in each game. The player to watch is the Art Ross Trophy winner, Connor McDavid. He followed up a Calder Trophy winning season in 2015-16 by leading the NHL in scoring this season. McDavid may be the youngest captain in the league, but he has shown he is more than capable of leading this team.

In any postseason, you can’t overlook the power of a team getting hot at the right time. Edmonton enters this postseason as one of the league’s hottest teams, finishing the season 8-2 over its last ten games.

Health is a key factor in this series as well. Joe Thornton and Logan Couture are both injured right now, and their status for Game 1 is up in the air. They will likely return at some point in this series but at far less than 100%. Without them in the lineup, the Sharks limped into the postseason.

Winner: Edmonton in 6

Minnesota Wild vs. St. Louis Blues (Game 1, April 12^th)

Hey, remember when I said familiarity breeds contempt. Look no further than this series to be the prime example in the first round. Not only are these teams division rivals, but St. Louis is coached by Mike Yeo, who coached the Wild for six seasons. That will be a very interesting subplot to this series.

As far as the actual play on the ice, this will be an incredibly hard-hitting series. These teams do no like each other, so look for some bad blood to come to a boil as this series dips into the late stages.

In a series that will likely go the distance, you have to look at the goaltending matchup. That goes to the Wild here. Devan Dubnyk has been fantastic this season and is one of the reasons why the Wild set a franchise record for wins and points. Combine a good goaltender, the second-best offense in the league with home-ice advantage for Minnesota, and you have a recipe for a close series win.

Winner: Minnesota in 7

Anaheim Ducks vs. Calgary Flames (Game 1, April 13^th)

Here is a series that could get ugly in more ways than one. When these teams faced off in the postseason two years ago, it looked like a fight club formed on the ice at times. If there is a first round series that could match the infamous Philadelphia-Pittsburgh series in 2012, it is this one.

Anaheim clearly has the edge in this series with a better offense, defense, and goaltender than Calgary. However, a consistent theme with the Ducks this decade has been their inability to win when they should. Does that mean they are prime for an upset here? Unlikely, but its worth noting.

Jake Allen will have to be a stud in net for the Flames, who will have to find a way to steal at least two games in Anaheim to win this series. Calgary will also need a huge lift from New Jersey native Johnny Gaudreau.

Unfortunately, this is a series of teams that were going in different directions at the end of the regular season. Calgary went 4-6 in its last ten games while Anaheim went 11-0-3 to end the year.

Winner: Anaheim in 6

Chicago Blackhawks vs. Nashville Predators (Game 1, April 13^th)

We end the first round previews with what could potentially be the best of series of the round. Despite the fact that the experts almost unanimously are picking the Blackhawks to win this series, the Predators present quite a challenge.

Nashville has one of the league’s most talented defensive units, led by P.K. Subban. They will be the focus in this series for the Predators to have any chance to upset the favorites to win the Stanley Cup. Subban and the rest of the blue-liners will have their work cut out for them trying to stop the lethal Chicago offense. Luckily, Nashville has Pekka Rinne in net and he can be one of the league’s best when he is on his “A” game.

While this is all well and good for Nashville, they are facing the best playoff team of the decade. Chicago has had its ups and downs this season, but there aren’t many concerns heading into the postseason though. This year’s Blackhawks have not been great at any one thing, but you can’t deny that this team can matchup favorably against any team in the league.

Chicago is easily one of the deepest teams in the league with Jonathan Toews, Patrick Kane, Duncan Keith, Artemi Panarin, and Corey Crawford leading the way. My only concern is the penalty kill for the Blackhawks, which ranks 24^th in the NHL (77.7 percent).

Regardless of any stats, Chicago has the best home-ice advantage in the league. The United Center can quickly become a house of horrors for any visiting team when “Chelsea Dagger” by The Fratellis starts ringing through the Madhouse on Madison.

Winner: Chicago in 7

That’s it for me today. I’ll be back tomorrow with “Curtain Call” to unveil my first power rankings of the MLB season. Episode 5 of the Shooting the Moon Podcast will be up Thursday. Friday will be a new edition of “Heat Check” previewing the first round of the NBA Playoffs.

Follow me on Twitter @thereal_jmooney, go like the Shooting the Moon page on Facebook, and subscribe to the Shooting the Moon Podcast on iTunes and SoundCloud