Players To Watch/Under Pressure Eastern Conference Teams

By: Mike Rifkin

As we enter the final two weeks of the NHL regular season we know the eight teams in the Eastern Conference. We do not know who will be playing who (Preview will be up before the playoffs begin) but here are players who need to have a good playoffs for their team to make a run during the Stanley Cup Playoffs. 

Metropolitan

Hurricanes : Frederik Andersen : The Hurricanes signed Andersen to a one year contract and Andersen has rewarded them with a tremendous season. Andersen is top ten in wins, goals against average, save percentage and shutouts. With the Leafs Andersen never made it out of the first round and he at times was criticized whether right or wrong for not coming up with a key save. This year there are no excuses. This is a very good and deep Hurricanes team and they need their goalie who has had a Vezina finalist season to be very good. If Andersen has a good playoff run two things could happen first could get a massive payday this offseason and two the notion of what happened in Toronto will no longer be addressed. Note Andersen is week to week with a lower body injury. 

Rangers :  Alexis Lafreniere : I could go with a number of players here as there are many Rangers who have not played in a playoff series. The Rangers additions of Andrew Copp and Frank Vatrano have solidified the top two lines. If Lafreniere, who has really had a nice second season can give the Rangers a third line that can also produce offensively the Rangers can be a tough out. 

Penguins : Rickard Rakell : The Pittsburgh Penguins have not won a playoff series since 2018. Rakell was acquired at the trade deadline to boost the Penguins offense and since being acquired he has three goals and 10 points in 14 games played. Rakell in the playoffs has 11 goals and 19 points in 46 games. 

Capitals : Ilya Samsonov/ Vitek Vanecek: Good goaltending is very important in the Stanley Cup Playoffs. The duo of Samsonov and Vanecek in DC has been inconsistent to say the least. Samsonov is 23-10-4 with a 2.97 goals against average and an .898 save percentage. Vanecek is 19-11-5 with a 2.67 goals against average and .909 save percentage and both goalies have produced three shutouts. Samsonov in last year’s playoffs went 0-3-0 with a 2.99 goals against average and a .899 save percentage. This could be a real prove it moment for both goalies, if they struggle expect GM Brian MacLellan to address goaltending this offseason.

Atlantic 

Panthers : Sergei Bobrovsky : I don’t believe there is a player under more pressure this playoff than Sergei Bobrovsky. Bobrovsky so far this season has a record of 33-6-3 with a 2.64 goals against average a.914 save percentage and three shutouts. Bobrovsky, a two time Vezina Trophy winner has struggled in the playoffs with a 13-23 record, 3.24 goals against average and a .899 save percentage. In his two playoffs with the Panthers Bobrovsky has a 2-5 record 3.80 goals against average and .880 save percentage. With Spencer Knight ready to take over the net it is very important for Bob to have a good playoff run not only for himself but because the Panthers are good enough to win the Stanley Cup. 

Maple Leafs : John Taveras : Bobrovsky might be the player feeling the most heat, but one of the teams feeling the pressure has to be the Toronto Maple Leafs. Toronto has not won a playoff series since 2004 and in the process have blown multiple 3-1 series leads. Since signing with the Leafs, Taveras has four goals and eight points. Last year in the playoffs Taveras got hurt. If the Leafs lose in the first round again there will be some changes.

Lightning : Alex Killorn : The real X-factor for the two time defending Stanley Cup Champions is fatigue, they have played a lot of hockey over the past year and a half. But if I am picking a player it’s Killorn who in the two cup runs has 13 goals and 27 points and in his playoff career has 34 goals and 68 points. As skillful as the Lightning are, you need to get to the dirty areas of the ice and Killorn does it as well as anybody. 

Bruins : Erik Haula : When David Krejci returned to the Czech Republic the Bruins didn’t know what to do at their second line center. They tried a lot of different players there and eventually Erik Haula stepped up. Haula has 15 goals and 39 points this season. Haula in his playoff career has 11 goals and 27 points in 54 games played.

Now there are others who are going to have to step up in order for their team to make a deep run in the Stanley Cup Playoffs, but these are definitely eight players to keep an eye on once the playoffs begin.