UNDERDOGS AND CREASE WARS

Unworldly goaltending and a shorter series structure is a recipe for epic upsets in the qualifying round. And that will be a blast

BY MATT LARKIN

A JUICY CHUNK OF gossip hyped up the NHL’s 24-team playoff tournament when, days before it was finalized, a report surfaced that the Pittsburgh Penguins were objecting to the idea of best-of-three series being used to determine the opening 16-team play-in round. Whether you like or hate the format for finishing the 2019-20 season, the Penguins got the rawest deal. They rank seventh in the NHL in points percentage and must face the No. 24 overall squad in a short series. Theoretically, that’s a good thing, as the Pens draw the easiest opponent, but they were adamant about a best-of-five because of two words: Carey Price. The Montreal Canadiens netminder hasn’t won a Vezina Trophy since 2014-15, but most players, coaches and industry insiders still name Price as the sport’s best goalie.…

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The Hockey News (Digital) - 1 Issue, July 1, 2020

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