The Stanley Cup playoffs are never without action, and now that the first round has officially come to a close, it’s time to give recognition to some of the best – and worst – moments.
Here are the winners and losers from the past two weeks.
But not literally, because that would be boring.
Winner, the President’s Trophy Curse.
The President’s Trophy, awarded to the NHL team that finishes with the most regular season points and often referred to as a playoffs death sentence, has claimed another victim. After going 65-12-5 and tallying a record-breaking 135 points, it almost felt like a given that the Boston Bruins would eventually go on to lift their seventh Stanley Cup.
The Florida Panthers had other ideas, and the Bruins instead suffered a truly devastating (to New Englanders, at least) Game 7 loss.
Eight teams in history have won the President’s Trophy and eventually gone on to win the Cup. Of the last ten President’s Trophy winners, only one has advanced past the second round. Still, there could be a light at the end of the tunnel for the Bruins after all.
The Tampa Bay Lightning won a total of 62 games during the 2018-19 season, comfortably securing the President’s Trophy only to be swept by the Columbus Blue Jackets in the first round. Despite the upset, the Lightning went on to win the Cup the next two years and made it to the finals in the third.
So fear not, Bruins fans. The President’s Trophy curse may actually be a blessing in disguise.
Loser, the Department of Player Safety.
Colorado Avalanche winger Andrew Cogliano missed Game 7 and was listed as out “indefinitely” after a controversial hit by Seattle’s Jordan Eberle in Game 6 broke his neck. Literally.
It should’ve been a relatively easy call for the NHL’s Department of Player Safety – a department created specifically to protect players from this kind of injury – to make, especially in the wake of the Game 4 suspension to Colorado defenseman Cale Makar. The hit was, by textbook definition, the exact standard for which discipline exists.
So the Department of Player Safety stepped in and Eberle was suspended, right?
Wrong.
Eberle received no suspension, no fine, and the Department of Player Safety has proven yet again that they have zero integrity or accountability. Unsurprising, and an egregious failure.
Winner, Winnipeg Jets center Morgan Barron.
In Game 1 of the Western Conference playoff matchup between the Winnipeg Jets and the Las Vegas Golden Knights, Jets forward Morgan Barron took an awkward fall during a scramble in the crease. The fall, unfortunately, was broken by the skate blade of Vegas goaltender Laurent Brossoit.
I know what you’re thinking. How is this a win? He could’ve lost an eye!
It’s a win because Barron returned to the game before the conclusion of the second period, donning a full cage, bandages, and 75 fresh stitches. By Game 5, he had already ditched the full shield and opted for just a visor.
Loser, Winnipeg Jets head coach Rick Bowness.
While Winnipeg’s series against Vegas left a sour taste in the mouths of Jets fans everywhere – they won only one game out of five – none were more acidic than their own head coach.
In a press conference immediately following their 4-1 loss, Bowness said he was “disappointed” and “disgusted” with the team. He’s been feeling these frustrations since January.
“Their better players are so much better than ours,” he continued. “It’s not even close.”
Naturally, this didn’t go over well with some of those players.
“He could’ve been honest with us. We could’ve had those discussions behind closed doors,” said Winnipeg captain Blake Wheeler. “I didn’t agree with how he handled himself after that game.”
Bowness probably should have had that discussion with the team before the media. He spoke of the failure of the leadership core, and yet his own leadership comes into question here.
You couldn’t pay me enough to step foot into the Winnipeg Jets locker room next season.
Winner, the Los Angeles Kings fans who rallied around an Edmonton girl battling brain cancer.
Cecily Eklund, a ten-year old girl battling brain cancer, was gifted a trip to see her favorite team – the Edmonton Oilers – play the Kings in Los Angeles.
Her experience was ruined, however, when Kings fans began to spit on and swear at her.
Eklund’s mother posted her grievances on social media, and after Oilers winger Evander Kane spoke up about the incident, donations began to pour in from Los Angeles. Together, Kings fans raised more than $20,000 for the Ben Stetler Fund, an organization very special to Cecily.
“You are a brave young lady! Keep fighting! Please know that there are a lot of Kings fans here in Southern California rooting for you,” said one donation.
“Real Kings fans support you, Cecily,” said another.
Cecily was invited back to Los Angeles for Game 6 by Kings staff, but was unable to attend due to illness.
Loser, the reason they had to rally in the first place.
Come on, Kings fans. Show some decorum. Spitting on a child just because she’s wearing the jersey of an opposing team? Get over yourselves.
A few bad people don’t represent an entire fanbase. I’m aware that this happens across all sports, in all cities, and for all teams. I don’t care if your team “wouldn’t ever do that!”
They would. They probably have. My team probably has, too.
It’s the nature of sports, and it’s especially the nature of the playoffs.
But this is too much, and the Kings fans who ruined a good thing for a little girl are the biggest losers on this list.
Winner, Sebastian Aho enthusiasts.
Game 5 of the Eastern Conference playoff round between the New York Islanders and Carolina Hurricanes saw plenty of newsworthy moments, but one was especially unique.
In fact, this may only happen once in a lifetime.
During the third period, Hurricanes forward Sebastian Aho and Islanders defenseman Sebastian Aho found themselves in the penalty box at the same time.
The first penalty was handed to the Islanders’ Aho, who was called for holding Derek Stepan with just under eight minutes left in regulation. The second was given to the Hurricanes, when the other Sebastian Aho was penalized for high-sticking.
This was likely the first time in NHL history that two players with the same name have been in the box simultaneously, and was an amusing moment for fans in an otherwise incredibly tense game.
Loser, the officials. Again.
The efficiency of officials comes up every single playoffs, and yet it feels especially bad this year.
Not only are they making terrible calls – remember the Jordan Eberle hit on Andrew Cogliano? Eberle only got a minor for it! – but they’re actively robbing fans of good hockey.
In Game 4 of the Bruins-Panthers series, Boston goaltender Linus Ullmark was separated from Panthers forward Matthew Tkachuk following a near line brawl. Why? How often do we get to see a goalie drop the gloves? Officials have to let fights like this happen, not just because of the entertainment factor but because of the fact that they’re a surefire way to break any underlying tension that could carry over into the next game.
The non-calls in Game 7 of the New Jersey Devils and New York Rangers Eastern Conference showdown were almost laughable.
Wes McCauley and the other officials missed a clear penalty shot on Devils forward Jack Hughes in the first period, followed by a high stick against the Rangers off the face off that they would then penalize the Devils for minutes later. Had the Rangers actually capitalized on those plays, they might have advanced into the second round.
Non-calls can not only be dangerous, but can completely alter the trajectory of a series.
Officials, do better.