Will there be a Cinderella team this year? if so, who?

[SeanMoneyHands]

The last time we had one was Montreal in 2020. Do we see another one this playoffs?

 

[Jumptheshark]

Blues

 

[landy]

Ill go out on a limb. The Leafs.

 

[Sasha Orlov]

Montreal again

 

[HighLifeMan]

I think Calgary is on the verge of a 20 game win streak personally.

 

[Jets]

Sens

 

[Ouroboros]

Montreal are a legit Cup contender now with Demidov in the fold.

 

[BonMorrison]

Would love to see the Blues make a run. Get my man Fowler a cup.

 

[PROUD PAPA]

Blues.

 

[The Grinder]

I think to be considered a Cinderella team you have to at least be a lower seed, and really, a wildcard team.

So we only have 4 seeming options.

I go with the Blues or the Sens as most likely to make a deep run. I really love that Sens team and think they have everything they need to really make a go of it. Elite talent on both sides of the puck and competent goaltending. Also them making the playoffs for the first time in 8 years? Hell yes. That’s Cinderella shit right there.

 

[HuGo Sham]

Montreal are a legit Cup contender now with Demidov in the fold.

no. BUT if they get timely goaltending and can limit either the leafs or caps offence, they can put a scare into them. There is relatively recent history of both teams choking against them.
Personally I want the leafs. I and the vast majority of habs fans have 0 expectations vs Toronto. Not a single person on this board predicted the habs would be in the playoffs.
All of the pressure is on Toronto / Washington. all of it. and the Bell centre will be berserk vs whoever they play

 

[1909]

Habs could surprise in the East.

 

[I Hate Blake Coleman]

Habs

 

[Hunter368]

Blues would be the only one but that’s highly unlikely, rest aren’t good enough.

 

[Mogo]

The last time we had one was Montreal in 2020. Do we see another one this playoffs?

Ummm... Florida 2023?

 

[Master P]

Habs

 

[SheldonJPlankton]

The Leafs are the quintessential Cinderella team.

Cinderella is a scullery wench who was first propped up by her father and when he died she couldn't compete with additions of her stepmother and stepsisters. The Leafs were propped up by papa NHL of the original six. When the original six died...the Leafs couldn't compete with the additions of the expansion era.

Cinderella needed her fairy godmother to work her magic to even come close to attending the ball. The Leafs need their Gary godmother to work his magic to keep the Leafs as a middling playoff team.

When Cinderella gets to the ball she exposes herself as a fraud who isn't royalty and she leaves in her pumpkin coach. When the Leafs get to the playoffs they espose themselves as frauds who aren't contenders, and they leave in their own pumpkin coach ....

 

[JKG33]

Blues are hot right now. Binner is a stud and I like their chances even more if Parayko comes back and they get Winnipeg instead of Vegas.

In the east Montreal has the much easier route through the metro but they dont scream playoff ready to me. I think Ottawa could definitely beat Toronto and be prepped for a run, but coming outta round 1 they'd be running full speed into a brick wall that is FL/TB

 

[DemidovSaveUs]

I don’t buy the Habs. I’m more inclined to believe the senators. Ullmark is great. Stutzle is an elite center. Sanderson has jumped into the elite defenseman tier for me. Tons of good supporting pieces like Tkachuk, Batherson, Cabot, etc.

 

[centipede2233]

I think the west is too stacked for the blues to win it all or come out of the west. Habs I are young and talented but I don’t see them winning the east. I’ll go with Ottawa. They are young but seasoned more than Montreal. Ullmark is the X factor.

 

[Kingfan1967]

For the West

Minnesota in the West would be the only Cinderella and they barely qualify now that they are getting healthy.

The Blues have the best record since the "Four Nations", hardly a Cinderella.

LA's home record removes them from Cinderella.

Colorado, Dallas, Edmonton, Las Vegas, and Winnipeg shouldn't even be considered for Cinderella.

West 1st round

Winnipeg vs Minnesota/St Louis
Las Vegas vs St Louis/Minnesota
Dallas vs Colorado
LA vs Edmonton

Minnesota would be an upset.

St Louis winning shouldn't shock anyone (except Winn/LV)

LA would be an upset depending on how healthy Drai and McDavid are. ( 4th time in 4 years , expect a very physical series) Goalies may make the difference here.

Dallas vs Colorado should be a great series

 

[I Hate Blake Coleman]

Ummm... Florida 2023?

Gtfoh with that lmfaoooo

Florida won the President's Trophy in 2022

 

[GoldenSeal]

Minnesota.

 

[The Duck Knight]

The Blues are the only wild card with a shot. Too much inexperience for Ottawa. Montreal and Minnesota just aren't good enough.

 

[King Woodballs]

The way the Canadian sports media talks. The jets are going to be the Cinderella team.
Zero respect