ALL-STAR BREAK HOCKEY TALK
Written by Christopher Espinosa
The NHL All-Star break has finally fallen upon us, and through the first half of the season there is a lot to talk about. There have been lots of close races throughout the league for the divisional top spots, and it seems like there are more playoff level teams than ever. We’ve seen young guns breakout, veterans explode for career seasons, and role players blossom into top-line players. With all this in mind, I’m here to give you my takeaways, predictions, and analysis for the second half of the NHL season.
To start, let’s talk about who I like and the teams who I think are the best contenders for the Stanley Cup this season. First off, we have the Florida Panthers. Behind their explosive offense, the Panthers have managed to find themselves at the top of the league with 69 points and a 32-10-5 record, and I don’t see them falling off anytime soon. Since the start of the new year, the Panthers have potted 76 goals in just 15 games, just over 5 per game, and I can see their offensive spark continue through the second half of the season.
Next, I want to talk about the Colorado Avalanche. Similar to the Panthers, the Avalanche have had an incredible offense this season, led by breakout All-Star Nazem Kadri, who has posted a surprising 60 points. As a team, the Avalanche have scored the second most goals this season at 183, which is second to Florida’s 194. This is another team that we will see at the top of the NHL standings at the end of the season.
Lastly, I want to touch base on the Carolina Hurricanes. Although their offense has been a huge factor in their success, it is their defense that has been standing out. Led by their all-star Goalie, Frederick Andersen, the Hurricanes have allowed just 98 goals in 42 games, just above 2 every game. Diving into Andersen’s stats, he has put up a record of 24-6-0 with a .929 save percentage, second among starting goalies. The elite goaltending of Fredrick Andersen and the offensive output of guys like Sebastian Aho, Andrei Svenchnikov, and Tuevo Teravainen will make the Hurricanes a deadly team by the time playoff hockey rolls around.
