Kim Klement, USA TODAY Sports
The final series gets under way tonight when Detroit Red Wings visit the Boston Bruins.
The first seven openers have offered plenty of offense.
There were 53 goals scored so far in the playoffs, about 7.6 goals a game. Compare that to a 5.5 average during the regular season. In last spring’s playoffs, there were 30 goals scored over the first seven games.
Too small of a sample size to say exactly what is happening, but here are a few thoughts:
–Olympic year: This has been a long season, with a compressed schedule and many stars playing an extra four to six games in Sochi, nine times zones away. Fatigue is going to set in and the first to go when that happens is defensive vigilance.
–Goaltending: Backups Ray Emery, Anders Lindback and Frederik Andersen started their teams’ openers and Ilya Bryzgalov and Sergei Bobrovsky don’ t have great career postseason numbers. Ryan Miller and Antti Niemi weren’t playing great heading into the playoffs. All gave up three or more goals. But how does that explain Jonathan Quick being pulled after being allowing five goals? Teams also are hanging their goalies out to dry.
-Excitement: As St. Louis Blues coach Ken Hitchcock puts it: “I think emotion plays a lot into it. Usually the first game of the series is pretty hectic. You just have to get used to playing in it.”
The Blues and Blackhawks combined for five first-period goals until they calmed down and allowed no goals for the next four periods before Alexander Steen scored in the third overtime. Expect that to happen in other series.
Whatever the reason for the offensive splurge, let’s enjoy it before coaches figure out how to get the goals out of the game again.
Also tonight
In addition to having nasty-looking stitches, Anaheim Ducks captain Ryan Getzlaf has a new daughter. Willa Getzlaf was born at 12:36 a.m. … Tampa Bay Lightning goalie Ben Bishop still isn’t ready, so Lindback is back in net. … The Smith brothers, Detroit’s Brendan and Boston’s Reilly, will meet for the first time in the playoffs. That’s always tough on the parents, but we like how Ryan and Drew Miller’s mom handled their recent meeting.
My mom made this jacket in honor of Drew and I playing against each other today. Nice work mom! pic.twitter.com/UOWRgLxwkP
— Ryan Miller (@RyanMiller3039) April 14, 2014
Your games tonight
Montreal at Tampa Bay, 7, CNBC
Detroit at Boston, 7:30, NBC Sports Network
Dallas at Anaheim, 10, NBC Sports Network
Follow the rest of USA TODAY Sports’ in-depth NHL coverage at nhl.usatoday.com.
Follow Mike Brehm on Twitter @ByMikeBrehm.
