Fansided

Ranking each Stanley Cup playoff team’s chances of winning it all

By Adam Strangis

TAMPA, FL - JANUARY 27: (EDITORS NOTE: Image was created with a smartphone.) The Stanley Cup is seen on display during the PreGame
TAMPA, FL - JANUARY 27: (EDITORS NOTE: Image was created with a smartphone.) The Stanley Cup is seen on display during the PreGame /
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DENVER, CO – MARCH 18: Members of the Colorado Avalanche celebrate Nathan MacKinnon’s #29 second goal of the game against the Detroit Red Wings at the Pepsi Center on March 18, 2018 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Michael Martin/NHLI via Getty Images)
DENVER, CO – MARCH 18: Members of the Colorado Avalanche celebrate Nathan MacKinnon’s #29 second goal of the game against the Detroit Red Wings at the Pepsi Center on March 18, 2018 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Michael Martin/NHLI via Getty Images) /

15. Colorado Avalanche

Fourth in the Central, 43-30-9

Why they can win –  Superstar Nathan MacKinnon has played at a potential MVP level through the regular season and he could do it through the postseason. Does this look like the same thing that we said about the Devils? It should, because the two teams are similar. They have good pieces but are really up against it in the first round. Given those long odds for the first series, they can’t be that highly ranked. Mikko Rantanen and Gabriel Landeskog followed MacKinnon in points this year and the Avalanche could score with any team in the field. They finished fourth in the West as far as goals scored for playoff teams.

The defense is short its best player, as Erik Johnson is out injured. That’s going to make things difficult for the rest of the players that are left. The best one might be…Tyson Barrie? The goaltending situation is in the hands of Jonathan Bernier. Perhaps the Avalanche can keep the magic going for a while longer.

Why they can’t – They are the youngest team in the playoffs and really have nothing to lean on past their offense. That’s fine for the regular season, but they just lack the pieces on the defensive end to really make a run. They don’t really have a star goalie and there is nothing in the defense that will be able to hold up in a series. Could they just outscore teams 4-3 and 5-4 every night? Yes, but that isn’t the way you want to live in the postseason.

X Factor – Tyson Barrie: With Erik Johnson gone, Barrie is the No. 1 defenseman. He brings a ton of talent offensively but he’s going to need to transform his game slightly for the Avs to advance in the postseason. It’s going to be a major task for him to attempt a “shut down” role, since it’s not traditionally his game.

First Round Matchup – Nashville Predators; Nashville won the regular season 4-0

Congratulations to the Avalanche for making the playoffs! Their reward is to face the best team in the league in Nashville. The Preds outscored the Avs 17-8 during their four games, and that wasn’t by accident. The Predators have the advantage at just about every spot. The only spot they don’t is Nashville doesn’t have a Nathan MacKinnon. Other than that, the Predators should be able to make short work of Colorado.

Prediction –  Predators in 4

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