Canadiens Daily: Lafleur Lies In State; Leafs Crush Lightning

Montreal Canadiens legend and hall of famer Guy Lafleur continues to lay in state at the Bell Centre as the city of Montreal and the province of Quebec mourn their fallen hero.

The Laval Rocket continue to get more Montreal Canadiens prospects for their Calder Cup playoff run.

The Stanley Cup Playoffs have begun and there were some blowouts – like the Toronto Maple Leafs beating the defending Stanley Cup Champions 5-0, but there was one major upset!

That and more in the latest MHN Daily:

Montreal Canadiens

The city of Montreal continues to mourn the loss of Montreal Canadiens legend Guy Lafleur as he lies in state at the Bell Centre.

The Laval Rocket keep boosting that roster with new Montreal Canadiens prospects as they battle for the Calder Cup.

National Hockey Now

BOS: Different season but same old story as the Boston Bruins got thumped 5-1 by the Carolina Hurricanes in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals. The Bruins have now lost four straight (regular season and playoffs) to the Hurricanes and been outscored 22-2.

NYI: Here’s the National Hockey Now picks for the Stanley Cup Playoffs, first round.

Pittsburgh: Is the window closing for the Pittsburgh Penguins?

Wash: Will Alexander Ovechkin play in Game 1 against the New York Rangers Wednesday.

Florida: Florida Panthers defenseman Aaron Ekblad could return to the lineup for Game 1 against the Washington Capitals

Detroit: Odds are, the Detroit Red Wings will be drafting eighth overall at the 2022 NHL Draft.

Vegas: Since their team is golfing already, Vegas Golden Knights fans have switched their allegiances to former Knights players like Marc-Andre Fleury for the Stanley Cup playoffs.

Colorado: Colorado Avalanche captain Gabriel Landeskog is ready to go for the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

San Jose: Don’t expect San Jose Sharks captain Logan Couture to ask out of San Jose during the rebuild.

Canada Hockey Now

Calgary: Could the Calgary Flames-Dallas Stars series be closer than many expect?

Vancouver: Who wouldn’t think that Thatcher Demko should be the starter for the Vancouver Canucks going forward?

NHL

The Toronto Maple Leafs routed the defending, back-to-back Stanley Cup champion Tampa Bay Lightning 5-0 in Game 1 of their series. Mitch Marner silenced the doubters by scoring and snapping a 1,118-day, 18-game, 49-shot drought since his last playoff goal: April 11, 2019. He also added two assists and it’s one game but my prediction of Mitch Marner winning th Conn Smythe ain’t looking bad for now.

Much like the Carolina Hurricanes did to the Boston Bruins in Game 1 of their series, the St. Louis Blues owned the Minnesota Wild again to take Game 1 4-0. The Blues have won six straight games over the Wild and are 10-0-1 overall in their last 11 games against the Wild.

When the Los Angeles Kings won the 2012 Stanley Cup, they came into the Stanley Cup Playoffs as the eighth seed and major underdogs, this year they finished a lot better but are still big dogs to the Edmonton Oilers. Well, it was Déjà vu in Game 1 against the Edmonton Oilers Monday as the 2012 Conn Smythe winner, Jonathan Quick stole the show again in a 4-3 win and 1-0 series lead for the Kings.