Dark Horse teams/Cinderella

[leafsfan5]

Others have said them, but Tampa

Since Jan 1st they have a nearly identical record to the Bruins, while being #6 in xGA/60, having the #1 PP in hockey and the #2 PK

I expect them to win in 6

 

[SeanMoneyHands]

Leafs. The Core 4 is locked and loaded.

 

[wintersej]

I could see Tampa making one more run.

I think folks overestimate this idea that Tampa only has a run, at most, left.

 

[Czechboy]

I could see Bolts being a real problem.

By seed... Knights are not the same as their ranking.

Preds will be unpleasant...real unpleasant

 

[slybel]

The right answer is Nashville for 2 reasons.

They lost 16 games at home and they never won the cup before!

 

[kevsh]

Not adding anyone new here but I really would not want my team facing Tampa or the Preds.

 

[SnowblindNYR]

Lightning Islanders ECF rematch.

Please God save us.

 

[Kingfan1967]

A dark horse has to be Vancouver. Nobody expected them to have such a strong record. They have some key injuries coming back and if they can find their game like they had for the first half of the season they could easily catch a few teams off guard.

It's the PO's, no team will be "off guard". As for Dark Horse, I'll go with Winnipeg, did anyone have them making the PO's let alone having Home Ice at the start of the season? Helle could be a game changer for them.

 

[Son of Petter]

The Jets. They’re big and fast, really great depth up front and Hellebuyck can go nuclear.

 

[syz]

The only teams that I would consider "Cinderella" teams this year are whichever 2 teams manage to get the last 2 spots in the east.

 

[HabzSauce]

Nashville if they are even considered a dark horse at this point. So many good teams this year.

I say Nashville goes on to win it as my dark horse. Dark horse to win the East I say the islanders

 

[Clint Eastwood]

I'm gonna go big here and say the Red Wings if they make it. They have plenty of holes on that team and probably shouldn't be favored to beat anyone, but they have a couple of past cup winners in Kane, Compher and Perron. Young players going in eagerly such as Seider, Raymond, and possibly Edvinsson. They also have plenty of pricks on that team (and I mean that in a flattering way) that kind of plays into the hands of playoff hockey. Larkin also seems like a guy who will have some clutch moments in him.

Lyon/Reimer is also as random a goalie duo as you could ask for and I feel like one of them will go to the fountain of Halak and just got nuts for a round. They also seem like the type of team that the Rangers or Bruins would constantly shoot themselves in the foot against. I'd have much less faith if they faced off with the Canes or Panthers though.

 

[TheKingPin]

I agree with the team that takes 8th in the East. I am not a huge believer in the top East teams and the Flyers play the Rangers pretty well. If they get in and Ersson is hot it could be an upset.

 

[Bounces R Way]

Bruins don't get much love here but they're hard to beat when they're on.

 

[PROUD PAPA]

Jets if they meet the criteria.

 

[insomniaddict]

Looks like I'll be the first one to say it but the Islanders are my dark horse in the East. They've been playing some damn good hockey lately.

The only problem is they'll be facing another hot team in Canes. BUT if they make it thru 1st round they could make a deep run I feel.

 

[BCNate]

If Vancouver reverts back to the way they were playing earlier, they could go on a run

Getting Demko back tonight is huge. He could steal a series on his own.

Dallas has to be the favorite, but I wouldn't be shocked to see anyone come out off the West.

 

[I am not exposed]

Toronto.

 

[Rehabguy]

Islanders. This is the first year Barzal will be playing in the playoffs without Trotz or Lambert holding him back. He's back to his rookie form and set to dominate.

 

[GreatSaveEssensa]

The Jets for sure. At the end of last season most people were talking about a complete rebuild. Scheifele and Hellebuyck were all but gone in most peoples eyes. Everyone knew they were losing Dubois and it was nothing but doom and gloom around Winnipeg. Hell, there was even talk of the team leaving.

Fast forward a year. Chevy pulled off an absolute theft moving Dubois to LA. Scheif and Helle surprised most and signed for another 8 years, Wheeler was bought out, Monahan and Toffoli were brought in, Niederaiter was extended and they became the stingiest defensive team in the league this past season. They have amazing team depth and have a great pipeline of young talent on the way.

With all that said, I don't see how they cant be considered the biggest dark horse this year with a real shot of making some noise in the playoffs.

 

[RangerBlues]

Lets Go Rangers!

 

[Bouboumaster]

Patrick Roy will work his magic with NYI

 

[Nogatco Rd]

Lightning Islanders ECF rematch.

There needs to be a vomit emoji

 

[PULSATING]

If Vancouver reverts back to the way they were playing earlier, they could go on a run

They're going to progress to the max instead of regress to the mean. Some scientist theorize such an event could create enough anti-PDO particles to generate a spontaneous black hole.

 

[HockeyWooot]

Jets and Lightning as darkhorse