Guys who elevate their game

[Legend123]

Believe it or not, and I guess its good there are no Habs fans reading the playoff threads, but Jesperi Kotkaniemi has been noticeably good in all 4 games so far. Physical, big hits, no brain dead mistakes and good puck control.

0 points, not even 9 minutes last game

Glad he's gone for good, overpaid bench warmer

 

[ponder]

The playoffs mostly become a defensive, clutch and grab grind fest. Super passionate hockey, I do love it, but high end offensive skill tends to get neutered, and it's all about gutting out wins and getting garbage goals.

A huge exception, though, is McDavid and MacKinnon. These guys are still utterly dominant in the playoffs, flying around the ice, breaking down defences like crazy, scoring and setting up amazing goals at an unreal rate. They're my top 2 playoff performers.

• McDavid, past 3 seasons combined: 63 points (19 goals) in 32 GP, and +15. f***ing unreal
• MacKinnon, past 5 seasons combined: 80 points (35 goals) in 57 GP, and +43. f***ing unreal too

Of course there are others who step it up a bunch too, but the way these guys just absolutely dominate even in the playoffs, and have their skill shine through like crazy under super tight checking, I find that so impressive.

Draisaitl, Makar and Kucherov also deserve mentions as guys who are able to frequently have their elite skill shine through in the playoffs. All have elite numbers, though for me the eye test isn’t quite as impressive with them as with McDavid/MacKinnon - they’re all amazing, but just not quite the same level of “too good for the opposition to contain” vibes as Mc/Mac.

 

[Legend123]

Makar somehow remembered in the playoffs that he could be that guy offensively. I missed seeing these coast-to-coast play. Are we getting back Conn Smythe Makar just in time?

Lehkonen is probably the better answer though. The guy is just so clutch in the playoffs and already was with the Habs.

He wasn't actually, one clutch goal but that was about it. He was often scratched as well. He was just good defensively

 

[nuxnux1]

Zadorov has looked a few levels above compared to this reg szn
Playoff mack and mcdavid scare me

 

[McSpecial DraiBlend]

John Druce

Dammit.

It's been said but Eichel. Through 4.4 series, Eichel is not only the guy who steps up and stirs the drink for Vegas, but he's the only guy who has consistently put up a high level effort in every playoff game the Knights have played since getting him. I had the misfortune of being in the building for Edmonton's blowout win in game 2 last year. After goal 3 or 4, the entirety of Vegas' roster mentally checked out except for Eichel who kept giving it his all every shift.

That willingness to battle every time he hits the ice has made him a favorite of mine over guys who have been on the team longer.

Eichel was a beast knocking out the Oilers last year.

 

[Dr Salt]

Patrick Kane in an elimination game was lethal for Chicago. I think 4 of his 5 career playoff OT goals were to save the season or go to the next round too.

 

[CanadienShark]

Believe it or not, and I guess its good there are no Habs fans reading the playoff threads, but Jesperi Kotkaniemi has been noticeably good in all 4 games so far. Physical, big hits, no brain dead mistakes and good puck control.

Kotkaniemi, and I'm not even joking. Regular season, he was a healthy scratch passenger. But this year and last year in the playoffs, he's been one of our more consistent performers. Hits heavy, gets involved in the forecheck and backcheck, get himself into some greasy areas to get surprising shots on net. Pretty much the exact kind of glue guy you want in the playoffs.

Kotkaniemi was great in the playoffs for Montreal. Much like both of you described. Made good decisions at both ends, makes plays, hard shot, and lays out some solid hits.

 

[93gilmour93]

Joseph Woll

 

[Mr Misunderstood]

Anthony Beauvillier
career regular season = .21 gpg .24 apg .45 ppg
playoff career = .30 gpg .28 apg .58 ppg

Good to see he's still continuing step up his play in the playoffs with NSH.
15 regular season GP with NSH = 1g 2a 3p
5 playoff GP with NSH = 1g 1a 2p

 

[Machinehead]

See my avatar

Came here to post this exact thing.

Kreider always gets a few big ones.

 

[ijuka]

Artturi Lehkonen comes to mind.

 

[Captain Controversy]

Dammit.



Eichel was a beast knocking out the Oilers last year.

Adin Hill was the beast. Lol

 

[Community]

For the Leafs, Morgan Rielly is the only one that fits this bill for now... He's been a bit mediocre this year so far, but every other year he's been one of our best players in the playoffs.

Hopefully Woll and Knies keep going, their strongest performances have been in the playoffs as well, but way too small of a sample size at the moment. Nobody else qualifies at the moment. Bertuzzi is surprisingly top 10 in ppg in the playoffs (partially due to small sample size).

Obviously McDavid, Mackinnon, and Draisaitl have unreal offensive numbers, but there's a few othrr guys that stick out when you sort by points per 60 in the playoffs... Guentzal, Kadri, Point, and Verhaeghe are all top 15 (min 20 games played) while not being considered really that close to being a top 15 forward and most of them providing more than just offense.

 

[Legend123]

Kotkaniemi was great in the playoffs for Montreal. Much like both of you described. Made good decisions at both ends, makes plays, hard shot, and lays out some solid hits.

False he was often scratched and played very limited and sheltered minutes

 

[CanadienShark]

False he was often scratched and played very limited and sheltered minutes

Not false, he was effective.

 

[TheSecondSeason]

Mackinnon
Makar
McDavid

Leon Draisaitl seems to be under the radar I guess ?

53GP 34G 51A 85PTS

Preposterous numbers in the playoffs.

 

[Raistlin]

Mackinnon
Makar
McDavid

Leon Draisaitl seems to be under the radar I guess ?

53GP 34G 51A 85PTS

Preposterous numbers in the playoffs.

Draisaitl belongs together with Mack that seem to have a switch to go mario star mode in post season.

 

[KrisLetAngry]

Pierre Engvall seems to turn into a guy who cares once the playoffs start. Last year he looked solid and this year he’s playing like he cares.

A lot of people dunk on the contract rightfully so but I noticed him this playoffs in a major positive way.

Guy rises up.

 

[miscs75]

A lot of people dunk on the contract rightfully so but I noticed him this playoffs in a major positive way.

Guy rises up.

Islanders fans did the same thing with Josh Bailey. He had some monster playoffs too. If Pierre can bring the playoff intensity to the regular season, he’ll be a solid player going forward. He actually threw a few hits this year which is completely unlike him.

 

[BraveCanadian]

Doug Gilmour

 

[theMajor]

as much as it pains me to say, Draisaitl is the most noticeable to me. dude is a f***ing beast in the playoffs and i hate it

 

[Eco]

I mean playoff Verhaeghe is a first ballot HoF player.

 

[miscs75]

Anthony Beauvillier
career regular season = .21 gpg .24 apg .45 ppg
playoff career = .30 gpg .28 apg .58 ppg

Good to see he's still continuing step up his play in the playoffs with NSH.
15 regular season GP with NSH = 1g 2a 3p
5 playoff GP with NSH = 1g 1a 2p

Could have used Beau this year on the wing vs Carolina.

 

[BertMcDrai]

Draisaitl should be on everyone's list.

 

[TruePowerSlave]

Drai #2 all-time playoff PPG
McJesus #3 all-time playoff PPG
MacKinnon #6 all-time playoff PPG
Rantanen #7 all-time playoff PPG
Makar #16 all-time playoff PPG

All of these guys absolutely light it up in the playoffs. PPG goes down as the player declines, but damn impressive.