Biggest Takeaways from the 2016 NHL Playoffs with Round 2 Underway

The opening round of the 2016 NHL playoffs is now completed, and the second round is underway. It's a good opportunity to examine the postseason's key takeaways thus far.

Some of the more noteworthy involve individual players, such as New York Islander captain John Tavares (above). Others relate to teams participating in the second round (Tampa Bay Lightning) or recently ousted clubs, such as the Chicago Blackhawks. 

Here's a look at the biggest takeaways of this year's Stanley Cup playoffs. Tell us what you think in the comments section below. 

Goaltending Remains an Issue for the Dallas Stars

Ann Heisenfelt/Associated Press

The Dallas Stars entered the 2016 Stanley Cup playoffs as the top seed in the Western Conference, but they also had a weakness. Among the 16 postseason clubs, the Stars' goaltending tandem of Kari Lehtonen and Antti Niemi combined for the worst regular-season goals against per game (2.78). 

Lehtonen and Niemi split the duties during the Stars' six-game victory over the Minnesota Wild. Consistency, however, remained an issue. Lehtonen was solid in his first two games but gave up four goals in each of his next two appearances, one of which was their series-clinching win in Game 6. Niemi played well in Game 4 but got lit up in a 5-4 overtime loss in Game 5. 

Of the eight teams that advanced to the second round, the Stars had the second-worst goals against per game (2.83). Granted, Lehtonen and Niemi weren't helped by the costly defensive breakdowns of their teams. However, the duo must put forth a better effort against the St. Louis Blues. 

The New York Rangers' Championship Window Slams Shut

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Entering the 2016 NHL playoffs, the New York Rangers' core of goaltender Henrik Lundqvist, defensemen Ryan McDonagh, Marc Staal and Dan Girardi and forwards Rick Nash and Derek Stepan had already logged plenty of playoff mileage. Since 2011-12, this core carried the Rangers to three Eastern Conference Finals appearances and the 2014 Stanley Cup Final. 

In their opening-round series against the Pittsburgh Penguins, they were an aging, banged-up group. Lundqvist, Staal, Girardi and Nash are 29 or older. Injures sidelined McDonagh and Girardi for several games. As a result, the Rangers fell to the younger, faster Penguins in five games. 

This series was a clear indication that the Rangers' championship window of opportunity with their current core has slammed shut. Management could consider moving some of them out this summer and transition toward a younger roster. Such a shakeup won't be easy. Most of those core players have expensive contracts with no-trade or no-movement clauses.

The Tampa Bay Lightning Might Not Need Steven Stamkos

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On April 4, Tampa Bay Lightning captain and leading goal scorer Steven Stamkos underwent vascular surgery to remove a blood clot near his right collarbone. Expected to be sidelined one-to-three months, Stamkos could miss most of the 2016 Stanley Cup playoffs. 

Without their captain, the Lightning finished second in the Atlantic Division and eliminated the Detroit Red Wings from the opening round of the postseason. As they battle the New York Islanders in the second round, it's fair to wonder how far the Bolts can go with Stamkos on the sidelines. 

Stamkos is an unrestricted free agent this summer and could be very expensive to sign. Should the Lightning stage a lengthy playoff run in his absence, management might rethink his value to the roster. If so, that could also affect Stamkos' efforts to land a top-dollar, long-term deal, via free agency. 

The Anaheim Ducks Cannot Seal the Deal in Game 7

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The Anaheim Ducks fell to the Nashville Predators in the seventh and deciding game of their opening-round series. They now have the dubious distinction of suffering four consecutive Game 7 defeats on home ice since 2013. The Ducks are also 2-6 all time in those situations. 

It's a bitter end to a roller coaster season for the Ducks. Having fallen to the bottom of the Western Conference standings in early December, they rallied with a strong second-half effort to clinch first in the Pacific Division. Against the Predators, they dropped the opening two games and won the next three before blowing a 3-2 series lead.

The Ducks' inability to seal the deal in the postseason forces general manager Bob Murray to make some changes. He began on Friday by firing head coach Bruce Boudreau. A roster shakeup this summer could be next. 

Vladimir Tarasenko's Ice Time Raised Eyebrows

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In just four NHL seasons, St. Louis Blues right wing Vladimir Tarasenko has established himself among the league's top scorers. He had 40 goals during the regular season and 10 goals in 12 postseason games entering the 2016 playoffs. The 24-year-old sniper was expected to be a game-breaking factor in the Blues' opening-round series against the Chicago Blackhawks. 

Tarasenko played well, with four goals and six points as the Blues knocked out the Blackhawks in seven games. But as the series progressed, his ice time became a hot topic. Following the Blues' loss in Game 6, Jeremy Rutherford of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported that Tarasenko averaged only 15 minutes, 29 seconds of even-strength ice time in the series up to that point. That ranked sixth among Blues forwards.

Much was made of Tarasenko seeming to argue with head coach Ken Hitchcock on the bench during Game 6. On April 23, NBC Sports' James O'Brien wondered if a rift was brewing between the scoring star and Hitchcock. A day later, ESPN.com's Craig Custance reported Hitchcock denied any difficulties with Tarasenko, claiming he loved the winger's passion for the game.  

During Game 7, Tarasenko saw a series-low 14:31 of ice time. Because the Blues won the series, it could be seen as a vindication of Hitchcock's manpower management. However, this issue could resurface again if the Blues struggle in their second-round series against the Dallas Stars.

Defense Was the Undoing of the Chicago Blackhawks and Los Angeles Kings

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Since 2011-12, defensive depth played a significant role in the respective championships of the Chicago Blackhawks (2013 and 2015) and Los Angeles Kings (2012, 2014). But in the opening round of the 2016 playoffs, that strength was a weakness that led to their early eliminations. The Blackhawks were ousted in seven games by the St. Louis Blues, while the Kings were bounced in five games by the San Jose Sharks. 

Lacking depth among their bottom-three defensemen, the Blackhawks relied heavily upon their top three of Duncan Keith, Brent Seabrook and Niklas Hjalmarsson against the Blues. Trevor van Riemsdyk struggled at times in a second-pairing role. Michal Rozsival, Erik Gustafsson, David Rundblad and Viktor Svedberg were largely ineffective as third-pairing defenders. 

Meanwhile, the Kings blue line suffered a significant blow when a groin injury knocked Alec Martinez out of the remainder of the playoffs. Already thin on defense compared to their championship years, the Kings leaned substantially on Drew Doughty and Jake Muzzin. That wasn't enough to save the Kings from the hungry Sharks.

Addressing that lack of skilled defensive depth won't be easy for the Blackhawks and Kings. Both clubs have limited salary-cap space for 2016-17. Their respective managements could face some difficult offseason decisions. 

New York Islanders Captain John Tavares Is a Clutch Playoff Leader

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Entering the 2016 playoffs, New York Islanders center John Tavares already had a reputation as a reliable postseason performer. However, with the Isles' last playoff series victory occurring back in 1993, he had yet to prove he could lead his club past the opening round. 

That changed, however, in the Islanders' series against the Florida Panthers. The 25-year-old Tavares was a scoring machine, with five goals and nine points in that six-game matchup. He was clutch in Game 6, scoring the game-tying goal late in the third period and the series winner in double overtime. His heroics put an end to many years of Isles playoff futility. 

Tavares remains a force in their second-round series against the Tampa Bay Lightning, scoring the winning goal in Game 1.  He appears determined to write a new chapter in Islanders history and establish his own legacy. 

We Finally Get a Playoff Rematch Between Alex Ovechkin and Sidney Crosby

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In the second round of the 2009 NHL playoffs, Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin and Pittsburgh Penguins center Sidney Crosby faced each other for the first time in postseason competition. Seven years later, the long-awaited rematch between the NHL's poster boys has finally arrived.

Much has changed in the years since the handshake between the two superstars following the Penguins' seven-game victory. Both stars are seasoned veterans now, while their clubs have undergone a number of changes in the front office, behind the bench and throughout the roster.

Crosby and Ovechkin, however, remain among the constants. Crosby, having overcome the worst start to a season in his career, is pursuing his second Stanley Cup title. Ovechkin, the league's leading goal scorer for the fourth-straight season, will try to power his league-leading Capitals to their first Cup title. 

An Ovechkin-Crosby rematch could also help the league boost its sagging TV ratings in Canada. Without any Canadian teams in the 2016 playoffs, the Hockey News' Ken Campbell reported on April 19 that Canadian ratings had plummeted. For the first 21 playoff games, they were down 61 percent compared to last year. 

Player and team stats via NHL.com. Salary info via Cap Friendly.