NHL IN 30/2016: PART 5 (OTT, PHI, PIT, STL, SJ) OTTAWA I think you are going to see a more high-powered offensive game coming out of Ottawa this season with Mark Stone, Mike Hoffman, Bobby Ryan and the rest of the forwards lighting up the lamp quite frequently.  And when you have the game’s most explosive defenseman joining in on the offense, the Senators will be a handful for any team.  It just may all come down to which Craig Anderson they will get in goal.  Will it be the game-changing, highlight reel Anderson, or the mediocre Anderson who has been disappointing from time to time. PLAYOFFS: I WOULD LIKE TO SAY YES, BUT NO   PHILADELPHIA The Flyers roster remained status quo throughout the off-season without any real additions or subtractions so it may be a good thing as the team ran off a late charge last season and into the playoffs only to lose to the Washington Capitals in six games.  The big boys will have to be the key cogs once again with Shayne Gostibehere, last year’s sensational rookie defenseman, supplying the offense.  But in the tight Metropolitan Division, they will need the goaltending duo of Steve Mason and Michal Neuvirth to backstop the team into the playoffs. PLAYOFFS: MAYBE WIH SOME LUCK   PITTSBURGH When you win the Stanley Cup the way the Penguins did last year, one would be hard-pressed to not say yes to return engagement to the playoffs.  Some writers, myself included, had the Penguins missing the playoffs and if it were not for the hot play of rookie goaltender, Matt Murray, the Pens might have been in a slight rebuilding stage this past off-season.  They have Sid the Kid, Geno, Kessel and Hornqvist to lead the offense and Letang on the backend but Murray will be tending to a minor injury and miss several weeks at the beginning of the season, but they still have the Flower, Marc-Andre Fleury, so they should form a solid duo in net and that should be enough to get them back for another run at Lord Stanley’s Cup. PLAYOFFS: YES   ST. LOUIS They have been perennial regular season masters but when it comes playoff time, they seem to not have enough left in the tank to get very far.  That was until last year when they fell to San Jose in the Conference Finals. So playoff progress has been made but will have to do it without the likes of David Backes, who left via free agency.  The team does not lack offense that’s for sure when you have Tarasenko, Schwartz, and Steen among others leading the way and when you have the type of offensive support coming from the blue line with Shattenkirk, Pietrangelo and Parayko it could be a daunting task for other teams to contain.  The major change to the lineup is that Jake Allen will be the undisputed #1 goaltender as Brian Elliot was shipped off to Calgary during the NHL Entry Draft. Elliott has proven he can be a top-notch NHL net minder, but how will he handle it being the undisputed #1 in Calgary? PLAYOFFS: IT’S GONNA BE CLOSE   SAN JOSE The Sharks surprised a lot of people when they made it to their first Stanley Cup Finals only to lose to the speedy Pittsburgh Penguins in 6 games.  It was nice to see the veterans make a long run as it may be Marleau and Thornton’s last shot at hoisting the Cup.  Joe Pavelski and Logan Couture are the next generation in San Jose and should be able to lead the team back to the playoffs.  Brent Burns on defense is just a beast with 27 goals last season so look for that to continue once again.  Martin Jones trans-continental flight back and forth from the West Coast was what carried the team throughout the season proving he has what it takes to be a #1 NHL goaltender. PLAYOFFS:  HOW CAN I SAY NO?