Today's the day. We started this journey with 32 teams back in October. Now after a& grueling 82 game schedule for all of those teams, we have sixteen left standing. The ultimate prize is two months from now and its the Stanley Cup. The best of the bunch will be the one holding the trophy over its head at the end of this run.
So lets not waste any more time. Here's how we see the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs going down.
A1 Florida Panthers vs WC1 Tampa Bay Lightning
For just the 3rd time in history, we get a battle of Florida in the playoffs. Tampa has won the last two series and there's strong faith in Nikita Kucherov and his superior level of play this year. There's some questions behind him Point and Stamkos in the offensive depth. And there is some worry about the play of Andrei Vasilevskiy. He hasn't looked like himself at times this season. Florida has one of the best goaltending tandoms in the league this season and they have a balanced scoring attack. Vasy may steal a game or two and Kucherov could have a big series. At the end of the day the Panthers depth could win out.
Pick: Panthers in 6!
A2 Boston Bruins vs A# Toronto Maple Leafs
Auston Matthews is coming off having a monster year in his own right for the Leafs. He finished with 69 goals, the highest total in the league since 1996. The Leafs have been rolling and have scoring depth to match. But they still have questions in my mind between the pipes for a deep playoff run. Boston is coming in on a mission, trying to get rid of the bad taste in their mouth from last year. Boston has one of the best one two punches in net this year and they have scoring to match it.
Pick: Bruins in 7!
M1 New York Rangers vs WC2 Washington Capitals
Talk about two teams coming in as sort of polar opposites into the playoffs. The Rangers come is as the Presidents trophy winners with 54 wins (which is a franchise record) and 114 points. Washington came in as the last wild card spot with 91 points and a negative goal differntial this year. They backed into the playoffs and haven't looked very good this year. Rangers looked like a well oiled machine this should be a quick series
Pick: Rangers in 5!
M2 Carolina Hurricanes vs M3 New York Islanders
Carolina has been a solid team from wire to wire this season. The Islanders looked, at stretches this year, like a team that was going to bottom out this season. They got hot at the right time near the end of the year to get into the playoffs. New York has blown over 20 games where they have leads in the 3rd period. Sure they have [played much better under head coach Patrick Roy, but there really isn't much hope going in. They may steal a game or two this series, but it's going to be the same result as the first round matchup last year.
Pick: Hurricanes in 6!
C1 Dallas Stars vs WC2 Vegas Golden Knights
Vegas is back to defend their title, an d the first hurtle on that title defense is the best team in the West the Dallas Stars. Vegas has the experience of doing this last year, and they get help at the start of this playoff run. They get Thomas Hertl off LTIR and into the lineup. Vegas will be without Mark Stone for the playoffs, who's been dealing with injury since February. Dallas is one of the most balanced and deep teams left standing and they have the solid goaltending that could get them far into the post season.
Pick: Stars in 5!
C2 Winnipeg Jets vs C3 Colorado Avalanche
This is gonna be a fun matchups between one of the best scorers in the league and one of the best goalies in the game. Nathan MacKinnon finished second in the NHL in scoring this year, behind only Nikita Kucherov. He Rantanin and Makar lead the offensive charge. After that the scoring totals per player drop off. And not to take anything away from Alexandar Georgiev, but the guy at the other end of the ice in Connor Hellebuyck has been slightly better this year. This is going to be a tough series, but the depth in Winnipeg wins out.
Pick: Jets in 6!
P1 Vancouver Canucks vs WC1 Nashville Predators
What's really intriguing about this series is going to be the battle between the pipes. Jussi Saros against Thatcher Demko. Give credit where it's due up front, Nashville does have some high powered weapons and a touch more scoring depth. Where the Canucks have the edge is the better defensive game and their high powered weapons top that of what's in the Music City.
Pick: Canucks in 5!
P2 Edmonton Oilers vs P3 Los Angeles Kings
Credit has to be given where its due in Los Angeles, the have a pretty balanced scoring attack. But lets face facts here, you going against the best offensive one-two punch in the game right now. Sure, Conor McDavid got off to a slow start by his standards. But by the time all was said and done, he was playing like a man possessed. And Stuart Skinner has turned another fine season in while tending goal in Edmonton. What has me worried going past round one is can he carry that all the way to a title?
Pick: Oilers in 5!
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