NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs First Round
Alright so the regular season is all but wrapping up and now it’s time to get into the real hockey that is the best to watch, The Stanley Cup Playoffs. So I will go into each series and also give my outcome for each series as well.
Let’s do this!!
Central Division
Carolina vs Nashville
The Hurricanes have one of the best forward line-ups in the NHL so if this group can keep up their torrid pace from the regular season they should be able to dispatch the Predators pretty quickly. Also Carolina has home ice advantage in this series as well, which is huge given they only lost 3 games at home all year. Plus upwards to 12 thousand fans might be allowed at Hurricane home games making it pretty loud in there for Nashville. All this adds up to the Hurricanes winning this series in five games.
Series winner: Hurricanes 4–1
Florida vs Tampa Bay
For the first time ever these two teams will face off in a playoff series and this could be one for the ages. I know it’s hard to imagine but the last couple of meetings between these teams have been downright nasty. If that’s what were in for, this series is going to be great. Also two great goalies in Tampa Bay’s Andre Vasilevskiy and Florida’s Sergei Bobrovsky could make this a low scoring affair. Tampa also will be getting Nikita Kucherov back for the playoffs after missing the entire year with injury. Normally that might mean he would need a couple of games to get going but not with this superstar. Tampa has the edge pretty much in every category going into this series, but they are not going quietly. I think the Panthers will push this series to six or seven.
Series winner: Tampa 4–2
East Division
Pittsburg vs New York
So at the beginning of the year the Islanders were doing much better than the Penguins and sat at the top of the East Division and now the tables have turned. The Islanders have been under .500 in their last ten and will look to bounce back against an all-star team in the Penguins. This series is probably going to be high scoring so it will come down to which goalie can make that save to prevent a tying goal. The Penguins can take this series probably in five, but I can see them handing a game or two to the Islanders. So I would say Penguins in six.
Series winner: Penguins 4–2
Washington vs Boston
This is the series to watch out of the East. Some big heavy hitters on both teams and some absolute snipers as well. Zdeno Chara will face his old team, which means he will play extra nasty just to show them he still has what it takes. Boston gave up way less goals in the regular season than the Capitals and have the edge when it comes to goaltending. This series will come down to whoever can outlast the other. I think Boston takes it in seven games.
Series winner: Boston 4–3
West Division
Colorado vs St. Louis
Well the Avalanche won the President’s trophy and home ice throughout the playoffs and their reward for all of that hard work? They get to face the St. Louis Blues. This series is going to be a hard fought battle that will go the distance. Both teams have great goalies, lots of goal scorers and big defensemen. The Avalanche will have to take advantage of the Blues when they can otherwise the Blues might steal this one. Avalanche in seven.
Series winner: Colorado 4–3
Vegas vs Minnesota
Vegas was a force all year and Marc-Andre Fleury who was a big part of that will most likely start for the Knights in game one. On the other side is the Wild who were fast and furious for most of the year. Their rookie sensation Kirill Kaprizov helped the Wild make the playoffs with his explosive skill. Vegas has the size advantage over the Wild, but when it comes to speed the Wild match the Knights. This series will come down to if the Wild can handle getting bashed every game. The Knights will wear this team down but it will take seven games.
Series winner: Vegas 4–3
North (Canadian)Division
Toronto vs Montreal
Montreal has struggled down the stretch getting timely goals from their forwards. If this team is going to beat the Maple Leafs they would have to get some of those goals. Now on the Leafs side they know they can score, but will they get the goaltending needed to hold off the Canadiens. This is first time these two teams are facing each other in the playoffs since 1979. The Habs know they can’t match Toronto’s speed so they must slow them down with lots of big hits. If they can’t do that this series will be pretty quick. I really think Montreal can’t compete with this team and the Leafs take it in six games.
Series winner: Toronto 4–2
Winnipeg vs Edmonton
The biggest question mark in this series is can Connor Hellebuyck play mvp caliber hockey or will he wash out. The Oilers have the offensive advantage but then things drop off. The Jets have the better goalie on paper, but that doesn't mean much if he can’t deliver. Both of these teams can grind out wins, but it just feels like nothing is going to stop Connor McDavid this year. The Oilers take it in six games.
Series winner: Edmonton 4–2
So this report is coming out on the second day of the playoffs but game one of any series isn’t a good indication of what’s going to happen. So I hope everyone enjoys the Stanley Cup playoffs this year and we will see you in the second round report.
Have a great day
Joseph
