Last week I promised a more in depth preview of the NHL playoffs. Well, It starts tonight so the following is how I think the first round will go.
Boston-Carolina
This series is going to be much better then people realize. Yes, the Hurricanes destroyed the season series with the Bruins. Yes, They out scored them 16-1. But this is the playoffs. Things change. Carolina is going into this series with their 2 back up goalies. Both of which have never played in the playoffs. Raanta has not faced the bruins since 2016. Not that that matters for much but its something. In terms of the games inside the game, things like powerplays, faceoffs, last change. I think both teams have ups and downs in these areas. It is widely known the struggles of the Boston powerplay but i think the in game coaching of Cassidy will be a bigger factor then some think. Patrice Bergeron is the best faceoff man in the league once again and that will come in handy for those late game wins in the defensive zone.
Could this be Bergeron's last hoorah for the black and gold? My personal thoughts are that it will depend on how this post season goes. If Boston makes a deep run and either wins the cup or losses in the ECF or even the cup final then I say he comes back. If they get handled in the first round or even a short series second round I think he hangs them up. Sadly, as much as I love the Bruins. I think their window has closed and it may be a while before the cup is back on Causeway St.
Toronto-Tampa Bay
Everyone who watches hockey as much as I do is foaming at the mouth for this series. The 2 time defending champion Lightning against the on fire during the regular season Maple Leafs. Toronto fans are in full playoff mode again. "This is our year" "Matthews is a god". There is a reason Tampa has won the last 2 years. It has been 18 years since the Leafs have won a series. 2004! Toronto may be the higher seed but it will take a lot for them to beat the Lightning. Tampa Bay is entering this post season actually having a healthy core of Stamkos, Kucherov and company and if you think that they are just gonna let the hopes and dreams of a city starved for success dictate when their summer starts well then fans are in for a rude awakening.
Florida-Washington
I have said in conversations that I didn't want the bruins to play Florida in the first round. President trophy winners. First trip to the post season as the favorites since 1996. So many years of missing the playoffs. They have finally put it all together it seems. I think they are gonna steam roll the first round. Shock everyone with their skill, speed and hockey sense. But then that's it. They will explode in the first round and not have anything left for a deep run. That's ok. They have built this team for success for future years and that is what they will have. This year however I see them going one and done. Which when you think about it is more sad then normal as this has got to be the last shot at a winner for Jumbo Joe Thornton. He is the new Ray Bourque. Guy plays close to 20 years and has come close a couple times. He deserves a winner.
New York Rangers- Pittsburgh
For years the Rangers have been an after thought in the league. Good but not great. This year could be different. Between the scoring explosion from Kreider or the rough veteran leadership of Reeves the Rangers seem to have put together what could be a solid playoff run. Pittsburgh on the other hand is i think on the downward slide. You cant take away the talent and skills of the core 3. Letang, Malkin and Crosby but are they enough to keep the Penguins in the cup conversation? I don't think so. Those 3 have maybe at most 2-4 years left and for the team to commit to building around those guys for that short of a window doesn't seem like a good plan. This could be the last we see of the Penguins dynasty of the 2010s.
Colorado-Nashville
Colorado is the odds on favorite to win the cup. They have almost the complete package of things needed to win. They have grit. Youth. Goaltending. Pests. Coaching. All of it. I have them picked to win the west and play for the cup. Unfortunately Nashville just doesn't have what is needed to stop them. This one could be a very quick and ugly series.
Minnesota-St. Louis
Marc-Andre Fleury has missed the playoffs only once in his entire career. Prior to the trade deadline it looked as though that streak would be stopped. But the hockey gods understood their job and come deadline time the flower was sent to Minnesota. Add his solid net minding to an already potent and fast offense and you have the set up for what could be a long playoff run. On the other side of the puck. St. Louis is no push over. They have a tough hard nose team who always find ways to dig down deep for a win. In all the first round match ups in both the east and west this series is probably the most evenly matched and the hardest to pick a winner.
Calgary-Dallas
The Flames have flown under the radar this season to the point of being first in their division. They have an odd mix of talent. Definitely enough to get them deep into the playoffs. Dallas on the other hand has had an amazing season from Joe Pavelski. They signed him for cheap money and he has more then earned his pay. But is he enough to get the Stars over the hump? Sadly i don't think so. The flames are to talented and have much more star power no pun intended.
Edmonton-LA
I will bet Wayne Gretzky is praying TNT doesn't pick up one of these games. This one is shaping up to be a great series. Will this be the year Connor McDavid finally wins a round? Will Dustin Brown have one last moment in the sun before calling it a career? This series has so many intriguing story lines. It's hard to pin point just one of them. This will be a fast moving high scoring series that will no doubt have a lot of pushing, shoving and general dislike for one another. I do however think that Edmonton is the far superior team but if recent history has taught us anything it's that anything can happen in the playoffs.
That's it. That's all i got. I hope some people agree but i hope more people disagree. If you disagree please make that known. I would love a good back and forth. With the success of the regular season could this finally the year that the cup goes back to Canada? The 3 Canadian teams in the playoffs are all high seeds and have what it takes to win. But of the 3, Calgary is the only one not snake bitten over the last few seasons. Toronto as everyone has seen cant get out of their own way in the first round. Edmonton has the best player in the NHL and still cant win a round. Could that change this year? Lets find out. IT'S PLAYOFF TIME!!!!
