Washington vs Toronto
What story should I use for this series. David vs Goliath? Tortuise vs the Hare? Whatever story line is needed for this series the bottom line is that the Caps are stacked. 1st in pts in league, 1st in Powerplay, 1st in Road wins, Most goals in league, If Bergeron didn't exist Kuzy would be our Art Ross Winner. Anyway you look at it this series has all the makings of a quick exit for the Leafs. But don't look past them too quickly. John Gibson can turn on a light switch as post season is a new season. Matthews lead the way in league in goals. Leafs were 5th in league in PP. Lastly they went 1-1 vs Caps this season. Short series, don't think so because the Capitals need to face some adversity. Caps in 7
Carolina vs Pittsburgh
If there was a team Pittsburgh did not want to see it was Carolina and well they got them for at least minimum 4 games or more. Hurricanes took the season series 4-0 and just seemed to be on a different playing field. If Pens are to have any chance and I believe they do. Cliff Pu needs to now take that Calder Trophy he will most guarenteedly win and add to his hardware and put a stake into a potential Conn Smythe candidate. Staal needs to be the leader but it will be the back end that will dictate this series. Mason vs Vasilevsky. Andrei had 8 shutouts, Mason had best save %. Both goalies were 2.38 and 2.39 respectively in favor of Vasilevsky. Expect a tight series and the winner moving on will need to be healthy for the next jaugernaut. Give me the lucky Canes in 6 games.
Boston vs New York Rangers
Boston is trying to reach yet another cup final. They also want to be a 2 time champion. But don't look past those pesky Rangers. New York is playing with House money. They have nothing to lose. They made the playoffs and they are just going to go out there and play their hearts out. Now their leading scorer is yes :) lol Dan Girardi. This is not an error, but maybe this is their camouflage so the enemy doesn't seem the real keys to a rangers run. Hertl, DeBrincat, Forsberg, Parise, Kesler those are the guys that need to step up. Maybe they were resting and about to go into 3rd gear. Bruins will be Bruins right. Tuuka Rask, Jordan Staal another great year from him. Both special teams really are equal for no extra advantage to either. So I say experience wins. Bruins in 5
Quebec vs Buffalo
This will be the series of round 1. Like could this not be any closer. 99 pts each. same amount of wins, all games but 1 decided by the exact same score 4-3. Yes all scores were 4-3. The catch. QUEBEC!! They won all those games 4-3 so clearly they are in Sabres heads. I say Dougie Hamilton will be the man to watch. He lead in a category that is not worth leading and that could be pivotal in a 7 game series. 164 PIM is quite a few minutes in the sin bin and he is going to be relied heavily to be on the ice and not in the penalty box. You can never rule out Jeff Shirley's team. I mean the guy wins in sims. All he does is win and with his 3 headed monster of 30 plus scorers in O'Reilly, Benn and Toffoli how could you not bet with it. Sabres will erase the misery the Nords handed them during the season by handing them their own playoff misery. Sabres in 4
Nashville vs San Jose
Sharks squeaked into the last playoff spot and now their prize. To dethrone the CCHL defending champs. Its not an easy task but they have weapons of mass destruction that are capable of doing it. OV8 is needing to make a statement if San Jose wants to indeed have a long playoff run. His league tying 12 GWG is just a start. It means clutch but he isn't the guy that needs to be that. Nashville is the 2nd highest scoring team in the CCHL so Mike Smith (Yikes) needs to find his fountain of youth. Sharks are older and means slower legs when Nashville has some quicker legs in Karlsson and Huberdeau. Halak who signed into Nashville may have found the correct destination but so far just for round 1. Nashville in 5 games
Chicago vs Colorado
There was some scary times in Colorado leading up to their 3rd seed in the playoffs. They had to go to game 80 to clinch a playoff spot which is okay as long as you are in the dance. Chicago has been there before in season 1 but have been stymied by their arch nemesis Nashville. But hold on this is Colorado. Mark Sheifele is gonna put his team, the city, the state, hell maybe all of America on his back if they want to move on. He finished 2nd in league in goals but they are going to need him to play those hard 20-25 minutes a night to stand a chance. With no secondary scoring or lack there of, they must win games 2-1, 1-0. Enter Robin Lehner. He is capable of doing that unthinkable. Chicago is going to throw everything and the ktichen sink. Question is for them who starts game 1. Murray or Rinne. They have 6 scorers with at least 15 goals. They have a deep defense core but can they put all of this together for a run of 16 wins? I smell Goalie controversy in this series from the Hawks but believe they still advance. Chicago in 7
Seattle vs Calgary
The Kraken just continue to have a dominant stance over their pacific division rivals and this year was the same once again. Malkin and Bergeron are one scary 1-2 punch and if they don't knock you down well that's was the pest is for. Marchand will be the rat in your house that you cannot get rid of. But be careful cause if you think taking one of those guys out is an idea Byfuglien is ready to make sure you realize that is definitely not a good plan. So how can Calgary beat Seattle. Well having the best player in the series is one answer. Crosby is up to the challenge vs his 2005 World Junior teammate in Bergeron. Jonathan Quick saw lots of rubber and is ready for more. Secondary scoring will be what Calgary needs to do. That is you Mark Stone, James Neal, Brock Nelson, Sean Monaghan. I think we are going to see a brutal bloody long series. The winner of this one. COIN TOSS. Seattle won the Coin Toss and score the touchdown.... oh wait wrong sport. Well Seattle wins here too in 6 games.
Vancouver vs Anaheim
Vancouver will have home ice advantage and guess what, just calling this now. This series goes 7 games. No need to sugar coat it. But who wins this 7th game. The team with the best player? Team with best goalie? Team with better special teams? No I say the team that can hold the puck more than their opposition. And to win possession you need to win faceoffs. I value Toews, Horvat, Plekanec a bit more than Anisimov, Haula and Backlund. Once you have possession you need a playmaker Cue again Vancouver Karlsson and Carlsson should be the two but Marc Staal? Jason Demers? Vancouver has their answer with another Swede in Klingberg. But in the end the winner of this 7 game series. DUCKS in 7. I figure if its too obvious go for the other team.