The Stanley Cup Playoffs Report: Round 1

The greatest tournament in all of sport begins today. Some rivalries that we haven’t seen in a long time and some that we have. It’s time for an insane amount of hockey let’s go!

Eastern Conference

Boston Bruins vs Buffalo Sabres

The Bruins are proving to everyone that they can successfully off load older players like Brad Marchand and still function as a strong young, fast team. I think the biggest reason is they’ve never strayed from who they are. A fast, scrappy team that never gives up. Now Jeremey Swayman has to be outstanding to make it past the Sabres and keep up their tempo to get powerplays or this could be a short series for them.

Buffalo on the other hand is the surprise of the league. Three games into the regular season and everyone thought it was over. The fans are going to be insane in the first two games so I think Lindy Ruff will have to calm them down a bit. Buffalo should be able to exploit the Bruins bad penalty kill and get some dirty goals. The Sabres have to use the Bruins own game against them if they want to win this series, which I think they can do. There will be fights, big hits and maybe lots of goals in this series so buckle up, Bruins and Sabres are back!

Buffalo in Seven

Montreal Canadiens vs Tampa Bay Lightning

Ok the Canadiens are really figuring it out and I’m sad to say very close to having a Stanley Cup caliber team. Experience is one of the biggest factors in why a team can win a Cup. Going up against the Lightning they will get that education.

Victor Hedman is not only the Captain of the Lightning but he’s a pretty important part to the stability of the back end for them as well. He’s been out of the lineup for personal reasons and will make a big impact if he is or isn’t playing at the start of the playoffs. The biggest edge by far is goaltending, Andrei Vasilevskiy is a hall of famer and having one his best seasons in his career. The Habs will have to get to him early and make sure he can’t see the puck or he will stop it. This series will be fast and furious with low scoring and some overtime heroes.

Lightning in 6

Philadelphia Flyers vs Pittsburg Penguins

We haven't seen these two teams go at it in the playoffs for quite some time. I remember Sydney Crosby saying he doesn’t like the Flyers and it shows. He loves scoring against them and will find any way to humiliate them. On paper this series might be over in five games as the Penguins appear to have an edge in almost every category. But the Flyers have been on a big streak coming into the playoffs winning seven out of their last ten games. It will be a nasty series and very loud in both buildings. I think the Penguins will over power the Flyers but they might take a few players with them and steal a game or two.

Penguins in 6

Ottawa Senators vs Carolina Hurricanes

Ottawa has the size and speed to be a really problem for Carolina. Linus Ullmark will have to be better though, as the Hurricanes will have the edge in net. I think if Brady Tkachuk can use his size to get to the front of the net and be a problem for who ever Carolina picks to be the goalie. Having two goalies playing well is a good problem to have for Carolina especially with Anderson being injury prone. This is the best Carolina has ever looked going into the Playoffs so this year has to be a long run for them or it might be time to switch coaches. Ottawa on the other hand has nothing to lose, no one expects them to beat the Hurricanes. So if they play fast and loose they might steal a few games or win the series. Carolina’s mission is clear: Keep their foot on the gas and don’t let up until Ottawa is golfing.

Carolina in 5

Western Conference

Los Angeles Kings vs Colorado Avalanche

The President Trophy winning Colorado Avalanche look almost unstoppable at this point. I mean the Kings are going to have to ask a lot of themselves to even win a game let alone win two games or the series. No other team lost under twenty games in the regular season and the Avs really don’t make that many mistakes. Colorado is the first team in a long time who’s won the Presidents Trophy and might just run over every team in the playoffs. Scoring the most goals, then allowing the fewest goals in the league might be the most impressive stat. McKinnon scored 53 goals in the regular season and you know he’s going to be hungry to score lots in the playoffs. The swan song for Anze Kopitar might be over in eight days but stranger things have happened.

Colorado in 4

Minnesota Wild vs Dallas Stars

Now usually this would be a prediction in favor of the Stars as they always seem to make it to the next round of the playoffs at least, but not this time. The Wild have improved leaps and bounds since last year. A healthy Krill Kaprizov helps, but last year they were near the bottom of the league 5 on 5 now they’re 11th. Plus the Wild has the third best powerplay in the NHL. Add in Quinn Hughes on defense and you got a pretty recipe for success. Dallas has stayed pretty much the same team and has even got better defensively. Jake Otteinger is a big reason for that and Miro Heisknan who is supposed to be back for game 1.

This will be a close, very hard fought series that will probably go the distance.

Dallas in 7

Utah Mammoth vs Vegas Golden Knights

The Golden Knights have played great down the stretch after switching coaches from Bruce Cassidy to John Tortarella with eight games remaining in the season. The Knights are always looking to keep their edge and they may have found in Torts. He’s very defense oriented and will sit anyone who doesn’t work hard. Saying that, Vegas is a veteran team and know what they have to do to keep advancing in the playoffs. The pesky Utah Mammoth are going to give them some trouble me thinks. It’s no fluke that they’re here and the Mammoth will cause some trouble especially with their speed. The Knights will have to find a way to slow them down. Otherwise this maybe a long series and one that could see Colorado resting up waiting for it to be over.

Vegas in 6

Anaheim Ducks vs Edmonton Oilers

The talent and maturity will be on full display for the Oilers as they look to go back to the finals. Saying that, they have some question marks heading into this series. The biggest one being Leon Draisaitl and if he will return in this series. A big part of a playoff run, not to mention a staple on the powerplay. The Oilers will need him back sooner rather than later if they want to beat the Ducks. Now they might just do it without him, Connor McDavid as we know can do a few amazing things. Plus Zach Hyman and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins aren’t too shabby either. Can Connor Ingram supply them with a performance for the ages in the playoffs? We shall see. Again the Oilers at times look lost in their own zone and we all know Nurse loves to jump up in the rush. If he gets caught or theres a bad breakout pass, the Ducks have the speed and the skill to exploit these mistakes. Anaheim is in a win/win situation here as they will get needed experience in the playoffs no matter how this series plays out. Plus they might give the Oilers a series which wouldn’t be ideal for a team that needs to advance quickly to give Draisaitl a chance to come back in the second round.

Edmonton in 5

So there you have it the first round ready to go! Comment down below who’s team your rooting for! Good luck and see you in round two!

Joseph