“Oh, Baby!” It’s time for The Stanley Cup Playoffs!
It’s everybody’s favorite time of year. The weather begins to warm, the sun stays out longer and hockey cranks things up to 100. There’s nothing quite like the Stanley Cup Playoffs and while crowning a champion is special, the first round is where the action is fiercest. The hitting is harder. The skating is faster. The emotions are running higher than you ever thought possible.
This is where boys become men and teams either crumble under the pressure or gel together to create something special. Now let’s dive into each and every first round series and see if we can predict what each outcome will be.
EASTERN CONFERENCE
Panthers vs. Lightning
The Battle For Florida is about to write its latest chapter and this time the script has been flipped.
In both 2020-21 and 2021-22 the Panthers and Lightning faced off in the playoffs and each time Tampa Bay prevailed before going on to win The Stanley Cup.
This year, it wasn’t the Lightning who dominated during the regular season. It was the Panthers.
Nikita Kucherov just claimed his second career Art Ross Trophy. Steven Stamkos put together a 40-goal, 41-assist (81-point) season. Brayden Point tallied 90 points (46-G, 44-A). And Andrei Vasilevskiy returned from back surgery to win 30 games.
Tampa Bay has the championship pedigree and a core that has twice hoisted The Cup. But this is simply not their year.
Florida kept on charging, all the way to the final game of the season, to overtake Boston for The Atlantic Division crown. Sam Reinhart scored a career-high 57 goals (second most in the NHL). And Matthew Tkachuk tallied 88 points. But that’s not why this is Florida’s year.
The Panthers snuck into the playoffs on the final day of the season last year and went on a run to The Cup Final before falling to Vegas. They won The President’s Trophy the year before that and were embarrassingly swept in the second round by Tampa. They’ve learned. They’ve used the pain of loss to become a more complete team than they’ve ever been. And they’re not going to be denied in the opening round.
Prediction: Panthers in Six.
Where To Watch
Sunday, April 21, 12:30 p.m. Tampa Bay at Florida ESPN, SN, TVAS
Tuesday, April 23, 7:30 p.m. Tampa Bay at Florida ESPN2, SN360, TVAS
Thursday, April 25, 7 p.m. Florida at Tampa Bay TBS, MAX, SN, TVAS
Saturday, April 27, 5 p.m. Florida at Tampa Bay TBS, truTV, MAX, SNE, SNW, SNP, TVAS *Monday, April 29 TBD Tampa Bay at Florida TBD
*Wednesday, May 1 TBD Florida at Tampa Bay TBD
*Saturday, May 4 TBD Tampa Bay at Florida TBD
Bruins vs. Maple Leafs
Do you smell that? It’s the friction between these two Original Six rivals. How many times in the past 11 years has Boston ended Toronto’s Cup dreams in the first round of the playoffs?
Three times to be precise. Each series went the full seven. And each time Toronto choked. (Leafs fans, you may want to look away). There was the all-time choke job in 2013 when the Leafs blew a 4-1 third-period lead and ended up losing in overtime. Then came 2018. Toronto came back from a 3-1 series deficit to force a Game Seven. They even took a 4-3 lead into the third period. But then they gave up four goals (one was an empty netter) as they collapsed again; this time losing 7-4. Finally came 2019. The Leafs had a golden opportunity to avenge their loss from the year prior. And what did they do? They took a three-games-to-two lead going into Game Six at home and lost 4-2. At that point, Game Seven was just a formality as the Bruins blew out the Leafs 5-1 to complete the trifecta.
Toronto has stubbornly stuck with the same core year after year after year. They’re a supremely talented offensive team, and yet they don’t learn from their mistakes. The Maple Leafs still don’t have a strong blue line. They still don’t have a good enough netminder to bail them out. And, they have yet to develop the type of mental fortitude needed to succeed in the playoffs.
On the other side, the Bruins aren’t as offensively formidable as in years past, but their blue line and goaltending remain top-notch. Sure, Boston didn’t win a round either of the past two years; including a choke job of their own after a historic regular-season in 2022-23. But of the two teams, the Bruins still inspire more confidence at this time of year than their North of The Border rivals.
Prediction: Bruins in Six. (Screw it, let’s say Bruins in Seven just to add to Toronto’s misery).
Where To Watch
Saturday, April 20, 8 p.m. Toronto at Boston TBS, truTV, MAX, SN, CBC, TVAS
Monday, April 22, 7 p.m. Toronto at Boston ESPN, SN, CBC, TVAS
Wednesday, April 24, 7 p.m. Boston at Toronto SN, CBC, TVAS, ESPN
Saturday, April 27, 8 p.m. Boston at Toronto SN, CBC, TVAS, TBS, truTV, MAX
*Tuesday, April 30 TBD Toronto at Boston TBD
*Thursday, May 2 TBD Boston at Toronto TBD
*Saturday, May 4 TBD Toronto at Boston TBD
Rangers vs. Capitals
The habitual rivals are at it again. Not only do these two teams see a lot of each other in the regular season, but in the postseason as well. This series will mark the sixth time in the Salary Cap Era that these two teams have faced off in the Stanley Cup Playoffs. In their five previous matchups, the Blueshirts have reigned victorious three times.
But none of that matters right now. What does matter is that the Seventh Avenue Skaters just won The President’s Trophy while the Capitals enter the playoffs with a minus-37 goal differential. That’s not just bad, but historically so. The last time a team entered the playoffs with a worse goal differential than the Caps’ minus-37 was the 1990-91 Vancouver Canucks with a minus-72.
The Rangers have their flaws – they can’t score five-on-five, they don’t defend well against the rush and they’re still prone to trying to force too many east-west type passes – but they didn’t win The President’s Trophy by accident. The Curse of The President’s Trophy is real, but it won’t be enough to slow the Blueshirts in round one.
Meanwhile, the Capitals spent all but a fraction of the season looking like an old-washed up team, but they found their past class in March and aren’t ready to fade away just yet. Alex Ovechkin proved he can still carry a team with his goal-scoring, even at the advanced age of 38 and Charlie Lindgren has been a revelation for Washington between the pipes. But this feels like one last gasp from a team before Father Time slams their window shut.
Prediction: Rangers in Six.
Where To Watch
Sunday, April 21, 3 p.m. Washington at NY Rangers ESPN, SN, TVAS
Tuesday, April 23, 7 p.m. Washington at NY Rangers ESPN, SNE, SNO, SNW, TVAS
Friday, April 26, 7 p.m. NY Rangers at Washington TNT, truTV, MAX, SN360, TVAS
Sunday, April 28, 8 p.m. NY Rangers at Washington TBS, truTV, MAX, SNE, SNO, SNP, SN360, TVAS
*Wednesday, May 1 TBD Washington at NY Rangers TBD
*Friday, May 3 TBD NY Rangers at Washington TBD
*Sunday, May 5 TBD Washington at NY Rangers TBD
Hurricanes vs. Islanders
This is the third time in the last six years these two teams are meeting in the playoffs. And neither of the previous two encounters ended happily for the Islanders.
In 2018-19 the Hurricanes ousted the Isles in the second round via a sweep and last year Carolina took them out in six games in the first round. And considering the type of season these two teams had in 2023-24, there’s not a lot of hope for Long Island that the third time will be the charm.
This series will likely go one of two ways. One, the Hurricanes impose their will on the Isles and end the series in short order. Or Two, the Islanders’ aging core remembers its playoff performances from 2020 and 2021 and manages to push Carolina to a Game Seven…before ultimately falling in the end.
Both teams like to play a hard-checking, defense-first type of game. Both like to grind their opponents down before delivering the final blow. The problem for the Isles is that the Hurricanes have a much more talented roster.
Carolina’s blue line is filled with stout defensemen who can move the puck up the ice and crash you into the boards. Their forward group is deeper than it’s been in years. Even Frederik Andersen in the net has been terrific since returning from a scary health situation that cost him a good chunk of the season. Overall, the Hurricanes are one of the most complete teams in the NHL.
As for the Islanders, this was a true roller-coaster type of season marked by extreme highs and deep lows. Their special teams are a mess, which will be a problem against the Hurricanes’ top-tier power-play and penalty-kill. The offense doesn’t score much and the defense, outside of Noah Dobson, doesn’t consistently move the puck up the ice. However, Semyon Varlamov has turned back the clock and, at least for now, usurped Ilya Sorokin’s position as the team’s number-one goalie. Who knows how long that will last, just remember, a hot goalie can steal a few games or even a series.
Prediction: Hurricanes in Six.
Where To Watch
Saturday, April 20, 5 p.m. NY Islanders at Carolina TBS, truTV, MAX, SNE, SNW, SNP, SN360, TVAS
Monday, April 22, 7:30 p.m. NY Islanders at Carolina ESPN2, SN360, TVAS
Thursday, April 25, 7:30 p.m. Carolina at NY Islanders ESPN2, SN360, TVAS
Saturday, April 27, 2 p.m. Carolina at NY Islanders TBS, truTV, MAX, SN, TVAS
*Tuesday, April 30 TBD NY Islanders at Carolina TBD
*Thursday, May 2 TBD Carolina at NY Islanders TBD
*Saturday, May 4 TBD NY Islanders at Carolina TBD
WESTERN CONFERENCE
Stars vs. Golden Knights
This just isn’t fair. This could be the Western Conference Final. Instead, it’s being contested in the opening round. The defending Cup champion Golden Knights haven’t exactly been themselves the past several months, but they’re still a dangerous team. Meanwhile, the Stars are a perennial playoff team who always seem to be the bridesmaid and never the bride.
Upfront both of these teams have plenty of firepower, with Dallas being the more skilled group and Vegas employing the type of forwards who don’t have a problem going to the dirty areas to get a greasy goal. Plus, each team has a deep blue line that can provide a decent amount of scoring.
Quite honestly, this series is a total coin flip. Even the goaltending doesn’t favor one more than the other. Jake Oettinger is excellent but hasn’t quite been able to sustain that through a deep playoff run. Meanwhile, Adin Hill and Logan Thompson aren’t stars but they make the big saves when necessary. Heck, Hill was a big reason Vegas won The Cup last season.
Prediction: Stars in Seven. (This could easily go the other way and be Golden Knights in Seven).
Where To Watch
Monday, April 22, 9:30 p.m. Vegas at Dallas ESPN, SN360, FX, TVAS
Wednesday, April 24, 9:30 p.m. Vegas at Dallas ESPN, SN360, TVAS
Saturday, April 27, 10:30 p.m. Dallas at Vegas TBS, truTV, MAX, SN, SN360, TVAS
Monday, April 29 TBD Dallas at Vegas TBD
*Wednesday, May 1 TBD Vegas at Dallas TBD
*Friday, May 3 TBD Dallas at Vegas TBD
*Sunday, May 5 TBD Vegas at Dallas TBD
Jets vs. Avalanche
This has the potential to be a real barn-burner of a series. Winnipeg overtook Colorado late in the season to secure home-ice for this series but that doesn’t mean the Avs are in trouble.
There are few teams, if any, who can match the Avalanche in terms of offensive and defensive production. The Jets didn’t overtake them in the standings because they suddenly transformed into a juggernaut. No, this series will come down to goaltending.
Connor Hellebuyck is likely going to be named the Vezina Trophy winner when all the awards are announced at the end of June. He’s already secured The Jennings Trophy and there were plenty of games during the season where he was the main reason why the Jets came away with two points.
On the other end of the ice, Alexander Georgiev has been brutal the last several weeks and, even at his best, is no match for a top-of-his-game Hellebuyck. Of course, there were plenty of times that Georgiev bailed out the Avs early in the season, but his workload caught up to him down the stretch. If he can rediscover that early-season form and the Avs can limit their mistakes in front of him, they can strip Winnipeg of their main advantage.
Prediction: Avalanche in Six.
Where To Watch
Sunday, April 21, 7 p.m. Colorado at Winnipeg SN, TVAS, ESPN2
Tuesday, April 23, 9:30 p.m. Colorado at Winnipeg CBC, TVAS, ESPN
Friday, April 26, 10 p.m. Winnipeg at Colorado TNT, truTV, MAX, CBC, TVAS
Sunday, April 28, 2:30 p.m. Winnipeg at Colorado TNT, truTV, MAX, SN, TVAS
*Tuesday, April 30 TBD Colorado at Winnipeg TBD
*Thursday, May 2 TBD Winnipeg at Colorado TBD
*Saturday, May 4 TBD Colorado at Winnipeg TBD
Canucks vs. Predators
About a month ago this would have been one of the most difficult series to predict. Nashville refused to lose for what felt like an eternity and Vancouver wasn’t quite at the top of its game, but nowhere near the bottom of it either. Essentially, the Canucks were coasting while the Predators were storming up the standings into a Wild Card spot.
Both teams get plenty of production from their forwards and their defensemen. And both teams are led by a dynamic forward-defenseman combo. For Vancouver, J.T. Miller and Quinn Hughes (the likely Norris Trophy winner) lead the way. While Nashville leans on Filip Forsberg and Roman Josi (Hughes’ closest competitor for the Norris).
A betting man would likely take the safe route and go with the Pacific Division-winning Canucks. But the Predators have been playing in a playoff-type atmosphere for a while now and that could give them the edge.
Prediction: Predators in Seven.
Where To Watch
Sunday, April 21, 10 p.m. Nashville at Vancouver SN, SN360, TVAS, ESPN
Tuesday, April 23, 10 p.m. Nashville at Vancouver SN, TVAS, ESPN2
Friday, April 26, 7:30 p.m. Vancouver at Nashville TBS, MAX, SN, TVAS
Sunday, April 28, 5 p.m. Vancouver at Nashville TBS, truTV, MAX, SN, TVAS
*Tuesday, April 30 TBD Nashville at Vancouver TBD
*Friday, May 3 TBD Vancouver at Nashville TBD
*Sunday, May 5 TBD Nashville at Vancouver TBD
Oilers vs. Kings
Oh no, it’s them again! Again!
For the third consecutive Spring, the Oilers and Kings are first-round adversaries. Edmonton won their first matchup in seven games and then followed that up with a six-game victory last year. One would think that would mean the Kings are due.
Not so fast.
Edmonton may have had a rough start to the season but Los Angeles lost 27 times in their last 50 games. (That’s including overtime and shootout losses). Three times in their last 50 games the Kings had “winless” streaks of three or more games; including a brutal eight-gamer that started in late December and continued to the middle of January.
Each team has its flaws but only one has Connor McDavid. Sure, hockey is not a one-man sport, but McDavid is such a transcendent player that he can single-handedly take over a series. He’s done it twice in the past two years and there’s no reason to bet against him the third time around.
Prediction: Oilers in Five.
Where To Watch
Monday, April 22, 10 p.m. Los Angeles at Edmonton SN, CBC, TVAS, ESPN2
Wednesday, April 24, 10 p.m. Los Angeles at Edmonton SN, CBC, TVAS, TBS, MAX
Friday, April 26, 10:30 p.m. Edmonton at Los Angeles TBS, MAX, SN, TVAS
Sunday, April 28, 10:30 p.m. Edmonton at Los Angeles TBS, truTV, MAX, SN, SN1, TVAS *Wednesday, May 1 TBD Los Angeles at Edmonton TBD
*Friday, May 3 TBD Edmonton at Los Angeles TBD
*Sunday, May 5 TBD Los Angeles at Edmonton TBD
Ok, enough predictions, it’s time to drop the puck!
McDavid photo by Katelynn Reiss.
