We are throwing down the gloves for our first round predictions in the NHL playoffs. We might take some punches back. We might even bleed. However nothing is going to stop us as we predict each series in the first round in hockey. Hockey playoffs are one of the best post seasons out of all sports. Some feelings might be hurt. Beers can cure. Rub some salt on your wounds after you read this.You may think we are geniuses. Or the smart people might see right through us. However can we be right in each series with our crazy outcome? Don’t bet on it.

NHL PLAYOFFS

ROUND ONE  (BEST OUT OF SEVEN)

TAMPA BAY LIGHTNING  VERSUS  COLUMBUS BLUE JACKETS

Tampa Bay Lightning have the best record in the league this season. They have a stacked roster with loads of talent and depth on all their lines.  It’s hard to find a crack in their foundation. You can say this team has had their own playoff woes. You can say they can’t close the deal and get back to the Stanley Cup and win it. You can say the Columbus Blue Jackets have never won a playoff series.

LIGHTNING CLOSE THE DEAL AT LEAST IN THE FIRST ROUND

OUR PREDICTION: LIGHTNING IN A FOUR GAME SWEEP

NASHVILLE PREDATORS VERSUS DALLAS STARS

This is the series that has two pretty good defenses going at it. Nashville has the third best defense overall in the NHL this season. The Dallas Stars have one of the hottest goalies in the league in Ben Bishop. Stars rank 28th in offense in the whole league this year. Nashville has problems with their power play. This series could go the distance.

PREDATORS HAVE MORE DEPTH TO SURVIVE A LONGER SERIES

OUR PREDICTION:PREDATORS IN SEVEN

BOSTON BRUINS VERSUS TORONTO MAPLE LEAVES

This is a playoff match up from last season. Then we saw the Bruins and Maple Leafs go all the way to game seven seeing Boston take the series. This is going to be another great one and probably the best series in the first round. Bruins have the home ice advantage. The Maple Leafs offense is a definite top 5 in the league. The Leafs have seven 20 goal scorers in regular season. Boston Bruins are a very solid team but they will have their work cut out for them against the Maple Leafs with their weapons of mass destruction. With Austin Matthews and Mitch Marner, then adding John Tavares from the Islanders, the Leafs got scarier.

TAVARES IS THE KEY THAT LEADS HIS HOME TOWN AND SLAYS THE BRUINS DRAGON

OUR PREDICTION: MAPLE LEAFS IN SIX

CALGARY FLAMES VERSUS COLORADO AVALANCHE

The Avalanche coming in are one of the hottest teams in the league. Calgary is a top ten team in both scoring and allowing the least amount of goals. The Avalanche has some nice talent assembled to make this an interesting series. I could see the Avalanche winning some games. The Flames – who is the guy in net is the big question for them.

JOHNNY GAUDREAU 99 POINT SEASON IS NO FLUKE HE IS MY KEY IN THIS SERIES. IF HE GOES THEY ALL GO.

OUR PREDICTION: FLAMES IN SIX

WASHINGTON CAPITALS VERSUS CAROLINA HURRICANES

Is the owner of the Hurricanes going to cancel the playoffs like he did with the AAF? It does not matter how the Hurricanes celebrate their wins after games. Those highlights of playing duck duck goose. Shooting hoops on skates. Doing the hokey pokey, but they will get turned around versus the Capitals. They are facing the defending champions. The Capitals have swept the Hurricanes this regular season in all four games. Hurricanes are too young. Their kids games are no match for superstar Alex Ovechkin. If the owner of the Hurricanes could only stop this from happening. He does not have that kind of power in the hockey world.

BRING BACK THE WHALERS

If Donald Trump owned the Capitals… the new logo.

OUR PREDICTION: CAPS SWEEP

NEW YORK ISLANDERS VERSUS PITTSBURGH PENGUINS

Without John Tavares, the Islanders as a team have the most points since 1984 and we know they were awesome in the early 80’s. Islanders have the number one defense in the league. The Penguins are not a slouch for the first round when they have Sid the Kid. They also bring Kris Letang and Evgeni Malkin to the table. Experience definitely goes to the Penguins. The Islanders are that person that goes through a break up and that is with John Tavares. They change their whole life. They work out harder and longer. They do a 360 in life. However this time they run out of gas.

DOOBIE DOOBIE DOO

OUR PREDICTION: PENGUINS IN SIX

ST.LOUIS BLUES VERSUS WINNIPEG JETS

Jets went deep into the playoffs last year. The Blues have been playing well coming into the playoffs. Jets have the home ice advantage. I think the Jets have too much for the Blues to handle. Jets fire power on offense is one of the best in the league. Teams like the Blues used all their energy and fight just to get to the playoffs which will be the factor here. Many sports, the hottest teams coming in can stay hot and ride the course. The Blues goalie does not have that heat penetrating off his pads at this time. We know goalies can carry teams far. Jets are not a team to start getting hot off. It’s like lighting a cigarette in a monsoon.

TOO MUCH BUFF……IN LATIN MEANS BYFUGLIEN

OUR PREDICTION: JETS IN FIVE

VEGAS GOLDEN KNIGHTS VERSUS SAN JOSE SHARKS

Knights goal tending is still remarkable. The Sharks have kind of crawled to the end of the season. The Golden Knights are looking to repeat last season’s playoff debut as they got deep. Could they get further in only their second season? The Sharks have Eric Karlsson returning. Could it be a Joe Thornton last shot at another trip to the Stanley Cup championship? Can San Jose stop more pucks than they get in the net? This looks like it should be all Golden Knights. On paper they have a better team. The Sharks are my sleeper. This is the season as I write this on my 12th beer of the night. I think Martin Jones will do better than he did in net in regular season for the Sharks. The tables turn and Knights will not be Golden like they were in their very first season

SHARKS OFFENSE COMES TO LIFE TO LIGHT THE LAMP WAY MORE THAN ONCE. 

OUR PREDICTION: SHARKS IN SEVEN