NHL 2020 PLAYOFF PREDICTIONS (PLAY IN ROUND)

2020 STANLEY CUP BUBBLE HOCKEY PLAYOFF TOURNAMENT

EASTERN CONFERENCE

ROUND ROBIN

The top four teams of the Eastern conference in regular season will do a round robin tournament to determine their seeding in the Stanley Cup playoffs second round. This will give these teams some games under their belt and not go into the next round rusty.

Coming in: #1.Tampa Bay Lightning, #2.Boston Bruins, #3.Washington Capitals, & #4.Philadelphia Flyers

#5.PITTSBURGH PENGUINS VS #12.MONTREAL CANADIENS

Without the Covid-19, the Montreal Canadiens for sure would have never made the NHL playoffs. Pittsburgh Penguins were swept out of the Stanley Cup playoffs last season. The Penguins always have a spot in the playoffs, as if they reserve a table a year prior. Penguins super star, Sid the Kid, will light up the lamp in this bubble hockey tournament. Sid Crosby, since coming off his injury during regular season, had 30 points in 24 games. The Canadiens’ only shot to derail the Penguins is exploit their weak goal tending. Pittsburgh is stacked in team depth compared to Montreal. Penguins seem to get deep in the Stanley cup playoffs almost every year especially from an early exit last year. I think Penguins can win a few series before they exit this season.

AS A FAN, ROOTING FOR: PENGUINS

OUR PREDICTION: PENGUINS IN 4

#6.CAROLINA HURRICANES VS #11. NEW YORK RANGERS

This bubble tournament is good, bad, and ugly in many ways. It affects each team differently. The Carolina Hurricanes have to play the Rangers who were one of the hottest teams in the league before things were shut down on the ice. The Hurricanes were having some goalie problems at the end of regular season. Meanwhile Rangers had one of the hottest goalies in the league in front of the net. Rangers’, Igor Shesterkin, went 10-2 with an incredible save percentage of .932. Hurricanes are getting back a key player from injury, Dougie Hamilton, which will help. I think ex-Blackhawk Artemi Panarin will show GM Stan Bowman, of Chicago, how stupid it was to trade this kid. Panarin is the X factor and the Rangers goalie will help New York knock off Hurricanes.

AS A FAN ROOTING FOR: NEITHER

If the Hurricanes were still the Hartford Whalers, I would root on the Whalers.

OUR PREDICTION: RANGERS IN 5

#7. NEW YORK ISLANDERS VS #10. FLORIDA PANTHERS

Florida Panthers are my Chicago Blackhawks 2.0 with legendary head coach, Joel Quenneville, behind the bench. Islanders vs the Panthers are an Even Steven type of match up. Islanders have been streaky all year and at the end were on a downward slope, losing 11 out of their last 13 games. I think the Panthers can get just enough offense to prevail over an Islander team that has trouble getting the puck in the net, to rank 23rd in offense in the entire league. I think Joel Quenneville makes a statement in his coaching abilities and gets his team to the next round.

AS A FAN ROOTING FOR: FLORIDA PANTHERS

OUR PREDICTION: PANTHERS IN 5

#8.TORONTO MAPLE LEAFS VS #9. COLUMBUS BLUE JACKETS

The Maple Leafs have no problems putting the puck in the net. Can the Columbus Blue Jackets be successful in the playoffs minus super star Artemi Parnarin? Panarin was a big part of the Blue Jackets success last season. Can the Columbus Blue Jackets’ strong physical play that head coach John Tortorella installed, be able to shut down a Maple Leaf offense? The Maple Leaf defense is the team’s weakest link. Can Blue Jackets take advantage of that? This series should go the distance.

AS A FAN I’M ROOTING FOR: COLUMBUS BLUE JACKETS

OUR PREDICTION:MAPLE LEAFS IN 5

WESTERN CONFERENCE

ROUND ROBIN

The Western conference will also do a round robin tournament to determine seeding in the next round of the Stanley Cup playoffs.

The Western conference top 4 teams coming in: #1.Colorado Avalanche, #2.Vegas Golden Knights, #3. St.Louis Blues, & #4.Dallas Stars

#5.EDMONTON OILERS VS #12.CHICAGO BLACKHAWKS

When I first heard of this match up, I thought the Blackhawks had a very good shot beating the Oilers in a short series. Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews, with their playoff history, can easily be the x-factors in this type of series. Oilers have their own Batman and Robin duo with young superstars, Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl.

The Blackhawks goalie Cory Crawford, coming off recovery from Covid-19, is the biggest question mark of the series. Can Crawford turn the playoff switch on? Best out of 7, Oilers, I think, win that. The Blackhawks playoff history with the core they have, find a way to run the Oilers dry and win and move on.

AS A FAN I’M ROOTING FOR: A DUH THE BLACKHAWKS

OUR PREDICTION: BLACKHAWKS IN 4

#6.NASHVILLE PREDATORS VS #11.ARIZONA COYOTES

Nashville Predators have found themselves over the last few seasons in the playoffs and back, out of the post-season with early exits. Meanwhile Arizona has missed the playoffs, the last few seasons, by just a few points in the standings. Arizona has had some unsung heroes step up their game like a Connor Garland. The Coyotes have a nice goalie tandem to defend their net that makes this a very interesting match up. Nashville has salary cap issues so time is running out for this veteran team. Next season could be a totally different roster. Coyotes will make this into a series. I think Nashville escapes with the series because of the playoff experience this team has, even though with no success the last few seasons.

AS A FAN I’M ROOTING FOR: ARIZONA COYOTES

OUR PREDICTION: PREDATORS IN 4

#7. VANCOUVER CANUCKS VS #10. MINNESOTA WILD

Canucks have been annoying in my book for years. Vancouver has been rebuilding and has assembled some nice young talent. Elias Pettersson  is the leader of this Canuck young and hungry team that is looking to make a big statement in this year’s playoffs. The Wild has been running on fumes with a roster of young and old guys. A team that will be fighting the salary cap next season. The Wild has had a nice run getting in the playoffs, but when it comes to post season they have had some exits in the first two rounds over and over. Canucks will stop the Wild’s main scorer, Kevin Fiala, and put the Wild on the extinct list.

AS A FAN I’M ROOTING FOR: MINNESOTA WILD

OUR PREDICTION: CANUCKS IN 4

#8. CALGARY FLAMES VS #9.WINNIPEG JETS

The Jets and the Flames is another interesting series that has the potential to go the distance. Both teams have flaws. Both teams I thought would get further last season in the Stanley Cup playoffs. For the Flames, Matthew Tkachuk is on the rise, and if he can light the lamp it might jump start this offense. Flames goal tending has been better than last season. David Rittich has been working harder then ever, as the defense of the Flames have not been up to snuff like they have before. The Jets defense has been awful at times this season. With Dustin Byfuglien leaving, Kyle Connor has taken this offense on his shoulders as the Jets do have a few guys that can get the puck in the net. I think this series comes down to the Jets goaltender, Connor Hellebuyck. If Hellebuyck gets hot, he can get the Jets to the next round.

AS A FAN I’M ROOTING FOR: WINNIPEG JETS

OUR PREDICTION: JETS IN 4