We did not do well with our predictions in the qualifying round. Out of the 8 best out five series’, we went 2-6. In the first round of the Stanley Cup, we hope to do better with our predictions. We studied up on each best out of seven series instead of gallivanting at the saloon until the wee hours and then throwing some muck on the computer screen hoping it would stick. I can not promise beers were not had while studying the Stanley Cup playoffs in my personal hockey dome at home.

THIS TIME WE BELIEVE IN MIRACLES

NHL ROUND 1 OF 2020 PLAYOFFS

WESTERN CONFERENCE (BEST OUT OF SEVEN)

VEGAS GOLDEN KNIGHTS VS CHICAGO BLACKHAWKS

This series is very intriguing because it may have Cory Crawford versus Robin Lehner; both goaltenders played for the Blackhawks in regular season. Lehner was traded to Vegas at the trade deadline. This could be a nightmare for GM Stan Bowman of the Hawks. Did Bowman get rid of the right goal tender? You know Robin Lehner will try to stick it to the GM. At one time, Lehrner and the Blackhawks were talking about a contract extension.

The Vegas knights won all three of their games in the round robin tournament. The Blackhawks looked like they were not going to make the playoffs, when Covid-19 actually helped them. If Covid-19 was not around, the Blackhawks would have not made the playoffs. The Blackhawks took advantage and as 12th seed, knocked out the number five seed, the Edmonton Oilers, in the qualifying round.

WHO WILL START IN THE NET FOR VEGAS?

Robin Lehner looked sharp in two games in the round robin tournament. Marc Andre Fleury struggled in his only appearance. Fleury has three Stanley Cups under his belt, all with Pittsburgh. Fleury also helped the Golden Knights in their inaugural season make it all the way to the Stanley Cup. Fleury will tie X-Blackhawk goalie Tony Esposito with his 14th consecutive season in goal in the playoffs.

The Blackhawks main core stepped up in the Edmonton Oiler series. Jonathan Toews, Cory Crawford, Patrick Kane, and Duncan Keith showed their experience and why they have won three cups. Toews had seven points in the series.

I think Vegas is too much to handle for this Blackhawk team. Mark Stone led Vegas in scoring through the Round Robin tournament with 5 points. Vegas is expecting Max Pacioretty back for this series, and he led the Golden knights during regular season with 66 points. The Blackhawks youth stepped up in the Edmonton series. The Golden knights have 4 lines which I don’t think the Blackhawks will be able to handle. The youth, the young coach, and the aging superstars for the Blackhawks will show their colors in this series. Blackhawks will steal a game.

OUR PREDICTIONS: GOLDEN KNIGHTS IN 5

COLORADO AVALANCHE VS ARIZONA COYOTES

The Colorado Avalanche are a team loaded with talent and depth on their roster. This Avalanche team reminds me of those Joe Sakic teams that were very scary. The Arizona Coyotes had probably the hottest goalie of the qualifying round. Goaltender Darcy Kuemper is seeing the puck like it’s a gigantic beach ball floating at him.

The Arizona Coyotes came in as a number 11th seed and upset the Nashville Predators in a best out of five series. Colorado went 2-0-1 in the round robin tournament losing to Vegas in overtime. Both these teams met in the playoffs back in 2000, where Colorado moved on from that series.

Colorado has Nathan Mackinnon who is in the MVP runnings. The Avalanche also have a rookie defensemen who’s making noise to be rookie of the year. Cale Makar has been a difference maker on the ice helping his team defend the ice. The Coyotes Taylor Hall, who Arizona got in trade with the New Jersey Devils, has led the team in points since he arrived. It has been a span of 35 games with 27 points.

I like the whole team involved for the Coyotes in the Nashville series which will will be seen in this series versus the Avalanche. The Coyotes had 11 players that tallied at least one goal versus the Predators. Eight Coyote players racked up at least 2 points in that series. Seven Coyotes at least had 5 blocked shots. The Coyote are a very good checking team. They had ten guys with at least ten hits. Those team stats with the hot goalie give the Coyotes an edge and X factor that will get them past the snow angels of the Avalanche. The checking will be too much in a long fought series for the Avalanche.

OUR PREDICTION: COYOTES IN SIX

DALLAS STARS VS CALGARY FLAMES

The Calgary Flames regressed from a marvelous season last year. However the Flames got pass the Winnipeg Jets in the qualifying round, and now they face the Stars. Stars have problems putting the puck in the net on almost any given night. However the Stars can prevent the puck going into their own net with the league’s best. The Stars have a tandem goalie selection that may be the best one two punch in the league. The Stars also have two of the best defense-men in the league.

Both Dallas and Calgary have never met in the playoffs. In 1981, in Calgary’s first ever post season, they played the Minnesota North stars who eventually moved to Dallas. This series is defense versus offense. Since February 1st, the Flames have been the second best offense in the league. The Flames scored the most goals in the qualifying round. Meanwhile, Dallas defense was one of the best at limiting shots at their goalie.

Matthew Tkachuk is always a factor for Calgary. The guy to watch on the Flames is savvy veteran Milan Lucic who took his game to next level versus the Jets. Lucic, with the most playoff experience for the Flames, turns on the playoff light switch. In the beginning of game one versus the Jets, he dropped the gloves setting the tone early and often in that series. Lucic also chipped in at least one point in each contest.

For the Stars, one guy that stands out on the offense is former San Jose Sharks, Joe Pavelski. Pavelski could potentially score clutch goals for this team because he has done that over and over with so many playoff games for the Sharks. Even though Pavelski failed to reach the 20 goal mark this season, it was the first time he missed that since the strike’s shortened season.

I always think good defense can beat a good offense on most nights. The Stars were able to move deep into the playoffs last season, as they lacked offensive punch. I think the Flames took advantage of the Jets who had a lot of key injuries in that series. I think Joe Pavelski becomes a big deal in this series for the Stars. It’s why they signed him.

OUR PREDICTION: STARS IN SIX

ST.LOUIS BLUES VS VANCOUVER CANUCKS

The Canucks took a hiatus from the playoffs to rebuild. The Canucks finally made it back to post season play. Their last time lacing up the skates for the Stanley Cup playoffs was the 2014-15 season. The Canucks have assembled a nice young core that can skate and have speed. Speed kills. The Blues won the holy grail last season and are defending their title in hopes for two straight. Blues have one of the stingiest defenses in the entire Stanley Cup playoffs. Plus the hottest goalie in the Stanley playoffs last year.

This will be the 4th time the Blues and Canucks meet in the playoffs. Canucks winning all three series. The Canucks took out the Minnesota Wild in four games. The Canucks scored 12 goals in those 4 games to knock off the Wild who have been regulars in the playoffs for quite awhile. The Blues had the best record in the conference in regular season, but failed to win one game in the Round Robin, dropping them to the 4th seed.

Quinn Hughes is one of those young talented superstars for the Canucks. Hughes had 4 power play points versus the Wild. The Blues MVP of the Stanley Cup playoffs last season, Ryan O’Reilly, scored half the Blues goals in the Round Robin series. Jordan Binnington, the goalie for the Blues, was the X-factor last year as he dominated between the pipes. The layoff in the Round Robin games, teams were scoring third period goals off Binnington.

This series looks like the Canucks can get a big upset in this first round on the champs. I went against the Blues in every round last season, and I’m not going to head down that road again. I think the Round Robin games will be a slap in the face for the Blues, and a wake up call. I think the experience the Blues have, will overcome the youth on the Canucks, especially in a seven game series.

OUR PREDICTION:BLUES IN 5

 

EASTERN CONFERENCE (BEST OUT OF SEVEN)

PHILADELPHIA FLYERS VS MONTREAL CANADIANS

Can the Montreal Canadians send another Pennsylvania team home from the post season? Montreal stunned the Pittsburgh Penguins in the qualifying round. The Philadelphia Flyers are a different animal. The Flyers dominated the round robin tournament against some of the best teams in the league.

The Flyers have met the Canadians six times in post season. Both teams are 3-3 against each other in post season play. Both teams’ goal tending were remarkable heading into this series against each other. Flyers goalie Carter Hart only allowed 2 goals on 59 shots in his two starts in round robin tournament. The Canadians struggled at the end of regular season. The 12th seed Canadian’s goalie, Carey Price, came up big time versus Pittsburgh making this team do 360 by giving up seven goals on 133 shots. That is .947 save percentage in 4 games including a shutout to clinch the series for Price. Both teams combined went 0-23 on the power play so far.

The Flyers out scored their opponents 11-3 in the round robin tournament. The Flyers super star, Sean Couturier, has the best face off percentage in the league and has brought that skill to the playoffs. Then Flyers defensemen, Nicolas Aube-Kubel, lit up the lamp twice and loves hitting people. The Canadians had some nice goals from Jesperi Kotkaniemi who was sent down to the AHL to work on his game late in the regular season. Kotkaniemi resurfaced and did some nice damage to the Penguins.

I think the Flyers have too much talent for the Canadians to handle in this series. The Canadians have been a nice story so far, but their luck runs out. Flyers dispatch the Canadians rather quickly.

OUR PICK: FLYERS SWEEP

TAMPA BAY LIGHTNING VS COLUMBUS BLUEJACKETS

The Columbus Bluejackets are the David to the other teams Goliath. Last year ,they advanced through the playoffs with some big upsets including knocking out the Tampa Bay Lightning in round one last season in a sweep. Tampa Bay won 62 games in that season which some say could be one of the first round’s biggest upsets of all time. The Bluejackets gave the Maple leafs fits in the qualifying round, blowing them away with high speed and stepping them into the compost bin for pick up. Guess who’s coming to dinner… yes, jackets are required. It’s a rematch of Bluejackets vs Lightning on neutral ice in Canada.

Tampa Bay has everything from scoring defense to a great goalie in between the pipes. Tampa Bay has taken care of business in regular season by cementing a high spot in the playoffs earlier then most teams in the league. The Bluejackets clinched their spot in the playoffs in the final game of regular season. Plus Bluejackets like to hit people and score  goals. It is their simple recipe. This match up is like the movie, Tango and Cash. The Lightning are from Beverly Hills and fit into the perfect businessman style detective like Tango, played by Sly Stallone. Then the Bluejackets are from the tougher side of town. You have look like bad element to fit like Cash played by Kurt Russell.

I think this series this season will go the full seven games. This might be the beginning of a playoff rivalry. It might be a series that will get quite dirty and bloody by the time it ends. This time I like the Lightning winning it. I think Lightning will be better prepared and will not be shell shocked like last season.

OUR PREDICTION:LIGHTNING IN 7

WASHINGTON CAPITALS VS NEW YORK ISLANDERS

Seems like it was a long time ago when the Capitals won the Stanley Cup. It was only two years ago, as Covid seems to make time drag on. Now the Islanders have Barry Trotz, the same guy who led those Capitals to their first ever cup of all-time. Does the Islanders have the advantage, knowing the weaknesses of his former team?

This is the 8th time in history that the Capitals and the Islanders have squared off in the playoffs. Islanders have the 5-2 lead in those series. In 2015, Capitals won the last series when these two teams met. Islanders took out the Florida Panthers in 4 games to advance to the next round. The Capitals only won 1 game in the round robin tournament. Beating Boston in the last game of the tournament.

If Capitals are going to be victorious, they need their super star, Alex Ovechkin, to produce. Ovechkin was held to 0 points in the round robin play. This can’t happen in this series. Ovechin needs to make plays and get the puck in the net for the Capitals to be successful. If the Islanders play their style of clean game, limiting your scoring chances, Semyon Varlamov will have to continue playing well inbetween the pipes for the Islanders to move on.

Playing your former head coach sometimes goes in favor of the other team. Just knowing your traits of strength and weaknesses, a head coach can play their former team like a fiddle. I think Washington with the early exit last season and eventually knocking the rust off them in the round robin tournament, will benefit them in this series. Islanders can not win a high scoring game. The Capitals will attack early and eventually knock the sails out from under the Islanders to strand them into making it to the next round.

OUR PREDICTION:CAPITALS IN SIX

BOSTON BRUINS VS CAROLINA HURRICANES

Bruins versus Hurricanes is a rematch of last year’s Eastern conference finals when Bruins sweep that series. Bruins had the best record in the entire league in regular season. The Hurricanes looked like the best team in the qualifying round. Could the Canes have Dougie Hamilton back in the fold for this series? Bruins traded Hamilton to the Hurricanes and that could come back to haunt bean town.

Bruins were winless in the round robin tournament. The Hurricanes handled a very good New York Ranger team with ease. Bruins offense sputtered during the round robin tournament, as they had some players not in the line up during round robin play. Boston is known for their defense. Can Tuukka Rask and Jaroslav Halak slow down the trio of Hurricanes that put some impressive numbers up versus the Rangers? Sebastin Aho had three goals and 8 points in the series. Andrei Svechnikov had 3 goals with 5 points. Teuro Teravainen had 2 points. This Hurricane trio can put lots of pressure on the opposing defenses and the goalie especially has to make clean saves.

Right now, it’s quiet before the storm hits and the Bruins will be the ones that are affected in this Hurricane. I think some teams it will take awhile to find their mojo. Bruins had it in regular season. The layoff and with some faces MIA, Hurricanes will take this series. Last year, Hurricanes went deep into the playoffs. This year the Bruins will be the ones dispatched as Carolina moves on.

OUR PREDICTION:HURRICANES IN 5