Puck Playoff Time: Chase for Lord Stanley

The journey to hoist Lord Stanley begins this afternoon for 16 NHL teams... 8 from the West and 8 from the East. Is this the year a Canadian team finally breaks the streak? Does a recent champion return to the promised land? Or will a defending champ get healthy at the right time? The storylines are all here for the taking. Let’s take a snapshot of the first-round matchups and finish with a few predictions.

The East

1. Toronto Maple Leafs vs. 4. Ottawa Senators

Players to Watch 

Senators: F Brady Tkachuk, F Tim Stützle, D Jake Sanderson, G Linus Ullmark

Maple Leafs: F Auston Matthews, F Mitch Marner, F William Nylander

Series X-Factor: Which team handles the pressure of Canada’s hockey-crazed fans better?Prediction: Maple Leafs in 6

2. Tampa Bay Lightning vs. 3. Florida Panthers

Players to Watch

Lightning:F Brayden Point, F Nikita Kucherov, G Andrei Vasilevskiy

Panthers: F Matthew Tkachuk, C Sam Reinhart, C Aleksander Barkov

Series X-Factor: Health of the Panthers

Prediction: Lightning in 7

1. Washington Capitals vs. 4. Montreal Canadiens

Players to Watch

Canadiens: F Cole Caufield, D Lane Hutson, C Nick Suzuki

Capitals: F Alexander Ovechkin, D Jakob Chychrun, F Tom Wilson

Series X-Factor: Did the chase wear out the Caps?

Prediction: Capitals in 5

2. Carolina Hurricanes vs. 3. New Jersey Devils

Players to Watch

Devils: F Jesper Bratt, C Nico Hischier, G Jacob Markström

Hurricanes: F Sebastian Aho, C Seth Jarvis, G Pyotr Kochetkov

Series X-Factor: The goalies... vet vs. youth. Who shows up?

Prediction: Hurricanes in 6

The West

1. Winnipeg Jets vs. 4. St. Louis Blues

Players to Watch

Blues: F Jordan Kyrou, C Robert Thomas, G Jordan Binnington

Jets: F Kyle Connor, G Connor Hellebuyck, D Josh Morrissey

Series X-Factor: The goalies... The Wildcard vs. The Vezina

Prediction: Jets in 5

2. Dallas Stars vs. 3. Colorado Avalanche

Players to Watch

Avs: D Cale Makar, F Nathan MacKinnon, G Mackenzie Blackwood

Stars: C Matt Duchene, D Thomas Harley, C Roope Hintz

Series X-Factor: Stars’ injury issues

Prediction: Avalanche in 6

1. Vegas Golden Knights vs. 4. Minnesota Wild

Players to Watch

Wild: D Brock Faber, F Matthew Boldy, F Kirill Kaprizov

Golden Knights: C Jack Eichel, F Mark Stone, G Adin Hill

Series X-Factor: Jack Eichel

Prediction: Vegas in 6

2. Los Angeles Kings vs. 3. Edmonton Oilers

Players to Watch

Oilers: C Leon Draisaitl, C Connor McDavid, D Evan Bouchard

Kings: F Adrian Kempe, G Darcy Kuemper, D Drew Doughty

Series X-Factor: Kuemper vs. McDavid

Prediction: Kings in 7

Stanley Cup Predictions

Eastern Conference Finals:Capitals over Maple Leafs in 7

Western Conference Finals:Knights over Jets in 6

Stanley Cup Final:Knights over Capitals in 7

Conn Smythe Winner: Jack Eichel

Yep, you heard it here first... the Vegas Golden Knights will (unfortunately) get their revenge on the storybook-ending-seeking Capitals, who are aiming to win it all the same year Ovi breaks the all-time goals record.

The NHL continues its heater of a season with a thrilling run to the Finals by Washington, only to be stopped in its tracks by the league’s “villains,” Vegas exacting revenge from 2018.

Let’s dig in, boys! The Stanley Cup Playoffs puck drops today.

Bet of the Day:

04-19

Lawrence Butler HR +450