2019 Stanley Cup Playoffs Preview

Eastern Conference

Wild Card Team #2 vs. Atlantic Division Winner

Columbus Blue Jackets vs. Tampa Bay Lightning

Players to Watch: F Artemi Panarin and F Nikita Kucherov

Who Wins: Lightning in 6 games

Atlantic Division #3 vs. Atlantic Division #2

Toronto Maple Leafs vs. Boston Bruins

Players to Watch: D Morgan Rielly and F David Pastrnak

Who Wins: Bruins in 7 games

Wild Card Team #1 vs. Metropolitan Division Winner

Carolina Hurricanes vs. Washington Capitals

Players to Watch: G Petr Mrazek and F Evgeny Kuznetsov

Who Wins: Capitals in 5 games

Metropolitan Division #3 vs. Metropolitan Division #2

Pittsburgh Penguins vs. New York Islanders

Players to Watch: F Jake Guentzel and G Robin Lehner

Who Wins: Penguins in 6 games

Western Conference

Wild Card Team #2 vs. Pacific Division Winner

Colorado Avalanche vs. Calgary Flames

Players to Watch: F Nathan MacKinnon and D Mark Giordano

Who Wins: Flames in 7 games

Pacific Division #3 vs. Pacific Division #2

Vegas Golden Knights vs. San Jose Sharks

Players to Watch: F Mark Stone and D Erik Karlsson

Who Wins: Golden Knights in 6 games

Wild Card Team #1 vs. Central Division Winner

Dallas Stars vs. Nashville Predators

Players to Watch: G Ben Bishop and F Viktor Arvidsson

Who Wins: Predators in 6 games

Central Division #3 vs. Central Division #2

St. Louis Blues vs. Winnipeg Jets

Players to Watch: G Jordan Binnington and F Mark Scheifele

Who Wins: Jets in 6 games

Stanley Cup Prediction

Eastern Conference

1. Tampa Bay Lightning vs. 4. Philadelphia Flyers

2. Toronto Maple Leafs vs. 3. Boston Bruins

1. Pittsburgh Penguins vs. 4. New Jersey Devils

2. Washington Capitals vs. 3. Columbus Blue Jackets

Western Conference

1. Nashville Predators vs. 4. Colorado Avalanche

2. Winnipeg Jets vs. 3. St. Louis Blues

1. San Jose Sharks vs. 4. Minnesota Wild

2. Vegas Golden Knights vs. 3. Anaheim Ducks

Conference Finals

Lightning over Capitals

Jets over Sharks

Stanley Cup Finals

Lightning over Jets

Pacific Division

1. San Jose Sharks

They became legit contenders with the addition of Erik Karlsson.

2. Vegas Golden Knights

Their cinderella season wasn’t a fluke. They should be contenders once again.

3. Anaheim Ducks

Health and the play of goaltender of John Gibson will determine their success.

4. Los Angeles Kings

It was an early exit in the playoffs last year, but too many questions remain about their scoring prowess.

5. Calgary Flames

They’re solid in a lot of areas, but they play in a stacked conference to get to the playoffs.

6. Edmonton Oilers

There is so much talent here, yet it almost goes to waste in Edmonton.

7. Arizona Coyotes

Some clever moves have the Coyotes positioned to be a surprise team this season.

8. Vancouver Canucks

The Sedin twins have retired and the Canucks will look for a new franchise player. Continue reading →

Stanley Cup Semifinals Preview

Eastern Conference

Atlantic Division #2 vs. Atlantic Division Winner

Boston Bruins vs. Tampa Bay Lightning

Players to Watch: F David Pastrnak and F Nikita Kucherov

Who Wins: Lightning in 6 games

Metropolitan Division Winner #2 vs. Metropolitan Division Winner

Pittsburgh Penguins vs. Washington Capitals

Players to Watch: F Jake Guentzel and G Braden Holtby

Who Wins: Penguins in 7 games

Western Conference

Central Division #2 vs. Central Division Winner

Winnipeg Jets vs. Nashville Predators

Players to Watch: F Patrik Laine and D P.K. Subban

Who Wins: Predators in 7 games

Pacific Division #3 vs. Pacific Division Winner

San Jose Sharks vs. Vegas Golden Knights

Players to Watch: F Evander Kane and D Deryk Engelland

Who Wins: Golden Knights in 6 games

2018 Stanley Cup Playoffs Preview

Eastern Conference

Wild Card Team #2 vs. Atlantic Division Winner

New Jersey Devils vs. Tampa Bay Lightning

Players to Watch: F Taylor Hall and G Andrei Vasilevskiy

Who Wins: Lightning in 6 games

Atlantic Division #3 vs. Atlantic Division #2

Toronto Maple Leafs vs. Boston Bruins

Players to Watch: F Nazem Kadri and F Brad Marchand

Who Wins: Bruins in 7 games

Wild Card Team #1 vs. Metropolitan Division Winner

Columbus Blue Jackets vs. Washington Capitals

Players to Watch: D Seth Jones and D John Carlson

Who Wins: Capitals in 6 games

Metropolitan Division #3 vs. Metropolitan Division #2

Philadelphia Flyers vs. Pittsburgh Penguins

Players to Watch: F Jakub Voracek and F Evgeni Malkin

Who Wins: Penguins in 7 games

Western Conference

Wild Card Team #2 vs. Central Division Winner

Colorado Avalanche vs. Nashville Predators

Players to Watch: D Tyson Barrie and G Pekka Rinne

Who Wins: Predators in 5 games

Central Division #3 vs. Central Division #2

Minnesota Wild vs. Winnipeg Jets

Players to Watch: F Jason Zucker and G Connor Hellebuyck

Who Wins: Jets in 6 games

Wild Card Team #1 vs. Pacific Division Winner

Los Angeles Kings vs. Vegas Golden Knights

Players to Watch: F Anze Kopitar and F William Karlsson

Who Wins: Golden Knights in 7 games

Pacific Division #3 vs. Pacific Division #2

San Jose Sharks vs. Anaheim Ducks

Players to Watch: G Martin Jones and G John Gibson

Who Wins: Ducks in 6 games