8 teams saw their playoff dreams end in the first round while the remaining 8 look to become the final four in the hunt for the Stanley Cup. Once again I’m joined by some of my favourite Sharks writers, bloggers and podcasters to bring you another round of predictions. As always please take the time to check everyone’s work out.
The Round Table
Ian Reid: RSEN / Teal Tinted Glasses Podcast
Twitter: @IanBlogsSharks, @TTGPodcast
Current Record: 6 / 8
First Round Picks: St. Louis, Chicago, Anaheim, Calgary, Montreal, Tampa Bay, New York Rangers, New York Islanders
Tyler Spence: RSEN / Sports Midweek Madness
Twitter: @TylerSpenceRSEN
Current Record: 5 / 8
First Round Picks: St. Louis, Chicago, Winnipeg, Calgary, Ottawa, Tampa Bay, New York Rangers, Washington
Andrew Bensch: The Hockey Writers
Twitter: @ViewFromBensch
Current Record: 5 / 8
First Round Picks: St. Louis, Chicago, Anaheim, Vancouver, Montreal, Tampa Bay, New York Rangers, New York Islanders
Patrick Gackle: The Gackle Report
Twitter: @PatrickGackle
Current Record: 8 / 8
First Round Picks: Minnestoa, Chicago, Anaheim, Calgary, Montreal, Tampa Bay, New York Rangers, Washington
Wendell McGowan: Teal Tinted Glasses Podcast
Twitter: @ComicNotGeek, @TTGPodcast
Current Record: 4 / 8
First Round Picks: St. Louis, Chicago, Anaheim, Vancouver, Ottawa, Tampa Bay, New York Rangers, New York Islanders
AJ Strong: Pucknology / Pucknology After Dark
Twitter: @aj_strong, @pucknology
Current Record: 6 / 8
First Round Picks: St. Louis, Chicago, Anaheim, Calgary, Montreal, Tampa Bay, New York Rangers, New York Islanders
MJ Kasprzak: The Examiner/AXS
Current Record: 5 / 8
First Round Picks: St. Louis, Nashville, Anaheim, Vancouver, Montreal, Tampa Bay, New York Rangers, Washington
On to the predictions!
Montreal (1st. Atlantic)
vs.
Tampa Bay Lightning (2nd Atlantic)
Ian Reid picks Tampa Bay.
While I’m not sure what is going on with Stamkos I don’t know if the lack of offence for the Canadiens will be covered by Carey Price alone. I picked the Lightning as my eastern finalist before the playoffs started and they absolutely had their way with Montreal in the regular season so I’m going to take the Lightning in six.
Tyler Spence picks Tampa Bay.
Tampa really owned the regular season series and in a season where price could do no wrong he had a sub .900 SV% vs. The Lightning.
Andrew Bensch picks Tampa Bay.
Tampa has too much skill at every position whereas Montreal relies on Price to bail them out and he won’t be able to do it this round.
Patrick Gackle picks Tampa Bay.
Originally I was rolling with Montreal but I’ve since changed my stance and will go with the Lightning. TBL 5-0 vs. MTL this year outscoring them 21-8. Ben Bishop also looked very solid down the stretch vs. Detroit negating any huge advantage I give to Montreal with Price. I’ll take Tampa and their firepower in this one.
Wendell McGowan picks Tampa Bay.
I would say Lightning in 5 but because of the lack of rest, I will still say Lightning in six.
AJ Strong picks Montreal.
Tampa barely go by Detroit and maybe they shouldn’t have while Montreal took care of an Ottawa team that I think played better than Tampa so far so give me Montreal in 6. Besides, with Calgary going out in this round, the hockey gods will want at least 1 Canadian team in the Conference Finals.
MJ Kasprzak picks Montreal.
The Montreal Canadiens are fast and defensive in front of an elite goalie. Better experience allows them to clinch the series on the road against a Tampa Bay Lightning team too reliant on Steven Stamkos.
New York Rangers (1st. Metropolitan)
vs.
Washington Capitals (2nd Metropolitan)
Ian Reid picks New York Rangers.
The Rangers looked really good against a Pittsburgh team that honestly put up a better fight than I thought they would. Lunqvist looks great so far and I think that this is simply too tall an order for a Capitals team who just played a pretty hard series against the Islanders. Rangers might get caught sleeping early but I see the Rangers pulling this one out in five.
Tyler Spence picks New York Rangers.
Probably one of the best teams still standing in the playoffs and are rested as well.
Andrew Bensch picks New York Rangers.
New York is too deep defensively, better goaltender, better bottom six.
Patrick Gackle picks New York Rangers.
I’ve got the Rangers hoisting the cup and nothing in the first round suggested to me that I should change my stance. Should be a great defensive series but I still think the Rangers have the Capitals matched defensively and have to much speed for Washington to deal with.
Wendell McGowan picks New York Rangers.
They have proved to me that they are the team to beat. Rangers in five.
AJ Strong picks New York Rangers.
The Rangers have been resting while the Caps struggled with a lesser Isles team. The other team from New York just shut down a potentially better team in the Pens so I have the Broadway bullies taking this in 6.
MJ Kasprzak picks New York Rangers.
The New York Rangers have the best top-to-bottom team in all three units, and too much for a team that relies so much on a few scorers like the Washington Capitals to win more than a couple games.
Chicago Blackhawks (3rd. Central)
vs.
Minnesota Wild (2nd Wild Card)
Ian Reid picks Chicago.
Chicago just seems to have the Wild’s number and while I have more faith in Dubnyk than Darling or Crawford the Blackhawks are just too deep and have history on their side. Also the Blackhawks have to know this is the last run with significant pieces of this group as good players will have to be sacrificed when the Kane and Towes deals kick in next season. Blackhawks in six.
Tyler Spence picks Minnesota.
After taking out the highly touted Blues this team looks like it is for real and Dubnyk is still playing out of his mind.
Andrew Bensch picks Chicago.
Too much firepower for the ‘Hawks.
Patrick Gackle picks Minnesota.
Before the playoffs started I had Chicago vs. New York Rangers in the final. I’ve since changed directions and rolling with the Wild over the Blackhawks. I’ve got many reason why I think this series is ripe for the taking for Minnesota but it really comes down to who is in net. In Dubnyks last two games vs. the Blackhawks he posted a shutout and one goal respectively while picking up two wins. The Wild are hot and I believe have played the best hockey in the NHL since New Years. On the flip side Chicago is juggling goalies in out. I expect Crawford to be solid in Game 1 and hold the reigns but who really knows what will happen there. This was by far my hardest series to pick and still a large part of me thinks Chicago will win.
Wendell McGowan picks Minnesota.
Once again, I am pulling for the underdog in the Minnesota Wild. I am going with my heart even though logically I think it will Chicago. I say Wild in seven.
AJ Strong picks Chicago.
While the story of Dubnyk and the Wild is a nice one, Chicago is a much better team than the Blues. Home ice, more experience, deeper D, and a bounce back from Crawford should have the Blackhawks locking this up in 6.
MJ Kasprzak picks Chicago.
This is the time of year when the Chicago Blackhawks shine, and their superior depth and experience makes up for the goaltending edge the Minnesota Wild have, especially given Devan Dubnyk’s workload
Anaheim Ducks (1st. Pacific)
vs.
Calgary Flames (3rd. Pacific)
Ian Reid picks Anaheim.
As much as I would hate to see the Ducks move on they should be way to much for this scrappy Flames team to handle. The flames have been a great story this year, and Hiller returning to face his old team should be fun to watch but even though it’s probably going to go be extended because the Flames refuse to roll over but the Ducks will prevail in six.
Tyler Spence picks Calgary.
I have really been impressed by the way the team never gives up and are two inexperienced to know they should be out already.
Andrew Bensch picks Anaheim.
Anaheim actually has depth this year and Calgary doesn’t match up.
Patrick Gackle picks Anaheim.
I’ll just keep underestimating the Flames and take Anaheim. I think experience and elite talents of Getzlaf and Perry keep the Ducks on the road to the cup.
Wendell McGowan picks Calgary.
I am going to be the king of the long shots this whole bracket. I feel like I am most likely wrong. but I am going to go for who I WANT to win, not who I think will win. I am going with the Flames in six.
AJ Strong picks Anaheim.
Anaheim has more experience and better goaltending which should be enough to hold off the speed of Calgary. While my heart is rooting for Calgary, my head says Anaheim. But I’m rooting for it to go 7.
MJ Kasprzak picks Anaheim.
The Anaheim Ducks have such a talent advantage everywhere but possibly against their former teammate in net. The Calgary Flames manage a couple wins before finally not exceeding expectations.
