We make our playoff predictions
But I like the idea of Mike Fisher coming out of retirement and would like to see him succeed in the playoffs.
Nashville in 5
Golden Knights-kings
The Kings scoring centres around their star Kopitar. Will that be enough? Not sure. However, the Golden Knights will have to strategize quite a bit at the round table to take this series.
Los Angeles in 6
Jets-wild
The Jets are a determined bunch this season with a lot of team chemistry. That alone can get you far in the game. They’ll ride the jet stream past the Wild.
Winnipeg in 7
Ducks-sharks
The Ducks will be mighty and mean and take the bite out of the Sharks early in the series.
Anaheim in 6
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Kenn Oliver EAST
Blue Jackets-capitals
The Blue Jackets have never won a playoff series and it’s not happening against Ovechkin and the Caps, even if their goaltending is questionable. Moreover, Washington almost always makes it to the second round.
Washington in 5
Devils-lightning
After a Hart trophy-worthy regular season, I’m excited to see what Taylor Hall does in his first taste of playoff hockey after eight seasons. Furthermore, I remain unconvinced by Lightning.
New Jersey in 6
Bruins-maple Leafs
The only thing I’m looking forward to seeing in this series is Nazem Kadri and Brad Marchand going to absolute war to determine who’s the best at being the worst.
Boston in 7
Flyers-penguins
I’m calling three-peat now. The top three are healthy and dominant, they have a major edge in goaltending, and I’m willing to bet Letang is hungry to a factor in another cup run.
Pittsburgh in 5
WEST Avalanche-predators
Depth and determination following last year’s final loss to the Pens should easily push the Preds to Round 2.
Nashville in 4
Kings-golden Knights
Even after an amazing debut season for the expansion club, it’s hard to argue with the Kings’ combined playoff resumes.
Los Angeles in 7
Jets-wild
The Jets may not be flush with playoff experience, but they’ve got a goalie in Connor Hellebuyck with incredible chops and the Wild won’t have Suter.
Winnipeg in 7
Ducks-sharks
The only true rivals in this year’s playoff will produce a great series, but one that might be too close to call. Siding with the Ducks’ momentum here.
Anaheim in 6
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Robin Short EAST Devils-lightning
There’s always an upset or two in the first round, right? Well, here’s No. 2. Tampa had the most wins in the league, but the Devils have Taylor Hall (yeah, yeah, I know, the Lightning have Nikita Kucherov and Steven Stamkos, but Hall could be the league’s MVP this year).
New Jersey in 6
Blue Jackets-capitals
I never have faith in Washington to win when it counts. Columbus is my sleeper team this season, for whatever reason, especially so since Caps’ coach Barry Trotz is leaving Braden Holtby on the bench to start the first round.
Columbus in 7
Bruins-maple Leafs
Maple Leafs’ fans will have to hang on for another year for that long-awaited Stanley Cup parade down Yonge St. The Bruins are fairly healthy now, and Boston has perhaps the best all-round player in the game this season, Patrice Bergeron. Sorry Toronto fans.
Boston in 6
Flyers-penguins
There’s a part of me that’s always liked Philly (same goes for the Phillies), dating back to the Bobby Clarke-bernie Parent days. But the Pens are the defending champs and they still have Crosby and Malkin, the best one-two punch in the NHL (apologies to Kucherov and Stamkos).
Pittsburgh in 5
WEST Avalanche-predators
Ladies and gentlemen, meet your 2017-18 Stanley Cup champion Nashville Predators.
Quick, somebody queue up Hank Snow.
Nashville in 5
Golden Knights-kings
The expansion Vegas Knights were the story of the year in the National Hockey League, finishing with the fourth-highest win total in the league. But these are the playoffs, and many of the Los Angeles veterans are battletested with Stanley Cup rings.
Los Angeles in 6
Jets-wild
Ever notice that sometimes a team, which has shown promise for a while, breaks through with a big regular season but then folds in the playoffs? Then they go on to win a Cup or two? Meet the Winnipeg Jets. Chalk this one up as a learning experience as the Wild is winning this firstround series.
Minnesota in 7
Ducks-sharks
Eeeny, meeny, miny … Anaheim in 6
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EAST Devils-lightning
Taylor Hall has been a great story this season, but it’s largely been a one-man show in Jersey (hence the justifiable HALL/MVP talk). Tampa was so-so down the stretch and Steven Stamkos’s health is again question, but the Lightning have so many more weapons.
Tampa in 5
Blue Jackets-capitals
The Blue Jackets are better a lot of folks realize and the Capitals have what nobody wants heading into the playoffs — goaltending issues. But no team in the East was better than Washington at the end of the season (8-2) and that should carry over into the playoffs.
Washington in 7
Bruins-maple Leafs
You’re hearing a lot about their last playoff meeting, in 2013 when Toronto held a 4-1 lead in the third period of Game 7 of their first-round series but lost to Boston 5-4 in overtime. Truth is, this plays more into fans’ and commentators’ thinking. Only 10 players (six Bruins and four Maple Leafs) who skated in that series face-off this time around. You may know I’m a Bruins fans, so here’s hoping this one doesn’t have to go that far. Once in a lifetime is enough.
Boston in 6
Flyers-penguins
Recent history has shown you can never count out Crosby and the Penguins. So, I won’t … at least for the battle of Pennsylvania.
Pittsburgh in 6
WEST Avalanche-predators
The Predators are primed for another long run this postseason. Denver will be the first temporary stopover.
Nashville in 5
Golden Knights-kings
I’ll admit I’m pulling for Vegas, but not so much because I want an extension of this Cinderella story. I just like seeing Marc-andre Fleury smile.
Vegas in 7
Jets-wild
Even with so few contending teams in Canada, the marvelous Winnipeg Jets — with the second-best record in the league — have been mostly overshadowed by the success of the Maple Leafs. Here’s an opportunity to show the country we should be paying more attention
Winnipeg in 5
Ducks-sharks
If this was nature, you’d go with Sharks. But here, the Ducks will have the last quack.
Anaheim in 6