What a first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs. Five Game 7s and two of those Game 
7’s went to overtime. I went a very pedestrian 5-3 in my first-round predictions. It was my worst first round ever but the only pick I was on the fence about was St. Louis vs Minnesota. I figured the Bruins would grind Carolina to a pulp and Mike Smith would never beat the LA Kings. I was correct about the NY Rangers breaking my heart by beating the Penguins in a Game 7.
EASTERN CONFERENCE –
The Pittsburgh Penguins were in total control of their series vs the New York Rangers leading the series 3-1 and Game 5, 2-0, then Jacob Trouba knocked Sidney Crosby with a cheap shot to the head out of the game. The Penguins lost Game 5. Crosby did not play Game 6 and the Penguins lost. The Rangers won the series in a classic Game 7 OT thriller. Penguins still had their chances blowing a 2-0 lead in Game 6 and a 3-2 lead in the 3rd period of Game 7. Knocking out the Penguins Captain and greatest player/ winner of a generation gave Ranger goaltender Igor Shesterkin time to find his game (he was pulled in Games 3-4. The Rangers top guys Mika Zibanejad, Chris Kreider and Artemi Panarin who had been held in check at the start of the series at broke out by the end of the series.
The Carolina Hurricanes beat the Boston Bruins in 7. Carolina’s Antti Raanta played better in net the Boston’s Linus Ullmark and Jeremy Swayman. Swayman should have started every game for Boston. Carolina’s depth outperformed Boston’s bottom six as Max Domi scored two goals in Game 7.
The Florida Panthers beat the Washington Capitals in 7. The Capitals tried to beat the Panthers with their physical style and veteran leadership. Alex Ovechkin and TJ Oshie brought the lumber and scored big goals, but Florida played their high-flying style and prevailed in the end. Florida’s Carter Verhaeghe with two OT game winners is making people learn how to spell Verhaeghe.
The Tampa Bay Lightning beat the Toronto Maple Leafs in 7. Toronto’s Big 4 had a great series until Game 7 when they didn’t show up. Tampa Bay’s deadline pickup depth forward Nick Paul did. He netted Tampa Bay’s only goals. The 2-time Champs had sleepwalked thru the first 5 games, but star forward Brayden Point scored in OT in Game 6 and the best defenseman goalie combo Victor Hedman and Andrei Vasilevskiy shut down the Leafs in Game 7.
Carolina’s depth and structure will frustrate New York’s forwards. Jordan Staal will make New York’s top line miserable. The Hurricanes’ offensive depth will wear down New York’s defense. My mind says Carolina, but New York’s stars were resilient vs Pittsburgh. Shesterkin looked like a Vezina winner by Game 7. The Rangers have the hidden vig. New york in 6.
I picked the Florida Panthers to win the East because 3-peating is almost impossible. If anyone can do though it’s Tampa Bay but I won’t go against my original pick. Florida in 7.
WESTERN CONFERENCE-
The Colorado Avalanche swept the Nashville Predators. The Predators even stuck the Avs starting goaltender Darcy Kuemper in the eye, but it didn’t work. They should have tried sticking Cale Makar in the eye.
The St Louis Blues beat the Minnesota Wild in six games. Wild goaltender Marc – Andre Fleury could not find his old playoff magic, but St Louis’ goaltender Jordan Binnington did after he replaced Ville Husso. The Wild needed more offense than just Karill Kaprizov because the Blues got offense from everyone including big game player David Perron and a still very dangerous Vlad Tarasenko.
The Calgary Flames beat the Dallas Stars in OT in Game 7. If anyone could lose in the first round and still win the Conn Smythe it’s Dallas goaltender Jake Oettinger. He was sublime. It was a great series with a little bit of everything. Everything was big. Big saves, big hits and big goals. None bigger the Johnny Hockey’s OT Game 7 winner.
The Edmonton Oilers beat the Los Angeles Kings in 7. The series was a showcase for the best player in the world Connor McDavid. McDavid dominated and he had help from his supporting cast.
The Avalanche are just too good. Craig Berube’s Blues will give them all they can handle but they just don’t have Colorado’s fire power.Colorado in 6.
The Battle of Alberta will be a seven-game war. The skill of Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl and Edmonton vs the violence and defensive commitment of Calgary. Jacob Markstrom in net for Calgary is the difference. Calgary in 7.
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