What an incredible first round. The most overtime first round games in Stanley Cup history.
I predicted six of the eight winners. Solid. Nobody had the Predators beating the Hawks. The Predators were better than their seed indicated but their sweep of Chicago was shocking. I also picked the Minnesota Wild. I actually thought BBQ Bruce Boudreau 
would win a round. That’s on me.
Before we look ahead to round two let’s take a look back at round one.
The Washington Capitals knocked off the Toronto Maple Leafs in six. The Leafs gave the Capitals a good scare, especially when Nazem Kadri hit Alex Ovechkin’s knee. Toronto’s Auston Matthews proved he is a legit star. Fredrick Andersen proved he is a franchise goaltender. Although Washington survived they showed a few cracks in their President’s Trophy armor. Ovechkin’s play was adequate, Evgeni Kuznetsov’s was not. Justin Williams and TJ Oshie were their usual clutch selves. The Washington defense looked slow but ace net minder Brandon Holtby bailed them out.
The defending Stanley Cup Champion Pittsburgh Penguins dispatched the Columbus Blue Jackets in five. Marc Andre Fleury filled in brilliantly for injured Matt Murray in net. Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin led the Penguins dominant offensive charge. Jake Guentzal and Bryan Rust buried their chances. The Pens used an all-hands-on-deck approach on defense to withstand the loss of Kris Letang. Columbus’ strategy was to out hit and intimidate the Penguins. It failed miserably. Calder Trophy finalist defenseman Zach Werenski’s injury in game four ended any chance Columbus had of winning the series. Vezina Trophy Candidate goalie Sergei Bobrovsky had a less than stellar series.
The Montreal Canadiens vs New York Rangers series was a throwback to a long ago era of playoff hockey. Fights and cheap shots. Both teams played it close to the vest. It felt like 1985. Rangers goalie Henrik Lundqvist won the battle in net over Carey Price. Rick Nash was a monster in this series for the Rangers. The Rangers scoring depth eventually won out. Mats Zuccarello and Chris Kreider made the difference. Alexander Radulov proved he is a playoff performer. Montreal needs to find more players like him this offseason.
The Ottawa Senators barely squeaked past the Boston Bruins in six games. The Senators needed All- World defenseman Erik Karlsson to put on a super human effort to beat Boston. Boston’s blueline was decimated with injury. Zdeno Chara was healthy but ancient. Charlie McAvoy was in college last month. Senators’ Clarke MacArthur was in street clothes for two years and became the series hero. Brad Marchand was continuously stoned by Ottawa’s Craig Anderson. Boston was so young Sean Kuraly became a household name in Boston. Despite the Bruins depleted roster the Senators needed a few questionable referee calls to beat them.
The Nashville Predators dismantled the Chicago Blackhawks with a four-game sweep. Blackhawks Head Coach Joel Quenneville said the Hawks never found the extra gear. He’s right. The Predators ripped out Chicago’s engine. Nashville’s top four defenseman are the best unit in the NHL. They kept Chicago’s talented forwards to the outside. Pekka Rinne’s goaltending was historic level good. Filip Forsberg and Viktor Arvidsson provided Nashville enough scoring to ensure this monumental sweep.
The St Louis Blues knocked out the Minnesota Wild. The Wild played one period of inspired hockey. The St. Louis Blues played five games of inspired hockey. St. Louis goaltender Jake Allen was sublime. Zach Parise has nothing to be ashamed of in this series. I can’t say that for the rest of the Wild organization. By the time the Wild woke up it was too late. Paul Stastny returned from injury. Vlad Tarasenko snapping out of his slump was the final nail in Bruce Boudreau’s much used playoff coffin.
The Anaheim Ducks swept the Calgary Flames and it wasn’t even that close. The Ducks could have won in three. The Ducks’ Captain and resident Superman Ryan Getzlaf is on top of his game. The Duck’s Batman Corey Perry and the rest of the Anaheim forwards are all finding the back of the net. The Duck’s young goalie and defense were stellar as well. It’s easy for Calgary to blame goaltender Brian Elliot. He was awful but so were most of Calgary’s forwards. Only Sean Monahan played well. Johnny Gaudreau was ineffective and Matthew Tkachuk was a complete no show.
The Edmonton Oilers prevailed over the San Jose Sharks in six games. The Sharks were banged up going into the series. Sharks’ Hall of Famer Joe Thornton played on one leg. The Sharks at times had total control of the series but lost out to youth. Connor McDavid got just enough help from Leon Draisaitl and Milan Lucic. Draisaitl with his hockey IQ and touch. Lucic with his brute force. The Oiler’s Cam Talbot out dueled the Shark’s Martin Jones in net. Jones let in a few I know he’d want back.
Round 2 Predictions
The Washington Capitals have waited a full year to get back at the Penguins. I don’t think they will. The Leafs style of play exposed the Capitals defense. The Penguins play the Leafs style only better. The Penguins are getting forwards Chris Kunitz and possibly Carl Hagelin back for this series. This should help the Penguins in the defensive responsibility department. The Penguins played too wide open against Columbus. They need to tighten up against the Capitals. The Penguins’ blue line played well the first round but cannot sustain any injuries. They have no more depth on defense. The Capitals are a juggernaut up front but they need Evgeni Kuznetsov to play well in this series. He did not play well last year. Kuzy’s lackluster effort hurt the Capitals by making them a one line team. The Capital’s defense was slow last year. They are a year older now. Brandon Holtby won the Vezina Trophy last year but Matt Murray was better the pipes and the Penguins won the series. Marc Andre Fleury needs to be as good as Murray was last year. Penguins in 6
New York Rangers take on the Ottawa Senators in the other Eastern Conference matchup. The Rangers wanted the fourth seed in the Metro and this is their reward. They get to play an Ottawa Senators team that barely got past a flawed Bruins team. The Senators’ uber defenseman Erik Karlsson was worn down by the end of the last series. The Senators rallying for their goaltender Craig Anderson is a nice story but Ranger goalie Henrik Lundqvist is the King. Both teams have scoring up and down their line up. New York’s is more playoff seasoned. The Ranger’s core knows this may be their last great chance at a Cup. Rangers in 6
The Nashville Predators are riding high after sweeping the Chicago Blackhawks. They will not come down against the St, Louis Blues. Peter Laviolette is too good a coach to let that happen. Nashville is playing up to their potential this season. The Blues beat the Wild. The Wild disintegrated right in front of the Blues. The Blues beat Devan Dubnyk who had lost his confidence. Pekka Rinne is on fire. Jake Allen was masterful against the Wild. Can Allen repeat that effort against Nashville? No. The Predators have more finishers. Predators in 5  he Canadian media cannot wait to crown the Edmonton Oilers. Connor McDavid and company knocked out defending Cup finalists San Jose without McDavid going nuts. He will need to go nuts against the Anaheim Ducks for the Oilers to win. Problem for McDavid is the Ducks will be lining up Ryan Kesler and Ryan Getzlaf against him. The defense and goaltending on both teams are young but capable so they wash out. The Ducks advantage is in forward depth. The Ducks forwards can score with anybody and are big enough to deal with Edmonton’s assorted roughnecks Ducks in 7
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