original post was at 2:38am on 4/19/2024
Below you will find the matchups for the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
I've made it easy for you to copy and paste and entries should be in by Saturday at 5pm ET.
Non-members can post their picks on X and I will add them to the comment section.
Pick the winner for each series and for extra credit, the number of games to win the series.
Eastern Conference
Florida (A1) vs Tampa (WC1)
Boston (A2) vs Toronto (A3)
NY Rangers (M1) vs Washington (WC2)
Carolina (M2) vs NY Islanders (M3)
Western Conference
Dallas (C1) vs Vegas (WC2)
Winnipeg (C2) vs Colorado (C3)
Vancouver (P1) vs Nashville (WC1)
Edmonton (P1) vs Los Angeles (P3)
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Eastern Conference
Florida (A1) vs Tampa (WC1) 6
Boston (A2) vs Toronto (A3) 6
NY Rangers (M1) vs Washington (WC2) 5
Carolina (M2) vs NY Islanders (M3) 7
Western Conference
Dallas (C1) vs Vegas (WC2) 7
Winnipeg (C2) vs Colorado (C3) 6
Vancouver (P1) vs Nashville (WC1) 6
Edmonton (P1) vs Los Angeles (P3) 7
VAN or NASH in 6?
You caught me, I wanted to win at least one series.
Fixed, Nashville.
I'm not terribly interested in the matchups. The only two teams I'm rooting for are the Isles and the Golden Knights. Beyond that, I just want to see the Leafs humiliated as much as possible (even if it's at the hands of the Bruins). :-)
Man, that's gonna chafe in the boys if that rat Marchand ends up being the guy who eliminates the Ample Laffs out of the playoffs.
I am never interested in the playoffs when our team is not there, but I actually want Boston to lose to Toronto because choosing your opponent should backfire.
I can't not be exited for playoff hockey. The first round is fuching great, too. Games almost every night. There are some outstanding matchups this year.
FLA/TB Panthers in 6
BOS/TOR Leafs in 7
NYR/WSH Rags in 5
CAR/NYI Canes in 6
DAL/VGS Knights in 7
COL/WIN Avs in 6
VAN/NSH Preds in 7
EDM/LA Oilers in 6
No predictions as usual. Right now the only team I would like being eliminated is the Steers. Why? Jamie Benn.🤨
FLA/TBL: FLA 7 (epic, epic series with multiple OTs; probably the most competitive series in a while)
BOS/TOR: BOS 5
NYR/WAS: NYR 6
CAR/NYI: CAR 5
DAL/VGK: VGK 5 (because Mark Stone suddenly makes a miraculous recovery and Jamie Benn can ferociously suck his toes)
WPG/COL: WPG 7
VAN/NSH: NSH 7
EDM/LAK: LAK 7
Panthers in 7
Leafs in 7
Rangers in 6
Canes in 6
Vegas in 6
Avs in 7
Canucks in 6
Oilers in 6
Eastern Conference
Florida (A1) vs Tampa (WC1) Florida in 7
Boston (A2) vs Toronto (A3) Boston in 7
NY Rangers (M1) vs Washington (WC2) Rangers in 5
Carolina (M2) vs NY Islanders (M3) Carolina in 5
Western Conference
Dallas (C1) vs Vegas (WC2) Vegas in 7
Winnipeg (C2) vs Colorado (C3) Winnipeg in 7
Vancouver (P1) vs Nashville (WC1) Vancouver in 6
Edmonton (P1) vs Los Angeles (P3) Edmonton in 6
Eastern Conference
Florida (A1) vs Tampa (WC1)
Boston (A2) vs Toronto (A3) Boston in 4 (nothing else matters)
NY Rangers (M1) vs Washington (WC2)
Carolina (M2) vs NY Islanders (M3)
Western Conference
Dallas (C1) vs Vegas (WC2)
Winnipeg (C2) vs Colorado (C3)
Vancouver (P1) vs Nashville (WC1)
Edmonton (P1) vs Los Angeles (P3)
Eastern Conference
Florida (A1) vs Tampa (WC1) in 6
Boston (A2) vs Toronto (A3) in 6
NY Rangers (M1) vs Washington (WC2) in 4
Carolina (M2) vs NY Islanders (M3) in 6
Western Conference
Dallas (C1) vs Vegas (WC2) in 7
Winnipeg (C2) vs Colorado (C3) in 7
Vancouver (P1) vs Nashville (WC1) in 6
Edmonton (P1) vs Los Angeles (P3) in 6
I am viewing a Carolina vs. Dallas final with Carolina winning it all
First round
Canes in 5 over Isles ( that said - I believe in the "Gospel According to Arbour" approach of "WIN YOUR SHIFT" break the game down to simple components and win small battles which lead to winning larger ones. Recent results back up this other claim - Isles are capable of winning any game they suit up for and there will be at least 3 games that go to OT is my other prediction. Closer series in actuality than 5 games shows.
Problem: Of any team in the east - Carolina is the WORST match up for them. Special teams are night/day different. Carolina will take the Isles game and shove it down their throats.
BUT - they still have to play the games! GO ISLES!
Rag$ over Caps in 6 Getting in the playoffs was the Caps' cup this year. they may make a wee bit of noise before exiting
TB over FLA in 7 in a DOOZY of a series
Boston sweeps Toronto in 4 Leafs will be exposed More tears in Toronto!
West
Dallas over Knights in 6 This series will not suck!
Vancouver over NSH in 5 Will be competitive with a couple of OT games involved
LA over EDM in 6 - I think the Kings will shut them down - my "upset' pick in round 1
JETS over AVS in 7 - close series
Eastern Conference
Florida (A1) vs Tampa (WC1)tampa in 7
Boston (A2) vs Toronto (A3)bruins in 6
NY Rangers (M1) vs Washington (WC2)rangers in 5
Carolina (M2) vs NY Islanders (M3)carolina in 5
Western Conference
Dallas (C1) vs Vegas (WC2)vegas in 7
Winnipeg (C2) vs Colorado (C3)colorado in 6
Vancouver (P1) vs Nashville (WC1)vancouver in 6
Edmonton (P1) vs Los Angeles (P3)la in 7
Eastern Conference
Florida (A1) vs Tampa (WC1) Florida in 7
Boston (A2) vs Toronto (A3) Bruins in 7
NY Rangers (M1) vs Washington (WC2) Rangers in 5
Carolina (M2) vs NY Islanders (M3) Carolina in 6
Western Conference
Dallas (C1) vs Vegas (WC2) Vegas in 7
Winnipeg (C2) vs Colorado (C3) Colorado in 6
Vancouver (P1) vs Nashville (WC1) Vancouver in 6
Edmonton (P1) vs Los Angeles (P3) Edmonton in 7
West
Dallas over Vegas in 5 - don't see much Dallas love in these predictions, but they're my team to come out of the west... they've got it all, including the 'old guy' factor - Pavelski is finally going to get his cup.
Winnipeg over Colorado in 6 - Jets are built for this, and the Av's goaltending and depth is suspect.
Edmonton over LA in 6 - the Oil have been able to break down the King's system all season... which doesn't mean there won't be a couple own-end tire fires along the way.
Vancouver over Nashville in 5 - Canucks have the goaltending edge this season, better high end forwards, better depth.
East
NY over Washington in 5 - Lindgren steals one, but the Rag$ are hungry, and the Caps... shouldn't be here.
Carolina over the Isles in 5 - Carolina is finally getting out of the East this year.
Boston over Toronto in 6 - hate picking Marchand, but the Leafs have to lose to someone. Bruins win one series and out.
Florida over Tampa in 7 - hardest to pick. This series should be epic, and give us the only game 7 of the first round.
Eastern Conference
Florida (A1) vs Tampa (WC1) 6
Boston (A2) vs Toronto (A3) 7
NY Rangers (M1) vs Washington (WC2) 5
Carolina (M2) vs NY Islanders (M3) 4
Western Conference
Dallas (C1) vs Vegas (WC2) 7
Winnipeg (C2) vs Colorado (C3) 6
Vancouver (P1) vs Nashville (WC1) 5
Edmonton (P1) vs Los Angeles (P3) 7
Alright, no looking at any specific picks. This is a weird year without strong favorites to win the Cup, but still some seemingly lopsided first round matchups. Of course, this is the NHL, and nothing about the playoffs are straight lines...
Eastern Conference
Florida (A1) vs Tampa (WC1) 6
Boston (A2) vs Toronto (A3) 6
NY Rangers (M1) vs Washington (WC2) 6
Carolina (M2) vs NY Islanders (M3) 7
Western Conference
Dallas (C1) vs Vegas (WC2) 7
Winnipeg (C2) vs Colorado (C3) 5
Vancouver (P1) vs Nashville (WC1) 6
Edmonton (P1) vs Los Angeles (P3) 7
Sorry to everyone wanting the CAR/NYR matchup, and to all the Connor McDavid fans out there.
FLA/TB Panthers in 7
BOS/TOR Leafs in 6
NYR/WSH Ny in 5
CAR/NYI Canes in 7
If there is a true upset in the first round I feel NYI has the chance
DAL/VGS Dallas in 7
COL/WIN Win in 7
VAN/NSH Preds in 6
LA/Edm Kings in 7
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