Preusser's NHL Rundown: Playoff Hockey Is Here

(Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports via milehighhockey)

We are about a week through the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. I’m here to share with you what I thought going into the playoffs and what I think about where we are at now.

Central

I wanted to see Chicago to scoot into that fourth spot, but I had a feeling it just wasn’t going to happen. Aside from that, they had a stellar season compared to what everyone thought. I was surprised Carolina clinched the first seed. Any one of those top three teams (Carolina, Tampa, Florida) could have gotten that spot. With Carolina currently in a 2-2 series tie with Nashville, I am hopeful they will pull out the series win. I think I just don’t want Nashville to win because Chicago couldn’t beat Nashville this season. In terms of the Florida Tampa Bay series, I want Florida to advance. I think that Coach Q deserves another playoff run, and Florida has had such an outstanding season. However, my round two predictions are Tampa Bay vs. Carolina, but I want Florida to win, if that makes any sense.

East

The Penguins finished in first which is where I predicted them to land. They are playing the Islanders in round 1 and are currently tied 2-2. The Islanders are a gritty team, and they could pull out the comeback. I just think the Penguins core guys have such a winning mentality with all of their playoff experience that they won’t let the Islanders knock them out. With that being said, the Pens did get knocked out of the bubble last year, so maybe the Islanders can pull ahead. The Capitals Bruins series was the one to watch. Not only is there just a massive team rivalry, the Bruins former captain, Zdano Chara, is now on the Capitals. After lots of fights and lots of overtimes, the Bruins defeated the Capitals 3-1 in the first round. I really thought that the Capitals would advance. I saw it going either way, but the Boston Chicago rivalry got into my bias a little, so I wanted the Capitals. My round 2 prediction for this division is Boston against Pittsburgh. I wouldn’t be mad if the Islanders beat the Pens though. 

West

My Stanley Cup Champ prediction, the Colorado Avalanche, swept St. Louis in round 1. Am I surprised? Not at all. The Avs are so tough to play against. Go St. Louis for making it into the playoffs with the season they had, but I mean I just don’t think they had a solid chance against the Avs this postseason. The other matchup is Vegas against Minnesota. The Wild surprised me this season with their skill, speed, and overall team chemistry. Besides this, I just have to go for Vegas in this one. There is something about the Golden Knights that is honestly unstoppable, well at least for now it is. My second round prediction is Colorado against Vegas with Colorado advancing. 

North

The Canadian rivalries run deep and we have seen that in the playoff series so far. Edmonton seems to be choking again as they currently sit zero games to three games with the Winnipeg Jets. I watched game three and the Oilers had a 4-1 lead with about 10 minutes left in the third and then the Jets scored three to tie it up and then win it in overtime. Talk about playoff hockey! On the other end of the division, Toronto and Montreal are off to a slow start since they started their series a little later than everyone. They are currently tied 1-1 in the series. The Canadiens are a good team and they won’t give the Maple Leafs the advancing wins, but I do think in the end the Leafs will take the series. This would be a series that I could see going into six or seven games. In round two, I am expecting to see a Winnipeg Toronto matchup, and honestly with the way the Jets have been playing, I could see Winnipeg advancing into round three.