Apr 11, 2015; Washington, DC, USA; New York Rangers goalie Henrik Lundqvist (30) celebrates with teammates after their game against the Washington Capitals at Verizon Center. The Rangers won 4-2. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports
The NHL season has ended and the Stanley Cup playoffs are finally here after nearly six months of regular season hockey. There are great stories about teams like the Minnesota Wild and Ottawa Senators making second half charges to the Stanley Cup playoffs. Teams like the Calgary Flames that beat injuries and a deep Western Conference to take a spot away from the defending Stanley Cup champions.
Individual stories are there too with great goaltending from Carey Price and Devan Dubnyk. Alex Ovechkin passing the fifty goal mark again, possibly winning another Hart Memorial Trophy. The fantastic closing run of the Presidents Trophy winning New York Rangers. And the birth of “the Hamburglar”.
Pucks and Pitchforks
When you look at the opening round bracket there are several series that could end up going six or seven games. With five teams in the Stanley Cup playoffs, Canada has their best chance to reclaim the Cup since the Montreal Canadiens back in 1993. Unfortunately four of those teams will meet in the first round so those hopes will take a hit quickly.
The most exciting part of the Stanley Cup playoffs first round are the upsets. The Los Angeles Kings have won the Stanley Cup as an eight seed. The Edmonton Oilers, hard as it is to believe, represented the Western Conference as the eight seed as well when the Carolina Hurricanes won their Cup. In no other sport does the lower-seeded team have as much opportunity to win in the playoffs than in hockey. It’s the true beauty of the Stanley Cup playoffs.
When the first round handshake lines are done, which teams are moving on and which teams are setting tee times? I will look at some stats to back up my thoughts, but I’ve also watched a number of games from the playoff teams. There are some things that don’t show up on the stat sheets.
Follow along with me as I pick all eight of the opening round series. While I expect to get all eight correct, it wouldn’t shock me if I got many of these wrong. I think most of the series are that close. Most of them – there is one team I expect to get blown off the ice. And it isn’t the first team you thought of.
With that in mind, let’s take a trip through the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs! I’m looking forward to reading your thoughts on these as well.
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