Puck Prose
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Puck Prose round table: Picking the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs

By Matt McGinnis

TAMPA, FLORIDA - JUNE 26: J.T. Compher #37 of the Colorado Avalanche and Steven Stamkos #91 of the Tampa Bay Lightning shake hands after the Colorado Avalanche defeated the Tampa Bay Lightning 2-1 in Game Six of the 2022 NHL Stanley Cup Final at Amalie Arena on June 26, 2022 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
TAMPA, FLORIDA - JUNE 26: J.T. Compher #37 of the Colorado Avalanche and Steven Stamkos #91 of the Tampa Bay Lightning shake hands after the Colorado Avalanche defeated the Tampa Bay Lightning 2-1 in Game Six of the 2022 NHL Stanley Cup Final at Amalie Arena on June 26, 2022 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images) /
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New Jersey Devils, New York Rangers
New Jersey Devils, New York Rangers. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images) /

New Jersey Devils vs New York Rangers

Jim Lynch

I think the Devils are going to be the best team when this series starts. They might win the first game or two, but the Rangers are more experienced and have a great coach in Gerard Gallant.

I am predicting the Rangers find a way to get past the Devils in six games, winning all three games on home ice. As for a series MVP, Igor Shesterkin shows why he is the reigning Vezina Trophy winner.

Matt McGinnis

Like the Rangers last season, the Devils are ready to prove that they belong in the Stanley Cup Playoffs. In one of the most entertaining series of the first round, New Jersey wins in seven games.

The series MVP here will be Jack Hughes as he continues to score like he did in the regular season and paces all players in the series in points. On the other side, Patrick Kane will not score a goal.

Vinnie Parise

The New Jersey Devils have actually been the second-best team in the NHL this season, and they are going to show the world why in the postseason. They will take down the New York Rangers in six games, and Timo Meier will be their most productive player.

Richard Jelinek

The New Jersey Devils take on the New York Rangers in this first-round matchup. New Jersey looks to make noise in the playoffs, and they do by eliminating the Rangers in six games. Series MVP will be Dawson Mercer, and Akira Schmid steals the show in between the pipes.

Alex Neier

I am going with the Rangers in six games. The Rangers’ loaded forward group that includes Kane, Tarasenko, Panarin, Zibanejad, etc will be too much for this young Devils team to handle.

Tarasenko and Kane have a ton of playoff experience, which is why for my out-of-the-box prediction I’m saying that Kane and Tarasenko will have a two-goal game each at one point of the series.

The Rangers also still have Shesterkin, who might not be at the level he was last season, but he’s still very good.

Jaroslav Husvar

Let’s face it, the Rangers are a worse team overall than last season, even with Tarasenko and Kane. The Devils will simply be too good for the Rangers. Devils in five.

Dougie Hamilton will be the series MVP, leading the way for the Devils’ defense and helping to outweigh the Rangers’ goaltending advantage.

Brad Wiszowaty

I think the Rangers will win this series in six. Their team is more experienced as well as more built for the playoffs. I predict that Igor Shesterkin will be the series MVP and really be the overall deciding factor in the series.

My out-of-the-box prediction is that Barclay Goodrow scores four points in the six-game series with two of them being short-handed.

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