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

The 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs have arrived, and there is no shortage of storylines and big matchups.

After having the best regular season in NHL history, the Boston Bruins will now attempt to replicate that success in the postseason with the hopes of claiming their first title since 2011. In their way to kick things off will be the Florida Panthers.

On the other side of the Atlantic Division bracket is a rematch of 2022, as the Toronto Maple Leafs look to finally get out of the first round by getting revenge over the three-time defending Eastern Conference champions, the Tampa Bay Lightning.

Which teams will advance in the Stanley Cup Playoffs?

As for the Metropolitan Division, the Carolina Hurricanes will take on the New York Islanders in a defensive showdown. Meanwhile, the New Jersey Devils and New York Rangers will reignite their rivalry with a first-round matchup.

In the Western Conference, the Vegas Golden Knights are the top seed after missing the Stanley Cup Playoffs in 2022. They will meet the Winnipeg Jets in the first round. Also in the Pacific Division, the Edmonton Oilers and Los Angeles Kings will meet in another 2022 rematch.

Finally, in the Central Division, the defending champion Colorado Avalanche will begin their title defense against the Seattle Kraken as they make their first appearance in the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

The other series will pit two Stanley Cup Playoff regulars, the Dallas Stars and Minnesota Wild, against one another.

Our staff here at Puck Prose got together to pick a winner in each first-round series, while also choosing a series MVP and making an outside-the-box prediction to get you primed for Round One.

It’s been an entertaining season to this point, and the postseason is expected to be just as good, if not better. Without further ado, here are our staff picks for the opening round of the 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs.

Boston Bruins vs Florida Panthers

Jim Lynch

The Bruins have broken every record imaginable this season. They will continue their great play into the postseason, beating the Panthers in five games.

There is no one MVP here because of how great this team is overall. As for a bold prediction, the Panthers’ one win in this series will come in Game 1.

Matt McGinnis

This is as lopsided a matchup as you will find in the 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs. The Bruins will have their way with the Panthers, eliminating the Cats in four games.

The series MVP here will be David Pastrnak. None of the four games in this tilt will be closer than a two-goal margin.

Vinnie Parise

The Boston Bruins will take down the Florida Panthers in five games. Matthew Tkachuk will do his best to make it interesting, but the Bruins will be too much for the Florida team that barely made it in.

Richard Jelinek

The Boston Bruins’ historical season continues in the first round against the Florida Panthers. Look for the Bruins to continue their winning ways and eliminate the Panthers in five games.

Series MVP will be David Krejci, and Hampus Lindholm will have more points than Patrice Bergeron.

Alex Neier

I am going with the Bruins to win this series in five games. The historic season this team just had will carry over to the first round and ultimately take care of the Panthers pretty easily.

The series MVP is going to be David Pastrnak, who, in tying into my out-of-the-box prediction, will score a goal in all five games of the series. I will give the Panthers one game because of their talented forward group.

Jaroslav Husvar

I can see just three teams that can come through the Bruins. Boston conceded three or more goals in regulation in just 24 games and four were against the Panthers. I’ll go with the Panthers in six.

Matthew Tkachuk is the series MVP with a point per game, and Sergei Bobrovsky becomes an absolute beast in net, completely overshadowing Ullmark with more than a .925 save percentage.

Brad Wiszowaty

The 2019 Tampa Bay vs Columbus series was just one series, and Boston will beat Florida in five games. I predict that Alex Lyon will continue his strong play into the postseason and be the reason the series is not a sweep.

The series MVP will actually be at the other end of the ice, Linus Ullmark. I predict that one of Don Sweeney’s trade deadline moves will pay off big time and Tyler Bertuzzi will end his first NHL playoff series with the most points on either team.

Toronto Maple Leafs vs Tampa Bay Lightning

Jim Lynch

It’s the same story every year. Can the Maple Leafs find a way to win a playoff series?

This year, after stacking up the team so much, and entering round one against a Lightning team that has not been playing great as of late, it looks like the Leafs could finally be heading to a series win. Which is why I will say they lose in six games.

Matt McGinnis

The Toronto Maple Leafs should win this series. However, until I see it, I won’t believe it. Instead, I’ll take the Bolts to vanquish the Leafs yet again in seven games.

Andrei Vasilevskiy gets the nod here as series MVP, shutting out Toronto in Game 7 to clinch the series.

Vinnie Parise

The Toronto Maple Leafs will finally break through and win their first playoff series with this core. Auston Matthews had a good year but wasn’t the MVP like last year. He, along with William Nylander and Mitch Marner, are ready for the playoffs.

Richard Jelinek

The Toronto Maple Leafs come in a hungry bunch against a tough opponent in the Tampa Bay Lightning. The Maple Leafs finally get out of the first round, eliminating Tampa Bay in six games. Series MVP will be Ilya Samsonov, and Auston Matthews finishes with only one point.

Alex Neier

I am going with the Toronto Maple Leafs in seven games. I think this is finally the year they break through, and with all the trade deadline acquisitions they made, it is imperative they go on a run in the 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs, or change will be near.

The Lightning will be a very tough matchup, but I think all of the playoff hockey they’ve played over the last three seasons will finally catch up to them. For my out of box prediction, I say the Leafs will blow out Tampa in Game 7 by a margin of 4+ goals.

Jaroslav Husvar

The Leafs will win in five games. The only way Tampa can advance is Jeannot coming back from injury and becoming the series MVP (cannot expect anything less from a player who cost FIVE! draft picks). Just kidding, Marner will show what he is capable of, absolutely taking over the series.

Everyone cheering and working for Tampa thinks the team can win it again. I don’t see this coming. After the season Toronto had, they have to advance this year.

Brad Wiszowaty

Tampa has to get tired from playing so much hockey eventually, but I do not think it will be in round one, so I’ll say Tampa in seven. Believe me, I really wanted to pick Toronto, but it is difficult to go against a team that has made three Finals in a row.

If Toronto was playing almost any other team, I think I would choose them, and honestly, I hope they win. I think the series MVP will be Brayden Point. My bold prediction is that although Tampa wins, Ilya Samsonov has a better series than Andrei Vasilevskiy.

Carolina Hurricanes vs New York Islanders

Jim Lynch

The Hurricanes are a great team, but the Islanders have a hot goalie who has pushed his team into the Stanley Cup Playoffs. This series has potential, and I am going to say the Islanders upset the Hurricanes in seven games thanks to the great play from Ilya Sorokin.

Matt McGinnis

I had high hopes for the Carolina Hurricanes this season, but they just aren’t playing that well right now. Meanwhile, the Islanders are a team built for the postseason. As a result, the Isles take this series in seven games.

Ilya Sorokin steals the series as the MVP, and we see fewer than 30 total goals scored in this series.

Vinnie Parise

The New York Islanders will pull off the stunning upset of the first round by defeating the Carolina Hurricanes in six games. It comes down to Ilya Sorokin stealing a series with veterans like Zach Parise and Kyle Palmieri scoring big goals.

Richard Jelinek

The Carolina Hurricanes look to make a quick series against the defense-first Islanders. Carolina makes short work of New York, taking the series in five games. Series MVP will be Jesperi Kotkaniemi. The Hurricanes do not score a power play goal in the series.

Alex Neier

I am going with the Islanders to win in seven games. Ilya Sorokin is one of the best goalies in the league, along with the Islanders being one of, if not the most, defensively sound team in the league.

Svechnikov and Aho are going to be tough to shut down, and while I believe Carolina will make this a long series, Sorokin will be a brick wall the entire way and ultimately win series MVP.

For my out-of-the-box prediction, I’m going to say that Game 7 of this series will be won 1-0 by New York, and it will take overtime.

Jaroslav Husvar

The second-best defense in the league against the second-best tandem. I am doubtful about this, but Isles in six.

Bo Horvat will be the MVP. This would be the most boring, goalless series in this year’s Stanley Cup Playoffs. Whoever advances will be out in the second round.

Brad Wiszowaty

I’m choosing the Islanders to beat the Hurricanes in seven games. The Canes finished the season 10-8-1 after Svechnikov was injured. Regardless, this will be a tough series for both teams.

The series MVP will be Bo Horvat. My out-of-the-box prediction is that Horvat finishes the series with the most goals and points on either team.

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.

Vegas Golden Knights vs Winnipeg Jets

Jim Lynch

I am going to go Winnipeg in six games. I think the Jets are always a threat if Connor Hellebuyck can find a way to turn it on. He has consistently been one of the best goalies in the league and is a big reason for the Jets making the playoffs this year.

Hellebuyck will be the series MVP, and for an out-of-the-box prediction, Jack Eichel will not score a goal all series.

Matt McGinnis

This is my second sweep of the 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs. Vegas has impressed me this season, while the Jets have not looked like a playoff team since Christmas, so the Golden Knights advance quickly.

Jonathan Marchessault will be the series MVP as the Golden Knights’ leading point-getter. My bold prediction here is that Connor Hellebuyck, in a losing effort, is top five in save percentage after round one.

Vinnie Parise

Jack Eichel sees how much love Connor McDavid is getting, and he is going to respond with a huge series, his first ever in the Stanley Cup Playoffs. The Vegas Golden Knights will beat the Winnipeg Jets in six games.

Richard Jelinek

The Vegas Golden Knights take on the Winnipeg Jets and make quick work of Winnipeg. The Golden Knights take the series in five games with the series MVP being Chandler Stephenson. Goaltender Jonathan Quick gets two shutouts in the series.

Alex Neier

I have the Vegas Golden Knights winning this series in six games. Vegas will be getting Mark Stone back, which is an absolutely huge addition. The goaltending will be the biggest question for Vegas while being the biggest plus for Winnipeg.

Hellebuyck is a fantastic goaltender, but the Jets have other issues that he’s not going to be able to save them from. My bold prediction: Hellebuyck has a .925+ SV % throughout the series and still loses.

Jaroslav Husvar

I’m still trying to decide if the Jets are good or not. They pushed so hard to earn this playoff spot (even though the Predators and Flames did little to make it more challenging), so no one can argue that making the playoffs is not deserved. Still, I’ll take Vegas in five.

Jack Eichel will be the MVP. Even if this isn’t a team ready to win it all, the Jets will not be the team to take them out.

Brad Wiszowaty

Maybe a hot take, but Winnipeg will win this series in seven games. I have a feeling that this will feel like a whole new season for the Jets, and they will play the same way they started the season.

My series MVP prediction is Hellebuyck. I think he can steal this series from Vegas. For an out-of-the-box prediction, I’ll say that Chandler Stephenson leads Vegas in points while Josh Morrisey continues his tear and finishes with the most points in the series.

Edmonton Oilers vs Los Angeles Kings

Jim Lynch

I am going to say Edmonton in five games. Neither team has the best goaltending, but offensively the Oilers are a juggernaut with Connor McDavid. McDavid is going to be the series MVP. As for a prediction, the Oilers are going to have the best power play in round one.

Matt McGinnis

I’d love to pick the LA Kings here, especially after they lost to the Oilers last season, but Edmonton is simply playing too well to lose this series. Connor McDavid and company win in six games.

This isn’t bold by any means, but McDavid will be the series MVP. My bold prediction will be that he and Leon Draisaitl combine for 25 or more points.

Vinnie Parise

The Edmonton Oilers take down the Los Angeles Kings in five games. Special teams will be the difference as the Oilers have the most talent in the league. The MVP of the series will be Connor McDavid who keeps his amazing season going.

Richard Jelinek

The Edmonton Oilers fail to eliminate the Los Angeles Kings in the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the second year in a row. The Kings take the series in six games, and the MVP will be Pheonix Copley. Anze Kopitar leads both teams in scoring.

Alex Neier

I have the Edmonton Oilers winning in six games. This is going to be a series with a whole lot of offense and not a lot of defending going on. With that being said, the Oilers have much better depth offensively than the Kings along with the best two hockey players in the world.

It is also uncertain if LA will have Vilardi or Fiala to start the series. I think these are two great teams, but my advantage is going to Edmonton. Out-of-box prediction: Game 6 of this series will see 10+ goals combined scored.

Jaroslav Husvar

It is basic knowledge that the Oilers have the best player in the Stanley Cup Playoffs, and their offensive firepower is a luxury. On the other hand, just 191 of 325 goals came at 5v5 (one less than the Sabres, who missed the playoffs).

Edmonton conceded the most goals at 5v5 of the remaining 16 teams. They don’t care about conceding goals and want to score six or seven every game.

That won’t work, and the Kings will win in six. Joonas Korpisalo is the MVP in this series. This series can be about goalies, and LA has a better tandem. Korpisalo has been a real standout since coming over from the Columbus Blue Jackets.

Brad Wiszowaty

Last season, I chose LA because of their veteran stars and Edmonton’s goaltending. This season I am going opposite and choosing the Oilers to win in six games. LA may outplay Edmonton, but they will not be able to slow down McDavid the way they did at times during the regular season.

McDavid will be the MVP, but Mattias Ekholm will of course be the unsung hero. My bold prediction is that the series is lower scoring than expected with both Korpisalo and Skinner finishing with save percentages above .920.

Dallas Stars vs Minnesota Wild

Jim Lynch

Both of these teams have been great at times this year, and I think this could be one of the best opening-round series we get. I think this series could go seven games with both teams having sparks of really good play. As for who wins, I will say the Stars in seven games.

Their series MVP will be Max Domi who has looked pretty good since joining the Stars at the deadline.

Matt McGinnis

I see this as a very tight series, and while I like the Wild more, I’ll take the hot Dallas Stars to eliminate Minnesota in seven games.

The series MVP will be Jake Oettinger, and he will hold the Wild to under two goals per game.

Vinnie Parise

The Dallas Stars will beat the Minnesota Wild in six games. Jason Robertson and Kirill Kaprizov are the best players in the series, but Jamie Benn and Tyler Seguin are going to run things like old times. Benn will be the MVP of the series.

Richard Jelinek

The Dallas Stars fall short in this first-round matchup against the Minnesota Wild, as the Wild take this series in five games. The series MVP will be Marc-Andre Fleury, and the Stars score less than two goals per game.

Alex Neier

I have the Dallas Stars winning this series in six games. Robertson against Kaprizov in the first round is going to be electric, and that should be a matchup everyone is watching.

I’m picking the Stars because of Jake Oettinger. He single-handedly kept Dallas in that Game 7 last season, and I think he’s going to have a big series and win MVP. For my out-of-the-box prediction, I’m going to say that Miro Heiskanen will earn a point in all 6 games.

Jaroslav Husvar

These two teams are much closer than one may think. Each match could be a one-goal game, so the series could end up in four matches for either team. Wild guess: Wild in six.

Marc-Andre Fleury does his best impression of Jake Oettinger in the 2022 Stanley Cup Playoffs to become the MVP of this series.

Brad Wiszowaty

Before the season began I predicted the Dallas Stars would win the Stanley Cup, so I am choosing them to take out the Wild in seven games. After what I saw last season against Calgary, I think the MVP of the series will be Jake Oettinger.

My out-of-the-box prediction is that Minnesota’s 15th-ranked powerplay catches fire and is the reason the series goes to seven games.