Andrew: Morning Trevor, the NHL regular season has concluded after a great season of events and milestones. Ovi breaking the goal record, Winnipeg winning the Presidents Trophy, and the 4 nations faceoff to name a few….
Now onto the playoffs. This year’s edition has 5 of the 7 Canadian teams involved and some great storylines in the first round. The Battle of the state of Florida, the Battle of Ontario, and even Dallas vs Colorado in round 1!
What are your early impressions and what are you looking forward to watching in this season’s playoffs?
Trevor: Well…. I hate the Blues, can’t stand them, so I’m hoping to hear the tears here in IL from St. Louis from the first round. Plus, despite having health issues with Ehlers, I have to still think the Jets are full of offensive firepower and are quite the stacked team.
The West though is still Colorado’s, and I think now with a healthy Landeskog back, their just going to steamroll teams.
The East, my pick again, year after year, I still think it will be those bunch of Jerks coming out on top. But first round wise, who are you picking as winners?
Andrew: Round 1 out East, I got as follows…..Toronto over Ottawa in 5 games (but I think this will be a good series, and Ottawa will really impress). Florida over Tampa in 7, an unbelievable first round series. Washington over Montreal in 5, similar to the Ottawa series where a young Montreal team competes hard but the veteran experience of the higher seed secures the win. Hurricanes over Devils in 4. Devils are the most disappointing team out East.
Round 1 out West starts off with Winnipeg in 5 games. Best team all season with so much depth and the best goalie. Colorado over Dallas, but this is 7 and should in no way be a first round match up. Both these teams could win the Cup. Vegas over Wild in 5, and Edmonton over LA. My gut says one of those teams surprises with an upset so Im going with Edmonton, even though LA is the higher seeded team. Edmonton feels like a team that learned from their finals trip last year.
Your thoughts?
Trevor: Starting in the East, I’m going to say Toronto in 6 games though I would love to see them bounced in the first round. Florida I think has just too much fire power compared to Tampa, but I like your prediction of 7 games. I think Washington will end this in 4 games as I’m not that impressed by the Habs. I’m picking the Hurricanes to win it all, so choose your poison on how quickly you want your Devils season to last hahaha.
Now moving closer to me in the West…. Winnipeg is going to steamroll the Blues in 4, with Jordan Binnington crying himself to sleep every night. I’ll agree with Colorado in 7, because both are just two great teams and it’s a shame we have to watch this match up in the first round. I’ll take Vegas this round as well over the Wild, but I’ll say it happens in 6 games just to be a jerk. And due to hindsight, I’m going to say there will be chaos in Alberta with the Kings knocking them out for Golf season in 6 games.
Happy First Round!!!
